If youâre new to yoga and joining mixed level classes with more experienced yogis, itâs normal to feel unsure of some of the postures when a teacher cues them to the class. Here’s a cheatsheet with 3 commonly used yoga cues and how I interpret them. Chaturanga In flow classes, youâll usually have a lot of âchaturangasâ. This is when you flow down from a plank position to slowly lower your body to the mat on the exhale. Keep your…
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves–slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.” Thich Nhat Hanh “The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” Jon Kabat-Zinn âThe moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a…
Have you heard your yoga teacher mention Ujjayi breath in class, but you haven’t been sure exactly what they’re talking about? Never fear – we’re here to break it down for you đ What it is Ujjayi breath – which translates as Victorious Breath – is a specific way of breathing that warms your entire body and helps you to connect more deeply with your physical yoga practice. How to do it To utilise Ujjayi breath, you need to create a…
We all hear the teacher tell us to inhale, and to exhale, and we follow along. We then get to a standing posture, or a challenging posture – and what do we do? We stop breathing. Whether itâs holding our breath or going back to shallow breathing, we lose the rhythm of the breath that we had at the start of class. So whatâs all the fuss about? What differentiates yoga asana from most other forms of physical activity is…
It’s all about the love this time of the year. Whether it’s for your partner, pet, best friend, or just yourself, it always feels good to sink in to that lovin’ feeling. There’s an amazing meditation that is a great way to tap into that open heart space. It’s called Metta Bhavana, and it translates to “loving kindness”. There are a couple of stages, but the great thing is that you can do it anywhere! Stage 1 : For Yourself….
Hi Yogis! It’s the month of all things L-O-V-E – And we’re here to give you some tips on tending to the most important relationship in your life – the one you have with yourself! (Cheesy, I know, but hey. It’s Valentine’s day.) Why not devote this Valentine’s Day to self-love, self-care, and doing all the things that YOU really love? Here are our favourite ways to practice self-love. Treat yo’self! Take a leaf out of Donna and Tom’s book…
Anxiety. Weâve all been there – sweaty palms, racing thoughts, quickened heartbeat. Anxiety can strike before a big presentation, an important meeting or a first date. Or sometimes it can creep up on you when youâre tired or under-slept. When it surfaces, anxiety can rob you of the joy of the moment, and it can zap your energy. So hereâs one simple, discrete yoga pose to have in your âyoga tool beltâ when anxiety strikes, depending on where and when you…
Go for a tech-free walk. Spend some time in nature without any technology on your body. See how it feels to go even just 15 minutes without a phone to reach for! Enjoy daily tasks. Be aware when you’re doing things like brushing your teeth, making dinner, putting on the wash. Let yourself experience the task, rather than just hurrying to finish it. Have a long chat with a friend. Spend some time with someone and be present. Be a…
Not to sound too much like your mother…but good posture is so, so important! And a lot of us (myself included) spend too much time on autopilot – which usually involves slouching, hunching, and generally not being too kind to our spines. Good posture helps us feel confident, look taller and slimmer, and is way better for our bodies in the long run. Luckily, yoga’s an amazing tool to help you improve your posture, and we’ve compiled our top 5 poses…
Downward facing dog is one of the most common yoga poses, and it would be pretty rare to have a class without it, for many reasons. Itâs one of the best overall body stretches you can do, as well as strengthening key muscle groups, and helping to reduce stress and anxiety. So if youâve been doing yoga for more than 10 minutes of your life, more than likely youâve been told to ârelax back into downdog.â However, when I started…
