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Michael Joel Hall

Yoga · Teaching · Writing

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Avidya: Why Patanjali Calls Ignorance the Root
Avidya translates as ignorance, but the English word misses what Patanjali means. He’s talking about a perceptual error so deep most people never notice it.
Shala Daily May 20
FADIR Is the Test AND the Training
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Shala Daily May 19
Toe Yoga Is Not a Joke
Lift only your big toe. Keep the lesser four toes pressed into the floor. Try it. If you cannot do it, your brain has merged the toes into a single neurological unit, and decades of shoes plus a...
Shala Daily May 19
The Cue That Lands
It’s about why one weirdly perfect word can get a body to cooperate when “good teaching” has been failing all week.
Shala Daily May 18
Offering and Receiving Guidance in Ashtanga
This is a video about Offering and Receiving Guidance in Ashtanga Yoga.
Shala Daily May 18
Cult Vibes Without a Cult
This is about how a normal yoga class can quietly grow cult dynamics—no villain required—unless the teacher builds in real exits and reality checks.
Shala Daily May 17
Yoga Helped Women Sleep During Chemotherapy
A 2014 study found that yoga significantly improved sleep quality in women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Shala Daily May 17
Ashtanga and Non-Linear Systems
Small changes can lead to monumental impacts, much like the butterfly effect.
Shala Daily May 17
Fourth Series, Empty Hands
It’s about how advanced Ashtanga got turned into status, and what you’re missing if you can do the poses but can’t hold a room.
Shala Daily May 16
Transform Your Yoga Studio with Automated CRM Solutions
Unlock the potential of your yoga studio by integrating CRM solutions to automate and personalize student interactions!
Shala Daily May 16
Avidya: Why Patanjali Calls Ignorance the Root
Avidya translates as ignorance, but the English word misses what Patanjali means. He’s talking about a perceptual error so deep most people never notice it.
Shala Daily May 20
FADIR Is the Test AND the Training
.article-text { font-family: ‘Archivo’, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; color: #333; line-height: 1.85; margin-bottom: 25px; } .article-text a { color: #FF006E; text-decoration:...
Shala Daily May 19
Toe Yoga Is Not a Joke
Lift only your big toe. Keep the lesser four toes pressed into the floor. Try it. If you cannot do it, your brain has merged the toes into a single neurological unit, and decades of shoes plus a...
Shala Daily May 19
The Cue That Lands
It’s about why one weirdly perfect word can get a body to cooperate when “good teaching” has been failing all week.
Shala Daily May 18
Offering and Receiving Guidance in Ashtanga
This is a video about Offering and Receiving Guidance in Ashtanga Yoga.
Shala Daily May 18
Cult Vibes Without a Cult
This is about how a normal yoga class can quietly grow cult dynamics—no villain required—unless the teacher builds in real exits and reality checks.
Shala Daily May 17
Yoga Helped Women Sleep During Chemotherapy
A 2014 study found that yoga significantly improved sleep quality in women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Shala Daily May 17
Ashtanga and Non-Linear Systems
Small changes can lead to monumental impacts, much like the butterfly effect.
Shala Daily May 17
Fourth Series, Empty Hands
It’s about how advanced Ashtanga got turned into status, and what you’re missing if you can do the poses but can’t hold a room.
Shala Daily May 16
Transform Your Yoga Studio with Automated CRM Solutions
Unlock the potential of your yoga studio by integrating CRM solutions to automate and personalize student interactions!
Shala Daily May 16
Time and Lifestyle Adaptations
This is a video about How Ashtanga Yoga Impacts Our Time and Lifestyle– and how they impact our practice.
Articles May 13
After the Peak
What happens when yoga stops being new, stops being a high, and you still have to show up anyway?
Articles May 12
Buy Your Milk From Someone You Know
Every untracked transaction is a small act of structural resistance Every untracked transaction is a small act of structural resistance. From The Digital Caste: Surveillance Capitalism and the...
Articles Apr 26
The Maze Designer’s Defense
“You could always turn left” is the argument of the maze designer explaining to the rat that it has a choice The choice to opt out is the choice to accept systematic economic...
Articles Apr 19
anyone else find that nidra is the practice they never skip? even more than asana?
This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question something I've been thinking about lately I've had an on-and-off asana practice for...
Articles Apr 18
Exercise to aid yoga practice?
This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question I really want to feel stronger in my practice. I’m plus sized and am working on overall...
Articles Apr 16
is yoga actually life changing?
This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question I’ve been thinking about starting yoga, mostly to feel less stiff and maybe calm my mind a bit....
Articles Apr 15
How did you come to Ashtanga
This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question I’ve been listening to a lot of genesis stories lately from Laruga and Kino and so on of how each...
Articles Apr 14
What if you forget a pose or two
This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question Today I realised I skipped ardha Badda Padma paschimottan asana and tiriang! What is the proper...
Articles Apr 13
can yoga help with toning your body?
This is Ashtanga Yoga Tech Support. Real questions from the yoga community, answered. The Question I want to get into yoga to help with my mentality and body. I have lots of anxiety and stress...
Articles Apr 12
how do i get better at cueing? why do some cues work and others don’t?
This article explains how matching cue types to individual nervous systems improves yoga instruction effectiveness
Tech Support May 12
The Ankle Has Four Corners and You Probably Only Use One
This article explains ankle joint mechanics and trains all four functional corners to improve yoga stability and prevent compensation
Tech Support May 10
Your Knee Rotates (Until It Doesn’t)
This article explains knee rotation mechanics during flexion to prevent injury and improve safe yoga practice
Tech Support May 9
When Adduction Meets Rotation (and Why Your Hip Is Negotiating with Itself)
Explains hip adduction combined with internal and external rotation to improve joint function and prevent pain in yoga poses
Tech Support May 8
Chakrasana Whiplash Prevention and Recovery using PNF and FRC
This article explains how targeted PNF and FRC exercises restore deep neck flexor function to prevent and recover from whiplash in yoga practice
Tech Support May 8
Fix Your Tech Neck With Ashtanga Yoga and FRC
This article explains six key cervical spine movements neglected by desk work and essential for safe Ashtanga yoga practice
Tech Support May 8
Tech Support: Big Toe (Hallux) Conditioning — The Joint Ashtanga Forgot
This article explains big toe joint conditioning to improve Ashtanga yoga transitions and prevent compensatory injuries
Tech Support May 7
Yoga teachers- do you change your ques when one of your students is pregnant?
How to adapt yoga cues safely and effectively for pregnant students to support their changing bodies and practice needs
Tech Support Apr 11
anyone else find that nidra is the practice they never skip? even more than asana?
Explains why yoga nidra’s effortless practice fosters consistent subtle body awareness beyond physical asana routines
Tech Support Apr 10
Those that have moved further on from ashtanga yoga, where are you now?
Explores where advanced Ashtanga practitioners go spiritually after evolving beyond traditional practices and why it matters
Tech Support Apr 9