Emotional Health

{"posts":[{"title":"5 Simple Yoga Poses to Relieve Emotional Stress and Boost Mood","coverUrl":"rgbxsuhsidpakhcf5yrl.jpg","slug":"5-simple-yoga-poses-for-emotional-stress","content":{"text":"For every individual, the experience of emotional stress is unique. It may involve feelings of overwhelm, hopelessness, or just plain fear. Emotional stress also manifests itself in the body in a variety of ways. Tightness in your chest, restricted breathing, high blood pressure, difficulty eating or swallowing, a clenched jaw, and tense muscles are a few common emotional stress responses.\\nWhen we are in this state, our bodies are undergoing a fight, flight, or freeze reaction that is driven by the sympathetic nervous system. This system is releasing chemicals into your body, such as excess adrenaline and cortisol, making it difficult to see (or feel) things clearly. In order to calm your mind and body and return to a neutral state, you must work on the level of your nervous system. \\nUnfortunately, your sympathetic nervous system doesn’t always listen to reason. We cannot command our bodies to stop feeling emotional stress, and we can’t make ourselves relax if we approach the issue from a mental standpoint. In order to calm feelings of emotional stress, we must work with our body on a physical level, giving it the cues it needs to feel safe.\\n\\nHow Yoga Helps With Emotional Stress\\nWhen you’re experiencing emotional stress, or a fight, flight, freeze response in your body, one of the best ways to return to a neutral or relaxed state is to practice yoga. When in this state, you may not always feel motivated to go to a yoga class, and that’s okay. You can still practice some simple moves in the privacy of your own home and calm your nervous system. \\n\\nStudies have shown\\n that yoga is an effective tool for emotional regulation and improvement of your self esteem. Yoga helps by increasing your serotonin levels, improving your self-awareness and releasing tension. Yoga poses allow you to connect with your body on a physical level, and yogic breathing balances your oxygen intake and brings you back to the present moment — which can directly diffuse your nervous system and restore equilibrium.\\nIf it sounds simple, that’s because it is. You can release emotional stress and relax your body with just a handful of yoga poses and breathing exercises. Regular practice is also a benefit, in that it can make episodes of emotional stress less common, and help your body return to baseline quicker and easier as you continue to gain experience regulating your nervous system. Over time, you may find that experiences of fight, flight, freeze become less common, as you are able to weather the ebb and flow of stressful circumstances with greater ease.\\n\\n5 Yoga Poses for Emotional Stress\\nTo address feelings of emotional stress and regulate your nervous system, try performing the poses below when you feel afraid, overwhelmed, or tense.\\n1.Child’s pose\\n\\nKnown to immediately calm feelings of distress and tension, Child’s pose is a go-to for emotional regulation.\\nStart on your hands and knees and then lower yourself down so that your backside is resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Move your hands forward, palms down, so that your forehead is resting on the floor. Allow your spine to lengthen and your neck muscles to fully relax. Breathe deeply and mindfully while staying in this pose for 5-6 minutes.\\n\\n2. Standing Forward Fold\\n\\nLike Child’s pose, Standing Forward Fold is also an effective posture to restore calm in a body that is experiencing a stress or fear response.\\nStand at the front of your mat, feet hip distance apart. Exhale and bend forward from the waist, with your knees slightly bent and touching your hands to the floor in front of your feet. Inhale and exhale, allowing your torso to extend without rounding your back. Lengthen and soften your neck, and let the muscles of your thighs and lower back open and release any built-up tension. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\\n3. Reclined Fixed Angle\\n\\nIt’s common to experience stress and fight, flight, freeze responses in your psoas muscle. Reclined Fixed Angle helps open up your hips and release tension from this muscle.\\nLie down on your yoga mat with your knees bent and the soles of your feet pressed against each other, allowing your legs to open and rest at your sides. With your spine straight, rest your hands on your stomach, pelvis, or at your sides, while allowing your hips and pelvic floor muscles to relax and open. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\\n4. Legs Up The Wall\\n\\nThis yoga pose is easy to perform and it’s incredibly relaxing. By propping your legs up against a wall, you allow any heaviness to drain from your legs while releasing tension from your lower back.\\nPlace a folded blanket parallel against a wall. Sit sideways in the middle of the blanket, and turn yourself toward the wall, lifting your legs up and propping them against the wall. Lay back comfortably, rest your head and neck on the floor, and fully straighten your legs. Spread your arms out to your sides with your palms facing up. Allow your chest, abdomen, and pelvis to completely relax. Breathe evenly and mindfully while holding this pose for 5-8 minutes.\\n\\n5. Corpse pose\\n\\nLying very still on your back may be difficult when you’re experiencing feelings of stress and overwhelm. That’s why it’s best to save this pose until the end of your sequence, and the benefits are innumerable. This posture regulates your blood pressure, your nervous system, and provides much-needed rest.\\nSit on your yoga mat and lower your body to the floor, relaxing your legs and letting your arms rest on the floor at your sides, palms up. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Relax the muscles in your face and neck, and visualize every part of your body letting go of all tension. Hold this pose for 5-7 minutes.\\n\n\\nPranayama for Emotional Stress\\n\n\\nAlong with the above yoga poses, you can also utilize yogic breathing, or pranayama, to calm emotional stress.\\n\n\\n1. Nadi Sodhana or “Alternate Nostril Breathing”\\nYou can perform this \\nbreathing technique\\n anywhere and anytime you feel overwhelmed or fearful.\\nExhale completely, and then place your right index finger onto your right nostril, and breathe deeply in through the left. Alternate and place your thumb over your left nostril, and exhale through your right. Continue alternating, repeating at least 10 times.\\n\\n2. Shitali or “Cooling Breath”\\nWhen you’re feeling the heat of emotional stress, you can quite literally cool things off with this cooling \\nbreathing exercise\\n. \\nRoll your tongue into an “o” shape and slowly breathe in through it — as if your tongue were a straw. Hold the inhale for several seconds, then exhale through your nose. Repeat."},"createdAt":"2023-03-27T07:25:53.716473+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"Yoga for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ","coverUrl":"dtpo9accj7tbhoqtqsix.jpg","slug":"yoga-for-ptsd","content":{"text":"Feelings of overwhelm, stress, depression, and intense anxiety are just a few of the common symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Brought on through the experience of a traumatic life event, PTSD can last for months or years, and can profoundly affect a person’s life and relationships.\\nResearch about PTSD and techniques for managing it are still being discovered, but a\\n \\nrecent scientific study\\n about PTSD in women found that yoga could alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the disorder. Through regular yoga sessions that focused on compassionate self-observation and connections between the mind and body, the participants of the study experienced a reduction in psychological distress.\\nWhat does this tell us? The innate, building blocks of yoga centered around mindfulness and body awareness can help patients with PTSD improve their quality of life. For those who are managing this disorder over the long term, yoga can be used as an effective tool to regulate the nervous system and bring about calm in moments of stress.\\n\\nTips and Precautions when treating PTSD\\nYoga alone cannot completely cure the disorder, and may not accelerate the process to overcome the effects PTSD can have on the mind and body. Yoga should be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as talk therapy, somatic therapy, and support groups. For some patients, medication can provide some help with the guidance of a specialized physician. Studies are also underway to explore the use of psychedelics in treating PTSD, providing positive outcomes for patients who are struggling.\\nIf you are looking to try yoga for treatment of PTSD, it’s important to practice in an environment where you feel comfortable and at ease. \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n offers online courses where you can practice in the familiar environment of your own home. You can also take a private, 1-on-1 class with an instructor who can help you build connections with your mind and body safely. \\nWhile practicing yoga, if you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed at any point, feel free to take a break. Yoga can release emotions in your body, and these emotions can be difficult at times. Be easy on yourself, and give yourself the space you need to process these emotions.\\n\\n5 Best Yoga Poses to ease PTSD Symptoms\\nTo get started with your own yoga journey to help heal PTSD, you can begin with some of the following poses and techniques. Below you’ll find various yoga asanas to help you cope with feelings of stress and overwhelm, along with meditation and breathing techniques designed to calm your body and regulate your nervous system. \\nYou can practice the following poses wherever you feel comfortable — in your home, your backyard, a yoga studio, or anywhere you can take a break and experience stillness.\\n\n1. Child’s pose\\n\\nThis primary yoga pose is a great option anytime you need to de-stress, relax, and feel safe.\\nStart on your hands and knees and then lower yourself down so that your backside is resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Move your hands forward, palms down, so that your forehead is resting on the floor. Allow your spine to lengthen and your neck muscles to fully relax. Breathe deeply and mindfully while staying in this pose for 5-6 minutes.\\nChild’s pose lowers your blood pressure, relieves stress, and relaxes your body. This pose also helps you feel more calm and centered.\\n\n2. Cat Cow Pose\\n\\nYou can practice this pose anytime you feel the need to reconnect with your body. By focusing on the movement, you can help regulate your parasympathetic nervous system and restore calm.\\nStart with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\nCat-cow increases flexibility in your back and spine, massages your digestive organs, and provides gentle, easy movement that you can perform anywhere.\\n\n3. Chair Pose\\n\\nWhen experiencing overwhelming emotions, it can be helpful to practice a pose that grounds and strengthens your mind and body.\\nStand in Mountain pose at the top of your mat, with your hands at your sides and feet hip distance apart. As you inhale, raise your hands over your head, with your arms parallel with your ears. As you exhale, hinge slightly at your waist, bend your knees and lower your torso forward as if you were about to sit down in a chair. Keep your core engaged and your spine straight while you hold this posture for several breaths.\\nChair pose strengthens your glutes, quads and core muscles, while physically grounding you for greater strength and fortitude.\\n\n4. Legs Up The Wall\\n\\nLegs Up The Wall is a pose that can help you quickly unwind by supporting your legs with the wall and letting your upper body fully relax.\\nPlace a folded blanket parallel against a wall. Sit sideways in the middle of the blanket, and turn yourself toward the wall, lifting your legs up and propping them against the wall. Lay back comfortably, rest your head and neck on the floor, and fully straighten your legs. Spread your arms out to your sides with your palms facing up. Allow your chest, abdomen, and pelvis to completely relax. Breathe evenly and mindfully while holding this pose for 5-8 minutes.\\nThis pose is effective in relieving stress and anxiety, as well as improving circulation, relaxing the body, and lowering blood pressure.\\n\n5. Corpse pose\\n\\nTypically practiced at the end of a sequence of yoga postures, Corpse pose can help you reach a state of full relaxation.\\nSit on your yoga mat and lower your body to the floor, relaxing your legs and letting your arms rest on the floor at your sides, palms up. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Relax the muscles in your face and neck, and visualize every part of your body letting go of all tension. Hold this pose for 5-7 minutes.\\nCorpse pose soothes the nervous system, bringing you peace of mind, relaxing your body, and alleviating physical symptoms of stress.\\n\\nYoga Breathing Techniques for PTSD\\nYogic breathing, or pranayama, can also help regulate your nervous system and ease feelings of anxiety, stress, depression and overwhelm. You can use the following techniques anytime you need to reconnect with your body and calm your mind. Pranayama can be practiced while sitting comfortably in a chair, in Easy pose, or while lying down.\\n1. Nadi Sodhana or Alternate Nostril Breathing\\nThis breathing technique can quickly calm the mind and body, and reduce anxiety and stress.\\nExhale completely, and then place your right index finger onto your right nostril, and breathe deeply in through the left. Alternate and place your thumb over your left nostril, and exhale through your right. Continue alternating, repeating at least 10 times.\\n2. Brahmari or Humming Bee Breath\\nHumming Bee Breath is effective at releasing built-up tension in the body. \\nPracticing this technique is really very easy. Simply inhale and make an audible humming sound as you exhale — mimicking the sound of a bumble bee.\\n3. Ujjayi or Ocean’s Breath\\nThis yogic breathing exercise is helpful when you are feeling depressed and need to lift your spirits.\\nStart by breathing in through your mouth. As you exhale, pull in your chin in toward your body and so that your throat is partly constricted. Then, breathe in and out through your nose, making a slight sound that is similar to the ocean.\\n\\nYoga Meditation for PTSD\\nOne of the best yogic tools for relaxation, Yoga Nidra is a meditation designed to help your body unwind and calm down. Since this meditation is also known as the “Yoga of Sleep,” you should practice this technique in a reclined position in your home or somewhere you can allow yourself to deeply relax. \\n\\nYoga Nidra for PTSD\\nYoga Nidra is typically practiced as a guided meditation. You can find a multitude of audio Yoga Nidra meditations online to choose from, or you can take yourself through the process if a guided meditation is not available to you.\\nStart by lying down or reclining in a comfortable chair. Relax and focus on the rise and fall of your own breath. Once you’ve tuned into your breath, begin a scan of your entire body. Notice each finger, toe, limb — go through every body part and focus on relaxing each one. Make sure as you continue your scan, that you release any feelings of negativity or judgment. If an area of your body feels tense or resistant to relaxation, gently accept those feelings and continue to move through the rest of your body. Allow any thoughts to float past your awareness and disintegrate as you continue your scan. When you are finished, express gratitude for your body, your nervous system, and your mind for keeping you safe.\\n\\nFAQs about Yoga for PTSD\\n\\nWhat type of yoga is good for PTSD?\\nThere isn't one specific type of yoga that's best for PTSD, as every individual is unique and may respond differently to different styles of yoga. However, many people with PTSD find that gentle and restorative forms of yoga, such as Hatha or Yin yoga, can be particularly helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress. These styles of yoga focus on relaxation, mindfulness, and breathing, which can help to calm the nervous system and reduce feelings of hyperarousal.\\n\\nCan yoga help with PTSD?\\nYes, yoga has been shown to be an effective tool for managing symptoms of PTSD. Regular yoga practice can help to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and increase self-awareness, which are all important for individuals with PTSD. In addition, many yoga poses have a grounding and calming effect on the nervous system, which can be especially beneficial for those who have experienced trauma.\\n\\nWhat type of exercise is good for PTSD?\\nExercise in general can be beneficial for individuals with PTSD, as it helps to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase physical strength and endurance. In addition to yoga, other forms of exercise that may be helpful include low-impact activities such as walking, cycling, and swimming, as well as mindfulness-based practices such as tai chi and qigong. The key is to find an activity that you enjoy and that helps you to feel more relaxed and centered.\\n\\nHow does yoga heal trauma?\\nYoga can help to heal trauma by addressing both the physical and emotional symptoms of PTSD. Physically, yoga can help to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and increase flexibility, all of which can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Emotionally, yoga can help to increase mindfulness and self-awareness, which can make it easier to identify and process traumatic experiences. Additionally, the focus on breathing and relaxation in many styles of yoga can help to calm the nervous system and reduce feelings of hyperarousal, which are common symptoms of PTSD.\\n\\nDoes yoga release trapped trauma?\\nWhile there is no evidence that yoga can literally \"release\" trapped trauma, many people who have experienced trauma find that yoga can help to reduce symptoms such as anxiety and stress and make it easier to process and cope with traumatic experiences. The physical and mental benefits of yoga can help to create a sense of grounding and stability, which can make it easier to work through and integrate traumatic memories.\\n\\nWhat yoga poses release trauma?\\nThere isn't a specific set of yoga poses that are considered to \"release\" trauma, as every individual is unique and may respond differently to different poses. However, some yoga poses that can be helpful for reducing symptoms of PTSD include Child's Pose (Balasana), Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Corpse Pose (Shavasana), Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II), and Cat-Cow Stretch (Chakravakasana)."},"createdAt":"2023-02-09T11:23:19.818187+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"Myofascial Release Yoga: Improving the Connections Within Your Body ","coverUrl":"wnehbrnvnqq7sad7vybp.jpg","slug":"myofascial-release-yoga","content":{"text":"It’s easy to think that symptoms of soreness, stiffness, and lack of mobility in your body is simply an issue solely related to muscles. But there are other factors that can create aches and pains besides muscle tissue. \\nIssues like chronic muscle pain can actually be caused by stuck connective tissue called fascia, which attaches and protects the muscle fibers in your body. When it sticks, it can prevent your muscles from performing properly, leading to pain, rigidity, and decreased mobility.\n\\nFascia Tissue: Explained\\n\\nSo what is fascia, or myofascia tissue exactly? It plays an important function throughout your body, connecting muscle fibers and holding your organs and blood vessels in their proper place. You can think of your fascia tissue like a thin wrapper that’s made of collagen, surrounding your tissues and organs, keeping them safe and sound. There are multiple layers of fascia throughout your body, and there are some layers buried deeply to protect your bones and blood vessels. \\nBasically, fascia is like a second skin, and just like your epidermis, it can become tight, dried-out, and lose elasticity. Periods of inactivity and immobility can cause your fascia tissue to stick or become tight. Surgery, injury, and aging can also create issues with this connective tissue. And when it loses its elasticity, it can make you feel achy, sore, and stiff.\\n\n\\nHealing with Myofascial Release\\n\nIn order to restore the pliability of your fascia tissue, you must ease the tension to prevent this tissue from becoming even tighter and more painful. Doing so can be simple — by improving the flexibility of your body overall, you can also help improve the elasticity of your connective tissue. There are a handful of ways you can unstick or “release” fascia, like acupuncture, massage, or using foam rollers. Each of these methods offer a targeted approach and can help with specific areas.\\nHowever, if you want to make a difference in the fascia tissue throughout your body, yoga may be one of the best tools you can use. Through regular practice, you can not only improve the pliability of your fascia tissue, but you can help maintain this important protective layer so that it doesn’t become rigid or stuck in the future — preventing any further soreness or chronic pain.\\n\n\\nMyofascial Release Yoga\\n\nA myofascial release yoga session will typically include props like foam rollers, blocks, and therapy balls to help relieve tension in the connective tissue throughout your body. Like acupuncture or massage, these props help target specific pressure points in order to assist a myofascial release.\\nBy releasing this connective tissue, you can improve your mobility, encourage proper blood flow, and decrease symptoms of soreness, aching, and chronic pain. Regular practice of myofascial release yoga can also prevent this tissue from drying out, as well as any excess buildup of collagen.\\nMyofascial release yoga is approachable for everyone — from beginners to advanced yogis. And if you’re not feeling particularly flexible due to issues with your fascia tissue, that’s okay. The purpose of this style of yoga is to gently restore pliability and mobility to your connective tissue, joints, and muscles. So it’s important not to overdo it.\\nIf you’re not able to find a yoga class that is specifically geared toward myofascial release, look for yoga that involves deep, gentle stretching — like Yin Yoga. In a typical Yin Yoga class, you’ll hold simple poses for anywhere from three to five minutes, giving your body time to relax into the stretch and release any held tension. \\n\n\\n6 Myofascial Release Yoga Poses\\n\nOf course, you can also work with your fascia tissue at home with your own personal foam roller, yoga blocks, and therapy balls (if you have any on-hand). Along with these tools there are some beneficial yoga postures you can practice on a regular basis to keep your fascia tissue healthy, hydrated, and pliable. Try practicing the poses below several times a week to heal and maintain the elasticity of your connective tissue.\\n\n\\n1. Downward Facing Dog Pose\\n\\nIf you’re feeling soreness in your hamstrings, calves, or lower back, Downward Facing Dog can help relieve tight and restricted tissue in these areas.\n\\nStart in tabletop position, with your hands and knees on your yoga mat. Push your hips upward until you are balancing on your hands and feet, and your body resembles an inverted “v” shape. Reach your heels toward the floor, stretching your hamstrings and activating your thighs. Keep your head between your arms, lengthening your side-body as you stretch. Stay here for one minute.\\n\n\\n2. Supine Twist Pose\\n\\n\nFor aching throughout your upper and lower back, spinal twists can help unstick any connective tissue that might be causing problems. For the purpose of staying in the pose for several minutes and relaxing fully into the posture, try performing this Supine Twist on the floor. \\nLie on the floor with your knees bent and bring them to your chest. Slowly and mindfully drop your knees to your left side while extending your arms outward in a “t” shape. Hold this pose for 2-3 minutes while breathing mindfully. If the pose feels too strenuous to hold for a long period of time, try using a folded under your knees. When you’re ready to switch to the other side, bring your knees back to your chest, and then repeat on your right side.\\n\n\\n3. Thunderbolt Pose\\n\\n\nDo you feel pain or stiffness in your feet? Try practicing Thunderbolt pose with flexed feet to encourage an impactful release. Performing this pose in this way can also help with plantar fasciitis.\n\\nStart by sitting on your knees in Thunderbolt pose, with your hands resting comfortably on your thighs. Next, shift your weight forward for just a moment while you tuck all 10 of your toes under. Slowly lean back so that your buttocks are rested on your heels, gently applying pressure to the balls of your feet. If this feels uncomfortable or too painful, you can use a folded blanket positioned under your knees for added support. Hold the pose for several breaths or longer if you can.\\n\n\\n4. Camel Pose\\n\\n\nNow that you’ve released the fascia along the backs of your legs, your feet, and your upper and lower back, it’s time to ease tension on the front side of your body. Camel pose targets your abdomen, spine, neck, and the fronts of your shoulders.\n\\nStart by kneeling in the center of your mat. Rest your hands on your knees and place the tops of your feet flat on the mat, and sit with a straight spine. With your knees still on the ground, raise your body up and engage your core. Place your hands on your hips and lift your upper chest and shoulders until your face is pointed toward the ceiling. Extend your arms one by one behind you so that you can grab your heels with your hands and continue to lean backward. Only lean as far back as you feel comfortable, and hold this position for 3 to 5 breaths. To safely exit this pose, release your hands from your heels and place them on your lower back for support as you slowly raise yourself back up.\\n\n\\n5. Cat Cow Pose\\n\\n\n\\nThis simple pose helps restore mobility and pliability to the fascia tissue throughout your upper body, and improves the flexibility of your spine.\\nFrom your hands and knees, gently arch your back and lift your face to look up as you inhale. Then, as you exhale, curl your spine and turn your face down to look toward your naval. Repeat this movement at least 10 times in a fluid motion.\\n\n\\n6. Extended Side Angle Pose\\n\\nExtended Side Angle helps release fascia tissue around your hips and the sides of your torso, while improving shoulder mobility.\\nBegin in Mountain pose. Step your left foot forward and turn it 90 degrees. Ground your right foot and turn it slightly inward, and hold your arms out in a “T” shape. Bend your left knee to a 90-degree angle with your left thigh parallel to the floor. Lean toward your left knee by hinging forward at the hips, bringing your left arm to the floor. If you’re unable to reach the floor, you can use a yoga block for support. Lift your right arm and extend it above your right ear, so that your body resembles a straight line from your right ankle to the tips of your right fingers. Breath and hold this pose for 30-60 seconds. Repeat on the other side.\\n"},"createdAt":"2023-02-06T10:13:21.404649+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"Yoga for Seasonal Affective Disorder","coverUrl":"cqufajiqp5au0ipmos2e.jpg","slug":"yoga-for-seasonal-affective-disorder","content":{"text":"When the fall months of October and November transition to winter, do you start feeling a bit down? Do you often struggle to feel positive and motivated in December and January, or a sense of gloom that sticks with you all winter long?\n\\nSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common condition that impacts up to 3 percent of the general population, and it can occur for some people every winter. It’s a certain type of depression that is typically felt during the dark and colder months of winter. Even though this condition can be a chronic occurrence for some, there are ways to alleviate these wintertime blues. \n\\nWhat Exactly is Seasonal Affective Disorder?\\n\\nSeasonal Affective Disorder is a feeling of gloominess or depression that occurs during a specific season every year — most commonly winter. SAD can make you feel tired, unmotivated, hopeless, have difficulty concentrating, and it can cause you to overeat and oversleep. \\nPhysically, SAD can deplete your energy levels, cause weight gain, and disrupt healthy sleeping habits. For some it can bring on suicidal thoughts and a feeling of worthlessness. For these reasons SAD shouldn’t be underestimated or brushed off. If you or someone you know is experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder, it’s important to seek help and find ways to counteract the symptoms. Yoga is just one of many effective tools you can use to alleviate this condition.\\n\n\\nHow Does Yoga Help With Seasonal Affective Disorder?\\n\\nYoga can help improve your state of mind and elevate your mood through physical postures, mindfulness meditation, and breathing techniques. Yoga asanas can help you feel balanced and energized by circulating blood throughout your body and building endurance. Performing yoga postures can also help reset your circadian rhythms and regulate your nervous system.\\nMindfulness meditations also help alleviate symptoms of SAD by creating new pathways in your brain and stimulating your pineal gland. Learning and training your mind to focus on the present moment can give you the insight and strength to counteract thoughts and feelings caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder, along with a sense of gratitude and positive outlook.\n\\nPranayama, or yogic breath work, is another powerful tool in combating symptoms of SAD. Yogic breathing not only calms your mind and helps relax your body, but it can also increase levels of serotonin and lift your energy level.\n\n\\nHow to Practice Yoga for Seasonal Affective Disorder\\n\\nWhat’s the best yoga to practice for Seasonal Affective Disorder? Depending on your symptoms, there are several different types of yoga you can try — and the good news is, yoga is unlikely to make your symptoms worse – so there’s nothing to lose by giving it a try. Restorative yoga coupled with pranayama is a gentle way to get started, with long, calming stretches and breath work designed to soothe and regulate your nervous system.\n\\nTo get your blood flowing and counteract SAD weight gain, try some basic Hatha yoga poses. For example, a few rounds of Sun Salutations can do wonders for your mood and energy level, while symbolically honoring the light during the darker winter months. You can also recharge your body and get your blood pumping with a Vinyasa or Flow yoga class, if you’re looking to incorporate some movement and heat in your body.\\n\n\\nYoga Poses for Seasonal Affective Disorder\\n\\nIf you’re dealing with symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder and you’re not sure where to start, a few yoga poses a day can effectively lift your mood and your spirit. Here are a few postures you can do at home to help keep the winter blues at bay:\\n\\n1. Sun Salutations Pose\\n\n\\n\\nStart by standing straight at the top of your mat in Mountain pose with your hands in prayer position. Close your eyes, take a few moments to center yourself, and focus on your breath. Inhale deeply and sweep your arms up above your head, and then bend forward as you exhale into Standing Forward Fold. Inhale and lengthen your spine as you lift up your gaze in Extended Front Fold. \n\\nAs you exhale again, step your left foot back into a lunge position. On your next inhale, plant your palms on the mat and step your right foot back to join your left as you move into Plank pose. Exhale and lower into Chaturanga Dandasana, followed by Downward Facing Dog as you inhale. Step your left foot forward into a lunge position, and then bring your right foot forward to meet your left as you move back into Extended Front Fold. Exhale as you bend forward into Standing Forward Fold. On your next inhale, soften your knees, and bring yourself back to standing in Mountain pose. Repeat this entire sequence three times.\n\\n2. Legs Up The Wall Pose\n⁠\\n\\n\\nPlace a folded blanket parallel against a wall. Sit sideways in the middle of the blanket, and turn yourself toward the wall, lifting your legs up and propping them against the wall. Lay back comfortably, rest your head and neck on the floor, and fully straighten your legs. Spread your arms out to your sides with your palms facing up. Allow your chest, abdomen, and pelvis to completely relax. Breathe evenly and mindfully while holding this pose for 5-8 minutes.\\n \\n3. Cat-Cow Pose\\n \\n\\nStart with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\n\n\\nPranayama for Seasonal Affective Disorder\\n\n\\nYou can use yogic breathing techniques to counteract symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder anywhere you feel most comfortable. You can use these techniques to realign your mind and spirit anytime you feel troubling, anxious, or negative thought patterns. Here are a couple of basic yogic breathing techniques you can try:\n\\n1. Nadi Shodhana or Alternate Nostril Breathing\\n\\n\\n\\nStart by sitting in a comfortable position on the floor or in a chair. Breathe in through your nose and exhale completely. For your next inhale, gently place your right index finger on your right nostril, while breathing in through your left nostril. Alternate each side by placing your thumb over your left nostril and exhaling through your right. Continue to repeat this alternating motion 10-20 times, or until you feel calm and at-ease.\n\\n2. Ujjayi or Ocean’s Breath\\n\\n\\nThis is an easy yogic breath you can try whenever you feel stressed or uncomfortable. Inhale through your mouth, and as you breathe out, close your mouth and tuck your chin to create a narrow passageway in your throat, so that you create a small audible “ocean” sound with your breath as you inhale and exhale exclusively through your nose. Repeat at least 5 to 10 times.\n\n\\nOther Tips for Beating the Winter Blues\\n\n\\nIt’s important to try a few different techniques for lifting seasonal gloom, since yoga alone may not completely cure seasonal depression. First and foremost, reach out to a trusted professional, like a doctor or behavioral therapist. They can help you talk through your emotions and offer support.\\n\n\\nLight boxes can also be enormously helpful in reducing symptoms of SAD, providing UV light on demand during the winter months. Try turning on your light box every morning for at least a half hour to help reset your circadian rhythm and give your serotonin levels a boost. You can also try performing pranayama techniques in conjunction with your light box for even better results.\n\n\\nMyYogaTeacher Classes for Seasonal Affective Disorder\\n\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher we offer yoga classes that can help with Seasonal Affective Disorder. You can try a Restorative class for deep relaxation, or join us for a Golden Light Meditation. We also offer a Suprabhatam morning yoga class to energize your day. \n\\nTo help fight off that winter gloom, sign up for one or more of the following classes:\\n\\nRestorative yoga\\n\\n\\nGolden Light Meditation\\n\\n\\nSuprabhatam Morning Fresh yoga\\n\\n\\nTrataka candlelight meditation\\n\\n\\nYin Restorative yoga\\n\\n\\nYoga for Flexibility: Mind and Breath awareness\\n\\n\\nVinyasa yoga\\n\\n"},"createdAt":"2023-01-05T12:13:24.396384+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["emotional_health","yoga"]},{"title":"Yoga For Hypertension: 5 Yoga Asanas to Lower Your Blood Pressure","coverUrl":"nlkokdgzajyx8iqo77r6.jpg","slug":"yoga-for-hypertension","content":{"text":"Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common condition that can affect your arteries. Nearly one in three people experience hypertension each year. Since yoga is great for calming the body, it’s great to help you regulate your blood pressure. A regular yoga practice is shown to lower blood pressure naturally over time. According to Yoga Journal, A recent study tested the use of yoga three times a week for people being treated for high blood pressure. The results showed those who practiced yoga experienced a significant reduction in their blood pressure compared to those who did not. Ready to add yoga into your routine to balance your health? \\nJoin us for a class on our online platform!\\n\\nWhy is Yoga Good for People with Hypertension?\\nBecause we practice deep breathing in yoga, and we give the body permission to “slow down”, our blood pressure will lower while we’re on our mat and long after. While yoga makes us more flexible in life and our body, the same goes for our arteries. Yoga will make our blood vessels more flexible which lowers your risk of hypertension as well as long term effects. If you’re looking to reduce meds and try something more natural, a regular yoga practice is shown to reduce blood pressure by about three to five points.\\n\n\\n5 Yoga Asanas to Lower Blood Pressure\\n1. Child's Pose (Balasana)\\n\\nThis relaxing asana provides a chance to slow down and breathe deeply while also releasing stress and tension from the hips and back. \\n\\n2. Bound angle (Baddha Konasana)\\n\\nThis hip opener helps with blood flow by increasing circulation.\\n\\n3. Seated forward fold (Paschimottanasana)\\n\\nThis pose promotes calmness as all forward bends because your spine controls your body’s nervous system. \\n\\n4. Bridge pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)\\n\\nThis powerhouse pose regulates blood pressure as well as opening the lungs and your heart chamber. \\n\\n5. Corpse Pose (Savasana)\\n\\nNever skip this resting pose. After a long day of our busy lives, savasana gives us the opportunity to slow down, breath deep and release all our tension and stress. \\n\\nOther Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure\\nAyurveda, an alternative medicine system that’s closely related to yoga suggest lifestyle changes to improve hypertension. Some of which include waking up with the sun, morning movement (like a walk or yoga), gargling warm water and sesame oil, and different combinations of herbs like thyme, ginger and garlic  you can add to your meals. \\nCut back on “bad habits”. Reduce your salt intake, limit your alcohol and quit smoking.\\nBe conscious of your rest time. Getting a good night’s sleep can help lower your blood pressure. Aim for a bedtime and try to keep your sleep on track\\nPractice breathwork (pranayama) to reduce stress.You cannot control the world around you, but you can always control your breathing. Adding breathwork practices into your day can help you lower your blood pressure and remain calm in stressful situations. \\nSukha Pranayama \\nis the breath practice most commonly used with patients with hypertension.  “To perform this pranayama, sit with the eyes closed and spine straight as in padmasana or sukhasana. After a few normal breaths, inhale slowly for six counts, hold for six counts, exhale slowly for six counts and hold the breath for six counts. This is one round. Complete six to nine rounds then relax for at least five minutes.”-Yogapedia \\n\n\\nWhat type of yoga should I take to balance my blood pressure?\\nWhen choosing a class to take, you want to pick the right class for your condition. These styles will help you slow down your breath and calm the body so you can reduce anxiety to lower your blood pressure naturally. Join us for class to relax and restore.\\n\\nGentle Yoga\\n. In this class you’ll move slowly through asanas taking time for meditation and breathwork. \\n\\nRestorative\\n. This class is great for anyone suffering from any chronic pain or illness. With the help of props, you will hold 4-6 poses throughout the practice which will reduce stress, pain and fatigue. \\n\\nTotal body Yin\\n. This slow meditative practice is a great way to reset and restore. Need an escape from the mundane? Try this class if you’re looking to take a journey on your mat. \n\\nStudies show just 10 minutes of deep breathing can reduce your blood pressure. So grab your mat and join us for a class! The benefits will be long lasting! Ready to get started? Grab your \\nfree two week trial now\\n & join us for hundreds of classes, 1-on-1 sessions events and mor\\n"},"createdAt":"2022-12-19T14:27:18.678542+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"The Not-So-Secret Benefits of Sound Healing: When Music is Medicine","coverUrl":"yceufd0mdixpbsqnowqt.jpg","slug":"benefits-of-sound-healing","content":{"text":"It’s no secret that music is old, ancient in fact. Humans have been making and listening to music for millenia…\\nthousands\\n of years. While the origins of music may be a bit of a mystery, it is obvious that humans respond to it mentally, emotionally, and physically.\\nMusic is medicine with absolutely no negative physiological side effects.\\nOur bodies emit energy, just like every other thing (living or not) on this planet. And when we are exposed to certain frequencies of music, which is also energy, our bodies respond to it. Sometimes, the vibration from music alone can positively impact our body. \\nScience has proven that sound healing is an effective tool to treat physical pain as well as emotional and mental distress. However, anecdotally, music has shown to be a powerful source of healing for many people in many ways.\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of sound healing. We don’t teach it just because it’s an ancient, traditional practice. It truly benefits our students’ mental, physical, and emotional health!\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n!\\nLet’s discuss the benefits of sound healing!\\n\\n\n\\nSound healing meditation helps with pain management\\nThe most common form of pain management, particularly in America, is over-the-counter and prescription medications. Increasingly more people are seeking alternative pain management techniques due to the negative side effects of these medications.\\nAlso known in the scientific world as \\nvibroacoustic therapy\\n, sound healing has been proven to improve physical pain from illnesses and diseases such as:\\nFibromyalgia\\nArthritis\\nCOVID-19\\nBone issues (such as heal spurs)\\nCerebral palsy\\nScience of how sound therapy improves pain\\nSound therapy and sound meditation has also been shown to alleviate menstrual symptoms, postoperative pain, and reduces muscle pain and stiffness. \\nHow? Sound therapy lowers your blood pressure and improves circulation, both of which affect pain intensity. Additionally, sound works through the vibrational tactile sensors in the body, stimulating the touch fibers that affect pain perception.\\nSound vibrations that match the vibration of the energy of healthy cells in the body have also been shown to heal the body and bring it back to a harmonious energy state. Scientists all over the world have created devices of all sorts that emulate the vibrational waves of different parts of the body in order to provide healing.\\nAt MyYogaTeacher, you don’t need any devices to participate in sound healing! Many of our instructors are highly experienced experts in the world of sound healing meditation and provide various types of classes focused on the topic.\\nBesides healing the body and helping with pain management, sound meditations are beneficial in other ways as well.\\n\\n\\nSound meditation improves mental and emotional health\\nRemember how I mentioned that sound therapy reduces blood pressure and increases blood flow? Lower blood pressure means the body is calming down and not releasing as much cortisol, a stress hormone that is bad for you in high or consistent doses. Improved circulation means your body and mind are receiving more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, which fuels us and makes us feel more relaxed and invigorated.\\nSound  is a powerful and effective tool for changing one’s brain state, improving mood, reducing anxiety and depression, and calming down the central nervous system.\\nScience behind how sound meditation improves mental health\\nOur brains emit four different types of \\nbrain waves\\n at various times of day:\\nBeta waves\\n are emitted when our brains are the most active, usually during the day or during activity\\nAlpha waves \\noccur when the brain is finished with a task or activity or when one meditates\\nTheta waves \\nare associated with REM sleep, daydreaming, or have highway hypnosis when you’re driving for a long time\\nDelta waves \\noccur when you’re having a dreamless sleep and are the slowest of the four types of waves\\nSound waves occur at all different frequencies. But sound meditation and sound therapy involves music made with an instrument or through chanting at a frequency that matches alpha, theta, or delta waves, depending on the goal of the meditation.\\nThis allows your mind and body to relax deeply while still being conscious. When our brains are conscious but in a meditative trance-like state, we are easily able to release negative thoughts, energy, stress, worries. Our minds are suggestable, malleable to change in thought patterns and behaviors.\\nSound therapy also provides such a deep relaxation that you are refreshed and calm, free from many or all of the anxiety and depressive symptoms you suffered from before the session.\\nRegular sound healing meditations are extremely beneficial for mental health and emotional regulation.\\nAre you interested in learning more about the benefits of sound meditation? Maybe you’re ready to try one of the many sound therapy classes we offer at MyYogaTeacher! All are welcome. There is never any judgment if you don’t know or understand something in our classes. MyYogaTeacher classes are safe places to explore, learn, and grow as a human and a yogi!\\nWe offer 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n"},"createdAt":"2022-07-21T19:38:57.229678+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["therapy","emotional_health","anxiety","mental_health"]},{"title":"The Power of Ancient Pranayama and Meditation Therapy","coverUrl":"khqj05yqx4ahb88hp6pf.jpg","slug":"pranayama-and-meditation","content":{"text":"Are you familiar with the term pranayama? If you practice yoga in a western yoga studio or only use yoga as a physical practice to strengthen, tone, and become more flexible, then the word “pranayama” might not be a word you resonate with.\\nAnd that’s ok! That’s why I’m here!\\nIn Sanskrit, the word “pranayama” means “to have control of your vital life force.” Generally, this refers to yogic breathing and/or breath work. It is the practice of regulating breath.\\nPranayama is a main component of yoga, often practiced in conjunction with traditional meditation sessions but also used in the physical practice of yoga as well.\\nThere are so many benefits to pranayama and yogic breathing that I can’t even get to them all here. But for those of you who are familiar with pranayama and have experience with various forms of yogic breathing techniques, I teach several intermediate and advanced level pranayama and meditation sessions at MyYogaTeacher!\\nIf you’re not a MyYogaTeacher member, I encourage you to grab your 2-week free trial by clicking the link below! No credit card required.\\nWe offer 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\nFor those of you who haven’t yet been exposed to the power of ancient pranayama and meditation therapy, let me explain…\\n\\n\nDifferent types of pranayama\\nThere are many different ways to practice yogic breathing. All of them are beneficial in different ways. For beginners, it’s important to learn about the ancient pranayama techniques from a yoga instructor who is experienced in the practices and qualified to teach them!\\nSome of the different types of pranayama include:\\nHumming bee breath\\nVictorious breath\\nAlternate nostril breathing\\nBellows breath\\nHissing breath\\nPranayama is a form of meditation. Meditation is a form of therapy. An ancient form of physical, mental and emotional healing that I’ll discuss here!\\n\\n\\nPranayama and the central nervous system\\nBecause breathing is a natural, unconscious process, we tend to not think about it unless there’s something wrong with our respiratory system. We undervalue the ability of breath to enhance our health and life.\\nHowever, breathing exercises have therapeutic effects on our central nervous system. If anecdotal evidence from ancient times to present wasn’t enough, researchers have now proven in multitudes of studies that purposeful yogic breathwork:\\nIncreases oxygen to your brain and vital organs\\nDecreases cortisol levels that can cause inflammation and compromised immunity\\nImproves sleep quality and quantity while also reducing snoring and sleep apnea\\nReduces high blood pressure\\nImproves lung function\\nEnhances cognitive performance\\nAnd so much more!\\nTraditional meditation and breathing sessions, when practiced regularly, can literally transform your life. Which makes sense since breath is, quite literally, your \\nlife force\\n.\\n\\n\\nThe mental and emotional power of pranayama\\nMany times, our mental and emotional state is a reflection of our physiololgical one. When we’re in chronic pain, struggling with illness or disease, or our bodies are trying to heal from an injury, we may struggle with depression, anxiety, anger. We may not think as clearly or make the best decisions.\\nHowever, mental and emotional struggle can come from other things too. Trauma, abuse, neglect, loss of a loved one, chemical imbalances, life stressors, and not living in the present moment.\\nYogic breathing techniques and meditation practices benefit our mental and emotional wellbeing, whether it’s from physiological problems or not.\\nAncient pranayama sessions (such as the ones I focus on in some of my sessions and workshops) address the five primary currents of breath, or vital force, and these currents are specific to certain regions of the body. They’re called the five prana vayus.\\nPracticing breathing exercises that correspond to these prana vayus is a powerful tool to improve our mental and emotional health. Studies show that yogic breathing:\\nIncreases mindfulness, helping us to stay present and not worry about future or past\\nActivates our parasympathetic nervous system (aka the rest and digest system)\\nHelps our body release feel good chemicals like serotonin and endorphins\\nIncreases self-awareness, which helps us address our emotional health in a positive way\\nDecreases pain and tension, which often contributes to negative mental and emotional states\\nThere is so much that ancient pranayama and meditation does to improve your life! \\nTherapeutic meditation and yogic breathwork isn’t to be taken lightly. If you are just beginning your yoga journey and are interested in how other aspects of your yoga practice, such as breathwork and meditation, will bring healing and harmony to your world, I do recommend seeking out a highly qualified yoga instructor to guide you.\\nMost, if not all, of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga instructors are \\nmore\\n than qualified to help you! We value authentic, traditional yoga and truly care about the health and wellbeing of our students. For us, yoga isn’t just a class. It’s the way we live our life.\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\n\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n\\n"},"createdAt":"2022-07-08T00:56:10.86197+00:00","author":{"name":"Bodhi","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["emotional_health","meditation","mental_health","therapy"]},{"title":"How Kundalini Yoga Helps You Break Bad Habits for Good","coverUrl":"aqhpng8xmxojrvkucffv.jpg","slug":"kundalini-yoga-for-breaking-bad-habits","content":{"text":"You have the power to break bad habits. Whether you feel like you do or not, you have the power inside you to make \\nany\\n changes you want in yourself!\\nWillpower is the main source of drive for most people trying to break bad habits.\\nUnfortunately, for most of us, the strength of our willpower ebbs and flows with the ups and downs in our lives! A bad day may lead to emotional eating. A stressful situation may lead to resuming something like smoking. Celebratory occasions may prompt someone who is trying to quit drinking to have “just one drink.” \\nYou’re not weak when you “fall off the wagon” from breaking whatever bad habit you’ve been working on breaking. You’re \\nnormal\\n.\\nThe secret of breaking bad habits is to be able to control your physical, mental, and emotional self no matter the ebbs and flows of life. So that the willpower you rely on to help you break bad habits is more stable and not subject to change on a whim.\\nYoga helps you break bad habits for sure! You certainly have more control over your emotions, better self awareness, a healthier mindset, and more harmony in your life. However, kundalini yoga specifically helps strengthen intuition and willpower.\\nSeveral of our expert and experienced yoga teachers at MyYogaTeacher focus specifically on teaching kundalini yoga! They understand that many people struggle with breaking bad habits and creating positive changes in their lives that last and want to help their students do just that.\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n!\\nLet’s talk about how kundalini yoga will help you break bad habits now and in the future (and permanently)\\n\\n\\nKundalini yoga and meditation focuses on repetitive behaviors\\nIn the physical aspect of a kundalini yoga practice, you’ll not only repeat asanas, but you’ll also hold poses for longer periods of time. Sometimes even up to five minutes!\\nDeveloping the mental and physical fortitude that is required to repeat poses in a structured flow on a regular basis is an excellent way to teach yourself how to kick bad habits and replace them with healthier ones.\\nBy committing to these repetitive movements, you are training your mind and entire nervous system to resist the temptation to give up. This is an important aspect to breaking bad habits and building new ones.\\nRemember, breaking a bad habit isn’t just about ending a cycle of negative repetitive behaviors. It’s also about \\ncreating a cycle of positive ones\\n!\\nAdditionally, there is always a meditative aspect to any traditional kundalini yoga practice, where you will learn chants, repeat chants, and learn breathing techniques you’ll use in times of stress, emotional upheaval, and/or when you’re feeling tempted to cave to whatever habit you’re trying to break.\\nWhich leads us to…\\n\n\\n\\nKundalini yoga improves your mood\\nHave you ever noticed if you’re going to give into temptation, \\nmost of the time\\n, it’s when you’re sad, mad, anxious, depressed, or stressed? Yes, of course we cave at celebrations too or at events when we’re happy. \\nBut we are certainly more inclined to stick to our guns when we’re in a good mood, feeling good about ourselves, or feeling accomplished.\\nA regular kundalini yoga practice entails a very spiritual (not religious) meditation and includes several different types of breathwork. Both of these aspects of yoga have been proven by scientific research to reduce stress and improve, or even eliminate, feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, and frustration. The reduction of negative emotions and the improvement of mental and emotional health are part of what makes kundalini yoga perfect for helping people stop bad habits for good!\\n\n\\n\\nKundalini yoga requires physical and mental strength\\nWhen you think about ending bad habits for good, maybe doing something that you \\nknow\\n requires significant effort to help you do so isn’t the first thing you think about. Because why take something hard like breaking a bad habit and make it harder, right?\\nWrong.\\nPart of the reason people struggle with permanently changing their habits is because they haven’t “exercised” the part of themselves that are needed to make the change for good. You don’t make physical changes without changing your diet or physical activity levels. And those changes aren’t maintained if you quit doing the things you did to make the change to begin with.\\nIt is the same for breaking bad habits! Kundalini yoga and meditation is a tool to keep your physical, mental, and emotional health strong so that you are more easily able to not just break \\none\\n bad habit, but any that you want to. \\nKundalini yoga requires you to use physical and mental strength and helps you maintain and grow in the areas you need to grow so you can create permanent positive changes in your life.\\n\n\\n\\n\nMany find kundalini yoga and meditation challenging, but they also walk away from their practice enlightened, strengthened, more relaxed, and prepared to live presently and positively in their life.\\nAt MyYogaTeacher, there are many amazing and experienced yoga instructors who work with yogis every single day on how to break bad habits. Many are experts in kundalini yoga and meditation and guide MyYogaTeacher students in this very special type of practice.\\nIf you’re interested in how to strengthen your physical, mental, and emotional fortitude so you are equipped to create permanent change in your life, I encourage you to grab your 2-week free trial of MyYogaTeacher! No credit card required.\\nWe offer 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\n"},"createdAt":"2022-07-06T00:09:59.700384+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["anxiety","emotional_health","meditation","yoga"]},{"title":"Using Yoga for Healing in Times of Conflict","coverUrl":"jemyfna9t5qd5osx8r2n.jpg","slug":"yoga-for-healing-during-conflict","content":{"text":"With the US government’s reversal of Roe vs. Wade, women worldwide are hurting. The United States has now entered a community of 24 other countries around the world that completely prohibits abortion. Whether you agree with this decision or not, is not the purpose of this article. \\nMyYogaTeacher strives to be sensitive to the needs of yogis everywhere, but particularly during times of conflict.\\nWhether you are rejoicing in the US government’s bold decision or you are mourning, there is still conflict. Conflict between government and citizens. Conflict between religions. Conflict between friends and family members who have differing views.\\nSo much conflict.\\nWe are here to help you heal in your time of need! Yoga has been used for centuries, millenia even, to heal physical, mental, and emotional wounds. \\nAnd \\nthis\\n is the purpose of this article. To guide you in all the ways yoga can heal during times of conflict.\\nIf you are not a MyYogaTeacher member yet, we encourage you take advantage of your free two-week trial. No credit cards needed.\\nAt MyYogaTeacher, we have members from all walks of life, religions, and all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities! MyYogaTeacher offers 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\nIn the meantime, let us talk about how yoga provides the healing that so many people worldwide need, especially now.\\n\\n\\nYoga opens space for healing\\nAmidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we tend to swallow our emotions. We set them aside to deal with later (or not) so that we can function the way we need to on a day to day basis. Until there’s a better time and place to process those emotions. Except so often, that better time and place never arises.\\nThrough a consistent yoga practice, you have time to give yourself permission to feel, to process, to meditate on that which causes you strife. Yoga gives you time to make space for that.\\nMeditation is a huge part of yoga, even if you only participate in the physical practice of yoga. Every yoga session \\nis\\n a form of meditation.\\nThrough meditation and breath work, our bodies naturally release tension, stress, and anxiety. Our mind is made clearer and our thoughts more reflective.\\nOur body releases hormones that make us feel better, happier, more peaceful. Our muscles relax, releasing us from physical pain and tension.\\nAnd we are allowed to feel all the feelings. That is the beginning of healing.\\n\\n\nYoga grounds us\\nWhen conflicts arise and life is stressful, it is so easy to lose touch with reality. Suddenly, a situation seems more terrible and scary than it is. We begin to focus more on the negative aspects of our lives.\\nWe detach further and further from the good in the world.\\nThere is a saying. If you look for the negative, you’ll find it. It’s everywhere. The same is true for the positive.\\nPracticing yoga grounds us. It helps us not only see the good in ourselves but also others. Yoga helps us change our focus and be present in the moment. From there, we can more easily see that not every moment is bad. Not every moment is full of conflict, stress, strife. \\nFocusing inward through yoga helps us live our best lives and be our best selves in each individual moment. That’s not only healing for us, but us being present and grounded heals others!\\n\\n\nYoga and meditation help us connect\\nStudies have shown that human connection and connection to nature both provide internal \\nand\\n external healing. Every time you enjoy nature or spend quality time with the humans in your life that you care about and love, you are healing your body mentally, emotionally, and physically!\\nWhile yoga and meditation is a very individual, unique experience for each yogi because you discover (or rediscover) your connection to self, yoga provides human connection as well.\\nAnd if you practice outside, you are also connected to nature!\\nOften, during conflict, our instinct is to retreat. To hide away or “sweep it under the carpet.” This is not healthy and only leads to a deeper dive into reclusivity, anger, resentment, and hatred. Those are heavy emotions to carry around and only prove to hurt us.\\nA regular yoga and meditation practice not only helps us stay connected to our highest self, it connects us to others. From your yoga instructor, to other yogis in your class, to friends and family, yoga is a way to help us stay connected, work through conflict, and heal.\\n\\nAny time we are hurting, we are never in a place to help others. We are not in a place to create change in ourselves or the world if we do not make time to heal ourselves in healthy ways. When we respond out of fear, anger, resentment, and/or hatred, we are inviting more of the same. More darkness.\\nTrue yoga, beyond just a healthy body, helps us to build a world based on love and compassion\\n - not dominance, force and fear.\\nTrue yoga evokes change in ways we need individually and in the world.\\nIf you are looking for healing or need a respite from the darkness of the world, or you just need a space to \\nhold\\n space for the processing of emotions, MyYogaTeacher is here for you.\\nOur expert yoga teachers aren’t just teachers. They’re friends. And we all truly care about you!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert, highly qualified yoga instructors\\n to choose from\\nThe \\nability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to \\nunlimited group classes, taught live\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of \\na HUGE community of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here!\\n\\n\\n"},"createdAt":"2022-06-29T21:07:49.859986+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["emotional_health","mental_health"]},{"title":"Bringing Peace to Your Chaos: How Yoga Heals the World","coverUrl":"unizcdwt8dtqxz1k4xpm.jpg","slug":"yoga-for-peace","content":{"text":"Here at myYogaTeacher, we understand the effects of all the world’s problems on people. We feel them too. And we want to help.\\nClimate change. Wildfires. A pandemic. Political unrest. Social unrest.\\nMix in work and family and all the other aspects of our lives, and you’ve got the set up for inner and outer chaos. \\nIt doesn’t have to be that way. We’re not saying yoga cures every problem, but it certainly will help bring more peace and harmony to your busy, bustling, crazy life. The more peace you bring into your life, the healthier you will become. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.\\nWe believe that yoga is a path to wellness. That’s why myYogaTeacher offers a \\nfree-2-week trial where you can explore over 35 different yoga classes\\n and many different types of yoga, all taught by expert yoga teachers from the birthplace of yoga, India.\\nYoga brings harmony to your chaos and really can heal you in ways you’d never guess possible.\\nYoga promotes physical healing\\nThere is no doubt that yoga helps people feel better physically. But do you know how or in what ways yoga can benefit you besides helping you become more flexible?\\nYoga can cure lower back pain as well as other types of joint pain.\\n The stretching of the muscles around those areas relieves tension while simultaneously strengthening them, which provides added support to sensitive joints.\\nA regular yoga practice creates a healthy spine.\\n Besides providing stretches that help lengthen and strengthen the tiny muscles around the spine, yoga also works your abdominal muscles, which are imperative for spinal support and health.\\nYoga reduces blood pressure.\\n The combination of breathwork and yoga poses releases endorphins while also helping you effectively work through stressful situations easier. Consistently lower stress levels reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels.\\nPracticing yoga can relieve symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).\\n Studies have shown that practicing yoga 2-3 times a week actually reduces testosterone levels in women, providing relief from anxiety and depression, as well as from PCOS.\\nThe therapeutic benefits of yoga help cure and prevent Type II Diabetes\\n. Science has proven that a regular yoga practice lowers fasting blood sugar, and it promotes mindful eating. It also helps with glycemic control, making diabetes medications less necessary.\\nThis is just a small list of ways yoga provides physical benefits. There are so many other ways yoga helps people feel better physically. Like helping with arthritis, depression, liver problems, obesity, and even eating disorders.\\nSpeaking of depression…\\nYoga promotes mental healing\\nDepression affects approximately 40 million Americans every year. And that number has steadily increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. \\nUnfortunately, many people don’t have access to affordable or reliable mental health care. Or they do not understand the severity of their mental health problems enough to seek out the help they need.\\nA multitude of studies back the idea that a regular yoga practice helps heal many types of mental health problems, anxiety and depression being two.\\nHere are some other ways yoga helps heal mental health issues:\\nYoga helps strengthen social attachments.\\n Humans are created for interaction. Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or a bit of both, having solid social connections to others is proven to reduce anxiety and depression.\\nA regular yoga practice helps alleviate insomnia\\n. Insomnia itself is physical, but the effects of it are mental. Lack of sleep causes brain fog, poor decision making, irritability, anxiety, and depression.\\nYoga affects mood with the release of GABA.\\n GABA is a primary mood boosting chemical in your body and helps alleviate the effects of stress, anxiety, PTSD, and many other mental health disorders.\\nThe breathwork aspect of yoga reduces stress.\\n Stressful situations surround us every day. But how we respond to stress affects our mental health. Yoga is also a practice of breathwork and developing various breathing techniques that help us manage our stress.\\nMany people underestimate the power of stress and trauma in their lives. Stress increases blood pressure, cortisol levels, suicide rates,  the likelihood of eating disorders, and sleeplessness. \\nTrauma goes unrecognized by people suffering from it and mental health practitioners every single day.\\nYoga brings healing to the world through better mental health. It’s actually an important tool used in psychotherapy. It’s also much more affordable and accessible than psychotherapy or prescription drugs. When mental health is better, emotional health follows easily behind.\\nYoga promotes emotional well-being\\nYoga is a journey. It helps us unravel who we are on a heart and soul level. Who we are underneath all the roles of husband, wife, parent, child, friend. \\nYoga brings us to a place of self-awareness, a place where we can be present in every moment. A place where we are better able to control our inner and outer responses to outside stimuli. We can’t always control the world around us, and we certainly can’t control other people’s actions. \\nA regular yoga practice helps us control and regulate our emotions.\\nOn top of that, when we practice yoga consistently, our bodies release tension in areas where we may have pain. We begin to strengthen muscles that support our frame and joints, which also alleviates pain. Since pain can cause serious emotional distress, the idea that yoga provides relief from pain and promotes emotional well-being is \\nhuge\\n.\\nYoga is an ancient practice with modern benefits. MyYogaTeacher has made it easy for you to find the perfect class for you with an instructor you feel comfortable with. On top of that, as a member, you have the opportunity to try many different classes from anywhere in the world you may be and at almost any time of day!\\nWe truly care about your health and well-being and the power of yoga to heal the world. And it’s important to us that high quality, personalized, expert yoga instruction is affordable and easily accessible to anyone who wants it or needs it.\\n\\nIf you’re not a member yet, click here to grab your 2-week free trial!\\n \\nSee you on the mat! \\nNamaste."},"createdAt":"2021-08-04T20:00:25.747903+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"Hormonal Havoc: 6 Yoga Poses to Help Regulate Your Hormones","coverUrl":"kdfk6tgq348b7wstjcc6.jpg","slug":"yoga-for-hormonal-imbalance","content":{"text":"This one’s mostly for the ladies. Not that men don’t have hormones too! \\nWe know you do.\\n\\nBut if you haven’t been told (or told yourself) that you’re moody because you’re hormonal at least once in your life, then you might have a hard time understanding what’s being discussed in this article.\\n\\nAlmost all types of yoga positively impacts the endocrine system where our hormones are housed, regulated and released.\\n\\nHormones fluctuate in many stages of a woman’s life. Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, after childbirth, menopause. \\n\\nSometimes life wreaks havoc on our hormones as well. Things like stress, particularly consistent or constant stress, affect how our hormones are released and work.\\n\\nSymptoms of imbalanced hormones include:\\n\\n Weight gain\\nIrregular cycles\\nMood swings\\nLowered immunity \\nThyroid problems \\nPMS\\nLower back pain\\nFertility problems\\nInsomnia\\nHot flashes\\nBlood sugar imbalances\\n\\nAnd more. \\n\\nThat’s a lot. Yoga helps regulate hormones and ease or eliminate the discomforts associated with hormonal imbalances. That’s why I wanted to offer a \\nYoga for Hormonal Imbalance class\\n on myYogaTeacher!\\n\\nBecause at some point all women will experience some sort of hormonal imbalance. \\n\\n\\nIf you haven’t joined myYogaTeacher yet, you can grab a 2-week free trial here!\\n There are over 35 different classes you can take on a daily basis. All from the comfort of your own home!\\n\\nYoga helps with hormones throughout the body by stimulating the glands associated with releasing them. Yoga is also responsible for stress reduction, lower cortisol levels, and the release of endorphins.\\n\\nI want to provide you with a beginner’s list of yoga poses to help with hormonal imbalances that you can do at home with or without myYogaTeacher.\\n\\nSo try these out!\\n\\n1. Cobra pose\\n\\nThis pose stimulates the adrenal glands, helping your body combat stress and anxiety. While cobra pose is an excellent asana for your reproductive organs, it also opens up your chest, improves digestion, and stimulates the circulatory system.\\n\\nAll of which help alleviate menstrual or premenstrual symptoms like bloating, gas, cramping, stomach upset and headaches.\\n\\nAnd it’s easy to do! I recommend holding this pose for a minute while breathing deeply, releasing, and repeating a few more times for maximum benefit.\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Camel pose\\n\\nCamel pose has lots of benefits, but one is that it stimulates the thyroid and parathyroid glands, two major hormone producing glands in your neck region.\\n\\nThis pose also brings about a really nice stretch in the abdominal region, stretching out the uterine muscles and relieving menstrual cramps. The stretch in the spine helps reduce or eliminate mild lower back pain that can occur with menstruation as well.\\n\\nI recommend holding this pose for 30 seconds to a minute before coming up slowly and repeating several times. Be sure to bring your torso up first!\\n\\n\\n\\n3. Butterfly pose\\n\\nAnother really simple pose that opens up the hips massages the adrenal glands, butterfly is beneficial for relaxation and stress reduction as well.\\n\\nButterfly pose isn’t just a yoga pose for hormonal balance. It’s also a great asana for PCOS prevention and symptom relief. You’ll also feel a good stretch in the spine and lower back. \\n\\nUse a block to rest your head on if this pose gets too intense or your head doesn’t reach your feet. \\n\\nHold butterfly pose for 1-2 minutes and release.\\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bridge pose\\n\\nBridge pose strengthens your core and pelvic floor muscles. If you have lower back pain, place a block underneath your tailbone area for comfort.\\n\\nThis asana will also stimulate the thyroid and parathyroid glands located in the neck area, but be careful not to put too much pressure on your neck in bridge pose and cause an injury.\\n\\nIf you’re unsure of how to do this one or any of the poses I mention here without injuring yourself, you should definitely check out my class, Yoga for Hormonal Imbalance.\\n\\nHold for 30 seconds, and release from the top of the spine, rolling down. Repeat several times for maximum benefits!\\n\\n\\n\\n5. Child’s pose\\n\\nMany female yogis say this pose is the best for menstrual cramps. Not only does it relieve pressure from your lower back and up towards your neck, it massages and relaxes the abdominal area, including the uterine muscles, and stimulates the adrenal glands.\\n\\nChild’s pose is a pose literally anyone can do! I'm pretty certain you’ve heard of it before, but just in case, I still gave you an example of this one below.\\n\\n\\n\\n6. Supine twists\\n\\nAhhhhh, sweet relief! Supine twists are ahhhhhhmazing for menstrual cramps. As a matter of fact, other twisting poses like seated twists and standing twists are also good. \\n\\nBut who wants to sit or stand to stretch when they’re feeling yucky? Why not just lie down!\\n\\nThis is the easiest way to “wring out” the front of your body and relieve tension in the lower back. Supine twists also help you feel more relaxed and calm, which is something every woman could stand to feel a little more of during that time of the month.\\n\\nHold each side for 30 seconds to a minute, breathing deeply and repeat several times on each side.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nIf you’re menstruating, you’ll want to avoid most inversion poses like downward facing dog, hand or headstands, shoulder stands, and plough pose. These poses are not good for your menstrual flow and can even increase cramping.\\n\\nWe’d love to have you learn more about yoga poses that help with hormone imbalances and menstrual issues in my class, \\nYoga for Hormonal Imbalances! \\n\\n\\n\\nIf you’re not a myYogaTeacher member yet, you can get a 2-week free trial here\\n and try out any or all of the live group yoga classes offered. There are over 35 of them\\n"},"createdAt":"2021-05-13T12:11:42.554984+00:00","author":{"name":"Rohan","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"Laughter Yoga: Laugh Your Way to a Better Life","coverUrl":"cvu0qbjqutitsktgov6q.jpg","slug":"laughter-yoga-practice","content":{"text":"You've probably heard the expression, \"laughter is the best medicine,\" right? That's the basis of laughter yoga.\\n\\nLaughter yoga is a wonderful practice that involves the standard things you expect from a yoga practice: pranayama, asanas, and mantra meditations. Where laughter yoga differs from traditional yoga practices is the addition of laughter. The purpose? To cultivate joy, relieve stress, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.\\n\\nIf you've never experienced laughter yoga, please join me in my next laughter yoga class on myYogaTeacher. You can \\nsign up for a free two-week trial for myYogaTeacher\\n and get access to my laughter yoga classes as well as 35+ other live online yoga classes every day.\\n\\nWhat Is Laughter Yoga?\\n\\nLaughter yoga is movement and breathing exercises using laughter. It's really as simple as that. It was created by Dr. Madan Kataria, a Mumbai-based physician, in 1995. In addition to benefits like reducing stress, increasing energy levels, and improving your quality of life, Dr. Kataria believes that laughter yoga promotes positivity and increases the ability of people to deal with stress and stressful situations.\\n\\nBenefits of Laughter Yoga\\nBefore we dive into our practice, let's take a look at a few \\nbenefits of laughter\\n. Laughter:\\nImproves mood\\nReleases endorphins and feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine\\nSuppresses stress hormones like cortisol\\nReduces pain\\nLowers blood pressure\\nStrengthens the immune system\\nLowers stress levels and rates of depression\\nIncreases social connectedness\\nImproves relaxation\\nHeightens feelings of security and safety\\nAlso, research conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Centre revealed that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes burns between 10 and 40 calories. Not much, but there are worse ways to burn a few calories.\\n\\nAccording to the \\nresearch\\n, your body can't tell the difference between fake and real laughter, so you can reap the benefits of laughter even when you're faking it.\\n\\nLaughter Yoga Contraindications\\n\\nLaughter yoga, like any other form of exercise, might not be right for everyone. It involves a measure of physical strain and intra-abdominal pressure. If you're dealing with any of the following, you shouldn't practice laughter yoga:\\nAny kind of hernia\\nAdvanced (bleeding) piles\\nAny persistent cough\\nEpilepsy\\nHeart disease\\nHigh blood pressure\\nSevere backache\\nFirst or third trimester of pregnancy\\nHave given birth within the previous two months\\nAnything with acute symptoms\\nIncontinence of urine\\nMajor psychiatric disorders\\nSurgery within the last 3 months\\nA Laughter Yoga Practice\\nA typical laughter yoga practice has five segments:\\nWarmup\\nDeep breathing exercises\\nChildlike playfulness\\nLaughter exercises\\nLaughter meditation\\nHere are some ideas for each segment that you can use to create your own laughter yoga practice.\\n\\nWarmup\\nLaughter yoga starts with a warmup. Even though this type of yoga isn't necessarily strenuous like other yoga formats, it's still important to warm up your body to ensure that it's ready for whatever comes its way. The warmup should include various stretches and body movements.\\n\\nYou can always do a standard yoga warmup (sun salutations, for example) to prepare for laughter yoga. The Laughter Yoga University recommends these exercises:\\n\\nClapping\\nClap your hands parallel to one another, taking care to get full contact in your fingers and palms to stimulate acupressure points and increase energy. You can then move into rhythmic clapping.\\n\\nMovement\\nFrom there, you'll get into movement, swinging your arms and moving your hands up and down. Anything that feels good and warms up your body.\\n\\nChanting\\nAdd some chanting into the mix. Instead of the standard chanting, laughter yoga uses laughter sounds like \"ha ha ha\" and \"ho ho ho.\" They should be powerful exhalations that use your diaphragm.\\n\\nDeep Breathing Exercises\\nDeep breathing exercises are an important part of laughter yoga. Here's an example of a deep breathing exercise you can use in your laughter yoga practice.\\n\\nStand in a relaxed position. Bend forward at the waist while exhaling through your mouth. Really focus on emptying your lungs completely. Let your arms dangle. Hold this position briefly, letting the bending movement push your diaphragm and help you empty your lungs.\\n\\nSlowly return to standing while inhaling through your nose, taking as deep a breath as you can. Raise your arms up over your head and stretch your body slightly backward. Hold your breath for a count of five.\\n\\nExhale slowly, bringing your arms down and coming back into a forward fold. Hold, emptying your lungs completely. You might try holding your breath a bit longer and letting the exhalation come out in a laugh.\\n\\nFeel free to alternative deep breathing exercises with laughing exercises or using the deep breathing exercises to break up the laughter exercises as needed.\\n\\nChildlike Playfulness\\nOne of the objectives of laughter yoga is to encourage childlike playfulness. This might mean chanting or moving after exercises in a way that keeps you energized and enthusiastic about your laughter yoga session.\\n\\nLaughter Exercises\\nThere are three basic types of laughter exercises:\\nYogic Laughter:\\n These exercises are based on pranayama or yoga postures.\\nPlayful Laughter:\\n These exercises are designed to move practitioners from simulated laughter into real laughter.\\nValue-Based Laughter:\\n These exercises are intended to build positive feelings and program new auto-responses into your subconscious.\\nLet's explore some different exercises for each of these types.\\n\\nYogic Laughter Example: Lion Laughter\\nLion laughter is based on Simha Mudra (Lion Posture). To do it, stick your tongue out as far as you can, keeping your mouth wide open, eyes wide, and hands stretched like a lion's paws. Roar like a lion and then laugh from your belly.\\n\\nThis exercise is great for the tongue, throat, and facial muscles as well as improving blood supply to the thyroid.\\n\\nPlayful Laughter Example: One-Meter Laughter\\nMove one hand over the opposite outstretched arm (like you're pulling back the string of a bow and arrow. Pull the hand back in three jerking movements, chanting \"Ha! Ha! Haaaaa!\" Then, stretch both of your arms wide and throw your head back, laughing. Repeat on the other side and then do the whole sequence again.\\n\\nValue-Based Laughter Example: Appreciation Laughter\\nJoin the tip of the index finger to the tip of the thumb and move your hands forward and backward in forceful jerking movements. If you're doing this practice alone, think of people you are grateful and appreciative of. Laugh in a gentle manner.\\n\\nLaughter Meditation\\nIn laughter meditation, the laughter exercises are left behind and we instead practice free-flowing laughter. Just come into a comfortable position and start with your eyes closed. Then, just let yourself laugh however you want to laugh.\\n\\nLaugh Your Way to a Better Life\\nLaughter yoga has steadily increased in popularity since its creation in 1995. And with good reason. Laughter yoga just feels good. It involves several beneficial aspects of a traditional yoga class with the added benefit of making you happier and more joyful.\\n\\nJoin me for my next laughter yoga class by \\nsigning up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n. You'll get access to laughter yoga classes as well as 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day, from laughter yoga to Hatha to yoga for specific needs (like back health or thyroid function).600600"},"createdAt":"2021-03-16T13:08:00.209121+00:00","author":{"name":"Prakash","pictureUrl":"vihnq8enbbdyhd6kt13c.jpg","teacherMytSlug":"prakash-1"},"category":["emotional_health"]},{"title":"The Wealth of Contentment","coverUrl":"health-is-the-greatest-gift-contentment-the-greatest-wealth-faithfulness-the-best-relationship._10.png","slug":"the-wealth-of-contentment","content":{"text":"This quote of the Buddha is carved in my mind and heart. I always wanted to be content and deeply satisfied in every task that I do. This quest for deep contentment began when I entered engineering college and continued through my tenure in the IT industry. \\n\\nThrough sincere hard work and dedication, I achieved so much during this time yet I hadn't achieved my own personal contentment. \\n\\nI was sitting in our quarterly meeting at my corporate job and I heard the words \"Star Performer Award goes to Sheetal for her outstanding performance!\" Senior management was announcing my name for a award at my company and I should have been happy and excited. But somewhere deep inside, I just was not satisfied.\\n\\nEventually, I decided to take a grand risk and commit myself to yoga, something I had practiced since I was a teenager. Applying the same hard work and dedication as I had to my engineering studies, I was ready to pursue higher education in yoga science.\\n\\nAfter thorough research and a visit, I joined the Kaivalyadhama Institute in Maharashtra for a post-graduate residential diploma  in Yogic Science.  \\n\\nOnce I started teaching Yoga, I realized that many people come to yoga based on doctor's advice or to help with mental stress. To enhance my skills as a teacher, I decided to continue my education and completed a diploma in Yoga Therapy from the SVYASA Institute in Bangalore followed by Panchagavya medicine course from Chennai .\\n\\nAs I started seeing the profound effect of yoga on me and my students, my faith to continue my journey on this path became more concrete. Yoga does wonders to everyone who practices.\\n\\nIt has been a challenging, satisfying and mysterious journey which connected my inner world to the outer world, allowing me to experience the best of both!I remain totally awestruck with the deep study and research done by our ancestors and contemporaries in the field of mind and matter.  \\n\\nMy journey into \\nYoga\\n has provided me the gift of a lifetime - a balanced mind and contentment.  \\n\\nNamaste,\\nSheetal\\n"},"createdAt":"2019-01-10T00:00:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Sheetal","pictureUrl":"sheetal-pro.jpg","teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["emotional_health"]}],"categories":[{"name":"Fitness","value":"fitness","display":"fitness"},{"name":"Therapy","value":"therapy","display":"therapy"},{"name":"Yoga","value":"yoga","display":"yoga"},{"name":"Anxiety","value":"anxiety","display":"anxiety"},{"name":"Pain Management","value":"pain_management","display":"pain management"},{"name":"Mental Health","value":"mental_health","display":"mental health"},{"name":"Emotional Health","value":"emotional_health","display":"emotional health"},{"name":"Weight Loss","value":"weight_loss","display":"weight loss"},{"name":"Meditation","value":"meditation","display":"meditation"},{"name":"Restorative","value":"restorative","display":"restorative"},{"name":"Yoga Teacher Training","value":"yoga_teacher_training","display":"yoga teacher training"},{"name":"Workshops","value":"workshops","display":"workshops"},{"name":"Yoga Poses","value":"yoga_poses","display":"yoga poses"},{"name":"MyYogaTeacher","value":"myYogaTeacher","display":"myyogateacher"}],"search":"","category":"emotional_health","pageTitle":"Emotional Health","schema_category":"Emotional Health"}