The Power of Healthy Habits: Yoga Changes Gene Expression Linked to Chronic Inflammation
Everyone has experienced inflammation as a temporary phenomenon in response to injuries or other challenges that activate the immune system. This is a useful response that is part of the body’s natural defense system. When inflammation becomes chronic, however, it’s
Make Your Practice Count: 3 Steps to More Effective Yoga Poses
“Raise your hand if you are busy,” my teacher Gary Kraftsow likes to prompt at his workshops. This always gets the same reaction: a short disbelieving laugh, as in “Who isn’t?” Yes, we are all busy, so our time matters.
Savasana: A Time to Rest or a Time to Awaken?
I can almost hear the collective sigh of relief when I tell my students it’s time to transition to the period of rest at the end of each yoga class called Savasana, literally translated as “Corpse Pose.” As each yoga
Enhancing Body Awareness: 5 Ways to Nurture Your Neck In Your Yoga Practice
Do you ever feel pain in your neck? You’re not alone. According to the American Osteopathic Association, more than a quarter of Americans will experience neck pain at some point in their lives (1), but yoga can help. Many neck-pain
Neuroplasticity & Conscious Transformation: Working with the Law of Attraction
Shakta Kaur Khalsa is the creator of the Radiant Child Yoga Program and the author of “Yoga for Women” and several other yoga books and DVDs. In this interview with YogaUOnline, Shakta discusses her work with the Law of Attraction
Yoga May Aid in Treatment of Stroke, MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and More, Research Review Finds
Neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s impact millions world-wide. A scientific review published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience finds that yoga may be an effective adjunctive treatment. Yoga and other mind-body therapies are unique
Yoga Teaching: Disc Problems and their Relationship to Yoga Practice
There is a lot of discussion in yoga about what constitutes safe practice in regards to disc problems, particularly of the lumbar spine. To help make sense of the diverse opinions on the subject it is worth reviewing the anatomy
Deepen Your Practice: 8 Steps to a Powerful Home Practice
Whether you are a dedicated yoga student or a yoga teacher, a home practice is essential to your yogic journey. On a very basic level, a home practice allows you to explore the avenues of yoga in which you are
Don't Worry, Be Happy - Yoga and the New Science of Neuroplasticity
“What you put your attention on, grows stronger in your life.” ~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi In this interview, Kristine Kaoverii Weber, founder of Subtle Yoga and the co-director of the Subtle Yoga Teacher Training for Behavioral Health Professionals, discusses the
Yoga Boosts Cardiovascular Fitness and Psychological Health Study Shows
There has been an ongoing debate regarding yoga’s ability to improve cardiovascular and physical fitness. A study suggests that, for sedentary college students, regular Vinyasa yoga practice may boost both fitness and mental health, and reduce stress. Research Study Analyzes Benefits
Healthy Forward Bending: Is Rolling Up from Forward Bends Safe?
Recently I’ve watched a video on YouTube by a popular yoga teacher and couldn’t help but wince every time she instructed her students to “roll up to stand one notch at a time”. Why was I wincing? Because every time
Ahhhh: 5 Ways to Support Savasana
Ah, Savasana. The last and most understated pose of yoga practice. Those magical five minutes (10 if you’re lucky) of complete relaxation when everything you just did on your mat—all of those incremental physical, physiological, emotional, and energetic changes that
Multiple Sclerosis: How Yoga Can Ease Symptoms
Can yoga alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis? Research shows that people with multiple sclerosis report improvements in mental, emotional, and physical health after receiving a yoga intervention. In this article, Dr. Ram Rao examines just how yoga can help manage the
Right Speech: Five Guidelines for Mastering the Subtle Art of Mindful Communication
If you are brave enough to venture into online comment sections, you may feel as if you need a shower afterward. I know I do. Online communications are a minefield. The proliferation of anonymous commenting on blogs and social media
Stretch and Strengthen: 7 Poses for a Healthy IT Band
So often when something in our bodies feels tense or uncomfortable, our immediate response is to try to stretch, stretch, stretch the pain away. However, stretching alone often isn’t the solution. In many cases, our discomfort can be resolved by