Yoga For the Earth

My Yoga Online - This is a fantastic workshop - I really recommend it. Great info, looks at the issues we face from so many angles and and ties everything together so well. If you are in Vancouver, B.C. go check it out this weekend, definitely worth the time.

Yoga For Our Planet
A Risk We Should Not Be Taking
Saturday, September 27th, 1-4pm
At the Semperviva City Centre Yoga Studio
#100 - 1985 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C.
Fee: $12 - Net Proceeds go to the David Suzuki Foundation

What is really going on with our environment? What do the scientists say is happening versus what the media and our politicians say? Is there a real problem or not? Should we be doing something about it or not? What kind of a world are we creating for our children? If we should be doing something for their sake, what should we do? Ancient Yoga traditions have many teaching on how we can live in balance with our environment. These traditions can be applied to the environmental challenge facing us today.

Come hear Bernie Clark present the current scientific understanding of Global Climate Change and hear how our Yoga practice can help us make a big difference in what is happening to our planet. Learn the 3 Big Easy things you can do to make this difference! This presentation will be of interest to anyone, yogi or not, who is living on our planet, so bring a friend (or two... or more!)

Bernie Clark, in addition to being a Yoga teacher, is also an Executive Vice-President of Canada's oldest and largest space company. He has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Waterloo and has decades of experience in the field of remote sensing, a discipline that monitors changes on the earth from air and space.

Proper Back Flexing in Yoga

My Yoga Online - My Yoga Online has posted a new article by Dr. Carla Cupido that addresses the importance of proper forward flexion in yoga poses in order to prevent injury and to maintain integrity in your yoga class.

Consider the number of times you flex forward at the waist or hips in a yoga class. Lower back flexion in yoga presents a number of risks when done improperly. We often hear our yoga teacher telling us to hinge at the hips instead of the lower back. Let’s consider what these cues really mean and offer in creating a safe forward bending yoga posture. First of all we have to go through a bit of yoga anatomy and biomechanics to understand the issues involved in this common movement.

Understand your lumbar lordosis as it is your power position in everything you do. Take care of your back by being aware of how you flex forward and never compromise your back to reach further on your yoga mat.

CLICK HERE to read full article.

Yoga and Shoulder Impingement

My Yoga Online - Many Yoga poses and flows involve large movements at the shoulder joint. Some of these movements have the potential to create shoulder impingement when improper technique and movements line are applied. If this shoulder impingement continues over time, chronic injury can form leading to pain and disfunction.

What is Shoulder Impingment?

Shoulder impingement is caused when the arm is lifted above the line of the shoulder. The head of the arm bone (humerus) lifts and rotates into a portion of the shoulder blade (acromion on the scapula). Covering the head of the arm bone are the 4 rotator cuff muscles: the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the subscapularis, and the teres minor. Acting as cushioning against pressure and friction, there are bursa sacs that lie between the muscular capsule and the acromion.

When the arm is lifted high over the level of the shoulder, the head of the humerus presses into the acromion. This pressure and friction can develop into inflammation of the bursa (bursitis) or the tendons the muscles (tendonitis). This inflammation can worsen due to repeated impinging actions that can eventually lead to increased pain and limited movement.

Read more about the application of shoulder impingement reduction techniques for your Yoga practice.

Preventing Knee Lock in Standing Yoga Postures

My Yoga Online - This latest Yoga Anatomy article by Kreg Weiss, Yoga and Preventing Knee Locks, offers awareness in how we can perform certain standing Yoga poses with greater integrity and purpose. More importantly, this mindful application of preventing knee locks promotes a more healing Yoga practice and helps reduce the development of chronic injuries.

"The purpose of Yoga poses is to generate physical vitality so one can proceed through life with positive energy flow and with a holistic connection to what brings balance and harmony. Standing Yoga poses offer these benefits when mindfulness and proper intention is applied. Without mindfulness, some standing Yoga poses present a tendency towards knee locks and hyperextension, which can produce chronic problems in the function and health of the knee joint.

Some people have a greater tendency towards locking the knees as they have joint structures that promote a hyper extended position when the legs straightened. The legs splay backwards almost like a crescent shape. This hyper extended locked knee position tends to generate a passive stance and allows the body weight to transmit heavily into the ligaments, cartilage and posterior connective tissue of the knees. In addition, this hyperextension and internal rotation creates a line of poor body mechanics including the production unwanted anterior pelvic tilt (promoting excessive lordotic spinal positions) and excessive pronation of the foot." Read full article.

Preventing Injury of the Sacroiliac Joint

My Yoga Online - Many yoga participants have had to endure the pain of sacroiliac disfunction and injury due to improper approaches to forward bending yoga poses. Dr. Robin Armstrong has posted a new article, Asana Anatomy-The Sacroiliac Joint, which discusses the anatomical processes in some forward bends that cause sacroiliac joint problems.

By bringing awareness to the cause of these injuries, this yoga anatomy article also offers simple, but effective tips and applications to prevent sacroiliac injuries in these yoga poses.

This is a must-read for all yoga participants regardless of level as sacroiliac injury can occur at any point of one's yoga practice.

"Poses like prasarita padottanasana (wide legged forward bend), baddha konasana (bound angle pose), and upavishta konasana (seated wide legged forward bend) can be a concern for people with a history of SI joint pain, and can predispose the SI joint to injury.

Wide legged yoga poses can be an excellent way to open the muscles of the groin, bring awareness to our root chakra, and release tension in the hamstrings. Much like any asana, when we proceed without being fully present and engaged - physically and mentally- we are at risk for injury. If we are mindful about engaging the muscles that support the SI joints, we are more likely to enjoy a wide legged practice that is safe and pain free."

Read full article.

Free Outdoor Yoga Classes in BC

My Yoga Online - Come and enjoy the last few free outdoor yoga classes with Kreg Weiss. Classes at Canada Place and English Bay will continue until mid September. To learn more and see updates on class schedules:

visit - Yoga at Canada Place Wednesdays 6-7pm
visit - Yoga at English Bay Saturdays 9-10:15 pm

Everyone is welcome-beginners to advanced!

Free Yoga Video: Zen Centering Meditation

My Yoga Online - Experience this Zen Centering Meditation Video with Shakti Mhi. Use this meditation to refocus during the day. Take pause and embrace the stillness this meditation may bring to you and allow your mind to become aware of the now, displacing any strong emotions or stresses that have invaded your day.