Kids are natural yogis. They love it, and their little bodies are still working the way they were designed to work, free from the smartphone-inspired chin-down posture, and the desk-inspired slouched shoulders. They still lift with their legs in perfect squat form, and they still breathe deeply and fully. What a gift it is to […]
Is Your Yoga Teacher Qualified?
Every now and then, especially if you’ve been doing yoga for a long time, you might leave a class thinking, “Does he know what he’s doing? Is my yoga teacher qualified to be here?” If you were at a gym or a studio, probably. But all the right paperwork doesn’t make a good teacher. There’s […]
What Is Body Awareness, Anyway?
I talk a lot about body awareness, about how sports, fitness, and yoga all help to develop it. But what is it, really? And how do you know if you’re good at it? Body Awareness At a basic level, it’s knowing where your body is in space. This is proprioception, which Merriam-Webster defines as, “the reception […]
Understanding Your Chakras
Chakras (pronounced with a hard ch, as in cheese) can be a bit mysterious. Chances are, you’ve heard them mentioned in your yoga classes with little explanation of what they are or why they’re important. Chakras are energy centers in the body. There are actually thousands of them, but the seven primary ones are the ones […]
Wrapping Up Two Weeks on the Healthy Reset
You might remember that I started the Healthy Reset by Sunfood Superfoods (referral link) on April 17. This two-week vegetarian meal plan featured healthy vegan recipes, created by Sunfood, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—plus snacks! I’ve been a Sunfood fan for almost two years now, so I’ve tried a lot of their recipes and have […]
5 Benefits of Good Exercise Form and Intentional Movement
I am not a fan of sloppy. Poor form can actually be harmful, and good exercise form is more effective, anyway. There are several reasons I love sharp, precise movements when you’re working out. This goes for every kind of exercise, but right now I’m really talking about cardio. I tell the participants in my […]
Taking Care of the Self
We’re a busy people, and a lot of us take a lot of pride in that busy-ness. I know I certainly have at times, and I still struggle at the times I consider myself to be “not busy enough.” It’s a badge of honor to be busy. It means we’re making use of our time, […]
Is Yoga Dangerous?
Every now and then, someone writes some kind of article inflating the dangers of yoga. Can yoga make you too flexible? Aren’t more and more people getting hurt in yoga? Is yoga dangerous? Let’s break this down. Is yoga dangerous? Not inherently, no. It’s generally less dangerous than high-impact exercise or crossing the street. (I […]
Healthy Reset: Two-Week Plant Based Meal Plan
It’s no secret: I love Sunfood Superfoods (affiliate link). I do a lot of shopping there. At the beginning of the year, they revealed their Healthy Reset, a (free) two-week plant based meal plan and workout guide to get 2017 started on the right foot. Well, the first month of my 2017 was spent in […]
Tips for Sticking to a Yoga Practice
I get it: good habits can be tough to form, and when it involves physical activity it can be even harder. I don’t always feel like getting on the mat, either, but now that I’ve developed the habit, I do it anyway. (Read more about motivation vs. discipline.) So what helps when it comes to […]