What is (and is not) the “Core”
After recently hearing a yoga teacher insist that foot strengthening exercises were “core exercises”, it got us thinking: what exactly is the core? And how can we help the yoga […]
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All the Tea About Tucking the Tailbone
Let’s talk about “tucking the tailbone”. “Tuck your tailbone” is a cue that has circulated in yoga asana classes since forever. (I can confirm it was used in the 1990s.) […]
Why You Cannot Square Your Hips in Warrior I or Warrior II
From my earliest days of practicing yoga, I heard teachers instructing “Square your hips” in Warrior I (virabhadrasana I) and Warrior II poses (virabhadrasana II). [Scroll to the video at […]
Sustainable Strength for Side Plank + 3 Myths About Side Plank Broken Down
A pose that comes up frequently in yoga classes, yet seems to be quite challenging – even defeating – for many is side plank, vasisthasana. Many people simply don’t have […]
Savasana Anatomy Do’s and Don’ts
Admittedly, this is a picky post. But people do the darndest things in savasana. (Skip straight to the video about this post here.) If you teach yoga for long enough, […]
How to Cue the Shoulderblades for Handstand, Down Dog, and more
Three Fun Tips for Teaching Shoulderblade position in Down Dog, Handstand — and any time your arms are overhead. There’s an enduring myth out there in #yogaland (ok, many enduring […]
5 Actions to Get Your Foot Up Between Your Hands
The Instagram is full of fluid movers, yogis who can gracefully place a foot between their hands in slow motion, usually on the way down from a single arm hand […]
Posterior Chain Awakens: 5 Poses to Overcome Yoga Butt
Many patients who seek treatment in my physical therapy practice are yogis. Because I am both a physical therapist and a long time interdisciplinary yoga teacher, yoga practitioners trust me […]
How to Be a Mermaid: Smart Sequencing for Naginyasana
Want this sequence in a pretty, printable 1-page PDF? Click here for access. One of the loveliest of yoga poses is Naginyasana, Mermaid pose. It’s a variation of the ever-popular […]
Why Do Teachers Say Don’t Jump Back to Plank?
To Jump Back or Not to Jump Back (to Plank) Jumping back is a exciting and athletic transition in vinyasa yoga. From standing forward fold (uttanasana) at the front of your mat, you […]