Headaches and Yoga (Answered by Michelle Hegmon) Q: After yoga class the next day I usually have a mild headache (i think this is due to dehydration), and once that goes away, and it does, i still have a head cold feeling. What causes this? A: You’ve raised lots of possible questions, and there are lots of possible answers. In order to …
Ask the Yogi-Urdhva Dhaurasana
Strength for Practicing Deep Backbends Q. How do I get strong enough to do urdhva dhanurasana? A. A: Urdhva Dhanurasana or Upward-Facing Bow is a deep backbend requiring the significant integration of strength, flexibility and alignment. It also requires a fairly open thoracic spine and a harmonic integration of the heart, rib cage and shoulders. Many people believe that it …
Ask The Yogi – Uddiyana Bhanda
Uddiyana Bandha Q: I think I’m engaging uddiyana bandha wrong — my stomach has started to pull out and, rather than pulling in and having a thinning effect, it is now out at the level of my ribs. When I engage my bhanda, I contract the muscles below my navel. Should I be sucking them in instead? A: Uddiyana Bandha is …
Ask the Yogi: Teaching Jobs and Competition
Ask The Yogi Teaching Jobs and Competition Q. The competition for classes to teach appears to be intense, people who were your friend before you were qualified to teach a class, suddenly are no longer friendly when you can teach the classes that they do. Sure, everyone has to make a living but we thought being yogis would make us …
Ask the Yogi: Pranayama and Metabolism
Ask The Yogi Pranayama and Metabolism Q. I have heard that starting the day with breakfast is needed to get the metabolism going… My question is around getting the metabolism going with breath work. Would the metabolic system increase in activity in the same fashion as with breakfast (I am thinking of a breatharian, too.) I think that beginning the …
Ask The Yogi: Panic Attacks
Ask The Yogi Q: I have suddenly started to experience some very annoying and hindering panic attacks. There should be no apparent reason for this, as I am doing what I love (teach keep fit and dance) and generally feel quite happy with myself but somewhere along my way I have lost all confidence in myself and forever worry about …
Ask the Yogi: Love in Sanskrit
Q. What is “Love” in Sanskrit? A. Your question about what love is in Sanskrit intrigued me a bit. So I looked at an online dictionary and found that, in addition to bhakti, there are literally over a hundred entries! I thought of Eskimos and how many different words they had for snow, describiing the subtle nuances and differences and thought …
Ask the Yogi: Round Back in Forward Bends
Ask the Yogi: Round Back in Forward Bends Ask The Yogi Q: My back always rounds in forward bends. Is this a problem? A: A round back in forward bends can be the result of several different forces. Tight shoulders, “armored” thoracic spine, weak lower back or abdominal wall and the most common causes of tight hips or hamstrings. Usually a …
Ask The Yogi: Follow Your Dharma
Follow Your Dharma: The Difference Between Quitting and Surrender By Jeff Martens In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna rides with his chariot driver Krishna (an avatar or God incarnate) into a no-man’s land between two vast armies about to wage war. After seeing friends, teachers, family cousins and brothers arrayed on both sides of the battlefield, Arjuna, the greatest archer of his …
Ask the Yogi: Fasting and Exercise
Ask The Yogi Fasting and Exercise Q. My husband and I are going to do the Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse. We started once last year but only made it through 2 days. Tried to do it while camping … bad idea :o} I am wondering if you have known of anyone else who has done this? I understand from the …