I used to teach a lot of Corporate Yoga (now I teach yogis on lunch break at home), so I commonly hear about neck pain and tight, tense shoulders. Long hours in front of a desk invite the shoulders to creep up towards the ears like earrings, with mental stress yanking them up even higher. Office workers aren't the only people with this concern. In fact, if you have a neck and at least one shoulder (plus a cell phone, computer, or television), chances are you've felt it too. T

"Yoga is a powerful tool for liberating ourselves from unwanted, ingrained patterns.” ~ B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga opens our eyes to a fresh perspective. Presumed limitations are mere obstacles manufactured by the finite potential of the mind. In shifting your patterns of thought, you will change the outcome of your destiny. If you’re not sure what those patterns are, pay attention to the flavour (themes) and content (details) of your thoughts in the course of a single day. Journal

Since COVID-19, the entire world has hopped online, and yoga is no exception. As a small business owner and full-time teacher, my first response to our current situation was, well, heart-halting panic. And then? Inhale. Exhale. Now what. Although virtual yoga is not a perfect solution, I have to say, it comes pretty close. It’s made me more technologically savvy—and in our day and age, that’s empowering. Really empowering, especially for generations who weren’t raised on iPho

"If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." ~ Fred De Vito Research has shown that the average person uses only ten percent of their total brain capacity. Conversely, increasing scientific evidence shows that meditation improves brain function and stimulates new growth. The practice of meditation and yoga asana awakens dormant areas of the mind, sharpening our intuition. What's often referred to as a “gut feeling” or “sixth sense” is not the rare gift of a few extraor

Like it or not, each one of us is getting older. Whether you’re 25 or 95, not a single day passes that Father Time doesn’t add another minute to his clock. And while nothing can be done about this ‘unsavoury’ truth, there is much to be said for the youthful impact of embracing the process and enjoying each day as it comes. Yoga has been cited as the number one way to grow older gracefully. Here are a couple of things that set yoga apart from other forms of physical exercise:

Research shows that the number of people taking medication to treat anxiety and depression has steadily increased. Studies have also shown that prescription medication can negatively impact sex drive, energy levels, weight, and even potentially play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, kidney damage, and more. As North Americans, we are blessed with the opportunity of enjoying the benefits of both modern western science and ancient healing traditions. I

Sometimes survival is just that: an uninspired trudge through the monotony of daily life. Sometimes the effort to resist is too much, and we give in to the urge to collapse on the couch, because, “why bother?” There are days when gratitude is waning, and on those days, we have to trust. When anxiety builds or fear gathers momentum, we hunker down and select from our yoga toolkit: we breathe deeply, write a gratitude list, journal about the fear, pray, meditate, repeat a mant

Corn says, ""Like everybody else, there are moments when I look in the mirror and think 'Jesus Ch@#$t; what the F$% is that!?&

True or false: 70 is the new 50 and 40 is the new 20? Certainly anyone approaching either of these milestones—age 70 or 50—would concur with the statement, at least in theory. But it’s not about how you look, is it? It’s about how you feel. And I think most of us would be happy with a little luck (or genetic inheritance!) on both sides. Multimedia in general and health and wellness outlets in particular are the go-to source for learning what’s in and what’s out, who’s fit and

“Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur. Do not multiply your suffering in this way!” Sarah Young Avoidance of pain is one obstacle to spiritual freedom. Naturally, we do everything we can to avoid pain—or our sanity could rightly be called into question! But when this avoidance overwhelms our willingness to experience life (we’re scared to enter a new relationship based on our

Senior Publicist of New World Library, Kim Corbin, writes, “The Jewel of Abundance is a time-tested guide to wealth with a spiritual perspective. . .” This caught my attention. Abundance is a bit of a “hot word” right now; we hear it and read it everywhere, which makes it difficult to be interested in any new insights. That is, until Ellen Grace O’Brian’s new book, “The Jewel of Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga.” She says, “If we were fully rea

One of the questions I receive most often from students is, "What yoga can I do from home?" Without hesitation, my answer is always one of two things: 1) Do what you love. Practice what feels good. Whatever will get you to the mat, that's what you should do. When you climb out of bed in the morning and raise your arms overhead with a deep breath in, that counts! Add a stretch to the right and to the left, then bend over towards your toes (Uttanasana) and you have a yourself a

Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine We often hear the word “balance” and think of the seemingly impossible goal of achieving that smooth transition between work, home, family, fitness, healthy eating, and so on (good luck with that!). But equally important is the simple ability to stand still on your own two feet. Many of my senior yoga students have told me that the greatest benefit they’ve received from the consistent practice of yoga is the CONFIDENCE that comes with feeling

Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine June/July Issue Utkatana Konasana This pose is said to invoke the powerful energy of the Hindu goddess, Tara. The name derives from the Sanskrit root syllable that means “protection,” thereby designating Goddess Tara as being “one who protects.” Physically, Utkatana Konasana is an accessible pose that offers tremendous health benefits, especially for women. The obvious hip-opening effects of this wide-legged squat can help to prepare women for

Last Friday a student in my seniors’ class asked if yoga could help prevent osteoporosis. I’d researched this subject before, so I didn’t hesitate to respond: The answer is both yes and no. Let me explain. Osteoporosis Defined Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bone tissue to deteriorate, resulting in brittle and fragile bones (not to be confused with osteoarthritis, which affects the surrounding joints and tissues). The increase of fractures escalates dramatical

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine Feeling Off Kilter? Use Yoga to Ease Vertigo Balance We often hear the word “balance” and think of the seemingly impossible goal of achieving that smooth transition between work, home, family, fitness, healthy eating, and so on (good luck with that!). But equally important is the simple ability to stand on your own two feet. Many of my senior yoga students have told me that the most significant benefit they’ve received from the consistent p

After nearly three weeks into my abstention from caffeine, I opted to turn back and enjoy my hot morning java. No longer “physically addicted,” I endured three days of brutal headaches, sporadic nightmares, flu-like muscle aches and pains and —worst of all— three weeks of a nostalgic longing for something that had been part of my life for more years than I can remember. Flashbacks from Facebook showed gratitude posts with coffee at the top of the list. Every sip of tea had no

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine, April/May 2016 Issue Baron Baptiste on teaching his first class: “I got forced into teaching my first class by my father, who was leaving town and wanted me to substitute. I didn’t want to, but I went and taught it anyway . . . . He pushed me over the edge of the cliff, and instead of falling, I flew.” Far, far away in a small rural town by the name of San Francisco lived a humble revolutionary family of five yogis (mother, Magna; father,

It is impossible to be upset while breathing deeply. If I asked you to “get mad,” you’d likely hold your breath, make fists with your hands, clench your teeth, or tense your facial muscles. And if I asked you to relax, you’d probably soften the jaw and shoulders, take a deep breath or release a long sigh. This begs the question: are you angry because of some "unfair" situation or circumstance, or simply because you’re not breathing? Are you joyful and stress-free because your

“Health, success, and wisdom depend in great part on the battle between good and bad habits.” It is impossible to be upset while breathing deeply. If I asked you to “get angry,” think about how you'd respond. You’d probably hold your breath or make fists with your hands, clench your teeth, contract your facial muscles, and furrow your brow." You would not likely take the time to think of something that angers you. The body is a much faster vehicle for accessing the emotions.