Podcast Category: Yoga

“When you realize anatomy is a limitation, it becomes a liberation.” We have invited Brett Larkin onto The Optimal Body Podcast to discuss her evolution with the Yoga practice and to share what Yoga means for her. From setting the path with how she started Yoga, she speaks about how the principles of Yoga apply to everyday life and uses the history of Yoga to explain what Yoga intended to be and how it can be defined for you. Finally, we dive into Anatomy and what it means to advance a Yoga practice. By yielding together the science and yogic principles, Brett shares what it means to strike a balance between ego and presence whilst stretching and practising. Let’s take a sneak peek into her new book – Yoga Life- in this podcast! 

DocJen & Dr. Dom discuss tests and ways to determine if you are hypermobile, speaking into the spectrum of hypermobility that ranges from localized to Elhers-Danlos Syndrome. Explaining the neurophysiology of tightness briefly, they dive into how you can reduce the sensation of tightness through strength, using examples to relieve tightness in the hamstrings, inner thighs, chest, quadriceps, and hip flexor tightness. They provide a few tips for passive stretching, yoga, and hypermobility, and discuss how mindful breathing can support tightness relief. 

Hiro discusses his method of bridging science and anatomy with the spirituality of Yoga. Hiro paves the path of his journey from Ashtanga Yoga to his current Body Smart Yoga method, discussing how mobility can allow safe access into different postures and rid your pain. He addresses the trending wave of focus on aesthetics and shapes in yoga, and how that distracts from respecting anatomical differences. Finally, Hiro shares his programs and challenges that outline the drills, exercises, and knowledge that got him out of pain. Let’s take a deep dive into practicing yoga without pain!

In this episode, Mike Aidala discusses his experience with the athletic mindset, the importance of balanced training, and language shifts you can make to optimize your mindset. He dives into the power of presence and vulnerability, how he approaches failure, and 2 ways to begin diving into yourself deeper!

In this episode, Jenni & Travis describe the different types of yoga, common injuries and why they tend to occur, and whether Yoga is truly training strength or endurance. They hone in on the importance of adding variety as Yoga does not train all muscles in all motions in all movement planes. They debunk common myths around strength and flexibility, and praise Yogis in having the foundations to map Yoga poses in strength exercises and pursue strength training easily with existing range of motion. They provide tips on balancing yoga with strength training and how to overcome fears around the gym.

Welcome to Episode 25 of The Optimal Body Podcast Exploring Yoga with Physical Therapist Lara Heimann Listen in as Lara Heimann, doctor of physical therapy and yoga educator, explains how brain mapping changed her yoga