20 Minute Class, Low Intensity, Podcast, Pranayama, Somatic Education, Yin & Pranayama |
Yin & Pranayama
Natural Energy
We usually think of Yin as calming, soothing and down regulating. But with a few tweaks, we can cultivate a calm, natural energy as well. Not the jittery wired feeling you get from caffeine but a gentle boost, without the crash.
Back in episode 7 in this 4th season, we discussed breathing techniques, science and how this all applies to Yin Yoga. Please have a listen to learn how you can apply use these techniques as well!
For this practice, I’ve applied pranayama that are known to increase sympathetic activation, gently, as well as a somatic practice. You will be amazed at how great you feel after just 25 minutes.
All you NEED is a Yoga mat but some might also like to have a blanket for comfort.
20 Minute Class, Low Intensity, Pain Care Yoga, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
Relieve Joint Stiffness and Pain
It’s a familiar story but it breaks my heart every time. For people with chronic pain, just getting out of bed in the morning can be a real challenge. Though some joint stiffness in the morning is totally normal, debilitating pain that makes you dread getting up is not normal.
There are so many reasons that pain may be worse in the morning, and we can’t cover them all here, but we will address one reason here. I envision you doing this practice in your bed! Just roll over and hit play.
Any Questions About this Episode?
Just pop them into the comments section below!
Hip Flexors, Hips, Low Intensity, Pain Care Yoga, Somatic Education, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
Hip Flexor Relief
The hip flexors are a group of muscles on the front of the hip which include the psoas, the illiacus and the rectus femoris. These muscles flex the hip, or draw the knee up toward the torso. However, a pain care approach will never reduce an issue to just one aspect of self such as certain muscles or tissues. So this practice makes use of several pain care strategies. We will explore hip flexor pain and stiffness through the lens of somatics, stretching, awareness, neuro motor training and regulation.
This practice is intended to provide quick relief, but also serve as a framework for ongoing care for this issue.
Props Needed: Bolster, Blocks, Blanket, Strap
Discussion, Pranayama |
Practice Resources
How to Breathe in Yin Yoga
For something so simple, there sure is a lot of disagreement about how to breathe in Yin Yoga. In this episode I unpack some of the evidence around Yogic breathing and help you to understand how you might employ the evidence and various techniques into your own practice and/or teaching.
Understanding the evidence can transform your Yin practice and as you will see your own health and well being. This episode is just a discussion so no props needed. Just pop in your earbuds and prepare to learn some really actionable and useful strategies.
Any Questions About this Episode?
Just pop them into the comments section below!
Hips, Low Intensity, Pain Care Yoga, Somatic Education, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
for Deep Hip Learning
The hip is more than a collection of tissues. It’s a unique and complicated element of the embodied self. In this practice we combine a somatic lesson with some of your favorite Yin poses. These will facilitate deep learning for you and your hips!
Props Neeeded: Two yoga blankets
30 Minute Class |
Yin & Somatics
Your Nervous System and Your Neck
This is a go to, short practice to relieve neck and shoulder tension naturally. The whole practice can be done from a simple chair. You will engage in some somatic work as well as gentle stretching to increase range of motion and reduce feelings of stiffness. You will also learn about the relationship between these cranky tissues and the nervous systems. Chronic muscle tension in neck and shoulders can be debilitating and painful. But there are holistic strategies that you can use to get some relief.
Props Neeeded: A firm, armless chair
45 Minutes Class, Compassion, Hamstrings, Hips, Low Intensity, Podcast, Somatic Education, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Meditation
Heartfelt Good Wishes
This movement practice is supported by a form of meditation known as a Koan. Essentially a line of inquiry that you explore quietly. This type of meditation can lead to profound insight and transformation. Your movement will focus on the lower body with a progressive sequence of twists. This is a sweet and inquisitive practice that will leave you feeling calm and centered.
Props Neeeded: Bolster and blanket
30 Minute Class, Chest, Low Intensity, Pain Care Yoga, Podcast, Shoulder, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
Stress Support
Chronic stress is linked to many of the most pernicious chronic diseases that plague modern humans. Managing stress is of critical importance for health, memory, learning and quality of life. We can’t change the stressful times that we live in. But there are simple, evidence informed strategies that you can use to reduce your stress in the moment, and with practice, manage your responses to stressors in the long term. In this practice we actually explore three of these strategies.
I’ve also focused our movement on the areas in which most of us hold our stress; the shoulders, neck and adductors (inner thighs).
This practice is a go to in your stress management plan.
Props: a blanket, maybe two blocks
Hamstrings, Hips, Meditation, Yin & Meditation |
Yin & Meditation
As I am meant to be
At the start of the new year. Most of us are looking forward and hoping to make some postive changes for the future. I offer this practice as a framework for moving forward with compassion. With kindness for where you have been and hope for where you are going. Evidence shows that we are actually more effective at meeting our goals when we start with self compassion.
Props: Bolster, 2 blocks and a blanket.
Photo gallery credit: Thanks to my model Rachel H.
Pain Care Yoga |
5 Reasons Why Yin Yoga is So Beneficial for Chronic Pain
Yin Yoga is so much more than stretching. For those with chronic pain, it has so much to offer, way beyond increasing flexibility. As a pain care coach, I provide practices, and techniques to my clients so that they may be the leader of their own healing process. Though I have many many strategies to choose from, when providing a customized plan, almost every client has Yin in their program. This video is a quick run down of the 5 Reasons Why Yin Yoga is So Beneficial for Chronic Pain and why it is a must for your pain care plan.
Have a listen to see if these resonate with you, or if you might amplify these techniques in your own practice.
30 Minute Class, Chair Practice, Hips, Low Intensity, Yin Yoga |
Chair Yin
For Travel Aches and Pains
Many of my clients experience a pain flare after travel. Pain is so complex and multifaceted, so there is never any one reason that it rears it’s ugly head. This practice is a quick and accessible practice that you can do just about anywhere in a chair. I’ve chosen the stretches we all crave when we’ve been sitting in a car or airplane as well as regulation practices to help you calm your nervous systems to get some perspective or even relief. Often, when pain is flaring in a travel situation, it’s because we have some anxiety and we aren’t moving very much. This practice addresses both issues.
Props needed: a chair 🙂
Low Intensity, Meditation, Pain Care Yoga, Podcast, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine, Yin & Meditation |
Yin & Meditation
Your Shoulder without Agenda
This gentle but powerful practice explores a concept as well as the shoulder through movement and mindfulness. Your practice will be supported by a simple task, moving from a place of curiosity rather than agenda. You will have an opportunity to explore how your beliefs shape your impressions of your shoulder as well as your movments. This is a very deep and satisfying practice that may just transform how you experience your shoulder and even the world itself.
Props needed: A blanket
45 Minutes Class, Back, Chest, Compassion, Meditation, Podcast, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine, Yin & Meditation |
Yin & Meditation
for Acceptance
When most of us hear the word acceptance, we think of giving up or giving in. Our culture makes a virtue of resisting, fighting, wriggling out of difficult circumstances. But there is enormous value in the practice of accepting first. Acknowledging is the first step in self compassion.
This pod-practice is about moving forward with compassion, rather than squashing our feelings or disappointment or grief. We will explore poses that focus on the shoulders, chest and upper back as we progress through a gentle meditation. Our meditation is loosely based on the Tonglen or Lions’ Roar practice from the Tibetan Buddhism.
Props needed: Soft block, thick blanket and maybe a bolster or pillow if your shoulders are a bit stiffer.
Thank you to my model Rachel for demonstrating these poses!
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
45 Minutes Class, Neck, Podcast |
Yin & Somatics
How to Stretch Your Neck
I’m sort of amazed, and appalled, about how much misinformation there is about neck pain. One really irksome myth is that if your neck is tight, some stretching will help bring relief and over time, this stretching will fix the tightness and the pain it is “causing”. Total horse$%I$. Sorry to all of those influencers who are peddling this myth. There are ways that we can use stretches as part of a pain care plan however, and this is what you will practice here. I’ve combined somatics, stretches some resistance and of course, breathing to facilitate a bit of relief in the short term. But I’ve also provided some education to help you understand how these strategies can help you over come this discomfort or pain in the long term.
Props needed: A sturdy Yoga mat, a bolster or very firm and supportive pillow.
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
Podcast, Somatic Education, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
for Gratitude
Gratitude is a practice just like any other. It requires effort, even when it’s challenging. But it’s worth it. People who commit to a more grateful existence experience better physical and mental health, more happiness and closer relationships.
For this practice we will not look outside of self but deep within to the very building block of life, the cell. We will build a foundation of embodied gratitude FOR the body. This is a live practice event and is extended to provide plenty of time for you to marinade in the poses, the movements and the meditation.
Props needed: Bolster, blocks, blanket and strap.
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
30 Minute Class, Podcast, Pranayama, Somatic Education, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
for Falling Asleep
No human can survive without the ability to engage with the world. Our nervous systems are beautifully evolved to help us to attend to our survival needs by interacting with not just the objects and situations of the natural world, but also, other nervous systems.
But the opposite is true as well. No human can survive without the ability to disengage from the world. Our nervous systems evolved platforms to help us to release what is outside of us so that we may fulfill an essential need, sleep. But so many of us, can’t disengage. We spin and spin and never seem to find that deep and restorative sleep that we need to be our best.
This practice incorporates a simple breathing practice with somatic movements and Yin poses to support falling asleep. Disengage from out there to within for a restful night of slumber.
Props needed: You can do this practice in your bed! If you do you will just need a couple of bed pillows. If you are practicing on your mat, please have a block and a blanket nearby.
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
Low Intensity, Pain Care Yoga, Podcast, Pranayama, Yin & Pranayama |
Yin & Pranayama
Time to Breathe
Breathing is the simplest thing in the world. But it’s also incredibly powerful. Science is just recently tuning in to the capacity of the breath to heal mental illness, chronic pain, chronic stress and so much more. While there is no wrong way to breathe, there are certainly more strategic ways to breathe. This practice is a purposeful exploration of the breath in simple, restorative postures. You’ll be introduced to a strategy that primes you for deep learning and connection.
Props needed: Bolster, blocks and blanket
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
30 Minute Class, Hips, Knees, Lower Body, Pain Care Yoga, Podcast, Wall Yin |
Wall Yin
Releasing Grudges
All of us tend to hold little grudges against our bodies. Maybe you can’t do something as well as you used to, or pain casues you to opt out of things you really want to do. This is a wall practice which will focus on healthy and happy range of motion for the hips and knees. But we will also explore a simple meditation on the benevolent and loyal body. Perhaps we can release a few grudges we’ve been holding and replace them with something more affirming.
All you need for practice is a wall, though some might like to use a blanket, pillow or block.
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
Back, Hamstrings, Hips, Pain Care Yoga, Podcast, Somatic Education, Yin & Somatics |
Yin & Somatics
Rehabilitating the Body Image
When people ask me for an elevator pitch about what I do, the quickest, most accurate answer that I can give, is that I rehabilitate body image. Most people believe that Pain Care Yoga is all about stretching. And yes, Yoga for pain care may include stretching, but it’s just one ingredient in a very complicated recipe. Each element is part of a process for building capacity and improving body image. This is a practice that includes all of the ways that I rehab body image; movement, stillness, awareness, and education.
Our practice will focus on releasing the low back, hips and hamstrings. Some of the postures and propping strategies in the practice are a little different. So I have provided image gallery of the postures below.
Thank you to my friend Rachel for beautifully modeling these poses for us.
Props Needed: Yoga bolster, 2 blocks and a blanket
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
Podcast |
Yin & Somatics
Cherish Your Hamstrings
During my wonderful 3 weeks in Croatia and Greece, I spent most of my time in areas where the sea meets the mountains. Indescribably beautiful, so many narrow streets and medieval villages to explore. But there is a particular feature of these locations, stairs. So many stairs, and hills. I watched countless people stand at the bottom of a daunting set of stairs to some magical scene with a mixture of fear and demoralization. They were concerned about their fitness level but, mostly their knees, and a predicted bout knee pain post stair climbing. I realized that the knees are more than just joints, they are truly the key to a full and robust experience of the world. When the knees aren’t okay, your life gets a little bit smaller. Rather than engaging with the world, you are forced to withdraw.
This experience was the inspiration for this class. I believe that we have many things wrong about the knees in our society. Rather than cherishing and revering our holy knees, we have fear. Rather than providing opportunities to build stronger and healthier knees, we protect. So this practice is all about awareness. A confident, compassionate awareness that reinforces your love for your knees and your commitment to maintaining or restoring knee health. We will practice Yin poses with somatic movements and I will offer a dose of evidence based knee education.
Props Needed: Yoga bolster, 2 blocks and a blanket
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this podcast is for general information purposes only.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS podcast.
