Articles written by Laura Susan Henry

Though bound poses look advanced and do require greater flexibility at times, these variations actually feel easier once achieved and allow the body to relax and open.

Dec 23, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Opening the hips, groin, knee, and ankle joints takes time and patience. Practice the following poses to help prepare your body for Lotus Pose.

Dec 22, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Balance, introspection, and mental clarity are at the heart of Ajna Chakra, the chakra located at the third eye. Balancing poses help awaken this energy.

Dec 22, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The fifth chakra is connected to the larynx and the thyroid glands. This energy helps us to express ourselves and guides our physical, psychic, and spiritual growth.

Dec 22, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The fourth chakra is connected to the heart, lungs, and thymus gland. Energizing this chakra awakens our healing powers and feelings of expansiveness and connectedness.

Dec 22, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Many yoga poses can be either active yang energy poses or gentle yin energy poses, depending on how they are executed. Using both approaches can balance your practice.

Dec 17, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Many yoga poses can be expressed with our active muscular energy or our passive fluid energy. Play with both energies in your practice by mirroring yin and yang asanas.

Dec 17, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Convenient and novel, Yoga-Paws offer a great alternative to toting a mat around, but takes a little getting used to.

Dec 13, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Use these strategies to approach a pose that you find challenging or that you avoid. Yoga is a progressive practice that requires patience and observation.

Dec 11, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The third chakra is our fire center, the center of both our destructive and creative energies. A third chakra routine warms the body and energizes the mind.

Sep 30, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

With hatha yoga, you can address sciatic pain in the low back and legs by opening the sacral area, stretching the groin and hamstrings, and strengthening the lower back.

Sep 30, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Pigeon Pose is a beautiful classic hatha yoga pose loved by many students. However the intense stretch in the hips, thighs, and knees can be challenging for some.

Sep 30, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Stimulating the body's second chakra energy, which rules the water element, encourages flexibility and gracefulness and is cleansing for the body's fluid systems.

Sep 29, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Stimulating the first chakra can help you to feel stronger, more grounded, and build confidence in and respect for your body.

Sep 29, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Headstands, shoulderstands, and similar asanas can be intimidating for many students, but they are vital to overall health. The benefits are worth overcoming fear.

Sep 28, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Developing a self-guided practice is a necessary step along the yogic path. Daily home practice provides the practitioner with therapy for the body and mind.

Sep 24, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

One of the major benefits of a yoga practice over traditional western exercise programs is that it can be directly applied to improving internal organ function.

Sep 1, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

An intense stretch for the most stubbornly protective area of the body, Upavistha Konasana will greatly improve flexibility and gracefulness when practiced regularly.

Aug 11, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Vajrasana increases the flexibilty of the ankle and knee joints, improves posture, and once mastered, is one of the best seated-postures for meditation.

Aug 4, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Located above the crown of the head, the seventh chakra is the link between the physical self and the universal self.

Jul 6, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Pigeon pose is a favorite pose of many yoga students. It is an intense hip opener and leg stretch with many variations from differing schools of thought in yoga.

Jul 6, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Arm balances are an excellent addition to a regular yoga practice that tone the upper body and core, sharpen focus and concentration, and empower the lower chakras.

Jul 3, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The headstand is the king of yoga poses. A restful inversion when mastered, this pose benefits the circulatory system and internal organs and calms the mind.

Jul 3, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Ajna Chakra, the energy center of the third eye, is the meeting place of the masculine and feminine energies of the body and the ruling chakra of the mind.

Jul 2, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The plough pose is a deep stretch for the neck, back, and legs, but has many other benefits for the mind, circulatory and endocrine systems, and the chakras.

Jun 29, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The most challenging of the resting poses in yoga, mastering downward facing dog will empower your vinyasa practice, relieve tension, and open your energy pathways.

Jun 19, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Vishuddha chakra connects us to the world through sound, ideas, exploration, and expression. It is attuned to the vibrating electromagnetic energy of the universe.

Jun 18, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Anahata chakra is the center of the body's vital forces: the origin of the breath, the heart beat, its healing energy, and its inner wisdom and music.

Apr 22, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

The third chakra is the power center of the body. It drives creativity and transformation. Release its energy for vitality and inspiration.

Apr 10, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

Adding a regular yoga practice to your program will make your athletes stronger in ways that strength training and drills can't do alone.

Mar 25, 2009 - Laura Susan Henry

These simple hand gestures can help you control and strengthen your breathing in yoga and meditation. Become aware of the anatomy of your breath.

Jul 25, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

The second chakra is the source of our sensuality, adaptability, and flexibility. Release its energy for gracefulness and fluidity of body and mind.

Jul 17, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

Yoga helps us relax the body and mind and can help you have more restful and rejuvenating sleep. Make yoga a part of your daily life by doing a short routine before bed.

Jul 9, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

You don't have to dedicate a significant part of your life or your time to create an effective yoga practice. Make yoga a small but regular part of your morning routine.

Jul 8, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

The root chakra contains the energy of materialism and physicality; this energy creates the solidity of our physical being and our sense of individuality.

Jul 3, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

Your personal practice at home should be a special time in your day; create an environment that will enhance your experience rather than distract from it.

Jun 11, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

The science and philosophy of yoga emphasize the oneness of all beings and energies. The chakra system illustrates the reflection of the universe within each of us.

May 30, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

The mind is a powerful aspect of the self. Becoming aware of how it shapes our lives and our perceptions can begin on the yoga mat.

May 22, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

Are you firm and fit from all that fitness, but not flexible? Target your hamstrings with simple yoga asanas to prevent injury, soreness, and stiffness.

May 20, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

Get up out of that chair and get down! On the floor, that is. Doing a few seated asanas each day will release tensions in the pelvic region and revive youthfulness.

May 19, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

A toned tummy isn't just sexy, it's also a vital asset for good posture, healthy organ function, and a balanced body. Do more for your core than just sit-ups.

May 6, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

The stillness and solidity of the mountain pose can have profound benefits. Understand and practice the process of achieving this deceptively challenging posture.

Apr 16, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

St. Lucia's highlights are its geography, weather, party scene, lifestyle, and food. This island is a must-see spot for any traveler.

Apr 11, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

Dominica is known as the "Nature Island" of the Caribbean, but the abundance of food, fun, and friendliness is also worth exploring!

Apr 9, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

So it seems like you've been going to yoga classes for ages, yet you still aren't comfortable on your mat at home. Where to start? Get going with these simple tips.

Apr 9, 2008 - Laura Susan Henry

Do your friends have all the props, DVDs, straps, meditation CDs, and accessories a yogi could ask for? No one appreciates a homemade gift like a yogi.

Dec 11, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

Sometimes, no matter how much sleep, rest, and "me" time you give yourself, you still feel run down. By relaxing your entire being, you can energize your life.

Dec 11, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

If you're heading to Indonesia to see "jungle people" (a.k.a., orangutans), then stay a while at the number one place for comfort and friendliness on the Bohorok River.

Dec 10, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

So you've been going to the same gym for years, taking the same cardio classes, using the same machines; but things are changing. Is mind-body exercise for you?

Dec 5, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

New to yoga? Not sure where to start? For some, Bikram yoga is the ideal practice, but others claim it's the "anti-yoga" yoga.

Dec 4, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

Living among other cultures is one of the greatest privileges of traveling. By getting involved with the community, you'll find more than the average tourist.

Dec 3, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

What is your body trying to tell you when it says "ouch?" A softer yoga practice will teach you how to go with (and breathe with) the flow.

Nov 29, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

Why was the relationship between man and god so conflicted in classical mythology? An analysis of the natural world of their birth may shed some light.

Nov 21, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

What do we mean by Complete Yogic Breathing? Before you practice, understand how the breath functions in the body and why it is at the core of meditation and hatha yoga.

Nov 21, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry

Many new students of yoga are confused not only by the variety of styles of yoga, but by vague responses to their basic question, what is yoga?

Nov 16, 2007 - Laura Susan Henry