Category Archives: beginner yoga

Beginner Yoga Tips for the Stiff and Inflexible

I’ve been teaching a class at the Mt Airy Learning Tree in Philadelphia the last few  years called, “ Beginner Yoga for the Stiff and Inflexible“. A lot of the students that come have a lot of anxiety about the poses.  Many times they confirm they are in the right class before we get started….

Yoga Etiquette for Beginner Students

I can still remember my first time.  My friend brought me to a yoga studio almost two decades ago and I was not given any pointers on how to behave or act during the yoga class. Here is a list of Top Things to keep in mind for beginner yoga students. Yoga Etiquette for Beginner…

Yoga DVD for Back Pain, Spine Strength and Hip Tightness

  Anyone else out there taken Gary Kraftsow’s Viniyoga?  I’ve been doing this at home the last few days with his DVDs.   I like the pace, simple but descriptive enough instructions.    He also gives an in-depth anatomy and bio-mechanics.  He also has all kinds of graphics about anatomy and the body.  It’s a lot of…

At Shell, a Grassroots Effort Via Meditation Aims to Nourish Innovation

Far be it from me to promote any oil or gas company.  I like to keep track of which oil companies are involved with the most unsavory labor or environmental practices and avoid buying my gas at these stations…. often driving a bit farther to do so and usually going to a locally owned station…

Yoga, Curves, Bulges and You

In case you haven’t discovered all the witty and insightful posts from Elephant Journal yet, here is another one that makes me simultaneously smile and also breath a sigh of relief. Make Room For the Luscious Yogi  so bravely written by Anne Falkowski. Why do images of yoga always seem to feature incredibly lithe, tiny…

Stuff to Bring to Yoga Class (and What to Leave Behind)

Before new students come to a yoga class, I usually tell them what they should bring.  Some of these might seem basic but will just throw them in the mix anyway. What To Wear and Bring in Hot and Beginner Yoga Classes Clothes to Stretch In -  For women this means a fitted shirt.  If…

Ideas for Yoga Sequences and Classes

When I start a yoga class, I usually make sure that the room is clean, the floor is ideally a hardwood floor and there should be bathrooms nearby that are also clean.   Lights that dim are also ideal so I can create a soulful class and really make the mood quite serene.  I usually start…

Does Yoga Help You Lose Weight? Videos, Tips and Poses

Losing your muffin top without ommmming.  A few years ago one of my co-workers said she can’t stand going to yoga class because she hates chanting om.  She loved the poses but just hated that aspect of the class.  It made her feel uncomfortable. It made me think about why some people don’t feel yoga…

Yoga in Havertown PA – Classes and Studios

There are not too many studios that have yoga in Havertown, PA.  Here are the places that I know about. There is Tri-Yoga in Havertown on West Chester Pike.  The style is a bit esoteric but quite meditative and structured.  I have only been to a a few classes here and the space is quite…

Neck Pain & Tight Shoulders – Yoga Poses For Pain Relief

Unfortunately, neck pain & tight shoulders seem to always come together.  Often in my yoga classes, I will ask students what body parts are not feeling good and what they want to work on.  The number one answer is always low back pain and the next body parts are usually tight shoulder, neck pain and…