The practice of Yin yoga is unusual in that it asks us to do the opposite of what we do in the rest of our lives. That contrast is powerful, but adjusting to it can bring up challenges. In this episode, returning guest Shannon Stephens is back to talk to host Rachel about the common challenges of Yin Yoga for both students and teachers and shares her tips on how we can navigate them skillfully to get the most out of our practice. Listen to this episode to learn how to embrace the contrast betwee...
Jul 20, 2023•1 hr 10 min
After traumatic life events, some people experience negative mental and physical health outcomes, while others not only survive but thrive. There’s a growing body of research on the strategies that prime our potential for resilience to adverse events, but less understanding of the neural pathways that underpin them. Today guest Valerie Knopik Ph.D. returns to explore three of these pathways with host Rachel, sharing a recent review article on the neuroscience of resilience in adults. In this epi...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 1 min
We don’t all strive for elite physical performance, but we do all place demands on our bodies. Some of the internal signals that we receive as a result could be interpreted as pain, so how do we know when we should push through and when we should pull back? We have talked in previous episodes about the complex phenomenon of pain, and how deeply enmeshed our perception of pain is with our beliefs and previous experiences. Today that conversation continues with host Rachel and returning guest and ...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 7 min
In our busy lives, it can be challenging to allow ourselves to truly rest, but there are potent benefits to be gained when we do. So today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the stillness and quiet of restorative yoga. In this episode, we outline the key characteristics of restorative yoga and how they work to soothe the nervous system and offer an antidote to stress. We discuss who restorative yoga is for, how to navigate its most common challenges, and how it compares to Yin yoga. Listen in to...
Jun 22, 2023•57 min
Today host Rachel speaks with returning guest Jenni Tarma about hypermobility disorders, which appear more often in yoga students than in the general population. In this episode, Jenni describes the wide range of symptoms linked to hypermobility, some of the challenges yoga teachers face when working with students on this spectrum, as well as how yoga can help. Since hypermobility disorders can bring up both physical and mental symptoms, we talk about the importance of incorporating nervous syst...
Jun 15, 2023•58 min
Today hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss fascia and the immune system. In this episode, learn what role the fascia plays in the immune system and which less obvious components of fascia contribute to this relationship. We also cover why fibroblasts are dynamic participants of immune processes, and how fluid flow versus stagnation play into immune function. Listen in to learn how cells within our fascial system enable communication in our tissues, the pros and cons of mechanical fascial manipulation...
Jun 08, 2023•46 min
Often it’s the details that make our experience; in the context of a yoga class, it’s not just about the poses and practices we teach but the WAY we teach them that determines whether our class feels welcoming. Today host Rachel speaks with Yoga Medicine therapeutic specialist Elena Cheung. Elena shares her tips for creating impactful all-level classes that welcome the wide range of people who attend them. We discuss the little things that shape and color the student experience and yet are easil...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel explore one of the more common challenges yoga students face: shoulder pain when arms are overhead. We shed some light on this common issue, unpacking the anatomical structures involved, and discussing possible triggers. Given how often we take our arms overhead – in yoga, sport, and daily life – we are likely to come across this issue at some point. So whether you are a teacher or yoga student, whether you have this issue or are working with those who do, listen i...
May 18, 2023•49 min
Compassion itself is vast and inexhaustible but for those who care for others, systemic factors, secondary traumatic stress and cumulative overwhelm can become barriers to being able to express it fully and freely. Today host Rachel talks about compassion fatigue with returning guest Rashmi Bismark. In this episode, we discuss the importance of preventative self-care for caregivers and how even simple rituals can create structured ways to acknowledge the burdens of care. We also talk about the v...
May 11, 2023•56 min
Today hosts Rachel and Tiffany continue the conversation we started in Episode 56, exploring controversial yoga cues. There is so much to say on the topic, so we are back with a second episode to unpack when these familiar cues are useful (and when they aren’t), the potential downside of protective cues, and the one yoga cue that Rachel hates. Show Notes: Even the best cues don’t always translate across cultures [2:42] “Shoulders back and down” [4:05] Cueing based on specific intention instead o...
May 04, 2023•1 hr 2 min
We've gone in depth in previous episodes on the topic of myofascial release or MFR, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel take a step back to focus on the basics. In this episode, we give tips for implementing MFR in your practice, what to pay attention to, why we love it, how we use it, and how our practices have changed over the years. Listen in to learn what we love about myofascial release, common pitfalls, and tips for practicing MFR before, during, and after more traditional yoga practices. Sh...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Today host Tiffany talks with Amanda B. Cunningham, director of Yoga Medicine Seva Foundation, about human trafficking and the work of the Seva Foundation. This episode is a more personal, conversational chat about the nonprofit and what is important to us as yoga teachers. In this episode, we discuss the many ways that the organization has evolved over the years and the ins and outs of human trafficking. Listen in to learn about our main projects, our favorite parts, and how you can support the...
Apr 13, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Anxiety tends to go under-recognized and under-treated, and yet is one of the most common mental health challenges faced today. It is also a key reason many students are drawn to yoga practice. Today host Rachel speaks with Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Caroline Wybar about how those factors inspired the capstone project of her 1000-Hour Teacher Training qualification: a pilot study on individual therapeutic yoga approaches for anxiety. Caroline shares the details of her pilot study, offe...
Apr 06, 2023•55 min
Today hosts Tiffany and Katja are back for another research roundup, this time on hyaluronic acid or hyaluronan. This molecule is not only used in face creams but also helps to create tissue properties related to the slide and glide between tissue layers. In this episode, we talk about where it is found in the body, how it is produced, and how it is affected by bodily movement. Listen in to learn how hyaluronan works, how it relates to the yoga practice, and why it's important for our lives. Sho...
Mar 30, 2023•58 min
What can we learn from being an adult beginner that informs more familiar activities, like our yoga practice? Today host Rachel explores that question with Auckland-based Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, Functional Range Conditioning® Mobility Specialist, and Yoga Medicine Online guest teacher Kylie Rook. Kylie shares her love of being a beginner off of the yoga mat, her tips for getting more comfortable in that uncomfortable space, and the lessons she has learned along the way - including ...
Mar 23, 2023•45 min
Today Dana Diament - Yoga Medicine Online teacher, and lead teacher for the Yoga Medicine Online 200hr Teacher Training - returns to speak with host Rachel about “Spiritual Imposter Syndrome”. Whether we are yoga students or teachers, doubt in the validity of our own spiritual experience can hold us back from fully feeling or expressing it. But the humility that comes hand in hand with this self-doubt could actually be a superpower. In this episode, we explore our definitions of spirituality and...
Mar 16, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel hone in on a topic of interest for both yoga students and teachers: strategies to address persistent pain. While persistent pain is dismayingly common, the journey to recovery is a personal one, requiring an individual understanding of our physical state, along with our feelings and beliefs. In this episode, we discuss the effect of language on pain-related fear and how pain education can have a surprising impact on pain perception. We also explore sneaky yet effec...
Mar 09, 2023•1 hr 7 min
In this episode, we are talking about a hidden aspect of health: bone density. Decreased bone mineral density, osteoporosis, is surprisingly common – impacting on average one in five women over 50 and a smaller proportion of men. The diagnosis can bring with it a fear of frailty, but today host Rachel talks with Michaela Smith, a Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist, and NASM-certified personal trainer, about the wide range of positive actions we can take to maintain or rebuild bone mineral den...
Mar 02, 2023•53 min
Today hosts Rachel and Tiffany tackle the taboo topic of yoga during menstruation. We examine traditional barriers to practicing during menstruation and more modern takes on which poses and practices might be more or less supportive. In this episode we also reframe menstruation as a “fresh start”, a window into our internal state, share a wide range of techniques to ease menstrual discomfort, and consider the process from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. Whether you menstruate or teac...
Feb 23, 2023•46 min
There are always plenty of questions about dissections and how to prepare for them. Today, hosts Katja and Tiffany talk about the different types of dissections, why the experience is so valuable, what we can learn from it, and why you might want to do one — or not. Listen in for the pair’s valuable tips for preparing yourself to take a course in human dissection. Show Notes: The kinesthetic experience of dissection [1:34] Dissection versus prosection [3:47] The gift of dissection [7:32] Working...
Feb 16, 2023•34 min
The benefits of strength training for muscle and bone strength as well as metabolic, cognitive and mental health are now very well established. But there’s so much, often conflicting, information out there; it can be challenging to know where to focus your time and effort to reap those benefits. Today’s guest Jenni Tarma —- yoga teacher, RRCA Endurance Coach and CrossFit Level 1 trainer—is back on the show to help us clear up that confusion. Jenni overviews some of the key benefits of regular st...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 4 min
“Love and light” is a popular sentiment in the yoga world, but today’s guest would have us give equal weight to supposedly negative emotions like grief and anger. Today host Rachel ventures into the dark side with yoga teacher and studio owner Steph Wall. Steph explains how the Hindu goddess Kali has encouraged her to explore the power of the dark feminine by embracing messiness, complexity, and duality in her practice, her life, and as a guiding principle in her unique yoga studio. She believes...
Feb 02, 2023•53 min
Today Tiffany shares her passion for one of the body’s lesser-known and appreciated organ systems, the lymphatic system. We've known about the system for over 400 years and yet our understanding of its function and contribution to health has a long way to go. However, given what we do know about this vital system, there is potential for yoga practice to provide significant support for its healthy function. Tiffany unpacks how the lymphatics act as both a “clean-up crew” for the circulatory syste...
Jan 26, 2023•50 min
Today host Katja speaks with returning guest Diane Malaspina Ph.D. about the concept of Drishti and the potency of our focus. Diane is a yoga teacher with a B.S. in Psychology, a Master's degree in Education, and a Ph.D. in educational and developmental psychology. In this episode, we take a broader perspective on gaze and consider our visual system as a gateway to our nervous system and our environment. Diane also explains why we should regularly spend time staring at a wall. Listen in to learn...
Jan 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Today’s episode is a lively conversation between host Rachel, Dana Diament, and Valerie Knopik Ph.D. – teacher trainers on the brand-new online version of the Yoga Medicine 200hr Teacher Training. We unpack the meaning and intention behind several controversial verbal cues, debate their accuracy, offer scenarios where they might be more or less relevant to students, and provide some alternatives. Listen in to hear why we were all drawn to training with Yoga Medicine and hear us discuss a central...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Happy New Year! Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel start 2023 on the right foot by discussing the far-reaching impact our daily habits have on every aspect of our health. We talk about the pros and cons of New Year’s resolutions, and how realistic goals, framed positively, could be the most helpful. Listen in for inspiration as you set your expectations for 2023. Show Notes: Pros and cons of New Year’s resolutions [2:28] Tiffany’s January cleanse as an opportunity to assess and reset [5:13] How yoga...
Jan 05, 2023•36 min
Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel delve into a sometimes controversial topic in the medical and yoga worlds: the hip labrum. In this episode, you will learn what the hip labrum is and how it acts as a crucial source of stability and durability for the hip joint. We discuss common injuries that we see in that part of the body, and how they are diagnosed and treated by healthcare professionals. Listen to this episode as we explore why labrum injuries seem so common in yoga practitioners, share a wide...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 16 min
As the year comes to a close, hosts Tiffany, Rachel, and Katja take a look back at some of their top takeaways from the first year of the Yoga Medicine Podcast. After 52 episodes—sharing information at the intersection of science and research, individual experience, and traditional practices that have stood the test of time—the three hosts share their favorite topics, guests, and episodes, as well as their thoughts on repeated themes that have emerged. Show Notes: Opportunities to connect with o...
Dec 01, 2022•44 min
Nitric Oxide (NO) has been on people’s minds for a few years now in the yoga and wellness worlds. It is such a potent gas in the body and it has so many different effects, so today hosts Tiffany and Katja are here to help you to understand more of the recent research. In this episode, Tiffany and Katja talk about the effect that increased nitric oxide production has on blood flow and blood pressure as well as the nervous and immune systems. They also break down the physiology of nitric oxide in ...
Nov 24, 2022•54 min
Today host Rachel talks to Breast Cancer Surgeon Doreen Wiggins MD about yoga and breast cancer. In this episode, Dr. Wiggins helps us to better understand our breast cancer risk and shares some simple actions that we can take to reduce that risk. She also explains what steps we can take to improve the potential outcome of cancer treatment if we are diagnosed with cancer and shares how we can modify our yoga practice to better suit our needs both before and during cancer treatment. Listen to thi...
Nov 17, 2022•49 min
