Iris Dawn Yoga

01/01/2014

Happy New Year! This time of year is always an exciting time for me - fresh start, new beginnings. What do you dream of accomplishing in 2014?

11/09/2013

A deliciously green way to start your weekend! Enjoy.

Recently, I've been toying with different ways to develop the "mean green" smoothie. I enjoy a creamy consistency, instead of that crunchy texture that often has me saying mid-slurp, "Oh, hello

10/29/2013

Quick and dirty inforgraphic on the benefits of . If you don't know, now you know!

Yoga Benefits: Immediate and Longterm (INFOGRAPHIC) http://bit.ly/18yXdP1

pretty info and graphics via HuffPo

10/12/2013

Scary infographic on the dangers of sugar, well worth a read. I become extremely agitated and angry if I have sweet stuff. Some of my favorite refined sugar alternatives are dates, real maple syrup, sucanat, and of course - no sweetener or sugar at all.

Sugar is in the headlines a lot lately, with some experts even calling it toxic. Did you know that the average child consumes 32 teaspoons of sugar a day?! This is just one of the many

10/05/2013

Breathe deep and be well.

Choose it & BE it. Happy Friday!

09/25/2013

It's day 15 of my challenge, I'm in the home stretch. Let's talk more !

http://irisdawnyoga.com/post/62281317864/lets-talk-more-happy

I’m nearing the end of my 21-day happiness challenge, and in the last 2+ weeks I’ve had such a positive and warm reception from my network. I’ve received messages, texts, phone calls and have had...

09/19/2013

I started a happiness project to help me find a way out of a not so happy place. It's been one week, and here's what I've learned: http://irisdawnyoga.com/post/61637470966/cmon-get-happy

If you know me, you know that I’m a happy, upbeat girl. I smile a lot and laugh all the time. I love life, and live to make wonderful memories. Sometimes (most times!) I have a little too much fun for...

08/30/2013

A real look into the "dark side" of yoga. In the past, I have felt anger and resentment in yoga classes, and didn't understand why. It's not always bliss and enlightenment, but it is always about honesty.

By Karin L Burke “Emotion is the chief source of all becoming-conscious. There can be no transforming of darkness into light and of apathy

08/17/2013

11 easy ways to make your home a healthier place!

Home should be an oasis, a safe and peaceful space that promotes well-being and health. However, if you’re constantly cleaning up the house with harsh chemicals, hosing it down with anti-bacterial

07/23/2013

Helpful tips on how to keep yourself a little more safe from cell phone radiation, including foods that you can eat to help protect you.

Ok, so you’re sitting at your computer, reading

07/15/2013

10 simple ways to detox your body, keep your vital organs healthy, and get a healthy glow! I love #3, 4 and 9; can't wait to do #10 :)

Detox has become a big buzzword. Lose weight quickly, get glowing skin, and create world peace by detoxing!  Joking aside, I'm a big believer in cleansing when done properly (read: no

06/26/2013

A few simple tips to help prevent heart attacks. Keep that ticker healthy! ♥ ♥

My life is so busy fitting in a yoga practice, juicing, and studying health therapies, that I rarely have time to turn on the TV or pick up a celebrity magazine and zone out. Even though I never

06/24/2013

A great list of foods that you think are healthy, but aren't, and helpful alternatives.

Between the mainstream media, the Food Pyramid, the gazillions of health blogs out there, and the premise that you can just walk into an organic store and anything you pull off the shelves will be

06/21/2013

Ahhh-wooooooo!!! It's time! Have a wonderful , and enjoy the biggest moon of 2013 on Saturday night.

This weekend, the moon will be at its closest point to Earth at the same time that it is full, an event scientists call a lunar perigee, or as we like to howl, SUPERMOON.

06/17/2013

This little 's heart is singing!

I'm excited to announce that I will be teaching another class on August 6th for Lululemon Athletica Eaton Centre in !!!! More info will follow. I am *super* excited to be teaching in my home town. Eeep!

06/15/2013

“Barn’s burnt down
now
I can see the moon.” ~Masahide (haiku)



via

06/14/2013

Guess what? Facebook now has ! This is gonna change everything... Very cool. Also! Check out how you can take your home practice to the next level:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9842/how-to-take-your-home-yoga-practice-to-the-next-level.html

When I’m teaching, I want my students to experience as many senses as possible, so I often have themes depending on the time of day, the energy in the room, or even the weather. In yoga, I believe

06/13/2013

More helpful insight for back pain sufferers. Is it Sciatica or Piriformis Syndrome? Thanks for sharing, Nicole!

Sciatica vs. Piriformis Syndrome
by Dr. George Best

Sciatica and piriformis syndrome can seem quite similar, parularly in terms of symptoms, and this similarity in how they feel has caused considerable confusion for doctors and patients alike. Some individuals have stated that they are actually the same thing, but despite similarities in symptoms, the underlying causes of the two conditions are different.

Sciatica refers to irritation of the sciatic (often mis-spelled as syatic or psyatic) nerve, that arises from nerve roots in the lumbar spine. The most common cause of sciatic nerve irritation, or "true" sciatica is compression of one or more of its component nerve roots due to disc herniation or spinal degeneration in the lower lumbar region. Sciatica usually begins in the buttock area and, depending on the severity of the underlying nerve comression and inflammation, may extend down the entire leg to the ankle and foot.

Piriformis syndrome is sometimes called false sciatica, because instead of actual nerve irritation, it is caused by referral pain.) caused by tight knots of contraction in the piriformis muscle, which attaches to the upper femur bone and then runs across the back of the pelvis to the outside edge of the sacrum, the triangular pelvic bone at the base of the spine. The symptoms of piriformis syndrome are very similar and may be indistinguishable from true sciatica.

In some cases, piriformis syndrome may cause true sciatic nerve irritation, as the sciatic nerve may run underneath or even through the middle of the piriformis, so contraction of the piriformis may produce sufficient compression of the sciatic nerve to produce actual nerve symptoms. This is one of the main sources of confusion when it comes to distinguishing true sciatica from piriformis syndrome.

As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of true sciatica are very similar to piriformis syndrome. Both cause pain, tingling, burning, "electrical shock" sensations, and/or numbness down the leg, often all the way to the foot. In addition, both sciatica and piriformis syndrome tend to be at least partially related to biomechanical functional problems in the joints of the back and pelvis and they may even be present simultaneously in the same person, so it an be difficult to tell them apart.

But since the most effective treatment for the two conditions varies signficantly, it is important to determine the correct diagnosis if at all possible. In most cases there is an easy way to distinguish between sciatica and piriformis syndrome.

In most cases, sciatica can be differentiated from piriformis syndrome with a couple of simple test maneuvers. To begin, from a seated position, one straightens the knee on the side of sciatic pain, holding the leg out straight and parallel to the floor, and if this position causes an increas in symptoms, it is a good indicator of true sciatica.

The second maneuver is done in two parts. First, from the sitting position one bends the leg and pulls the knee on the painful side towards the same-side shoulder. In all but the most severe cases, there is usually no major increase in pain in this position. The second part of the maneuver is to pull the knee toward the opposite side shoulder. An increase in the sciatica-like symptoms is a strong indication of piriformis syndrome.

It is important to distinguish between sciatica and piriformis syndrome, because the treatment for the conditions varies, and getting the diagnosis right typically leads to more effective treatment.