Uttanasana is such a familiar pose that we often forget the finer points of the pose as we rush on to the more popular parts of our practice. Today I champion this foundation pose with a closer look at the teaching points and top tips for your students. Forgotten Forward Fold Uttanasana, or intense forward-bending pose, […]
Yoga may be about as good as physiotherapy for treating lower back pain, according to a new study published in a major medical journal. The results of the long-term study, which involved a large and racially diverse group of participants, come as welcome scientific support for using yoga as a therapy for back pain. Whilst
Forward folds are such an integral part of yoga practice. Some people effortlessly reach their toes while others feel like their toes may as well belong to someone else. Forward folds are iconic yoga poses. They are found in sun salutes, standing and sitting sequences, and they are a major hip opener in the ashtanga
Spring is here with it’s promise of glorious summer days. Soon legs will be tempted out from hibernation. Freedom from tights. No more trousers. Bring out the shorts and skirts I say! This is a truly time of joy for most. And dread for many as the reality of what nature has bestowed on us
Everyone knows someone who has “Horrendous Hamstrings”. But do these muscles deserve the bad press? I think not – and here’s why. Our Awesome Anatomy The hamstrings are a wonderful group of muscles that make up the bulk of the back of the thigh. They originate from the sit bone, or ischial tuberosity, deep in
You may have heard of the Iliotibial band, aka the ITB. It is an amazing piece of engineering but most people only learn of it when it causes pain!. Usually, knee pain. Here’s what every yogi needs to know to keep the ITB happy, healthy and pain-free. Anatomy The ITB is a tough band of
I am a terrible yogi. I am wonderfully capable of pretending to be a yogi, but if you peaked into the cacophony of my exploding thoughts, you’d run for cover. On the outside the appearance of serenity itself; on the inside all hell breaks loose. These past few weeks my unyogic-ness reached new heights. Ass
Some students have a tendency to skip through plank pose as they rush on into chaturanga dandasana. But is this fair? Planks can be modified to strengthen shoulders and progressed to build core control. Here’s how to bring planks to life and allow your students to love them as they deserve. The Power of Plank Pose Planks in their various
