For reasons I could not explain in 10,000 words or less, I moved to a small town on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, for three months or more, to determine how I begin with all of this that has happened, and to wait for this story of the pain in my neck to resolve.

When I signed up for yoga teacher training, I knew benefits would come from it. I would get stronger and more flexible. I would make new friends, gain a better understanding of yoga and eventually be equipped to lead a class. But I had no idea how much happier it would make me.

We've all been there. Those moments of boredom, exhaustion or sadness when we reach for a slice of cake or a bag of chips because they're there, we're craving a sugar rush or we think they'll make us feel better. Try as we might, maintaining a healthy diet is difficult for most Americans.

Don't be discouraged if it takes time to access release through breathing; it will happen eventually, and it is an invaluable tool for de-stressing. Making these connections between breath and body heightens sensitivity and prompts us to take better care of ourselves.

Brace yourself: The debate over yoga injuries has reemerged, and no matter how tired you may be of the prolonged row, there are useful things to pay attention to here.

The ancient practice of yoga nidra, also known as yogic sleep, is a meditative practice that results in conscious deep sleep. Current research suggests that yoga nidra can help relieve menstrual problems and symptoms of diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Can't touch your toes anymore? Not to worry. Practice this short cycle of postures three times per week to improve the results of the sit-and-reach test.

Current research reports that alternative therapies such as yoga, acupuncture, and medical marijuana (cannabis) can offer natural relief from chronic pain.

"In the first approach, CCYoga sends teachers into Native American communities. We teach classes at urban rehabilitation and housing facilities in the greater Phoenix area and on Native American reservations close to Phoenix, Ariz."

It's a new year, literally a new age... So let's wake up to health in a totally new way! Why not change perspective? Here are some suggestions how.

This film is about 25 of the most prominent modern figures who practice and teach yoga, meditation, and other mindful practices in the Western culture. They share stories of how they were introduced to yoga and how the practice has transformed their lives for the better.

In order to find my balance, I have to confront my intimacy and trust issues head on. My fight against corruption hinges on my ability to stand through the storm. My ability to stand depends on my balance.

This week marked the winter solstice. To celebrate the longer, more light-filled days to come, I like to perform 108 sun salutations in the late afternoon as the sun is going down.

The brain's malleability during adolescence marks a crucial stage in both cognitive and emotional development. Luckily, researchers are now able to paint a clearer picture of some of the factors that allow students to thrive throughout high school and into adulthood.

Given my interest in endurance challenges, I suppose it was inevitable that I would look for a way to test my limits with yoga.

As I rested, I thought about what Andrew had said -- how we must take the time to practice self-care -- and how I must allow the effort of being a stubborn, self-sufficient yogi to dissolve into openness and surrender. This work -- on the mat, resting, in a roomful of people -- can ignite profound change.

For many people, yoga is about stretching and strengthening the body, exploring challenging postures, or managing the stress of daily life. Or it may be "just" about the great sense of well-being one feels after a yoga practice.

There is no definitive test for fibromyalgia, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is currently unknown. Current research reports that two mind-body exercises, yoga and tai chi, can help relieve fibromyalgia.

In a time in which physician burnout is at high levels, developing mindfulness practices such as yoga can only be beneficial in the doctor's own life as a powerful antidote to some of the daily administrative and payment -- not to mention patient-related -- stress.

A 2012 study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy found yoga helped improve school performance and sustained attention in children with autism.

Modern day yoga in America is an interesting phenomenon. In the traditional sense, what most of us do on the yoga mat is not yoga. Although the health benefits are greater than anything else we've ever tried, many still do not consider it yoga.

Research reports that yoga practice can help to alleviate sleep problems. For a natural, drug-free way to promote restful sleep, try yoga for sweet dreams.

Our work is to go beyond the challenges that life has set up for us. It's a matter of stepping up to the plate. Because we can grow, or we can die. We can go big or go home. If we let life suck the life out of us, we've already lost.

Why do we need yoga now more than ever? Is it simply because people are more stressed out? We have been trained to become consumers first, humans second. We deeply need to rediscover another way of existing.