yoga-basics

[yoga-basics]

Meditating With Eyes Open or Closed: Pros, Cons and Techniques

There is a lot to figure out when just starting meditation: What technique should you try, how long should you sit, and how should you breathe? An overlooked yet important question is “should I meditate with my eyes open or closed?” There’s no correct answer—both methods have their own pros and cons. But how you use your eyes has a big impact on your meditation. Learning about the benefits and…

[yoga-basics]

10 Reasons to Try Blindfold Meditation

Have you ever settled into your meditation cushion, closed your eyes, connected with your breath, and still felt… distracted? Just a subtle awareness of light through our eyelids can let a whisper of the outside world creep in. This can be just enough of a disturbance to keep the mind tethered to the external and prevent one from going into a deep state of meditation. A simple solution is to use…

[yoga-basics]

Chair Yoga: Definition, Benefits, and Tips

When people think of yoga, they usually don’t imaging people practicing weird shapes on a chair. But by using a simple chair as both support and prop allows one to access the great benefits of yoga—improved flexibility, strength, health, balance, and calm—no matter your age, fitness level, or physical ability. What is Chair Yoga? Chair yoga is a form of traditional hatha yoga that uses a chair as…

[yoga-basics]

Why Practice Yoga?

After thousands of studies and decades of scientific research, we have learned how wonderful yoga is at healing the body as well as promoting mental and emotional health and wellness. But if you’re new or curious about the practice, you might be wondering, “how exactly is yoga good for you? And why should you consider practicing these techniques?” Finding a reason to practice is important. It can…

[yoga-basics]

Walking Yoga: Definition, Benefits and Pro Tips

One of my earliest experiences as a yoga instructor was at a cozy health spa in the Catskills, where I led a guided group walking yoga class. It was a fun and playful experience for the guests, and provided an opportunity to practice a bit of yoga outdoors. It’s exciting to see how this exercise fusion is now catching on after my experience many decades ago. What is Walking yoga? Walking yoga is…

[yoga-basics]

9 New Year Yoga Class Themes

​The beginning of a New Year naturally primes yoga students to be receptive and open to inspiration, change and exploring their inner landscape. Yoga class themes, when carefully crafted and implemented, can be a conduit for inquiry, growth, reflection, transformation, and vulnerability. Yoga’s mindful breathwork and movement provide a potent platform to reflect on one’s journey and set…

[yoga-basics]

10 Ways Somatic Yoga Benefits the Mind and Body

Somatic yoga seamlessly merges traditional yoga with gentle somatic movements, providing a multitude of benefits for the body, heart, and mind. This practice is especially helpful for those on the road to healing, thanks to its gentle, soothing, mindful, and introspective qualities. If you find most yoga classes too challenging or overwhelming, you may want to explore how somatic yoga practices…

[yoga-basics]

Somatic Yoga: Definition, Core Principles, and Techniques

What does it mean to truly inhabit your body? To be fully present in the here and now, to feel every heartbeat, every breath, and every sensation that arises within you? This is the essence of Somatic Yoga—a practice that integrates mindfulness, movement, and awareness to promote physical and emotional healing. Even if this style is not your cup of tea, incorporating some of its principles and…

[yoga-basics]

Number Chakra Name (English) Chakra Name (Sanskrit) Color Properties Location 1 Root Muladhara Red Grounding, stability, security Base of the spine 2 Sacral Svadhishthana Orange Creativity, passion,​ sexuality Lower abdomen, below the navel 3 Solar Plexus Manipura Yellow Personal power, confidence, will Upper abdomen, below the chest 4 Heart Anahata Green Love, compassion, harmony Center of…

[yoga-basics]

Yoga Sutra 1.1: Atha Yoga Anushasanam

The phrase “be here now” is encapsulated in the opening aphorism of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: “Atha yoga anushasanam.” The word “atha” signifies a moment of readiness and intention—inviting the reader to be fully in the present moment to begin the study and practice of yoga. While this sutra is simple and straightforward, it’s an important call to action that frames the entire discourse of…

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Yoga Sutra 1.14: Creating Dedication, Depth, and Devotion

The ancient sage Patanjali revealed in his yoga sutras how we can still the thoughts in the mind. His formula for inner peace is simple and straightforward—a sustained meditation practice that contains dedication, depth and devotion—yet the application of Sutra 1.14 requires patience, perseverance, and a heartfelt commitment. What Does Yoga Sutra 1.14 Mean? This Sanskrit sutra “Sa tu…

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Yoga Sutra 1.3: Realization of Our True Nature

Beneath the layers of distractions and the relentless noise of our thoughts lies the core of who we really are. Patanjali’s third Yoga Sutra encourages us to strip away these layers, revealing the brilliant gem of our true selves—a stillness, a purity, a radiant essence that is eternally unchanging. This sutra serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path toward self-realization and inner…

[yoga-basics]

AI Chakra Coach

Find inner balance with our AI Chakra Coach! Whether you’re facing personal challenges or just want to recharge your energy, this revolutionary tool can provide simple and actionable tips to help realign your out-of-balance chakras. From meditation techniques to breathwork exercises, our Coach provides a variety of strategies to help you bring harmony back into your life with a personalized…

[yoga-basics]

AI Guided Meditation Script Creator

Our Guided Meditation Script Creator is an AI tool designed to help you craft personalized meditation experiences. It uses advanced technology to understand your preferences, goals, and experience level, generating a guided meditation script tailored just for you. For meditation instructors, this tool is incredibly useful. It allows you to quickly develop themed meditation sessions for your…

[yoga-basics]

AI Yoga Practice Guide Generator

An AI Yoga Practice Guide Generator is a digital tool designed to help yogis create personalized practice plans. It uses artificial intelligence to assess an individual’s skill level, preferences, and specific goals. By analyzing this information, our generator creates a 7-day practice guide that includes a variety of poses, breathwork, meditations, and journal prompts tailored to your specific…

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Yoga for Courage: Top Poses, Practices and Philosophy

Every time we step onto the mat, we face the physical limits of our bodies, but we also bump into the emotional and psychological hurdles that keep us from attaining our fullest potential. Through asanas, breathwork, and the wisdom of yoga philosophy, we can develop potent tools to foster resilience, determination, bravery, and perseverance. Each moment we push against our boundaries—whether by…

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13 Awesome Yoga Poses for Autumn

As summer’s vibrant energy and warmth gradually fade, autumn beckons us to slow down and reflect. This season invites us to notice the shifts in the external world and our internal landscape of thoughts and feelings. Autumn is a time for grounding, renewal, and letting go. Just as leaves fall from trees, we too can release what no longer serves us, creating space for new beginnings and deeper…