Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

This salad definitely packs its own nutrient-rich punch. First, let's talk bacteria. Don't worry. It's the good kind! Over the past couple of years, I have been reading up on benefits of gut health. Though I've long known that probiotics are beneficial to the gut, I figured that yogurt and expensive probiotic pills were the only way to go. Soon, I became hip to additional foods that can improve gut health.

In the post-lineage void of the current yoga scene, conversations around safety and improving the quality of yoga teacher-training often turn to biomechanics for solutions. However, replacing one arbitrary imposition on our bodies with another does not address the real issues. Fostering safer spaces for practice, or creating any sort of positive change in our bodies, will likely require new understanding based on a broader range of possibilities and ideas.

The Virgo new moon on September 20, 2017, brings with it the opportunity for us to resolve the thing that most holds us back: our core wounds. Each of us has buried within the shadow of our psyche a core wound that holds us back, keeps us playing small, and prevents us from realizing our full potential.

This week, we’re thrilled to introduce a new series of classes + program from YogaDownload superstar teacher, Kristin Gibowicz, that marry ancient wisdom with your daily life. Everyday Yamas will guide you through the five Yamas in an accessible way.

Let’s get real about fear. Fear has been on my mind and in my heart. All the ways in which we experience fear, are taught to deal with (or avoid) fear, false expectations around fearlessness, and so much more. I’ve been holding hands with fear a lot lately. Sometimes it’s a firm, solid hand hold, and sometimes it feels like fear is trying to break my fingers and crush my hand. It’s so interesting being a human. I’ve tried so many different things to get rid of fear- avoiding it, seeking it out, making choices based on it or in spite of it, saying a lot of positive affirmations, focusing on love and light, pretending it doesn’t exist- you name it, I’ve tried it.

Good for boosting brain health, combating effects of aging, low on the glycemic index and high in fiber, blueberries are a superfood with a far-reaching benefits. This time of year, fresh blueberries make a great snack, but we love them year-round in our smoothies, and in today’s decadent but guilt-free, gluten-free, dairy-free pie.

"Your strength is in your calmness, in the clarity for your mind. Strength comes from putting the negative aside without reacting. Win in calmness, in consciousness, in balance."

Alignment is a buzz word these days in the yoga world. Since more and more people are practicing yoga, and more people are speaking out about how yoga has injured them in the past, instructors and practitioners alike are concerned about safety. And that’s a good thing. But for all the talk about alignment as it refers to the body, what about the alignment of our thoughts, decisions, and actions?

Using nut butter is a great way to make sure you're getting your fill of healthy fats every day. This recipe not only uses peanut butter, or your choice of nut butter but it also incorporates coconut oil and almonds among other great sources of good fats! And oh my god, are they delicious!

September is National Yoga Month, and if you’ve been curious about how this ancient practice can benefit your modern life, it’s the perfect time to put away excuses. There are a lot of reasons people think they can’t do yoga - and every single one is ridiculous. So we’re debunking the most popular excuses, and offering a special beginner’s bundle that proves yoga is really for every body.

As I’m approaching 30, I often find myself pondering on living authentically. What does being authentic mean? How do I know if the life I’m leading is authentic? Am I happy with the person I’ve become? Finally, is authenticity overrated? And if you’re anything like me, your train of thought may be similar.

Over 50% of all working Americans report having back pain each year. That's 5 out of 10 of you will have back pain this year! As a yoga therapist and a teacher of thousands of public yoga classes over the last 16 years I see many people with poor alignment, and the inability to flex, extend and twist their spine normally.

The mystical full moon in Pisces is the culmination of months of energy that began building with the Pisces new moon and solar eclipse that occurred earlier this year on February 24, 2017. On that date, we planted seeds in the psyche that blossomed our desire for transcendence, spiritual connection, and oneness. Pisces energy encourages us to swim in the waters of the unconscious, and after the recent eclipse events in August, many of us likely still are!

I have sort of a love affair with pancakes. Or rather, it’s more like a Nicholas Sparks style recollection of that one summer when I was eating gluten.

Every day during my teacher trainings I give my students time to practice on their own—at their own pace. The practice period is only 15 to 20 minutes, but it gives everyone a little quiet time to integrate the work we’ve been doing as a group. And, it gives everyone the opportunity to work on whatever it is they need at the time. I’ve watched hundreds of students practice in this environment and one thing that stands out: No one goes fast. No one. I’ve never seen one person choose to move at a pace that outstrips their breath. I’ve never seen someone go so fast that they get winded. I’ve seen people choose to practice quiet, restorative poses. I’ve seen people choose ridiculously demanding poses. I’ve seen people choose everything in between. But, I’ve never seen someone move so fast that they can’t breathe deeply.

Vacations are a good chance for you to try something new. It allows you the opportunity to be braver being in a new place and seeing new sites. Brave, relaxed, and in a mood for fun, yoga is one thing you could consider trying out. It’s new but offers the same type of relaxation that a vacation provides.

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day."

You’ve spent the last few months saluting the sun. So don’t spend the next few weeks – the last precious days of hazy sunsets, al fresco dining and going barefoot – diving head first into a pumpkin latte. Seasonal transitions are natural and gradual, and we’re natural beings, so go with the flow and don’t rush from one season to the next. Summer is a time of sweetness and extroversion, and as it begins to wind down, this is a precious time to savor it’s lightness and glory, while also turning inwards to reflect and rejuvenate. This week, we invite you to soak up the end of summer and to slow down in the process.

The recipe that we’re sharing today is one that we’ve been holding onto because it falls into our 80:20 category! Now that the summer cleanse is behind us, we want to talk about matcha – the green tea superfood that we’re head over heels for (when not cleansing).

Pop culture continues to enjoy a glossy-eyed love affair with yoga. But many long-time practitioners and professionals are discovering that, somewhere along their journey over the last decade or so, either yoga or they have changed. As once die-hard yogis attempt to discern what, if anything, of their practice has stood up against the test of time, their relationship to yoga needs to be allowed to evolve or they’ll likely feel compelled to part ways.

One of the reasons why the Yoga Sutras are somewhat hard to understand for a first-time reader is because of the presentation and organization of the sutras themselves. Rather than presenting a chronological order of yoga with clear instructions, the very first chapter sets out to explain the unexplainable – the end goal of yoga, or samadhi. In fact, it takes an entire chapter and 51 sutras to really define and deconstruct what yoga is. Keep in mind, asana isn’t mentioned once!

What does it mean to be a Warrior? How can practicing yoga enable you to tap into your inner courage and stand up for freedom and truth? Even in the face of opposition and great odds?

The beginning of August featured a full moon and lunar eclipse that kicked off the most powerful astrological month of this year. With the Leo New Moon on August 21st, we are also blessed with a total solar eclipse: the biggest astrological influence on the psyche in 2017. This eclipse provides us with an energetic and psychological impact that remains for 6 months to a year. What you set into motion with your intention and attention during this eclipse bears fruit for a long time to come.

Get your zoodle on with our no cook, no bake, all flavorful Fiesta-style Zoodles. You can make this dish in a flash all without heating up your kitchen. And, you’ll get your fair share of delightfully fresh, crisp veggies without the typical green salad. Make it for your next potluck or have it in the fridge for a go-to snack. Cheers!

Greatness can be achieved through dedication and daily meditation. Highly successful people are doing it so why won’t you? Each of us has different reasons for meditating. Don’t worry though, as all possible outcomes are always positive. Practicing meditation in the morning might be much more beneficial for you than in any other time of the day.