We have just completed another great Thai Yoga Massage Level 1 training, and each time I teach this program, or give a massage, I notice that there are certain places in the body that elicit a great response in the client with little effort from the practitioner – and Neck Massage is one of those techniques. Very easy to give, this technique releases the stress and tension ..read more
This is a favorite stretch for the hips, back, and side of the body. Ideal for post Pilates, fitness, long hikes, or as a part of the hip opening or restorative sequence in your Yoga practice. Best practiced when you are warm and joints well lubricated. To Start: Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat and placed on the outer edges of your mat (wi..read more
There are many ways to use props in your yoga practice to support your body, enhance technique, deepen your postures, and experience deep relaxation. Most commonly used props include blankets, straps, and blocks/bricks, and even if you don’t have the yoga-fied version of these props, you can usually find something around the house that will work. Blankets ..read more
Practice Refinements for Sanuk and Knee to Shoulder I have recently had a few questions from a Thai Yoga Massage grad that I thought others might like to hear the answers to: Sanuk Q: I'm working on a polished wood floor and when I slide into Sanuk, the side mat that my foot is on keep sliding around. I need the side mat for my knee wh..read more
This Thai Yoga Massage technique is really easy to give and is most delicious to receive. The technique involves walking on your receivers feet, and it brings relaxation to the whole body. To begin, have your receiver lying face down on a soft but stable surface like a few yoga mats or blankets, with both of you either in socks or bare feet. Set their f..read more
The muscles of the buttocks/gluteal region are many and varied and include the large ‘gluts’ as well as smaller, deeper muscles like piriformis which help to move and stabilize the pelvis. For some, these muscles can become troubled by excessive movement, trauma, or postural habits. This can occasionally become a problem for some people; causing back pain, hip pain, and..read more
Becoming conscious of how we move, hold, and express our bodies is an essential step in lifelong health, and in workplace safety. Observing the tendencies in your body to tighten, tense, or hold awkward positions is an exercise that takes minimal time and energy, but has a maximum payoff. To improve your posture, enhance your performance, and decrease your stress level at work,..read more
Has stress got your forehead wrinkling, your jaw clenching and your shoulders perpetually shrugged to your ears? Chronic stress does more than deepen worry lines and tighten tense shoulders. Chronic stress is a main contributor to issues like overweight and obesity, emotional eating, sleep disorders and social anxiety. As well, chronic stress is a contributor in serious illness..read more
The most natural purification is one that is done with respect for the bodies' natural processes. Colonics, intense cleansing/fasting, nasal irrigations and other powerful cleansing tools are best used with the help of a trained professional. Ayurvedic doctors, naturopaths and Chinese medical practitioners can be helpful allies in your quest for detoxification and cleansing..read more
We all know that meditation is good for the mind, enhancing clarity, equanimity, and intuition. But, did you know that meditation is good for the body as well? It lowers oxygen consumption. It decreases respiratory rate. It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate. Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients. Leads to a deeper level of relaxation. Go..read more
I have received a few emails in the past few months from students and teachers on the subject of the feet, and thought we might begin a discussion of this important part of our anatomy. The feet are the most distant part of our anatomy to where we usually "reside" in our minds, and thus they can often be relegated to a position of little importance. That is, until they begi..read more