Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

You’ve probably practiced Bakasana (crane pose) in class before and most likely the version you learned was actually Kakasana (crow pose). Whaaaat? Isn’t Bakasana synonymous with crow? Well, actually...no, it is not.

Let’s not make today about fear. Quiet the naysayer in your mind and do something new and unexpected. You’ll be so glad you did.

We don’t know about you, but here at YogaDownload, if we haven’t fueled up properly before yoga, we’re not happy. You’ve probably heard that you should practice yoga on an empty stomach. Yoga has lots of twists and forward folds; so you don’t want to feel heavy or bloated. But, ensuring you have the requisite energy and stable blood sugar levels is vital to getting the most out of your time on the mat.

When you’re practicing yoga, do you ever wonder why you’re doing a particular asana or pose? Why the teacher emphasizes alignment in a particular way? What the benefits are?

Spring is approaching! It’s the time when our homes feel lighter and brighter after we purge all the junk and unnecessary clutter we tend to amass over the winter months.

Often, yoga is described as a journey for self-understanding-- a process for uncovering your true nature. Once we maintain a consistent yoga practice, we change—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Change is good! If we are different, we interact with others in a different way as well. Yoga can help us resolve issues in our relationships--past and present and future.

During the winter months, the opportunity to play outside is limited by shorter days. Some of us are in the office all day and by the time we leave; the sun’s already set. Whether you’re in a brisk climate or a mild one, you may feel stuck inside more than you’d prefer. If you’ve got a case of cabin fever, try one or all of these five simple ideas to infuse some summer sunshine into your day.

One of my core beliefs is that yoga is for everyone. It’s the cornerstone of The Kaivalya Yoga Method. There are a lot of people in the world who are prevented from participating in an in-studio training for many reasons; they live too far away, they have very demanding jobs that don’t let them take an in-studio training at the times they are offered, they’re busy caring for children or relatives. We wanted to be able to bring them a training that would remove the boundaries of distance and scheduling constraints.

Hello from underneath 3 feet of snow! We’re stuck at home. The plows are probably another day or two out. The drifts are so deep that it’s hard to take a few steps beyond the house, let alone get to the yoga studio. This is YogaDownload weather.

This is a rhyme for your ankles, knees and nose, Your chakras, your hips, your elbows and toes. To begin, praise the brain, our center of illumination With moments of quiet and calming meditation.

Have you noticed that yoga and football are like, the exact same thing? We’re here to throw a flag on the idea that Sunday gameday has to get in the way of your Sunday practice. In celebration of our new Yoga For Football and classes for a Tight End, we found 7 pieces of proof that we’re on one universal Special Team:

We have thousands of classes, whether you’re looking for a specific teacher or anatomical focus or just want to see what’s out there. These are the classes you gravitate to the most – your top downloads this year. Try them all to see what your fellow YogaDownloaders are loving!

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the home, Not a yogi was stirring, not even an OM.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of including yoga in your regular cross training routine. While practicing yoga builds strength and flexibility in areas like the core, hamstrings, quads, and hip flexors, yoga poses also help to improve mental endurance.

It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year! With cash registers beeping, and everyone telling you, "Go shopping HERE!!" It's the most wonderful time of the year. . .

Do you notice anything different about us? We did some soul searching, some web searching, and made some big improvements to YogaDownload.com! An extreme makeover of sorts. Here are the top ten reasons why the new YogaDownload.com ROCKS, if we do say so ourselves:

Let's be realistic: it can take a lot of cash (and vacation time) to get yourself to one of this summer’s epic yoga gatherings. Not everyone can do that, but we all deserve the special experience. We made a yoga festival you can have at home – and it even includes top marquee yoga teachers! Welcome to the first annual DIY Yoga Festival – gather your friends, your mat and set your intention to fun for one day this weekend.

From dealing with rabid crowds at the mall to toiling over the perfect gifts for the special people in your life, the holidays can be a stressful time...especially if you've waited until the last minute to do your shopping (despite promising yourself last year that you wouldn't find yourself in this position again)! Worry not, yogis! The little elves here at Yoga Download are all about putting the PRO in procrastination. We've scoured the interwebs for unique last-minute gift options so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your cozy little homestead. So kick back, grab a hot cuppa something yummy and get your shopping on...

In the wake of the controversy over YogaGlo's recent patent application for their methods of filming online yoga classes and their subsequent Cease & Desist Order against Yoga International, we would like to chime in and offer our thoughts regarding this situation.

September was National Yoga Month. Did you notice? Was there a parade, a prime time special or an acknowledgement at your local yoga studio? Right now, National Yoga Month is a nice idea, but let's not rest on our laurels - we certainly haven't seen what it can do yet.

It’s back to school time. And all over the US, millions of college students are heading back to the dorm, out to the quad, into the campus center – and for many, onto their yoga mats.