Posts by Samantha saladino
Candle Magic: How to get started
Candle Magic: A Simple Yet Powerful Practice Candle magic is an accessible and potent form of spellwork that anyone can engage in. Growing up in a Jewish home, I experienced the magic of candles firsthand through Shabbat and Havdalah rituals—lighting the Shabbos candles each Friday night and extinguishing the Havdalah candle on Saturday evening. These…
Read MoreCreating a Personal Altar
How to Create a Magical Working Space or Altar Building an altar is a deeply personal and mystical practice that allows you to connect with your ancestors, deities, or the energies of the universe. Your altar can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, and there’s no right or wrong way to create…
Read MoreMeet the Rotator Cuff
Meet the Rotator Cuff: Understanding the Shoulder’s Key Muscle Group Introducing the rotator cuff—a crucial group of four muscles and their associated tendons that work together to stabilize the shoulder joint. When people hear “rotator cuff,” they often think it’s a singular structure, but it’s actually a complex team of muscles that attach the humerus…
Read MoreFascia is so cool!
Understanding Fascia: The Body’s Connective Web Fascia is a term that frequently comes up in massage, physical therapy, yoga, and exercise, yet many people are still unclear about what it actually is. Fascia is the connective tissue that weaves throughout the body, creating a three-dimensional web that holds everything together. It plays a critical role…
Read MoreMeet the Psoas
MEET THE PSOAS Sometimes referred to as the “mighty” psoas, the core of the body, the thickest muscle in the body, this wonderful and unique muscle gets a lot of attention. Many people come into a yoga class knowing their psoas is tight and not being exactly sure of where it is or what it…
Read MoreWork smart, not hard-advice for injury prevention on the job
“Work Smart, Not Hard!” Staying safe on the job is important to your quality of life. It is so easy to get caught up in work and forget to take care of ourselves. I wrote this as a little check list to help you out on your day at work. First lists look at activities…
Read MoreStep Into the Wondrous World of Tarot
Step into the Wondrous World of Tarot: A Portal to the Soul Welcome to the enchanting realm of tarot, where magic and imagination guide the subconscious on a journey into the depths of the soul. Tarot is not just a tool for divination; it is a mirror that reflects our innermost thoughts, desires, and the…
Read MoreMaterica Magica (Herbal Magic)
The Magical world of our plantcestors: Properties and Ritual uses Angelica Latin name: Angelica archangelica Common names: Angelica, Holy Ghost root, wild celery, Norwegian angelica Family: Apiaceae/Carrot family Parts used: Root, seeds, and leaves Element: Sun Tarot card: Strength Magical properties: Guardian, healer, ward off evil especially in the home, associated with the archangel Michael.…
Read MorePranayama (Breathing, expanding life force)
PRANAYAMA written by Peggy Kelly and Samantha Goldberg Blackthorn Pranayama comes from the words breath and control, it is an exercise that helps us to gain control over our breath and increase the movement of our vital life force (prana). There are many practices of pranayama; some use one or alternate nostrils to breathe out…
Read MoreInjury Prevention in Yoga Asana (For teachers and students)
INJURY PREVENTION IN YOGA ASANA Injury Prevention Injury can happen in yoga class and if it happens to beginners they are likely to never return to your class or yoga in general. It is our job, as teachers, to make beginners safe, supported and excited about the prospect of joining those already on the yogic…
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