Yoga Practice

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...

Utthita Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose) is a pillar among standing poses. It combines strong grounding with expansion and spinal rotation. It looks like a lateral stretch,...

Spinal twists may be the most often requested type of asana in my classes. Not only do they feel good, but they also help keep your...

Our bodies change. As we age, they require more TLC. No matter how well you eat, or how much yoga you practice, our bodies wear out....

A few years ago, a yoga teacher posted a blog about the evils of Western medicine and the healing powers of yoga. I’m in complete agreement...

As winter nears, it’s natural to hunker down. This year is unique in that for many of us, doing anything other than hunkering down isn’t an...

“It is through the body that everything comes to the mind. It is through and with your body that you have to reach realization of being...

2020 is the “gift” that keeps on giving. It started with the rise of COVID in March. Even if you have stayed healthy, chances are the...

Until the 20th century, yoga—the whole system—was always taught one on one. An aspiring yogi studied with their yoga mentor often for decades. Over the years,...

My 35-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...

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...

Forward bends are asana staples. In yoga practice, we bend forward while standing, sitting and even lying down. Actively lengthening the hamstrings and muscles of the...

When your first leave the comfort of your bed each morning, what’s the first thing you want to do? Like other animals—think about your cat or dog—our instinct is...

Before I began teaching yoga, I assisted in classes for about four years. My job was to walk around the room and make adjustments while the...

Lotus Pose (Padmasana) may be yoga asana’s most recognizable pose. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy or accessible to every body. Lotus Pose requires a whole...

Much is made of hip opening in yoga. Maybe this comes from the iconic photos of East Indian yogis we all admired when yoga became popular...

Many years ago, my mother fell and broke her hip. Or maybe her hip broke and she fell as a result. Sometimes it’s impossible to know...

Yoga teachers often describe yoga poses in terms of their heating and cooling qualities. Heating yoga includes standing poses, backbends and core work. Cooling yoga involves...