For Teachers
what_you_folks_had_to_say_about_racial_stereotyping.pdfAn Introduction to Yoga Therapy
Some basics for integrating therapeutic yoga into your students' lives.
So You Want to Be a Yoga Therapist?
An overview of the kinds of knowledge and training necessary for effective yoga therapy.
Doing Yoga Therapy Safely: Part One
An introduction to the topic of safety in yoga therapy.
Doing Yoga Therapy Safely: Part Two
Yoga therapy and the side effects of medication; knowing and respecting your limits.
How to Structure a Yoga Therapy Session
Interview, evaluation, and practice session: the first steps toward helping your student use yoga for rehabilitation.
Yoga Therapy: Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making
An article I coauthored with several yoga therapists, intended to provide some guidelines for safety and well-being in the practice of yoga therapy, and to encourage pretreatment discussions between therapist and practictioner.
Interview with IJYT
In this interview conducted by Kelly McGonigal, Editor-in-Chief ofthe International Journal of Yoga Therapy, I discuss what Western medicine can learn from Yoga and Ayurveda, the risks, challenges, and rewards of conducting research on yoga therapy, etc.
Your Brain on Yoga
A short article about the neuroplastic effects of yoga.
The Role of Diet in Yoga
Some advice on helping your students to bring a yogic awareness to their nutritional choices.
Beyond Asana
Using other yogic tools such as breathing, chanting, and meditation in yoga therapy.
Use Your Imagination
Visualization for deepening yoga practice and therapy.
Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy
An introduction to Ayurveda and how knowledge of Ayurveda can add subtlety and depth to your teaching and personal practice.
The Philosophical Basis of Yoga Therapy
An introduction to the history and philosophy which informs the modern practice of yoga therapy.
The Scientific Basis of Yoga Therapy
An introduction to the research documenting yoga therapy's effectiveness and suggesting some explanations of how it works.
Yoga Therapy and the Mind-Body Connection (Part 1)
How yoga can deepen our understanding of the links between the state of one's mind and the state of one's body.
Yoga Therapy and the Mind-Body Connection (Part 2)
While Part 1 is on the Yoga Journal website, Part 2 can only be found here.
Inspiring Your Students to Practice
Some advice on helping your students develop and maintain a home practice.
Assessing Your Student's Progress (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on indicators of progress in yoga practice.
Assessing Your Student's Progress (Part 2)
Part 2 focuses on broadening the way in which you and your students view success.
Yoga For Psychological and Emotional Problems
The first article in a series (below) on yoga as a complement to psychotherapy and other approaches to emotional and psychological conditions.
Yoga For Depression (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on identifying the two major types of depression as conceptualized by Iyengar yoga practitioners: rajasic and tamasic, and introduces some asanas which can be helpful in dealing with depression.
Yoga For Depression (Part 2)
Part 2 discusses yogic practices beyond asana which can be helpful for depression, and some advice on helping your students begin the journey out of depression.
Yoga for Stress and Burnout
Yoga as an overall system for stress reduction; how yoga works with the physiology of stress.
Yoga for Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Using yoga to address anxiety: both its symptoms and its root causes.
Yoga For Chronic Pain (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on stress reduction and greater postural awareness as yogic tools for managing and alleviating chronic pain.
Yoga For Chronic Pain (Part 2)
Part 2 focuses on the role of breathwork and meditation in addressing chronic pain.
Yoga For Chronic Pain (Part 3)
Part 3 discusses yogic uses of sound for addressing pain, and looks at how yoga can be part of a broader, more holistic approach to health and pain management.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 1)
Some advice regarding sources of yoga injuries and a yogic approach to their treatment and prevention.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 2)
Dealing with common injuries: knee problems and aching backs.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 3)
Dealing with common injuries: wrists, hamstrings, and shoulders.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 4)
What do injuries have to teach us? Using yoga injuries and the healing process as a vehicle for deepening your students' practice.
Yoga Therapy for Rare or Undiagnosed Medical Conditions
Some advice on finding yogic tools to help your students, even when the medical diagnosis is unclear or unhelpful.
Coordinating Yoga Therapy With Doctors and Other Health Professionals
Some advice on communicating with your students' and their doctors about the complementary benefits of yoga and yoga therapy when combined with Western medical care.
Handle With Care
Some advice on what to do when you disagree with the medical care your student is receiving.
Yoga to Cultivate Compassion, Gratitude, and Joy (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on breathwork.
Yoga to Cultivate Compassion, Gratitude, and Joy (Part 2)
Part 2 explores meditation, chanting, and other yogic tools.
Finding Your Dharma as a Path to Yogic Healing (Part 1)
An article on how helping a student find his or her dharma, or purpose, can aid in physical healing. Part 1 focuses on the connection between ill health and not knowing or not following your dharma.
Finding Your Dharma as a Path to Yogic Healing (Part 2)
Part 2 focuses on how to help your students find their purpose and pursue it.
Was I Guilty of Racial Stereotyping?
Discusses an incident in which I was accused of using racial stereotyping during a workshop on yoga anatomy and includes a letter I wrote to the students who’d attended
What You Folks Had to Say about Racial Stereotyping
A sampling of the many thoughtful comments and suggestions I received in response to the letter mentioned above.
17 Conditions Benefited by Yoga (as Shown in Scientific Studies)
My 2019 update of “Health Conditions Helped by Yoga (as Shown in Scientific Studies)” was released recently. The PDF contains over 40 pages of references, listing the scientific studies by condition. Embedded hyperlinks will take you to the study's abstract, or if available, to a free, full-text version of the study. For printable posters (including A4 versions), click here. I compile this bibliography of research as a service, and hereby give permission to print out, post and/or share this PDF. The printable posters may also be shared.
Some basics for integrating therapeutic yoga into your students' lives.
So You Want to Be a Yoga Therapist?
An overview of the kinds of knowledge and training necessary for effective yoga therapy.
Doing Yoga Therapy Safely: Part One
An introduction to the topic of safety in yoga therapy.
Doing Yoga Therapy Safely: Part Two
Yoga therapy and the side effects of medication; knowing and respecting your limits.
How to Structure a Yoga Therapy Session
Interview, evaluation, and practice session: the first steps toward helping your student use yoga for rehabilitation.
Yoga Therapy: Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making
An article I coauthored with several yoga therapists, intended to provide some guidelines for safety and well-being in the practice of yoga therapy, and to encourage pretreatment discussions between therapist and practictioner.
Interview with IJYT
In this interview conducted by Kelly McGonigal, Editor-in-Chief ofthe International Journal of Yoga Therapy, I discuss what Western medicine can learn from Yoga and Ayurveda, the risks, challenges, and rewards of conducting research on yoga therapy, etc.
Your Brain on Yoga
A short article about the neuroplastic effects of yoga.
The Role of Diet in Yoga
Some advice on helping your students to bring a yogic awareness to their nutritional choices.
Beyond Asana
Using other yogic tools such as breathing, chanting, and meditation in yoga therapy.
Use Your Imagination
Visualization for deepening yoga practice and therapy.
Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy
An introduction to Ayurveda and how knowledge of Ayurveda can add subtlety and depth to your teaching and personal practice.
The Philosophical Basis of Yoga Therapy
An introduction to the history and philosophy which informs the modern practice of yoga therapy.
The Scientific Basis of Yoga Therapy
An introduction to the research documenting yoga therapy's effectiveness and suggesting some explanations of how it works.
Yoga Therapy and the Mind-Body Connection (Part 1)
How yoga can deepen our understanding of the links between the state of one's mind and the state of one's body.
Yoga Therapy and the Mind-Body Connection (Part 2)
While Part 1 is on the Yoga Journal website, Part 2 can only be found here.
Inspiring Your Students to Practice
Some advice on helping your students develop and maintain a home practice.
Assessing Your Student's Progress (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on indicators of progress in yoga practice.
Assessing Your Student's Progress (Part 2)
Part 2 focuses on broadening the way in which you and your students view success.
Yoga For Psychological and Emotional Problems
The first article in a series (below) on yoga as a complement to psychotherapy and other approaches to emotional and psychological conditions.
Yoga For Depression (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on identifying the two major types of depression as conceptualized by Iyengar yoga practitioners: rajasic and tamasic, and introduces some asanas which can be helpful in dealing with depression.
Yoga For Depression (Part 2)
Part 2 discusses yogic practices beyond asana which can be helpful for depression, and some advice on helping your students begin the journey out of depression.
Yoga for Stress and Burnout
Yoga as an overall system for stress reduction; how yoga works with the physiology of stress.
Yoga for Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Using yoga to address anxiety: both its symptoms and its root causes.
Yoga For Chronic Pain (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on stress reduction and greater postural awareness as yogic tools for managing and alleviating chronic pain.
Yoga For Chronic Pain (Part 2)
Part 2 focuses on the role of breathwork and meditation in addressing chronic pain.
Yoga For Chronic Pain (Part 3)
Part 3 discusses yogic uses of sound for addressing pain, and looks at how yoga can be part of a broader, more holistic approach to health and pain management.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 1)
Some advice regarding sources of yoga injuries and a yogic approach to their treatment and prevention.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 2)
Dealing with common injuries: knee problems and aching backs.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 3)
Dealing with common injuries: wrists, hamstrings, and shoulders.
Working With Students Who Have Yoga Injuries (Part 4)
What do injuries have to teach us? Using yoga injuries and the healing process as a vehicle for deepening your students' practice.
Yoga Therapy for Rare or Undiagnosed Medical Conditions
Some advice on finding yogic tools to help your students, even when the medical diagnosis is unclear or unhelpful.
Coordinating Yoga Therapy With Doctors and Other Health Professionals
Some advice on communicating with your students' and their doctors about the complementary benefits of yoga and yoga therapy when combined with Western medical care.
Handle With Care
Some advice on what to do when you disagree with the medical care your student is receiving.
Yoga to Cultivate Compassion, Gratitude, and Joy (Part 1)
Part 1 focuses on breathwork.
Yoga to Cultivate Compassion, Gratitude, and Joy (Part 2)
Part 2 explores meditation, chanting, and other yogic tools.
Finding Your Dharma as a Path to Yogic Healing (Part 1)
An article on how helping a student find his or her dharma, or purpose, can aid in physical healing. Part 1 focuses on the connection between ill health and not knowing or not following your dharma.
Finding Your Dharma as a Path to Yogic Healing (Part 2)
Part 2 focuses on how to help your students find their purpose and pursue it.
Was I Guilty of Racial Stereotyping?
Discusses an incident in which I was accused of using racial stereotyping during a workshop on yoga anatomy and includes a letter I wrote to the students who’d attended
What You Folks Had to Say about Racial Stereotyping
A sampling of the many thoughtful comments and suggestions I received in response to the letter mentioned above.
17 Conditions Benefited by Yoga (as Shown in Scientific Studies)
My 2019 update of “Health Conditions Helped by Yoga (as Shown in Scientific Studies)” was released recently. The PDF contains over 40 pages of references, listing the scientific studies by condition. Embedded hyperlinks will take you to the study's abstract, or if available, to a free, full-text version of the study. For printable posters (including A4 versions), click here. I compile this bibliography of research as a service, and hereby give permission to print out, post and/or share this PDF. The printable posters may also be shared.