Your brain on yoga nidra

The little neuroscience research that exists highlights the changes the brain goes through during practice – could that have a more lasting effect?

Let’s talk about pain

Friends, I know, I have not written forever. I could come up with a ton of excuses, like life stuff, … More

Is hot yoga better (or worse) than room temperature yoga?

My first experience of hot yoga was fairly traumatic. The smell in the then Bikram Kentish Town studio. The aggressive … More

Is it time for some megastudy thinking in yoga research?

One of the biggest problems of understanding the effects of yoga on our health and minds and bodies more broadly is that a lot of yoga research is, frankly, a bit shit.So it was great to see the publication of this guidance last week on how yoga studies should be designed and reported. But it doesn’t really go far enough. Could megastudy thinking be what we are missing?

Growing old well, with yoga

Ageing well is surely something that we are all after – mobile, as healthy as we can, with strong brains and great mental health. Maybe yoga can help.

Can I be into yoga without the supernatural crap?

The yoga world is obsessed with the supernatural, beyond things that are part of its actual heritage. But how much does this contribute to the rejection of science and medicine?

Meditation for a healthy immune system – plain language summary

Here’s a cool study to wrap the year up: evidence of changes in gene expression following an intense meditation retreat. … More

How stress messes up your immune system (and where yoga fits in)

Stress really fucks up the immune system in various different ways. Yoga’s positive effects on our immunity are likely due to its effects on our stress levels.

What’s so special about yoga?

Ever since I read Yoga Body*, I’ve had one big question in my mind: if modern postural yoga is basically … More

Burned out? Try yoga

Working from home over the past 18 months has brought some challenges, especially in maintaining work–life balance. Could yoga help tackle stress and burnout and keep us productive and full of brilliant ideas?

Forever young with yoga?

If inflammation determines our biological age, and if yoga helps to control unnecessary inflammation, could yoga also help to keep us young?

Geeky wellbeing favourites: June

The June issue of the mind–body adventure was shipped last week, and yes, it features two cats. Subscribe now and … More

Geeky wellness favourites: April

My favourites in health and wellness in April: yoga science stories, a cute tool to keep you well at work, a delicious yoga nidra, and more…

Is yoga community good for our immunity?

Here’s an interesting question: how much of the benefit of yoga on our mental health and our immunity is due … More

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

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?

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

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.