The New York Times article, Still Counting Calories? Your Weight Loss Plan May Be Outdated, describes the most extensive and detailed long-term analysis on weight gain done by nutrition and public health experts at Harvard University. It is worth reading. The 120,877 participants included doctors, dentists, nurses, and veterinarians who were followed for 12 to... Continue Reading →
What Really Works for Back Pain
It is easy to prescribe a given set of asanas for back pain. In reality there is practically no one sequence or given set of asanas that works for everyone. There is no one cause for back pain and every body is different. There may be some conditions, such as spinal fractures, that will be... Continue Reading →
Yoga and Low-Back Pain
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) funded a study in 2009 at West Virginia University to evaluate the effects of Iyengar Yoga on low-back pain. Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficacy of Iyengar yoga therapy on chronic low back pain. Williams K, Abildso C, Steinberg L, Doyle E, Epstein B, Smith D,... Continue Reading →
Meditation or Morphine
Latest scientific research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Duke University suggests that we can free ourselves from chronic pain by meditation. Meditation reduced pain more than morphine or other pain-reducing drugs. Participants in the study were taught to focus their attention on the breath and to let go of distracting thoughts and emotions.... Continue Reading →
Yoga Nidra at Walter Reed for PTSD
Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are being being offered "yogic method of relaxation" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The military hopes that "yoga-based treatments will be more acceptable to the soldiers and less stigmatizing than traditional psychotherapy," according to an article in the April 2009 issue of Harvard Health Publications.... Continue Reading →
Yoga for PTSD:War to Peace
Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) is not restricted to war veterans. Yoga meditation is proving to be very effective according to the article "War to Peace" in the the latest available online issue of the magazine Australian Yoga Life. It describes how trataka, full yogic breath, ujjayi pranayama, Yoga Nidra, sankalpa (positive affirmation) have helped... Continue Reading →
Swami Satyadharma on Pratyahara
This 18-minute clip, Swami Satyadharma on Pratyahara, is highly recommended. Swami Satyadharma, a direct disciple of Swami Satyananda answers a question on pratyahara (sense withdrawal) as part of a yogic studies course in Australia. Her answer goes to the heart of meditation. She is an engaging speaker. Our Wednesday group will find the message familiar... Continue Reading →
Effect of Pranayama and Asana on Type 2 Diabetes
The following research study appeared in the Indian Journal of Medical Research 131, May 2010, p 636-640 Effect of pranayama and asana on cognitive brain functions in type 2 diabetes-P3 event related evoked potential (ERP) Tenzin Kyizom, Savita Singh, K.P. Singh, O.P. Tandon & Rahul Kumar "Background & objectives: Electrophysiological evidence of delayed cognition as... Continue Reading →
Cautions for Summer Yoga
Here are some reminders for summer yoga: Avoid doing asanas in direct sunlight, except at dawn or dusk. Do not do dynamic sun salutations, especially 12 rounds. It may overheat the body. Switch to a more passive sequence that allows the body time to settle and rest in each asana for a comfortable amount of... Continue Reading →
Mahasri Yoga 