In honor of International Yoga Day being earlier this week (on June 21, 2021), I thought it was appropriate for me to take a minute to share my five biggest takeaways from consistent yoga practice. You’re going to have “good days” and “bad days”. Some days I feel bendy, and other days I feel as …
Myth: You Can’t Get Strong By Doing Yoga
Several people have told me that yoga is for flexibility, not strength. Frankly, this is just not true. I totally agree that yoga is great for gaining flexibility! True story: When I first started doing yoga I couldn’t touch my toes. Not even close. On average, I’d be able to reach the tops of my …
For My Fellow Healthcare Warriors
“It’s not the load that weighs you down, it’s the way you carry it” - C.S. Lewis. This has been a long year. For everyone. Personally, this has been the most challenging year I’ve experienced while working in healthcare. In addition to this business, I work part-time at a hospital in Washington providing outpatient occupational …
Myth: I’m Not Flexible Enough To Do Yoga
I understand why people would think this. In today’s society it's common to think about yoga as backbends, handstands, and turning your body into a human pretzel like you see on Instagram. But guess what? This is absolutely not what yoga is about. One of the first things I want to point out is that …
The Power Of When…To Do Yoga
If you follow me on social media then you know I read quite a bit. And if you don't follow me on social media..go add me! @empwr.wellness 🙂 I enjoy exploring current research for my personal yoga practice, to share with my clients, and for this blog. But I also typically have both a fiction …
Do I Need To Stretch Before Yoga?
Short answer- Kinda. Long answer... While you don’t necessarily need to have a separate stretching session prior to your yoga session, I highly recommend easing into yoga with gentle movements or stretches. Making your beginning pose wheel vs windshield wipers are two drastically different ways to start your practice, with one being far more likely …
Catch Some Zzzzz’s
Let me paint you a picture. It’s 9:00. You just finished a cup of decaf tea while reading a chapter of your latest book. You fluff up your pillows, turn off your bedside lamp, and fall asleep within a couple minutes of your head hitting the pillow. You end up sleeping all night. You wake …
How To: Triangle Pose (or Utthita Trikonasana)
Triangle pose is one of my favorite poses. Like many runners, I have exceptionally tight hips and hamstrings. Triangle Pose helps with this! But doing it correctly prior to moving on to more advanced poses is important. Benefits of Triangle Pose Promotes flexibility of hip and hamstring musclesAssists with spine flexibility in side-bending positionStrengthens legs …
Continue reading "How To: Triangle Pose (or Utthita Trikonasana)"
Yoga and Low Back Pain
I’m pretty positive that every person reading this has had low back pain at one point or another. Maybe not chronically. Maybe the pain isn’t excruciating. Or maybe, unfortunately, low back pain is something you’ve been dealing with for awhile. Bluntly, any pain at all affects daily life and I am truly sorry that you …
Free Yoga & Wellness Resources
More and more people are getting their COVID-19 vaccine and feeling increasingly comfortable getting back into their communities. However, I know a lot of people who remain uncomfortable returning to their gym or yoga studio. To help you out, I put together a list of free yoga and wellness resources that you can access in …