Eating your Way to a Better Yoga Practice

It’s wintertime and the holidays have just past, do you feel a little overfed? Sure, yoga asanas can help maintain a strong and flexible body, but did you know you can deepen your yoga practice through the way you eat?

Conscious Eating

To get the most out of yoga asana classes, we need to be aware of ourselves both mentally and physically. There are a lot of internal things going on during asana practice and the body speaks to us continuously through our senses. By being mentally focused, our asana practice becomes an active form of meditation.

This same attention should be paid when we eat, because a lot of things happen inside our bodies. In this way we can transform eating into a form of meditation. By paying attention, we know if we are hungry, thirsty, craving or wanting to satisfy an emotional emptiness. If we are hungry, our body will tell us what type of food it requires, how much to chew, when we have eaten a sufficient amount, and how different foods make us feel mentally and physically.

With awareness, you can work with your body and feed it what it needs no matter what is going on in your life. Eating foods which work with your body will make you feel good physically, mentally and emotionally.

Yamas and Niyamas

The yamas (ethical principles) and niyamas (personal observances) are a part of the eight limbs of yoga, a framework for yoga practice used in everyday life. One of the yamas is ahimsa, or non-violence, which is practiced in many different ways.

One way is choosing food which limits the harm inflicted on others and animals. For some, this means avoiding all animal products, while others select meat which comes from animals who lived a more natural life. Choose what makes sense for you right now as this will change as your yoga practice evolves.

Tapas is a niyama which refers to personal discipline. Practicing tapas helps to control inner urges in order to help purify and cleanse ourselves. Practicing tapas in eating can be done in many ways, such as eating an amount which satisfies the body’s nutritional needs and not more. It can mean intermittent fasting with as little as one meal every few days or even longer. Tapas can also support ahimsa, such as when we limit our foods to plants.

An Aid to Meditation

The traditional yogic diet is one which aides in meditation. It is a plant-based vegetarian diet which includes dairy products and excludes foods which can agitate or depress the mind or body.

Foods which are stimulating include those which are excessively bitter, sour, salty, or spicy such as garlic, radishes, onions, coffee and tea. How food is prepared makes a difference as those which contain preservatives or have been fermented, burned, fried, barbequed or reheated many times lowers energy.

Awareness in the eating process is important as it allows us to make choices which are right for us as individuals. Eating becomes a positive experience. Extend your yoga practice to the dining table and eat to live so you can live fully.

Aligning the Spine with Yoga

We’ve all found ourselves with back pain at some point. Unfortunately, everyday activities can create problems or exacerbate existing ones. Through a regular practice of yoga asanas, it’s possible to improve some of these postural conditions and prevent them from getting worse.

A Healthy Posture

In order to have a healthy posture, it’s important to understand that there are many different contributing factors. Your posture is determined mainly by three factors – skeletal system, muscles and balance. Asanas naturally works on all three of these factors so simply practicing yoga can help improve your posture.

Hunched back / Kyphosis

As people spend more time hunched in front of a computer screen or staring down into their laps at a mobile phone, people’s postures have changed. The upper part of the spine rounds forward naturally, but kyphosis is when there is an exaggerated curve and often the shoulders are also hunched forward. Other factors such as a large chest or excess weight can also cause kyphosis.

Asanas such as Dhanurasana (bow), Matsyendrasana (fish), and Bhujangasana (cobra) all help to increase strength and flexibility of the upper portion of the spine, bringing it more into alignment. When practising these asanas, pull the chest forward so that the extension of the spine is focused in the upper back region.

Swayback / Lordosis

Lordosis is an exaggerated curve of the lower back (lumbar). It can look like the tummy or buttocks stick out, or both. People who have this condition usually have weaker abdominal muscles and tight hamstrings and lower back.

Abdominal strengthening exercises can increase balance in the core muscles. Try some double leg lifts and abdominal crunches. Engage the abdominal muscles before the exercise and try to keep the lower back in a stable position.

Paschimotanasana (sitting forward bend) and Padahastasana (standing forward bend) are useful to lengthen the muscles of the lower back and hamstring. Both of these asanas should be held for at least a few minutes to allow the muscles to slowly and gently stretch out.

C and S Curves / Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. When there is one curve, it is a C curve; when there are two areas, it is an S curve.

Regularly practising asanas with spinal rotations like Ardha Matsyendrasana (half spinal twist) and lateral bends like Trikonasana or Parivrtta Janu Sirasana (revolved side bend) help reduce curvatures of the spine. It stretches the sides of the torso to relieve tension in both deep and superficial muscles.

Balance Poses

In all cases, balance postures are beneficial as they help you to increase awareness of balance within your body. You can feel the compensations made by body to balance when you practice asanas such as Vrksasana (tree), Natarajasana (dancer), and even Tadasana (mountain). Elongating the body improves balance during the pose and straightens out the spine.

Whether you have a diagnosed postural issue or not, a healthy posture is an important component of overall health. Practice your asanas based on how your body feels. When you don’t have time for a full practice, do a few of the postures mentioned above to keep your spine healthy and in alignment.

How Yoga Asanas Are More Than Just Exercise

On the surface, it’s easy to think that doing yoga asanas is simply another way of getting exercise to increase strength and flexibility. However it’s much more than physical exercise in so many ways.

Yoga influences important aspects of health such as emotional balance, mental state, blood circulation, and overall energy. Proper breathing — a key component of yoga — is necessary to achieve the full benefits of asanas.

Full Yogic Breath

In yoga, the breath comes and leaves the body through the nose to properly filter the air and regulate the temperature before it reaches the lungs. The breath is smooth and steady, transitioning gently from inhalation to exhalation and back.

With full yogic breathing, the entire lungs are inflated and deflated systemically. The action starts from the bottom of the lungs for both the inhalation and exhalation and moves up toward the top of the lungs. The diaphragm and abdomen move downward to make room for the increased volume of air in the lungs.

Full yogic breathing allows the body to stay relaxed and keep stress at bay, even when stress from exercise or any activity is introduced. It helps to keep the mind in the present as attention is required to keep breathing methodically. The mind is focused and concentrated. The number of thoughts slow down, bringing enhanced mindfulness that can approach the meditative state.

Coordinating the Breath with Movements

The breath provides energy and helps the body work in sync with movements, so each movement and asana is co-ordinated with the breath. This co-ordination is obvious in the traditional yogic warm up, Surya Namaskar (or “Sun Salutations”). Whenever the body moves upward or stretches out long, an inhalation is taken; as the body moves downward or folds together, the breath is exhaled.

By co-ordinating the breath with movements, the whole body works together in harmony. The breath supports the muscles, making movements easier and reducing stress on the joints and muscles. Prana increases, and the body’s energy works in tune with itself, creating synergy.

Breath Control in Pranayama

In Pranayama (breathing exercises), the breath changes from an involuntary, automatic function to controlled movements tamed by the yoga practitioner’s mind. It teaches us that we are in control of our body, and we are in control of our lives.

One breathing exercise is Anuloma Viloma (alternate nostril breathing), which balances out the physical body, calms the mind and emotions, and balances the energy within the body. According to an ancient yogic text, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, “when the breath wanders, i.e. is irregular, the mind is also unsteady. But when the breath is still, so is the mind and the yogi lives long. So one should restrain the breath.”

Simply by being aware of our breathing, we’re able to take exercise to the next level and receive not only physical benefits but also mental and emotional benefits. Breathe deep and slow, co-ordinate your breaths with your movements, and stay aware of the breath at all times. That’s all you need to do.

Meditation Tips for Those Who Cannot Meditate

Meditation is in the media more and more. Is it a new fad?

Ironically the practice is thousands of years old and is found in various forms and cultures. There is no one way to meditate, just as each individual is unique. If one method doesn’t work, try another, then another, until you find one which works for you.

Practice, Practice, Practice

One of the most important aspects of meditation is that it is something to be practiced. A person cannot learn a sport, musical instrument, or skill without regular practice; the same goes for meditation. If you’re having trouble with meditation, you need to practice with greater frequency and perseverance.

Benefits of Meditation

To start meditating regularly, it’s helpful to understand some of the benefits which help us not just mentally but in the body as well. Scientifically proven benefits of meditation include:

  • decreasing stress and reducing the response to stressful stimuli
  • increasing feelings of peace, contentedness, and happiness
  • boosting your immune system

Postures

People often associate meditation with someone sitting with their legs crossed, hands in chin mudra with the eyes closed. This is the traditional yogic meditation posture. There are many ways to sit, including yogic postures like Padmasana (lotus), Ardha-Padmasana (half lotus), Sukhasana (legs crossed), kneeling or sitting in a chair.

Different hand positions are possible, chin mudra being the most common: tip of the thumb and index finger lightly touching, the other three fingers stretched out. Another position is with the hands in the lap, right hand in the left with the palms facing upwards. You can also clasp your hands together in the lap with your fingers loosely interlocked.

The most important part of body positioning is comfort so that you can sit straight with as little tension as possible. If sitting is difficult, doing yoga asanas will help increase flexibility and strength of the necessary muscles.

Time, Place and Regularity

A consistent time and place will make it easier for you to develop your meditation habit. Choose a time that you can stick to daily and won’t be distracted or disturbed. Early morning before you begin your day is usually best, or in the evening at the end of your day.

As far the duration of your meditation practice, you should start with an achievable goal, such as 5 minutes per session. Do this every day. After a week or two, try increasing the time by 5 or 10 minutes, again and again.

Sometimes you won’t feel in the mood to meditate. At these times, you should meditate for 5 minutes regardless of the duration of your usual practice. If you end up meditating for longer, that’s great; if not, at least you’ve reinforced the habit.

Observation and Breath

Allow your breath to be natural, and observe your breath and body. Accept the fact that your mind will wander. When you notice your thoughts wandering away, gently bring your focus back to your breath. Don’t create more thoughts by being hard on yourself. Simply observe how you feel and adjust.

When you are done meditating, slowly bring yourself back. Keep silent to help keep the calm and positive vibrations with you.

After just a few days of meditation, you will notice a change. Experiencing these positive changes in yourself will be the best motivation for maintaining a regular meditation practice.

Elevate Your Yoga Practice in 1 Simple Step

Each day we become a bit older and our every experience helps us grow. Your yoga practice is no different – keep challenging yourself and make changes to discover how it can evolve. Changes can be big or small, but sometimes a different perspective can drive the biggest change. Use the concept of Stira Sukha Asanam to elevate your practice today!

Stira Sukha Asanam

Regardless of the type of practice you do, you can incorporate this ancient concept from the Yoga Sutras. Stira Sukha Asanam means steady, comfortable pose. Imagine if every yoga asana pose was as easy, comfortable and relaxed as Savasana. With practice, this can become a reality.

Sukha

When you see toddlers learning how to stand or walk, have you noticed how their bodies are as stiff as a plank? They haven’t learned which muscles to activate or how much effort is required so all of the muscles work at full power and they even forget to breathe. With practice, they are able to stand firmly with ease as the muscles relax and soften.

This is the same in yoga asanas. The first time, you’re not sure what you’re doing so it feels awkward and tiring because all of the muscles are working. With practice it becomes easier and you can breathe normally.

You can speed up the time it takes to become comfortable in any asana by breathing slow and rhythmically, relaxing the body so less effort is expended and only use the muscles which are needed. With practice, you’ll even be able to relax the muscles which hold you up.

Stira

Can you stand on your feet for 30 minutes comfortably? How about 1 hour? If you answered yes, then you are capable of practicing Sirsasana (headstand) or Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) for just as long, with practice.

When you maintain physical relaxation while in your poses, you’ll be able to hold them longer because less effort is needed. Often the first 2 minutes of any pose is the most difficult as the body requires time to adjust. Once you get past this, the rest of the time is much easier. Try to hold each asana for at least 5 minutes to get more benefit. It’s only a matter of practice and knowing that it’s possible.

Active Meditation

So now you’re able to be comfortable and relaxed in your yoga asanas and are physically able to hold them for some time, but do you actually do it? Does your mind get restless and urge you to do something else?

The physical relaxation is only half the equation. Without mentally relaxing, the seconds pass like minutes and minutes feel like hours, it seems impossible to hold for 5 minutes. To counter this, use meditation techniques to calm down the mind. If you’re not familiar with meditation, bring your awareness to your breath. When the mind wanders away (and it will), gently bring it back, repeating this again and again.

In yoga or any experience, you can do big things, like making a trip to a holy land. Don’t overlook small changes as they can have just as much impact, often it’s these changes that have long-term effects. Next time you practice, incorporate the concept of Stira Sukha Asanam by breathing, and relaxing both mind and body to hold each pose. If you’re really advanced, apply this concept to the rest of your life!

Have You Mastered these 5 Points of Yoga?

In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure society, we tend to overcomplicate things when what we really need is simplicity. Yoga is all about cutting through that clutter to focus on self-knowledge.

Here’s how yoga can help you stick to that simple goal, as simplified into 5 key points:

Relaxation

Relaxation is an integral part of yoga. It allows the body and mind to slow down and release tension. Nowadays, our lives are packed with activities and being connected all the time can make it difficult to truly relax.

The good news is that relaxation doesn’t take long to achieve yet helps you stay grounded, balance your emotions and feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Proper relaxation occurs when physical relaxation meets mental relaxation and spiritual relaxation. A great example is a slow, silent, soothing walk in nature, or lying peacefully in Savasana. Think about how great you feel after final relaxation at the end of yoga class.

Breathing

Everyone knows how to breathe but it’s difficult to be mindful about it. Incorporating yogic breathing into your day promotes calmness, confidence and energy.

Mentally section the lungs into lower, middle and upper sections. Breathe in sequentially to the lower, middle and top. Exhale from the bottom, middle, top.

Relax the abdominals and feel the belly come out as the bottom of the lungs inflate. The chest rises as the middle fills, then the shoulders rise a bit as the top is inflated. The opposite happens during exhalation.

If this is difficult, start with abdominal breathing which is simply the first part of yogic breathing. Once you’ve mastered this, then work on full yogic breathing.

Exercise

To keep the body resilient and supple, physical exercise is needed. Regular gentle movements like yoga asanas are adequate to keep muscles strong and the spinal column flexible.

Warm up with a few rounds of sun salutations, then perform some strengthening exercises like dolphin or double leg raises. Each practice should include a forward, backward and side bend, spinal rotation and a balance posture. When time permits, do a few asanas of each type; otherwise hold one asana each for a balanced practice.

Diet

Being a yogi doesn’t mean a strict diet but it does require a mindful approach. Eat foods which taste good and make you feel awesome – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

For example, consuming caffeine might give you a boost but if you pay close attention, you may realize that you feel tired or sluggish later on. Foods with extra salt can cause bloating and sugary foods can cause your emotions to swing.

Individuals process foods differently, so pay attention and eat according to your self-awareness – it’s much easier than following a list of what to eat and what not to eat!

Positive Thinking and Meditation

Once you’ve grasped these first 4 points, the next step is to focus on positive thinking. Positivity comes when your body and mind are free from tension and disharmony. Meditation can further reduce negativity by neutralizing it. Meditating with mala beads and mantras can calm the mind, but observing your breath and thoughts are techniques that anyone can do.

Use the 5 Points

Knowing the 5 points of yoga are not enough, you need to bring them to life for yourself. Self-knowledge and awareness can be gained through every moment, so let the past stay in the past and let the future remain unwritten. Be in the present and enjoy your yogic life.

Finding Courage and Peace through Yoga

As yoga grows in popularity, so do the images of people who are fit, flexible and good looking doing yoga. Yoga can keep you physically fit, but it can also help mentally and emotionally. It’s true — yoga can give you courage and a sense of inner peace!

Yoga as Exercise

Both yoga practitioners and people who have never tried yoga agree that doing asanas on a regular basis will increase fitness, including endurance, strength and flexibility. The benefits of yoga aren’t as obvious on a mental and emotional level. With the popularity of yoga, sometimes the traditional perspective is lost, so not all practitioners have experienced the non-physical benefits of yoga.

The Fundamental Goal of Yoga

In a traditional practice, the goal of yoga is to know and understand oneself. The physical movements of Hatha Yoga are merely a preparation for the body to endure long periods of meditation. When practised in the classical manner, yoga asanas are meditative in nature; the mind is still while the body is active.

Finding Courage

How does this stretching and holding funny poses give courage and inner peace? It’s quite simple, actually. We move our body in unusual ways. As we prepare for each asana, doubt or fear may arise. Sometimes this negative feeling is so subtle, it’s not noticeable; other times, it’s blatant — like the fear of falling in Sirasana (headstand) or when you lift your hands during Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) to touch your thighs.

By mastering difficult asanas, you gain a sense of achievement and courage. Just as a runner’s high extends throughout the day, so do these positive feelings that began during asana practice continue with the practitioner. This heightened sense of confidence and courage leads us to take chances we wouldn’t normally take.

Is Finding Inner Peace a Stretch?

Now that we’ve found courage and confidence, is it a stretch to seek inner peace and contentment through yoga? It isn’t, if we practise our yoga asanas in a meditative state. Think of a time when you practised yoga and felt completely in tune with yourself, relaxed and rejuvenated. Now think of a time when you were distracted and frustrated with yourself. How did that feel?

The difference is your mind. When you experience a flurry of worries about stressful situations and things that need to get done, the tone of the thoughts is usually negative. Meditation helps you to reduce negativity and increase positive energy. Slowly, a sense of calm and peace seeps in, and you feel rejuvenated. This rejuvenation happens not only in your mind but also in the body!

Reap the Yogic Benefits

Now that you know about the wonderful benefits of yoga, go practice! By all means, practise the way you normally do — even challenge yourself with new asanas or more difficult variations once in a while. But from time to time, you can use a routine of basic asanas to your advantage to quiet down your mind and enter into a calming, meditative state.

Repeat OM and find your inner peace!

Use Yoga to Spring Clean Your Inner Self

Spring is a time for nature’s renewal — a time when our own instincts guide us to clean and refresh as well. Yoga is the perfect way to align ourselves with these seasonal changes by awakening our bodies and cleansing our minds.

Now you can forget all those advertisements trying to get you to buy more things to help clean. You already have what you need! Try these yogic techniques for a refreshing, holistic cleanse. (For more instructions on these techniques, ask a yoga teacher so that you always stay safe.)

KRIYAS

Kriyas are a traditional yet effective way to cleanse the body. The 6 traditional kriyas are known as the Shat Kriyas, two of the easier ones that you can easily incorporate to your routine are:

• Jala Neti – flushes allergens, air pollution, germs and excess mucous out of the upper respiratory system. Using a small teapot or neti pot, salted warm water cleanses the nasal passage and mucous membranes.

• Kapalabhati – rids the lungs of stale air and increases oxygen in the bloodstream. Using your diaphragm, exhale quickly and forcefully expel stale air from the lungs, then relax and your lungs will automatically inflate with fresh air. Start with 2-3 rounds of 20-30 repetitions, increasing up to 3-5 rounds of 50-100 repetitions.

ASANAS

Yoga asanas are beneficial in many different ways, including cleansing the body from inside out. If you practise yoga, you likely do a mini-cleanse with each practice.

Holding these cleansing postures longer will make them feel different from your regular routine. Try to relax and stay in each posture for 2-5 minutes, visualizing the benefits as you hold the asana.

If you’re not used to these poses, hold them for a minute or whenever your body signals you to come out. Here’s a few detoxifying asanas suitable for beginners and advanced yogis:

• Savasana (corpse pose) – relaxes the body and calms the mind.

• Surya Namaskar (sun salutations) – a great way to warm up and increase general circulation, taking advantage of the body’s natural cleaning routine. Do a few slow rounds at first, speeding up to keep the movements coordinated with the breath.

• Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) – provides a gentle internal massage to the thyroid gland, which controls the hormones.

• Ardha Matsyendrasana (seated spinal twist) – gently squeezes the internal organs to release excesses and toxins.

• Rocking Dhanurasana (bow) – massages the internal organs, helping eliminate excesses stored in the mid section (fluid, fat, etc.)

MEDITATION

A yogic cleanse wouldn’t be complete without meditation to soothe and refresh the mind. As little as 10 minutes a day will yield results. You’ll improve your mood and concentration, stabilize emotions, find contentment and the list goes on.

Depending on what you eat, the foods you consume will affect your meditation. Eating too much or too little on a regular basis causes stress on the body, so eat slowly and stop when your stomach feels satiated.

Slowly increase the amount of plant based foods in your diet and decrease processed foods and animal products as they aren’t digested as easily. Try eating one vegetarian meal a week or enjoy a vegetarian day each week. Avoid stimulating foods such as caffeine, alcohol, spicy and sugary foods as they hinder meditation.

Just as we clean our homes, it’s important to cleanse your body and mind on a regular basis. Yoga is not just what you do on your mat, the yoga you do off your mat is important as well.

3 Great Reasons to Practice Yoga in the Winter

As the temperatures begin to drop, it can become harder and harder to leave the nest of our sofa – or even our bedroom – and venture into the world to practice yoga. And yet there are very good reasons to keep the asana flowing, precisely at this time of year.

Yoga Makes Us Sweat!

Plain and simple, a nice, vigorous vinyasa practice is going to build heat in our bodies that will keep us toasty for hours to come. We tend to really crunch up our shoulders at this time of year, bracing against the cold. As our outdoor activities wind down, we become less active. A fast, sweaty yoga flow is just the ticket to relieve some of the toll these changes take on our bodies.

Though heated yoga rooms are not for everyone, this is the perfect time to indulge in a hot yoga class if you’re so inclined. The summery feeling can boost your mood and really warm you through to your wide-spread toes!

Two Words: The Holidays!

Love ’em or hate ’em, there is no denying the holidays create a lot of work. From increased family interactions, to party-planning, to cookie-baking, to conflicted religious feelings, to serious cases of the mall-sweats, there simply are stressors, no matter how much of a non-grinch you are!

Knowing these times are upon us, of course, we can arm ourselves with the true gift of yoga. Begin a solid routine good and early, and perhaps set intentions around the type of holiday season you’d like to have. See if you can breathe, stretch, and “om” yourself into a joyful season filled with light, gratitude, and love.

It’s Time to Chill!

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the winter is not the time to get all revved up. Like all animals, we need a little bit of hibernation. At this time, the yin – cool, still, dark – energy becomes dominant in the body, while the yang – hot, active, bright – moves inward. Acting accordingly – getting plenty of rest and stillness, listening closely to the body’s needs, and feeding ourselves warming foods will help us to conserve our active energy and use it most efficiently.

This is a better time than ever to balance the vigorous, hot yoga practice mentioned above with some yin sequences. Focus on the kidney meridian to help keep up resilience and immunity. Some excellent poses to try include Sphinx, Seal, and Anahatasana.

Some Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners even recommend a bit of wine or whiskey for those cold winter nights. If this suits your body, sip a glass slowly in the warmth of your home as you watch the snow drift gently to the earth. Some windy, frigid evenings, staying in your nest may just be yoga enough!

Core Yoga: Moving Beyond the Six Pack

We’ve all been there: just when you think the vinyasa is slowing down — that it’s time to stretch and get calm — suddenly, boom! Your yoga teacher hits you with the dreaded navasana. Then low boat! Then up again. For, like, twenty minutes. Until your core muscles are on fire and you wonder how anyone thinks this yoga thing is relaxing at all!

Okay, so it’s a good burn

Of course after that kind of work, you tend to feel like a rock star. No surprise! From a physical perspective, strengthening your core is incredibly important. A strong core helps with balance, stability, and protecting your low back from stress, to name but a few benefits. The stronger your core becomes, the easier everyday activities become, from carrying shopping bags to putting on shoes – daily chores we barely consider.

Given our tendency to sit for the majority of our days, actively strengthening core muscles is key to bringing your body back into balance. And the results are instant! That good burn after yoga practice is your body thanking you for firing those muscles up and giving your overworked back a break.

Transcending the physical

Working your core feels great physically, sure, but have you ever felt more energy, motivation, and get-up-and-go after a core-heavy yoga session? This may be because you’ve activated your vital energy centres — your chakras.

Both Svadhisthana and Manipura Chakras can be stimulated by core work, and both have a huge impact on our energetic well-being. Svadisthana, the second chakra, located between the navel and pubic bone, is responsible for creativity, emotional stability, and relating to others and the outside world.

The region of this chakra is also prized in Chinese and Japanese martial arts – called the Dan Tian and the Hara in these cultures respectively. This area is prized as a storehouse of energy and inner strength. Keeping it well toned with breath-work and visualization is integral to fruitful practice.

Manipura chakra, located between the navel and the xiphoid process, is responsible for cultivating appropriate motivation and the ability to manifest our personal power. Keeping the energy flowing through this region helps us achieve a productive, satisfying lifestyle.

Trusting that gut

Perhaps you have heard the gut referred to as “the second brain.” Research increasingly proves that our gut lining houses a proliferation of neurons, second only to the number in your brain.

When we experience “butterflies” in our stomachs, a strong feeling of well-being in our guts upon making a decision, or any other reactions this area may have, it is to our benefit to pay attention. Focusing on and breathing into our core during practice helps us to become more aware of these “gut reactions” and what they might have to tell us.

Core work in our yoga practice — think navasana, balancing poses, standing poses, shoulder stand, etc. — in tandem with appropriate breathing practices that increase prana or chi flow to this all-important region of the body will help bring together all of these incredible benefits and leave you feeling strong, present, motivated, and balanced.