Hip openers tend to be both very challenging, but also very loved in a yoga practice. Even when they feel somewhat uncomfortable, pretty much everyone who keeps up a continuous practice grows to love them. So what is it? What is that strange mixture of unease and wonderful release in hip openers? 1 – Releasing Stress – One of the main benefits of hip openers is stretching and strengthening muscles that are directly connected to our stress response. One muscle…
You know it well. For some of you, it’s your favourite part of a yoga class. It’s that super delicious time at the end of a practice when you lay on your back and drift into nothing-ness. Time for Savasana. The word Savasana is actually 2 Sanskrit words, Sava and Asana. Sava translates as “corpse” and Asana translates as “pose”. So, at the end of a class, when you’re ready to completely let go and do blissful nothing, you are in a “corpse pose”. The purpose…
While a yoga practice can often be thought of as relaxing, flowing, and meditative, it can also be a great way activate your energy, feel revitalised, and create a FIRE within you. For days when you want to tap in to your vibrant life force, check out a few of the following ways of bringing the element of fire into your practice. 1 – Wear the colour red or yellow. While (according to the chakra map) the colour red is…
1 – Being barefoot 2 – The yummy feeling after Savasana when you slowly roll over 3 – That yoga “glow” 4 – Wrapping up in blankets 5 – Laughing mid-pose 6 – That burst of joy when you arrive in a challenging asana for the first time 7 – Practicing with your favourite songs, or to the sound of your own breath 8 – Messy hair 9 – Feeling your own heartbeat 10 – Falling in love with yourself
I remember when I was a beginner at practicing yoga. It was about 10 years ago. I had been to a few classes over the course of a year and it was by no means consistent. I was interested in continuing, but there was something about it that felt daunting. How was I ever going to remember all those poses? How could I get to a point where I could count my breaths on my own? And what’s with all those…
Restorative classes and restorative poses have a reputation for being so yummy. They’re like the dessert of yoga. It sometimes makes you wonder: Can something that feels so nice be good for you? Here are a few practical examples of how a restorative practice can benefit you mentally, emotionally, and physiologically. 1 Repairs the body and nervous system. The beautiful slow-motion pace of a restorative practice, coupled with an intimate experience with the breath, can help to drop us drop…
More about Sylvia: SylviaYoga.com What is your yoga story? Yoga and I did not become best friends right away! It look me a while to tune into her quieter, stronger voice. I found yoga in my early twenties having come from a background of lifting weights and running, pushing hard through life. I was intrigued right away but until I experienced Yoga Nidra I didn’t really ‘get it’. After that I knew I was learning simply to relax, over and over…
It’s been a while since we shared some of our favourite songs to yoga to. Check out our new list on our YogaHub Spotify account! YH Teacher Tunes IV Barbara – “Baba Hanuman” by Shantala Brian – “I Didn’t Mean To Hurt You” by Spiritualized Brian Malone – “Blue Sky” by Gyvus Casey – “Makambo” by Geoffry Oryema Rachelle – “Bo’ee” by The Idan Raichel Project Sinead – “Human” by Rag’n’Bone Man Sylvia – “Sarvesham” by Jack Harrison
You may have heard your yoga teacher allude to the idea of how your practice can translate off the mat, in your daily life. Whether it’s through meditation, breathing, an asana, or a yogic yama or niyama, there are many ways this can happen. Here are a few examples of how some of your most practiced asanas can translate off the mat: Tadasana: Mountain Pose This pose may seem like you’re not doing much, but it’s actually one of the…
www.JulieBYoga.com My Yoga story I reluctantly stepped onto a yoga mat for the first time 10 years ago. At the time I didn’t really know much about yoga. From what I did know, I had a feeling it wouldn’t be for me. I don’t often admit it, but this is one time I am very happy to say–I was very wrong. From that first yoga class I knew yoga was something that would be a huge part of my life….
