When you are stuck in life, a shift in perspective can do wonders. Practicing an inversion may be just what you need to see the world from a different viewpoint.

Stress happens. Recognizing it in the early stages and finding tools to cope when a stressful situation arises, such as this pranayama, can make all the difference. 

Meditation may seem simple, but in truth it is the hardest thing for most of us to do. Why? Within that answer are three tips for folks who are new to meditation.

We have reached the pinnacle of our journey through the eight limbs of yoga according to Patanjali—the author of The Yoga Sutras. The final limb on our journey is samadhi, and the literal definition of this Sanskrit word is “to bring everything together.”

As we climb to the seventh limb of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, we come to meditation, and ultimately dhyana, the state of total awareness.

Our journey moves from outward to inward as we dive into the topic of pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga. Often quickly glazed over or ignored completely, pratyahara is the gateway to what we are looking for. After all the attention and effort applied to the previous four limbs, limb five opens the door to where the magic resides. It is within. 

Pranayama is the fourth of the eight limbs of yoga, according to the ancient sage Patanjali. In the second book of The Yoga Sutras we find the description of pranayama as “regulation of breath or the stoppage of inhalation and exhalation, which follows after securing steadiness of the posture or seat, asana.”

Ahhhhh, asana. Those bendy stretchy poses are typically the first images that come to mind when we hear the word yoga. Asana is the third in our exploration of the eight limbs of yoga. Let me rephrase that: Asana is 1/8 of yoga. Yes, time on the mat is a grand total of 12.5% of our yoga practice.

Yoga literally means union, the union of the spiritual and material, the cosmic dance of spirit and matter. For me it is a discipline that applies to every aspect of my life. It is a path for weaving spirit more deeply into the material, transforming and evolving my body, mind, and heart.

Karma comes to us when we apply the first and second limbs of yoga to our lives. Learn more about these ancient codes and how they support our spiritual growth.

Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III) gets its name from its strong energy and the resilience it develops through practice.

It challenges our balance and perspective as we stand on one leg and gaze straight down to the earth beneath. This posture embodies the warrior energy, to stand steady and stable we must also be soft and still in our mind and body.

Many years ago, an Indian sage named Patanjali wrote a now famous treatise called The Yoga Sutras. This document offers a blueprint for living a life filled with joy, peace, and satisfaction. Who doesn’t want more of these in their life?

Let me be clear, I hate that fat has a bad reputation. Fat isn’t bad. Fatty tissues help protect our organs, lubricate our joints, and store hormones so we can carry babies and breastfeed our little ones. Fat helps us stay satiated after a meal. Fat fuels our brains. Fat is wonderful. Now that we’re clear on the goodness fat offers us, let’s address the concern with having too much fat.

Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) is the antidote to our device operating, chair bound, societal ways. It is a back-bending asana where the majority of the movement comes from the thoracic spine, a place where our culture has become limited in motion. With its expansiveness across the chest, it earns its merit as a “heart opener,” but its name “cobra” comes from its shape, which is reflective of a serpent. 

I live in New York City— the city that never sleeps. I first learned yoga here 36 years ago, but unlike many of today’s New Yorkers that I see on the street and the subway, I am not carrying my yoga mat bag and heading off to a daily class. I practice yoga at home.

The relaxing Child’s Pose (Balasana) is a profoundly restorative posture for the body, mind, and heart.

Cat-Cow is actually two poses that combine together to create the common mini-sequence known as Cat-Cow. This sequence is designed to help lubricate and warm the spine. We use both flexion and extension to restore the space between each vertebra and support the supple nature of the spine.

Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana) derives its name from the shape that the body makes. Just imagine, the arms are the ears and the legs are the mouth of the cow. The meaning of the Sanskrit name Gomukhasana breaks down as go (cow), and mukha (face).
 

If we asked a dog how it felt to be in this asana, their answer might be like ours. We feel a stretch through the back of our legs, along our spinal muscles, and around our shoulders. It feels amazing after sitting for long periods of time and is a superb way to prep the body for more movement. 

Welcome to the first article in our new series, Pose of the Day! In this series, we will explore common yoga postures and their effects on the doshas, bodily systems, and energy pathways.

Here are three yoga sequences that are especially good at balancing one particular dosha. Choose from these sequences, or mix and match the postures to create your own unique asana flow.

Anjali mudra evokes the qualities of being present and grateful. Whether you are new to the practice, or have been a yogi for many lifetimes, Anjali mudra can change your life. 

According to The Yoga Sutras, an ancient text written by the sage Patanjali, the definition of Yoga is “to calm the fluctuations of the mind.” In the second book of the Sutras, Patanjali gives us a roadmap of sorts to guide us on our yogic journey through eight limbs of life practice. Asana, the third limb, is of equal importance to the other seven, but it is only 12.5% of the teachings. To fully live as a yogi, the other seven limbs need to be applied. 

Yoga nidra is a practice of lying on one’s back while allowing the consciousness to move into a deep state of relaxation. This is achieved by gently guiding the mind/body into the subtle awareness of sensations.