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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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Gentle Evening Yoga Flow
Practicing a gentle yoga flow in the evenings is a habit I’m trying to get back into. Since a lot of us have been gifted with some quiet time alone during this self-quarantine, it’s nice to turn inward and maintain good habits and routines. Since sleep plays a large role in our overall health, it’s important that we allow ourselves ample rest. If you have a hard time trying to quiet your mind before bed, or you often feel it’s difficult to get a full night’s rest, practicing yoga before you sleep can help! Taking time to calm your mind and release tension through your body, can ease you to a better night’s…
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10 Minute Morning Yoga Routine You Can Do From Your Bed
Morning yoga does not have to be super intense in order to boost our energy. By simply opening up our body through gentle seated postures, we clear a path for energy to travel more efficiently. Additionally, all we need is ten minutes, the length of a full snooze, in order to move our spine and awaken our own prana, or vital life energy. Here’s a gentle morning flow that you can do in bed for ten minutes instead of hitting snooze! Feel free to hold the poses for however long you would like. As always, modifications, additions, and subtractions are always welcome. Ten Minute Morning Flow Sukasana, easy pose Start in a comfortable…
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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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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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How I Started My Yoga Practice
When I first came to my mat I was at a low, I had suffered from depression, a lack of self-love and poor body image. My intention when I started yoga was to build lean muscle and strength. I started practicing at a hot yoga studio a few blocks away from my college campus. They were running a student special and practically giving away month long memberships. I couldn’t resist the offer, I paid for an unlimited monthly membership and went to class almost every single day. As dramatic as it may sound, that first month of unlimited yoga changed my life for the better! It didn’t take long for me to realize…
