Forgive me for the following cliché: we are human beings, not human doings. And yet, how often do we forget that in our busy days of checking items off our to-do lists? How many times do we attack ourselves because we haven’t “done enough with our lives”? Tuning into social media, finding the latest andContinue reading “Some Thoughts on Savasana”
Author Archives: Korie Beth Brown, Ph.D.
Hello again, dear Readers!
It’s been an interesting four months away from blogging. Did you miss me? I missed you, as I’ll share later on. I’m glad to be back, and looking forward to returning to regular blogging. Today, I want to say a few words about my break and why it was so important for me. In November,Continue reading “Hello again, dear Readers!”
Yoga and the Stomach Flu
It’s a lovely mellow Wednesday afternoon. By this time in a regular week, I’ve taught one yoga class and taken another. However, my digestive system, unfortunately, hasn’t been on board with either the ‘lovely mellow’ idea or the physical movement required of asana. In fact, I’ve spent the last two days either in the bathroomContinue reading “Yoga and the Stomach Flu”
Standing Poses and the Hip Joint
From an anatomical standpoint, certain asanas belong together; others don’t play well when combined. Because of the way human joints move, yoga classes need specific structure to minimize the prospect of injury. We can also use this knowledge to better organize our home practice. In particular, the standing poses can be divided into two generalContinue reading “Standing Poses and the Hip Joint”
Some Thoughts on OM
The three major religions of the Western world all testify to the power of the spoken word. Judaism claims “And God said, ‘Let there be light.”(Genesis 1:3), while Christianity states “In the beginning, there was the word.”(John 1:1) and Islam declaims “Fear God and speak a word that is right.” (Quran 33:70). In Eastern spiritualContinue reading “Some Thoughts on OM”
Back to Vata Season!
Summer is gone. Granted, Los Angeles is still seeing heat spells, but in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures are actually dropping. Even in southern climes, however, the sun rises a bit later and sets a bit earlier every day. Depending on where you are as you read this, the movement from summer toContinue reading “Back to Vata Season!”
In Defense of Sound Bathing
It sounds so wavy-gravy, doesn’t it? The act of lying on one’s back in Savasana, listening to singing bowls, bells, or gongs is definitely not mainstream. A friend refers to the practice as “listening to the air conditioner”. Whatever. While the “music” is definitely an acquired taste, sound bathing is sound complementary medicine. I perusedContinue reading “In Defense of Sound Bathing”
Using Yoga to Work With Grief
One of my best friends died last Sunday. I’ve spent this week in a daze, alternating between confusion, anger, and sorrow. I wish I could do something to spare everyone – immediate family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances – the pain they are feeling. I wish I could understand why bad things happen to good people andContinue reading “Using Yoga to Work With Grief”
A Yoga Practice for Anahata Chakra
Our heart chakra, named Anahata in Sanskrit and located eponymously, helps us to deal with relational issues. Especially during crises, we can benefit from a heart chakra practice to connect ourselves to others, to nature, to the entire world, or to ourselves. How? By warming up before practicing backbends, also known as heart openers. ManyContinue reading “A Yoga Practice for Anahata Chakra”
Caring For Your Yoga Mat
The pandemic has caused you to move your practice to your home, and so you’ve made the investment – you purchased your own yoga mat. If you’ve bought a popular brand such as Manduka, you’ve spent sixty or more dollars on the purchase. You and this mat will be spending a great deal of timeContinue reading “Caring For Your Yoga Mat”
Yoga Cielo Stellato 