Every yoga practice must have purpose, order and meaning
When we talk about the therapeutic aspects of yoga practice, they are often grouped by condition or symptom, such as yoga for osteoporosis, lower back pain, or better sleep. This[…]
When a new student starts private yoga sessions, we usually ask many different questions about their current state: the functioning of various physiological systems, stress levels, sleep patterns, lifestyle, mental[…]
Working with students one on one has always been my passion. I love every aspect of private yoga work—getting to know a new client; trying to figure out who they[…]
Various qualities of the dosha can become imbalanced and lead to a state of ill health. The imbalance can happen because of an excess in a particular quality within the[…]
A great big thank you to all of you who completed our Reader Survey! It gives me a glimpse into what you are thinking and what you are dealing with[…]
I recently read an article about some major employers closing down their operations for weeks at a time to make sure that all their employees could get a break. The[…]
Last week we discussed how to set long-term goals for your work with yoga students. Once the student (with the teacher’s help) gains clarity on what they wish to accomplish[…]
When we work with yoga students one-on-one, we always begin by identifying each student’s unique needs. The first question we always ask our new yoga students is, “What do you[…]
Yoga teachers and therapists often handle student information that is considered private and therefore bear certain responsibilities under the HIPAA. It is the personal responsibility of every yoga teacher and[…]
About ten years ago, I ran a wellness center that housed different types of practitioners, including yoga teachers, massage therapists, acupuncturists, and movement therapists. One day a laptop belonging to[…]
I will never forget the description of the experience my yoga teacher Gary Kraftsow shared with us about his recovery from brain surgery many years ago. As I remember it,[…]
Humans have used body movements and hand gestures to tell stories and facilitate particular psychological states since the beginning of time. For example, Hawaiian hula dance was meant to promote[…]
When we work with yoga students one-on-one, it is essential to keep detailed notes of our work. Those notes help us determine students’ challenges and strengths; develop an appropriate plan[…]
Our bodies reflect our personal stories and our journeys, both physical and psychological. They hold traces of our daily movement patterns, history of injuries (physical and emotional), and hints of[…]
Every time a new student comes to yoga, the teacher needs to develop some understanding about who this person is and what they need. It is particularly important if the[…]
When students arrive in our yoga classes and private yoga sessions, they usually have a particular obvious reason for seeking our services. It often involves pain or limited mobility in[…]
Several months ago I was asked to write an article for Yoga Therapy Today exploring self-care options for yoga therapists. I was thrilled to do it. I used this opportunity[…]
Over the past several months the subject of breathing had become particularly charged. We keep hearing about breathing everywhere: the phrase ‘I can’t breathe’ became a symbol of police brutality,[…]
Yesterday morning I was trying to do my pranayama practice, as my 9-year old was bouncing on furniture around me, my puppy was chasing his tail knocking over everything in[…]
For the last several weeks, my neighborhood has been having Happy Hour get-togethers on Thursday evenings to check in and make sure everybody was doing OK. We keep safe distance[…]
