The mechanics of inhalation and the proper way to inhale in yoga

In college, I majored in Russian literature, and I remember being fascinated by the sheer…

Breath: A path to stability in uncertain times

Over the past several years, the subject of breathing had become particularly charged. We kept…

Sleep: what it does for you and how to troubleshoot it

In Macbeth, Shakespeare states that sleep is “the chief nourisher in life’s feast.” And modern…

Yoga practice for better sleep

Two years into WWII, the US military realized that due to extraordinarily high levels of…

Three steps to help your yoga students sleep better

Our students choose to do yoga for all sorts of reasons, but in my personal…

Why your mind races before bed and what you can do about it

In the course of your day, how often do you close your eyes and disconnect…

Physiological reasons of poor sleep and what to do about them: Part 2

Last time, we discussed some biological reasons for poor sleep. Today, we will cover several…

Physiological reasons of poor sleep and what to do about them: Part 1

When you have trouble sleeping, it is useful to conduct a thorough investigation and try…

External factors that are messing up your sleep: Part 2

Last time, we discussed the two most important factors that can interfere with sleep quality…

External factors that are messing up your sleep: Part 1

A decade or so ago, I visited a small surfing town in Costa Rica. It…

Five kinds of sleep disturbances and how to identify them

Sleep impacts every aspect of our physiology, so it is not surprising that we always…

How dreaming helps us get over traumatic experiences (or not)

Have you ever had this experience when you get worked up about something one day,…

Is it easier to catch a cold when you are sleep-deprived?

Oh, the things the scientists will do in the name of research! Dr. Aric Prather…

Sleep for heart health: even one hour makes a difference

Did you know that each year, heart attacks spike on Mondays following Daylight Savings time?…

Does sleep loss lead to weight gain?

Most people do not practice yoga to manage weight, but we all know that maintaining…

The emotional roller coaster of insufficient sleep

Any parent knows that if the child begins to get cranky at the end of…

Does early morning yoga practice help or inhibit your muscle memory?

My son is learning to ride a bike, and he is not particularly thrilled about…

Does sleep help you to remember or to forget?

When I was in college, my classmates often pulled “all-nighters” in preparation for the exams.…

Yoga sutras about dreaming and deep sleep

I am a big fan of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. I believe that they are full…

How can we get to the state of pure consciousness?

In 2004, one scientific study made quite a splash. In this study, the scientists monitored…