Flow with Change: A Yoga Sequence
As humans evolved, certainty and consistency came to mean safety. Conversely, a lack of those things came to set off alarm bells and preparations to fight, flee, or freeze, on biological, physical, and psychological levels. Arguably, few other periods in
Wellbeing: What It Is and How to Create It
Only when something has gone do we appreciate what was lost. Or maybe something has been unavailable for so long that we no longer notice its absence, but are still left wanting. Maybe we’re fighting an illness and reminiscing about
Cauliflower Tikka Masala
If there was ever a dish to convince people that plant-based food can be full of flavor and satisfying, too, this is it! The perfectly seasoned cauliflower combines with healing spices and a bold, creamy sauce that will leave you
Keep Your Spine Healthy in Forward Bending Yoga Poses - Best Ways to Use a Yoga Strap
The first time I encountered yoga props was way back in 1982. I’d been practicing asana for about six months when I joined an Iyengar-based class. The props were rather crude back then. We used discontinued carpet samples instead of
7 Variations of Yoga's Side Plank to Build Shoulder and Core Strength
Vasisthasana, or Side Plank, is an especially challenging asana. It takes the challenge of Plank Pose (Phalakasana) and literally turns it on its side, offering support from only one arm, one leg, and one side of the core. But because
Honor Your Unique Body With Three Versions of Hand-to-Big-Toe-Pose
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Hand-to-Big Toe Pose) is a challenging standing balance that strengthens the lower body as well as the muscles of the core. This pose also improves posture as it strengthens the muscles along the spine that help
Yoga's Health Benefits: Studies Suggest Yoga Can Help Calm Inflammation
“Inflammation”––most of you have heard this term that is being used by health care practitioners for all kinds of health conditions. Inflammation appears to be an underlying component in many health conditions including: Acid reflux Crohn’s disease Irritable bowel syndrome
Keep Moving: 5 Yoga Poses for a Happy Pregnancy
Yesterday afternoon, I met my team of pelvic physical therapists at the office for some photo and video time. Our model? Dr. Kellie, who is about to have her last week with us in the clinic before leaving on maternity
Hum Your Way to Health
With COVID-19 still wreaking havoc around the world, the race for treatment is on. Different organizations use different strategies to combat the virus. Just last week a biotechnology startup KNOW Bio in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina announced that they
Yoga for Pelvic Floor Health: Why Kegels May Do More Harm than Good
In seeking the cause of ailments such as back pain, constipation, or even dysfunctional breathing issues, the pelvic floor rarely shows up on the list of potential suspects. But physical therapist Jessica Reale and yoga educator Patricia Schmidt are on
Book Review: If I'm So Spiritual, Why Am I Still So Anxious?
As a yoga teacher, I have had students say they aspire to be more like me. What they mean is the calm, peaceful, stress-free yogi they see when I am on the mat. However, I quickly remind them there are
Protect Your Low Back in Plank to Chaturanga Transitions: How to Keep Your Pelvis Neutral (and Why it Matters)
The common transition from Plank to Chaturanga Dandasana (Yogic Push-Up) to Up Dog is challenging. For many, these transitional movements can create lower back strain if the pelvis is misaligned and the core is not engaged. So let’s examine the
Yoga for Beginners: Develop Your Breath to Transform Your Asana Practice
I was chatting to someone recently and she commented to me, "I've been to all these yoga classes, but I'm just not clear about the breathing." So I wanted to write this article in order to give you a few
Uplift Your Yoga Practice by Grounding Down
Words are important, and what we say when we teach matters. So kudos to yoga teacher and blogger Michelle Myhre, who wrote a thoughtful essay in Elephant Journal on cleaning up the language of yoga teaching by getting rid of
3 Somatic Movement Yoga Flows to Promote Better Posture
In this blog, I am inviting you to watch this video (20 minutes) with three consecutive Somatic Movement Flows® to help you unwind from stress, pain, and stiffness in your upper body. My intent is to support you in improving