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Fascia: The Body’s Hidden Organ
If fascia were considered an organ, it would likely be the largest organ in the human body. Fascia is found throughout the entire body. It exists beneath the skin, between muscles, around joints, and surrounding every organ. Like a three-dimensional web, fascia connects all of the body’s structures, providing support, protection, and stability. In yoga…
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Understanding Muscles in Yoga
Muscles are the foundation of movement, strength, stability, and balance in the body. In yoga, we do more than simply stretch our muscles. During practice, we become aware of releasing different layers of muscle, from superficial to deep tissue, in different positions and through interaction with gravity. It is important to take your time, be…
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Our Spine
The human skeleton is the framework of the body and consists of 206 bones. The main parts of the skeleton include the skull, spine, rib cage, and limbs. The spine, also called the vertebral column, is one of the most important structures in the body. It not only supports posture but also plays critical roles…
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Understanding the body begins with yoga
Life is shaped by choices, and not all lead to perfect outcomes. When I chose marriage, I lost my museum business in Taiwan. Yet life has opened a new path. Through yoga, I learned to slow down instead of rushing from early morning to late night, managing the business. My first yoga teacher, a Mexican…
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Meet Yoga
My tendon was displaced due to a medical error in 1993. For nearly ten years, I walked with heavy, dragging steps and shallow, low-energy breathing because of the injury. In 2003, after moving to Texas, I enrolled in a yoga class to meet a school requirement. I was unable to participate in other sports, so…
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Knowing Our Bodies
Physical structure is largely determined at birth. Each person’s body is different, and this influences how the load is distributed across various areas. For example, some people naturally have lifted buttocks due to a slight posterior tilt of the lower lumbar spine and sacrum. This posture can increase pressure on the lumbar spine and hip…
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Awakening Our Energy Through Breathing
In biology, energy comes from food, water, and sunlight. Our cells convert nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which acts like a battery to power different cellular functions. All living beings—mammals, plants, and even microorganisms—need energy to survive and thrive. In yoga, energy is known as Prana, the life force that flows through the body. In…
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Release lungs tension. Let the breath rise
Per the article I published, “Diaphragm Release: Strengthen and Free Your Breath.” I invite you to bring your attention to the lungs, especially the top of the lungs. The top of the lungs is like the tip of an iceberg—often overlooked and easily tight. When this area is restricted, the breath cannot fully reach it.…
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Yoga is Not Just Workout, It Is Work-In
People have many opinions about yoga. Some say yoga is just exercise.Some say it is religion.Some think it is stretching with music.Some think it is an ancient Indian ritual. But for me, yoga was never just theory.It was survival. When I first walked into a yoga class in college in the United States in 2004,…
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Can Meditation Breathing Lower High Blood Pressure?
Meditation breathing can be practiced anywhere, whenever you need it. When I taught chair yoga at a senior living center, I focused on helping seniors learn how to control their exhalation by breathing out more slowly and deeply. To guide them, I asked each student to hold a small piece of paper in front of…