02 May
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Vrksasana We’ve all practiced balancing poses in most of our yoga classes and aside from physical benefits … which range from improved coordination, increased physical strength, spinal alignment and more stability — balancing poses can offer many emotional and spiritual benefits, too. What’s amazing is when we do incorporate balance into our daily practice, the teachings from the mat can be applied into our everyday life. There are 3 areas that I believe need to be cultivated and can grow our balance, on and off the mat.  They are …. Strength and spinal alignment, focus and embracing change. 1 | Strength and spinal alignment –Read More →

08 April
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Do you ever have lower back pain and couldn’t explain why?  Or find that when you are walking your body favors one side over the other?  Or if you sit with your legs crossed, one leg goes to sleep?  These all are most likely attributed to the dysfunction or imbalance of the hips. 1 | Hips are the support system for our whole body Hips are the support system for our whole bodyOur hips are the largest ball and socket joint in the body and the muscles (which support the pelvic and upper skeletal system ) are are some of the most powerful, which assistsRead More →

01 March
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Backbends If you work a job where you are sitting most of the time, it is likely that your posture is hunched primarily due to computer usage. People also hunch when they are looking at their cell phone – next time you go out, watch someone as they text or play on their phone. Their shoulders will often be hunched, and their neck protruded forward.  Or if you are sitting at home watching TV or playing a video game.  All of these are daily habits that we don’t realize we are doing but most are, so here are 5 primary reasons we should be backbending daily! 1| ImproveRead More →

01 February
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Forward Folds Do you absolutely love that moment in a yoga class when your teacher says, “Forward fold and gently grasp opposite elbows. Shaking our head no to let go of everything and then yes to all possibilities”? It’s one of my favorites as well because it’s such a fantastic feeling to take a break in the middle of a difficult sequence releasing the hips, hamstrings, calves, and cervical spine and resetting before the next asana. Are you curious why these feel so good or more importantly why these are so good for the body?  Here are some of my favorite benefits of forward foldsRead More →

07 January
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Twists January being the month of transformation or change moves our focus into twists.  Twists are my favorite pose; I’m naturally drawn to them. Anatomically, twists are postures that generally involve moving the shoulder girdle to face in an opposing direction in relation to the hips. There are different twists that target the upper, middle and lower portions of the torso, all having their own unique set of health benefits which is why they should be included in our daily asana practice. Here are my top five reasons why you should practice yoga twists: 1| Improve Digestive Function When you are in a twist, you will be essentiallyRead More →

03 January
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In Ayurveda
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So as you know we are in the midst of Kapha time….. here are some quick reminders of how to find more balance in this time of year…. During winter, the earth’s energy is drawn back into herself. It is a time to rest, restore, and go inward. The weather is cold and wet, which aggravates the Kapha dosha, a combination of earth and water. Though Kapha gives us strength, solidity, and endurance, an excess can result in feeling sluggish and confused, lacking desire, and having minimal enthusiasm. You may accumulate mucus, feel your digestion slow, and suffer from dull, achy pains. And since we’reRead More →

24 July
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I discovered Ayurveda over 10 years ago on my first trip to Rishikesh, India. I didn’t know anything about it, but I immediately knew I liked it. It just so happened, at one of our first stops on our way to Rishikesh from Delhi, we stopped at a gas station to go to the restroom and as I was wandering around, I found my first Ayurvedic book, Yoga and Ayurveda: Self Realization and Self Healing by Dr. David Frawley. Years later, this book is the one I still use to teach the foundations of Ayurveda and is a great guide to begin to understand thisRead More →

28 March
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In Retreats
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As I prepare for this year’s journey to India, it has given me time to reflect over my most recent trip there. It was the first time I had the opportunity to travel there alone; no students, no children, no friends—just me! As I sit and ponder what to share with you, I’m overwhelmed with all the precious memories of each trip but there are some definitive things I need to share…Read More →