Scott Anderson, Ph.D.

I often refer to the Three Fundamentals as Clandestine Yoga. We often think of yoga as something we do in a specific time and place, away from all distractions. While a disciplined practice is a powerful ally, we aren’t likely to bust out a triangle pose in the frozen-food aisle when we feel our hips stiffening up, nor are we likely to set aside our daily work to practice shoulderstand each time our neck aches. The Three Fundamentals are powerful medicine and can be practiced at any time and at any place. Alignment Yoga classes generally start with a meditation on the Three Fundamentals. This helps us drop the stresses and tensions we unconsciously burden ourselves with, and sets the stage for a focused, joyful yoga practice. Keeping the Three Fundamentals in mind while practicing the yogasana strengthens the muscles of inner awareness, and paves the way for moving through the day with more ease and equanimity. The Three Fundamentals are uniquely applicable to Westerners – the yo

While visiting my Mom in Tucson this past December, it became clear I’ve never really given Pilates a chance. I first encountered Pilates in the early 90’s, and even attended a few sessions of a teacher training program. While the work intrigued me immediately, I wasn’t secure enough in my knowledge of Yoga to confidently embrace learning material that may have challenged my existing view of things. In that uniquely human way, I derived a great deal of comfort by insulating myself from that which is unfamiliar. I was hiking in the Catalina foothills when it suddenly dawned on me that the past few years of occasional Pilates lessons and training had opened new vistas, though I was still framing my view of the physical body through my understanding of yoga. It seemed high time to put the Asana practice on the back burner while I more fully committed to learning another system in order to more fully comprehend its benefits. Knowing my propensity to default back into Yoga mode, the road ma

For the beginning yoga student, a slip-resistant mat is important. Stick with a reliable brand (such as Hugger Mugger or Prana) and your mat will keep your feet and hands from slipping while you learn the basics. When you buy a good quality mat, you’ll find it’s joyfully free of oils and the other contaminants that make them slippery. If you’ve purchased a good quality mat and it’s still too slippery, you get to join ranks with the people who bought the cheaper mats that are covered with an oily film. To remove this film (called mold release, in reference to the oils that facilitate peeling the mat from the production equipment), wipe the mat down thoroughly with a vinegar/water dilution. Once you’ve thoroughly scrubbed the mat, hang it up to dry. After a thorough cleaning, you’ll find the discount mat may now be usable, and the stickiness of the best quality mats will be help you get the hang of the basic yoga postures. For the continuing student, however, this answer is incomplete.