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”
Category Archives: Complementary Practices and Ideas
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”
Re-Rail A De-Railed Yoga Practice
Like so many things about yoga, what we do on the mat is a microcosm of what we do off of it. In the big bad world out there, no one really cares that we can stand on one leg and balance into Warrior III, but everyone would agree that being able to fall safelyContinue reading “Re-Rail A De-Railed Yoga Practice”
Human Anatomy and Yoga
This week, I’ve been attending on-line continuing education, which is required of Yoga Alliance members. I’m definitely not complaining — I think it’s important for teachers to be lifelong learners and to model that thirst for knowledge which improves practice. The organization divides training into several different areas: Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics, Techniques, Training, andContinue reading “Human Anatomy and Yoga”
The Bhagavad Gita
Thoreau and Emerson loved this poem. So did T.S. Eliot, a century later. And, now that I’ve read it, so do I. I first encountered it in my yoga teacher training, where study of the Bhagavad Gita was included in the curriculum alongside discussions of anatomy. Yoga Journal magazine goes so far as to call itContinue reading “The Bhagavad Gita”
Asthma, Yoga, and Children
Within the past few decades, there has been an uptick in the number of people diagnosed with asthma. At the same time, there has been renewed interest in yoga as complementary medicine for all sorts of various ailments. It stands to reason, then, that researchers would begin to focus on this intersection, and that studiesContinue reading “Asthma, Yoga, and Children”
Meditation Apps and My Own Practice
I will honestly make the following admission: developing a meditation practice can be difficult. Over the past ten years, I’ve had periods of dedication interspersed with times that were anything but that. I’ve focused on mantra and on my breath. I’ve read a number of books, and I’ve experimented with different phone and computer applications.Continue reading “Meditation Apps and My Own Practice”
Loka Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu
In this time of chaos and sorrow, it’s good for us to focus on service rather than on our own personal problems. Considering that we’re still largely housebound after two full pandemic years, this seems like a tall order. We need to remember, however, that we have the power to change the world, simply byContinue reading “Loka Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu”
Book Review: Breathe In Calm
It’s been a wild and wooly last few weeks, and my plans for January definitely involve going back to basics in terms of self-care. For me, this means asana and pranayama, but also some raja yoga – taking the time to study my mind body and learn more about how to work with it. BecauseContinue reading “Book Review: Breathe In Calm”
As the Seasons Change….
…so should our yoga practice, yes? It stands to reason that what worked for us in July might not be appropriate for December. But how do we know when and how to change? One very helpful tool comes from Ayurveda, yoga’s “sister science,” which offers us tools for how to organize our daily lives. WhileContinue reading “As the Seasons Change….”
Yoga Cielo Stellato 