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Tapas: Stoking the Inner Fire
Tapas is one of the five niyamas of yoga, or moral disciplines that guide yogis in their daily practice. Translated to english, Tapas means to heat or shine. Not to be confused with agni, which is often used to describe the fire of purification created through the yoga practice (and also the name of the Hindu God of fire). Instead, tapas is the act of building the inner fire, it is a process of self discipline that ultimately leads to change. Tapas in the Physical Practice of Yoga Practicing the yoga postures is one of the easiest ways to feel tapas in action. While there are some styles of yoga that are cooling,…
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The 5 Yoga Yamas: Yoga Philosophy and the Eight-Limbed Path
This post contains affiliate links, reash disclaimer for more info. I recently wrote a post about the eight-limbed path and the yoga philosophy. Traditionally the first limb taught to students is the yamas. In today’s day and age, yoga has become more of a mainstream exercise than a truly spiritual practice. This means philosophies such as the yamas and eight-limbed path often get overlooked. While I’m not here to get into the debate of “what is yoga,” I do want to share the philosophies of the practice so we can have a deeper understanding of its purpose in our lives. If you haven’t checked out my post about the eight-limbed path I recommend…
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Chitta Vritti, Thoughtlessness, and the Mind.
I’ve written about mindfulness and meditation a few times before on my blog, but meditation is such a diverse topic. I find I am constantly discovering more and more about the practice, and I’m always excited to share what I’ve learned! Something I have been exploring lately is the idea of Chitta Vritti, often translated to mind chatter, or monkey brain. I would say most people experience this mind chatter regularly in their everyday lives. It’s hard not to when we live in such a sensory-driven society. While having thoughts is totally normal, why is it that we try to suppress them when we meditate? This idea of having absolutely no thoughts when…
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What Alternate Nostril Breathing Does For Your Brain And Body
This post contains affiliate links, for more info read disclaimer Alternate nostril breathing, or Nadi Shodhana, is a Pranayama breath technique practiced in yoga. Pranayama is the art of breath retention and is a practice passed down from teacher to student when the student’s body and mind are ready. The technique of Nadi Shodhana is usually done before or after practicing the asana, or yoga postures. The Pranayama technique can also be practiced on its own as a form of meditation and cleansing. Traditionally, Pranayama is taught after a practitioner has learned the philosophies of the yoga practice. Having a preestablished asana routine is also a prerequisite to learning Pranayama. This is because…
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How To Balance Your Root Chakra: Muladhara
How to move into the first chakra, find your grounding, and build stability for the remaining chakra centers. If you checked out my post last week then you know I’ve got a little theme going. Last week I talked about the first chakra and how it correlates to your energetic wellbeing. This week, instead of diving into the second chakra, I wanted to share how you can balance out the energy of your root chakra or, muladhara. Root Chakra Review The root chakra is crucial to finding balance overall in the chakra system. So it’s important to understand how to tap into its energy. No, you don’t have to be a yoga guru to do…
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7 Yoga Books for Teachers and Practitioners
One of my favorite parts of my teacher training experience was rediscovering my love for reading. I’ve always enjoyed reading but forgot how much as I grew older. Recently, I’ve been reading about ten books at a time and scribbling notes in every single one of them. Here are five yoga books that I recommend for teachers and students alike! Mindfulness in Plain English This book is a great introductory read for those seeking to learn more about yoga and meditation. Mindfulness in Plain English offers a practical approach to mindfulness and meditation for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. It is an excellent reminder of how you can live intentionally off your yoga…
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5 Tips for New Yoga Students
Being a new student on your yoga mat is intimidating, but we’ve all been there. Don’t let your fear of judgment or lack of flexibility keep you from going to the studio to practice. Most of your fellow students in the room will be too wrapped up in their own practice to worry about yours. If you’re still a little hesitant though, Don’t worry – here are five tips for your first yoga class! 1. Do your research on each yoga class there are many styles of yoga, each with their own benefits. When you first start your yoga, look into multiple styles of practice to see what fits your needs. Do you…
