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5 Yoga Myths We Need To Bust
Not flexible enough, not strong enough, and not having a thin, able-body are all reasons why newbies shy away from the practice of yoga. Any yoga teacher will tell you that these factors have nothing to do with the actual practice of though. Today, I’m going to tell you why. Here are five yoga myths that need to be busted! I’m Not Flexible Enough For Yoga I hear this all the time and I can’t help but laugh. Flexibility is a byproduct of the physical practice, not an initial requirement. When I came to yoga I was far more strong than flexible. In fact, when I started my teacher training I couldn’t even…
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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas For Spiritual Mamas
Ok, I know I’m not the only one who waits last minute to gift shop…right? Well, if you’re like me and you’re always stuck looking for that perfect, thoughtful gift last minute – don’t worry! Here are some fun, intentional gifts for your spiritual mamas on mothers day. Smudging Kit This is gift is a necessity for any spiritual practitioner, and it’s always in need. I don’t know about you guys, but I personally love a good gift of sage and palo santo. Burning sage and palo santo helps clear and protect the energy in the room. They are great to have handy when you’re in a funk, or feeling bothered by old,…
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Yoga Journal Magazine, and the #yogawarrior Contest
What it would mean to win the Yoga Journal magazine’s #yogawarrior contest You guys, the opportunity of a lifetime has come for me and I could not be more excited about what I’m going to share…I have been selected to win a two page feature in Yoga Journal magazine, along with $10,000 prize money – yep, it’s truly a life changing opportunity! If you’re new here, let me introduce myself I am Sarah, a 26 year old yoga instructor living on the island of O’ahu Hawai’i. I have been teaching yoga for nearly 7 years! This blog was created as a way to share the practice of yoga with those who don’t have…
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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Understanding the Fundamentals of the Yoga Practice
The yoga sutras are some of the first written record we have of the yoga practice. They are ancient philosophies passed down from guru to student, and describe the purpose, intention, and major aspects of yoga. Initially these texts were strictly verbally taught until Sage Patanjali wrote physical copies in the sanskrit language. The sutras were then translated and expanded upon by Sri Swami Satchidananda, which is the most common translation seen today in studios and teacher trainings across the nation. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is my favorite book to recommend to students looking to deepen their awareness and yoga practice. The physical book is broken down into four main parts; the…
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Three Ayurvedic Habits To Include In Your Daily Routine
Ayurveda is considered the sister science of yoga. It is a holistic, medicinal practice focused on the prevention of disease. Through application of the Ayurvedic practice, it is believed that you can find a state of balance both physically and energetically. By incorporating both Ayurveda and yoga into your life, you can aid your body in maintaining its natural state of health and wellbeing. I first came across Ayurveda through my teacher training program, and I’ve been researching and implementing Ayurveda into my life ever since! While the study of Ayurveda can be confusing at first, there are many aspects of the practice that are simple and effective. Here are three, easy to…
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How to Prep for Backbends
In yoga, backbends are by far one of the trickier postures to grasp. There’s lots of engagement occurring in the body and not just in the back, but in the hips and shoulders as well. This is why it’s incredibly important to properly prep for backbending postures. Basic spinal movements Before starting any yoga practice, especially one where back bending is involved, it’s important to move the spine in all six directions. This means twists, lateral bends, spinal flexion, and extension. Not only does this help warm up your spine, creating space between your vertebrae, but it also helps move your bodies natural energy or prana. Traditionally, the yogis believed the spine was…
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Why I ditched tampons and switched to a menstrual cup
This post contains affiliate links read disclaimer for more details Ladies, let’s talk about periods. I know it’s not the most exciting conversation, but let’s be honest – it needs to happen. Feminine hygiene products are changing and for a good reason. Most of the well-known pad and tampon brands you see on the market these days are LOADED with carcinogens and chemicals that can affect your reproductive health. Not to mention the monthly cost of keeping up with your cycle, and the environmental cost of production and waste disposal. But I’m not here to dive into those details, mainly because you’ve probably already done your research. Most women I talk to these…
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Understanding the Mechanics of Yoga Backbends: Your Hips and Lumbar Spine
I’m going to be honest, I absolutely hate backbending postures. That’s why I never have any expectations when entering backbending poses. It wasn’t until I fully understood the mechanics of backbending, that I started to find a little more ease with it. Don’t get me wrong, I still despise backbends, but you have to practices the poses you hate too. What Does Backbending require? In yoga, back bending and spinal extension are one and the same. In every backbending posture, the intention is to stabilize your low back and work with your natural lumbar curve. The same goes for your neck or cervical spine. You want to stabilize and utilize these natural curves,…
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Yoga Exercises For Better Sleep
With quarantine leaving most of us cooped up at home, and the uncertainty of it all adding to our list of anxieties proper sleep is probably the last thing on our minds. Not to mention the fact that our everyday routines have been completely out of whack and we’re full of pent up energy. Still, getting a full night’s sleep is vital to staying both healthy and sane during this pandemic. Luckily, there are some simple breathing techniques and gentle movements we can do that will calm our body and mind. When practiced before bed these techniques can aid us in both falling and staying asleep. Sleep and the Brain When we sleep…
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Looking For A Way To Change Up Your Morning Cup Of Coffee – Try Coconut Oil
This post contains affiliate links, read disclaimer for more info. Having a good cup of coffee is one of my favorite morning rituals. Recently, however, we ran out of creamer and milk. Since we’re quarantined I didn’t want to take a quick trip to the store, and I don’t mind black coffee. still, I was sure I could find something in the fridge to spruce it up. Sifting through the shelves I came across a jar of organic coconut oil. I knew coconut oil was used to create bulletproof coffee – a Keto favorite. Still, I didn’t have all the ingredients for a traditional bulletproof cup. So I googled “is coconut oil good…
