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 heard your yoga teacher mention Ayurveda and not fully understand what they were speaking about? Or maybe some of you may have heard about Ancient Chinese Medicine? Ancient Chinese Medicine is approximately 2,500 years old and included various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage and exercise. Well, Ayurveda greatly influenced Ancient Chinese Medicine. Ayurveda is an Ancient Indian medicine that has been used for thousands of years and is still greatly used today.Ayurveda dates back 5,000 years…
I know, I know. Especially at this time of year with the cold and the dark and the rain…yeah. When 6am rolls around, our yoga mats and a morning yoga practice just don’t sound quite as appealing as our bed. But…it’s worth getting up for. Trust me. And if you need a little convincing, here are our top 5 reasons why starting a yoga practice could be one of the best things you can do for yourself and your day….
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…
They might seem worlds apart, but I think that running and yoga have a really special connection. They both help us move our body in a healthy way, connect deeply to our breath, and find that elusive state of flow. And there are some ways that yoga can make your performance as a runner even better! Let’s check ‘em out. You breathe better As a species, humans have kind of…forgotten how to breathe. It’s sad but it’s true! Notice…
For many people, reading is an integral part of learning about anything we are interested in. I believe every yogi should read the following books to learn more about this practice that we all love. These books are for everyone and not just for those who are doing their yoga teacher training, just click on the pictures for a direct link to buy the books. Light on Yoga, by B.K.S. Iyengar In each chapter, Iyengar digs a little deeper into…
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…
The throat chakra The throat chakra – or Vishuddha – is home to our communication – both speaking and listening – and self-expression. It extends from our throat to include our neck, jaw muscles, and thyroid, and physical ailments in these areas can be the result of a blocked throat chakra. When our throat chakra is blocked, we find it difficult to speak our truth, maybe out of fear. We also have a harder time actually realising what our truth even is….
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…
When it comes to trying out your first yoga class, not knowing what to expect, what to wear, or what to do can be a bit nerve-wracking. But never fear! We’re here to guide you through our top 10 tips that will help you get the most out of your class, and go in feeling confident and excited. And leave feeling better than ever! First things first. Say hello! On your first class, it’s important that the teacher knows that…
