I went skiing in Whistler last weekend. Now, I am not the best skier. I can barely get beyond pizza-french fries with my skis, and I spend lots of time with an inner narrative something like, “Tailbone down! Now edges..edges..EDGES…turn, phew, keep your body downhill, core…engage your CORE, now turn..OH EDGES!” You can imagine a […]
Hip Exploration: what’s your external rotation really like?
I learned this great exercise from Susi Hately Aldous. Explore what your external rotation is like when you do pure movement at the hip joint – rather than compensate by shifting the pelvis or flattening the lower back.
Single life and Valentine’s Day
A long time ago, I liked Valentine’s Day. Back in kindergarten and grade school, Valentine’s Day was a fun opportunity to tell everyone we knew how much we liked them. We spent hours making valentines for schoolmates, teachers, family members, even pets. All topped off with the little sugar valentine hearts and copious amounts of […]
Sweet potato soup in 5 minutes
My first Vitamix Soup! Should be called, “fly by the seat of your pants” soup. Thank you Vitamix, for making my inchoate food choppings into something yummy. Ingredients for sweet potato soup Ingredients: 1.5 sweet potatoes, chopped into large chunks (skins and all) 2 cloves garlic chunk of ginger (not too big, add small pieces […]
Using your hip stabilizers effectively in asana
In yoga asana, we often experience imbalance in our body, where certain muscles love to be powerful and to dominate – like our hip flexors – while others (our adductors and abductors) begin to soften, weaken, and become quiet. By bringing our bodies into balance and allowing each muscle to truly step back fully into its […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 21: The Racket
I found Alan in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of my vegan superdrink. “You’re eating all my vegan stuff.” “I’ll buy the next one,” he said. “I used to drink this kind of stuff all the time. Here, I’ll make yours for you.” “That’s $89 bucks per tub,” I pointed out, watching him dole […]
How To: Doing Wheel with wrist issues
Join me and the YYoga 200-hour teacher trainees as we explore how to do Full Wheel when there are wrist issues. Great modifications so that you can help make this pose accessible to all your students!
How to: Headstand – Step by Step
Clear and simple steps for how to do and teach headstand. Look at common misalignments in order to help your students find their best path to stability and lightness. This video was filmed during YYoga‘s 200-hour Teacher Training Program.
Teaching Flow versus Power: what’s the difference?
These two styles look the same, so what’s the difference? At YYoga, we make a distinction between Flow and Power. Now, these styles are very similar and use the same kinds of poses (sun salutations, standing poses, arm balances, inversions, complex backbends). They both derive from the Ashtanga tradition, which incorporates standing poses held for […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 20: What to feed a vegan
My dedicated omnivore friend, Liz, had invited me over for a vegan lunch. Now, Liz is one of the best cooks I know. She is spectacular. To watch her throw ingredients together in the kitchen is to watch a form of art. This was the first time I’ve seen her since the cyber-fight with Steph […]
Victoria Yoga Conference: 2013!
Rachel will be teaching at the Victoria Yoga Conference February 2-3rd, 2013. Don’t miss this great opportunity to take advantage of her best insights from her years as a Teacher Trainer! Empower Your Boundaries – Saturday, February 2, 2013 – 8:00 to 9:15 am – Studio #1 Clear and strong boundaries give shape and discipline […]
Linking in flow classes: how to teach smart transitions
Have you been in a class where any of the following have occurred: The teacher (maybe it’s us) links 12 million poses on the same side. Thighs are trembling. Anger is mounting. The teacher forgets to do one side, or forgets and entire series of poses You have to change your foundation to get to […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 19: Steph’s amazing Red Lentil Sweet Potato dish
My friend Steph came over for a vegan feast. She offered to jump in the kitchen teach us how to make great vegan food. Alan was excited. “Teach her everything,” he said, pointing at me. “Just lock yourselves in there and don’t come out until she knows how to cook.” Steph’s Amazing Yam and Lentil […]
Juicing: Back in the Saddle!
I’ve been away from my precious, precious juicer since before my Christmas vacation, but today had the opportunity to whip up something delicious thanks to my SPUD delivery. I ordered their “Organic Detox Juicing Box” delivered to my home and opened up a bin full of veggie goodness. OH! I’d forgotten how yummy these juices […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 18: Getting sick and the mystical “healing crisis”
I noticed I was feeling a little sick. The left tonsil (still got ‘em) felt swollen. “Apparently begin vegan doesn’t mean you don’t get sick,” observes Alan cutely. “Apparently not,” I say. “But maybe I’m detoxing. When you eat better, an the fat starts to melt away, bad stuff that was stored in there starts […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 17: the Bridal Shower – and a kick ass quinoa salad
Ah, the Bridal Shower! I didn’t think to ask in advance if there would be vegan goodies. As it turns out, the event was beautifully catered. But the only thing I could eat besides the crackers were the bananas that the sex educator brought for us to practice our “hand strokes” on. When the food […]
Total Health Month: Day 2
My head hurts. As part of Total Health Month (THM), I have decided to forgo caffeine. This is doubly hard after spending a week with my “always-have-a-pot-on” family over the holidays. Going caffeine free means that rather than ordering my tall Americano, I got a tall decaf Americano (okay, okay, I know that decaf has […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 16: Digestion, bloat, methane, global warming.
Time for a digestive check in Still flatulent. Not as much. But think about it: I’m not a very creative vegan yet, so my idea of a meal is a head of broccoli and some hummus. Hmmmm, raw veggies and beans! What a great combination! So it’s not surprising that another Facebook trail about vegetarianism […]
2013: A new kind of health
Over the holidays, my family and I hold our full tummies and moan things like, “When January hits, you better believe that we’re not going to eat like this anymore.” The guilt about eating an extra serving of pie or an additional glass of wine is tempered by the impending doom of a January that […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 15: Doubts
Doubts “What I’d be concerned about is the long-term effects,” said my friend Ashley. Ashley is the fabulous strawberry blond of hummus and quinoa fame. She’s also a pediatric nurse who also works in palliative care. She is a full-on “broad,” outgoing, direct, and someone who will always have your back. “You see these long-time […]