Tiffany Cruikshank Yoga

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Tiffany Cruikshank Yoga Founder of Yoga Medicine, a community of teachers trained in the fusion of anatomy & western medicin

04/09/2026

Strength is having a very big moment in yoga right now… and I want us to understand what we’re actually training for.

Building strength is only part of the conversation.

How we train the body to coordinate that strength through rotation, balance, changing loads, different planes of movement and the unexpected demands of real life matters, too.

This is one detail we’ll be exploring in the new Strength & Conditioning in Yoga Teacher Training LIVE Online, starting September 9.

We’ll dig into the science of strength, fascia, functional movement and conditioning… and how to thoughtfully integrate these principles into yoga practices for ourselves and our students.

We’re just a few days away, so if you’ve been thinking about joining me, this is your last call: https://yogamedicine.com/product/strength-conditioning-in-yoga-teacher-training-online/ 💪

Come nerd out, move, learn, and yes… keep it a little weird with me. 😉

We often think of strength training as pushing, pulling, or lifting... But some of the most important adaptations happen...
02/09/2026

We often think of strength training as pushing, pulling, or lifting...

But some of the most important adaptations happen when your muscles are doing the opposite: lengthening while they're still working. That's called an eccentric contraction.

This type of strength is built into everyday life. Every time you lower into a chair, walk downstairs, hike downhill, land from a jump, or catch yourself when you trip, you're relying on eccentric strength.

In many ways, it's your body's braking system.
Research shows that eccentric training can improve strength, support tendon health, and stimulate connective tissue remodeling.

Because muscles can generate higher forces during the eccentric phase, it also provides a powerful stimulus for adaptation, making it an important tool in both rehabilitation and performance training.

For me, it's also one of the missing pieces in many yoga practices.

We spend a lot of time thinking about getting into a pose... but I'm just as interested in how we move into it, how we control the transition, and how we move back out again.

That slow, intentional lowering… whether it's easing the back knee to the floor in Crescent Lunge or controlling your descent into Chaturanga… teaches the body how to absorb force, create stability, and move with greater control.

Those are the qualities that support us well beyond our practice, whether you're carrying groceries, hiking a favorite trail, picking up a niece or nephew, or simply moving through everyday life with more confidence.

It's one of the reasons eccentric loading shows up so often in my classes and trainings.

Sometimes the strongest thing we can do is learn how to slow down.

Speaking of...

If you'd like to dive deeper into the science of strength training in yoga (and nerd out about eccentrics 😉), there's still time to join my first-ever LIVE
Online Strength & Conditioning in Yoga Teacher Training.

We start September 9. Check the link: https://yogamedicine.com/product/strength-conditioning-in-yoga-teacher-training-online/ to learn more and join me!

For too long, conversations about ovarian aging have centered almost exclusively on fertility. Thankfully, emerging rese...
01/09/2026

For too long, conversations about ovarian aging have centered almost exclusively on fertility.

Thankfully, emerging research is revealing a bigger picture: our ovaries are deeply connected to our overall health.

Beyond producing eggs, they're dynamic endocrine organs that help regulate hormones influencing our bones, cardiovascular system, metabolism, brain health, and so much more.

One recent study created one of the most detailed maps of the aging o***y to date and found that changes in the o***y begin long before menopause.

Researchers observed shifts in the cells that support hormone production, tissue repair, immune function, and communication within the o***y… years before reproductive function comes to an end.

We're still learning what these changes mean in practice, but I find this incredibly encouraging.

Expanding the conversation beyond fertility opens the door to a better understanding of perimenopause, menopause, and the many ways ovarian health influences women's health across the lifespan.

The more we understand about ovarian aging, the more opportunities we have to support women through midlife with approaches grounded in science rather than simply waiting for symptoms to appear.

What area of women's health are you most excited to see researchers explore over the next decade?

We'll be exploring emerging research like this, along with practical, evidence-informed protocols, in my LIVE Online Menopause Yoga Teacher Training, beginning October 21.

Check the link: https://yogamedicine.com/product/menopause-yoga-teacher-training-online/ to learn more and register.

31/08/2026

The chest is one of those areas that adapts to whatever we ask of it.

Whether that's hours at a computer, strength training, parenting, or simply moving through daily life… those tissues respond to the input we give them.

That's one of the reasons I love incorporating active opening into my practice.

The pectoral muscles are often thought of as something to stretch, but healthy shoulders depend on more than passive mobility.

They also need the strength and coordination to support that new range & position.

Throughout this ‘Powerful & Open: Chest/Pecs’ practice, we explore active opening, where the muscles of the chest lengthen while continuing to work.

We pair that with the muscles that stabilize the shoulder blades so the shoulders, upper back, and rib cage learn to move as a coordinated system.

This kind of training helps your nervous system develop a clearer map of where your body is in space, making new movement patterns easier to access and maintain.

Of course… we begin with a little gentle myofascial release to the chest.

Beyond creating a sense of ease, this can enhance proprioception (the body's awareness of its position and movement), which often improves how well we can recruit and coordinate these tissues throughout the practice.

The result? A chest that feels more spacious, a shoulder girdle that feels more supported, and a posture that comes from balanced strength and mobility working together.

I'd love to hear how this one feels in your body. ❤️ Tap the link in my bio to try it out on Yoga Medicine Online!

28/08/2026

Okay, so I’m no Chef… I’m a simple cook. 😝

This meal was definitely a bit outside my usual "keep it simple" comfort zone in the kitchen, but so worth it (even if it meant I had to do a few extra dishes).

I'm always looking for meals that help me hit my protein goals and keep me fueled for long days of work and hours of tennis… and this one has officially earned a spot in the rotation.

(But I wouldn’t be mad if someone else wanted to make it for me next time… looking at you, Ozzy. If only you had thumbs!)

Here's the recipe link, and if you try it, let me know what you think: https://www.jaroflemons.com/hot-honey-sweet-potato-waffles/?utm_campaign=GRO&utm_medium=IG_comment&utm_source=GRO&utm_campaign=GRO&utm_medium=IG_comment&utm_source=GRO

And yes… I think it'd be just as delicious with your favorite vegetarian protein, too.

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard me talking a lot about why strength matters… I think the next conversation is about what st...
25/08/2026

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard me talking a lot about why strength matters… I think the next conversation is about what strength actually means.

In this context, I’m not just interested in how much weight you can lift. but I’m also interested in your ability to control your body through a full range of motion.

I want to know that you have the confidence to catch yourself when you stumble & the capacity to produce force efficiently (& absorb it just as well) to do all the things you love.

Can your connective tissue transmit force? Can your muscles adapt? How about a nervous system that knows how to coordinate it all?

This is where I think yoga + strength work in a shared setting has so much to offer. 😉

When we look at the latest research in the world of longevity science, what comes up again & again is the importance of resistance training.

Statistically, many people are not meeting the mark of what’s considered ideal strength requirements (particularly important for us, as women, as we age!

So rather than trying to silo these forms of movement… why not begin integrating strength work into your yoga practice?

I know for a fact that many people simply do not enjoy being in a gym… I get it!

Your yoga practice can become one of the best places to build the qualities that make strength more functional, resilient, & sustainable.

That's exactly why we include Yoga Conditioning on the YMO practice site and why I’m giddy about a new Strength & Conditioning in Yoga LIVE Online training Katja & I have been quietly putting together… it’s our vision of a well-rounded approach to movement to get all of your needs met.

In the training, we'll explore how current strength & conditioning principles can be integrated into yoga through research-backed approaches like eccentric loading, isometrics, neurologic training, & thoughtful programming.

I’m not trying to turn all yoga teachers into personal trainers. I just want you to have the practical tools to help students move with greater confidence, capacity, & resilience.

I'm so excited to finally share this with you. ❤️

We go live on September 9th: https://yogamedicine.com/product/strength-conditioning-in-yoga-teacher-training-online/

One of the most valuable skills we can develop is learning to recognize when our body is trying to tell us something.Not...
24/08/2026

One of the most valuable skills we can develop is learning to recognize when our body is trying to tell us something.

Not every ache is a warning, nor is every feeling a diagnosis… but our nervous system, past experiences, stress levels, and physiology all shape what we notice and how we interpret it.

I've also seen the opposite happen far too often…

People dismiss fatigue, ignore pain, explain away digestive changes, or convince themselves that what they're feeling "is probably nothing."

Interoception is our ability to sense what's happening inside the body. Like any skill, it can become more refined with practice.

For me, meditation has always been one of the best places to cultivate that awareness.

You start to notice subtle shifts before they demand your attention.

You can also recognize the difference between challenge and depletion, between stress that feels productive and stress that's asking for recovery.

Our bodies are brilliant, always offering us information.

The more fluent we become in that conversation, the better equipped we are to respond thoughtfully and advocate for ourselves.

I’m curious… has there been a time when listening to your body changed the course of your health?

I've been thinking a lot about how easy it is to measure ourselves by outcomes… especially in a world that has become so...
21/08/2026

I've been thinking a lot about how easy it is to measure ourselves by outcomes… especially in a world that has become so obsessed with metrics, tracking personal info, wearables, etc.

But since when has the practice of living, of being in a human body, ever really been about getting everything right?

I like to believe it's about continuing to show up with curiosity, even when we're learning, changing, or finding our footing again.

I hope I never lose my willingness to try. ❤️

What are you growing into these days?

Perspectives on strength training during pregnancy have (thankfully!) come a long way. One thing I love about watching r...
19/08/2026

Perspectives on strength training during pregnancy have (thankfully!) come a long way.

One thing I love about watching research evolve is that it gives us more confidence to move away from fear and toward thoughtful, individualized care.

A new systematic review and meta-analysis including more than 47,000 pregnancies found that resistance training (either on its own or as part of a broader exercise program) was associated with lower rates of gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, perinatal mood disorders, and macrosomia (larger birth weight).

What I find equally important is what the authors say *hasn't* been studied well enough.

Most of the research used relatively light loads, & many studies didn't clearly describe how participants progressed their strength training over time.

The researchers make the case that we need better-designed studies before we can fully understand what optimal strength training during pregnancy looks like.

To me, that's the sweet spot.

It's encouraging to see evidence that strength training can support a healthy pregnancy, while also remembering that pregnancy is never one-size-fits-all. Your training should reflect your experience, your body, your pregnancy, & the guidance of your healthcare team.

Research like this helps us replace unnecessary fear with informed decisions.

In that spirit, I am super excited to start the new Strength & Conditioning in Yoga Teacher Training LIVE Online.

We work towards bridging the gap between contemporary strength & conditioning science and yoga movement practices, offering a clear, grounded framework for designing practices that are both mindful and progressively challenging (even for your mamas-to-be! 😉).

More info: https://yogamedicine.com/product/strength-conditioning-in-yoga-teacher-training-online/

18/08/2026

I've fallen in love with tennis (again) in a way I didn't expect.

A fun, physical challenge has become one of my favorite ways to spend time… and it's changed how I think about athleticism.

When I was younger, being athletic felt closely tied to performance. How fast, how strong, how much.

Now, when I think about what allows me to enjoy a long match, improve my game, and come back excited to play again the next day, I realize the picture is much bigger.

Athleticism has become less about a single moment of performance and more about maintaining the capacity to keep participating in the things I love.

👉 Can I move and recover well?
👉 Can I adapt when my body needs something different?
👉 Can I care for my body when the inevitable injury comes along?
👉 Can I continue learning, improving, and building new skills?

And yes injury happens when you push your body (we’re not immune to it), the key is listening & attending to it early. This is one of the things I love most about my yoga practice as a support system for the sport that I love!!

One of my favorite things about sport in midlife is that it keeps expanding my definition of success.

Some days that might be a great match. Other days it's noticing that my body bounced back more quickly than it used to, or that I've developed a skill that felt completely out of reach a year ago. And some days that means listening and slowing down.

I have always believed that everyone is an athlete in their own context, regardless of age.

Having the ability to fully engage in the activities that bring us joy is one of the great gifts of health.

What activity makes you feel most alive in your body these days? 🎾

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