Could yoga and other mind-body practices help during the pandemic?
Author: geeky yogi
I’m Dr Rachel David, the Geeky Yogi. I wear many hats: scientist, researcher, writer, editor, science communicator, behaviour change specialist, yogi, sewist, knitter and poet. Sometimes I combine all my passions successfully. Sometimes I make a mess. But that’s life! Follow my adventures into the world of science and wellbeing.
Does your favourite meditation reveal who you really are? (plain language summary)
Do you ever feel that one type of meditation or yoga practice really resonates and another just simply leaves you … More
In my nightmares, I’m still in the sea
(Mati, Greece, July 2018) She hadn’t prepared for thisShe hadn’t worn gym shoes, or those jelly slippers she sometimes used … More
Stress, gene expression, inflammation – and where yoga may fit in
Mind–body practices like yoga, tai chi and mindfulness meditation cause changes in gene expression that damper inflammation – which may help to keep the immune system in balance.
Yoga nidra by the sea
Adventures in fascia – and how stretching may resolve inflammation (plain language summary)
With fascia also including the immune system, could there be immune benefits to working with the fascia?
Yoga vs CBT in alleviating anxiety (plain language summary)
Hot-off-the-press study compared yoga, CBT and stress education for the treatment of anxiety (and gets slightly misreported by media) – who will win?
Mending a broken heart – with yoga! (plain language summary)
Yoga may have benefits for those at risk of cardiovascular disease and those who have already experienced a major cardiovascular episode. This is a plain language summary of an academic article that puts forward the evidence.
Does yoga nidra ease the pain away?
Does yoga nidra help with chronic pain? The evidence is weak and inconclusive, although combined with yoga it might have a beneficial effect
Audio meditation: mindfulness of breathing
Yoga nidra and women’s health: does it help with our period troubles?
Does yoga nidra help with our menstruation challenges? The evidence seems to suggest that it does indeed, likely by reducing stress and bringing back hormonal balance.
Knitted wedding: 4 years on
4 years ago, I was probably crying over Brexit and the torrential rain that was forecast for my wedding! I … More
Conversations with lizards
For the music is your special friendDance on fire as it intendsMusic is your only friendUntil the end The Doors … More
How yoga nidra could tip the balance in an anxious mind
I’ve had a revelation over the past week. I signed up to a yoga nidra teacher training, mainly out of … More
Poetry to inspire your yoga practice: my favourite anthologies
If you’ve ever been to one of my yin yoga classes, you’ll know that I love to read poetry as … More
Audio meditation: breath awareness
You always remember your first love
Tightly curled underthe wooden table, red hair,fire-lit, stroked by the invisible hand of a gentle breeze. The story of my first love. … More
Which yoga mat should I buy? My top picks
The most common piece of advice that I have been asked for since lockdown began is “which yoga mat should I buy?”. Over the years, I’ve done a lot of research, rejected, tried and bought a lot of mats. This is my list of the best mats out there: Liforme, EcoYoga, Jade Voyager, YogiBare, Manduka Eko, YogaStudio
Paws
Outline of light lifting darkness from the heavy clouds. Trees sketched out of autumn crayons, tears of night dampening their … More
Swimming
There’s a place down by the coast The road is narrow and windy, and for much of the drive you … More
GEEKY YOGA 