Yoga poses are "kinetic keys" that unlock and open the mind/body connection . Precise and accurate renditions of the asanas are mo...

Slumping the back and collapsing the chest is a common occurrence in Sukhasana, especially in those who are new to yoga. Factors that can c...

In this post we explore the relationship between the tensor fascia lata (TFL) and the gluteus maximus. In addition I add a cue for engaging ...

The work of legendary furniture designers Charles and Ray Eames has been described as a balance of freedom and restraint.   Mr. Eames was o...

Many of the standing poses have a lunge component; that is, the forward hip and knee flex while the back hip and knee extend. It is not unus...

Our last blog post used a video to illustrate shoulder kinematics in 3D and reviewed how to externally rotate the humerus to protect again...

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body. It is a combination of several articulations: the glenohumeral, scapulothoracic, sternoc...

In our blog post, " Strong Thigh Muscles Benefit People with Knee Osteoarthritis ,”  we gave a tip for activating the tensor fascia la...

“One who shows a high degree of right communication will not fail in his actions.”  (T.K.V.  Desikachar’s translation of Yoga Sutra II.36...

A starting point for combining Western science with yoga lies in the term Ha/Tha. This Sanskrit word means Sun/Moon or Yin/Yang and implies ...

Aligning the bones accesses their inherent strength so that yoga poses ultimately require less muscular effort to maintain. For example, in...

Have you ever noticed how the pelvis seems to drift backwards in standing forward bends, especially Uttanasana? Sometimes you get an assis...

A series of recent articles from opinion leaders in the academic medical community have demonstrated the benefits of quad strength for per...

I think that one of the keys to a unified theory lies in the name Hatha—sun/moon and balancing opposites. Here’s a tip on balancing them for...

First, I want to thank Ashtanga instructor Robin Feinberg for her comment in which she states: “ …‘when the going gets tough, Ashtangis bre...

Say you’ve been working hard on your Downward Facing Dog and still can’t get your heels to the floor. This cue can give you and your st...

First, heartfelt thanks for all of your “likes” and comments on our Facebook page . We’ve heard from practitioners all over the world on h...

In this blog post, I go over some of my own experiences with combining Western science and yoga, but first we wanted to let you know that...

In Yoga Mat Companion Book 2 ( Anatomy for Hip Openers and Forward Bends ) , I mention an old Chinese proverb that says, “If you are unabl...

In The Key Muscles of Yoga , I point out that athletes experience improved performance and fewer injuries when they have a fundamental know...

First, thanks to Julia for the following question: “ As a yoga teacher, I often see students in Uttanasana with hyperflexion in the lumbar ...

Many of the benefits of practicing yoga cannot be explained by modern Western science—especially the mystical aspects. Nevertheless, an adv...

In our previous post , we discussed how tight hamstrings can produce hyperflexion of the lumbar spine in forward bends such as Uttanasana. ...

Hello Friends, Here's a quick 2016 update from the science literature on your hamstrings... Biomechanically speaking, tight hamstr...

I used to quote the writer, Emily Dickenson, as saying, “See the world in a grain of sand…” Then a friend of mine explained that, actually, ...

In our last post, Part II of this series on Uttanasana, we gave a trick for engaging the tensor fascia lata (TFL) and gluteus medius. Cont...

In the last post, I talked about how masters of various disciplines are continuously refining their art—even though they are masters. I foll...

Many moons ago I had the privilege of spending an extended period studying yoga at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, ...

In Uttanasana, fix the hands onto the mat and attempt to drag them   forward. This contracts the anterior deltoids and draws the upper body ...