Every yoga practice must have purpose, order and meaning
Oftentimes our bodies try to get our attention through physical pain and discomfort. The messages that the body is trying to send us range from simple “Quit lifting heavy things[…]
Internal Family Systems (IFS) techniques can help yoga therapists accomplish two fundamental goals in their work with students: unblending (letting go of attachment, vairagya in yogic terms) and unburdening (minimizing[…]
In a recent yoga therapy session, a student of mine came to a realization that she would no longer be able to do certain yoga poses because of her recent[…]
When we have a persistent pain or health problem that doesn’t seem to respond to usual measures, it helps to take a closer look and see what’s happening within our[…]
Every student who comes in seeking yoga therapy is a complex blend of structural and physiological peculiarities, genetics, past experiences, perceptions, ideas, habitual patterns of movement and behavior, and so[…]
I recently watched a show called Fleishman is in Trouble, which unpacks the aftermath of a divorce. The story’s female protagonist, Rachel, played by Clare Danes, had a difficult childhood[…]
Last week, I read an article about a 45-year-old Silicon Valley millionaire who is determined to reverse the aging process in each one of his organs and revert them to[…]
Robert M. Sapolsky, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University, has been escaping to the Serengeti in Africa to study baboons in their natural habitat for over two[…]
Did you know that a horse’s heart is 17 times larger than an average human heart? If you stand next to a horse, your hearts would be on the same[…]
“Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know.”– wrote William Shakespeare. We expect a lot from our metaphorical hearts. We want them to know[…]
A painting is often a complex combination of the totality of it and the independent parts of it that come together to form the work of art. So, too, is[…]
Are you or someone you know having a hard time? Do you experience mental or physical pain, tightness in your chest or stomach, restless sleep, or just a general sense[…]
In viniyoga, we often say that the remedy we choose should match the type of problem the student experiences. When someone is dealing with a structural issue, yoga asana would[…]
What kind of tired are you? – asks Saundra Dalton-Smith in her book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity(1). This seems like a confusing question; how[…]
Time and time again, research shows that moving our bodies makes us feel more healthy, vibrant, strong, and happy. Even a little movement goes a long way; but if you[…]
Perhaps reading this first paragraph you’ll recognize, right away, why it might challenge a Yoga Therapist to figure out how to work with a new client who has scoliosis and[…]
A new client contacts you about ongoing pain that bothers him most in the mornings and after athletics that include running. He reports, and your observations confirm, lower back pain[…]
I first heard the term “developmental practice,” and directly experienced this approach myself when starting to teach yoga for low back pain ten years ago. Developmental movement practices are taught[…]
A new client reaches out to you, saying they are suffering with back pain. It has eluded their efforts to feel better. The ongoing or recurring discomfort is keeping them[…]
Some months ago, I met with a new student who’s been recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. She had scheduled a private yoga session to discuss her course of action. From our[…]
