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Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) is a staple in my morning yoga classes. Years ago, several of my students made up unflattering names for it—Cow Pie, Mad...

Years ago, I heard Judith Hanson Lasater pose this question: “Who should practice backbends?” Her answer: “Anyone who’s growing older.” This, of course, means everyone. Most...

Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) is a staple in my morning yoga classes. Years ago, several of my students made up unflattering names for it—Cow Pie, Mad...

The first time I encountered yoga props was way back in 1982. I’d been practicing asana for about six months when I joined an Iyengar-based class....

Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) is a staple in my morning yoga classes. Years ago, several of my students made up unflattering names for it—Cow Pie, Mad...

Bound Angle Pose: Use a Yoga Strap to Support Healthy Sitting I was first introduced to poses associated with yoga in grade school, when my sisters...

Supta Padangusthasana with a Yoga Strap Supta Padangusthasana is hands-down my favorite pose for addressing tight hamstrings. It’s also the safest in that it’s the least...

Use a Yoga Strap to Maintain a Healthy Spine in Seated Forward Bend Even if you’re flexible, it’s not that easy to maintain your spine’s natural...

Using a Yoga Strap in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (UHP) is one of a class of poses my students call “flying poses.” Flying poses...

Yoga Straps Rescue a Pear Tree in Peril I recently had to have an old box elder tree removed from my back yard. Once a towering...

The Birth of Yoga Straps I know it’s a cliché, but it’s true that necessity is the mother of invention. Sometimes those little inventions born of...

In 2001, I co-taught a teacher training with Donna Farhi in Vancouver, BC. The 50 attendees were experienced yoga teachers and body workers from all over...

Yoga is more than just a physical exercise; it is a holistic practice that nurtures the mind, body, and soul. In today’s fast-paced world, mental health...

When I first began practicing yoga, I felt like a star. While I was a pretty fair sprinter and long jumper in high school, my body...

My 40-plus-year yoga practice is rooted in the Iyengar system. For decades, I studied with Iyengar teachers, almost exclusively. The non-Iyengar teachers I’ve gravitated to have...

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose) is one of yoga’s most versatile poses. When I studied with B.K.S. Iyengar in India, variations of Bridge Pose were a...

I’ve been writing for Hugger Mugger’s blog for 14 years—hard to believe. And it’s equally hard to believe that in all these years, spanning more than...

I can’t claim to have made healthy choices in all areas of my life throughout my history on the planet. But I can claim relative intelligence...

Most of us would probably agree that our lives are filled to the brim. When we’re super busy, what often drops off our schedule are the...

Pincha Mayurasana (Peacock Pose or Elbow Balance Pose) has long inspired anxiety for some of my yoga students. Flipping your legs up with only the support...

Half Lotus is traditionally practiced in a seated position. However, I like to practice it lying down for several reasons. First, lying on your back removes...

From the outside, Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga look pretty similar. Both involve passive poses, on the floor. Both styles involve liberal use of yoga props—Yoga...

Flexible people tend to self-select for yoga. Of course, anyone, with any body type, can benefit from yoga practice. But those of us who were born...

I’ll start this post with a disclosure. I’ve been putting off writing about satya (truthfulness) for several years. It’s not because I don’t think it’s an...