Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

What on Earth!? It happened: the idea was born, the perfect studio space emerged, the lease was signed, the walls went up, the floor went down, and the collaborators gathered. Even the smallest of the pre-opening details were somewhat thrilling; as we stepped forward in the creation of Earth, our new yoga studio in Boulder, Colorado.

Intuition is a phenomenon of mind, where the mind acquires knowledge without a use of reason. Intuition is seen as greater knowledge, knowledge beyond intelligence, opposite to our rational thinking. It is the ultimate state of humanity, as animals rely on their instinct, we humans have intuition. In Hinduism, intuition is referred as the glimpse of higher and wider self-knowledge. Connecting with our intuition, is an experience of coming into contact with Brahman, the ultimate reality in the universe. The eternal truth and bliss.

As we approach Independence Day in the Unites States, we here at YogaDownload.com felt it was a great time to explore the concept of what true freedom and independence means to us, in general and also in the yogic sense. The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate our country’s freedom. We celebrate with vacations to the beach, barbecues with family and friends and fireworks. It’s a time to shake off work, duties and responsibilities and instead embrace joy and light-heartedness.

Ahhhhhh, the BLT. America’s most beloved sandwich. With the simply gorgeous heirloom tomato bounty available right now and the 4th of July right around the corner, we knew an 80:20 BLT was in order. But you know us…we don’t like to feel limited, so we decided to take this iconic classic to the next level!

Cancer finds itself in its element during this new moon. Ruled by the moon, Cancer’s watery nature is in high gear during this new moon cycle, and you likely find that your emotions are ebbing and flowing at this time. As the bearer of the unconscious, the moon and Cancer work within us to house our shadow, drives, intuition…our greatest gifts. Like the crab, we usually protect these things at all costs, when really, protection is not what they need.

About a year ago I started practicing yoga on my own. Before, I was never one to practice alone. After all, why should I stay home and practice by myself when I can go to YogaWorks? You might be one of those people who also doesn’t want to miss out on the social vibe of public classes, and I don’t blame you. Or maybe you don’t feel like you know enough of yoga sequencing and alignment to be on your own. In that case, you can either take mental note of what you see in class and replicate it, or read up a sequence online. Even though safety is still priority, if you are looking for a simple, solid home practice you can figure a few poses out work for you specifically and get all the benefits of a self-imposed structure.

Summer solstice was on Monday, complete with a beautiful strawberry full moon (something I was informed of after the fact and apparently this strawberry stuff only happens once every 70 years!). Solstices and equinoxes are important to me because they signify a change in season. Just as Mother Nature changes throughout the seasons, so do human beings. Now is a good time to contemplate how your routines, practices, and needs are changing as we officially enter summer.

If you practice vinyasa flow yoga, the reality is you’re going to spend a lot of time bearing weight on the delicate structures of your hands and wrists. The problem is that this is not their intended function. For example, when was the last time, save a social media campaign, you walked to the grocery store on your hands? As the action of weight bearing through the hands is a bit unnatural, it can potentially introduce discomfort, pain, and even injury into your yoga practice.

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.

Salmon is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, full of vitamins and minerals, most notably vitamins D and B-12. It’s also one of the foods highest in omega-3 fatty acids, which is nature’s best anti-inflammatory. Are you ready to fire up the grill? Enjoy this easy meal for a quick lunch or dinner, or better yet the next cookout. It’s sure to wow your guests!

About a year ago I shared an article about the Ayurvedic perspective on circadian rhythm. In it, I shared how different times in the day have different qualities associated with them, thus making certain times more appropriate for specific activities.

It’s summertime and that means it’s salad time! We love a big meal-sized salad anytime of the year, but there is something extra special about riding our cruiser bikes down to the farmer’s market and bringing home fresh greens and herbs.

Like all livelihoods, teaching yoga comes with challenges that can lead to burnout if they’re not managed. Here are five essential tips to help you manage the stresses of teaching yoga so that you can savor your career and guide your students without crashing and burning.

The Sagittarius full moon fuels our philosophical fantasies and launches us into a stratospheric search for wisdom and meaning. Nothing tickles the great archer’s fancy like higher pursuits in education, travel and religion or philosophy. As a centaur, Sagittarius loves to take aim at something that others find impossible, in order to shoot for the stars. Often overextending himself, the centaur can find himself spread thin. Our goal in this new moon is to aim high, but stay focused while keeping our energy levels up and engaging in self care.

At first, the idea of writing might seem as daunting as yoga is to some people- How do you start? Are there any rules? What exactly do you do? There are always these unsure moments when you try something new. Think back to the first time you were given a mat to unroll onto the ground and step onto bare feet. The setup that once felt so foreign might become a native part of how you begin your yoga practice now.

We’re HUGE fans of tea, jasmine green tea to be specific (when not cleansing of course!). That’s why when the beautiful and amazing women at the Boulder-based organic loose leaf tea company, The Tea Spot called, we jumped for joy at the opportunity to partner with them!

Today, I’m offering up another video for you post-travel. If you forget to stretch during the trip itself, at least take some time to decompress afterward with some yoga you can do in bed.

For many, it is has become important to distinguish between “asana,” or the performing of postures, and yoga. Both those who are inclined towards yoga as a fitness regimen, and those who embrace it as more than just exercise, find it necessary to clarify the intent and purpose behind their practice. This compartmentalisation, while convenient and often useful, brings with it a dilemma, the resolution to which determines what is actually possible with yoga.

Ancient yogis came to construct a worldview where they appreciated the world as viewed through the lens of karma – as actions that were meaningful because they could be accounted for. One might say that one of the primary goals of these ancient yogis was to know what could and what would happen next.

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.

Yoga is for everybody. But, not every yoga posture is for everybody—including Chaturanga Dandasana. For many practitioners, the pose is simply too demanding to be done with safe, stable alignment.

Gemini has a penchant for chatter, hidden messages, and a little playful trickery which is all enhanced by this New Moon. If you are interested in clearing up your communication, spreading a powerful message clearly, and extending yourself either via travel or broadcasts, then this is your time. The fact that this new moon is so closely conjunct Venus heightens any communication around love, beauty, sensuality, art or even finances.

A few weeks ago I was at a networking event for executive women when I heard a phrase that I haven’t heard for a while (it wasn’t a yoga term…!).

It’s refreshing, energizing, and the perfect way to start downshifting from daily rocket fuel to the more mellow and metabolism-boosting green tea.

Hey Guys, I hope you’re doing amazing wherever you are right now and focusing on crushing it before the Summer Holidays (or Winter for my Southern hemisphere peeps). Today I decided to give you guys some very cool Productivity Tips as this is another thing people always ask me about…”Hayley, how do you get so much done when you’re so busy?”