If you ride horses, no matter what your discipline, you know that time spent in the saddle is a blend of physical energy, mental focus, and a deep connection with your horse. It’s easy to overlook the importance of self-care, but just as you care for and prepare your horse before a ride, it’s equally important to prepare yourself. As a competitive dressage rider and a registered yoga teacher, I’ve found that incorporating a brief yoga routine before mounting up can help me to feel more centered, flexible, and ready to train and compete at my best.

Since hot yoga seems to be everywhere, you might be surprised to learn that the practice is relatively new. But what is hot yoga? What can hot yoga do for you? And is hot yoga even safe? In this article, I’ll go over the history, the available science, and the pros and cons of a hot yoga practice.

In yoga and mindfulness meditation, teachers often use the breath as an anchor onto which you focus your awareness and your intention. Why is focusing on the breath so important?

At first glance, the breath might seem to be a purely physical process, yet its impact extends far beyond mere oxygenation of the body.  In this article we’ll delve into why we focus on the breath in these practices, and how it might influence your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Breathing is something we do every minute of every day, mostly without giving it a second thought. However, as a physician and a yoga teacher, I've come to appreciate the profound impact that conscious breathing, or pranayama, can have on our physical and mental well-being. In this article, I delve into the science behind pranayama and explain how it can be a powerful tool for connecting the mind and body.

As you age, it’s normal for the body to become less flexible and to feel a little weaker. Your sense of balance may also become less certain. It’s understandable that these changes may cause some people to avoid exercise out of fear or frustration. But in many cases, that may only cause these problems to accelerate.

If you’re an older adult and wondering if yoga is for you, here’s a quick rundown of the ways yoga can enhance your health and well-being.

People who meditate regularly will often tell you how much better they feel with a daily practice. In the past, skeptics might have questioned how sitting quietly, not working or studying, or frankly doing much of anything at all could be helpful. Now, new research is beginning to clarify the benefits of meditation and to help us understand more about the way the brain works.

Your psoas muscle is one of the most important muscles in your body. Yet this unsung hero is often overlooked. That’s partly because it is such a deep muscle that we really don’t notice it from the outside. This curvy and complex muscle runs from the lower spine to the top of the thigh bone. Without the psoas, we would not be able to stand or walk. That’s because the psoas is the only muscle that connects the spine to the legs. The psoas is also part of your fight or flight system.

“In through your nose, and out through your mouth.” Have you ever wondered why you hear this instruction in yoga class? Nasal breathing does have some advantages over mouth breathing in a meditative practice. It encourages you to slow down and control your respiration. By doing so, you may activate your parasympathetic nervous system. And it might even improve your memory and your mood.