Articles
Yen Yoga
What is Yen Yoga?
Yen Yoga postures gently stretch and rehabilitate the connective tissues that form our joints.
Why is Yen Yoga an important type of yoga practice?
Our connective tissues shorten and stiffen due to injuries, neglect and aging. If after years of abuse or neglect we try to arch our backs or flew our knees we won't be successful in doing so because our joints will have been "shrink-wrapped" by the shortened connective tissue.
How do you do Yen Yoga?
Yen Yoga is practiced by holding a specific series of postures for a few minutes with moderate stress. This will stretch the connective tissues minutely and if the student is persistent, the body will respond by growing the connective tissue a little longer and thicker - this is the goal!
How do you practice Yen Yoga?
The Three Tenets
1. Take the posture finding the appropriate shape and edge for your body.
2. Become still and allow the muscles to acquire a soft-relaxed quality.
3. Hold the postures for longer periods of time.
Susan's suggested Yoga Music
The Essense by Deva Premal
Love is Space by Deva Premal
DakShina by Deva Premal
Nataraja by Shiva Rhea
Jala by Shiva Rhea
Deep Peace by Todd Norian
Bija by Todd Norian
Bending To Banish Back Pain
Aching back? Yoga worked better than conventional exercise or a standard self-care book for 110 people in a 12-week trail at Seattle's Group Health Cooperative Center for Health STudies. In this study, yoga and exercise groups attended 12 weekly, 75-minute classes and practiced at home. After 12 weeks the yoga group reported less pain, and after 26 weeks they also had better back-related function and used fewer painkillers. If you have undiagnosed back pain (you've been checked by a doctor but he can't pinpoint what's wrong), consider giving gentle yoga a try. Stay away from more vigorous forms of yoga, such as Ashtanga. "You want a teacher who has experience with back pain and has had good results," advised lead researcher Karen Sherman, PhD.
Rodale's Yogalife, Summer 2006
Aching back? Yoga worked better than conventional exercise or a standard self-care book for 110 people in a 12-week trail at Seattle's Group Health Cooperative Center for Health STudies. In this study, yoga and exercise groups attended 12 weekly, 75-minute classes and practiced at home. After 12 weeks the yoga group reported less pain, and after 26 weeks they also had better back-related function and used fewer painkillers. If you have undiagnosed back pain (you've been checked by a doctor but he can't pinpoint what's wrong), consider giving gentle yoga a try. Stay away from more vigorous forms of yoga, such as Ashtanga. "You want a teacher who has experience with back pain and has had good results," advised lead researcher Karen Sherman, PhD.
Rodale's Yogalife, Summer 2006
Coping With Cancer
Recent research shows that yoga can help cancer sufferers cope with both the physical and the mental challenges. A study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative Oncology last November focused on women undergoing radiation for breast cancer who did yoga and meditation twice a week for 6 weeks. Researchers found that the women had less anxiety, functioned better physically, and felt less fatigue compared with people who did not practice yoga.
One of the study's authors, Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D, who heads the integrative medicine program at the University of Texas M>D> Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, says yoga, with its emphasis on controlled breathing, offers a combination of mental and physical conditioning that is more helpful than conventional exercise alone. "That's what's unique about yoga," he says. "Everything is incorporated into one package."
Rodale's Yogalife, Summer 2006
Recent research shows that yoga can help cancer sufferers cope with both the physical and the mental challenges. A study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative Oncology last November focused on women undergoing radiation for breast cancer who did yoga and meditation twice a week for 6 weeks. Researchers found that the women had less anxiety, functioned better physically, and felt less fatigue compared with people who did not practice yoga.
One of the study's authors, Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D, who heads the integrative medicine program at the University of Texas M>D> Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, says yoga, with its emphasis on controlled breathing, offers a combination of mental and physical conditioning that is more helpful than conventional exercise alone. "That's what's unique about yoga," he says. "Everything is incorporated into one package."
Rodale's Yogalife, Summer 2006
Susan's areas of expertise include:
- Yoga for Health
- Yoga Therapy
- Corporate Yoga
- Yoga for Stress
- Yoga Workshops
- Relaxation/Breath Workshop
- Private Yoga Lessons
- Yoga for Back Care
- Yoga for Connective Tissues