Yoga Strap: Open Your Shoulders in Gomukhasana 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...
Parsvakonasana: Side Angle Pose 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,...
Cool Down: Restorative Twist for the Thoracic Spine 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...
Give Your Body Some Gratitude 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....
Are Yoga and Western Medicine Incompatible? 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...
Set Up Your Home Yoga Space 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...
What is Body Positive Yoga? “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...
Mindful Yoga for Changing Times 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...
How Do You Find a Yoga Mentor? 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,...
Alignment vs. Continuity in Yoga 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...
Foot Yoga for a Fine Foundation 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...
Spine-Healthy Forward Bends 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...
Urdhva Hastasana: Upward Hands 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...
Yoga of Presence: Your Intelligent Edge 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...
Parvrtta Ardha Padmasana: Lotus with a Twist 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...
Yoga Practices to Stabilize Your Hips 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...
5 Balancing Poses to Keep You On Your Feet 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...
Cooling Yoga: Refine Your Intention 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...