Whether we are athletes or not, we all have areas in our lives where we want to perform well. Today host Rachel speaks with returning guest Dr. Daya Grant about how aspects of yoga philosophy can help us do that - by improving our focus and concentration.  Dr. Grant helps athletes and other high performers train their brains with the same care they invest in training their bodies. She draws heavily on the yoga techniques of Pratyahara and Dharana to help athletes focus on what they CAN...

Today’s topic is an interesting one that comes up a lot in the yoga world. In this episode, hosts Tiffany and Katja talk about the latest research and newest findings on the Polyvagal Theory. They discuss the evolutionary biology that Polyvagal Theory is based around, the neuroanatomy that’s involved, and assumptions that have been made about this complex aspect of the body. Listen in to learn about the anatomy of the vagus nerve and how Polyvagal Theory is applied in yoga and therapeutic...

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel talk about building a healthy relationship with social media. These platforms have become a ubiquitous facet of our lives, so in this episode, we examine the way we use social media as yoga students and teachers. We discuss the pros of social media, like its capacity to help us connect with other people, the sense of community it can create, and the resource-sharing capabilities it allows for. We also talk about some of social media’s trickier topics like...

Military personnel and first responders show up to other people’s worst day, every day. Exposed to workplace experiences the rest of us can’t imagine, some experience post-traumatic stress, and some work through that experience to demonstrate post-traumatic growth. Can yoga play a part in biasing these populations toward growth? Today’s guest, Dr. Nicole McKenna, is here to share her thoughts on the topic. Dr. McKenna has a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology with a concentration in crisis...

The practice of Yin yoga is unusual in that it asks us to do the opposite of what we do in the rest of our lives. That contrast is powerful, but adjusting to it can bring up challenges. In this episode, returning guest Shannon Stephens is back to talk to host Rachel about the common challenges of Yin Yoga for both students and teachers and shares her tips on how we can navigate them skillfully to get the most out of our practice. Listen to this episode to learn how to embrace the contrast...

After traumatic life events, some people experience negative mental and physical health outcomes, while others not only survive but thrive.  There’s a growing body of research on the strategies that prime our potential for resilience to adverse events, but less understanding of the neural pathways that underpin them. Today guest Valerie Knopik Ph.D. returns to explore three of these pathways with host Rachel, sharing a recent review article on the neuroscience of resilience in adults.  In...

We don’t all strive for elite physical performance, but we do all place demands on our bodies. Some of the internal signals that we receive as a result could be interpreted as pain, so how do we know when we should push through and when we should pull back? We have talked in previous episodes about the complex phenomenon of pain, and how deeply enmeshed our perception of pain is with our beliefs and previous experiences. Today that conversation continues with host Rachel and returning guest...

In our busy lives, it can be challenging to allow ourselves to truly rest, but there are potent benefits to be gained when we do. So today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the stillness and quiet of restorative yoga. In this episode, we outline the key characteristics of restorative yoga and how they work to soothe the nervous system and offer an antidote to stress. We discuss who restorative yoga is for, how to navigate its most common challenges, and how it compares to Yin yoga. Listen...

Today host Rachel speaks with returning guest Jenni Tarma about hypermobility disorders, which appear more often in yoga students than in the general population. In this episode, Jenni describes the wide range of symptoms linked to hypermobility, some of the challenges yoga teachers face when working with students on this spectrum, as well as how yoga can help. Since hypermobility disorders can bring up both physical and mental symptoms, we talk about the importance of incorporating nervous...

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss fascia and the immune system. In this episode, learn what role the fascia plays in the immune system and which less obvious components of fascia contribute to this relationship. We also cover why fibroblasts are dynamic participants of immune processes, and how fluid flow versus stagnation play into immune function. Listen in to learn how cells within our fascial system enable communication in our tissues, the pros and cons of mechanical fascial...

Often it’s the details that make our experience; in the context of a yoga class, it’s not just about the poses and practices we teach but the WAY we teach them that determines whether our class feels welcoming. Today host Rachel speaks with Yoga Medicine therapeutic specialist Elena Cheung. Elena shares her tips for creating impactful all-level classes that welcome the wide range of people who attend them. We discuss the little things that shape and color the student experience and yet are...

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel explore one of the more common challenges yoga students face: shoulder pain when arms are overhead. We shed some light on this common issue, unpacking the anatomical structures involved, and discussing possible triggers. Given how often we take our arms overhead – in yoga, sport, and daily life – we are likely to come across this issue at some point. So whether you are a teacher or yoga student, whether you have this issue or are working with those who do,...

Compassion itself is vast and inexhaustible but for those who care for others, systemic factors, secondary traumatic stress and cumulative overwhelm can become barriers to being able to express it fully and freely.  Today host Rachel talks about compassion fatigue with returning guest Rashmi Bismark. In this episode, we discuss the importance of preventative self-care for caregivers and how even simple rituals can create structured ways to acknowledge the burdens of care. We also talk about...

Today hosts Rachel and Tiffany continue the conversation we started in Episode 56, exploring controversial yoga cues. There is so much to say on the topic, so we are back with a second episode to unpack when these familiar cues are useful (and when they aren’t), the potential downside of protective cues, and the one yoga cue that Rachel hates. Show Notes: Even the best cues don’t always translate across cultures [2:42] “Shoulders back and down” [4:05] Cueing based on specific intention...

We've gone in depth in previous episodes on the topic of myofascial release or MFR, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel take a step back to focus on the basics. In this episode, we give tips for implementing MFR in your practice, what to pay attention to, why we love it, how we use it, and how our practices have changed over the years.  Listen in to learn what we love about myofascial release, common pitfalls, and tips for practicing MFR before, during, and after more traditional yoga...

Today host Tiffany talks with Amanda B. Cunningham, director of Yoga Medicine Seva Foundation, about human trafficking and the work of the Seva Foundation. This episode is a more personal, conversational chat about the nonprofit and what is important to us as yoga teachers. In this episode, we discuss the many ways that the organization has evolved over the years and the ins and outs of human trafficking. Listen in to learn about our main projects, our favorite parts, and how you can support...

Anxiety tends to go under-recognized and under-treated, and yet is one of the most common mental health challenges faced today. It is also a key reason many students are drawn to yoga practice. Today host Rachel speaks with Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Caroline Wybar about how those factors inspired the capstone project of her 1000-Hour Teacher Training qualification: a pilot study on individual therapeutic yoga approaches for anxiety. Caroline shares the details of her pilot study,...

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja are back for another research roundup, this time on hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan. This molecule is not only used in face creams but also helps to create tissue properties related to the slide and glide between tissue layers. In this episode, we talk about where it is found in the body, how it is produced, and how it is affected by bodily movement.  Listen in to learn how hyaluronan works, how it relates to the yoga practice, and why it's important for our...

What can we learn from being an adult beginner that informs more familiar activities, like our yoga practice? Today host Rachel explores that question with Auckland-based Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, Functional Range Conditioning® Mobility Specialist, and Yoga Medicine Online guest teacher Kylie Rook. Kylie shares her love of being a beginner off of the yoga mat, her tips for getting more comfortable in that uncomfortable space, and the lessons she has learned along the way -...

Today Dana Diament - Yoga Medicine Online teacher, and lead teacher for the Yoga Medicine Online 200hr Teacher Training - returns to speak with host Rachel about “Spiritual Imposter Syndrome”.  Whether we are yoga students or teachers, doubt in the validity of our own spiritual experience can hold us back from fully feeling or expressing it. But the humility that comes hand in hand with this self-doubt could actually be a superpower.  In this episode, we explore our definitions of...

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel hone in on a topic of interest for both yoga students and teachers: strategies to address persistent pain. While persistent pain is dismayingly common, the journey to recovery is a personal one, requiring an individual understanding of our physical state, along with our feelings and beliefs.  In this episode, we discuss the effect of language on pain-related fear and how pain education can have a surprising impact on pain perception. We also explore sneaky yet...

In this episode, we are talking about a hidden aspect of health: bone density. Decreased bone mineral density, osteoporosis, is surprisingly common – impacting on average one in five women over 50 and a smaller proportion of men. The diagnosis can bring with it a fear of frailty, but today host Rachel talks with Michaela Smith, a Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist, and NASM-certified personal trainer, about the wide range of positive actions we can take to maintain or rebuild bone mineral...

Today hosts Rachel and Tiffany tackle the taboo topic of yoga during menstruation. We examine traditional barriers to practicing during menstruation and more modern takes on which poses and practices might be more or less supportive.  In this episode we also reframe menstruation as a “fresh start”, a window into our internal state, share a wide range of techniques to ease menstrual discomfort, and consider the process from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. Whether you menstruate...

There are always plenty of questions about dissections and how to prepare for them. Today, hosts Katja and Tiffany talk about the different types of dissections, why the experience is so valuable, what we can learn from it, and why you might want to do one — or not. Listen in for the pair’s valuable tips for preparing yourself to take a course in human dissection. Show Notes: The kinesthetic experience of dissection [1:34] Dissection versus prosection [3:47] The gift of dissection [7:32]...

The benefits of strength training for muscle and bone strength as well as metabolic, cognitive and mental health are now very well established. But there’s so much, often conflicting, information out there; it can be challenging to know where to focus your time and effort to reap those benefits. Today’s guest Jenni Tarma —- yoga teacher, RRCA Endurance Coach and CrossFit Level 1 trainer—is back on the show to help us clear up that confusion. Jenni overviews some of the key benefits of...