In our Yoga Blog we will report on yoga news, trends and happenings throughout the world.
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No good scandal comes without important
lessons for those affected by it. In this case, the matter of
integrity takes center stage—the integrity of a leader, his senior
teachers, and the broader yoga community of which we are all a part.
The recent, very public outing of the questionable behavior and
business practices of Anusara Yoga’s charismatic leader, John
Friend is a gold mine of juicy lessons, timely reminders, and issues
that the yoga community should be discussing. With
the implosion
of one of the most profitable yoga empires ever, we are left with
the question, at what point are we required to admit our mistakes and
take responsibility?
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Saturday, February 11, 2012 by Amber Baker
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Anusara Yoga Sex Scandal Confirmed
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The stage has been set for the perfect storm: the charismatic leader, the devoted followers, the extensive trainings that require significant monetary investments to earn the right to claim your affiliation. The yoga community is once again abuzz with rumors, accusations, and worry over the integrity of a beloved guru.
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Thursday, February 09, 2012 by Amber Baker
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Should Yoga Help You Lose Weight Too?
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If you buy into some of the marketing
out there, it may seem that the purpose of yoga is to get thin and
flexible enough that you can contort your body in odd ways while
wearing little clothing and still look good. Certain brands even like
to claim that yoga is a cardio exercise and will help you lose
weight, essentially promising that you too can be that thin and look
good in spandex, if only you try. If you actually practice yoga,
hopefully you realize that is far from the point. As fun as it may be
to think that yoga can fix just about anything, do we really need it
to?
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Midterms,
finals, SATs: Most of us undergo examinations at some point in our
lives, along with the requisite increases in stress. Stress has the
unfortunate side effect of weakening the immune system, as many
sniffling students can attest. A recent study found a 12-week yoga
intervention to protect against the impairment of cellular immunity
and autonomic nervous
system changes
caused by examination stress.
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Monday, January 30, 2012 by Amber Baker
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Meditation Shown to Help ADHD
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Recent research offers evidence that meditation may be more effective than medicine in treating ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Dr. Sarina Grosswald, a cognitive learning expert and pioneer in this research, explains that medications, such as Ritalin or Adderall, only temporarily suppress ADHD symptoms while in the bloodstream; yet, a regular meditation practice not only relieves symptoms, it can actually help address the underlying problem, a lack of neural integration. |
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Amber Baker
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Could Yoga Help You Get A Job?
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Mental flexibility, patience, adaptability, and the ability to handle stress are often cited benefits of yoga and meditation. These are also some of the same skills many employers look for and hope to cultivate in their employees. People who have or are able to develop these practices may be seen as an asset to employers for these reasons, and they may even cost less to employ. Ohio State University researcher Maryanna Klatt led a pilot study which found that six weeks of guided workplace meditation and yoga can lower feelings of stress by more than 10%. She believes these findings are also significant in understanding and improving the way people handle stress in the workplace. “If they can’t change the external events in their life, they can instead change the way they view the stress, which can make a difference in how they experience their day-to-day life,” Klatt notes.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Tosca Braun
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Is Spiritual Yoga Better for You?
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According to a recent study, Kripalu yoga that incorporates spiritual and ethical guidelines (integrative yoga) may be more effective at decreasing anxiety-related symptoms than yoga taught without these principles (exercise-based yoga). Integrative yoga also appears more effective at reducing levels of the hormone salivary cortisol, which is an indicator of stress. This is the first study indicating that yoga practiced in its original context may provide additional benefits over yoga that is divorced of its spiritual origins.
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Monday, January 16, 2012 by Tosca Braun
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Is Intellect an Obstacle in Yoga?
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A recent blog by Bhakti yoga experts Ed and Deb Shapiro contends that over-emphasis on the intellect in Western cultures inhibits spiritual growth. The Bhakti yoga tradition espouses the importance of love and devotion to the Divine through chant, prayer, storytelling, and meditation.
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Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Tosca Braun
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Can Yoga Wreck Your Body?
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A recent article by NY Times science journalist William Broad claims that “a number of commonly taught yoga poses are inherently risky,” following on similar sensationalist claims in recent weeks. As in the latter case, Broad’s assertions are poorly supported and fail to consider the broader context of yoga’s benefits. In a possible effort to plug for his upcoming book, Broad takes a careless approach that may turn many off to a practice that has numerous proven benefits.
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Monday, January 09, 2012 by Tosca Braun
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Meditation May Affect Cellular Aging
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A recent study suggests that intensive and sustained meditation may boost the activity of telomerase, an enzyme responsible for telomere length and maintenance. Reductions in telomerase and telomere length have been linked to aging, psychological distress, and other health problems such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
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As research studies continue to validate claims of the many benefits of yoga, there are still skeptics out there who try to dispute them. A recent article in the online journal Independent Woman, Chrissie Russell posed the question “Is Yoga Actually Bad for You?” citing two studies which she states didn’t show yoga as effective relief for back pain. Closer examination shows that both studies actually showed that yoga is an effective way to treat lower back pain. While one study’s results showed that that yoga wasn’t more effective than a simple stretching class, the primary researcher stated that she may have confounded her own results by making the stretching class too much like a yoga class, rather than like the typical stretch classes found at most gyms.
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Thursday, December 29, 2011 by Tosca Braun
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Bikram Loses Yoga Copyright
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In a small victory won by yoga studios which offer classes resembling Bikram Choudhury’s trademarked 90-minute, 26-pose heated yoga flow, the US Copyright Office has determined that yoga poses and sequences cannot be copyrighted. The decision was reached in response to litigation filed by Bikram against several yoga studios alleged to infringe on copyright laws. Bikram’s lawsuits also claim violation of teacher-certification agreements and trademark infringement, signifying the Copyright Office’s decision will not end the litigation any time soon.
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Monday, December 26, 2011 by Tosca Braun
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Yoga May Ease Menopause Symptoms
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Several recently-published studies suggest yoga may improve quality of life and ease symptoms among menopausal and postmenopausal women. These studies follow on preliminary research and suggestions by yoga experts that suggest restorative yoga may be especially helpful.
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011 by Tosca Braun
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Death by Neti Pot?
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Two recent Louisiana deaths from the ‘brain-eating amoeba’ Naegleria fowleri have been attributed to the usage of tap water for nasal irrigation employing neti pots. These follow on the 2010 death of a Pakistani who practiced wudu, a form of deep nasal irrigation, using tap water.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011 by Tosca Braun
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Mindfulness May Reduce Smoking Cravings
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Interesting new research suggests that practicing mindfulness may be helpful in smoking cessation efforts. A recent study indicates that mindfulness alone (absent explicit instructions to stop or information about the dangers of smoking) has the potential to significantly reduce neurological cravings after being exposed to visual smoking cues. Although this research is highly preliminary, this information could prove to be helpful for those with a history of failed attempts at changing behaviors using conventional methods. |
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