Yoga for Cancer
My review of Tari Prinster’s Yoga for Cancer is unlike any other I’ve written. I fully admit, I’ve picked it up and put it aside many times over the past few weeks. It’s come at a time when I’ve been shocked and derailed from my usual routines and outlook. Little did I know when I […]
Telltale tremors
We’re all familiar with the tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease. Less obvious symptoms, but still common, are the lack of facial expression, pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and constipation. Parkinson’s affects one in 500 people, usually over the age of 50. It does not have a cure. The disease progresses as levels of dopamine go down. […]
Accessibility and Yoga
Allihopa is a colloquial Swedish term meaning “every body.” It’s also the name of Rodrigo Souza’s accessible and adaptive yoga community. I was so lit up by Rodrigo’s online workshop with Love Your Brain last week. More than 50 of us logged on to learn from his story and practice yoga together. The practice was open […]
Make no bones about yoga: a book review
Yoga for Osteoporosis—by Dr. Loren Fishman and yoga therapist Ellen Saltonstall—is an essential guide for teachers and therapists who have students with osteopenia and osteoporosis, or those at risk of developing the conditions. The book is also a great resource for people living with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Fishman and Saltonstall will help you understand your […]
Arthritis and Yoga
Yoga practices are so varied and adaptable that there is something helpful for everyone. I picked up a stack of books at my local library the other day. Yoga Therapy for Arthritis, Yoga for Diabetes, Yoga for Osteoporosis, Yoga for Grief and Loss, Yoga Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease, and Yoga for Cancer. Most of these […]
Give your senses a break with pratyāhāra
We are what we eat… and taste, smell, see, hear, and touch. Every sensory experience is digested through the nervous system, the body and mind. When we eat good food, we feel good. We’re stronger, more energetic, clear headed, and we’re better at fighting off infections. Likewise, our wellbeing improves when we smell something good […]
Dandelion sankalpa
Dandelions are a crop. That’s according to Ross Gay, avid gardener, poet, and author of The Book of Delights. He loves the taste of dandelion greens, and he turns our perception of them upside down. ‘Weed’ is not part of his vocabulary. Dandelion In choosing a dandelion as the symbol for Transition Yoga, I had […]
The day I learned to think
I have a clear memory of the day I learned to think. One sunny morning, Mum and I were in the front yard. I was four years old. I know I was four, not five, because I started going to school at five. Before that, I had a lot of quiet time at home with […]
You don’t have to be flexible like Simone Biles to do yoga
Images like the one above give us the impression that we should be able to compete with gymnast Simone Biles to be good at yoga. I led a small group through a grief yoga practice the other day. A few days before the class, two thirds of my students got in touch to warn me […]
Getting ready for a private yoga lesson at home
You’ve just scheduled your first private yoga lesson. What do you need to prepare? The teacher is coming to your home this week. Maybe she’s already on her way there and you suddenly think, I don’t have a yoga mat. How are we going to do this? A yoga teacher who offers private lessons will […]