LYT

Category: Podcasts

  • 37 | Farm Sanctuary & Compassionate Living | with Gene Baur

    37 | Farm Sanctuary & Compassionate Living | with Gene Baur

    I am so excited to introduce a great friend of mine, Gene Baur. Gene is the founder of Farm Sanctuary, which he founded by rescuing animals that had either been abused or neglected, and began to bring them to his home. Farm Sanctuary is dedicated to protect farm animals from cruelty, to inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and to promote compassionate vegan living.

     

    What are the biggest changes you’ve noticed in the animal advocacy movement?

     

    There’s a huge rise in products that are supporting the vegan movement, which only contributes to our goal at Farm Sanctuary. Obviously I want people to show up at the poles and vote with their voice, but every single day we vote with our dollar and our choices, and that’s huge as well.

    How do you deal with the very black and white activists?

     

    It is challenging, but very common in big movements. It’s healthy to have varying opinions. What is difficult is when people within the same movement attack one another over the strength of each of our opinions. The best practice that I have is recognizing that each of us need to make our own choice on how we proceed.

     

    How do you take care of yourself?

     

    The serenity prayer helps me, because witnessing violence and cruelty over the years can be crippling. I try not to dwell on what I can’t do, but focus and build on the positive that we can do.

     

    What does movement look like for you?

     

    Running is a way for me to burn off both steam and energy. I’ve done marathons, triathlons, and have trained for an Iron Man. I am looking into doing yoga, because I know I need something less harsh on my body.

     

    How do you share the benefits of going vegan?

     

    There’s an inconsistency between our values and our behaviors, and this disconnect is be=ig for so many people. Once everyone recognizes the disconnect, and they realign with their values, they’ll feel better all around. Most people who stop eating animal products also notice differences in how they are feeling once they remove the product from their life.

     

    What kinds of legal protections do farm animals have and not have?

     

    Most states have anti-cruelty laws, but most states also have acceptions for farm animals. Farm animals are actually excluded from the Federal Animal Welfare Act, while chickens and other birds are excluded from the Humane Slaughter Act. This means the vast majority of animals have no legal protection at the slaughterhouse.

     

    Resources:

    Today’s episode is sponsored my LYT Daily online yoga classes. Get a 3 day free trial today by going to movementbylara.com and clicking “daily classes.” Let’s get moving!

  • 36 | The Power of the Word Just

    36 | The Power of the Word Just

    Today’s podcast is all about the word “just.” This word has many different meanings, but the meaning we are going to explore today is how we can utilize and reframe the context in how we use it. I think that we can all use the “just” as a positive motivator, and create more of a positive brain mapping when we do use the word.

     

    How is “just” defined?

     

    It can mean precisely or exactly, almost, or barely. Even as an adverb, we see 3 different definitions, yet we tend to focus on the “barely” as what we identify with the most.

     

    How do we use it?

     

    We have the tendency to use it as a mitigator, and not as an empowering word at all.

    “I’m just a ____”

    “I’m just not ____”

    What’s the powerful form of “just”?

     

    Rather than using it with a negative connotation, why not try to say as a way of staying in the moment of challenge? Meet that challenge. Just stay there a few more moments. Use “just” as a negotiator for the moment you’re in, and turn it into a positive feedback loop.

     

    Resources:

    Today’s episode is sponsored my LYT Daily online yoga classes. This is an exclusive pass into my personal practice and program that I created from my experience as a physical therapist and 20 years developing my LYT yoga methodology. There is a different class with me everyday – including special monthly live streams – so you can feel your most LYT up – anytime and anywhere. Get a 3 day free trial today by going to movementbylara.com and clicking “daily classes.” Let’s get moving!

  • 35 | SI Joint | with John Frank

    35 | SI Joint | with John Frank

    My brother John Frank, physical therapist and fellow lover of movement is back on the show today to talk about the SI joint! I love having John on as a guest, because I can ask him anything and he always has something helpful and educational to say. We are talking about the SI joint because it receives a lot of complaints, yet the area itself is really quite misunderstood.

     

    What is the SI joint?

    The sacroiliac joint is found between the main pelvic bone and the sacrum, creating an almost triangle form. If you look at a person’s back, you’ll see two dimples, that is the back of the SI joint.

     

    What have you found is the cause of this locale pain?

     

    It’s more likely the this pain is caused by joints within your lower back, but not necessarily from the SI joint itself. There is a lot of research showing that the SI joint does not move much. The little movement that it has can help dissipate the force that walking and running can cause, but it’s built mainly for stability.

    What would you suggest for someone who sits a lot and is having pain in their SI joint?

     

    They might be hyperextending their lower back, if they are sitting a lot. It could really be a lot of different things. A lot of times with back pain, we don’t know the exact structure, but we know with forces and postures can create that, so we can look at their movement patterns to help figure it out in order to minimize the damage.

    If you’re overworking one area, but underworking another, can that imbalance create pain?

     

    I would say a lot of the pain around the SI joint is soft tissue. There’s pain receptors in all of the tissue surrounding that joint. Too much movement or force not being absorbed elsewhere, can impact the SI joint.

    What are some interesting facts and features about the SI joint?

    The research lately has been validating that the SI joint doesn’t move, even though in the past that wasn’t necessarily thought to be true. The SI joint does absorb and dissipate shock throughout the body, but it’s not the only place that does that. This joint is there to support us.

     

    Resources:

    Today’s episode is sponsored my LYT Daily online yoga classes. This is an exclusive pass into my personal practice and program that I created from my experience as a physical therapist and 20 years developing my LYT yoga methodology. There is a different class with me everyday – including special monthly live streams – so you can feel your most LYT up – anytime and anywhere. Get a 3 day free trial today by going to movementbylara.com and clicking “daily classes.” Let’s get moving!

  • 34 | Questions for Lara: Releasing Fear, the IT Band, & Yoga During Pregnancy

    34 | Questions for Lara: Releasing Fear, the IT Band, & Yoga During Pregnancy

    I’m back with another Q & A day! You asked, so I’m here to answer your questions to the best of my abilities. The questions today are from my Instagram audience, I love being able to connect with you all.

     

    How do you release the fear that your body holds?

    Fear is something we have to investigate. Recognize the emotions behind the fear, and allow them to guide you, but don’t allow it to prevent you to move forward. Ask yourself where this fear is coming from, and really explore that.

     

    Getting back into movement after pregnancy: how and when?

    Before I answer, I want to say that this is from my experience. Continue your practice as long as it feels comfortable for you, in all the ways that it feels comfortable for you, if it’s smart yoga you’re practicing. If you feel like your yoga practice doesn’t feel right, that’s fine, I just recommend that you keep moving.

     

    I have pain on the high hamstring, any tips to help it?

    Check out my podcast with my brother where we talk all about the Yoga Butt syndrome!

    It takes time and patience for this to heal, and go more into strength than into pulling it. Squeezing your sit bones as much as you can throughout the day.

     

    How high should a person go in Cobra? Any risks on the back?

    I instruct it by pulling your hands back towards your feet, which will pull your chest more into the thoracic extension. Some people may not get high up at all because they aren’t used to the pose. Stay lower and pull back with your hands. If you’re pushing down, your pelvis goes down, which can create a compression on your lower back.

     

    Can the IT Band actually be stretched or loosened in the hip region?

    This is actually a tendon! You can’t stretch it, you need to figure out where the problem is originating, and it usually is coming from the hip.

     

    Resources:

  • 33 | Traveling, Moving Through Surgery, & Love After the Bachelor | with Lesley Murphy

    33 | Traveling, Moving Through Surgery, & Love After the Bachelor | with Lesley Murphy

    Today I am joined by Lesley Murphy, a travel journalist, TV personality, blogger, and fellow yogi. Lesley is the girl behind the blog, The Road Les Traveled, where she shares her incredible travel stories and more. I met Lesley during a yoga teacher training in Aruba, and I love the charisma she has for life and adventure!

     

    Where do you see your roots being planted?

     

    That’s so hard. Everywhere feels like home to me! This career path has ruined me a little bit because it’s hard for me to pick one place as home.

     

    Do you practice yoga while you travel?

     

    I’ve been practicing for about 8 years now, and wanted to do YTT for a couple of reasons; go deeper into my practice with a better understanding of it, and be certified as a teacher because I want yoga to be a part of my group trips abroad. Traveling does make it difficult to practice consistently.

     

    Can you talk more about your decision to undergo prophylactic surgery?

     

    My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I was tested for the gene, and tested positive. 40 days later I made the decision to have a double mastectomy. I came out of that surgery never feeling more empowered than that moment.

     

    Tell me about your experience on the bachelor!

     

    It all started when I was in D.C. working in politics when I decided to apply. I wasn’t expecting to get it, but I did! The process was crazy, and I ultimately decided to go for it because I thought I would regret it more if I didn’t do it. I ended up having an amazing time and have been connected with the franchise, and went back on for this past Winter Games. I learned a lot about myself.

     

    How do you determine your travel schedule?

     

    When I was starting, I was reaching out to so many travel companies trying to build my business. Now, companies reach out to me, which is great!

     

    Resources:

    Today’s episode is sponsored my LYT Daily online yoga classes. This is an exclusive pass into my personal practice and program that I created from my experience as a physical therapist and 20 years developing my LYT yoga methodology. There is a different class with me everyday – including special monthly live streams – so you can feel your most LYT up – anytime and anywhere. Get a 3 day free trial today by going to movementbylara.com and clicking “daily classes.” Let’s get moving!

  • 32 | Reframe Your Mindset

    32 | Reframe Your Mindset

    Your attitude really does determine your successes, or your failures. Over the past few decades, both as a physical therapist and as a yoga teacher, I’ve seen this first hand. If you approach a goal with the attitude of “I can” then, you will. The same goes for if you decide to take a negative approach, and this comes down to how persuadable our brains are as humans.

     

    1. Notice your thoughts, your words, your attitude.
    2. Flip the script to “This is good for me,” or, “I think I can.”

     

    I challenge and encourage you to move someway today, and while you move, think of the thing you want to bring into your life. It doesn’t have to be anything extreme, but take that time to yourself to bring forth positive thoughts and words, and really reframe your mindset.

     

    Resources:

    • Check out: movementbylara.com
    • Instagram: @lara.heimann
    • Facebook: facebook.com/movementbylara  
    • Online LYT Daily yoga classes with Lara: movementbylara.vhx.tv
    • Today’s episode is sponsored my LYT Daily online yoga classes. This is an exclusive pass into my personal practice and program that I created from my experience as a physical therapist and 20 years developing my LYT yoga methodology. There is a different class with me everyday – including special monthly live streams – so you can feel your most LYT up – anytime and anywhere. Get a 3 day free trial today by going to movementbylara.com and clicking “daily classes.” Let’s get moving!
  • 31 | Rethinking Hip Mobility vs. Stretching

    31 | Rethinking Hip Mobility vs. Stretching

    Today’s podcast is all about the hip joint! This one is for all the movement lovers, and movement educators out there. Changing the language around movement is a big goal of mine, and today I’d like to narrow it down to speaking specifically about the hip.

    What is the hip?

    The hip is the largest joint in the body, and it’s truly the center of the body. When you’re standing on two feet, you’re taking energy through the legs, and that energy is taken up through the hip. Think of the hip as the Grand Central Station of energy exchange. When the hip is tight or non functioning properly, we feel it.

     

    Stretching

     

    Picture your hip joint; what about the joint would you want to be really open? When we talk about hip-openers, we usually are referring to the tissue around the hip, rather than the hip itself. The position of a joint is really where your joint is living, where and how it’s sitting.

     

    Lie on your back, feet on the floor, knees bent, and take your second and third finger on both hands and bring them into the crease of the hip joint. Bring your right knee up and over your right hip, foot off the floor. Feel what’s happening here. Do this for each side.

    Now, while standing, lift a knee up to a high knee. What do you feel here? Go into these ranges with a clarity of what’s happening within your joints.

    Resources:

  • 30 | “Yoga Butt” Syndrome | with John Frank, PT

    30 | “Yoga Butt” Syndrome | with John Frank, PT

    Today my brother, John Frank, is back to talk about “yoga butt” syndrome. John is a physical therapist, athlete, and fellow lover of movement! So just what is “yoga butt” syndrome? No, it’s not the perky butt that you’re thinking– it’s actually a pain located underneath the flesh of your butt, where your hamstrings meet your sit bone, and I’ve been hearing a lot more about it lately.

     

    What do you think is happening when people complain of yoga butt pain?

     

    There are 3 tendons that connect at this area, therefore it feels like the lower butt is in pain, though it’s actually not the butt at all, it’s the hamstring tendons. This is a clear indication that people are over-stretching their hamstrings. Hamstrings shouldn’t be used as the primary hip extensor.

     

    Why is this a harder area to heal?

     

    There’s poor blood supply to this general area. Tendons are either strong connectors, or they just stabilize.

     

    For forward ben, keep your center of mass within the confines of the middle of your feet as much as you can. Slightly bending your knees keeps your center of mass right where it needs to be.

     

    Standing split:

     

    When I refer to standing split, I mean more of a standing L shape. Hands are directly under your shoulders, one leg is on the floor while the other is off of the floor only by 90 degree. This way the pelvis stays level. If you can’t get your hands on the floor, you can always put them on blocks.

    Overusing + Underusing:

     

    The hamstring could be tight from overuse, but stretching them isn’t going to do anything. Pay attention to how you swan dive, forward fold, low locust, or cobra. Notice where the work feels like it’s being done, and try to even out the workflow across the body completely.

    Resources: