Yoga Research: How to Identify Sound Studies on Yoga and Meditation
There’s a stream of new research emerging about yoga and mindfulness, and even more popular news and social media posts about the health effects of mind-body practices. This research asks important questions, such as: Can yoga improve your mood? Is
Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) Yoga Myths: Flexing the Foot and Parallel Shins
Have you been in yoga class, plopped into Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose), and been told to flex your foot “to protect the knee?” When I first began practicing yoga, like a dutiful yogini, I followed my teacher’s instructions and diligently flexed
A Quick Yoga Pick-Me-Up: Pranayama Practice for Increased Energy
Several months ago I got in a habit of going for a short walk in the morning to clear my mind and get myself ready for the day. Those 15 minutes turned out to be crucial in getting my day
Stuck-at-Home Blues: How to Make Home Yoga Practice a Sanctuary
“Isolation makes any problem bigger,” says Leslie Wilkin, a clinical social worker. Normally, Leslie Wilkin sees her clients at Island Health in Nanaimo face to face for depression, anxiety, addictions, and other mental health challenges. Due to the pandemic, in-person
Banish the Slouch: Chair Yoga for Healthier Posture
Yoga is truly for everyone, but especially for readers, who tend to sit in slouched, hunched positions for hours at a time. I teach this class at library events and book signings, but even those of you too far away
Go Outside: Yoga Tips for Physical, Mental and Emotional Wellness
Screens have taken over our lives, and we’ve reached a point in our existence where we need a doctor to tell us to get outside. A study done in the mid-1990s showed that we spend about 87 percent of our
The Mental Health Pandemic: 4 Ways to Promote Social Engagement in Your Zoom Yoga Classes
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, more than half of Americans report that the pandemic is harming their mental health. (1) “Over half of U.S. adults (56 percent) report that worry or stress related to the coronavirus outbreak
The Yoga of Patience: A Steady Unfolding
Every year since 2014, I’ve had the good fortune to spend 18 days at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. My partner and I attend two back-to-back nine-day retreats each year in July. The first nine days focus on the cultivation of
Pain is Your Friend: A “Painfully Honest” Messenger About Your Yoga Practice
Anyone who is suffering from chronic pain is already saying, “What is this idiot talking about?” Having suffered my own fair share of severe pain, I must say I would gladly have murdered that “friend” and buried it at the
Yoga for Every Body: 7 Ways Yoga Props Power Up Your Practice
Although we’ve heard that some yoga teachers say using props is “cheating,” we couldn’t disagree more! In fact, it took some effort for me to whittle down the reasons why we think props are so beneficial—and lovable—to just seven. Yes, we
Go Natural and Non-Toxic: 5 Beauty Care Uses for Sesame and Coconut Oil
One of the benefits of switching to natural beauty products—besides cutting out chemicals and toxins—is the need for less. The more natural I go, the fewer products I have crowding my bathroom. Now, one giant bottle of organic, unrefined sesame
Thinking of Beginning Yoga? Here Are Some Tips to Get You Started
While yoga can provide relaxation and many other benefits, coming to a class at a yoga studio can be stressful and intimidating, especially if you have never been to one before. You may be unsure about quite a few things,
Yoga Anatomy: “Easing In” to Chaturanga Dandasana
I recently published a post that focused on the hip abductors and adductors and how they can be used to stabilize the pelvis and synergize flexing the hips in forward bends. In this post, we’ll look at a technique that
The Yoga of Individuality: Same Same but Different and Flipidy-Flip
If you have ever traveled to Thailand, I imagine you will invariably have come across the saying “same same but different.” Seemingly appropriate for almost any situation, the interpretation, intended or perceived, may vary from “well it’s almost identical; it’s
Date Surprises: A Quick and Easy Ayurvedic Dessert
Dessert doesn’t get any easier than these sweet, gooey, crunchy date surprises. Not only are they quick and simple, but they’re Ayurveda approved, meaning they’re nourishing, wholesome, sattvic (promoting purity), and tridoshic (appropriate for all body types, with a little