Scott Anderson, Ph.D.

In another installment from our Assistant Director of Trainings, Andrea Russell, we learn the benefits of the Classic Sun Salutations and how to practice them.

In Part 2 in our series on Headstand, Scott shares a pose for people who don't feel comfortable with Headstand, which delivers most of the benefits.

In Part 1 of a new series, Scott describes how a pose many traditions consider the most important of all poses, can be done by anyone, and some of the lesser known benefits. In particular, how people born Caesarean section can gain special benefit from headstand. Includes the debut appearance of Amelia the kitten.

In Andrea's second video, she presents the Alignment Yoga approach to Uddiayana Bandha, and a simple Pre-Yoga technique to begin accessing it. This exercise helps wake up vital energy in the lower belly, and can help ease tension in the lower back, jaw, neck and shoulders.

We're overjoyed to welcome Andrea Russell, Assistant Director of AY Trainings, to our blog. She has taught yoga for over 10 years and been involved in Alignment Yoga trainings since they began. In her first video, she demonstrates a classic Pre-Yoga technique of Alignment Yoga - the Dead Bug series. This invigorating exercise develops your core and increases coordination, especially between the right and left sides of the body (and the brain).

Scott shares final thoughts on how to create a balanced life-long yoga practice.

Remember Tina? Here Scott shares specific things to pay attention to in your yoga practice, which tend to overheat the nervous system.

Alignment Yoga is indigenous to the Driftless Region of Wisconsin. The seasons keep us honest, and days like this invite a longer-than-usual practice. After a few hours of snow removal and a hot cup of tea, an afternoon inversion practice seemed like just the thing. Seasons Greetings! ~ Scott www.alignmentyoga.com

Gravity Juice on the feet is one of the most unique and effective of all the Pre-Yoga techniques. While I've been using this technique and teaching students in the studio for years, I'm excited now to share this tool with the larger yoga community. Try it out, and let us know your results. Here's an excerpt from the video below: The sole of the foot relates to the whole rest of the body. In reflexology, the top of the foot relates to the upper back between the shoulder blades. So many yoga students walk into class and complain about how stiff and tight they are between the shoulder blades. Quite often, these exercises begin to release those tight, stiff muscles. We can also consider the foot as our primary shock-absorber. If we step on an irregular surface, the foot absorbs the irregularity. If the foot is very stiff and rigid, it transmits that shock higher up into our system. This can cause knee strain and an unstable SI joint. Getting more pliability in the sole of the f...

For more information, visit www.alignmentyoga.com .

As I mentioned in the previous blog entry, breathing is one of the least understood aspects of Yoga. True, we have many images and techniques regarding breathing techniques, though at the end of the day, the incidence of incorrect breathing is epidemic. Perhaps you’ve heard teachers suggest belly breathing , filling the collarbones , b reathing into the side ribs , filling the armpit-chest or other secondary instructions. While each of these carries an element of truth, in isolation, they’re often misleading. These instructions are all based on the assumption that the diaphragm is moving properly. In our 21st century world, this assumption doesn’t carry much weight. Perhaps proper diaphragm movement was commonplace at some other time and place, but today it’s become exceedingly rare. Why do we care about the movement of the diaphragm? The diaphragm signals the brain whether to be content, or ready-for-the-worst. If the diaphragm is moving improperly, the sympathetic nervous sys...