More and more of the 100 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain are turning to complementary therapies like massage and yoga, but some may be hesitant to take the plunge into trying less familiar approaches. And building strong, trusting relationships between client and therapist can make or break a bodywork experience, especially during the …continue
The Concise Book of Trigger Points: A Professional and Self-Help Guide, Third Edition is now available. Understanding trigger points can provide a solution to many of our everyday aches and pains, from neck tightness to splitting headaches. Though trigger point theory may seem complex, The Concise Book of Trigger Points simplifies the science and clearly explains …continue
Yoga Adjustments: Philosophy, Principles, and Techniques, the third of Mark Stephens’s guides to teaching yoga, was the first that I had the pleasure of editing. Though I am not now and will never be a yoga teacher, I’m surprised by how much I, a perpetual beginner, learned while working on this book. Yoga Adjustments is …continue
Mark Stephens writes, In its noun form, the Sanskrit term guru means “one who shares knowledge,” while as an adjective it means “heavy” or “weighty” in reference to spiritual knowledge. Some have suggested that the separate syllables gu and ru refer to dark and light, with the role of the guru being to impart the …continue
Warrior I Pose (Virabhadrasana I) is a timeless teacher that calls for patience and continuous refinement over years of practice. This asymmetrical standing asana (we’re doing something different with each leg) opens us to establishing a stable yet resilient foundation for opening the hips, extending the spine, and opening the shoulders. It develops strength and …continue
A recent study by California State University, Los Angeles found that yoga improves students’ behavior, physical health, academic performance, and attitudes toward themselves. A perfect resource for schools seeking to incorporate yoga and mindfulness programs into their curriculum, or for parents to encourage body-mind awareness at home, Creative Yoga for Children promotes physical, emotional, and …continue