Once in a while you come across something so different and cool that you want to tell everyone you know about it. This (or “these”, really) is one of those things.
I’ve always appreciated the quality of Vibram shoe soles. In fact, my Merrell hiking boots are made with them and the traction is Continue reading
Winter is here, and while I like to keep my yoga warm and cozy, for you brave souls out there who are invigorated by the cold, here’s some inspiration. We give you “snow-ga” (along with a little bit of cuteness)!
Is running part of your physical fitness routine? Maybe you do an occasional 10k fundraiser road race? Or perhaps you’re even training for a marathon?
Whether you are a light jogger a triathlete, if you go out and pound your feet to the ground for any length of time, you might also want to Continue reading
September is National Yoga Month and to help celebrate celebrate, the Yoga Health Foundation is offering one free week of yoga to new students at 1600 participating studios in the US! You don’t have to be new to yoga (but it’s cool if you are), you just have to be new to the participating studio.
What’s extra nice is that even though September is National Yoga Month, you have until October 30 to redeem your free week of yoga. You can find out more details at the Yoga Health Foundation’s website.
What a great way to start the fall season!
Often the difficulty we have in trying to meditate is when we are attempting to concentrate on not concentrating on anything at all. It’s a conundrum that leads us in circles. It can be especially frustrating when it’s our restless “monkey mind” that we are trying to relax in the first place.
Thankfully, sometimes in life things can be a lot simpler than we think. And meditation is one of those things.
As Tibetan Buddhist master Mingyur Rinpoche explains, instead of trying hard to focus on getting rid of all your mental chatter, all you have to do is to give your monkey mind one simple job…focus on breathing:
What’s equally as helpful to know is that you don’t have to be in sacred spaces or attend any special classes to meditate. You can meditate just about anytime, anywhere, for as little time as you want.
So take a breath, and relax, even for a few moments if that’s all you can spare. It can really provide some rest to your mind that it so very well needs and deserves, and in turn improve your overall happiness.
I recently read an article where a New York Times writer remarks on how yoga typically gives her anxiety because she wonders how long she has to stay in position before she can check her twitter feed. It occurred to me that she’s exactly the type of person that would reap some of yoga’s greatest benefits.
One side bonus of practicing yoga is being away from all external demands, all distractions, all social media. Sure, many of us rely on staying as connected as possible for our work. But if we’re not dealing with a life and death situation, it would help us a great deal if we allow ourselves to unplug for at least Continue reading
Did you know that relaxation response techniques can greatly reduce health care costs? According to recent a study by Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, regular practice of yoga and meditation can reduce the need for health care services by 43%.
According to the Harvard University Gazette, “The paper’s authors noted that stress-related illnesses, such as Continue reading
It has been said that “you are as young as your spine is flexible”. I believe there is a lot of truth to that. In yoga, the Cobra pose, also known as Bhujangasana, can help keep your spine youthful and flexible.
There are other numerous, wonderful benefits of the Cobra pose. It can help your digestive tract by stimulating your digestive organs. It helps to open up your chest, improving your breathing.
The Cobra pose also will help tone and firm the muscles in your upper arms, your chest your abdomen and buttocks. Performing the Cobra is also Continue reading
Have you ever tried meditation with your pet? Taking a few minutes a day to sit quietly with them may not only improve your practice and its rewards, but it may also help calm energetic pets.
Choosing to meditate with your pet can also give you extra motivation if you seem to have difficulty getting yourself to sit still. Animals have a natural way of living in the moment. And it’s a great way to spend quality time bonding with your furry friend.
Let us know if you’ve benefited from meditation with your pet!
People often ask us “what’s a good yoga mat for hot yoga?”. There are a number of options, and much of “what is good” depends on personal preferences. But the main thing you want to look for is a mat that has a good grip when wet (or you could use a yoga mat towel over an all purpose mat).
There are indeed mats that are made especially for hot yoga. We recently tried out the Combo Mat by Yoga Design Lab and it really fits the bill. Even better, Yoga Design Lab is a company that prides itself on “blending fashion-forward design elements with innovative functionality and bio-renewable consciousness.”
First off, the company has definitely earned the right to have “design” in its name, as the mats themselves are quite aesthetically pleasing. These are some of the most Continue reading
