Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

Can you relate?

Wayne Dyer says:
“All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming him, but you won't succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy. ”

I am a yoga instructor who practices yoga almost daily. When on my mat, there’s an incredible sense of ownership and accountability that I embrace in each posture. I know that if I feel anxious or upset in a certain posture, that I am meeting myself where I am at. No one else is doing this to me - I own it and see it through. Off the mat though, it is easy to forget to own your actions and to own your response.

Recently a friend shared with me a troubling situation where she finished it by saying “well, whatever doesn’t serve you must be let go, right?” And this is true, but that doesn’t mean you get out of the pose. It may mean that you STAY in the pose and figure out what it is that you’re doing to contribute to your own angst. How can you see the situation differently? Are you doing anything to contribute to the situation? Are you blaming? If you’re blaming, why? Is there something you are avoiding?

I got myself out of the habit of blaming others by turning off my mind, and paying attention to the cues in my body, just as I do on the yoga mat. I notice that every time something happens where my first impulse is to blame, I feel trapped - tight in the jaw, shoulders and chest, and stomach region. My body physically responds negatively to the negative emotion. Because I want to feel as good as I do at the end of my yoga practice and all day long, I recognize that the contraction I feel in my body as a result of my blaming, is not in alignment with my goal to feel great! I can bring back the yoga bliss by putting a stop to the blaming thought pattern, and asking myself two simple questions: “what is the lesson for me in this situation?” and “How can I let go?” Literally, as soon as I turn this around, my body softens again. And I grow. I feel liberated and light because I see again that it all comes back to me, and has nothing to do with the other person. I am in charge of me.

 

By Timarie Mikolasek

Timarie Mikolasek is a yoga instructor and wellness coach. Her practice of yoga has led her to better understand her relationships with others, her relationship to herself, and an ongoing study in nutrition. She is the founder of an internet-based Wellness Warrior Challenge, and hosts many Yoga and Wellness retreats and workshops throughout the year through www.realgreendaily.com

 

 

 

 

Try these YogaDownload classes to find your yoga bliss:

Alex Cordoba - Infinite Freedom 


Do it Yourself - Roger Martin Pressman 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2008, the US Department of Health & Human Services designated September "National Yoga Month" as part of a select number of national health observances. This fact (and about two other sentence) is what it says on the National Yoga Month Wikipedia page. But search for National Yoga Month on HHS.gov and you get... nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Every month, more like every day, is some sort of holiday. So how can we celebrate yoga’s 5,000 years of rich cultural history in a meaningful way? We can start by taking more cues from Earth Month and fewer from National Fish Month (also in September).

A group called Yoga Health Foundationhas become a home base for National Yoga Month - each September rallying over 2,200 yoga studios across the county to participate in helping to spread the word through new student specials and/or free events. This is grassroots level outreach - and this is where it starts.>

Where it goes from here is up to us. Yoga is great exercise, but if it were just exercise wouldn't we feel the same way about it as we do spin or kickboxing. The more we practice yoga, the more we build a powerful mind/body/world connection. And to make that accessible to a wider community, to truly bring it to the masses, we’re going to have to do more than simply name a month.

 

So let's start removing the barriers that keep people from trying yoga: perceived barriers like a prerequisite of being bendy or spiritual, as well as geographic and financial barriers. Here at YogaDownload we are proud to offer over 60 free video and audio yoga classes, in a variety of styles and intensities - not just for a two week trial, but every day and every month of the year, so that everybody can have the opportunity to reap the benefits of yoga, wherever they may be, and not matter how much may they may have. We feel it’s a start.

Today we'd like to ask, what is your experience with National Yoga Month? Did you know it existed? Do you have any personal experiences to share? Has it helped you or someone you know find yoga, or feel closer to your yoga journey? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Here's to coming together as a community of yogis and working to bring more awareness to the unparalleled benefits of yoga! And to making it affordable and accessible to each and every person across the globe!

 

Commonly this jovial magic wanes the older we get. Studies have shown that 80% of all 3 year olds are creative, but by the age of 12 this has declined to a heart breaking 20%. What happens to these children? Well, my attention cautiously turns to the generations that are leading by example. I’m not sure if this is you, but most people I know wake up, go to work, eat and sleep. They repeat this process over and over and seem to be caught in the fishing net of life. You see, you now have responsibilities, and these have dictated that you can’t just go out into the world to explore and create. Who will pay the bills?

Well I can relate to a certain degree to that. I can’t just up and leave my life in the hope that my rent will be paid and my hunger satisfied by well meaning neighbors. But one thing I do do (hahahaha, I said do do) is keep a certain level of wonder in my life.

Here are 6 things I do regularly to keep the magic alive and make life a new and exciting discovery:

Take Up Yoga
Or anything new for that matter. Anything that challenges you to discover your body in a new way. Because I’ve done yoga for so long I recently decided to take up CrossFit. This was a massive step outside of my comfort zone as I had to learn how to do things I’ve never done like use weights, run, and do pull ups. I found everything challenging, but in the process I learned about my body and made new friends. The most exciting part was seeing improvements in my body week after week, not just in my CrossFit training but my yoga too.

Try New Foods
Finding new things to add to a healthy diet, or new recipes to impress your friends with are both brilliant ways to keep your mind active and excited. When you find something you really like share it with the people you love you begin to activate a part of your brain that is always on the look out for new things to enjoy. Food is miraculous because the variety is endless. Whenever I’m in a new country I go to the markets in search of fruits I’ve never seen before to try out. It’s amazing how many new varieties of foods I’ve come to discover this way. My favorite was discovering Dragon Fruit in Cambodia. If you haven’t tried it before I really recommend it.
If you have trouble trying new foods buy a scented candle. Smells are important too.

Talk To Someone You Don’t Know
In survey's done on happiness, surprisingly people rated meeting new people as a factor that keeps their happiness levels topped up. I found this somewhat surprising. I live in a city, and in general I find people avoid each other. But the more I pondered this the more I began to see patterns. The people I know that are extremely happy and fun were much more willing to step outside of the their comfort zone and talk to people they didn’t know. Whereas the boring, depressing people stuck to their little cliques and never made an effort with anyone they didn’t know. I also realized (talking separately to these two groups) that the happier people are, the more they want to know about the people they are talking to. They ask lots of questions and ultimately end up finding common ground quickly which they can build on. The unhappy bunch waited for other people to ask them questions and would usually respond with one word answers.

Visit New Places
Visiting new places lends itself to so many new discoveries. In addition to being forced to try new things and speak to new people, it makes you see the world around you. In a monotonous life our eyes tend to be glued to phones, iPads, computers, books, and television. No wonder so many people need glasses to see. When you visit new places the eyes have to take in lots of new images, and visiting nature can be especially incredible for the soul.

Gratitude
This one is easy, and it’s a bit like a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it becomes to spot things. The trick to gratitude is to start realising how lucky you are for the things that are “invisible”. For example, when I was reading the the book, The Kite Runner, I was struck by how the author described Afghanistan before the Taliban took over. He speaks about how people were just going about their business - children going to school, people buying groceries and their parents going to work. It dawned on me that the thing I am extremely grateful for is that when going to bed at night I have no fear that someone will burst in my front door and threaten my life. Similarly when I walk through the park and I notice all the little families and groups of friends peacefully spending time together, none of us have our basic security needs threatened. This is something that was largely invisible to me, but now I feel grateful for it all the time.

Meditate with Mindfulness
All of these suggestions are even more powerful at making your life a discovery when you are fully present in the moment, when you can absorb every second with all of your senses without the past and future coming in to ruin the magic. You can learn this skill easily by doing a short sitting meditation where you do nothing but follow your breath. You might notice your mind goes off. That’s ok and that’s natural. Just keep reminding yourself to go back to your breath. Even just doing this for a few minutes a day works wonders for the mind. Meditation has also been proven to make you a more happy and balanced individual. So it makes sense to add it into your routine.

 

By Celest Pereira

Celest is a trained dancer and martial artist with a BS in Physiotherapy and over 10 years yoga practice. Celest completed her Yoga Teacher Training in India in 2009 and has been teaching full time since then. Witnessing her classes really begin to buzz with increasing numbers of regular students she founded CITYOGI, a website aimed to make yoga more accessible to the city professional. Celest's greatest passion is to teach Vinyasa Flow Yoga. She has classes in top yoga centers in London, such as Triyoga and Evolve and regularly takes groups to exotic locations for yoga retreats.

Try these classes YogaDownload classes to feel the magic of the moment! 

Alex Cordoba - Ground into Essence 


Firefly Flow - Jackie Casal Mahrou 

 

So how do you move on from this, from a place of shock, anger, or sadness to a place of learning, forgiveness, and peace?
I find I often go back to the age old adage all things happen for a reason. Because they really do. For me, this helps me make sense of things when there is no clear answer. 

It is such a peaceful, still and intimate time. Almost as if people need a moment to remember how they got to the mat they are sitting on. Their mind is now quiet as they rest in their bodies. It is a pause in our lives, a peaceful moment of stillness in our day. If we approached our lives day by day, moment by moment from this still, relaxed internal state I have a feeling we would all be living somewhat different lives. And I think we would all be somewhat different people. We might react less and appreciate more. We might talk less and listen more. We might see our problems more objectively, letting go and letting life sort some of it out. So why don’t we just live from that place where we are so connected to breath and body?

It seems that we have forgotten how intelligent our bodies are. We have forgotten the wisdom that rests in our body and put emphasis on the information we cram into our brains. Perhaps it is because our world seems to value logic, science, numbers and knowledge-topics which keep us in our minds.

Think about the body’s ability to heal itself without our assistance, its ability to pump our hearts moment by moment, the process of converting food into energy, its ability to guide us through feelings, all without our effort. It’s all pretty miraculous if you ask me. If our bodies are so miraculously intelligent imagine the potential of learning and change in our lives when we shift into that space more and more. But when it comes living day to day, we often hand over our power to the mind.

I have made some very intuitive decisions in my life – as I’m sure we all have. Ones that made no sense on the mental, rational, logical level but made perfect sense on a deeper, heart-centered level. They were the ones people would say, ‘You are crazy!’ ‘I wouldn’t do that’. ‘How are you going to make money?’ ‘What about your future?!’But I never regretted those decisions, the ones that came from within. They were often scary and challenged me alot. I definitely questioned them. But the strength of their desire was nothing that my mind could talk me out of. The more I neglected the information from my body, the louder it spoke. It let me know how frustrated it was when I didn’t listen to it.

In the end, what I am saying is - Take that moment after yoga. Become familiar with that feeling, the awareness of the heart trying to be heard, and open up to it. Let it be real. Let it speak to you. Listen, listen, listen. It is leading you to a higher wisdom and a more peaceful self.

By Susanne Mueller



Susanne lives in Vancouver, Canada where she teaches yoga, develops corporate wellness programs, leads nutrition workshops and works with clients towards better health. Susanne’s approach to Yoga and Holistic Nutrition is to connect people back to their natural selves. When we bring awareness and listen to that piece of who we are, we naturally eat, live and act in ways that support ourselves and each other. Read more about Susanne at www.susannemueller.ca.

Start practicing pausing and listening with following classes from YogaDownload:

Pause & Reflect- Dawnelle Arthur 


Yin Yoga - Elise Fabricant 

But not all colleges are created equal when it comes to providing access to yoga or mindfulness programs. So we made a list. We scoured the college reviews, student forums and too many syllabuses to name, and put together for you a rather unscientific list of the best traditional 4-year colleges and universities that would make a yogi feel at home. Drumroll please, presenting…  

The Top 10 Colleges for Yogis 

10. Ball State University, Muncie, IN: often quoted in Yoga Journal, home to an annual wellness summit that includes Laughter Yoga, and blocks from Lotus Alternative Pain Center. Well played, Muncie. 

9. Pratt, Brooklyn, NY: more than just an elective PE credit or fitness program, Pratt sees yoga as part of a holistic approach to healthy learning. Namaste to that. 

8. SUNY Purchase: they keep a Kundalini lecturer on staff at this artsy campus, and if you need the counseling center to work on your dosha, they’re down with Ayurveda.

7. Reed College, Portland, OR: situated in a super green, creative nexus with an entire curriculum dedicated to ‘inquiry and self-inquiry,’ with a populist approach to yoga.

6. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT: in addition to the campus’ attitude of radical acceptance, they offer a course in AcroYoga. For credit. Seriously. 

5. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO: the faculty is in the middle of a study on the benefits of Bikram and the students are winning Yoga Asana Championships. Go Rams! 

4. University of New Mexico at Taos: in addition to the Holistic & Healing Arts degree program, UNM-Taos offers accredited yoga teacher training on campus.

3. Oberlin College, OH: consistently rated one of the healthiest, most liberal, most veggie-friendly and best colleges for “Birkenstock-wearing hippies.” Case in point: Yoga for Singing? 

2. University of Vermont: the word ‘yoga’ appears on nearly 1,700 pages of the UVM website, which sounds about right on a campus with a Mind-Body Wellness Department and local yoga/meditation center directory. 

1. University of California at Santa Cruz: 7 faculty mind/body teachers, dozens of weekly classes from meditation hikes to warrior yoga, in a city with possibly the most yoga studios per capita and a sunny, healthy disposition year round. They even claim to be the birthplace of organic farming!

This week, to dive deeper into the inquiry and invitation of Ishvara Pranidhana

 

On the Mat
 

Reflect

Stress. Anxiety. Depression. Chronic illness. My guess is that you know a person or two (or three or thirty-three) who suffer from one or more of these conditions. There is a simple way to begin feeling better though – from the inside out – and I am living, breathing proof. Simple does not mean easy though; this step requires patience, deliberateness, and a bit of self love. In yoga teacher training, we focused on studying Yoga asanas, meditation, and yogic philosophy, of course, but it was the conscious breathing (pranayama) that changed my life in the long run.

Breathing is so easy, right? Babies do it, kids do it, all animals do it. If there’s one thing in this life that we know how to do, it’s breathing, right?

Wrong.

Sure, we all breathe. Without a thought, our lungs expel and replenish air. In and out, in and out, every day, all day. But, does that mean you actually know how to breathe, with intention, with consciousness, and in a way that can and will change your life for the better?

How We’ve Stopped Breathing
American culture has made it not only acceptable, but somehow almost redeemable to be rushed, multi-task-oriented, and stressed out, as though the more chaos we have in our lives, the more we “win” (I’m not sure what we win, but clearly we must think we’ll win something.). We pack our days with work and activities, we pressure ourselves to do more – more favors, more projects, more socializing, more working out, more, more, more. And I can’t mention our cultural busyness without also recognizing technology. We (and in this, I wholeheartedly include myself) have become highly dependent on and in many cases addicted to the buzzing, lit-up, socially-and-professionally-”connected” world of iPhones, iPads, laptops, and giant TV’s, which often distract, complicate, and overstimulate our already-active minds and lives. Add with this cultural norm that we now face combined with the the pressures of making ends meet during a recession, and … voile! In the chaos, we have forgotten how to breathe with intention, experience silence, sit still, and and simply be.

How This Affects Us
This culture of habitual stress leads to high blood pressure, heart failure, skin ailments, susceptibility to colds and flus, and perhaps worst of all, irritability, depression, and anxiety. And an ill or emotionally drained person is a less productive, less loving, less happy person.

A Few Breaths A Day Keeps The Chaos at Bay

My Challange to You: Take 2

I challenge you today to find and commit to two minutes a day when you can be alone and focus on your breath. If you’re wondering when in the world you’ll find two more minutes in your cramped day, I then challenge you to wake up two minutes earlier. Take those minutes to breathe. Listen to your breath. Feel your breath. Just notice it. Sit in that silence, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

How Breathing Can Change Your Life
- Slow breathing helps your stressed-out nervous system rest and regenerate.
- Focused deep breathing can help your heart to function with more ease.
- Deep breathing oxygenates your cells and organs, which may be deprived of vitality due to shallow, stressed breathing.
- Spending just a few minutes a day in conscious breathing is an opportunity to connect with yourself, something we often forget to do or lose sight of in our busy lives.

After a moment of quiet breathing, you’ll feel more grounded, which will make facing the day’s challenges or busy-ness that much easier. With practice, a few minutes of deep slow breathing a day can lead to longer stretches of time when you can breathe consciously with patience, and this can lead to feelings of peacefulness, relaxation, and centeredness.

Slow down, notice your breath, and discover how a few conscious breaths a day can start to change your life.

“Inhale, and Life approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and Life remains with you. Exhale, and you approach Life.” ~Krishnamacharya

 

 

By Anitra Lahiri

Anitra Lahiri is an avid Yogi, Yoga Instructor, mother, and writer who strives (and often fails!) to infuse all aspects of her life with Yoga philosophy and practice. Her Yoga blog, Under the Lotus Tree, is for anyone who simply wants to live a healthier, more meaningful life. Read more from Anitra at her blog -  underthelotustree.com.

Start practicing deep breathing with following classes from YogaDownload:

Yin Yoga - Elise Fabricant 


Alternate Nostril Breathing - Natalie Maisel 

 

It’s the every day occurrences we don’t even realize we are practicing that become habits. So why not add something positive in your life, like eating healthy, journaling, exercising, yoga or meditation?  I am a big believer in practicing something positive every day to create and maintain a positive habit. Here’s why:

• We are more successful in following through when things are structured and scheduled. Every day is every day, and there is no waiting until tomorrow, or when you feel like it, or when you can’t think of a great excuse, because it is already determined it is every day.

 

• The results of a good habit are cumulative. When you start to really feel good as a result of practicing it (for example yoga, even for 15 minutes) you get positive reinforcement.

• Creating a Habit takes 28 days. You may have already heard it takes 21 days to make a habit, but a study NASA did on space orientation in the sixties found it actually took 28 days for the astronauts to rewire their brains and become reoriented. This of course was 28 days, every day.

 

• Do you want to feel good every day or just some of your days?  Why wouldn’t you practice something every day to feel the benefit every day? Even if it’s only 5 minutes, the frequency of a daily practice is much more important than how long you do it for.

 

• There is great power in doing something daily. It gives you a measurement of your commitment, and every day you get to check in with yourself on a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual level to remember what is most important.

 

We are not our habits, but what we practice is what we become. This can be over-eating, complaining, staying up late, or eating in moderation, speaking positively and going to bed to get your 8 hours in. 

 

What are you practicing every day?

 

By Diane Sieg

                                                                      

With a career that has taken her from the chaos of the emergency room to the calm of her yoga mat, Diane Sieg first discovered yoga as a great source of physical and emotional healing during a personal crisis and has been practicing ever since. Today, as an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher, professional speaker, published author, retreat facilitator and life-saving coach, Diane empowers people to live their most authentic life, both on and off the mat. Her teaching style is a calm intensity with strong alignment based principles. Diane is the creator of 30 Days to Grace: A Daily Practice to Achieve Your Ultimate Goals, both in CD and book format. Read more about Diane at dianesieg.com.

 

 

Start creating a positive daily habit today with a YogaDownload class!

30 Days to Grace - Diane Sieg 

 

Empowerment Flow - Hayley Hobson 

 

The Power of Your Intention - Nancy Nielsen 

 

 As a friend, lover, wife, mother, daughter, sister, yoga instructor, and mentor when I hear the word "should," I both cringe and smile. In this instance, I cringe because that small little word carries much power, and each time it’s unconsciously placed in a sentence, I can see more clearly where this conversation is going. I know why she is having trouble moving forward. But I also smile. I smile because not too many years ago "should" was my favorite word, a word I used so often that I forgot whose life I was living. I smile because that’s what my mentor did when he heard me use that word incessantly and nonchalantly throughout the years, knowing all too well that one day I would realize just as he did that our lives don’t have neither the space nor the time for that word. One day he told me, “You know, Alex, a while back I took that word out of my vocabulary.” Gradually and with time, when I was ready, he inspired me to do the same.

So, inspired by the support of my mentor and the journey I have been on for some time now, I told my friend with honesty and complete sincerity that, “I know sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the “should do’s,” trust me, I do. But really, my life truly began to unfold when I stopped "should doing" and began listening to what made my heart sing and then started doing that.”

 

You see life has a tricky way of convincing us that we need to do certain things to be happy or look a certain way to find our other half, or accomplish that yoga pose to be a true ‘yogi’ (whatever that means) or make a certain amount of money to live the life we have been waiting for.

 

However, what life has been continuing to teach me and what I truly have faith in, is that we offer and receive the most from this life when we step into the current and believe in the worthiness of our own gifts and our own talents; the ones we were born with, the ones we were meant to share with the world.

​In the end, though, it all comes down to one thing: our willingness to claim our space in this life as humans on this planet at this time. When we accept our divinity, we no longer question whether we are worthy, because we know that we are meant to be here to fulfill a particular purpose, a purpose that no one other than us can fulfill.

So I continued to probe, “What do you think your dharma is?”

“My dharma?” she asked.

“Your purpose,” I clarified.

After a few moments of pause, she replied, ”I don’t know! It makes me want to cry that I’m 32 and I still don’t know…I’ve been searching for my purpose and …”

(Pause)

“Honestly, Al, I know it sounds ridiculous but I think maybe, maybe it might just be to be a mom.”

(Pause)

And then she told me, “I love you!” And I responded that I loved her too.

After in so little words we exchanged our mutual affection for the other I responded, “being a mom…that is a start and if you ask me, it’s not ridiculous, it’s a beautiful purpose."

Remember, it’s not about evaluating ourselves or our purpose as worthy or unworthy, so much as it’s about accepting that we have been called here to serve and taking the steps required to listen and respond to what our lives are asking us to do.

So to all of you questioning out there. Know that it doesn’t have to be something grandiose. It doesn’t have to sound extraordinary. It doesn’t have to be what you’ve been thinking you should be doing for years. More often than not it’s that small thing that makes you smile, that makes your heart sing, that makes you get out of the bed in the morning with the excitement of a small child on Christmas morning. More often than not you already know what it is, you’ve just been afraid to step into it because to truly live, to truly be who you were always meant to be is the scariest way to live because it requires that you show up as you – authentically, radically, bravely – EVERYDAY!

So start now. Ask yourself, “what is my purpose?” And then share it with the world and start living. And do it not just for you, but to be the catalyst in your community who inspires all those around you to do the same.

Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.

To living your svadharma!

 

By Alex Cordoba

                                                            

Do you know what you are capable of? Most people have no idea and never genuinely try to discover their true potential.
What continues to hold you back? Is it fear of success or failure? Is it fear of the responsibility it may require?
Or the risks you may have to take in order to get there?

Does it seem easier to quit rather than persevere?

But you dream don’t you? I do. And I believe our dreams can become a reality.
There was a time in my life where my belief system was limited. I didn’t think I deserved to author the book called My Life. I watched it go by on a movie screen. I couldn’t recognize the characters.

Sound familiar?

YUCK!

Are you still breathing? Yes. Of course you are. So that’s one step in the right direction.

Now, let’s get honest. Is that story you were telling yourself even true or has it been holding you captive all of this time? It’s easy to get sucked into the belief that you are your story.

Step away. Take a look. Couldn’t that story change? Of course it can! You are the author!

Now, don’t get angry with yourself. Remember, there is no one to blame. It’s just time to for the next scene to take place.

Here we go:

Have A Sense of Direction and Purpose.
What do you want and why? Are your efforts worth the investment of time, finances and emotional energy? I new mine were. I didn’t like my character anymore. She was stuck. She was BORING! It was definitely time to move on and the investment of my time and energy was of no consequence.

Know What You Value in Life.
What you value should be of utmost importace to you. If you align yourself, relationships, friends and career with our values, you will always be living in truth.

Get Organized.
Often times, the hardest part about moving forward is getting organized. There is SO much to do, it’s easy to feel scattered. Don’t stress. One step at a time. One day at a time. Come up with a plan. Write it down. Stick to it.

Take Action.
I knew I was ready to take action because I felt suffocated. There was no other option. It was time for me to take a deep breath and open the new door to my life. It was time to come alive again. Don’t let your excuses hold you back. If you’re ready to participate in you’re life, let’s go.

I have given you some great insight into overcoming what holds you back. I’d love to hear from you. What do you think holds you back? What would it take for you to take action and make what you want a reality? Please let your comments in the box below.

This article was originally featured in Positively Positive, and Hayley's Blog. 

By Hayley Hobson

Some days it will be amazing — you’ll sit down and your mind will go quiet. Other days you’ll feel like you’re having a mental throw up — all your emotions and thoughts will come up. But it’s absolutely worth it to achieve the ability to sit and just be. Be nothing: no thing. That’s what meditation is all about. When you get into that state of nothingness, that’s where you can tune to the intelligence of the universe. That’s where you heal. That’s where you revitalize. That’s where inspiration comes into you.

You cannot think inspiration or hope for inspiration. You’ve got to allow it to come to you. Sometimes inspiration arrives, and your mind is so strong that you fight it and create conflict with it; you don’t listen properly. To get to that point of quietness where you can hear the inspiration of the universe, we use Svara Yoga: the science of studying the breath and how the breath moves through the nostrils. Your breath is your life and what keeps you going. If you can learn to master that life force in your being, you can begin to control how you function. It’s the most empowering thing that you could possibly do in your life.

Learning the subtle concepts and practices of pranayama (breathing techniques) allows you to control the very prana, the life current of your being. You know it’s your life current because if you stop breathing, there is no more life. When you use pranayama to make the breath flow evenly, the brain goes into neutral. When the brain neutralizes and you become still, your energy moves to where you can relate to the intelligence of the universe: the crown of your head. It is there that healing, transformation, and inspiration happen.

By Alan Finger

When I was younger I was happy child. I didn’t have to read self help books or look for ways to be happy ad harmonious.

Core Yoga 4 

Quinoa Watercress Salad

When you are willing to try meditation, many of the psychological benefits can be experienced almost immediately. This is, of course, after you let go of the notion that you need to do it “right.” I have not only personally experienced many of these rewards, but I have also been witness to them in my students and clients:

1. Heightened positive emotions such as love, compassion, clarity, warmth, generosity

2. Increased capacity to understand and connect with others

3. Improved coping skills to deal with upset, grief, and fear

4. Broader comprehension and improved ability to focus

5. Increased creativity

6. Deeper level of relaxation

7. Improved perception and memory

8. Increased self-actualization

9. Increased productivity

10. Improved relations at work

Give meditation a try today, and reap the rewards!

 

By Diane Sieg

                                                                      

With a career that has taken her from the chaos of the emergency room to the calm of her yoga mat, Diane Sieg first discovered yoga as a great source of physical and emotional healing during a personal crisis and has been practicing ever since. Today, as an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher, professional speaker, published author, retreat facilitator and life-saving coach, Diane empowers people to live their most authentic life, both on and off the mat. Her teaching style is a calm intensity with strong alignment based principles. Diane is the creator of 30 Days to Grace: A Daily Practice to Achieve Your Ultimate Goals, both in CD and book format. Read more about Diane at dianesieg.com.

 

 

Download a guided meditation to start enjoying the benefits today:

30 Days to Grace 

 

The Power of Your Intention - Nancy Neilsen 

 

Embrace Your Inner Calm - Channing Grivas 

 

Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence…not necessarily tree-hugging, anti-war, protest-joining, vegan, guilt-inducing non-violence, but rather a compassionate attempt to purposely do no violence to others, including yourself. You may not be running around flailing a sharp knife at your enemies, and that’s great, but ahimsa challenges us to consider the less obvious ways in which we may be unknowingly, subtly violent. Ahimsa simply encourages us to be more aware and more compassionate. Where does ahimsa start? At the core of all we know: with ourselves.

Practicing Ahimsa On the Mat
The practice of yoga on the mat is non-competitive because when we compare ourselves to others, we are doing subtle violence to our psyche. The practice of yoga on the mat is accepting because when we judge how we look, how we feel, or what our body is capable of, we are doing violence to our spirit. The practice of yoga on the mat is pain-free, because when we stretch beyond our body’s ability into a space that causes us pain, we are doing subtle violence to our body. Hatha yoga meets us exactly where we are in the moment, and ahimsa reminds us to graciously accept ourselves and our bodies as we are right now.

Practicing Ahimsa Off the Mat
Ahimsa, the first Yoga Sutra, encourages us to contemplate, without guilt or judgment, how our actions affect others and the world around us. From the products we buy to the way we treat strangers, to the food we choose to ingest, ahimsa encourages us to be mindful of what others feel and experience as a result of our actions. Note that “mindful” does not mean “guilty” (Guilt is just another form of violence we do to ourselves!). Ahimsa merely reminds us to be aware, to remember that our actions and choices affect others.

How I Choose to Practice Ahimsa

At a very young age, I felt a collective consciousness hard-wired into my DNA, yoking me on some fundamental level to my Indian heritage. Although my father gave up his vegetarianism at sixteen and I had been raised to eat meat, I had an epiphany at the age of seven when I realized that the meat I had been eating once had a soul, a will to be free, and a right to live, just as I had. I realized that it was with violence that these animals lived and through violence that they died. I could no longer eat chicken and say I loved animals. I could no longer eat pig meat and say I didn’t like violence. I could no longer eat cow meat and then hug my dogs, whose depth of love and compassion surpassed that of most humans I knew growing up. I am not perfect in my convictions or practices. Nor is my diet necessarily the right way for everyone. Nor do I feel I’m better than anyone else. But refraining from eating meat is one way of alleviating the suffering and violence in this world just a little, and it is what works for me.

Ahimsa and You
Is there a place in your life, whether it be in the way you speak to yourself or someone else, the way you treat the people you encounter on a daily basis, the way you view your reflection in the mirror, or the food you choose to eat, where you can more mindfully foster ahimsa?

 

By Anitra Lahiri

Anitra Lahiri is an avid Yogi, Yoga Instructor, mother, and writer who strives (and often fails!) to infuse all aspects of her life with Yoga philosophy and practice. Her Yoga blog, Under the Lotus Tree, is for anyone who simply wants to live a healthier, more meaningful life. Read more from Anitra at her blog -  underthelotustree.com.

Start practicing ahimsa with the following classes from YogaDownload:

Bhakti Flow - Lauren Pech 


Foundations of the Practice- Alanna Kaivalya 

 

More and more classes are starting to incorporate an integral or full-spectrum yoga experience. The integral yoga class includes asana (postures), pranayama (breath work), and meditation. Classes are challenging and include a mix of twists, inversions, and back bends within a vigorous flow. Keeping in mind your own personal yoga practice, these inversions and back bends do not have to be advanced postures. They only need to be challenging to your body.

Meditation serves all human beings by slowing down our brains and allowing us to get in touch with our subtle energy systems. It is a method to still the mind and become more aware of our true identity as a spiritual being that ‘wears’ a physical body.

What you can expect out of meditation is a calmer existence, a less reactive response to life. Meditation literally helps you deal with the ups and downs of your day with more equanimity—more stability in the moments of ups and downs. We begin to understand that ups and downs are normal, continuing and ever shifting; we soon realize they are impermanent and do not warrant our mental angst. Meditation is something that must be experienced to understand. Just as T.S. Elliot teaches, information does not equal knowledge. You need to do the work to gain the knowledge.

Commit to trying my integral classes below for at least a month and see how the practice changes and serves you. I look forward to hearing about your experience! Namaste.

By April Laliberte

Striving to incorporate a mix of asana, pranayama and meditation into all of her classes, April offers her students a well-rounded and transformative yoga experience. She brings “playful and the skillful” together on the mat, where the body and breath become yoga. Read more about April at her blog, and check out her company, Nomadic Import Traders. 

Try one of April's YogaDownload.com classes today!

Big Backbends 

Essential Inversions 

Chakra Awareness Meditation 

 

I started with wanting cucumber slices and spicy hummus, but the cucumber was kind of soft. Not wanting to be wasteful with food, I decided to make a cleansing and nourishing smoothie.

What else did I have around? Lemons, blueberries, bananas, coconut water and then some. I think today I used everything but the kitchen sink. Maybe I should consider renaming this smoothie.

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1 cucumber (peel on)
juice of 1 small lemon
1/2-1 cup of fresh blueberries
1/2 cup acai berry juice
1 single serving of coconut water
3 scoops of *Nutrimeal protein powder, or another healthy protein powder
6-8 ice cubes

Directions:
I put everything in the blender and gradually worked to high speed. I left on high for about 2 minutes for a really well blended almost juice like smoothie. It made enough to fill my glass twice, but I felt perfectly satisfied with this post yoga smoothie.

Use the comments below to tell me what is the most random smoothie concoction you’ve made, and ended up loving!

* If you are interested in purchasing or learning more about Nutrimeal protein powder, email me at jessica@jessicawymanwellness.com. 

By Jessica Wyman

Jessica Wyman is an energetic wellness expert helping women embark on their own personal journey to living their Vibrant Girl Life. She knows that living your best life cannot be achieved by a single focus, which is why she is a multi-passionate wellness coach. As a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Yoga Instructor and Certified Usui & Tibetan Reiki Master, she combines her unique blend of healthy eating, yoga, spiritual development, reiki and love of delicious food to inspire women to achieve a wealth of health in all areas. As the founder of Vibrant Girl Life, Author of Girlfriends Organic Kitchen, and creator of her informative wellness blog, she provides wellness information to help women live well. Want to live vibrantly? – Stick around and she’ll show you how! Read more about Jessica, and find more amazing recipes at jessicawymanwellness.com.

Regardless of how welcoming the yoga community is, we all still feel like this sometimes. It didn't take me long to realize that yoga isn't at all about perfection. But over the years, I've found that many practicing yogis and non-yogis alike still share the same basic concerns, habits, misconceptions and frustrations. Sometimes we can all benefit by 'taking a step back' and acknowledging all that yoga really is and is not!

1.) Inherent flexibility will not give you any advantage. Read that again. You do not have to be flexible to do yoga! Flexibility and mobility are just some of many GOALS of yoga, but everyone's body is different. There will always be certain poses that some people can do and others can't, regardless of however you define "flexibility." So stop comparing yourself to those around you because being able to stretch like Gumby will absolutely not make you or your yoga practice any better (though I always thought Gumby was pretty cute).

2.) Focus on your own practice. When you first start yoga, this can be challenging. You'll need to stay focused on the instructor for a while to learn the poses. But once you're a bit more comfortable, work to drop your ego and never mind how you look in a pose, what you're wearing, what you're doing after yoga or what anyone else around you is doing. This is a time to get away from stress, comparison and daily life. Turn your attention inward and focus on your present mind and body.

3.) Everyone mixes up right and left sometimes, so don't worry. There are just some days that you, your neighbor or your teacher cannot seem to delineate left from right. No big deal! If you make a mistake, just be sure to visit both sides for asymmetrical poses to keep your body in balance.

4.) Stay calm when you trip, stumble or fall on your face. To reiterate #2 and #3, everyone is focused on their own practice, and mistakes are part of learning, so don't be embarrassed or frustrated! Sighing in frustration, shaking your head or throwing a quiet mini-tantrum is only going to distract others and make it harder for you to stay present in your practice. Just chill out, take a few focused breaths and slowly try again or take a break in Child's Pose until the class moves on.

5.) Don't worry about advanced poses. It might be tempting to turn your yoga into something it's not: a platform to show-off your athletic prowess. It's okay to have a goal pose and be proud of your achievements, but you must learn to totally accept wherever you are right now. Never be ashamed to rest or skip any posture you're not comfortable with. Your practice will naturally build over time.

6.) Take a few minutes a day for yoga. Just a little each day (a few of your favorite poses or just some breathing practice) will help your mind and body more than 1 long class once or twice a week. Give yourself peace and quiet to just tune in to your body, mind and emotions for the day. Every little bit counts.

7.) Leave the baggy clothes out. There is a fine line between yoga clothes and pajamas, so it might be tempting to wear that big loose t-shirt or a comfy baggy shirt that makes you feel like a trendy yogi. But trust me, as soon as you try your first Forward Fold or Downward Facing Dog, that not-so-awesome baggy shirt will flip up over your head, blinding, smothering and annoying you for the duration of class. Stick with fitted tops.

8.) Clean and dry your mat. Don't suddenly be ashamed if you haven't thought of it yet, but yes, yoga mats get dirty and yes, they should be cleaned every once in a while. Be careful what you use to clean your mat, and keep in mind that full drying time can vary from 24 hours to 3 days depending on the type of mat. Sometimes a mat might feel dry to the touch until you get into your practice, so if your mat ever feels damp or slippery, please don't hesitate to ask for a spare for a safe and comfortable practice.

9.) No judging. You might hear gentle reminders in your yoga class to "leave the ego at the door," "stay present in your own practice" or reassurance that "no one is judging you." In yoga philosophy, ahimsa—often translated as "non-violence" or "non-harming"—is a very important practice of cultivating an attitude of loving kindness, contentment, or non-judgment. We use this to create a welcoming atmosphere when practicing in the studio for ourselves and others. So no one has to wear that "newbie" sign around their neck. 

10.) Ask questions and make requests! Your yoga teacher really loves yoga and only serves to suggest poses and facilitate your learning. If something doesn't feel right, you have an idea or you're curious about why we do certain things we do, please let your teacher know so that he/she can help you improve your practice! If you do not practice with a teacher, I would encourage you to seek one out in your area that gets you excited about yoga.  If you are practicing with an online teacher, leave a review of the class or contact them via email with your questions. There are many types of yoga and teachers of all kinds, but it's important to have someone to correct your mistakes, help you in your journey and guide your practice.

10.5) Always respect regular class etiquette and your fellow students. This tip only applies if you are practicing in a studio, and didn't deserve to be a full #11 tip because it's only common courtesy. Arrive early or on time for class, do not bathe in overbearing perfumes, be quiet and turn off your cell phone. Duh!

Hopefully these tips are encouraging for your yoga practice. Use them to deepen your understanding of real acceptance among the yoga culture. Save them, pin them, think about them or meditate on any that challenge you. We could all use occasional little reminders for the simple things sometimes, so don't forget these basics! Namaste. 

By Rosslyn Kemerer

 

Rosslyn Kemerer is a yoga-lover, instructor and entrepreneur via Wholehearter Yoga in Pittsburg, PA. With a love of nature and music, Rosslyn teaches lots of outdoor classes and creates custom Indie rock-inspired playlists. Outside of the studio, you might find Rosslyn experimenting with a dicey DIY project, reading, playing drums, gardening, running or blogging.  Check out her blog for more inspiration!

Try one of our Beginner Classes at YogaDownload today!

Yoga for Beginners- Jackie Casal Mahrou 


Intro to Yoga - Jamie Kent 

 

1. Find Your Passion

Without a passion for what you do in life it can be impossible to feel your life has meaning. Meaning is what gives us purpose and purpose inspires happiness. Many people however, have no clue what their passion is, what they love or how to find it. One simple technique is to imagine you are 100 years old and you are about die. Before you are about die your great great grandchild asks, “Please, give me advice, what should I do with my life?”. If you take a moment to honestly answer this question without thinking too much you will be amazed at what your heart throws forth. Go on, take a minute, and do it now.

2. Build Your Self Confidence

 

When we cultivate the kind of awareness that comes through mindfulness practices, we have the opportunity to pause and choose how we respond to the inevitable triggers and stresses of life in the moment that is happening. This is a powerful and even life-changing technique to use when you get cut off on the highway or have a heated discussion with your boss.

The practice of mindfulness has been highly effective in treating addiction, mental illness, and chronic pain for years because it helps you deal with impulsive and compulsive tendencies in a different way. There is research coming out all the time on how it can enrich everyone’s life. Read on to find out what mindfulness can do for you: 

 

1. Reduce your stress. Mindfulness shifts your ability to use emotion regulation strategies to experience less anxiety, depression and distress, and actually lower your cortisol levels.

2. Improve your performance. Neuroscientists have proven the practice of mindfulness creates new neural pathways to rewire the brain, leading to heightened brain function to improve working memory and overall work performance.

3. Increase your ability to focus. By focusing on the present moment in the mindfulness practice, you heighten your ability to focus your attention and suppress distractions in your daily life.

4. Experience less emotional reactivity. The ability to respond and not react to stressful situations and the ability to return to baseline after a negative situation improves overall quality in all areas of your life.

5. Enrich your relationships. Mindfulness is important because autopilot is the most dangerous enemy to a healthy relationship.

6. Sleep better. A secondary benefit of mindfulness is relaxation which improves getting to sleep and staying asleep.

7. Strengthen your resilience. Mindfulness is a wake up call to become conscious of how we perceive and respond to life’s situations.

8. Lose weight. With more mindful eating that comes from mindfulness training, psychologists agree you are more likely to maintain your weight loss.

9. Improve your overall happiness and well-being. With more focus, relaxation, and less stress, you experience more happiness and enhance your capacity to experience the joys of everyday life.

10. Improve your bottom line. Studies from some of America’s biggest and best corporations have shown that health and happiness directly affect the bottom line.

Ready to get more mindful? Look for my top 10 ways to practice mindfulness next month or join me for my next program, Your Mindful Year or Your Mindful Year Retreat in August.

By Diane Sieg

                                                                      

With a career that has taken her from the chaos of the emergency room to the calm of her yoga mat,Diane Sieg first discovered yoga as a great source of physical and emotional healing during a personal crisis and has been practicing ever since. Today, as an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher, professional speaker, published author, retreat facilitator and life-saving coach, Diane empowers people to live their most authentic life, both on and off the mat. Her teaching style is a calm intensity with strong alignment based principles. Diane is the creator of 30 Days to Grace: A Daily Practice to Achieve Your Ultimate Goals, both in CD and book format. Read more about Diane at dianesieg.com.

Download Diane's Audio Daily Practice:

30 Days to Grace 

On these days, I look to my practice to wake me up. In yoga, energy is referred to as Prana, or the Life Force. It is constantly circulating within us, but due to physical, mental, and spiritual blocks, it can stuck or restricted. If we take an energetic approach to our practice, we can begin to tap into this energy, starting with the spine.

By Jessi Andricks


Jessi Andricks is a Charleston, SC area yoga and fitness teacher. She specializes in a mind-body approach to fitness, to help people regain their energy and learn to fuel their lives through exercise, whole foods, and holisitic habits. Read more about Jessie at thehouseofhealthy.com.

Try the following classes to awaken your Prana:

Firefly Flow 


Fire of Transformation Tantric Flow - Katie Silcox  

But how does one fall in love with oneself, over and over again? Here are my top 5 ways to support you to practice self-love:

1. Get Grateful.
Right now, list 10 things you love about yourself. It can be anything, from your long eyelashes to your culinary expertise to your steadfast honesty. Ignore your inner critic who inevitably will question every item on your list.

2. Forgive.
What could you forgive yourself for and completely let go of right now? Maybe it’s not knowing enough, making a wrong decision, forgetting something important, or falling off your fitness routine. In other words, forgive yourself for being human.

3. Schedule self-care.
This scheduled time is all about you, to take care of and love yourself. It can be to attend a yoga class, practice mindfulness meditation, get a massage, schedule your overdue colonoscopy, eat a healthy lunch, or read your favorite novel. Do (at least) one thing a day that is just for you—even if it’s only for 5 minutes.

4. Do something fun or funny.
When is the last time you did something for the sheer fun of it? See a funny movie, get together with someone who makes you laugh, take an improv class or see a show. Another option is to take your grandchildren, nieces or nephews or other young children on an adventure to the zoo or an indoor gym because kids know how to have fun!

5. Practice a loving kindness meditation.
Breathe gently, and recite inwardly the following traditional phrases from Jack Kornfield’s book, The Wise Heart. As you repeat these phrases, picture yourself as you are now, or as a young child and hold that image in a heart of loving kindness. Adjust the words and images in any way that works for you.

May I be filled with loving kindness.

May I be safe from inner and outer dangers.

May I be well in body and mind.

May I be at ease and happy.

These activities may feel uncomfortable and even silly initially, but with practice they will become more familiar and you will experience how well they work. There of course are many more, and I am eager to hear the ways you practice self-love. 

 

By Diane Sieg

                                                                      

Where your attention goes, your energy flows.

An important step in helping you to realize your potential is to pay attention to your habitual thoughts. This is where meditation is invaluable. Simply sitting for a few minutes everyday and focusing on your breath will teach you about where your mind tends to runaway to. As you realize this, keep a journal of where your mind is going. Then, in your meditation time, set aside a few minutes for contemplation. Think back to a situation and notice if  your mind can pick out what you feel you did well on, or what you did not do well on. 

When doing this exercise make a special effort to focus only on what you did well. Ask yourself, “What did I do well?” over and over again. Often the brain will say, “NOTHING!” But you know in your heart that that is not true. So keep asking yourself this question and let your memory run wild. If you want, keep a journal of these things. They will have a massive impact on how you see yourself when you return to a similar situation in the future.

Master the ego.
The ego is an important part of who we are. It is there to keep us safe. In our evolution, as fragile creatures, it was essential that we were always looking out for what could harm us. These days, because the threat of being eaten by a saber-toothed tiger is no longer there, the ego now decides to keep us “safe” by making sure we don’t make fools of ourselves. So we never step outside of our comfort zone. We never take chances and keep doing the same old thing over and over and over again. This causes many people to fail to realize their potential. Someone very wise once said to me, “If you want to live a rich, full life, you must do three things: RISK, RISK, RISK!” These words have been my mantra as I am obsessed with leading a rich, full life. It has also enabled me to be the master of my ego, instead of my ego mastering me. In yoga we sometimes need to risk in order to progress with the practice, to “find our edge", and use it to propel us to new heights.

This wise person also said, “Dare to be who you are!” But what if some people don’t accept or like who you are? Well, remember the opening paragraph. There will always be these people. Be glad that they show their true colors so you can get to work on weeding them out of your life.

Embrace Difficulty.

Anxiety, stress and panic often accompany new situations where we don’t know what to expect. I only know a handful of people who would totally embrace being pushed into a room full of strangers. Difficult situations, as mentioned above, are essential to finding our inner strength - although that can be really challenging and easier said than done.

A technique I learned last year that has changed my life is known in NLP circles to “act as if”. This has a two-fold dimension. The first is to remember a time in the past when you had total confidence and felt great. Now bring back the memory of how you walked, talked, stood, breathed, your whole physiology. The second dimension is to use that physiology when you’re in the difficult situation and “act as if” you’re already a master at it – even if you’re not just yet. How you would act, perform or do anything if you could already do it – “act as if” you could. As a yoga teacher, I used to get very nervous before every class, which would impact my teaching. When I started applying this technique it made a huge difference in reducing my anxiety, and gave me the confidence I needed to teach a great class. Now I get my students to do this before we attempt difficult postures and it works! The students don’t always do the postures perfectly, but they feel good about even just attempting the postures.

Realize the truth.
The voice in your head that is always telling you that you are not enough is not the real you. This is years of brainwashing by the media and people projecting their insecurities on you. Once you silence this voice you will begin to see the real truth. You are limitless. You can do anything you set your mind to. And ultimately you are perfection personified. Oh, and you TOTALLY ROCK! 

By Celest Pereira

Celest is a trained dancer and martial artist with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy and over 10 years yoga practice. Celest completed her Yoga Teacher Training in India in 2009 and has been teaching full time since then. Witnessing her classes really begin to buzz with increasing numbers of regular students she founded CITYOGI, a website aimed to make yoga more accessible to the city professional. Celest's greatest passion is to teach Vinyasa Flow Yoga. She has classes in top yoga centers in London, such as Triyoga and Evolve and regularly takes groups to exotic locations for yoga retreats.

Try these classes YogaDownload classes to begin to awaken to your own perfection:

Core Radiance - Jeanie Manchester 


Hips, Heart & Hamstrings - Lisa Richards 

 

 

1. Use a refillable water bottle.  

Instead of buying a new plastic water bottle each time you are thirsty, purchase one that you can reuse and refill.

 

2. Replace your lightbulbs with more energy efficient light bulbs.  

The next time your light bulb burns out, instead of putting in a regular light bulb, replace it with an energy efficient bulb. This will save energy and reduce waste!

 

3. Get to Nature.

 

Go outside and reconnect with Earth whenever you get the chance, and remember how beautiful and important our lovely home is. Lie or play in the grass and experience gratitude for our planet.  

 

4. Only run your washer and dishwasher when they are full.  

This will save water and energy, as well as time. 

 

5. Remember to bring your reusable bags to the grocery store. 

It can be a challenge to remember, but if you keep your reusable grocery bags in your car you will always have them handy and never need to ask for a plastic or paper bag.  

 

6. Recycle.  

We all know this one.  Let's just keep it up!

 

7. Meditate or practice yoga outside. 

Connect with Mother Earth as you meditate or practice yoga outside. She loves to support you and connect. 

 

8. Soak your pots and pans.

Instead of letting the hot water run on your pots and pans while you scrape away with your brillo pad, leave them to soak over night. This will save water and elbow grease! 

 

9. Only use 1 napkin.

We have all done it...gone to a restaurant and grabbed 10 napkins out of the dispenser when all we need is one or two. Be conscious enough to use what you need. 

 

10. Use cloth.

When it comes to napkins and towels consider using cloth instead of paper to conserve.

 

11. Garden and plant.  

Give back to Earth and Earth will give back to you!  Plant a garden, tree, or flower.  It will both nurture you and our planet. 

 

12. Use an eco-friendly yoga mat.

Instead of grabbing a ten dollar mat at your local superstore, shop around at a yoga studio or online for an eco-friendly yoga mat. There are dozens out there now and they are all wonderful to practice on. You will have a more grounded and centered experience when you practice on something natural, and you will help our planet.  

 

13. Say NO to junk mail.

You can stop unwanted advertisements, catalogs, and offers from being sent to you.  Take a moment to watch this video on how to stop junk mail. This will save so many trees! 

 

14. Have an Earth Day Party! 

Why not have a party and toast to our Earth! Just be sure to get a keg instead of lots of individual beers!  

 

Please comment below with any additional ways that you celebrate or help our planet. Cheers and Namaste to Earth!

 

 

 

By Jackie Casal Mahrou

Jackie Casal Mahrou is a yoga instructor on yogadownload.com, and teaches Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative Yoga. Through her teaching and writing, she hopes to inspire as many as she can to live with grace, joy and gratitude.

 

 

Start practicing with Jackie's YogaDownload Classes today:

Firefly Flow 


Energizing Heart Flow