What is Gong Meditation and How Can I Benefit From It?
For many centuries Eastern cultures have utilized gongs for therapy and as an aid for meditation; they were also often used in religious and personal ceremonies. Gongs are metal discs that are shaped like a circle. They make a unique, reverberating sound when they are struck with a hammer made of rubber or wood. Continue reading
Opening in Lunge
Article contributed by Yoga Instructor Ayesha Khan
Yoga Instructor Ayesha Khan in low lunge
It’s not so much the pose, but the work in this asana that captivates me. It is about me against me and the opportunity to dive deep into the yoga world. On the one hand “lunging” is an opportunity to eliminate disease through the cultivation of prana. Prana is the cosmic force that animates life in all that is living. On the other hand “lunging” is an opportunity to find clarity and reconnect with myself. Clarity as I am able to subdue the ego and let the process unfold. Continue reading
The Practice of Yoga Etiquette: 5 Polite Rules to Follow in the Studio
Like in many other situations, yoga practice has its own set of guidelines that practitioners are encouraged to follow. This yoga etiquette ensures that you and your fellow yogis are able to receive the full benefits of your classes. As a new yogi, knowing those guidelines can be a little bit confusing when first stepping into the studio. To make it easier, here are five respectful guidelines of yoga etiquette that all yogis should try to follow: Continue reading
How Yoga Can Help You Sleep
The ancient art of yoga has been practiced for thousands of years because of its positive effects on the mind and body. It reduces stress, strengthens and tones the muscles, and even makes a person fall asleep easier at night. That’s right; yoga is a great cure for those struggling with insomnia.
Nutrition and Yoga
Part of the yogic philosophy is the principle of total health. Many fitness regimes emphasize strength, ingesting incredible amounts of protein, and enduring a lot of cardio. While these fitness regimes can make one stronger, the yogic principle emphasizes something different.
Part of yoga is maintaining a strong body, a strong physicality, and a strong mind. The mind and body work together synergistically and a component of that balance is ingesting nourishing foods that feed the mind and body in a healthy way. Continue reading
Pincha Mayurasana (pin-cha my-your-AHS-anna) aka Feathered Peacock or Forearm Balance pincha=feather mayura=peacock
Yogi/blogger J. Brown recently wrote a brave piece dethroning the King and Queen of yoga – Salamba Sisasana (headstand) and Salamba Sarvangasana (shoulderstand). Though he discussed the very real potential for injury, especially in group classes, his greater emphasis was in regards to sticking to an ideal ‘pose’ in teaching and practicing when in reality it does not serve our body or reflect our body of wisdom. We need to teach what we know, and our knowledge must evolve with our practice over time.
I relate to this because these two poses have never served my body. Maybe it’s my long neck/short arms/long torso combo but I have intuitively refrained from practicing these poses. Since having kids my home practice has migrated to evenings and my full inversions have been traded for partial ones. Now that my children have begun full time school I have again claimed morning (and full inversions) for my practice. In doing so I have found my royal couple! I crown Adho Mukha Vrksasana (handstand) and Pincha Mayurasana (fore arm balance) my new ‘King and Queen of the Asanas’!
Meditation Mantra:
“I am love
I am health
I am happiness”
– Duncan Bourke
Yoga Instructor
Yoga Instructor, Duncan Bourke, in child’s pose at Rasa Flow Yoga Water Studio.
The Benefits of Child’s Pose, Balasana:
When practicing yoga in a classroom setting, child’s pose is an excellent option to downward dog!