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Shakti and Buti Yoga; Types of Yoga Part 4
There are seriously so many types of Yoga! I could probably write ten more posts…but for now, I’ll let this be the last one. If you’ve been following along with this mini-series then you should have a pretty extensive knowledge of the different styles of yoga. If not, I recommend you start from the beginning because these last two styles are a little less conventional than the rest. Not that it’s a bad thing, I just don’t want to scare you off quite yet! The last two styles I will be diving into, are Shakti Yoga and Buti Yoga. Super fun styles to practice! Just make sure you bring an open mind and…
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Yin and Restorative: Types of Yoga Part 3
Six styles of practice in the books! Are you taking notes…? We have four more styles to go, and from here on out, I will group them in pairs. Of course, there are many, many more styles of Yoga than just the ones I’m talking about. However, I chose these styles out of all the rest because of their increasing popularity in the West. So today, we’re talking about Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga. Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are often confused for the same style of practice. While there are similarities, such as the use of props and longer holds, Yin and Restorative are vastly different. While they are two separate practices, the asana…
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Bikram, Iyengar, and Kundalini: Types of Yoga Part 2
This post contains affiliate links for more information read disclaimer Last post I talked about Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga. This post is dedicated to Bikram, Iyengar, and Yin Yoga. Of course, each style still maintains similar philosophies, but the main difference is how we practice the Yoga postures or Yoga Asana. So, without further ado, here we go! Bikram Yoga Bikram Yoga is a heated Yoga class, created by Bikram Choudhury. In Bikram Yoga, students practice a set sequence of 26 poses on the right and left, and practice each pose two times. There is no flowing in a Bikram class, as the poses are taught in the traditional Hatha style. If…
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Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa: Types of Yoga Part 1
Photo taken by Eric Rosso affiliated with Hawaii Yoga Magazine This post contains affiliate links for details check the disclaimer There are so many different styles of Yoga in our modern world today. While most Yoga styles maintain similar philosophies, the way we practice these styles is totally different. I was going to write one large post including all of the major styles of Yoga. However, after writing about just one style, I realized there’s too much information for one post. So instead I am going to break up this topic into a series of posts so we can get to the nitty-gritty details of every style. For this first post I’ll be breaking…
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The Heart of the Yoga Practice and the Purpose of the Asana
Yoga was created thousands of years ago as a form of meditation and liberation. Traditionally, there are eight limbs to the Yoga practice and the asana, or Yoga postures, are just one of those eight limbs. With the commercialization of Yoga and the modern emphasis on the physical aspect, the origional intention and the philosophies of the practice have been overshadowed. Consequently, many modern practitioners enter the yoga practice from a physical standpoint. That is why, as students and teachers of the practice, it is important for us to share every aspect of yoga, and how they physical practice aids us both on and off our mat. What are the Yoga Asanas? The…
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Flow into Crow Pose: How to Prep and Move into Crow Pose, Bakasana
Crow is one of the most basic arm balances in yoga and sets the foundation for a strong arm balancing practice. While it is one of the easier arm balances, that doesn’t mean it’s not difficult. Luckily there are tons of variations and preparatory poses to help us fly! Healthy Hands and Wrists Before we balance on our arms, we want to make sure we have a solid base to balance on. We can check in with our hands and wrists in a tabletop position. Finding a neutral spine, stacking our shoulders over our wrists and hips above our knees. Gently drawing the low belly in to reduce the sway in the back.…
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Five Restorative Yoga Poses and Their Benefits
When I first started practicing yoga I was all about a vigorous, strength-based flow. Now that I’ve got a few years of experience behind me, I have grown to appreciate the softer, sweeter side of the practice. Recently, I’ve absolutely loved a good restorative yoga practice! Regardless of what style of yoga I am flowing through, I always throw a restorative pose into my routine. They really do just feel good and can aid in energizing the body after a tough practice. Restorative yoga is a way to rejuvenate and heal the body. By utilizing yoga props such as blocks, straps, and bolsters, we are able to hold the body in yoga poses…
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My Favorite Meditation Techniques
Meditation and yoga go hand in hand. In fact, one of the many benefits of yoga is the meditative state of mind you find during and after your yoga practice. Yogis practice the yoga postures for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons to practice yoga asana is to calm your body and mind, prepping for meditation. While there are differing schools of thought regarding the meditation practice, they all focus on clearing your mind and stepping into a state of observation. Essentially, creating the time and space for your body to just be and breathe can prove to be extremely beneficial. When to meditate and how to meditate is up to the…
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Why You Should See an Ayurvedic Practitioner
This post contains affiliate links. Read the Disclaimer for more details. Ayurveda is a holistic medicine that seeks towards balancing the body through proper diet and routine. While Ayurveda can treat and cure certain ailments, the intention of Ayurveda is to maintain balance in our body and avoid sickness in the first place. If you’re interested in learning more, check out my post about the Ayurvedic doshas. As a yoga teacher and practitioner, I’ve always been interested in the practice of Ayurveda. So much so in fact, that I hope to attend the school of Ayurveda in California so I can become a legitimate practitioner. In the meantime, I’ve been doing my best to…
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How we Moved to Hawaii With Little to no Money and no Plans
Since moving to the island of Oahu Hawaii, I have had so many questions from friends, family, and followers about how exactly we did it. How did we decide to move to Oahu, how did we find jobs and how did we create a life we love. I’ve decided to answer some of the most common questions I get asked about how we moved to Hawaii and have managed to survive here for over a year. Why Hawaii? Yes ya’ll, this is a serious question I get from people and my honest answer is always, “why not?” But on a more realistic note, Hawaii has always been a destination on my list. I have…