Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

Fifteen million Americans practice yoga today. They set foot inside yoga studios, roll out their mats and move to their breath in a ritualized action that lasts usually between 60 - 90 minutes. Whether they practice Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga, Kundalini yoga or another variant of hatha yoga, these students are all participating in a modernized physical form of a millenia-old philosophical technology, which originated in India. Within the last 100 years, yoga’s face has changed dramatically as it has migrated and settled into the west with its modern day practitioners. Its evolution has led to a focus on the physical practice, known as asana, and for many who practice today’s version of yoga, the asana practice has become a powerful ritual in their lives. They honor their practice by carrying around yoga mats, drinking out of water bottles with their favorite studio name on it and wearing yoga pants from the studio out to their social events. The hallmark of the modern day yoga practitioner is that we commonly see the trappings of their practice extending into their lives, but there is a deeper and more elevated result of their practice that also extends its way into their lives, which is that yoga practitioners will commonly achieve an elevated state of mind that allows their ritual to manifest itself as a view of themselves and their life-experience as sacred.

If you’ve never heard of a “Buddha Bowl,” let me start with a quick explanation. Simply stated, a Buddha Bowl is anything you want to toss into a bowl topped with a “special sauce.” It’s said that the bowl gets its name from the Buddha’s belly, which is packed so full it bulges with goodness.

People often ask us if we could only do one thing for our health everyday what would it be. Now this is a toughie, and we might have a tie for first place, but topping the charts is our favorite morning beverage of choice – hot water with lemon.

There is a Hindu myth where Ganesha attends a lavish dinner party hosted by Kubera, the Lord of Wealth. In this story Kubera throws extravagant parties to display his riches. The elephant-headed Ganesha eats the meal and is unsatisfied. Ganesha asks for more, then more and more until Kubera is out of food. Ganesha proceeds to eat the tableware, linens, furniture, and walls. Kubera panics and summons Shiva for help. Shiva satisfies Ganesha with a simple bowl of rice and asks Kubera if he gave the food to impress Ganesha or to selflessly serve him. Kubera truthfully responds he gave the food to flaunt his fortune. Shiva tells Kubera that when we act from ego no one is satisfied. Only when we give with a devoted heart are we, and those we serve, content.

What if the true key to your health was not counting calories, stressing over carbs, or exercising for hours each day? What if the true key to your health was a simple as knowing your body type and how it affects your digestion?

This thing called a yoga practice is not about the postures or even the sequencing. It could be about the playlist, but even that is questionable.

Check out this beautiful yoga sequence in the stunning backdrop of Australia brought to us by Masha Yoga.

Do you have Sochi fever, YogaDownloaders? Seeing the world gather in one place, in a global celebration of fitness and human potential, has been truly inspiring. We've been watching all of it: the figure skating, the snowboarding, the luging, even the curling. And what we've seen in almost every event is YOGA. Maybe we’re watching the games through yoga-colored lenses, but every event reminds us of the asanas. Yoga is not about competition, but what we practice on the mat – strength, balance, focus, flexibility, awareness, stillness – will help make us more potent and powerful skaters, skiers, lugers, curlers. So without further ado, please enjoy this round up of Sochiasana, with YogaDownload classes to help you reveal these poses in your own practice.

The lotus flower grows (and grows and grows, possibly for more than 1,000 years) through the mud and deep murky waters. Its roots hold steadfast into the dank dark dirt far beneath the surface of the water on which the lotus flower appears to float. One simple lotus flower can evolve for hundreds of years, stretching upwards at its own pace until its perfect center and delicate petals rest above the surface of the water, its divine little face peering towards the sunshine, perfectly vibrant, with not even the slightest marking of the mud from which it grew. If not for the murkiest of water, the thickest of soil, this sacred flower could not thrive, would not be as beautiful and unique as it is.

How about a breakfast that tastes like dessert but is actually PACKED with nutrition. I love it when it feels naughty and it’s not.

Sometimes I sit back and look at my life and I think, wow, I created this. This is a far cry from where I used to be which was, how did I get here? The difference between the two thoughts is simple. One comes from a highly awakened state and the other is from a very deep sleep.

Looking to spice things up with your sweetie this Valentine’s Day? Woo them with this mind-blowing superfood elixir.

Lately I have come to appreciate the power of positive affirmations. Simply speaking a sentence aloud a few times can change our state of mind. Once we change our state of mind we can start to feel the positive emotion behind our words. When we harness the emotion our energy shifts and so does our reality.

One of the most common poses in yoga class is bhujangasana, cobra pose. This heart opener promotes flexibility through the spine. When in full asana, the yoga practitioner embodies the magnificence of wide-hooded cobra. No matter if your cobra is a baby or fully-hooded, the serpentine movement required of bhujangasana will open you into the energy of the cobra. This serpent energy is perfect to embrace as we are still in the beginning of the new year. During this time, we begin to shed layers, release past restraints, and set intentions for growth and abundance.

So what I am bringing to my Super Bowl party? Spinach Artichoke dip, of course! This Spinach Artichoke dip whips up in less than 30 minutes and combines raw ingredients with warm sautéed veggies. It’s best served warm with a few slices of cucumbers or flax seed crackers.

This is a SUPER side dish for the Super Bowl! For most people, super bowl parties means lots of foods that don’t actually support you in your health goals. It’s the beginning of the year and you’re still committed to your healthy living resolutions…so don’t let one BIG party derail you.

Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest food event next to Thanksgiving in our country. Topping the list of party favorites are wings, pizza, beer, dip, popcorn and soda. While we do love to indulge from time to time, we wanted to challenge the dairy-filled, greasy, gas-inducing status quo of typical Super Bowl party fare to see if we could come up with a healthy replacement.

Yoga has many facets to reveal. One facet might be more prominent than another based on a number of factors including: your ability to adapt and your teacher’s ability to reveal. One facet not well known is the energetic aspect of yoga. This is not to be confused with the “physical intensity” of the practice. The energetic aspect I refer to is the unseen part of what happens to you in your subtle body and in the room, as a result of the yoga.

Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? Who do you want to inspire?

It’s so important these days to keep a mental check of your thoughts. Here are three things you can do to let go of the negativity holding you back and let in the love that is all around you.

Holy savasana! It’s time for yogis to wake up from resting pose — the English translation for the Sanskrit word pronounced shiv-asana — and smell the incense. In the latest salvo proving big business is here to stay in the yoga world, a company received a patent last week for its technique of filming yoga classes for online distribution.

It’s estimated that over 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% actually achieve their goals. With the odds stacked up against us, why do we keep doing this to ourselves?!?

I’ve had thousands of New Year’s wishes and “anthems” come into my awareness these last few days leading up to today. So many, it’s almost overwhelming. This whole instant access to information can be daunting and too much for one person to navigate honestly.

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...

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