I've always liked doing the basic version of side crow where you are resting your body weight on both arms, but I've never quite been able to nail the alignment of the more advanced version where all your weight is on one arm. It had been a long time since I had tried it though, so when it came up in one of my classes last week, I went ahead and gave it a whirl. I was completely surprised when all of a sudden it made complete sense to my body and came together almost effortlessly. I just love that even after a decade of this practice, there is still ample room for growth and exploration. Yoga, you never get boring.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it seems like every studio in town is offering a partner yoga workshop this weekend. While these usually have you bringing your own partner, you may also find yourself partnered with a stranger occasionally in class, usually as a spotter or to help you deepen a stretch. Learn how to get the most out of a partner yoga situation and keep you and your partner safe. Read more...

2012 is only a month old and already there's been more drama in the yoga world than we usually see all year. First, there was that yoga injuries article in The New York Times, which prompted responses from many of yoga's leading teachers and much discussion both inside and outside of the yoga community. Now, another story seems poised to make waves: the possible fall from grace of Anusara yoga founder John Friend. Last week, blogger YogaDork published information from an anonymous website, alleging personal and professional misconduct by Friend (for all the details, see here). A response of sorts has now been posted on both YogaDork and Elephant Journal, in the form of a letter Friend sent to members of the Anusara community, acknowledging that there is some truth to the accusations. An interview with Friend by Elephant Journal editor Waylon Lewis is expected to be published this afternoon, and hopefully will begin to elucidate the direction Anusara will take in face of this scandal. Stay tuned...

[Update: Here is the interview, in which Friend admits to inappropriate, though consensual, sexual relationships with female students and employees and supplies documents relating to the discontinuation of the Anusara employee pension plan.]

The New York Times article that created so much buzz a few weeks ago ("How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body") is back in the news, as the book, entitled The Science of Yoga, behind the article has just been published. In addition to my review (which I'm sure you have already read), now you can read The New York Times' own review, listen to author William Broad on NPR's Fresh Air, and/or head to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy.