In our post-pandemic world, we have grown used to not being touched. Friends hug less, acquaintances and strangers are less likely to shake hands, and yoga teachers have significantly reduced their hands-on guidance for their students. Is it time to bring back the option of touch, with student consent, in a yoga class?
Read MoreWhen we are scared, stressed, or startled, our heart starts to race and pound within our chest. It is an instant feeling, unlike the increased heart rate that comes gradually as we exercise. Luckily, yoga provides us with a heart-healthy, calming pose for just those moments…
Read MoreCardiovascular diseases contribute to 32% of deaths globally. Did you know that yoga has proven benefits for your heart health?
Read MoreYou’ve probably heard the terms core conditioning and training, but do you know which muscles make up the core? A strong core can help you move more efficiently and avoid injury. Use these yoga poses to strengthen your core in as little as 5-10 minutes a day!
Read MorePracticing Garudasana (Eagle pose) in a chair gives your mind and body many of benefits without the intensity of the standing pose…
Read MoreChakras help illuminate profound truths about whether we are more than just a physical body…
Read MoreIf you are new to yoga, you might not know the term Sun Salutation. If you are a regular yogi, you’ve likely not only heard of it – but also have been guided through many in your yoga classes. Often, we come to yoga class and do whatever the teacher says, sometimes not even really knowing the “why”. In yoga, understanding the “why” behind things can be just as illuminating as the “how”. Understanding the logic can help facilitate deeper personal growth and thus, a more robust yoga experience.
Read MorePartner yoga, at the very least, is simply fun - and can be so much more. Communication is the most important tool during a couple’s practice. Unlike a traditional yoga class where you quietly focus on your breath and turn inward, in partner yoga you focus on the other.
Read MoreFor some, private yoga is a steppingstone to overcoming their discomfort of being a “newbie” in a group yoga class. For others, it's a convenient home workout that's customized to their needs and energy levels. And sometimes, a private yoga class is a safe place for students to move their bodies, ease their pain, and release the week's stress.
Read MoreI knew right away when I walked in the door that Green Lotus would play an important role in my life. I actively was seeking a yoga teacher-training program that felt right and offered the skills needed to teach yoga in a professional, safe, and meaningful way. What I did not know was that I would not only graduate from the RYT-200 program, but also…
Read MoreBecause of its funny name, the Downward Facing Dog pose is one of the most well-known yoga postures. Even people who have never done yoga recognize it. You can find Downward Facing Dog in most yoga styles, which means you’ll see it in most yoga classes.
One of the reasons it’s so common is that Downward Facing Dog is an excellent posture for transitioning from one pose to another. It’s used so frequently that it’s considered a foundational pose in our modern yoga practice. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. If you’ve struggled with Downward Facing Dog or find the posture uncomfortable, read on to learn more.
Read MoreThe Moon Salutation, known in Sanskrit as Chandra Namaskar, is a series of flowing asanas coordinated with your breath. In contrast to Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar), which build heat, Moon Salutations foster cooling.
Read MoreViparita karani: You probably know it as Legs Up the Wall pose and, chances are, you’ve enjoyed this relaxing pose at the end of a gentle or hatha yoga class. This posture may look simple – and even feel simple; however, there is much more to it than meets the eye.
Read MoreOne of the many reasons a yoga practice supports physical well-being is because asana and pranayama build internal heat in nearly every kind of class that includes movement….
Read MoreI assert that pranayama is the single most accessible, practical, and effective tool available to reduce stress, energize, bring about calm, and improve our overall well-being. Period. We can go without food for weeks, without water for one to two weeks. We start to hallucinate three to four days without sleep, yet the lack of breath becomes fatal after only a few short minutes.
Read MoreIn the days when we teachers taught face-to-face in the studios, the bond with students was close, in distance and in energy; the ability to see each other and learn how bodies step into poses, breath, and meditation apparent with immediacy; and feedback written on students’ faces and in teachers’ words. With the emergence of virtual classes, caused for the most-unbelievable of reasons, a pandemic, much has been lost in this bond. Without being able to see each other in person, or at all with so many at-home computers muting the video, both student and teacher reach for each other in a halting way, similar to the childhood game when we blindfolded one player who had to haltingly find the others.
Read MoreMost often, chakras are described as spinning vortexes. The word “chakra” actually means “wheel”. How are these spinning vortexes created? What makes them spin?
Read MoreIn yoga philosophy and pranayama study we explore the concepts of sukha and dukkha. Sukha is light space. Dukha is dark space. To reap the benefits of the new things (sukha), we first make room for them by removing some of the old things (dukkha). The more space we make, the more room we have to fill with sukha.
Read MoreThe symbols in the tarot help me to bring forward what I already know, deep in the seat of my soul, knowledge that may be hidden or veiled at the moment. The Eight of Swords depicts a woman, blindfolded and with arms bound, standing with eight swords surrounding her, seeming to trap her in place.
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