Summer is here in all its glory, and where I live, we’re not likely to see temperatures below 90 degrees Fahrenheit anytime soon. This of course gives me yet another excuse to avoid physical exertion, including my yoga practice. Sound familiar? Thankfully, the yogic sages also contended with sweltering days, and their wisdom has giftedContinue reading “Breathing Techniques for Hot Weather”
Tag Archives: Pranayama
A Fresh Look at the Eight-Limbed Path
Can you see the progression from one limb to the next? All eight are important to our personal and planetary development.
Nadi Shodhana
While I may believe that my life is stressful, I can agree that it pales in comparison to Hillary Clinton’s. And yet, the two of us have something in common – apparently, Clinton uses Nadi Shodhana pranayama. In an article for CNN Health, she is quoted as saying: “You breathe through one (nostril), and youContinue reading “Nadi Shodhana”
Book Review: How to Relax
Yes, it’s true – we no longer remember how to relax and renew instinctively. I’ll spare you the diatribe on our rushed, always-having-to-accomplish-something-and-never-stopping-to-enjoy-life culture, because I too find myself sinking into a morass of to-do lists and guilt whenever I slow down. Thankfully, I have my yoga path to remind me that there are otherContinue reading “Book Review: How to Relax”
In Defense of Sound Bathing
It sounds so wavy-gravy, doesn’t it? The act of lying on one’s back in Savasana, listening to singing bowls, bells, or gongs is definitely not mainstream. A friend refers to the practice as “listening to the air conditioner”. Whatever. While the “music” is definitely an acquired taste, sound bathing is sound complementary medicine. I perusedContinue reading “In Defense of Sound Bathing”
A Yoga Practice for Anahata Chakra
Our heart chakra, named Anahata in Sanskrit and located eponymously, helps us to deal with relational issues. Especially during crises, we can benefit from a heart chakra practice to connect ourselves to others, to nature, to the entire world, or to ourselves. How? By warming up before practicing backbends, also known as heart openers. ManyContinue reading “A Yoga Practice for Anahata Chakra”
Re-Rail A De-Railed Yoga Practice
Like so many things about yoga, what we do on the mat is a microcosm of what we do off of it. In the big bad world out there, no one really cares that we can stand on one leg and balance into Warrior III, but everyone would agree that being able to fall safelyContinue reading “Re-Rail A De-Railed Yoga Practice”
Human Anatomy and Yoga
This week, I’ve been attending on-line continuing education, which is required of Yoga Alliance members. I’m definitely not complaining — I think it’s important for teachers to be lifelong learners and to model that thirst for knowledge which improves practice. The organization divides training into several different areas: Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics, Techniques, Training, andContinue reading “Human Anatomy and Yoga”
Lion’s Breath
Lighten up and relieve stress with this pranayama exercise! While yoga is important, it doesn’t have to be mind-numbingly serious. In fact, too much emphasis on perfection – whether it be alignment, time spent in meditation, or fail-free adherence to the eight limbs of the yogic philosophy – can add rather than reduce our levelContinue reading “Lion’s Breath”
Asthma, Yoga, and Children
Within the past few decades, there has been an uptick in the number of people diagnosed with asthma. At the same time, there has been renewed interest in yoga as complementary medicine for all sorts of various ailments. It stands to reason, then, that researchers would begin to focus on this intersection, and that studiesContinue reading “Asthma, Yoga, and Children”
Yoga Cielo Stellato 