Letting go is not easy. In most of our daily activities we are doing just the opposite. We are working towards a goal. We are trying to strengthen. We are always pushing. In Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Forward Bend), we practice letting go. By lengthening the exhalation we can learn to relax during the […]
6 Reasons to Practice Diaphragmatic Breathing
Deep breathing is one of the easiest ways to improve your quality of life. The average adult uses only one third of their lung capacity. Chronic tension and poor posture also contribute to poor breathing and thus poor health. Many of us come to yoga as what is sometimes termed “chest breathers.” We breathe from […]
6 Ways to Spiritually Rejuvenate Ourselves
photo credit: maiar loves you Thanks so much to Angela for contributing this wonderful guest post and sharing her ideas for creating and following a spiritual path. When I became interested in spiritual growth, I pushed myself in all areas of my life: financial, social, spiritual, health, career/work, etc. I discovered my purpose in life, […]
Bread and Meditation? Finding Your Groove in Unlikely Places
Yesterday, I was chatting with my friend Cameron on Facebook about finding balance. Everyone has their own way finding that pleasing state of equilibrium that makes you feel that things are okay, even if only for now. I mentioned to him that baking bread makes me feel grounded. I always thought that was kind of […]
Nada – The Yoga of Sound
photo credit: shankar, shiv Have you ever felt carried away by a song? Nada yoga is the yoga of sound. A path of exploration of consciousness through sound, Nada Yoga uses music to focus our thoughts and our minds to meditate. The sound can be external (such as music from an instrument or CD) but […]
Make your Next Walk a Meditation
What if each step you took brought you closer to a place of peace and balance? This past weekend, my yoga teacher training group tried a walking meditation. I enjoy going for walks and have always found walking to be meditative, however have never focused on walking as the meditation itself. What is a walking […]
Using Yoga & Breath to Let Go of Tension
We all have activities or things that we find relaxing. However, we need to discriminate between activities that merely distract us from the stress in our lives and the internal awareness nurtured by a yoga practice that invokes a sense of wellbeing. Judith Lasater states in her book, Relax and Renew, that “relaxation is a […]
Too Tired or Too Wired to Sleep – Discover How Yoga Helps you Get a Better Night’s Sleep
We live in a fast paced, technologically driven world. Who hasn’t eaten on the run, worked until 9pm, left their cell phone on 24/7, or neglected their yoga practice? It is amazing that some of us get any sleep at all. Restorative yoga poses can help you sleep better. B.K.S. Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar […]
Pranayama: More Than a Breath of Fresh Air
Pranayama (breath control) is the fourth limb in the eight limbs of yoga. Within Pranayama there are many techniques. Pranayama’s simplest and most beneficial effect on the body is bringing more oxygen into your bloodstream, likely giving it its main healing power. There are, in fact, numerous medical studies that have examined oxygen levels in […]
Three Principles of Yin Yoga Postures
I started a yoga teacher training program in October. At our first meeting, our instructor asked us if there were only one yoga practice that we could do until the end of time what would it be? It was a pretty easy answer for me – Yin Yoga. This is my current yoga addiction, I’m […]