Liberated Yoga
Yoga is for everyone!
Topic: Yoga Therapy
Sensations as nutrition
This is a concept that I have been developing in my practice and teaching for the last few years, and my Liberated Yoga approach is based on the new research about the nervous system. As a teacher I sometimes hear from my students, as they are doing a pose, that they feel something in their back, hip, etc. "Should I be concerned?" they ask me. "I feel something!" The reason for their uncertainty is that many people live such cerebral lives, that they notice sensations from the body only w...
Yoga for the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is our first line of defense again illness: once the invading forces gain access inside the body, it is here that the lymphocytes mobilize to neutralize the invaders. Yoga has long been recognized for its ability to boost the immune system, not just on the physical, but also on the psychic level - our ability to keep healthy not only the body, but also the mind. What is the lymphatic system and how can one activate and nourish it? Lymph is a clear, slightly yellowish...
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The Many Dimensions of a Human Being
The Pancha Mayas or the Five Sheaths Do you agree that there is more to you than meets the eye? That you are more than just this flesh and bones? We have feelings, thoughts, memories. Our awareness of these other dimensions of reality is what makes us different from animals. It is our unique privilege to have the ability to perceive reality beyond our senses, and by denying ourselves this privilege we violate something sacred – our right to fulfill our full po...
When does a muscle need to be "released" and when does it need to be "stretched"?
Because muscles can be in different states, such as locked short or locked long (which means they are usually weak and dehydrated due to poor circulation), stretching a muscle that feels "tight" is not necessarily a wise thing to do as a matter of default. When muscles are out of balance due to postural and movement habits, they pull too much on some bones, not enough on others, preventing better alignment in both Yoga poses and daily life. What we want is a strong muscle, one that can both elo...
HGH - Human Growth Hormone - is it Really the Fountain of Youth?
It has been getting some attention in the media and especially among the supplement companies, eager to make a fortune by exploiting our fear of death and aging. They call it the "youth hormone", because it helps to shrink fat cells and maintain lean muscle, it facilitates blood flow and collagen production, giving one a youthful glow. It boosts the mood and gives us greater energy and an improved sex drive. How much would you pay to have all that? How about, nothing at all! Below is a FREE...
Eight Best Yoga Poses to do Every Day
Not all Yoga poses are appropriate for everyone, but there are some that most people can and should do. I paired down to just a few of my favorites that are going to make you feel great every day no matter your age, gender, or experience. Sometimes I say that just because you can, doesn't mean you should. This is the opposite - if you can, you definitely should! These are simple, easy poses that are not strenuous on the body, but each one has a long list of benefits. By including these p...
Mantra - The Most Subtle Tool
If asana is more like a sledge hammer, then mantra can be like a fine scalpel in a Yoga Therapist's toolbox. Not everyone is comfortable with a mantra, so with this post I am hoping to dispel some of the concerns as well as to inspire you to give it a try. Vocalizing sounds has long been a powerful method for self-expression in our species, and long ago people noticed the power of sound on our mental, emotional, and therefore, physical state. Vocalizations can be used in a variety of ways to...
Hip Hip Hooray!
I appreciate the hips and pelvis much more now that I have suffered through a period of sacral instability followed by a long rehabilitation with Yoga Therapy . I now feel so much more stable in my SI joints and my balance is better than it has ever been. If you feel clicking and grinding noises in your pelvis, hips, or sacroilliac joints (where the sacrum meets your hip bones), if you have periods of intense sciatica, then keep reading - you are in good company. My problems started five ye...
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Striking the Right Balance
There are two sides of the coin in our Yoga practice. On the one side we have "Use or lose it", while on the other "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Finding the right balance between these two well-taken points is not easy, and often it is by trial and error that we learn where that balance is. On the one hand, we are encouraged to do more, to go deeper into the poses, to try new things and "grow" in our practice. As we age it is important to keep doing what keeps you feelin...
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Relaxing with Miracle Balls
What a relaxing trip I had to Mexico! While on vacation, I have made a few new videos, and this one is a long-awaited tutorial on relaxing with the Miracle Balls. I have become totally addicted to using them, and I highly recommend them for everyone. My method is different than the instructions they come with, but you can find your preferred way of using them, too!
