Hearing about the journeys that fellow yoga students have taking is a powerful way to gain insights and learn more about ourselves. Today I’ll be sharing with you the story of David J.
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We will all have different criteria for what we care about most in a mentor. I hope this article can help you to find a strong and supportive teacher or affirm your choice of teacher.
This article explores what yoga calls the Kosha model (the framework of layers) with some discussion about the Vijnanamaya Kosha; our intuitive mind, wisdom and clarity. It is the witness consciousness that illuminates all aspects of ourselves – the pleasant, the unpleasant the beautiful and the ugly. With practice we can gain understanding, acceptance and integration of all parts of our being.
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Our culture has divided the mind and body since Decarte. Our modern medical systems still separate the study and practice of healing the mind and body. But, the mind and body can not be divided!
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Ways to use your breath to increase relaxation, decrease depression and anxiety and feel more balanced.
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This article discusses three key ways to improve our postural balance. This is our ability to keep your body stable and to regain balance whenever there is a shift in our posture. Our capacity for balance diminishes as we age, which can result in an inability to maintain proper posture, balance, or stability during standing, walking and other activities.
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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.
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Since 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.
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Many 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.
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Many 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.
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Sometimes 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.
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Have 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.
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There 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.
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Take 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.
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Maintaining 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.
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Since 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
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Ahimsa 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.
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So, 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.
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The 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.
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