Studies on stretching to improve flexibility have shown that when performed regularly (like 3-4 times a week ) over a long period of time, like 4-8 weeks, stretching improved flexibility in hamstrings, calves, ankles, and increased joint range of motion.
Read MoreSince both muscles loss and bone loss are apart of aging we will touch on both of these. I'll describe some of how yoga builds strength in our muscles and integrity in our bones and give you a sequence of postures you can do at home to reclaim and maintain your strength and vitality.
Read MoreMany people are finding meditation a valuable tool for lowering stress, lowering blood pressure, elevating mood and finding greater peace within. This is why I have recommended the Insight Timer to so many of my friends and clients.
Read MoreMany philosophies and religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, have examined the different stages of life to gain more insight and understanding into our individual and shared life experiences. I hope an examination of these stages will garner some insights for you as it has for me.
Read MoreSometimes we all need a little (or a lot) of help to gain more presence in our lives and make more skillful choices. I've created a 19 minute guided meditation all about bringing our attention inwards so we can be more in touch with ourselves. It brings the listener on a journey through Pratyahara.
Read MoreHave you ever noticed how good you feel after singing along to your favorite song? Singing acts as a conduit to mindfulness, similar to the state you would obtain through the practice of yoga poses or meditation. It has a sneaky way of making you completely present as you focus on the song you are singing, the catchy melody and the emotions that you feel at the time. This state of mindfulness is key to reducing stress and increasing our energy.
Read MoreThere is an idea that gets constantly perpetuated in the yoga culture: Going deeper or doing a more advanced posture is the ideal; It is better. It lives in the unconscious of many of us, because of the conditioning that there is No Pain, No Gain if we want to succeed and that we should Just Do It no matter what. This conditioning is often even stronger in men since old fashion ideas demand that men be tough and aggressive.
Read MoreTake a quiz to access your risk of falling and learn ways to prevent falls. Registration for the upcoming Therapeutic Yoga for Graceful Aging workshop now open.
Read MoreMaintaining or regaining your sense of balance, strength and stability and is a key measure in preventing falls. According to The National Council on Aging the number one step to preventing falls is finding a good balance and exercise program. One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma - related hospital admissions among older adults.
Read MoreSince the mind and body make decisions together about how we respond to our internal and external environments, intellectually understanding the science behind why yoga works can help it be even more effectively in increasing the health of our whole being
Read MoreAhimsa is a practice of not harming yourself or others. Others includes humans, animals and the planet. It is the fundamental philosophical work of a yoga practitioner and my favorite piece of yoga philosophy to talk about.
Read MoreSo, what is truth? Everyone has their own truth. Your truth may not be someone else's truth. Part of the yoga practice is to see this. One of the reasons to practice yoga is because it is one of those activities in life where we can cultivate observing what is happening in the present moment rather than being unconsciously caught up in negative judgments or wishing for something else to be true than what is true right now. As a Yoga Therapist it is my job to encourage this practice in my students.
Read MoreThe sanskrit word prana is often simply translated as breath, as in giving of life. It is that universal energy that animates all things, including ourselves. This powerful energy has the capacity to heal and support us on all levels; mentally, emotionally, physically and even spiritually.
Spring is a time of transformation, renewed energy, starting new endeavors and sewing seeds for future harvest. Here is a little bit of insight from The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient yogic text, about being wise in our response to change.
Read MoreIn chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita it says, “All Mankind is born for perfection and each shall attain it will he but follow his nature's duty. Now we shall hear how a man may become perfect, if he devotes himself to the work which is natural to him...A man's own natural duty, even if it seems imperfectly done, is better than work not naturally his own even if this is well performed. For all action is involved in imperfection, like fire in smoke.” I take this to mean that one should always be authentic even if it is not what society considers perfect. We are perfect in our imperfection.
Read MoreAyurveda, the sister science to yoga and the oldest known medical system in the world, offers some great tools for increasing your general well-being this time of year. It isn't a magic pill; It is a framework that helps you create gradual changes in your habits for the better. That is why it is important to start simple with things that you enjoy. So, here in the season of transformation, with the leaves falling, the weather cooling and the harvest, what are you most willing to change from your list of unhealthy habits?
Read MoreThe Koshas are distinct layers of our being. They can also be thought of an dimensions of ourselves that overlap and interrelate to one another. I apply them to my yoga therapy session to address and heal the whole being, not just our physical or psychological components.
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