Shows
The Yoga Addiction64: THE END...but first...30-ish things we need to tell you before we go!This. Is. It. Our concluding episode, our last hurrah, our final effort. This episode is a conglomeration of all our last messages as yogis and yoga teachers. We alternate between Sandy and Nat giving tidbits of information and inspiration in no particular order. Some of our arguments are highly anatomical and others are reflections from teaching and practicing in group yoga classes. As we wrap up this phase of our lives and this amazing podcast, we hope you have also emerged from this podcast a little more informed and a little more inspired.
// IN...2020-03-1800 min
The Yoga Addiction64: THE END...but first...30-ish things we need to tell you before we go!This. Is. It. Our concluding episode, our last hurrah, our final effort. This episode is a conglomeration of all our last messages as yogis and yoga teachers. We alternate between Sandy and Nat giving tidbits of information and inspiration in no particular order. Some of our arguments are highly anatomical and others are reflections from teaching and practicing in group yoga classes. As we wrap up this phase of our lives and this amazing podcast, we hope you have also emerged from this podcast a little more informed and a little more inspired.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
All movement is good if...2020-03-181h 17The Yoga Addiction63: Meditation, Mindfullness and Brain Gray MatterMeditation is such a hot topic these days, and for good reason. It's been shown to improve attention span, decrease stress and anxiety. New science is showing that meditation also changes the content of our brains, its gray matter. In today's episode, we discuss the results of a number of studies done on meditation and the brain. Then, we discuss the potential for asana to also have a positive effect on the gray matter of the brain. Resources are linked in the show notes! Enjoy.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
We get...2020-03-1100 min
The Yoga Addiction63: Meditation, Mindfullness and Brain Gray MatterMeditation is such a hot topic these days, and for good reason. It's been shown to improve attention span, decrease stress and anxiety. New science is showing that meditation also changes the content of our brains, its gray matter. In today's episode, we discuss the results of a number of studies done on meditation and the brain. Then, we discuss the potential for asana to also have a positive effect on the gray matter of the brain. Resources are linked in the show notes! Enjoy.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
We get into one of our final episodes, and it's going to be...2020-03-1153 min
The Yoga Addiction62: Jillian Mariani: Founder of Niyama Yoga WellnessJillian Mariani is the founder of supplement company Niyama Yoga Wellness. Today, we had a great chat with her about her wellness journey, her inspiration to create Niyama Yoga Wellness and their relationship to the New Leaf Foundation. Best of all, we are hosting a giveaway in partnership with Jillian's company! Make sure to follow both The Yoga Addiction and Niyama Yoga Wellness on Instagram for details to the giveaway.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Jillian tells us about her history in the supplement industry (4:30)
Jillian found that many yogis don't know much about supplements (10:43)
The physical part of yoga does require nu...2020-03-0452 minThe Yoga Addiction62: Jillian Mariani: Founder of Niyama Yoga WellnessJillian Mariani is the founder of supplement company Niyama Yoga Wellness. Today, we had a great chat with her about her wellness journey, her inspiration to create Niyama Yoga Wellness and their relationship to the New Leaf Foundation. Best of all, we are hosting a giveaway in partnership with Jillian's company! Make sure to follow both The Yoga Addiction and Niyama Yoga Wellness on Instagram for details to the giveaway.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Jillian tells us about her history in the supplement industry (4:30)
Jillian found that many yogis don't know...2020-03-0400 min
The Yoga Addiction61: The Amygdala - Your Brain's Fear CenterToday, we discuss a topic that very much excites us: The Amygdala. We generally understand the amygdala as the portion of the brain that coordinates the emotions of fear and anger. These emotions create a very important adaptive response in helping us stay safe and well. However, in today's world, much of our fear and anger is mal-adaptive: in other words, they don't necessarily contribute to our survival. We discuss how the amygdala can hijack our best intentions and fill us with negativity and fear. We also talk about how we can stop the chain of reactivity (our brains exhibit...2020-02-261h 00The Yoga Addiction61: The Amygdala - Your Brain's Fear CenterToday, we discuss a topic that very much excites us: The Amygdala. We generally understand the amygdala as the portion of the brain that coordinates the emotions of fear and anger. These emotions create a very important adaptive response in helping us stay safe and well. However, in today's world, much of our fear and anger is mal-adaptive: in other words, they don't necessarily contribute to our survival. We discuss how the amygdala can hijack our best intentions and fill us with negativity and fear. We also talk about how we can stop the chain of reactivity (our brains...2020-02-2600 minThe Yoga Addiction60: Study: The Cooling Effect of PranayamaBreathing exercises are purported to have myriad benefits: some are cooling, heating, detoxifying, invigorating, calming, restorative. In this episode, we review a recent study on sheetali and shitkari breathing exercises and body temperature. We discuss the role of breathing in studio yoga classes, why we might incorporate sheetali or shitkari, and how we would frame the exercise. If you're curious about breathing practices, this episode is for you!
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The Study: "Body Temperature and Energy Expenditure During and After Yoga Breathing Practices Traditionally Described as Cooling." (12:13)
Sheetali and...2020-02-1900 min
The Yoga Addiction60: Study: The Cooling Effect of PranayamaBreathing exercises are purported to have myriad benefits: some are cooling, heating, detoxifying, invigorating, calming, restorative. In this episode, we review a recent study on sheetali and shitkari breathing exercises and body temperature. We discuss the role of breathing in studio yoga classes, why we might incorporate sheetali or shitkari, and how we would frame the exercise. If you're curious about breathing practices, this episode is for you!
// IN THIS EPISODE //
The Study: "Body Temperature and Energy Expenditure During and After Yoga Breathing Practices Traditionally Described as Cooling." (12:13)
Sheetali and shitkari breathing exercises were examined in this study (13:45)
In general, bo...2020-02-1944 min
The Yoga Addiction59: Jivana Heyman: How to Make Yoga Teachings Accessible to All CommunitiesToday we take a deep dive into Jivana Heyman's amazing yoga mind: his views on yoga philosophy, ego, the teacher-student relationship, the use of touch and adjustments in the practice, just to name a few of the topics we cover. And of course, we dive into his new book, Accessible Yoga, and gain insight on why he wrote it, and who he wrote the book for. About Jivana:
Jivana is the founder of Accessible Yoga, co-owner of the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and an Integral Yoga Minister. With over twenty years of training and teaching in a traditional yoga lineage...2020-02-121h 06The Yoga Addiction59: Jivana Heyman: How to Make Yoga Teachings Accessible to All CommunitiesToday we take a deep dive into Jivana Heyman's amazing yoga mind: his views on yoga philosophy, ego, the teacher-student relationship, the use of touch and adjustments in the practice, just to name a few of the topics we cover. And of course, we dive into his new book, Accessible Yoga, and gain insight on why he wrote it, and who he wrote the book for. About Jivana:
Jivana is the founder of Accessible Yoga, co-owner of the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and an Integral Yoga Minister. With over twenty years of training and teaching...2020-02-1200 min
The Yoga Addiction58: Monday Quickie - Q & A with Jivana Heyman, Author of Accessible YogaJivana Heyman is a sought-after yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer based out of Santa Barbara, California. He is the author of a new book, Accessible Yoga, aimed at bringing the benefits of yoga to anyone who wants it. In this short episode, we barrage Jivana with a series of quickfire questions to get to know him better, from his favourite foods to what keeps him addicted to yoga. Tune in on Wednesday for a full interview with Jivana!
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What is your favourite yoga pose?
What are you not very good at?
What does it mean to yo...2020-02-1009 minThe Yoga Addiction58: Monday Quickie - Q & A with Jivana Heyman, Author of Accessible YogaJivana Heyman is a sought-after yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer based out of Santa Barbara, California. He is the author of a new book, Accessible Yoga, aimed at bringing the benefits of yoga to anyone who wants it. In this short episode, we barrage Jivana with a series of quickfire questions to get to know him better, from his favourite foods to what keeps him addicted to yoga. Tune in on Wednesday for a full interview with Jivana!
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What is your favourite yoga pose?
What are...2020-02-1000 minThe Yoga Addiction57: Study Review: The Breath of LifeAs promised, we dissect a scientific study in this episode all about breath, contemplative practices and the vagus nerve (find the link in the notes below). When the vagus nerve is stimulated, the body settles into "Rest and Digest" mode, or the parasympathetic nervous system. We discuss a few topics that stood out most strongly to us as yogis and explored how we can adjust our practices to make the most of the breath-based vagal stimulation. One of the biggest takeaways from the study was that any contemplative practice yielded positive effects on a number of health parameters. Listen...2020-02-0500 min
The Yoga Addiction57: Study Review: The Breath of LifeAs promised, we dissect a scientific study in this episode all about breath, contemplative practices and the vagus nerve (find the link in the notes below). When the vagus nerve is stimulated, the body settles into "Rest and Digest" mode, or the parasympathetic nervous system. We discuss a few topics that stood out most strongly to us as yogis and explored how we can adjust our practices to make the most of the breath-based vagal stimulation. One of the biggest takeaways from the study was that any contemplative practice yielded positive effects on a number of health parameters. Listen through...2020-02-0544 minThe Yoga Addiction56: Monday Quickie - Bone Density StoryWith age, bone density predictably decreases over time. Maintaining or even building bone density is a long term practice that doesn't give us immediate payback - which is why it's hard to maintain a movement practice that's motivated by bone density. However, today Sandy tells us a story of a student from her class who has increased her bone density over the last 5 years, which she has attributed to her yoga practice.
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Studies find that weight-bearing is most effective at increasing bone density (2:57)
We can't see or...2020-02-0300 min
The Yoga Addiction56: Monday Quickie - Bone Density StoryWith age, bone density predictably decreases over time. Maintaining or even building bone density is a long term practice that doesn't give us immediate payback - which is why it's hard to maintain a movement practice that's motivated by bone density. However, today Sandy tells us a story of a student from her class who has increased her bone density over the last 5 years, which she has attributed to her yoga practice.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Studies find that weight-bearing is most effective at increasing bone density (2:57)
We can't see or feel our bone density, so increasing or decreasing bone density is...2020-02-0309 minThe Yoga Addiction55: Should I Quit My Job and Teach Yoga?This episode is a light-hearted peek into the world of teaching yoga full time. We discuss the stresses of being a yoga teacher that counter the glamour, that dark underbelly of a life-changing practice. We brainstorm the things we would have done differently, knowing what we know now, and considerations we didn't know to take into account. If you're considering leaving your job for a career in teaching yoga, we urge you to reach out with questions and comments.
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The financial realities of teaching yoga as a...2020-01-2900 min
The Yoga Addiction55: Should I Quit My Job and Teach Yoga?This episode is a light-hearted peek into the world of teaching yoga full time. We discuss the stresses of being a yoga teacher that counter the glamour, that dark underbelly of a life-changing practice. We brainstorm the things we would have done differently, knowing what we know now, and considerations we didn't know to take into account. If you're considering leaving your job for a career in teaching yoga, we urge you to reach out with questions and comments.
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The financial realities of teaching yoga as a self-employed contractor (3:20)
Nat's story of "Quit your job and become a...2020-01-2950 minThe Yoga Addiction54: Monday Quickie: Nat Interviews her Husband EricWe have a special guest for today's Monday Quickie: Nat's husband Eric. Sweethearts since university and married in 2018, Nat and Eric have been doing yoga classes together regularly for about 10 years! In this episode, we get Eric's point of view on yoga, meditation, studio yoga classes, and how yoga supports his desk job / athletic lifestyle.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Why does Eric do yoga? (2:25)
How has meditation helped Eric? (7:45)
Eric feels as though yoga has helped more with his endurance than the sprinting in his university years (15:19)
Eric's advice to yoga...2020-01-2700 min
The Yoga Addiction54: Monday Quickie: Nat Interviews her Husband EricWe have a special guest for today's Monday Quickie: Nat's husband Eric. Sweethearts since university and married in 2018, Nat and Eric have been doing yoga classes together regularly for about 10 years! In this episode, we get Eric's point of view on yoga, meditation, studio yoga classes, and how yoga supports his desk job / athletic lifestyle.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Why does Eric do yoga? (2:25)
How has meditation helped Eric? (7:45)
Eric feels as though yoga has helped more with his endurance than the sprinting in his university years (15:19)
Eric's advice to yoga teachers as a yoga student (20:31)
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Episode 51 of The Yoga...2020-01-2724 minThe Yoga Addiction53: Why Do We Care About The Vagus Nerve?In recent years, yogis and yoga teacher trainers have been paying more and more attention to the very important vagus nerve. In this episode, we break down the general anatomy and function of the vagus nerve. Then, we discuss its relationship to trauma and teaching in a trauma sensitive environment. Finally, we cover two studies that highlight the importance of our wellness practices on the health of our nervous system.
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The vagus nerve exits the brain, not the spine (4:13)
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems overlap...2020-01-2200 min
The Yoga Addiction53: Why Do We Care About The Vagus Nerve?In recent years, yogis and yoga teacher trainers have been paying more and more attention to the very important vagus nerve. In this episode, we break down the general anatomy and function of the vagus nerve. Then, we discuss its relationship to trauma and teaching in a trauma sensitive environment. Finally, we cover two studies that highlight the importance of our wellness practices on the health of our nervous system.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
The vagus nerve exits the brain, not the spine (4:13)
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems overlap and help us navigate our daily lives (Fight or Flight and Res...2020-01-221h 00The Yoga Addiction52: Monday Quickie: Start with BreathOne of Sandy's favourite ways to start a class is by establishing a connection to breath. Breath is our gateway into the nervous system, a powerful tool to transition the body into a state of calm or panic. Many teachers, and Sandy and Nat are absolutely guilty of this, simply dive into a class without easing into breath or even awareness of breath. In this episode, Sandy explains the importance of starting with breath. Then, she gives several suggestions of postures and simple movements to practice a gentle breath control as you begin your yoga practice.
2020-01-2000 min
The Yoga Addiction52: Monday Quickie: Start with BreathOne of Sandy's favourite ways to start a class is by establishing a connection to breath. Breath is our gateway into the nervous system, a powerful tool to transition the body into a state of calm or panic. Many teachers, and Sandy and Nat are absolutely guilty of this, simply dive into a class without easing into breath or even awareness of breath. In this episode, Sandy explains the importance of starting with breath. Then, she gives several suggestions of postures and simple movements to practice a gentle breath control as you begin your yoga practice.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
If yo...2020-01-2018 min
The Yoga Addiction51: The Placebo EffectWe often hear about the placebo effect in conjunction with a new drug, treatment or protocol in modern medicine. Placebo is the positive effect people get from a sham treatment when they are being told the treatment is real. Mostly, scientists and health practitioners ignore placebo: after all, how can we package or universalize a sympathetic bedside manner and a caring attitude? Yogis, however, have long been using the power of belief, visualization and mood to encourage self-healing. No pills necessary. The power of our brains, whether in a meditation, mantra or asana practice, has a powerful effect on creating...2020-01-1557 minThe Yoga Addiction51: The Placebo EffectWe often hear about the placebo effect in conjunction with a new drug, treatment or protocol in modern medicine. Placebo is the positive effect people get from a sham treatment when they are being told the treatment is real. Mostly, scientists and health practitioners ignore placebo: after all, how can we package or universalize a sympathetic bedside manner and a caring attitude? Yogis, however, have long been using the power of belief, visualization and mood to encourage self-healing. No pills necessary. The power of our brains, whether in a meditation, mantra or asana practice, has a powerful effect on...2020-01-1500 min
The Yoga Addiction50: Monday Quickie: Shoulder FlossingArm and shoulder positioning in a yoga class can get quite repetitive if you only practice or teach classic asana. In this episode, Sandy talks about Shoulder Flossing, or some people call it Shoulder Dislocates. This exercise is an easy one to incorporate into yoga classes as all it requires is a strap and some space. Sandy talks about how to get in and out of the movement, benefits of gliding movements, and proper preparation before you come into some Shoulder Flossing. If you've tried this exercise, let us know how you feel on Instagram or Facebook @theyogaaddiction!
// IN THIS E...2020-01-1312 minThe Yoga Addiction50: Monday Quickie: Shoulder FlossingArm and shoulder positioning in a yoga class can get quite repetitive if you only practice or teach classic asana. In this episode, Sandy talks about Shoulder Flossing, or some people call it Shoulder Dislocates. This exercise is an easy one to incorporate into yoga classes as all it requires is a strap and some space. Sandy talks about how to get in and out of the movement, benefits of gliding movements, and proper preparation before you come into some Shoulder Flossing. If you've tried this exercise, let us know how you feel on Instagram or Facebook @theyogaaddiction!
2020-01-1300 min
The Yoga Addiction49: Hiiro Zake-Sigal Prince: Is Asana Being Turned Into A Fitness Practice?In this one-on-one interview with Hiiro Zake-Sigal Prince, Nat and Hiiro dive deep into the effect of fitness-based yoga on teaching modern yoga group classes. Hiiro has even taken to calling himself a non-asana oriented yoga teacher, and as such presents the opinion that fitness-based yoga classes does a disservice to the industry. If you're a new yoga teacher, make sure to listen through to the end for one of the most empowering messages we can get as a modern yoga teacher.
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What is success as a yoga teacher? (2:29)
Is there a value in re-labeling studios "yoga st...2020-01-081h 02The Yoga Addiction49: Hiiro Zake-Sigal Prince: Is Asana Being Turned Into A Fitness Practice?In this one-on-one interview with Hiiro Zake-Sigal Prince, Nat and Hiiro dive deep into the effect of fitness-based yoga on teaching modern yoga group classes. Hiiro has even taken to calling himself a non-asana oriented yoga teacher, and as such presents the opinion that fitness-based yoga classes does a disservice to the industry. If you're a new yoga teacher, make sure to listen through to the end for one of the most empowering messages we can get as a modern yoga teacher.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What is success as a...2020-01-0800 min
The Yoga Addiction48: Monday Quickie: Self Care and BurnoutIn our first Quickie Monday episode, Sandy gets on air to discuss burnout and self-care. She shares six techniques that have worked and continue to work for her.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
You are your first priority - be curious about the care you need
Find the activities and people that give you real energy
Give yourself a full day off
Do something that's exciting to you, maybe that you've never done before or for a long time
Sleep
Shift the mindset: from discipline to consistency and commitment
// RESOURCES & LINKS //
Article: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation
Follow us on Instagram (Don...2020-01-0619 minThe Yoga Addiction48: Monday Quickie: Self Care and BurnoutIn our first Quickie Monday episode, Sandy gets on air to discuss burnout and self-care. She shares six techniques that have worked and continue to work for her.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
You are your first priority - be curious about the care you need
Find the activities and people that give you real energy
Give yourself a full day off
Do something that's exciting to you, maybe that you've never done before or for a long time
Sleep
Shift the mindset: from discipline to consistency and commitment
2020-01-0600 min
The Yoga Addiction47: Our Vision for 2020Welcome to 2020! In this episode, we chat about our personal and professional goals for the new year. In terms of the podcast, the new changes coming this year include MORE GIVEAWAYS! Follow and turn on notifications for our Instagram @theyogaaddiction. We will also be releasing TWO episodes a week, with a shorter episode released Mondays to help you stay inspired, and our longer format episodes on Wednesdays. We will be re-branding our website, creating a repository of information that will be easy to access, as well as new blog posts to peruse. Lastly, we finish with our personal New Year's...2020-01-0149 minThe Yoga Addiction47: Our Vision for 2020Welcome to 2020! In this episode, we chat about our personal and professional goals for the new year. In terms of the podcast, the new changes coming this year include MORE GIVEAWAYS! Follow and turn on notifications for our Instagram @theyogaaddiction. We will also be releasing TWO episodes a week, with a shorter episode released Mondays to help you stay inspired, and our longer format episodes on Wednesdays. We will be re-branding our website, creating a repository of information that will be easy to access, as well as new blog posts to peruse. Lastly, we finish with our personal New...2020-01-0100 min
The Yoga Addiction46: Pose breakdown - Twisted / Revolved LungeThis is our last episode of 2019! We finish the year off on a pose that is very commonly seen in modern yoga: Twisted Lunge. We start this episode with a longer than normal pre-amble, chatting about the recent Bikram documentary. Then, we dive into the posture, talking about common compensations or areas of collapse. We discuss the current debate around leveraged postures, such as this one. And finally, we cover several variations we prefer.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Parivritta Parsvakonasana - the "full" variation of twisted (or revolved) lunge (13:07)
In twisted lunge, there is a tendency for the back hip to dr...2019-12-181h 09The Yoga Addiction46: Pose breakdown - Twisted / Revolved LungeThis is our last episode of 2019! We finish the year off on a pose that is very commonly seen in modern yoga: Twisted Lunge. We start this episode with a longer than normal pre-amble, chatting about the recent Bikram documentary. Then, we dive into the posture, talking about common compensations or areas of collapse. We discuss the current debate around leveraged postures, such as this one. And finally, we cover several variations we prefer.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Parivritta Parsvakonasana - the "full" variation of twisted (or revolved) lunge (13:07)
In twisted...2019-12-1800 min
The Yoga Addiction45: 3 Ways to Engage the HamstringsVinyasa yoga has often been criticized for over-stretching the hamstrings as the practice tends to favor forward bends over backbends. Add in the modern-day desk job, sitting with knees bent and hips bent for hours a day--we often see some dysfunction in the hamstrings. In this episode, we break down the hamstrings in terms of isometric, eccentric and concentric work that we can do in a yoga class. Considering muscular action in this way can be very helpful in creating new variations and sensations in the body, and restoring healthy function to the hamstrings.
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Where are the ha...2019-12-111h 08The Yoga Addiction45: 3 Ways to Engage the HamstringsVinyasa yoga has often been criticized for over-stretching the hamstrings as the practice tends to favor forward bends over backbends. Add in the modern-day desk job, sitting with knees bent and hips bent for hours a day--we often see some dysfunction in the hamstrings. In this episode, we break down the hamstrings in terms of isometric, eccentric and concentric work that we can do in a yoga class. Considering muscular action in this way can be very helpful in creating new variations and sensations in the body, and restoring healthy function to the hamstrings.
...2019-12-1100 minThe Yoga Addiction44: Know Your Knee Anatomy Part 2In this episode, we expand on our discussion of the knee anatomy into yoga application. We finish off with a discussion on common yoga cues, like "bend your knee to 90 degrees, or flex your foot to protect your knee."
// IN THIS EPISODE //
We review what we covered in Part 1 of the knee podcast duo (5:42)
People can have a lot of emotional stuff come up when we have to deal with injuries (9:18)
Normal ranges of motion for the knee (13:52)
The Creep Effect on connective tissues: the deformation (or elongation) under...2019-12-0400 min
The Yoga Addiction44: Know Your Knee Anatomy Part 2In this episode, we expand on our discussion of the knee anatomy into yoga application. We finish off with a discussion on common yoga cues, like "bend your knee to 90 degrees, or flex your foot to protect your knee."
// IN THIS EPISODE //
We review what we covered in Part 1 of the knee podcast duo (5:42)
People can have a lot of emotional stuff come up when we have to deal with injuries (9:18)
Normal ranges of motion for the knee (13:52)
The Creep Effect on connective tissues: the deformation (or elongation) under a constant or cyclically repetitive load (20:09)
Knee hyper-extension in Nat's body (31:15)
Kne...2019-12-041h 16The Yoga Addiction43: Alison Heilig - From a Broken Femur to the Pursuit of HappinessWe met Alison Heilig during one of our group yoga training sessions and immediately clicked. She is a fierce cross-fit competitor, an incredibly educated and tuned-in yoga teacher and perhaps the most durable runner you'll meet. In this interview, we discuss Alison's journey that led to her search for healing, her perspective on the emotional aspects of physical injury and her purpose as a voice in the fitness community. Her new book, 'The Durable Runner', is an amalgam of her teaching and personal experience: built to help you recover from injury, prevent future injury, balance and perform with a...2019-11-2700 minThe Yoga Addiction42: Know Your Knee Anatomy Part 1The knee is a very important part of your body, connecting almost all of your body weight into your ankles and feet! In this episode, we give the knee the respect it deserves, breaking down the basic anatomy and structures that we as yoga teachers should be aware of. We start with the bones, then the cartilage, then ligaments and finally many of the muscles involved in moving the knee. We tease out a bit about the mechanics, postures, and muscular tendencies that we've seen or experienced. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this journey into the knee as we'll...2019-11-2000 minThe Yoga Addiction41: Pose Breakdown: Upward Facing Dog / Urdhva Mukha SvanasanaUpward facing dog is an integral pose for any vinyasa practice. It's a challenging backbend that requires whole-body strength. And because this pose is rarely held for more than one breath, the cueing into and out of the shape can lack the details that are necessary to keep our wrists and ankles feeling strong. It also requires a whole heck of a lot of core strength to not 'dump' into the lower back. Shoulder, chest, upper back, abdominals, quadriceps, ankle dorsi-flexors, even the many muscles of the foot must be working in symphony to be able to master this...2019-11-1300 minThe Yoga Addiction40: Wesley Lai, Physiotherapist - Trigger Points and YogaHave you ever had a "knotted" muscle? Well, this episode is for you. We invited physiotherapist Wesley Lai to get into the physiology of trigger points, nerve referral pain and how stretching and yoga can impact the knots in our muscles. Wesley lays out the current theories about trigger points and fascia, release techniques and the surprising limitations and advantages of yoga when it comes to deeply knotted tension. As always, we intersperse personal anecdotes throughout the episode, and learn a bit more about one another. This episode is one of our favourite interviews!
...2019-11-0600 minThe Yoga Addiction39: Using Yoga to Build PowerPower athletes are sprinters, jumpers, throwers, etc.; basically any sport or activity that requires a large amount of work per unit of time. While yoga isn't a 'power'ful endeavour, per se, there are many carryover benefits. In this episode, we talk about how the core and transversus abdominis muscle helps us "brace" the middle in order to move the limbs more efficiently. We explain our favourite transitions for training stability and discuss the benefits of static holds for power athletes.
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The scientific definition of power: "Power is...2019-10-3000 minThe Yoga Addiction38: How Pec Tension limits AsanasDo you sit at a desk? Do upper body workouts? Most likely, your pecs are affected! The pectoralis major is the major muscle of the chest and contributes to many arm movements. It is a contributor to forward head and shoulder posture and can create instability in the shoulder if dysfunction is present. In yoga, we can spot pec tightness in a number of different poses, like side plank and Downward Facing Dog. In this episode, we go over how to know if your pecs are tight and our favourite stretches and movements that target the chest.
...2019-10-2300 minThe Yoga Addiction37: Imogen North: Teaching Yoga in Conflict ZonesIn this interview, Sandy catches up with her friend and fellow yoga teacher Imogen, who is living and working in Yangon, Myanmar. Imogen brings yoga to sensitive areas in Myanmar, braving forests, rivers and police checkpoints to be of service to those communities. In this discussion, we dive deep into what it's like being a yoga teacher in a developing country, how her work has affected her and what legacy she wants to leave behind. This episode is a must-listen!
// IN THIS EPISODE //
About our friend, Imogen North (4:26)
How did...2019-10-1600 min
The Yoga Addiction37: Imogen North: Teaching Yoga in Conflict ZonesIn this interview, Sandy catches up with her friend and fellow yoga teacher Imogen, who is living and working in Yangon, Myanmar. Imogen brings yoga to sensitive areas in Myanmar, braving forests, rivers and police checkpoints to be of service to those communities. In this discussion, we dive deep into what it's like being a yoga teacher in a developing country, how her work has affected her and what legacy she wants to leave behind. This episode is a must-listen!
// IN THIS EPISODE //
About our friend, Imogen North (4:26)
How did Imogen come to teach trauma-sensitive yoga? (6:35)
How does the work of...2019-10-1654 minThe Yoga Addiction36: The SI Joint - Part 2In this episode, we continue our discussion of the sacroiliac joint (SI joint), touching on the hip flexor group of muscles and the transversus abdominis. We explain why these muscles are important in the healthy function of the joint and how we can draw more awareness into creating balance in them. Finally, we finish off by discussing twists and how twists may positively or negatively affect the SI joint.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Quick overview of what we covered in our last episode on the SI joint (6:26)
Why the iliopsoas is...2019-10-0900 minThe Yoga Addiction35: The SI Joint - Part 1The sacroiliac joint is a tough workhorse when it comes to load transfer, repetitive motion and weight bearing. In yoga, it's often mixed with low back or hip issues and yoga teachers often give blanket statements to cover SI joint "safe" modifications. In this first part of our SI joint discussion, we explain why the SI joint is so important in our movement and health, and what movements have an impact on the joint. We speak about a few postures and exercises that can tell us something about imbalances in the hips that would reflect in an imbalance at...2019-10-0200 minThe Yoga Addiction34: Meghan Johnston - Your Brain and Nervous System on Restorative YogaIn this episode, we interview Meghan Johnston about the power of restorative yoga. Meghan talks about her experience with burnout and how it led her to find restorative yoga for a personal healing practice and also how she sought out several trainings in restorative yoga, the nervous system, and brain health. We discuss how restorative yoga and the relaxation response is the gateway to recovery with respect to all our body's systems. If you are interested in the link between science and how yoga works its magic, this episode is worth a listen.
// IN...2019-09-2500 minThe Yoga Addiction33: Pose Breakdown: Warrior 1 / Virabhadrasana 1Today we dive deep into another pose breakdown: Warrior 1, or Virabhadrasana A. Considered by many a foundation pose, we explain why we can consider it a peak pose and discuss all the limitations that might surround it. Nat goes on a rant about the way poses look vs. how they feel, and shares her personal experience with Warrior 1 in her calves. Finally, we discuss ways we would sequence or discuss Warrior 1 within a group yoga class to prepare safely and effectively for this posture.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Why Sandy...2019-09-1800 min
The Yoga Addiction33: Pose Breakdown: Warrior 1 / Virabhadrasana 1Today we dive deep into another pose breakdown: Warrior 1, or Virabhadrasana A. Considered by many a foundation pose, we explain why we can consider it a peak pose and discuss all the limitations that might surround it. Nat goes on a rant about the way poses look vs. how they feel, and shares her personal experience with Warrior 1 in her calves. Finally, we discuss ways we would sequence or discuss Warrior 1 within a group yoga class to prepare safely and effectively for this posture.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Why Sandy thinks Warrior 1 is like Cobb Salad (9:27)
What does Warrior 1 ask of the...2019-09-181h 03The Yoga Addiction32: Teaching Hypermobile StudentsHypermobility is the ability for joints to move past an expected range. For many people, certain joints can move well past their range with no pain, however, that is not always the case. In this episode, we dig into all sorts of hypermobility you might encounter in the yoga studio. Sandy shares her history with a more mobile body, and we discuss teaching techniques and language that might help a hypermobile person find more stability.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Whether women should be allowed to go topless in yoga class (1:35)
What...2019-09-1100 min
The Yoga Addiction32: Teaching Hypermobile StudentsHypermobility is the ability for joints to move past an expected range. For many people, certain joints can move well past their range with no pain, however, that is not always the case. In this episode, we dig into all sorts of hypermobility you might encounter in the yoga studio. Sandy shares her history with a more mobile body, and we discuss teaching techniques and language that might help a hypermobile person find more stability.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Whether women should be allowed to go topless in yoga class (1:35)
What is hypermobility? (14:00)
The range of hypermobility, at it's extreme, it's ca...2019-09-111h 13The Yoga Addiction31: Tensegrity: What is it, why does it matter?Tensegrity. A term that gets tossed around in the yoga and movement worlds, but what does it mean? In this episode, we discuss the origin of this word and how the idea of tensegrity in the body, or biotensegrity, helps us understand the tension system of the body. We talk about the distribution of stress within the tensegrity system and how an imbalance of tension results in potential injury, and how to bring our bodies back into a balanced state. Oftentimes, yoga is interpreted as being a practice of stretching (only). The tensegrity model helps explain why and how...2019-09-0400 min
The Yoga Addiction30: Mental Health and Wellness Module OverviewRecently, Nat took a short trip to Portland for a training on mental health and yoga with Yoga Medicine. In this episode, Sandy interviews Nat on her experience and the main takeaways from her week in training. We discuss the importance of epigenetics in mental health, depression and anxiety, the enteric nervous system (your gut) and it's connection to mental health, and so much more. This topic is hugely important for yoga teachers to be well-versed and sensitive towards, so if you're currently a yoga teacher or looking to launch your teaching career, please do have a listen! We discuss...2019-08-281h 07The Yoga Addiction30: Mental Health and Wellness Module OverviewRecently, Nat took a short trip to Portland for a training on mental health and yoga with Yoga Medicine. In this episode, Sandy interviews Nat on her experience and the main takeaways from her week in training. We discuss the importance of epigenetics in mental health, depression and anxiety, the enteric nervous system (your gut) and it's connection to mental health, and so much more. This topic is hugely important for yoga teachers to be well-versed and sensitive towards, so if you're currently a yoga teacher or looking to launch your teaching career, please do have a listen! We...2019-08-2800 min
The Yoga Addiction29: Looking Beyond The Rotator Cuff To Support Students With Rotator Cuff InjuriesIt can be so difficult to visualize a joint like the shoulder, much less anticipate how it moves when there is an injury. In this episode, we try our best to describe normal and abnormal shoulder movement and how we can support students in yoga by stabilizing the shoulder blade. Nat shares her and her husband's shoulder histories and describes their path to healing, of which yoga was a large part. We give tips and pointers on how to release and strengthen the scapula, as well as putting ourselves into a mindset of gratitude as we work with our injuries.
// I...2019-08-2159 minThe Yoga Addiction29: Looking Beyond The Rotator Cuff To Support Students With Rotator Cuff InjuriesIt can be so difficult to visualize a joint like the shoulder, much less anticipate how it moves when there is an injury. In this episode, we try our best to describe normal and abnormal shoulder movement and how we can support students in yoga by stabilizing the shoulder blade. Nat shares her and her husband's shoulder histories and describes their path to healing, of which yoga was a large part. We give tips and pointers on how to release and strengthen the scapula, as well as putting ourselves into a mindset of gratitude as we work with our...2019-08-2100 minThe Yoga Addiction28: Yoga and Hormones: TestosteroneIt's been quite a few months since we first discussed yoga and hormones in our cortisol breakdown episode. In today's episode, we re-visit yoga and hormones with a breakdown of testosterone. We talk about what testosterone does in the body, how its relationship with cortisol helps regulate metabolism and finally, yoga's potential role in hormone levels. We end the episode with several recommendations for breath work and savasana that may help students find a better balance between cortisol and testosterone.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What is testosterone? Where is it produced...2019-08-1400 min
The Yoga Addiction28: Yoga and Hormones: TestosteroneIt's been quite a few months since we first discussed yoga and hormones in our cortisol breakdown episode. In today's episode, we re-visit yoga and hormones with a breakdown of testosterone. We talk about what testosterone does in the body, how its relationship with cortisol helps regulate metabolism and finally, yoga's potential role in hormone levels. We end the episode with several recommendations for breath work and savasana that may help students find a better balance between cortisol and testosterone.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What is testosterone? Where is it produced, what signals it to be produced, how is it regulated? Wh...2019-08-1452 minThe Yoga Addiction27: Aisha Fakhro - Neuroplasticity, Harnessing Resilience, and Transformative PotentialWe got so excited when our friend and fellow yoga teacher Aisha Fakhro suggested we talk about neuroplasticity. It's a topic that electrifies us with excitement and possibility, this idea that the brain constantly changes and adapts according to inputs from your life, your attention, and environment. In this episode, Aisha, who is also a psychotherapist, dives deep into how she uses neuroplasticity within a modern yoga class setting. We talk about social engagement, nervous system regulation, and teaching and appealing to all the different learning styles. This interview is loaded with practical tips about how to address your...2019-08-0700 min
The Yoga Addiction26: Pose Breakdown: Warrior 3 / Virabhadrasana CPose Breakdown... Today we are dissecting Warrior 3 or Virabhadrasana C. This pose is Sandy's hands-down favourite pose and one she threads into nearly every class. In this episode, we talk about why we love it so much, it's musculoskeletal benefits, our favourite cues to refine the pose and how we sequence it within a yoga class. We discuss some important preparations for the pose, like hamstring lengthening and back warm-ups.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
How the gluteus medius is a major player in Warrior 3 (7:01)
In terms of sequencing, our opinion on transitions from an externally rotated hip to a neutral hip an...2019-07-3157 minThe Yoga Addiction26: Pose Breakdown: Warrior 3 / Virabhadrasana CPose Breakdown... Today we are dissecting Warrior 3 or Virabhadrasana C. This pose is Sandy's hands-down favourite pose and one she threads into nearly every class. In this episode, we talk about why we love it so much, it's musculoskeletal benefits, our favourite cues to refine the pose and how we sequence it within a yoga class. We discuss some important preparations for the pose, like hamstring lengthening and back warm-ups.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
How the gluteus medius is a major player in Warrior 3 (7:01)
In terms of sequencing, our opinion on...2019-07-3100 min
The Yoga Addiction25: A Summary of The Yoga Alliance Change In Certification StandardsThe Yoga Alliance is an international non-profit regulating body for yoga professionals. They set standards for how teachers are to be trained, standards for continuing education and they maintain a registry of teachers who adhere to their standards. In the last few years, they have undertaken a serious review of their standards and more recently have released a number of changes to how yoga teacher education is to be regulated. Thankfully, there is a roll-out schedule in place for these changes, as some of them will be significant. In this episode, we run through the biggest changes in their newly...2019-07-2454 minThe Yoga Addiction25: A Summary of The Yoga Alliance Change In Certification StandardsThe Yoga Alliance is an international non-profit regulating body for yoga professionals. They set standards for how teachers are to be trained, standards for continuing education and they maintain a registry of teachers who adhere to their standards. In the last few years, they have undertaken a serious review of their standards and more recently have released a number of changes to how yoga teacher education is to be regulated. Thankfully, there is a roll-out schedule in place for these changes, as some of them will be significant. In this episode, we run through the biggest changes in their...2019-07-2400 minThe Yoga Addiction24: The Controversy of the Tuck Your Tailbone Cue & When You Still Need it!As yoga teachers, we are all guilty of recycling cues from our teachers and peers--"tuck the tailbone" being a very well-known one. In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of this cue, whether or not we can actually tuck the tailbone without moving the pelvis or low back, and how we can more intelligently speak about pelvic positioning. We finish our discussion with several ways to refine the cue, "tuck the tailbone", and in which postures we find this cue helpful.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Are there any...2019-07-1700 min
The Yoga Addiction23: Pose Breakdown: Extended Side Angle Pose / Utthita ParsvakonasanaPose Breakdown... Today, we break down Side Angle Pose, or Parsvakonasana. We start from the ground up, from feet, ankles, thighs, hips, spine up to the shoulders. We discuss common patterns of tight muscles as they show up in this pose, and what cues we can use to help adjust the pose for more comfort. We cover our anatomical differences that make this pose challenging, discovering that Nat and Sandy are basically opposites. This was probably one of our most entertaining and enjoyable episodes to record and produce.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
We reminisce about our first teacher training, and bringing al...2019-07-101h 15The Yoga Addiction23: Pose Breakdown: Extended Side Angle Pose / Utthita ParsvakonasanaPose Breakdown... Today, we break down Side Angle Pose, or Parsvakonasana. We start from the ground up, from feet, ankles, thighs, hips, spine up to the shoulders. We discuss common patterns of tight muscles as they show up in this pose, and what cues we can use to help adjust the pose for more comfort. We cover our anatomical differences that make this pose challenging, discovering that Nat and Sandy are basically opposites. This was probably one of our most entertaining and enjoyable episodes to record and produce.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
2019-07-1000 minThe Yoga Addiction22: Rachel Land - How Do You Know You Are Ready for YTT And How To Choose Which Training Is For You?Today we chat with our friend and teacher Rachel Land. Despite a severe time difference (Rachel lives in Queenstown, New Zealand), we've recorded this podcast to give you everything you need to know before, during and after your 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training. Whether you've just signed up for a training, or in the midst of a training, we cover several important topics. Like building a social network of teachers for support and advice as you launch this next phase of your life. Like the role of social media in your teaching career. Like whether or not you should be...2019-07-0300 minThe Yoga Addiction21: What Does An Alignment Based Practice Mean And When Is It Most Useful?As yoga teachers, we have been trained to look for alignment in our students. But why are we so fixated on alignment? What does an 'alignment-based yoga teacher' do differently, better or worse? In this episode, we discuss what alignment means to us and our purpose as teachers. We go over 2 important viewpoints from senior teachers Leslie Kaminoff and Bernie Clark on alignment and where it fails us and where it guides us.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What does calling yourself an 'alignment-based yoga teacher' mean? (10:00)
We are taught...2019-06-2600 minThe Yoga Addiction20: Does Yoga Increase Bone Density?Today, we answer the question, "Does yoga increase bone density?" We've chosen 3 research studies to dive into and how it might affect the way we present the benefits of yoga to students. Though it does seem like yoga has a positive effect on osteoporosis and bone density, for the most part this is another case of, "We just don't know enough." We briefly discuss the limitations of current research and pose some interesting questions about bone and yoga.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Osteoblasts and osteoclasts and why bone is remodeled relatively...2019-06-1900 minThe Yoga Addiction19: On Teaching Yoga to BeginnersBeginners are maybe one of the most rewarding groups you can teach, if you can get a group of them together. In this episode, we go over several important aspects of teaching to beginners, like placing them in the middle of the room, incorporating parts of yoga that are meaningful to you as a teacher and whether or not it's appropriate to use Sanskrit during class. We reveal what it was like for us when we began yoga years ago, and the challenges and thresholds we faced then. This episode will equip you with plenty of ideas on teaching...2019-06-1200 minThe Yoga Addiction18: Allie Geer - Teaching and Practicing Prenatal YogaToday, we feature our second interview with Allie Geer, who is not only a fascia expert but a prenatal yoga specialist. This episode is a must for anyone teaching public group classes, because sooner or later a pregnant yogi will stroll through your doors, too. We talk about how to make all your students feel welcome and supported, what adjustments you might make in regards to hormone changes with pregnancy and even particular poses to include or remove.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Allie discusses the main differences in moving a pregnant body (6:55)
How...2019-06-0500 minThe Yoga Addiction17: Hiiro Zake-Sigal Prince - Must know differences between Yin and Restorative YogaRestorative and Yin yoga are two practices that often get lumped together into one category. However, our expert guest Hiiro Zake-Sigal Prince sheds light on the distinct differences of these two practices, how and when to intelligently blend the two, and how to decide which is best for you or for your students depending on the needs of your nervous system, musculoskeletal system, fascial system, or otherwise.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Nat tells us how she and Hiiro met (6:55)
Hiiro tells us about his history with movement and yoga; it started with Dance Dance...2019-05-2900 minThe Yoga Addiction16: Yoga for Athletes - How to Design a Practice for Resilience, Recovery, and PowerThe worlds of athletics and yoga are slowly but surely finding a common place to collide and more athletes are turning to various practices of yoga to increase mobility, focus, power, resilience, etc. In this episode we talk about what pieces of the very big and diverse yoga world fit best with athletes; from weekend warriors to professionals.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Why should yoga be incorporated into an athlete's training program? (9:05)
Mindfulness and how it's applicable in sports and life (13:50)
Nat puts together a few focal points for...2019-05-2200 minThe Yoga Addiction15: What Is Fascia and How Do We Care for It in Yoga?In the last few years, fascia has become a huge area of research and investigation. In this episode, we dive into the current knowledge about fascia, its anatomy and how yoga can contribute to the health of the fascia. We talk about common fascia dysfunction, tension patterns, and tendencies. If you're interested in how to serve your fascia through a yoga practice, do listen through to the end for tips and pose suggestions.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Nat and Sandy ramble on about their weekends, and Nat talks about the detox she's doing (5:15)
What...2019-05-1500 min
The Yoga Addiction15: What Is Fascia and How Do We Care for It in Yoga?In the last few years, fascia has become a huge area of research and investigation. In this episode, we dive into the current knowledge about fascia, its anatomy and how yoga can contribute to the health of the fascia. We talk about common fascia dysfunction, tension patterns, and tendencies. If you're interested in how to serve your fascia through a yoga practice, do listen through to the end for tips and pose suggestions.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Nat and Sandy ramble on about their weekends, and Nat talks about the detox she's doing (5:15)
What is fascia and where is it? (15:00)
What's f...2019-05-151h 04The Yoga Addiction14: Lara Ederer - Cultivating a Sustainable Yoga Practice and Teaching Career"Our students deserve to know there is yoga beyond the poses," says Seattle yoga teacher Lara Ederer. A firm believer in creating a long-lived yoga practice and teaching career, in this episode Lara discusses all the implications of cultivating sustainable yoga in the modern world. We dive deep into Lara's relationship with Instagram, her tips for teaching mixed-level and multi-generational classes and the importance of incorporating different movement practices as we age.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Lara tells us about her background in addiction and yoga (7:45)
How Lara uses Instagram to engage people in...2019-05-0800 minThe Yoga Addiction13: Market Yourself for Corporate Yoga with these Research-based FactsFor a new yoga teacher, breaking into the corporate world to teach yoga is a great source of income and job satisfaction. So, how does a young teacher get into these corporations? In this episode, we'll go over 3 research articles that you can reference while developing your marketing materials. We also talk about positioning yourself as a specialized or generalized yoga teacher.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
First, stop talking like a yoga teacher. We go over some keywords to use in marketing materials (7:28)
Article 1: The effectiveness of yoga for the improvement of well-being and...2019-05-0100 minThe Yoga Addiction12: Understanding the Parasympathetic Nervous SystemWhether you've studied the nervous system or not, as a yoga teacher or practitioner you have definitely dabbled within your own parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). In this episode we break down what exactly the PNS is, what it does, and why it's so incredibly important in our yoga practice. At the end of the episode, we give tips to help transition into the PNS, and link up our YouTube video on creating a PNS practice.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) and what does it do? (4:49)
It's relationship to...2019-04-2400 minThe Yoga Addiction11: Elena Cheung - The Power of NeuroKinetic Therapy In Private Yoga ClassesNeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) is a sophisticated form of manual therapy that combines motor control theory and manual muscle testing. Our guest and colleague, Elena Cheung, shares her experience with this method of discovering mis-mapped mind-body connections in her private yoga classes. Elena combines this subtle but powerful practice with yoga to relieve chronic pain, rebuild the neurological connections, and uncover compensatory patterns that are just outside the box of what we learn in common anatomy lessons.
// IN THIS EPISODE //
Elena's background in rock climbing and yoga (7:40)
How Elena found NKT (10:30)
What is NKT and why does...2019-04-1700 minThe Yoga Addiction10: Lordosis And Anterior Pelvic Tilt ExplainedLow back anatomy is a complex subject that all yoga teachers are aware of, but few teachers dive deeply into all its intricacies. In this episode, we take a look at the general curve of the low back and its relationship to the pelvis, and what that means for the muscles around it, especially the iliopsoas. By the end of the episode, we break down several poses and discuss their relationship to the low back curve and pelvic orientation.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What is anterior pelvic tilt vs. posterior pelvic tilt, and how is it related...2019-04-1000 minThe Yoga Addiction9: Yoga and Hormones - How To Use Yoga To Support Cortisol RegulationCortisol has gotten a bad reputation lately as a stress hormone that we should actively work to keep down. However, cortisol is essential for the regulation of so many of our bodily functions and has a natural day-night rhythm that we should learn to work with. In this podcast, we talk about how to use yoga and meditation to work with our cortisol rhythms, how to recognize when the rhythms may be off balance, and how to sequence a group yoga class with cortisol regulation in mind.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Nat's personal history with emotions, hormones...2019-04-0300 minThe Yoga Addiction8: What Are Our Responsibilities as Yoga Teachers?As yoga evolves with our modern lives, the typical yoga class is becoming part physical therapy, emotional therapy, mindfulness, and a kick-ass workout. To balance all of these expectations, yoga teachers need to wear many different hats, from recommending exercises to providing emotional support. In this episode, we examine the appropriateness of the responsibilities of a modern yoga teacher.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What are some day-to-day tasks outside of teaching yoga that Nat and Sandy have been asked to do in a yoga studio (1:44)
We try to see things from the perspective of...2019-03-2700 min
The Yoga Addiction8: What Are Our Responsibilities as Yoga Teachers?As yoga evolves with our modern lives, the typical yoga class is becoming part physical therapy, emotional therapy, mindfulness, and a kick-ass workout. To balance all of these expectations, yoga teachers need to wear many different hats, from recommending exercises to providing emotional support. In this episode, we examine the appropriateness of the responsibilities of a modern yoga teacher.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What are some day-to-day tasks outside of teaching yoga that Nat and Sandy have been asked to do in a yoga studio (1:44)
We try to see things from the perspective of a studio owner and the rationale behind...2019-03-2744 minThe Yoga Addiction7: Allie Geer - How Cadaver Dissections Have Impacted How We TeachIn 2017, Nat and Sandy took an interesting "walk in nature"; a cadaver dissection for yoga teachers via Yoga Medicine and the Laboratory of Anatomical Enlightenment. There, they were reunited with Allie Geer, now a Yoga Medicine senior teacher who has completed four cadaver dissections to date. She is a wellspring of information, inspiration and insight. In this episode we talk all things cadaver and why all yoga teachers could benefit from their own walk in nature.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Allie's connection with Yoga Medicine and what it means to be a Yoga Medicine teacher (4:29)
We talk...2019-03-2000 min
The Yoga Addiction7: Allie Geer - How Cadaver Dissections Have Impacted How We TeachIn 2017, Nat and Sandy took an interesting "walk in nature"; a cadaver dissection for yoga teachers via Yoga Medicine and the Laboratory of Anatomical Enlightenment. There, they were reunited with Allie Geer, now a Yoga Medicine senior teacher who has completed four cadaver dissections to date. She is a wellspring of information, inspiration and insight. In this episode we talk all things cadaver and why all yoga teachers could benefit from their own walk in nature.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Allie's connection with Yoga Medicine and what it means to be a Yoga Medicine teacher (4:29)
We talk about what effects advanced...2019-03-201h 02The Yoga Addiction6: The Mobility Movement and its Relationship to YogaAs yogis, we have an innate interest in movement and mobility in the human body. However, what characterizes a yoga class vs. a mobility or movement class? In this episode, we dissect the differences we see and how it applies to modern yoga.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What is a movement / mobility / functional movement class? (4:40)
What advantage yoga has over a movement class (6:40)
How you receive information and move affects your nervous system (11:23)
The blurry line between a yoga class and a fitness class (15:42)
As a teacher getting wrapped up on peak pose sequencing (25:42)
We talk about...2019-03-1300 minThe Yoga Addiction5: What is SAID and How Can We Use it in AsanaWe can learn a lot by studying principles from different training modalities, and considering how they might apply to the general yoga class. In this episode, we dissect the principle of SAID: specific adaptation to imposed demands. A term often used in the sports world, we show you how SAID is important in many real-life scenarios and in the yoga class.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The definition of SAID and some examples in yoga and sports (4:30)
Nat: "Our nervous system is lazy." She explains more (15:06)
What are some applications of the SAID principle in our every day...2019-03-0600 min
The Yoga Addiction5: What is SAID and How Can We Use it in AsanaWe can learn a lot by studying principles from different training modalities, and considering how they might apply to the general yoga class. In this episode, we dissect the principle of SAID: specific adaptation to imposed demands. A term often used in the sports world, we show you how SAID is important in many real-life scenarios and in the yoga class.
IN THIS EPISODE:
The definition of SAID and some examples in yoga and sports (4:30)
Nat: "Our nervous system is lazy." She explains more (15:06)
What are some applications of the SAID principle in our every day life, in our sports...2019-03-0652 minThe Yoga Addiction4: Hot Yoga...Are We Actually Detoxifying the Body?As you might expect, science doesn't say much about hot yoga as a detoxification method since the liver and kidneys do most of the heavy lifting in that category. In today's episode, we discuss myths surrounding detoxification in hot yoga and the reasons why we might want to let go of the word "detox" completely.
IN THIS EPISODE:
What are we detoxifying? (8:50)
A toxin we usually don't think about: electromagnetic radiation (11:00)
How toxins (or toxicants) are not only things we take into the body, but sometimes by products of our...2019-02-2700 minThe Yoga Addiction3: Interview with Danielle Eve - Everything you need to know to Create a Successful Corporate Yoga BusinessBig city living is most often accompanied by desk job living. Yoga teacher and entrepreneur Danielle Eve wants to deliver mindful movement and stress release to desk jockeys who might otherwise never step foot in a yoga studio. Danielle and Megan's start-up company, Ebb and Flow Movement, is one of the few in Toronto, ON, that's making a mark in corporations around the city with their business savvy and tenacity.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why Danielle started doing yoga (it was a guy) (2:02)
How her journey into the marketing world led her to want to teach yoga...2019-02-2000 minThe Yoga Addiction2: Why the Transverse Abdominis is One Badass Muscle and How to Use ItFor the last few years, the transversus abdominis has been a buzz word among health and fitness professionals. In this podcast, we reveal why it's so talked about, how we can use it in yoga classes and its relationship to other areas of our health.
IN THIS EPISODE:
How to find the TVA on your body (1:30)
What the TVA does; its shape gives us a clue (2:30)
How the TVA is not a spinal mover (3:25)
How the TVA is a movement-independent muscle; does the TVA activate during an abdominal crunch? (4:12)
What muscles does the TVA connect to (7:25)
...2019-02-2000 min
The Yoga Addiction2: Why the Transverse Abdominis is One Badass Muscle and How to Use ItFor the last few years, the transversus abdominis has been a buzz word among health and fitness professionals. In this podcast, we reveal why it's so talked about, how we can use it in yoga classes and its relationship to other areas of our health.
IN THIS EPISODE:
How to find the TVA on your body (1:30)
What the TVA does; its shape gives us a clue (2:30)
How the TVA is not a spinal mover (3:25)
How the TVA is a movement-independent muscle; does the TVA activate during an abdominal crunch? (4:12)
What muscles does the TVA connect to (7:25)
Why you should exhale...2019-02-2053 minThe Yoga Addiction1: Introductions and Why We Created The Yoga AddictionWelcome to the Yoga Addiction, brain child of Natalie Senger and Sandy Huen. Today, we talk about our yoga journeys and our motivation for creating this podcast.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why Sandy believes our roles as yoga teachers are vitally important to the world of wellness (2:45)
Why Natalie doesn’t trust everything she hears and how she hopes this podcast can create more open conversations within the yoga community (3:50)
How to approach classical teachings of yoga vs. a more modern approach (5:57)
Why Sandy was reluctant to start doing yoga and how an epiphany of her...2019-02-1900 min
The Yoga Addiction1: Introductions and Why We Created The Yoga AddictionWelcome to the Yoga Addiction, brain child of Natalie Senger and Sandy Huen. Today, we talk about our yoga journeys and our motivation for creating this podcast.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why Sandy believes our roles as yoga teachers are vitally important to the world of wellness (2:45)
Why Natalie doesn’t trust everything she hears and how she hopes this podcast can create more open conversations within the yoga community (3:50)
How to approach classical teachings of yoga vs. a more modern approach (5:57)
Why Sandy was reluctant to start doing yoga and how an epiphany of her surfboard connected her to the pr...2019-02-1938 min