Do you experience pain in the lower back/back of the pelvis-and is it aggravated by doing yoga?

This article first appeared in Australian Yoga LIFE Magazine in December 2017 issue and is reproduced here with the kind permission of AYL.

When we feel tired and sluggish, our inclination might be to  stay in bed for an extra half an hour-but in fact if we can push through that lethargy and move our body, that feeling of tiredness shifts and we start to feel more energised.

This practice is suitable to relax and gently mobilise the neck when the neck is very sore and stiff. AVOID any weight bearing postures on the hands such as Downward Dog, and standing postures which increase the weight bearing work of the neck.

Yoga is one of the best ways to naturally de-toxify the system. The lungs are the largest organ in the body, and thus have the greatest ability to rid the body of toxins taken in through diet, or absorbed from the atmosphere.

Neck dysfunction is one of the most commonly treated conditions by physiotherapists. Poor posture whilst standing or sitting subjects the spine to abnormal stress. Over time this can lead to structural changes in the spine.

What limits you in a forward bend-and how can you best proceed? Tips from yoga master Flo Fenton. This article first appeared in Australian Yoga LIFE magazine in 2011, issue 32.

Backbends are among the most energising and exhilarating of the yoga asana groups, and are the postures that create perhaps the most openness and freedom in the physical body and beyond.

any traditional hatha yoga practices come from a belief that the abdominal organs are the key to good health. Twists more than any other group of postures apply the ‘squeeze and soak’ method.

When the weather is cooler, we need to modify our yoga practice to help maintain our energy and ‘inner fire’. In yoga and ayurveda, the term agni describes an internal flame that is said to burn in the mid section of the body, in the area behind the navel.

Only have 15 minutes? The most common ‘excuse’ that I hear from students as to why they let themselves get out of shape, and let go of their yoga practice, is lack of time.

Yoga works on many levels, from the purely physical, to the emotional and even into the unconscious realms of the mind and psyche. Whatever we do with the physical body has an effect on the mind and emotions.

One of the great Darshanas (or systems of thought) of the Vedas (ancient texts from India, that contain treatises on philosophy, astronomy, cosmology, astrology, healing, science, poetry, art and of course yoga) is Tantra.

If the thyroid gland is overactive, there will be a feeling of anxiety-the heart rate will be unusually fast, and the blood pressure may be raised. We want to create conditions for rest and relaxation of the system,

This article is reproduced here by kind permission of Australian Yoga LIFE Magazine. It first appeared in issue 44.

Adho Mukha Svanasana, or Downward Facing Dog Pose is one of those postures that as regular yoga practitioners, we do a lot-maybe up to 10 times a day. Because of this, how we come into and maintain the pose is bound to have a deep effect.

Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) and headstand (Salamba Sirsasana) are troublesome for many. The good news is that by going through targeted preparation, and improving our technique.

In ‘Yoga and the Shoulder Joint Part 1’, (that first appeared in Australian Yoga LIFE issue 38) we looked at how to minimise strain to vulnerable shoulder muscles and tendons by first improving our posture.

The shoulder is an amazing joint. Having developed to allow our ancestors to swing through the trees, a fully functional shoulder joint allows 360 degrees of rotational movement as well as being able to support the weight of the entire body.

I don’t think I really need to rave about avocados as I don’t know anyone in my life who doesn’t like them. They are just perfectly perfect cut up in a salad or spread on toast or of course guacamole.

As we age, the body tends to lose muscle mass and become less firm. This not only can lead to instability and injury, but also to a loss of our more youthful shape!

This article was originally part 3 of a 3 part series on Developing a Personal Practice first published in Australian Yoga Life Magazine issues 11-13, way back in 2004-2005, and is reproduced in an edited form here by kind permission of AYL.

Often if we feel tired, stressed or depressed, our inclination is to rest.Asanas performed dynamically and combined with particular breathing practices may give that boost to our health, energy and over-all physiology.