Yoga in the Skies (Airplane Yoga)

by RamEvening Sky by Melina MezaA long-distance trip may be in the offing for me and may involve “crossing the seven seas” as they refer to travel to Asia. I dread airline travel, especially if it involves sitting for more than five hours on a seat that is generally 17-18 inches wide with hardly any space between my knees and the seat in front of me. Added to the butt and knee discomfort, I have to deal with stiff hips, a strained back, swollen ankles...

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Friday Q&A: Scooping the Tailbone?

Q: I have heard that using the cue "scoop the tailbone" is passé, because people tend to over tuck their tailbones already. There is a class I attend where this cue is given A LOT—for tons of poses—tree, chair, etc. Is this cue "out" and is it ever appropriate? Thanks! Is there any research behind using or not scooping the tailbone? I tend to not. I hear point the pubic bone down. A: This is a very relevant question, for, as our questioner points...

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Featured Pose: Chair Shoulderstand

by NinaIn her interview with us (see Judith Lasater on Yoga and Aging), Judith Lasater mentioned the poses that she currently practices, citing "especially Viparita Karanai (Legs Up the Wall pose), Supported Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) on the chair and Supported Halasana (Plow pose) on the Halasana bench." In my post Judith Lasater's Favorite Poses, I talked about these poses and why, even though they may be a little tricky to learn, they're so...

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My greatest training aid: LIFTING CHALK. By Vic V. Goyaram

My greatest training aid: Lifting chalkBy Vic V. GoyaramLifting chalk is the single item which made the biggest difference in my training. I used to struggle with any exercise that required gripping heavy weights for extended periods of time, particularly deadlifts and shrugs. My palms would get sweaty very quickly and the bar would slip from my hands. I did try lifting straps but that felt very uneasy. Lifting chalk solved that problem, my back...

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Yoga and Cycling

by Nina and BridgetWhen I Drive a Flower Bicycle, I Will Have a Good Future by Yu YouhanAs someone who walks and gardens a lot, I know how valuable it can be to use your yoga practice to balance your body after intense physical activity of a different kind. Our editor, Bridget Frederick, uses her yoga practice to balance her body from all the cycling she does. She has been completely bicycle dependent for the last 5 years, and has experienced her...

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Aging, Telomeres, and Yoga: New Study by Elizabeth Blackburn and Dean Ornish

by BaxterA while back, we reported on an interesting potential marker in the body for aging of the cells connected to the genes called a telomere (see Stressed Mind, Stressed Cells and Science, Aging and Yoga). A telomere is like a tail on the end of DNA strands found in our cells, and an enzyme called telomerase influences the length and activity of the telomere. Studies done a few years ago by a Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UCSF in San Francisco...

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2013 Mr. Olympia Preview. By Vic Veeraj Goyaram

2013 Mr. Olympia previewWho will be the last man standing?By Vic V. GoyaramSadly this will be the first Mr. Olympia without both Joe and Ben Weider, the fathers of this contest. Joe Weider passed away this year at the age of 93 after decades promoting the sport of bodybuilding worldwide. The 2013 Mr. Olympia year's lineup is more impressive than ever as both the quality and number of top-level competitors. Most of us also didn't realise that...

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Featured Pose: Supported Plow Pose (Arda Halasana)

by NinaIn her interview with us (see Judith Lasater on Yoga and Aging), Judith Lasater mentioned the poses that she currently practices, citing "especially Viparita Karanai (Legs Up the Wall pose), Supported Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) on the chair and Supported Halasana (Plow pose) on the Halasana bench." In my post Judith Lasater's Favorite Poses, I talked about these poses and why, even though they may be a little tricky to learn, they're so...

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Friday Q&A: Autism and Yoga

Hidden Flower by Brad GibsonQ: I am a Yoga therapist in Minnesota. A family member has been given a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I found very little on the IAYT publications and I also found little references on your blog for this problem. She is a 14-year-old girl who is very gifted with eye-hand coordination and physical activities, so I have few worries about doing postures and easy pranayama. But before I design a practice regimen...

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Happy Anniversary! Two Years of Yoga for Healthy Aging

by NinaIt’s our two-year anniversary today! Celebrate with us again this year by listening to "Float," one of my favorite songs by Flogging Molly (I love the video, too). I still think that the chorus for this song, “Ah but don't, don't sink the boat/That you built, you built to keep afloat,” works perfectly as a theme for this blog. That, and the ending to the song:A ripe old age,A ripe old age,A ripe old age,Just doing the best I can!We’ve had a very productive second year! We now have 492 posts on the blog, covering a wide range of topics, including...

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