The sacrum, often overlooked, plays a vital role in both spinal health and overall movement. It's not just a single bone but a fusion of five vertebrae that occurs as we age, usually completing the process in our 20s. Despite this fusion, the sacrum is part of a dynamic system that requires awareness and movement to stay healthy.
Yoga and creativity share a special connection. Both require us to move beyond the confines of the familiar, to explore the unknown, and to embrace the perspective of a beginner—a fresh lens through which we see the world. This convergence of yoga and creativity is a catalyst for inspiration, opening doors to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of being.
Yoga therapy is fundamentally about empowering you to take an active approach to self-care through the tailored application of yoga. Unlike general group classes, which aim to benefit a wide range of participants, yoga therapy offers a personalized and evolving practice that addresses specific health challenges and promotes overall well-being.
iRest Yoga Nidra can be perceived as resting, especially since rest is in the name, and we all are not people who rest. Resting can even be a bit scary. It is easy to wonder: Will everything be OK if I slow down and rest? What if I told you that iRest Yoga Nidra is active resting? You are doing something. You are actively listening to a voice, following the prompts, re-wiring your brain, and improving your health.
There exists a subtle yet profound connection between the mind and the breath. Choosing to breathe consciously, transforms our practice into an embrace of clarity. Yoga practice becomes more than moving with intention. Noticing the breath funnels activities of the mind into an effortless one pointed focus. With each breath, we surrender deeper into our practice, letting go of distractions and attachments, and embracing the fullness of our being.
The way we breathe and the specific patterns we adopt can have significant effects on our wellbeing and nervous system. Yoga and pranayama cultivates mindful breathing. Breathing practices can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the "rest and digest" system. Yoga can help train ourselves to pay attention to the sensations of the breath and allow us to choose how we breathe.
We need tools to reduce the intense negative emotions and return to a state of calm to promote clarity of what is true. What’s an easy tool to use? Slow Breathing with an Extended Exhale. For the month of June, you can practice slow extended exhalation using this Guided Extended Exhalation in our video library for free
The tools of yoga have helped me breathe freely this spring despite my numerous allergies to pollen from pine, ragweed, mold and grass. In the past, I have had to avoid walking near the grass seed aisles in big box stores otherwise I would start crying. I also found that I would get a sinus infection whenever the season changed and I didn’t take allergy medicine. But now I can work in my yard without an allergic reaction. I attribute the reduction in allergic reactions to my yogic practice of saucha (cleanliness or purity).
