Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

Vinyasa Yoga is one of the most practiced styles worldwide, indeed, according to a survey by the Yoga Journal, it is the most popular style amongst yogis. So, why is it that there seems to be some confusion about what Vinyasa is? Is it a style? A sequence? Or is it just a technique? And what exactly does it mean when a teacher says “take a Vinyasa”?

There is so much pressure to get into the best schools in order to receive the highest education. We work ourselves into exhaustion so we can make as much money as possible to pay off school debts and afford luxurious homes. These supposed paths of lives are followed in the hopes of “enjoying” ourselves on the weekends but deny ourselves activities that truly make us happy. In fact, most people are so stressed from the pressures of achievement that they are still thinking of work on their time off and can’t find enjoyment because the mind is so distracted with the pressure and stress of having to be ‘successful’. That sounds like a trap we blindly walk into. And for the majority, it looks like that trap has been accepted.

It’s estimated that about 9% of the American population practices yoga. Most of them are women, but the practices is slowly gaining popularity with the male species among us as the yogic path becomes more and more necessary to live a full and balanced life in these stressful modern day times. But shouldn’t everyone be practicing yoga? Here are 5 compelling reasons why the 9% should become 100%!

We’ve officially entered the dog days of summer, which according to Wikipedia is an expression that “refers to the hot, sultry days of summer especially in the Northern Hemisphere.” Today we’ve got the antidote to the dog days of summer – Chocolate Ice Cream!

You are awesome! Yes, you. If sometimes you doubt yourself and question whether you’re strong enough for whatever you’re facing in your life, you aren’t alone. We’ve got some suggestions for you about how loving and strengthening your core will empower you. Our core is our center—physically, emotionally and mentally. It is vital to keep our spine healthy, our abs strong and learn to cultivate our prana or life force energy from our navel center. Remember that when we create strength in our physical body, it translates to strength in our heart and mind as well.

How would you feel if you allowed yourself to seek all that you wanted? What would it feel like to want, free of societal filters and expectations? What would happen if you stopped the incessant cycle of self-sabotagement?

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.