You hear it after every yoga class. You might even say it. But do you know what it means? Namaste is a Sanskrit word which literally translates to “Salutation To You,” or an elaborated version, “The Divine In Me Bows To The Divine In You.” In its essence, it is a salutation. An acknowledgement of another. But it goes even deeper than that. Namaste is more than just saying “hello”. When someone says Namaste, the word itself carries the vibration of…
The heart chakra is the space of love. This is where you nurture, where you practice compassion, where you give and receive. While there are many physical ways to open the heart chakra in a yoga class, there are many other ways you can nurture and treat your heart off the mat. Practice heart-centred breathing. Be aware of the breath in your chest. Imagine that every breath you take is massaging the space around your heart. Take 5 full breaths…
Have you ever had a particularly crazy day when yoga saved your sanity? Here are a couple of examples we can remember and relate to when things get a bit wild. Those days when your balance is off. Even standing on your own two feet feels a bit strange and curious. You might find that yoga saves the day by bringing you back into balance… or even better, you might find a space to laugh with yourself as your poise…
I love simple daily tasks. Those small rituals that sometimes go unnoticed. The process of making coffee. The feeling of a shower. Looking out the window before leaving my home to see what the sky looks like. Putting exactly enough laundry detergent in the washer. Eating just the right amount for lunch. Putting one foot in front of the other as I walk down the street. Putting on the most comfortable clothes when I come home at the end of the…
Whether you’re on one foot, one hand, or just standing in a Warrior pose, balance is an element that we should all incorporate in our practice. Below are a few tips for maintaining strength and ease as you balance in your asanas. 1 – Drishti, or in English, the “focused gaze”. We spoke more about this in our past Drishti post which you can see in our blog archives. Put simply, it means focusing your eyes on one point. It’s very easy…
Whether you have your own personal practice, or you only do yoga in a group, there are a few ways you can find grounding in any type of practice, on any kind of day. Slow your breath. Take slower, deeper, longer breaths. Take care not to exaggerate the breath, but deepen it by breathing in for just 1 or 2 seconds longer, and breathing out for 1 or 2 seconds longer. Keep this deep breathing awareness when you’re still and…
As the weather sets in for autumn, you may notice your body and your mind being swept up with the change. After an active summer, it may be hard to slow down to the pace of autumn. As the late sunny nights of summer die off, the feeling in the air is more of introspection and getting cosy and snug indoors. Check out the following poses for helping to stay grounded and joyful through the transition: Cow Face Pose –…
There are so many people who start yoga with the intention of gaining flexibility. While this is a huge benefit from keeping a consistent yoga practice, it’s not the only thing thing that your body will gain from learning asanas and yoga sequences. Would you believe that, in terms of keeping a sustainable, healthy yoga practice, strength building is equally as important as gaining flexibility? There is a saying from a book written more than 1,700 years ago in regards…
It’s been a while since we published a new YogaHub Teachers’ playlist. We hope you’ve enjoyed listening to our past playlists, I, II, III, and IV. And now, with 2 new studios and a few new teachers, we’re ready for some new tunes. Check out the songs below and have a listen on our Spotify playlist. Aisling Milne – “Oxide” Niklas Aman Art – “Things Left Unsaid” Pink Floyd Brian – “Elegia” New Order Casey – “Om Namo Narayani” Edo…
I was speaking with a friend the other day about a situation that was bringing up a lot of anxiety. After a while, we both started to laugh about where the present moment was when this seemingly so problem felt so big. I think we all have these times. On occasion, the present moment seems totally there–maybe while you’re in your yoga class, or while you’re having fun talking to a friend, or doing an activity you really enjoy. But other…
