Yoga

Yoga

This week's practice invites us to soften, unclench, and let go - not by forcing release, but by creating the space for it to arrive naturally. As we move toward Pigeon Pose, we'll explore the hips and heart with mindful intention, offering ourselves permission to release tension and get rid of anything that doesn't contribute to our peace of mind. Let your breath be the gas to power the vehicle (your body) that moves you.

When temperatures drop, we cover ourselves with puffy jackets, burrow underneath blankets, and keep an endless supply of warm tea on standby. Maybe yoga is the last thing on your mind (especially when it involves abandoning your protective layers). But unlike the temporary fixes that you reach for when you're feeling chilly, yoga generates warmth from the inside out. These static and dynamic postures are sorta like your body's personal space heater that you can turn on whenever you need it.

To get a better understanding of how structured breathing patterns can reshape both body and mind, let's delve into the science behind Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (also known as SKY Breath). From nervous system regulation to hormonal balance and brainwave modulation, we'll unravel the physiological mechanisms that explain how targeted breathwork can transform physical and mental health. Modern life bombards us with stressors-tight deadlines, endless notifications, and constant stimulation-that keep our stress response perpetually activated.

The upcoming new Moon takes place in the expansive realm of Sagittarius. Ruled by fire and Jupiter, Sagittarius embodies the spirit of the eternal student, philosopher, and adventurer. This sign teaches us that life is one continuous learning experience, with every person we meet serving as a teacher and every situation we encounter offering wisdom. Sagittarius sparks a fire within us to explore our horizons, broaden our perspectives, and find meaning in our every experience.

Thailand is now one of the top places in the world for yoga retreats. It offers ancient wellness traditions along with tropical beauty, warm hospitality, and modern comforts. A yoga retreat in Thailand offers the perfect balance of relaxation, self-care, cultural exploration, and mindful living. Whether you are new or experienced, Thailand is a great place to refresh your body, relax your mind, and reconnect with yourself.

While this asana (pose) appears to be a simple forward bend, Paschimottanasana (Sanskrit for intensive stretch to the West or back of the body) is the most difficult forward bend for most students to practice correctly. What makes the pose so difficult is that the hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh must lengthen in order for the pelvis to rotate forward. This allows the spinal column to remain relatively straight while bending forward.

Have you ever struggled to feel warm in cold weather, even when bundled up? Maybe you've wondered how that's even possible-after all, how can you be cold when you're wearing seven layers? But when temperatures drop, it's not just the world around you that cools down. During the winter, your circulation slows down and blood flow diverts from your extremities to protect your core. That's why your hands and feet often feel icy even when you're wearing cozy clothes.

This pose offers the benefits of inversions, such as increased circulation to the upper body. Like the other classical inverted poses of Sirsasana (Headstand) and Sarvangasana ( Shoulderstand), it also teaches the student poise. The nervous system controls movement through learned patterns in which groups of muscles and joints act habitually to produce desired results. In turn, this movement produces feedback, which informs the nervous system where one is in space in relation to gravity.

The breath plays an important part here. If the breath is held, a hardness pervades the abdomen and disallows what Iyengar considers the full benefits to the internal organs. It is therefore important to keep the abdomen as relaxed as possible, and the breath moving and soft. Although it is difficult to breathe as deeply when in the pose as you might if you were just sitting, the breath nonetheless should be as relaxed as possible.

Over time, though, Chaturanga has become a great friend and teacher, helping me to develop the strength and stability that once seemed elusive and imprint actions and principles that serve throughout my practice. The pose is challenging for many students, but its payoffs are great: It strengthens the arms and legs, tones the abdominals, builds healthy shoulders, and prepares students for arm balances, inversions, and backbends.

As early as 2015, a conference at Harvard Medical School examined links between fascia, acupuncture and oncology; the lectures remain available online and underline how much more we need to understand about fascia's role in medicine. Manual therapists have long recognised the importance of working with fascia. Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, stressed its significance, and newer approaches such as the Bowen technique aim to improve hydration, proprioception and flexibility by engaging fascia gently but directly.

What's especially helpful about these is that you can incorporate them into your existing yoga practice or gym workout. They also bring a surprise factor in that they're not things that you might normally think to try on your mat. Even better, it's not an entire 30-minute strength conditioning workout. It's simple drills you can rely on every single day to strengthen your shoulders.

Even now, just the word "loneliness" can trigger the emotion-part melancholy and part loss-of those days. It was only after I had been doing spiritual practice for quite some time that I began to see that the emotion of loneliness is not just personal. Like anger and fear, loneliness is one of those universal, primal emotions, a groove in humanity's subconscious.

Venus is love, beauty, worth, abundance, magnetism, and balance. She is connection, art, value, and creativity. Each time Venus shifts into a new sign, we are brought a different experience of our worthiness. It's an invitation to embody it in a different way, to meet any spaces that question it, and explore renewed trust in our desires. Venus reminds us that life can be beautiful, that our body is art, our desires are maps, and our value is unquestionable.

On the second day of a workshop I'm teaching, called The Art of Letting Go, I've planned a discussion of the yogic practice of releasing our tendency to over-control situations. My intention is that people will recognize how much pain they create when they try to control every little thing in their lives-and that they learn how to let go.

A decade ago, it seemed as though the high-tech smart yoga mat revolution was poised to arrive. The TERA Mat, the Glow Mat, and the SmartMat were widely anticipated and rumored to change the game with embedded lights designed to indicate "proper" alignment. The same benefits one could get from a yoga teacher were purportedly reduced to pressure sensors and LEDs.

As defined by brands and advertisers, the holidays mean socializing, decorating, gift buying, cooking, traveling, and forced socializing. For many of us, that feels like barely contained chaos. Yes, it can be lovely to partake in the spirit of giving and gratitude and all that comes with it. But it's entirely too easy, amid the endless tasks and commitments, to lose yourself and forget about the things that keep you grounded.

The best part about reading? No matter what type of book you choose, it inevitably helps you escape life for a little while also bringing you a more sharpened understanding of your existence. Whether you're looking to lose or find yourself, books are typically the answer. And our best books of 2025 definitely deliver. Following are the titles that we found difficult to put down throughout the last 12 months. Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, flip your perspective, enhance your awareness of self and others, or simply bust yourself out of a rut, the following are our recommendations, in no particular order.

Over the last decade, astrology has gone mainstream in a major way. It seems like every brand wants to offer you something-a coffee, a book recommendation, a t-shirt-based on your personal astrology. Because of this, whether you live in accordance with astrology or are only semi-aware of it, chances are you at least know your zodiac sign. ...or do you? Your birthday dictates your Sun sign. Adding birth location and time into the mix is enough to create an entire birth chart (a snapshot of the placement of the stars and planets the moment you came into the world and of your personality as a whole). But it turns out that different traditions assign these signs in different ways-meaning the zodiac symbol you identify with may not be your only (or even true) Sun sign.

A family's strength lies in how much they trust each other, but it depends on how that said trust is built. That's where the fun yet relaxing activity enters the household: family yoga poses! Yoga isn't just about perfect poses or fancy flexibility; it's about feeling connected. The moments shared as a family - that's the magic of family yoga poses!

From kit that makes you want to workout to tools that help tired muscles afterwards, read on for all the present inspiration you need. The best gifts for fitness fans Brain fuel More Fuel You by Renee McGregor 13.46 at the Guardian Bookshop 9.33 at Amazon Eryn Barber, a running, strength and conditioning coach, says: This book is a great way for recreational athletes to learn about nutrition for running and endurance. Renee has a lot of clinical experience working with endurance athletes.

In Indian philosophy, few concepts are as profound and transformative as Maya. Often translated as "illusion," Maya is not merely a false reality but a complex force that shapes how we perceive the world. It influences our emotions, decisions, attachments, and spiritual journey. For seekers, yogis, and students at Nada Yoga School in Rishikesh, understanding Maya is essential for inner clarity and self-realization.

I will never forget my striking initial reactions to Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose or Lateral Angle Pose), one of the most beautiful and strongest of the standing poses, developed by B.K.S. lyengar. The first time I tried the pose I could not believe the difficulty it presented. Holding the right angle of the front leg exactly at 90 degrees without bending the back leg, and keeping the front knee exactly over the foot, seemed impossible, and I was exhausted by the attempt.

This is a great online vinyasa yoga class sequence to build strength towards handstand. This class can be utilized as a 45-minute flow, incorporating Chaturanga to Upward Facing Dog, back to Downward Facing Dog as the vinyasa piece and can be placed in between sides. The warm-up for this class, known as "Puttering" by YogaRenew standards, focuses on finding length and straightening the arms and legs.

A yoga certification helps you deepen your practice, build confidence, and open the door to teaching. It's a chance to turn something you love into a rewarding path that inspires others. Take the first step today and begin your journey toward becoming a certified yoga teacher! Deepens Personal Practice Taking a yoga certification helps you connect with your practice on a deeper level.

Many people view meditation as a powerful tool for finding inner peace, awareness, and spiritual growth. Meditation has deep roots in ancient traditions. Modern science now supports its benefits. It provides techniques to quiet the mind, calm the body, and help you feel more present. Many people often link meditation to Eastern spiritual systems like Buddhism and Hinduism. However, it has crossed cultural boundaries. Now, psychologists, healthcare professionals, and people use it in psychology, healthcare, and daily life.

A soundbath is an experience that promotes relaxation and meditation. Participants are "bathed" by sound waves generated by instruments like crystal bowls, gongs and tuning forks. The purpose of a Sound Bath is not to entertain, but rather to promote vibrational health. These instruments emit frequencies which can help you relax deeper and achieve a dreamlike or meditative state. Your nervous system can be reset, stress levels reduced, and energy levels rebalanced.