Chocolate Orange Mousse
A mood-boosting and brain-boosting treat that will improve your day and keep your body satisfied! The combination of chocolate and avocado spiced with a splash of orange and a sprinkling of cinnamon whips up into the creamiest, dreamiest dessert that feels
Ground and Extend: Find Your Foundation in Every Yoga Pose
"Watch your base; be attentive to the portion nearest the floor." — BKS Iyengar I learned about the relationship between foundation and extension from Mary Lou Weprin, one of the Berkeley Yoga Room teachers who trained me to be a
Yoga for Your Core: How to Increase Stability and Protect Your Low Back
Physical therapists know this. Pilates teachers know this. Athletes and dancers know this. How come yoga teachers are behind? Recently one of the commentators on my blog, Michele, asked me: “Why don’t I hear yoga teachers talk more about “zipping
Vagus Nerve Yoga: A Mind-Body Approach to Wellness
The vagus nerve plays a central role in your emotional and physical health. The vagus nerve extends from the brainstem down into your stomach and intestines, enervating your heart and lungs, and connecting your throat and facial muscles. Therefore, any
Book Review: Restoring Prana
“Take a deep breath in,” can be a common way to cue students in modern-day yoga classes. Yet not all yoga teachers question the origin of deep, full breathing. Is matching big breathing to movement rooted in Vedic philosophy? Or
How to Stay Mindful and Safe During the Coronavirus Outbreak
“We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond.” ~ Lionel Kendrick The coronavirus is no longer isolated to just China. It’s here, affecting over 90 countries, and it continues
The Telomere Effect: Taking Charge of Your Cellular Aging
I just finished reading The Telomere Effect by Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel, and it was enlightening. The authors’ discoveries about how telomeres (the end caps on our chromosomes) affect cellular aging constitute a significant advancement in our
6 Yogic Tips to Help Boost Immunity
The coronavirus has changed our lives, at least for the time being. People are understandably worried, and caution is justified. Grocery stores and pharmacies are the last bastions of in-person social interactions at the moment. And the internet has become
The Power of Yogic Breathing: 4 Steps to Better Health
Yoga breathing practices, or pranayama, have been based primarily on tradition, which varies greatly from one branch of yoga to another. The ranges of breathing practices are mind-boggling and can often leave yoga students wondering, “How important is a pranayama
The Role of Language in Yoga Teaching: Embodying Lightness in Your Yoga Classes
Language is a powerful tool. As yoga teachers, we use words to communicate a variety of messages, including philosophy, relaxation, and yoga asana (postures). When we teach asana, we usually speak using literal language such as “lift your arms and
Can This "Bathing Cap" Help Treat Alzheimer's?
Despite its widespread and growing prevalence and billions of research dollars, Alzheimer's disease interventions are still quite limited. A new wearable device using electromagnetic energy shows great promise in not only stopping but also reversing the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
Creating Space to Thrive: 6 Elements to Inspire Your Yoga Teaching
When I was going through my yoga therapist training about eight years ago, I was expected to complete several assignments in between training sessions. It was a struggle. At the time, I was teaching yoga full time and running a
Supported Shoulderstand: Yoga Inversion Practice for Almost Everybody
One of my most influential teachers, Aadil Palkhivala, once said, “Practicing yoga without including an inversion is like trying to make lemonade without lemons.” For those students who have mastered some version of Shoulderstand and/or Sirsasana (Headstand Pose) as a
Learn to “Levitate”: 4 Yoga Poses to Prepare Your Body for Arm Balances
Arm balances are everyone’s favorite party trick. And to be fair, they’re pretty magical. You’re balancing on your hands with your feet levitating off the floor. They look super impressive, and they’re fun to play around with. But more importantly,
Skillet Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Berries
Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked oats with cinnamon and fragrant fruit. It is the ultimate comfort food when you need a hearty (but healthy) breakfast or snack that happens to taste like a cozy treat. For the cooler