What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘yogi’? Maybe it’s someone wearing mala beads around their neck, permanently smelling of incense. Maybe it’s someone wearing very fancy yoga pants and drinking a green juice. Or maybe it’s someone who ends every social interaction with a very calm and serene ‘namaste‘. Okay, these stereotypes might exist for a reason – and there’s nothing wrong with them! But it’s important to know that yoga is for everyone, even if you…
Release expectation. One of the best things about yoga is that there are no goals. I know, this might sound like a crazy concept, but it’s true! There is actually no need to ever have a goal in your yoga practice. You can, if you find it beneficial, but the whole point of yoga is to be aware. Being aware can happen at any level, on any day, during any kind of practice. Being aware and being compassionate with yourself,…
”Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are.” ~ Jason Crandell “Yoga takes you into the present moment, the only place where life exists.” ~ Unknown ”Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.” ~ Eckhart Tolle “Yoga is not just repetition of a few postures — it is more about the exploration and discovery of the…
On the last day of 2017, I read that 2018 is the year of spiritual awakening and transformation for many people. It’s an exciting time and we want to help you through it, so below we have listed some of the most common signs that deep transformation and spiritual awakening is happening in your life. Your Belief Systems Have Evolved This has happened for me, especially through practicing yoga and meditation daily. Yoga and meditation can be huge stepping stones…
1 – Be Kind. In the yogic tradition, being kind (a.k.a. ahimsa) is the first of the cardinal virtues. Being kind is something that we often think we understand, but it can be easily missed in practice. For instance, being kind isn’t just about being nice to other people. It’s about being nice to ourselves. How often do we give ourselves a much harder time than we’d give others? This year, make a point to be loving and understanding in…
During this time of the year, I often have students asking me how they can keep up a practice over the holidays. Some might find it hard to get the motivation, while others might not have the time. Whatever your plans are for the holidays, there are a few helpful things to remember when keeping up your yoga. You don’t have to prepare. Sometimes “planning” for your own yoga practice means setting a space, getting a mat, putting on the…
Whether the end of the year for you means planning and preparing for celebrations, or if it’s simply a time to wind things down, it’s always good to check your to-do list and see where you can add mindful practices. Be present. If a lot of your energy is focused on purchasing presents, take time to Be Present too. Reach out. Whichever way you spend your winter months, it’s always a good time at the turning of the year to…
We hear the word “mindfulness” all the time these days. For some people it’s a daily practice, and for others it’s on the to-do list. Here are a few beginner’s tips to remember when it comes to mindfulness: Start small. Sometimes all it takes to be mindful is to direct your attention from something big towards something small. The next time you’re consuming information, whether it be from a screen, or a tv, or anything else that feeds information to…
