Have you ever wondered how yoga came West? While there’s probably no single person solely responsible for bringing yoga to North America, there is one amazing woman who played a major role. Her name was Indra Devi, and her story is intriguing. Indra Devi was born Eugenie Peterson in Riga, Latvia in 1899. She was […]
One of the wonderful things about yoga is there are so many styles to practice. Some, like power vinyasa and Asthanga are physically challenging. Others are gentler. Then there’s restorative yoga, a unique practice that is totally focused on rest and rejuvenation. What is restorative yoga? Restorative yoga is not a workout. Instead, it’s a […]
Along yoga’s eight limb path—the lifestyle tenets put forth by Patanjali—is the principle of non-stealing. Called asteya in Sanskrit, non-stealing is not just about keeping our hands off other people’s physical possessions. It’s also about time, resources, and respect for things that cannot be owned. Ideally, everyone would share resources and no one would have […]
Did you know yoga can improve your memory? It’s easy to see how when you consider that yoga is a lifestyle practice with a host of benefits for mind and body. Your memory, of course, is a function of your mind. Many things we do in yoga can help strengthen the mind. Examples include meditation, […]
I’ll admit it—I like to flow in an asana practice. If I hold a pose for long, I start to get antsy. So when I learned about Yin Yoga, I was sure it was a style that isn’t for me. Then I tried it and, more importantly, learned about its benefits. Turns out there’s a […]
As I lay in savasana at the end of a yoga class late last week, I tuned into the music playing softly in the background. It was a piece in which a singer was singing the words, “wahe guru.” As I drove home with the song playing in my head, I thought about those words. […]
Did you know that yoga mats have a history? Of course, everything has a history, so this shouldn’t be a surprise. But if you’ve ever wondered how modern yogis ended up practicing on “sticky” yoga mats, read on. Types of Yoga Mats Today, there are many types and brands of “sticky” yoga mats. They come in […]
According to Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science, autumn is vata season. This means you may feel airy, more scattered than usual, and in need of some help getting grounded. Fortunately, there are many grounding yoga poses that can help you feel more stable as the seasons shift. As you might guess, grounding yoga poses emphasize stability […]
Like any group, there are all kinds of yogis. While we don’t all like the same things, there do seem to be certain things yogis enjoy. Of course, we all love yoga (though we don’t all like the same yoga style). My yoga friends and teachers have introduced me to some new experiences over the […]
September is National Yoga Month. Have you participated in the celebration? If you didn’t know about this month-long celebration of yoga, it’s not too late. Yoga studios everywhere offer special classes, concerts, and events during the month of September. It’s a way to raise awareness of yoga, so tell your friends and family. Find a […]