Tag Archives: yoga

Yoga Therapy for wrist discomfort

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Yoga therapy for wrist discomfort:

This infographic reminds us that – since we spend most of our day off the yoga mat, the movements we make repetitively, like typing on the computer can build up their own tension. “Working for long hours at the computer with improper wrist/hand posture can develop ache/pain/tingling or swelling of the wrist.  If ignored, this can become a serious condition…”

If you then bring that tension and the posture it has created in fingers, wrists, hands, to your downward facing dog, plank, chatturanga, handstand etc, it can build up into some serious issues.Some of the tips given in this infograph are to keep your wrists straight while typing and using the mouse.  As well, it is important to take min-breaks in your day. If you check out my video clip, you will find a few suggestions for this break. Finally, remember that your wrists are part of the entire arm and shoulder chain, so the posture you have in the upper trunk will indirectly and/or directly be affecting your hands.

I think it is important to know who you are in asana, as well as how you are in asana. For example, if your goal is to remedy wrist discomfort, then you may either need props or modifications. Going into a group class when you have carpal tunnel and just banging out 100 down dogs is neither safe nor mindful. As always, any remedy depends on the status of the practitioner. Unsure? I give private yoga lessons 🙂

Yogatherapy for wrist discomfort

Daily maintenance is good to keep neutralizing the little stresses before they become major issues (like carpal tunnel syndrome) ~ and I like a mindful minute here and there so that when I do get over to my mat, I know who I am, how to modify, what poses and warmups will help/heal rather than strain/compress…to watch a yogatherapy tip from my computer to yours click the link:   Yoga Therapy for Computer Hands

Yoga Prop Perfect

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I teach yoga with yoga props, and love it. There I said it. Why? Click here for a blog devoted to the benefits of using them. No matter who you are I can bet that somewhere in your practice, a strategically placed prop will empower and power up your yoga practice.

You can see in this comic that T-Rex has short arms so the blocks help to add length which makes the pose more accessible to him. This means better alignment which = he is going to actually benefit from the asana rather than be overloading his spine, chest, arms etc. Your arms may not be ‘short’ but they might be extra tight.

Basically if the stretch feels too far away, bringing it closer with a well placed prop or two is going to allow you to stay in it longer and it will overall be healthier, so try it next time ~ reduce struggle and compression and increase comfort, stability and strength…so adapt and invite your practice to find you where you are or you are welcome to contact me for private yoga class assistance

prop perfect

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breathe

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It is still so cold outside as I look out my window, this is not what I see, but it is the energy I wish to invoke…fresh, growth, potential, possibility, encouragement, calm. I cannot help but take a picture of my houseplant, the new little shoot is just beautiful and symbolic of this season which is upon us.  I actually wrote a blog about purification, if you are interested in reviewing it – click here

new growth

The breath is one of the foundations of yoga practice ~ when breath and body movement are coordinated, energy circulates into the musculature and the opportunity for postural change is enhanced ~ a sunken chest becomes more open, shoulders release away from the ears, digestion improves and so on!

So breathe in fresh energy and release anything with your exhale that you do not need; in this way you are using the breath like spring cleaning even when it is still pretty frozen outside! After a few moments, your nervous system may just move from panic to peace and with very little cost, you have added a dose of regeneration and relaxation to your day 🙂

breathe

Menu of The Day : Health and Wellness

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Let’s start with a balanced yoga class. I teach today in Tenafly at 10:30 ( we may actually do some balancing poses!)  ~ and/or

Add a balanced breathing practice from my Yoga Mind cd at the end of the day to unwind after being so busy ~ and/or

Book a private yoga class with me to assess your needs and assist you in creating a personal practice and a balanced you
Menu of the day

Breathing: A Yogatherapy Perspective

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breathe into this moment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The breath, from a yoga therapy perspective, is both tool and toolbox.

Read on : My latest blogpost is now available on MindBodyGreen “Why Breathing Isn’t As Easy As It Seems (And How To Do It With Intention)”

As always, I am available both for workshops and private yoga lessons and you can download further options on my Yoga Mind cd

Setting Your Intention

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Intention provides direction. Helpful to be clear about what that intention is. A few minutes of mindful breathing can help clear the mind for this process.

In 20 years, I have heard many reasons why people practice yoga, and they are all valid. One of the things that I find useful whether you are building a home practice or at a yoga class, is to set an intention and check in with it periodically, mindfully.

For example, if, at the beginning of your practice you notice that you are really stiff in the neck, guide yourself to bring balance…watch that you are not tightening the shoulders or clenching your teeth in your poses. If you have a very stiff lower back, perhaps try more restorative poses that provide traction, instead of over doing strong backbends.

If you are setting goals for your day, your career, relationships, check that your actions bring balance and that you are moving in the direction of your intention. I am available for private yoga classes to help you with the process. When your practices are meaningful to you and do move you towards your state of equipoise, then you are using your yoga practice therapeutically 

setting your intention

Encouragement

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start where you are

 

This is encouraging. A few people I have spoken to lately say they lack motivation. They all have different reasons. I think sometimes the projects we are trying to get motivation for are very big compared to the energy level we have. We spend so much time ‘doing’ What to do about bringing balance?

– You can try to sit quietly for a few minutes and unwind; my Yoga Mind cd has practices from 5 -20 minutes..rebalance, reboot, refresh

– You can set up a 15 minute relaxation practice

– You can do a restorative yoga pose, like legs up the wall (viparita karani)

There are many options, if you get stuck start where you are, use what you have, do what you can….and I am available for private yoga classes which will address structural, emotional, physiological imbalances so that you develop awareness and ability to find a yoga practice that meets your needs wherever you are

 

Let Peace Begin With me

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This is beautiful. I led a class yesterday and found myself reflecting, as I talked students through the transition from savasana to the end of class, about how peace is our innermost self, beyond the masks we wear during daily life. Easy to doubt that, for sure. Life can be a frickin’ roller coaster. So it is definitely a choice to live completely stressed out or at least have a way to neutralize and re-balance. I believe my yoga practice does that for me and I am grateful for each day of insight and intentional movement.

I have seen some classes here which include 3-5 minutes of relaxation – in fact it does take around 15 minutes to really get to that altered state. You can give it a whirl any time. I have a few longer practices on my Yoga Mind Cd. Click here for some easy steps to build a home practice. I am available for private yoga classes as well. Let Peace Begin With Me.

let peace begin with me

Reap the benefits of a yoga therapy practice

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yoga benefits comic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or just read on 🙂

The benefits of a private yoga class include:

-You can ask questions

-It is tailor made for your body, lifestyle

The benefits of a yoga therapy practice are:

 

-Breathe better, improve energy

-change musculo skeletal patterns/posture

-cope better with stress, be calmer
-relieve pain
-improve flexibility, joint mobility, range of motion
-sleep better
-strengthen the body
-focus the mind, meditation, mindfulness
-tap into inner creativity and intelligence
-decrease negative emotions and obsessive thinking
-energize the system and fight fatigue
-improve circulation and immune system
-cardiovascular conditioning
-lifestyle management
-reconnection with spiritual heritage