See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 11/03/09

Like most people, I did not start practicing yoga with the idea that I would teach. Yoga as a practice was challenge enough. I come from a family that values intellect, a child of Japanese immigrants who use the body to cart the brain from place to... See more

Like most people, I did not start practicing yoga with the idea that I would teach. Yoga as a practice was challenge enough. I come from a family that values intellect, a child of Japanese immigrants who use the body to cart the brain from place to place. Yoga was a door to experiencing my body in ways I had only vaguely sensed before, both kinesthetically and intuitively. My first two years of yoga were an emotional roller-coaster, as I foundered among feelings I hardly understood, previously buried deep in my body. I fell into teaching when a classmate of mine from the Piedmont Yoga Studio Advanced Studies program in Oakland, California, asked me to substitute teach her yoga class for six weeks. I had a lot of fun doing it, the students in the class seemed really grateful—in fact they told me I was a good teacher—and this is what made me think maybe I had stumbled into something I wanted to keep doing. But teaching has not come easy. To teach yoga, you must be true to your... See less

See this at: urbanoutfitters.com| Added on 10/21/09

Modern hooded Norwegian intarsia scarf from Scandinavian knitwear innovators Arne & Carlos. Extra wide and cozy, with intricately patterned detailing. Imported. Machine wash. * 82"l, 10"w scarf, 17"w hood

Modern hooded Norwegian intarsia scarf from Scandinavian knitwear innovators Arne & Carlos. Extra wide and cozy, with intricately patterned detailing. Imported. Machine wash. * 82"l, 10"w scarf, 17"w hood See less

Highlights: $48.00

See this at: freepeople.com| Added on 10/21/09

Knit thermal long sleeved top with banded scoop neckline. Metal studded and button detail on oversized banded cuffs.

Knit thermal long sleeved top with banded scoop neckline. Metal studded and button detail on oversized banded cuffs. See less

Highlights: $58.00

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 10/16/09

Mastering dropbacks can take years, so try not to rush the process. Instead, be curious about as you evolve on your path toward the pose. Falling back into space takes a lot of faith. To develop confidence and skill, practice dropping back at a wall... See more

Mastering dropbacks can take years, so try not to rush the process. Instead, be curious about as you evolve on your path toward the pose. Falling back into space takes a lot of faith. To develop confidence and skill, practice dropping back at a wall for as long as you need to. Keep your eyes wide open. Make sure your feet and legs stay in Tadasana-like alignment, breathe into your back body, and feel a strong connection between the earth and your feet. That connection is what will give you the ability to soar up and back into your backbend. When you decide to come away from the wall, start by having a partner nearby as a security blanket. Establish your firm and organized Tadasana with your feet slightly wider than your hips and your palms together. Lift your chest but don't let your head go back until you absolutely can't look forward any more. Keep your legs straight! Press your thigh bones back, back, back, even though your pelvis is moving forward in space—this will help keep you... See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 03/29/07

If you're a passionate yoga practitioner, you've probably noticed the ways yoga works—maybe you're sleeping better or getting fewer colds or just feeling more relaxed and at ease. But if you've ever tried telling a newbie how it works, you might find... See more

If you're a passionate yoga practitioner, you've probably noticed the ways yoga works—maybe you're sleeping better or getting fewer colds or just feeling more relaxed and at ease. But if you've ever tried telling a newbie how it works, you might find that explanations like "It increases the flow of prana" or "It brings energy up your spine" fall on deaf or skeptical ears. As it happens, Western science is starting to provide some concrete clues as to how yoga works to improve health, heal aches and pains, and keep sickness at bay. Once you understand them, you'll have even more motivation to step onto your mat, and you probably won't feel so tongue-tied the next time someone wants Western proof. I myself have experienced yoga's healing power in a very real way. Weeks before a trip to India in 2002 to investigate yoga therapy, I developed numbness and tingling in my right hand. After first considering scary things like a brain tumor and multiple sclerosis, I figured out that the cause... See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 03/15/07

It's the stuff of a yoga teacher's nightmare: You're leading your class, and it's going seamlessly. Everything is flowing so perfectly, in fact, that you're starting to wonder if anyone is actually paying attention to the subtle nuances of your... See more

It's the stuff of a yoga teacher's nightmare: You're leading your class, and it's going seamlessly. Everything is flowing so perfectly, in fact, that you're starting to wonder if anyone is actually paying attention to the subtle nuances of your instruction. Nothing, you think, can shake your students. Then you attempt to take them from Down-Dog into Warrior I, and the unthinkable happens. You mean to say, "Step your right foot between your hands," but somehow you tell them, "Step your right hand between your legs." In the time it takes to make this simple yet deeply flawed instruction, your flock dissolves from the cohesion of a well-choreographed ballet corps into abject confusion. Some students, anticipating Warrior I, do what you meant to ask. Others look around in bewilderment. And, yes, others timidly place their right hand between their legs. Suddenly you realize that your students are indeed listening intently, and that language matters. If you've ever had a moment like this,... See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 01/25/07

When it comes to preventing or curing a headache, there is no substitute for a thorough, daily yoga program. The following sequence offers poses that are helpful for opening the chest and stretching and relaxing the upper back and neck. Include them... See more

When it comes to preventing or curing a headache, there is no substitute for a thorough, daily yoga program. The following sequence offers poses that are helpful for opening the chest and stretching and relaxing the upper back and neck. Include them in your regular practice if you are prone to headaches and see if they help bring some relief and new awareness. Breathe deeply and slowly during all the postures and remember to relax the forehead, eyes, jaw, and tongue. The first part of the program is prevention, practiced when you do not have a headache. The second part, beginning with Supta Baddha Konasana, may be helpful in relieving a headache when it first begins. You will have better results if you start stretching and releasing at the first sign of a headache, before the muscles go into spasm. See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 02/03/07

"No one will ever have the last word about yoga," says Ukrainian teacher Andrey Lappa, who calls his own approach Universal Yoga. "Yoga is like mathematics or physics; there will always be more to discover. And as lifestyles change, the methods of... See more

"No one will ever have the last word about yoga," says Ukrainian teacher Andrey Lappa, who calls his own approach Universal Yoga. "Yoga is like mathematics or physics; there will always be more to discover. And as lifestyles change, the methods of yoga must change, too." Though deeply respectful of traditional yoga teachings, Lappa has never been afraid of extending those approaches with new techniques. Much as he loves the hatha yoga tradition, he thinks there are gaps and imbalances within it. "No yoga school developed poses equally for the legs and arms," he says, "and most poses that train the arms focus on strength." Of the few poses that focus on arm flexibility, most are active stretches, like Viparita Namaskar, Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose), and Garudasana (Eagle Pose), which use the strength of one set of muscles to stretch others. To create different and much deeper stretches for the arms and shoulders, Lappa developed the series of passive stretches presented here. See less

See this at: whipup.net| Added on 01/30/07

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips. writes in asking: a full-time working mother of two toddlers, I would love to take some classes but can never... See more

Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips. writes in asking: a full-time working mother of two toddlers, I would love to take some classes but can never manage the time away from home. I would love to hear about online classes, especially any that are more challenging. See less

See this at: cnn.com| Added on 01/30/07

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- In Tara Guber's ideal world, American children would meditate in the lotus position and chant in Sanskrit before taking stressful standardized tests. when she asked a public elementary school in Aspen, Colorado, to... See more

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- In Tara Guber's ideal world, American children would meditate in the lotus position and chant in Sanskrit before taking stressful standardized tests. when she asked a public elementary school in Aspen, Colorado, to teach yoga in 2002, Christian fundamentalists and even some secular parents lobbied the school board. They argued that yoga's Hindu roots conflicted with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state. as a New Age nut out to brainwash young minds, Guber crafted a new curriculum that eliminated chanting and translated Sanskrit into kid-friendly English. Yogic panting became "bunny breathing," and "meditation" became "time in." stripped every piece of anything that anyone could vaguely construe as spiritual or religious out of the program," Guber said. more than 100 schools in 26 states have adopted Guber's "Yoga Ed." program and more than 300 physical education instructors have been trained... See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 01/25/07

Judging from the complaints of my physical therapy clients, chronic neck tension is a modern American epidemic. Even the more benign consequences—the painful crick in your neck, the dull headache radiating from the back of your skull—can be mighty... See more

Judging from the complaints of my physical therapy clients, chronic neck tension is a modern American epidemic. Even the more benign consequences—the painful crick in your neck, the dull headache radiating from the back of your skull—can be mighty annoying. The more serious ones, like pinched nerves, arthritis, and damaged discs, can be debilitating. Fortunately, yoga can do wonders for neck problems while simultaneously teaching safer, healthier posture habits. But some of the poses that can help you, like Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand), can also do harm if performed incorrectly. It's important to approach them with knowledge of proper alignment. Let's take a look at the muscles of the back of the neck. Why do they cause so much trouble, and how can we use yoga to help them function better? The primary muscles of the back of the neck are the levator scapulae, which extend from the cervical (neck) vertebrae to each inner upper scapula (shoulder blade). Lying on... See less

See this at: pranamaya.com| Added on 01/19/07

with Paul Grilley - $39.95 • 4 hours • 1 DVD • ALL regions Pranamaya is very excited to offer the highly acclaimed Anatomy for Yoga, the first in a series of lectures and seminars from Paul Grilley. Paul's work is broad-reaching and provocative, and... See more

with Paul Grilley - $39.95 • 4 hours • 1 DVD • ALL regions Pranamaya is very excited to offer the highly acclaimed Anatomy for Yoga, the first in a series of lectures and seminars from Paul Grilley. Paul's work is broad-reaching and provocative, and keeps him on the road giving lectures and leading workshops around the country. He is a leading authority on Yin Yoga (also known as Taoist Yoga) which embraces and examines the critical differences between the Yin and Yang tissues of the body, and his special interest is in teaching anatomy. His lecture topics include Taoist Yoga; Movement Analysis; Chi, Meridians and Chakras; Hatha Yoga Pradipika; and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Anatomy For Yoga The focus of this first project is comparative anatomy: understanding the underlying skeletal structure of the body, how the bones differ significantly from person to person, and how to use that knowledge in gaining a much deeper understanding of our individual practices. A wide range of... See less

See this at: amazon.com| Added on 01/19/07

From Publishers Weekly This book by yoga teacher and mindfulness meditator Boccio offers a welcome and ambitious synthesis that is unevenly executed. Relating the Indian sage Patanjali's teachings on yoga to Buddhist teachings, the author invites... See more

From Publishers Weekly This book by yoga teacher and mindfulness meditator Boccio offers a welcome and ambitious synthesis that is unevenly executed. Relating the Indian sage Patanjali's teachings on yoga to Buddhist teachings, the author invites practitioners of yoga and meditation to experience yoga's asanas, or poses, as occasions for mindfulness meditation. This relationship is both novel and logical. Buddhism grew from Hindu-yoga roots, and yoga, certainly as understood in America, could use a greater appreciation of its spiritual significance. Following a discussion of Buddhist teachings grounded on some central discourses (sutras) and heavily indebted to Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who supplies a foreword, Boccio provides four sequences of poses. The sequences generally repeat poses but are intended to lead the student to new understandings of those poses, thus encouraging growth in the discipline of yoga. As can be the case with yoga texts, this one has problems with... See less

Highlights: You Save: $5.39 (27%)

See this at: amazon.com| Added on 01/19/07

When I first tried this DVD I didn't care for it much. I had been using Paul Grilley's Yin Yoga for quite sometime and I liked his style. After spending more time practicing Yin Yoga I went back to Sarah Power's DVD and really like it now :o)... See more

When I first tried this DVD I didn't care for it much. I had been using Paul Grilley's Yin Yoga for quite sometime and I liked his style. After spending more time practicing Yin Yoga I went back to Sarah Power's DVD and really like it now :o) Originally her sequencing seemed a bit off and she was a bit too chatty to my liking. But after discovering the abbreviated audio option, I've discovered the depth of this practice. There are two Yin Practices and she holds each posture for a very nice, long time: 1. Yin Kidney...my favorite. Includes easy forward and backward bends along with wide legged alternate leg forward bending and twists. The audio portion of this practice is quite nice and I like to listen to the non-abbreviated version. 2. Yin Liver. Includes forward and backward bends for your liver meridian. She is very spiritual and tells "stories" about life situations drawing from Buddhist themes on suffering (dharma talk). I like this practice of the abbreviated audio since... See less

Highlights: 1 used & new from $34.95

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 12/01/06

Our free weekly email newsletter on all aspects of the practice. Subscribe | For teachers: free exclusive articles on teaching, philosophy, and more each month. Subscribe | Sign up for the new Daily Insight newsletter and receive a quick dose of... See more

Our free weekly email newsletter on all aspects of the practice. Subscribe | For teachers: free exclusive articles on teaching, philosophy, and more each month. Subscribe | Sign up for the new Daily Insight newsletter and receive a quick dose of yogic inspiration. Subscribe | Read the stuff we didn't have room for in the magazine! See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 11/27/06

Let the reading, and watching, begin. ♦ Beginner Books The Runner's Yoga Book: A Balanced Approach to Fitness by Jean Couch (Rodmell Press, 1992). One of the best introductions to the practice of yoga postures. Clearly written and well organized,... See more

Let the reading, and watching, begin. ♦ Beginner Books The Runner's Yoga Book: A Balanced Approach to Fitness by Jean Couch (Rodmell Press, 1992). One of the best introductions to the practice of yoga postures. Clearly written and well organized, with more than 400 illustrations and photographs. The models demonstrate three levels of practice—beginning, intermediate, and advanced—so this book will have a long shelf life and be useful for years to come. Covers nearly 100 postures (along with variations), all of them suitable for beginners. Also includes sections on yoga basics and organizing a home practice. Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind: A Guide to Personal Reintegration by A.G. Mohan (Sterling Publications, 1995). A traditional approach to yoga from a student of the late T. Krishnamacharya, one of the great yoga teachers of this century. Includes introductory chapters on yoga and personal reintegration and the role of the postures, basic instructions on 23 postures (including three... See less

See this at: yogajournal.com| Added on 11/20/06

Stand with your back to the wall, with your feet together. If that is uncomfortable, separate the feet three or four inches. Plant the feet firmly, feeling the ground with the soles of the feet. Check the distribution of weight between the right foot... See more

Stand with your back to the wall, with your feet together. If that is uncomfortable, separate the feet three or four inches. Plant the feet firmly, feeling the ground with the soles of the feet. Check the distribution of weight between the right foot and the left. Move front, back, and side-to-side on your feet to find the most balanced stance. Make sure that the arch of each foot is lifted, the toes spread apart. The placement of your feet becomes the foundation of your awareness of your whole body. Give yourself enough time to explore and discover how you are actually standing. When you are ready to move on, firm and straighten the legs. Bring the tailbone and pubic bone towards each other, but do not suck in the abdominals: Lift them. There should be space between the wall and your lower back; do not flatten the lumbar curve. With your "mind's eye," go into the area below the navel, inside the belly, in front of the sacrum. Locate this "center" point. Extend the side torso up, lift... See less