To hold or not to hold? Is breath holding detrimental or beneficial to your body?

Do you hold your breath while typing, emailing, or texting? Apparently, this is such a…

The mechanics of exhalation and the preferred way to exhale in yoga

Normal unconscious exhalation is a passive process, as one simply relaxes the muscles that were…

What is your optimal breathing rate and why it matters

Many of your body’s physiological processes have a rhythmic nature: your heartbeat, blood pressure, digestive…

Gas exchange within the body: Don’t rush to get rid of carbon dioxide

Two years ago, my family and I went to the beautiful San Juan Islands. The…

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…

Dual roles of your diaphragm and why they are essential in your yoga practice

A diaphragm is the primary muscle of inhalation; it is responsible for about 75% of…

Your vital lung capacity: Why is it important and how can you improve it with yoga?

The last time I visited my mom, she asked me to show her some yoga…

Nose vs mouth breathing: Which one is better for your health?

In 2004, a documentary called Supersize Me made quite a splash. In it, an independent…

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?…

How chanting OM affects your physiology

When my son was little, I used to sing lullabies to him. Unfortunately, most of…

How can we stimulate the vagus nerve in our yoga practice?

Have you heard the term “stress loop” before? Here is how it works. When your…

Vital Vagus: What is the vagus nerve and what does it do?

The vagus nerve can be thought of as a superhighway that connects your body and…

The brain in your gut and its impact on your mood and behavior

When I studied anatomy in college many years ago, my professor never mentioned the enteric…

Yogic and Ayurvedic views of digestion

A model is a sort of mental construct that we use to explain and understand…

How does yoga help with digestion?

In my therapist training many years ago, my teacher had asked for a volunteer with…

Can twists “detox the liver”?

Yoga teachers and students like to be proactive about our health. We have strong opinions…

Does sweating during your yoga practice help you detox?

“I didn’t even break a sweat,” – says my husband disapprovingly when his workout doesn’t…

Yoga for stress relief – is relaxation really the answer?

In recent years, yoga has become a go-to tool for stress management, and very often,…