Going to a yoga class for the first time can be intimidating, even when the class is online! We create all sorts of stories in our head about why we can’t go, or what might happen when we get there: “I will be the worst one there!” “I don’t have the right (clothes, mat, props,
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Lower back pain is common in adults as we age. A quick Google search shows that anywhere from 39-84% of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their life. Yoga and core strengthening practices can give us the strength and mobility that we need to support our lower back, both preventing pain, and
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If you are a woman “of a certain age,” you may know how important it is to have a strong Pelvic Floor. If you have ever given birth vaginally, you may understand the effects of gravity on our internal organs and our ability to hold liquids there. Sometimes it can feel like we are bottoming
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Many of us are familiar with the sensation of “tightness,” but do you really know what to do about it? It might seem straightforward: when your body feels tight, you stretch. In a practical sense, however, that is not always the case. In this post I will discuss the different types of “tight,” what it
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There are many causes of lower back pain as we age, and tight hips are one of them. “Hips” is a combination term that includes the hip flexors (iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and tensor fascia latae) and the buttocks (gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, piriformis, and deeper hip rotators). Imbalances in these muscles can lead
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When I was 39, I suddenly started having some weird lower back pain. I was very active with yoga and swimming and didn’t want my back to hold me back. I wasn’t even 40! Why was this happening?! I went to see one of the physical therapists that I worked with (I am also an
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Foam rolling and stretching are both helpful practices if you are an active person, but knowing when Foam Roll and when to Stretch can be tricky. There are general guidelines that will aid your athletic performance, but your body can also give you valuable information as to what it requires. You just need to understand
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When teaching yoga, it is common to instruct students to “Listen to your body.” What does that actually mean and why does it matter as we age? It doesn’t mean listening with your ears, but instead, listening with your “kinesthetic sense.” We listen to be able to stretch and strengthen without pushing our body to
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Yoga Asana practice (the physical practice of yoga) is a symmetrical practice where everything you do on one side, you do to the other side. Yoga also moves the body through multiple planes of movement, creating a balanced practice that benefits most bodies. Many sports and activities, while fun, cause physical imbalances since they aren’t
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In my 3 previous posts, I went over 9 strategies relating to self-care during the holidays: Movement, Sleep, Meditation, Hydration, Nourishing Foods, Self-Compassion, Planning, Knowing Your Audience, and Breathwork. This final post in the series is about two practices: Journaling and Gratitude. Both of these practices support your return to what matters, help you know
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