New Perspectives in Fascia Research - A Video Interview with Dr. Robert Schleip
Robert Schleip Ph.D. is a long-time Rolfer, an expert in fascia, and an international teacher in fascia anatomy. He directs the fascia research program at Ulm University and spearheaded the Fascia Research Congress. Dr. Schleip originally studied psychology at Heidelberg
Forward Bend With Ease
Even if you’re flexible, it’s not that easy to maintain your spine’s natural curves when you sit in Dandasana (Seated Pose). As with every pose, there are as many variations as to how Seated Pose will look as there are people. Dandasana,
Healthy Eating through Yoga
For most Americans, sedentary lifestyles and consistent abundance of food have led to this country having the highest obesity rate in the world (as U.S. News and World Report described in a May 28, 2014 article). Some in our country have
3 Steps to Safer, More Effective Yoga Twists
The best image that seems to help yoga students get a hang of twisting postures is the image of “wringing out the towel.” To be able to effectively wring the water out, you need to pull both ends away from each
Free Online Yoga Video! Natasha Rizopoulos: Keys to Core Stability – Two Postures to Transform Your Practice
In yoga, we hear a lot about the core, and the importance of core strength. But what exactly is the core and what does it mean to cultivate core strength in a balanced way? In this yoga practice video, Natasha
Yoga Can Change Your Brain: A Review of Research Provides Preliminary Evidence
Studies are continuing to show that yoga practices can change your brain. A review of the literature in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice suggests that yoga may change not only brain structure but brain waves as well. A group of researchers compiled
Natasha Rizopoulos on Teaching Yoga: Moving from Louder and Faster to Slower and Quieter
It's easy to get seduced by the sweat of a vigorous, gymnastics-oriented Power Yoga practice and ignore the metaphysical context, writes yoga teacher Natasha Rizopoulos in this blog post. However, as yoga teachers, it behooves us to get more adept at sharing
The Fifth Niyama: Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrender to the Lord
The fifth and last of the niyamas (personal observances) from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is Ishvara pranidhana: “surrender to the Lord.” There have been centuries of debate among scholars about what exactly Patanjali meant by Ishvara. This Sanskrit word literally translates as
10 Foods That Are Essential To Your Health
We all like to eat. Food is necessary for survival, and it also often tastes good and satisfies sometimes mysterious cravings. There’s nothing wrong with liking food. However, many of the food products available today contain excessive chemicals, filler products
The Fourth International Fascia Research Congress: The Body Connected
The Fourth International Fascia Research Congress (FRC), held September 18-20, 2015 near Washington, DC, USA continued the tradition of presenting the latest and best scientific research on fasciae in all its forms and functions. Researchers from six continents presented. Nearly 800
The Yoga You May Not Have Heard Of (And Why You'll Want to Try It)
When most people think of yoga, they think of the flowing Vinyasa style yoga or the sequence of standing and seated yoga postures typically used in Hatha yoga. Few people have heard of Kundalini yoga and even fewer are aware
Trikonasana: Root and Expand
When I think of B.K.S. Iyengar, I think of Trikonasana (Triangle Pose). Early in my practice of Iyengar yoga Trikonasana was somewhat of a nemesis. I was very flexible in the early days of my asana journey, but not all
Preventing Anterior Knee Pain and Yoga
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is the most common overuse injury of the lower extremity 1, 2. PFPS is a condition characterized by pain surrounding the kneecap associated with activities involving lower limb loading (eg, walking, running, jumping, stair climbing, and prolonged
Yoga for Metabolic Syndrome - An Interview with Dr. Baxter Bell
Heart disease, stroke and diabetes all rank among the top 7 leading causes of death in the U.S. Can yoga help reduce the risk of contracting these all-too-common chronic diseases? In this interview, Dr. Baxter Bell discusses one of the leading precursors of these
Yoga Wedge: Save Your Wrists While You Open Your Upward Bow
Upward Bow (Urdva Dhanurasana) is one of the emblematic yoga asanas. “Exhilarating” is probably one of the best descriptors for Upward Bow. It ain’t easy, though. Upward Bow requires a bendy spine; shoulder joints constructed to allow for a fair