Letter from Jitendra (CEO and co-founder of myYogaTeacher)

{"slug":"letter-from-jitendra-ceo-and-co-founder-of-myyogateacher","recentPosts":[{"id":"cldebisqj8am10bk2riasiyyy","slug":"self-love-yoga-event","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Self Love Yoga & Meditation Event: Empower Yourself This Valentine’s Day","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Empower yourself this Valentine's Day with our Self Love Yoga & Meditation Event. Find inner peace and self-acceptance through yoga and meditation practices","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-27T09:24:55.671424+00:00","coverUrl":"rvpz4az7wyk8pdo4fvyg.png","content":{"text":"Announcing our free Self Love Event February 13-14!\\n\n\\nEmbrace yourself and practice self love this Valentine’s Day and every day with the help of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga teachers.\\n\\nYoga has been a powerful tool for self-improvement and personal growth for centuries, and self-love yoga is no exception. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with self-doubt, self-criticism, and negative self-talk. Self-love yoga can help to change that by promoting self-acceptance and self-compassion.\\nThis special yoga and meditation event\\n focuses on building self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-compassion through a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices.\\nSelf-love is the foundation of all healthy relationships, including the relationship with ourselves. Without self-love, we cannot truly love and accept others!\\n\n\\n\\nHow to join the Yoga for Self Love Event:\\n\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\n\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nMake this event the start of something wonderful for your mental, emotional, and physical health! So you, too, can be happier, more self-confident, and more productive!\\n\\n\\nNurturing Relationships Through Self Love \\n\\nMonday, February 13 at 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST\\n\n\\nSelf love isn’t selfish! It’s critical to creating deeper, more meaningful relationships and becoming the best version of yourself you can be! Join us in this discussion based self love class with a guided meditation and walk away prioritizing your health and happiness!\\n\n\\n\\nEmbrace Yourself: Balancing the Heart Chakra\\n\\nTuesday, February 14 at 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST\\n\\nReady to love yourself (and others) more and better? Need more compassion and kindness in your life? Join this yoga for self-love class designed to open your heart chakra and help you walk away feeling empowered to have more meaningful relationships and showing more love\n\\nThis special event will offer a unique opportunity to nurture yourself and discover the power of self-love.  Don't miss out on this transformative experience. Sign up today and awaken your inner strength and self-love.\\nAnd don’t forget to check out other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\n\n\\n\\nAnnelise Piers\\n\\n\\nShika Sood\\n\\n\\nSwati Dalvi\\n\\n\\nAbhishek Bodhi\\n\\n\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\n\\nRohan Shroff\\n\n\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Self Love Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":["myYogaTeacher"]},{"id":"clczdmysytyzn0ak616x0ikhn","slug":"yoga-for-fitness-event","author":null,"title":"Join the Yoga Movement: Free MyYogaTeacher Yoga for Fitness Event for Everyone!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Join MyYogaTeacher's new free Yoga for Fitness Event starting soon and get fit faster with yoga!","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":["Fitness","HathaYoga","Ashtanga","Yoga","Vinyasa","Hatha"],"createdAt":"2023-01-16T22:27:36.746406+00:00","coverUrl":"fegu2jin0qfhgaefpml6.png","content":{"text":"Are you ready to get fit, flexible, and unleash your inner radiance?! Don’t miss our 3-day FREE Yoga for Fitness Event January 29-31!\\nYoga is a great way to improve your flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as reducing stress and promoting relaxation. This event will feature a variety of yoga styles and levels to suit everyone from beginners to experienced yogis.\\nOur authentic, expert yoga instructors from India will guide you each day through sessions focused on improving your physical fitness and overall well-being. Plus, the even is completely free, so there’s no excuse not to come give it a try!\\nHow to join the Yoga for Fitness Event:\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\nDiscover all the best ways yoga can help you get fit fast. So you can live your life to the fullest and move with more ease.\\nWe've put together an entire schedule of yoga for fitness classes dedicated to helping you relax and sleep better.\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and exciting event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\\n\\n Hatha Yoga for Physical Fitness with Ankit\\n\\nSunday, January 29 at 6:00 am PST/ 9:00 am EST\\n\\n\\nHatha yoga is focused on the physical practice of yoga and is perfect for helping you build strength, get fit, and improve flexibility. Bonus? You’ll feel more relaxed and rejuvenated after this hatha yoga class! Join us for asanas, Sun Salutations, and other strength building poses!\\n\\nFind Fitness in Flow: Vinyasa Yoga with Monica\\n\\nMonday,  January 30 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\n\\nReady to get fit while finding your flow? The fluid movement of this challenging vinyasa yoga class is perfect for building up a sweat, improving flexibility, and building strength, making it a perfect class for overall fitness! Join us!\\n\\nAshtanga Yoga for Increased Fitness with Sujit\\n\\nMonday, January 31 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\n\\nDo you like structure in your yoga class? Need a workout focused on building strength through muscle training? This is for you! Join the ashtanga yoga class designed to help you get fitter and stronger faster!\\nWhether you're looking to improve your physical fitness, reduce stress, or simply try something new, our free yoga for fitness event is the perfect opportunity. So come and join us, and discover the many benefits of yoga for yourself!\\nExperience getting fit in a way that works for you and \\nwith\\n you! We’re here to support you on your journey now \\nand\\n when the event is over!\\nSo join us for this free event! And don’t forget to check out other fitness related yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n\\n\\nShweta Jain\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nMonica Agarwal\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nArchana\\n \\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Yoga for Fitness Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"clct2nkfx04xw0bk3fr4lrcjp","slug":"yoga-poses-for-osteoporosis","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"8 Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis: Maintaining Bone Health","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga can prevent and in some cases reverse osteoporosis and osteopenia by stretching and strengthening muscle tissue to rebuild and maintain bone density.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to prevent osteoporosis with a few simple yoga poses.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-12T12:33:31.959847+00:00","coverUrl":"pmkhkhuxo5s9dq2qkevm.jpg","content":{"text":"Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis with Yoga\\n\n\\nIf you suffer from the painful symptoms of osteoporosis, or if you are at risk of developing this limiting disease, there is help (and health) in starting your own regular yoga routine. In fact, doctors are now prescribing yoga as treatment and prevention for osteoporosis and osteopenia, making it an important part of maintaining physical health and wellness throughout your 50s and 60s — and beyond.\\n\\nOsteoporosis and osteopenia are conditions that commonly emerge throughout our later years, and if left untreated they can affect your mobility, bone density, and even your ability to remain self-sufficient. These conditions cause bones to be come weak and brittle, and over time more vulnerable to fractures and even breakage. \\n\\nBut a recent\\n \\n2016 study\\n discovered that yoga can be used in conjunction with other treatments to prevent the loss of bone density and in some cases reverse early onset of osteoporosis. Plus, as an added benefit, yoga is also a low-cost and low-risk treatment option, meaning there is little to lose by giving it a try.\\n\\nHow Yoga Can Treat Osteoporosis\\nThe process by which yoga treats and prevents osteoporosis is simple — through stretching and strengthening your muscle tissue you can build bone density and prevent fractures. Yoga postures exert subtle force upon your bones, prompting them to build up density and become stronger.\\n\\nYoga also improves your balance, which can help prevent falls — which may result in fractures or breakage. Along with building strength and flexibility, yoga also increases your mobility, endurance, and energy levels, helping you stay active no matter your age.\\n\\nIt should be noted that yoga may not cure osteoporosis on its own, and for some advanced cases it may not be effective in reversing this disease. Results vary on an individual basis, depending on your age, bone density, and other factors such as weight and co-existing conditions\\n\\nPracticing Yoga for Osteoporosis\\nIf you’re thinking of starting your own yoga regimen to prevent or reverse osteoporosis, there are a few things you should know. It’s important to first consult your doctor before practicing yoga for osteoporosis or osteopenia, to find out if there are any specific precautions you should be taking and whether or not it’s a safe activity for you. \n\\nPatients with advanced osteoporosis who have suffered fractures, breaks, or acute bone loss may need to avoid practicing yoga. If you’ve recently undergone surgery or if you’re still healing from an injury, you should wait until you’ve fully recovered before getting started.\n\\nMost importantly, you should take care to listen to your body when practicing yoga for osteoporosis. If a particular yoga pose causes pain or strain on your bones or joints, stop for a moment and take a break. Or, try using a modification like a bolster, block, or yoga blanket if applicable.\\n\\nIn their 2016 study, scientists found that the best results for using yoga as treatment for osteoporosis came from regular practice. Try performing yoga poses at least 3-4 times per week, or daily if you can. The more regularly you practice, the more bone density you’ll build, and the more strength and balance you’ll develop in your body.\\n\\n8 Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis:\\nIf you’ve been cleared by your doctor to practice yoga and you’re ready to get started, there are some simple yoga poses you can do at home to help prevent osteoporosis. You can also try taking a yoga class specifically designed for patients with osteoporosis. Here at\\n \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n, certified instructors can help you stay safe and injury free while giving you the independence to practice yoga in the comfort of your home.\\nReady to get started? \\nFollow the steps below to begin your own personal yoga journey.\\n\\n1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)\\n\\nThe foundation of all balance poses, Mountain pose helps you find stability and improve your posture.\\nStart by standing at the front of your mat. Keep your feet hip distance apart, and you can rest your arms at your sides or bring your hands together in prayer formation. Inhale and feel your chest opening and your collar bones widening as you focus on balancing your weight proportionally on both of your feet. Gaze straight forward and maintain this pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n \\n2. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)\\n\\nFrom Mountain pose, you’ll begin to transition into Tree pose to further improve your balance and stability.\\nBring your awareness to your left foot and firmly ground it into the mat. Begin to shift your body weight to your left foot, while gently lifting your right foot. Depending on your ability to balance, you can place the sole of your right foot on your left calf or thigh. As you do this, be sure to keep your pelvis aligned, your spine straight, and your gaze focused forward. Give yourself a moment to steady yourself, and then, if you feel comfortable, press your hands together in prayer formation. Hold for 5-6 deep breaths and repeat on the other side, then return to Mountain pose.\\n \\n3. Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana 2)\\n\\nThis standing pose also improves your balance and builds strength in your legs and core. If you have trouble balancing and wish to modify this pose, try practicing it next to a wall or with a chair.\\nMove to the back portion of your mat and step your right foot forward. Your right toes should be pointed forward and your left (back) foot should be kept parallel with your mat. Bend your right knee at 90 degrees, taking care not to overextend. Your right knee should not move forward past your toes. With your hips evenly squared, stretch your arms out to both sides, so that your right arm extended out in front of you and your left arm behind you. Open your chest and focus on activating your legs so that you are grounded into your mat. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n4. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)\\n\\nThis pose also requires strength and balance, and can be modified by performing it next to a wall. You can also place a block next to your front foot for easier hand positioning. \\nJust like with Warrior II, step your right foot forward for Triangle pose, keeping your left (back) foot parallel with your mat. Inhale and stretch out both your arms the same as in Warrior II, but keep your right leg straight with a slight, soft bend in your knee. As you exhale, hinge at your hip  and bend forward, placing your right fingertips on the floor, or you can place your hand on the block positioned next to your right foot. Turn your upper body and reach your left hand toward the ceiling, and either turn your head to gaze up at your hand, or keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Hold for 3-5 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n5. Cat-Cow Pose (Chakravakasana)\\n\\nThis pose is excellent for increasing mobility in your spine and hips.\\nMove to a tabletop position on your mat, with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. Feel the stretch in your chest and abdomen. 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 \\n6. Locust Pose (Shalabhasana)\\n\\nLike Cat-Cow, Locust improves your spinal mobility with a soft backbend, but in this pose you will also be working your core muscles, glutes, and shoulders.\\nFrom Cat-Cow, lower yourself onto the mat so that you are lying face down on your stomach with your legs extended straight and your arms at your sides. On your inhale, strengthen your core and lift your head, legs and arms at the same time, balancing your body on your lower abdomen, pelvis and upper legs. Engage your glutes and press both of your legs together while holding them up. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths, and then relax back onto your mat.\\n \\n7. Child’s Pose (Balasana)\\n\\nAfter the strengthening work of Locust pose, give your body a rest with Child’s pose\\nAfter Locust you’ve likely returned to lying face down on your mat. Press your palms and knees into the floor as if you were rising back into tabletop position, but this time bring your hips back so that your buttocks are resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Extend your arms forward so that your palms are resting on the mat in front of you, and bring your forehead to the mat. Breathe gently and allow your body to fully sink into this pose, supported by the floor. Hold for 5-6 minutes.\\n \\n8. Corpse Pose (Savasana)\\n\\nAfter practicing the above stretching and strengthening poses, it’s important to let your body fully digest the movement by resting in Corpse pose. \\nCome to a seated position on your mat. Slowly lower your body to the floor, so that you are lying flat on your back with your legs extended straight and your arms at your sides, palms facing up. Close your eyes and bring your focus inward. Bring your awareness to your body and check in with each and every body part, noticing if you feel any tension and allowing yourself to fully relax. Soften your face, neck, and shoulders, and let yourself melt into your mat while visualizing any tension leaving your body. Rest in this post for 5-7 minutes."},"category":["pain_management"]},{"id":"clct29qar2mln09k7b9xhmih5","slug":"8-yoga-poses-for-psoas-pain-relief","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"8 Yoga Poses for Psoas Pain Relief","subTitle":"Learn yoga poses that target your psoas muscle to relieve pain.","seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"By practicing a few specific yoga poses, you can directly stretch the psoas and surrounding areas, relieving tension, pain, and stiffness\n","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-12T12:22:46.336259+00:00","coverUrl":"fitbgltpzxzyqblmzhjg.jpg","content":{"text":"Possibly the most integral muscle group in your entire body, the psoas governs the central functioning of your core. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to move properly, walk, stand, or do much of anything, because the muscles in this group also attach your legs to your spine.\\n\\nIssues with your psoas can be deeply painful, and it’s a difficult area to massage. The psoas major, psoas minor, and iliacus combined make up your iliopsoas, commonly referred as simply the psoas. And when the psoas is unhappy, it can cause symptoms with a range of severity, from slightly uncomfortable to totally debilitating, like difficulty walking or standing upright, lower back pain, and pelvic pain. \n\\nAthletic injuries, prolonged periods of sitting and surgery can affect the health of your psoas, and if you’re experiencing a tight and shortened psoas, it’s likely you’re also suffering from weakness and pain. You can relieve your symptoms and fully recover from psoas issues by stretching and strengthening this important muscle group with yoga. \n\\nHow to Relieve Psoas Pain\\n\\nPsoas pain can affect the entire structure of your body, causing adjoining muscles to become overworked and your posture to become off-kilter, leading to widespread chronic pain. Yoga can help correct issues with your psoas and get you back to feeling balanced again. By practicing a few specific yoga poses, you can directly stretch the psoas and surrounding areas, relieving tension, pain, and stiffness.\\n\\nIt’s important to also strengthen the psoas to enable your body to function properly. A weak psoas can put enormous strain on your surrounding muscles and joints, and a strong core is essential for your physical health. By lengthening and strengthening your psoas at the same time, you can correct issues and reduce pain.\n\\nIf you’re suffering from a tight or weak psoas, try practicing the yoga poses below on a regular basis to start the healing process.\n\\n8 Yoga Poses for Psoas Pain Relief\\n\n\\n1. Low Lunge Pose\\n\\nLow Lunge is an easy pose to start lengthening your psoas muscles, and you can adjust this position to stretch as deeply as you feel comfortable.\\nFrom a kneeling position, start by bringing your left foot forward and bending your left leg at the knee. Inhale while reaching your arms over your head, keeping them parallel with the sides of your head. Allow your chest to expand and lengthen your spine. Remember to keep your chin level and your gaze focused straight ahead. Repeat on the other side.\\n \\n2.  Tree Pose\\n\\nTree pose strengthens and stretches your psoas muscles by isolating the area building strength through balance.\\nStand in Mountain pose and place your feet hip distance apart, arms relaxed at your sides. Gently shift your body weight to your left foot and bending your right knee, lifting it upward. Place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh. Keep your spine and head straight, with your gaze facing forward. Give yourself a moment to steady your balance, bring your hands together in Namaste formation. Hold for 5-6 deep breaths.\\n \\n3. Boat Pose\\n\\nOne of the best asanas for your core, Boat pose strengthens your abdominal muscles for better balance and posture.\\nStart by sitting with your legs stretched out in front of you and your arms at your sides. Lean back slightly so that your weight is evenly balanced. Inhale, engage your core, and exhale as you lift both your legs to a 45 degree angle, and extend your arms straight out alongside your legs. If this pose feels too difficult, try bending your knees and bringing your hands behind your knees for support. Keep your spine long and your core engaged as you hold this pose for 30-45 seconds.\\n \\n4. Knee-To-Chest Pose\\n\\nWhen your psoas is in pain and walking or standing upright feels difficult, Knee-To-Chest pose offers a supine stretch that can relieve your symptoms.\\nLie down flat on your back with your arms at your sides. Inhale, and then as you exhale, bring your right knee to your chest. Thoughtfully extend and stretch your left leg until you feel the tension begin to release from your abs and inside your hip. As you hug your knee to your chest, remember to breathe and focus on allowing your core to fully relax. Hold for 30-60 seconds and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n5. Dancer’s Pose\\n\\nLike Tree pose, Dancer’s pose works to strengthen your psoas through balance, with a deep stretch that lengthens all of the muscles in the front side of your torso. \\nStand in the middle of your mat with your weight evenly balanced on both feet. Transfer your weight onto your left foot while bending your right knee and grabbing your right foot with your right hand. Lift your left arm up toward the ceiling. Bend at your waist and slowly lean forward, lifting your right leg and engaging your core. You can deepen the stretch by creating some resistance — simply push outward with your right foot while pulling in with your right hand. For better balance, focus your gaze on a fixed point in front of you. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then repeat on the other side.\\n \\n6. Supported Bridge Pose\\n\\nSupported Bridge pose uses a yoga block to both support your weight and lengthen the muscles in your core and inside your hips.\\nStart by lying on your back with your knees bent and a yoga block placed nearby. On your next exhale, tuck your chin and lift your hips, being careful not to allow your knees to splay outward.  Take your yoga block and place underneath your lower back, supporting your weight and providing a deep stretch to the frontside of your pelvis. Stay in the pose for 30-60 seconds.\\n \\n7. Reclining Hero’s Pose\\n\\nBy modifying Hero’s pose to a reclining position, you can gently lengthen your psoas and stretch your quad muscles.\\nKneel on your yoga mat and rest your buttocks on the backs of your heels. Sit with your spine straight and inhale, and as you exhale, begin to gently lower your torso to the floor. You can move slowly, lowering yourself onto your back one vertebrae at a time. Rest your hands on your chest or reach your arms above your head to increase the stretch. Once your are resting on your back, you can also bring your focus to your hips and allow them to rise slightly upward for a greater stretch in your psoas minor.\\n \\n8. Cobra Pose\\n\\nCobra pose lengthens your abdominal muscles and releases tension in your lower back.\\nLie on your stomach with your legs extended, arms folded under your head and your chin resting on your forearms. Place your hands at the level of your chest and press down with your hands. Slightly lift your head off the mat, keeping your head and back aligned, and press your thighs together. Now, steadily pull your elbows towards your ribs and align your hands and shoulders. On a deep inhale, press your hands into the mat, curl your shoulders backward, and lift your upper body off the mat. Make sure to gaze upward and press your hips into the mat to target your psoas. Hold this position for a few breaths and then rest."},"category":[]},{"id":"clckc2txxldwd0ajx6v2ewnfg","slug":"everyday-selfcare-event","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s Free Yoga for Everyday Self Care Event","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Daily self-care yoga event for relaxation and rejuvenation. All levels welcome. Come find your inner peace and leave feeling ready to tackle the day ahead","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-06T09:47:25.040388+00:00","coverUrl":"sqksdkhom5g0uivl5z2l.png","content":{"text":"Ready to make time and take time for YOU in the New Year? This 2-day event on January 16-17 makes it easier than ever to start and keep a self care routine going.\\nAnd, of course, you’re invited!\\n\\nAlmost everyone is guilty of not putting themselves first most of the time. \\nBut did you know that research shows that self care reduces heart disease, stroke, and cancer? Not to mention that people who have a consistent \\nself care routine\\n are 67% more productive, 71% happier, and 64% more self-confident than those who don’t!  \\nThe impacts of a yoga for self care routine are nothing but positive. And there is nothing standing in your way of creating one with MyYogaTeacher’s free event. Imagine how much better you’ll feel and how much more productive you’d be if you just took some time for yourself everyday. Your routine doesn’t have to be time consuming. Even 30 minutes of yoga for self care may make all the difference in your life! \\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we understand creating a self care routine may seem unobtainable at first. That’s why we created this event!\n\\nHow to join the Yoga for Everyday Self Care Event:\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\n⁠\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nMake this event the start of something wonderful for your mental, emotional, and physical health! So you, too, can be happier, more self-confident, and more productive!\n\\nWe've put together a schedule of yoga sessions designed specifically to get you started on your self care journey.\\n\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and exciting event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\n\\n\\nYoga Breathwork: Relaxation and Self Care with Archana\\n\\nTuesday, January 17 at 5:30 pm PST/ 8:30 pm EST\\n\n\\nDo you make time for selfcare? Meditation and yogic breathing are excellent forms of selfcare that you can do almost anywhere or any time! Join us for this relaxing class focused on breathing, meditation, and gentle stretching. Discover how easy it is to take time for you!\\n\n\\n\\nYoga for Self Care: An Everyday Practice with Archana\\n\\nMonday, January 16 at 5:30 pm PST/ 8:30 pm EST\\n\n\\nDo you struggle to make time for self-care? You’re not alone! This beautiful yoga session is designed to help you learn asanas and stretches that you can do every day specifically as a self-care practice. Join us for self-care through yoga!\\n\n⁠\\nWe offer these events so you have the tools and guidance to live in harmony with your inner self, outer self, and the world. So you can move in the world with peace and good health. And so you can be less stressed, more productive, and more \\npresent\\n.\\n\\nExperience the peace that comes from yoga and explore all the tools our expert yoga instructors offer to help you start and maintain a consistent self care routine. We’re here to support you on your journey now \\nand\\n when the event is over!\n\\nSo join us for this free event! And don’t forget to check other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Many are perfect for continuing your self care routine long after this event is over. Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n- Ankit Bhatnagari\\n- Abhishek Bodhi\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Yoga for Everyday Self Care Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":["yoga"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"cl8ka13l4ionz0ck2fe0pme7l","slug":"chronic-neck-pain-relief-yoga-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Are you suffering with Chronic Neck Pain? 10 yoga poses to find relief!","createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:11:15.683866+00:00","coverUrl":"rbh6duxy7hy3y207sg1c.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you suffer from chronic neck pain? Nearly 30-50% of adults suffer from recurring neck pain. \\nNeck pain can be a common occurrence for people who:\\nhave long commutes or sit at a desk all day\\nwho have issues with posture \\nwho have chronic sleep issues\\nOur neck and shoulders can also be a place where we may carry tension or pain due to stress. In any case, the good news is yoga can help you to relieve your neck pain and move on symptom free! \\nDaily changes you can make to avoid neck pain\\nStay in alignment. Keep good posture and try not to carry heavy bags on one side of your body. Also, if you sit at a desk and work on a computer, move your monitor to eye-sight so you’re not looking up or down. Need help finding your center? \\nWe can help here at MyYogaTeacher! \\n\\nStay active! It’s important to stay mobilized.  If you sit all day, take breaks to move around and give your body a break from being stuck in one position. Can’t take breaks at work? Try to go for a walk on lunch or maybe before or after your workday. \\nCheck your sleep environment. Make sure your mattress and pillows are still in good shape. Look into the best pillows for your sleep type or body. Getting quality sleep will help you avoid tossing and turning and can be your remedy to wake pain free. \\nIf you’re feeling like you need to move, starting with any slower yoga practice will help! Yin, hatha and restorative classes will all leave your body feeling relaxed, renewed and free of pain. Want to flow on your own? Here are our top ten poses to try! \\n10 Yoga Poses to relieve Chronic Neck Pain :\n⁠\\n1. Easy seat with ear to shoulder stretch\\nThis pose releases your neck and shoulders and helps relieve tension and stress.\\nStart by sitting with your legs crossed and a straight back. Shoulders down. Bring your ear down to your shoulder. To deepen the stretch, bring your opposite arm overhead. \\n\\n\\n\\n2. Child’s Pose\\nReleases tension in the upper body including the neck and chest.\\nBring your knees as wide as the mat and sit into your heels. You can bring your chest to the mat and extend your arms forward or come to rest on a pillow or bolster. Try to hold this pose for up to 5 breaths. \\n\\n\\n\\n3. Downward facing dog\\nHelps to relieve neck pain by strengthening the upper body and releasing the spine. \\nStart by coming onto all fours. Check your alignment- make sure your shoulders are over your wrist, and your hips over your knees. Without changing the position of your hands and feet, push up and back to bring your heels into the ground. Relax your head, neck and shoulders down. \\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bridge Pose\\nReleases chest, neck, spine and hips.\\nLay down on your mat, bring your feet as close to your glutes as possible. Bring your hands to the sides of your body palms down. Push into the feet and hands while you lift your core and back to the ceiling. Try to relax and breathe here. \\n\\n\\n\\n5. Wide Leg forward fold\\nReleases spine, neck and back. If you’re in pain perform this stretch slowly, and come up one vertebrae at a time. \\nBring your feet as wide as you can, feet facing forward. Hinge at the hips and slowly bend forward and down towards your feet. You can hang here or grab yogi toe lock around your big toe. \\n\\n\\n\\n6. Cow face pose\\nStrengthens core and spine.\\nSit up tall and stack your knees directly over one another. Reach one arm back around your waist and one arm over your shoulder with your palms reaching towards one another. If you can, clasp your hands. If not, rest them on your back, you will still benefit from the pose. \\n\\n\\n\\n7. Sphinx pose\\nThis pose will help to physically open up the shoulders and neck. Looking side to side slowly is a great addition to the pose. \\nLie on your stomach and bring your hands next to your chest facing down. On your inhale press into the ground and lift your upper body. \\n\\n\\n\\n8. Thread the Needle \\nIncreases mobility and releases tension in the upper body. \\nCome on to all fours. Check your alignment, make sure your hips are over your knees, shoulders over your wrist. Reach one arm out to the side and thread it through the opposite side under your ribs. You can stay here or open up the opposite side by reaching the hand to the back or straight up and over. Make sure to do both sides. \\n\\n\\n\\n9. Legs up the wall\\nReleases tension and stress from the upper body by reversing blood flow. \\nFind a wall near your practice space and sit next to the wall as close as possible. Lower your head, neck and shoulders onto your mat, then roll onto your back and stretch your legs up the wall. You can stay in this restorative pose for up to 10 minutes. \\n\\n\\n\\n10. Savasana\\nSavasana releases any stress, lowers heart rate and calms the body. \\nCome onto your back on your mat, and release your body down. This is known as corpse pose because it is a full and final rest at the end of our practice. Release and let go of any and all tension. \\n\\n\\n\\nClasses to help relieve neck pain \\n\\nYoga fusion for joints \\n- This class will help you roll out your joint pain and stretch your tight limbs and joints. \\n\\nYoga for Back Pain\\n - Sometimes, neck pain can be caused by tightness in the spine. Experts say yoga helps soothe muscle pains. Try this class to strengthen and lengthen your neck and back for pain relief! \\n\\nYoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain\\n - Do you sit all day at work? Struggle with your posture? This class will help relieve upper body tension. \\n\nSo if you’re ready to make your neck pain a thing of the past, join us today. Our trial includes two free weeks of group fitness classes, one on one classes and so much more! \\nGet started on your yoga journey now!\\n"}},{"id":"cl5wwa1a0gnol0dhdo5ntl12t","slug":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)","createdAt":"2022-07-22T20:08:11.250342+00:00","coverUrl":"wjnf6gca2leiwcxskli4.jpg","content":{"text":"Most of us have questions before or when we start practicing yoga! That’s normal. As a matter of fact, as you grow in your practice, the amount of questions doesn’t really get smaller. They just get different!\\nYoga teachers get asked tons of questions, and, generally, they love answering them! But sometimes, a new yoga student or someone who’s considering starting yoga may feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. Then they go to Google, get lots of conflicting answers, and may give up on yoga before they ever start.\\nWe definitely don’t want that!\\nSo here are the 11 most common yoga questions we get asked and their \\nreal\\n answers!\n\\n\\n1. How long do I wait after eating before I can do yoga?\\nIf you can practice in the morning, before you eat, that is ideal, or later in the evening. However, other than those times, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours after you eat before you start your yoga practice. Doing yoga on a full stomach can cause discomfort and even nausea. It also means you’ll have less energy since your body is busy digesting food!\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Do I have to be flexible to practice yoga?\\nAbsolutely not! As a matter of fact, lack of flexibility is a good reason to \\nstart\\n a regular yoga practice! Besides that, yoga is much more than just stretching. It’s a physical activity that tones, strengthens, calms, and heals the body, mind, and spirit.\\n\\n3. I’m pregnant. Can I still do yoga?\\nYes you can! It’s important when you’re pregnant to do yoga under the guidance of a prenatal yoga instructor or other expert yoga instructor though. There are yoga poses that pregnant women should avoid, such as inversions and poses where you lie flat on your back. \\n\\n4. How often should I practice yoga for best results?\\nIf you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with only 2-3 classes that require more exertion a week (such as Ashtanga, Power, or Vinyasa yoga). However, there are many other types of yoga to try in between, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any of MyYogaTeacher’s meditative yoga classes! As you advance in your practice, you may feel strong enough to try more difficult yoga classes more times per week. Either way, you’ll experience the benefits of yoga whether you do it once a week or 7 days a week!\\n\\n5. Do I need any special equipment to practice yoga?\\nWhile we do recommend the use of a yoga mat, technically, you don’t \\nhave\\n to have one. You can practice yoga on any surface you feel is safe and comfortable. Many yogis also have blocks, bolsters, and straps to help them modify poses or go deeper into poses. But those certainly aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of doing yoga.\\n\\n\\n\\n6. Why do I need a yoga class? Can’t I just do it by myself with a book or video?\\nYou certainly can do yoga by yourself with the use of a book or video but most yogis (especially inexperienced ones) will agree that this isn’t as safe as practicing yoga with a live teacher. Yoga classes allow your yoga teacher to see how you perform the poses and can make corrections to your alignment or help you make appropriate modifications and adjustments as needed. At MyYogaTeacher, ALL of our classes are taught live, and you get personalized attention from your yoga instructor, even in group sessions!\\nDoing yoga poses incorrectly may cause injuries! MyYogaTeacher offers a Yoga Basics and a Yoga 201 class to help beginners create a strong yoga foundation for regular practice. \\n\\n\\nGrab your free 2-week trial of unlimited group classes here and check them out! No credit card required\\n.\\n\\n7. What kind of clothes do I need to practice yoga?\\nDespite what you may see on social media, you do not \\nneed\\n a certain kind of clothing, including the ever popular yoga pants or yoga leggings. If you’d like to wear those, however, by all means! The best clothes for yoga are comfortable ones that you can move freely in. You’ll practice barefoot or, if you’d prefer, in yoga socks.\\n\\n8. What are all the strange terms I hear my yoga teacher saying?\\nMany yoga instructors commonly use the Sanskrit words for yoga poses instead of the English translation. This is a good thing! Yoga is ancient and rooted in tradition, and continuing to use and pass on the language is an important part of maintaining the culture of yoga. If you don’t understand something your instructor is saying, please ask! However, we’ve compiled a list of common yoga \\nSanskrit words you may hear in class and what they mean in this blog post\\n.\\n\\n\\n\n9. Will yoga get or keep me in shape?\\nIf you practice regularly and eat healthfully, yes! Absolutely! Just like with any physical activity, you won’t see continued results unless you practice regularly. How you fuel body is also a large part of getting physically and mentally healthy. Yoga can be as strenuous as cardio or as easy as your regular post workout stretch and everything in between. It is definitely possible for yoga to help you lose weight and/or get the body you want.\\n\\n10. Can I do yoga if I’m injured or have a physical disability?\\nYes, you can! Here at MyYogaTeacher, we feel strongly that yoga is for every body. Meaning any body type, shape, size, and all ability levels. Our highly trained and experienced expert yoga teachers from India come packing credentials and tools to help you practice yoga in a way that is safe and works for you!\\n\\n11. Why should I start practicing yoga anyway? \\nA regular yoga practice provides benefits far beyond what any other type of exercise will do! Why? Because yoga is a whole health form of practice. Everything you do in yoga positively affects your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and the benefits carry over to your life from day to day. Yoga cures things like back pain, joint pain, lowers blood pressure, provides mental clarity and focus, reduces blood sugar, promotes healing, and so much more.\\nWe guess the question is, why \\nwouldn’t\\n you want to start practicing yoga?!\\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!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[],"blogContent":{"id":"ckfqznbfk02d10178ek7roi65","slug":"letter-from-jitendra-ceo-and-co-founder-of-myyogateacher","author":{"name":"Jitendra","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png"},"title":"Letter from Jitendra (CEO and co-founder of myYogaTeacher)","createdAt":"2020-06-03T00:00:00+00:00","updatedAt":"2021-06-26T21:58:00.373824+00:00","coverUrl":"jitendra-family.jpg","seoDescription":null,"content":{"text":"\"If you want to reach your goals, the WHY is always more important than the HOW.\"This letter to you isn't short but you'll want to read it. Because it could be the start of a life-changing process for you. It was for me...\\n\\nYou see, when I was starting my first company, I was living a super unhealthy lifestyle.\\n\\nI was smoking cigarettes, binge eating and then pushing myself to run like a maniac. I'd exercise to the point of exhaustion and then go right back to eating a carton of doughnuts!\\n\\nThis is how I dealt with the stress of starting my first company. And to be honest, it was much worse on my family.\\n\\nFor 7 years I was just a body at the dinner table. My daughters would bubble with excitement about their day at school. And I would barely respond, \"uh huh\". They were instantly deflated. They'd repeat themselves 3 or 4 times and I still wouldn't be able to listen...\\n\\nI LOVE my daughters, I care about them, and I wanted to listen! But it felt like a train was steaming through my head and running off the tracks... My mind was out of control!\\n\\nMy body was there, but I was completely unavailable for my wife, my kids, and everything outside of work. No bedtime stories, no basketball games, nothing like that.\\n\\nI was missing the highlights of their lives... of our lives!\\n\\nI knew I needed to be more present. I needed to be less stressed. I needed to be healthier and more available for my family. But I had too much work to take care of.\\n\\nI wanted to be the father for my girls, that my dad was for me. I wanted them to know they're loved, to be a meaningful part of their life. And I want them to have amazing memories of us for the rest of their lives...\\n\\nBut I was failing. I couldn't balance work and family. I couldn't balance health and taking care of my responsibilities.\\n\\nNearly 10 years of this! I had to do something...\\n\\nSo I decided to join a yoga studio. I thought \"I'll get in shape AND reduce my stress!\" Sounds great, doesn't it?\\n\\n... It wasn't that simple. The studio classes were generalized. It was more about the class and style of yoga than it was about me and my needs. I wasn't seeing any results.\\n\\nSo pretty soon, I was back to the gym and discount yoga classes at The Y... the random gym-class schedule never quite worked for me. I'd always have to miss out because of a meeting or something like that.\\n\\nThen a friend told me about 1-on-1 private sessions with a yoga teacher. He said it's kinda like my own personal trainer, but for yoga!\\n\\nI was super excited and hopeful again!\\n\\nSo I started...\\n\\nNow I was finally getting results! She gave me constant motivation. She kept me accountable. And she helped me to be consistent.\\n\\nThe sessions were personalized to my needs. And that alone made a world of difference.\\n\\nI was less stressed, toning up, and feeling like 26 year old me (instead of 46 year old me)!\\n\\nBut it was $100 a session, and I stil had to drive to the studio. It just wasn't sustainable. So pretty soon I had to quit...\\n\\nThen one day, I mentiond all this to a friend. Do you know what she told me? She was doing 1-on-1 sessions ONLINE with a teacher in India! ... Genius!\\n\\nRight away I reached out to my friends back home (I'm from India) and asked them to put me in contact with a teacher.\\n\\nI was hooked! I was getting 1-on-1 sessions for a fraction of the cost! The sessions were in my home. No baby sitter required, no driving, no class full of people to feel awkward in front of. Just me and my teacher.\\n\\nBut the scheduling was a pain.\\n\\nWe'd write about a dozen emails back-and-forth just to pin down a time for one session. Then my schedule would change and we'd go through the whole process again. (So annoying!)\\n\\n\"You know, I didn't go into business just to make money. I want to contribute something meaningful to the world.\"I knew this was big. I knew I had to do something drastic. So I handed off my company to a friend, and hired a team of developers to start building myYogaTeacher.\\n\\nOver the next year we streamlined all the technology and the scheduling!\\n\\nNow anyone can have the most affordable 1-on-1 private yoga sessions. And easy online access to amazing Indian teachers.\\n\\nI've been practicing with myYogaTeacher at least 2 or 3 times per week for the last year and half. And my family will tell you, it's made all the difference.\\n\\nI'm healthier than ever. I haven't smoked a single cigarette for 14 months. I'm even working on my headstand!\\n\\nAnd I almost never get stressed. When I do start feeling a bit stressed, I take a 1-hr yoga session and reset.\\n\\nBut the best part is, I'm happier and finally here for my family. I make breakfast every morning for my girls. I help them with their math homework and even coach their basketball team!\\n\\nI am present for my family. I'm the father I want to be.\\n\\nAnd I am so grateful to my yoga teachers who have helped make this happen. I sincerely hope you love your trial with myYogaTeacher and it's the start of a HUGE transformation for you too!\\n\\nThanks for taking the time to read this letter. And...\\n\\nRemember your WHY!Jitendra\\n","html":"<p>&quot;If you want to reach your goals, the WHY is always more important than the HOW.&quot;This letter to you isn&#39;t short but you&#39;ll want to read it. Because it could be the start of a life-changing process for you. It was for me...</p><p></p><p>You see, when I was starting my first company, I was living a super unhealthy lifestyle.</p><p></p><p>I was smoking cigarettes, binge eating and then pushing myself to run like a maniac. I&#39;d exercise to the point of exhaustion and then go right back to eating a carton of doughnuts!</p><p></p><p>This is how I dealt with the stress of starting my first company. And to be honest, it was much worse on my family.</p><p></p><p>For 7 years I was just a body at the dinner table. My daughters would bubble with excitement about their day at school. And I would barely respond, &quot;uh huh&quot;. They were instantly deflated. They&#39;d repeat themselves 3 or 4 times and I still wouldn&#39;t be able to listen...</p><p></p><p>I LOVE my daughters, I care about them, and I wanted to listen! But it felt like a train was steaming through my head and running off the tracks... My mind was out of control!</p><p></p><p>My body was there, but I was completely unavailable for my wife, my kids, and everything outside of work. No bedtime stories, no basketball games, nothing like that.</p><p></p><p>I was missing the highlights of their lives... of our lives!</p><p></p><p>I knew I needed to be more present. I needed to be less stressed. I needed to be healthier and more available for my family. But I had too much work to take care of.</p><p></p><p>I wanted to be the father for my girls, that my dad was for me. I wanted them to know they&#39;re loved, to be a meaningful part of their life. And I want them to have amazing memories of us for the rest of their lives...</p><p></p><p>But I was failing. I couldn&#39;t balance work and family. I couldn&#39;t balance health and taking care of my responsibilities.</p><p></p><p>Nearly 10 years of this! I had to do something...</p><p></p><p>So I decided to join a yoga studio. I thought &quot;I&#39;ll get in shape AND reduce my stress!&quot; Sounds great, doesn&#39;t it?</p><p></p><p>... It wasn&#39;t that simple. The studio classes were generalized. It was more about the class and style of yoga than it was about me and my needs. I wasn&#39;t seeing any results.</p><p></p><p>So pretty soon, I was back to the gym and discount yoga classes at The Y... the random gym-class schedule never quite worked for me. I&#39;d always have to miss out because of a meeting or something like that.</p><p></p><p>Then a friend told me about 1-on-1 private sessions with a yoga teacher. He said it&#39;s kinda like my own personal trainer, but for yoga!</p><p></p><p>I was super excited and hopeful again!</p><p></p><p>So I started...</p><p></p><p>Now I was finally getting results! She gave me constant motivation. She kept me accountable. And she helped me to be consistent.</p><p></p><p>The sessions were personalized to my needs. And that alone made a world of difference.</p><p></p><p>I was less stressed, toning up, and feeling like 26 year old me (instead of 46 year old me)!</p><p></p><p>But it was $100 a session, and I stil had to drive to the studio. It just wasn&#39;t sustainable. So pretty soon I had to quit...</p><p></p><p>Then one day, I mentiond all this to a friend. Do you know what she told me? She was doing 1-on-1 sessions ONLINE with a teacher in India! ... Genius!</p><p></p><p>Right away I reached out to my friends back home (I&#39;m from India) and asked them to put me in contact with a teacher.</p><p></p><p>I was hooked! I was getting 1-on-1 sessions for a fraction of the cost! The sessions were in my home. No baby sitter required, no driving, no class full of people to feel awkward in front of. Just me and my teacher.</p><p></p><p>But the scheduling was a pain.</p><p></p><p>We&#39;d write about a dozen emails back-and-forth just to pin down a time for one session. Then my schedule would change and we&#39;d go through the whole process again. (So annoying!)</p><p></p><p>&quot;You know, I didn&#39;t go into business just to make money. I want to contribute something meaningful to the world.&quot;I knew this was big. I knew I had to do something drastic. So I handed off my company to a friend, and hired a team of developers to start building myYogaTeacher.</p><p></p><p>Over the next year we streamlined all the technology and the scheduling!</p><p></p><p>Now anyone can have the most affordable 1-on-1 private yoga sessions. And easy online access to amazing Indian teachers.</p><p></p><p>I&#39;ve been practicing with myYogaTeacher at least 2 or 3 times per week for the last year and half. And my family will tell you, it&#39;s made all the difference.</p><p></p><p>I&#39;m healthier than ever. I haven&#39;t smoked a single cigarette for 14 months. I&#39;m even working on my headstand!</p><p></p><p>And I almost never get stressed. When I do start feeling a bit stressed, I take a 1-hr yoga session and reset.</p><p></p><p>But the best part is, I&#39;m happier and finally here for my family. I make breakfast every morning for my girls. I help them with their math homework and even coach their basketball team!</p><p></p><p>I am present for my family. I&#39;m the father I want to be.</p><p></p><p>And I am so grateful to my yoga teachers who have helped make this happen. I sincerely hope you love your trial with myYogaTeacher and it&#39;s the start of a HUGE transformation for you too!</p><p></p><p>Thanks for taking the time to read this letter. And...</p><p></p><p>Remember your WHY!Jitendra</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>&quot;If you want to reach your goals, the WHY is always more important than the HOW.&quot;This letter to you isn&#39;t short but you&#39;ll want to read it. Because it could be the start of a life-changing process for you. It was for me...</p><p></p><p>You see, when I was starting my first company, I was living a super unhealthy lifestyle.</p><p></p><p>I was smoking cigarettes, binge eating and then pushing myself to run like a maniac. I&#39;d exercise to the point of exhaustion and then go right back to eating a carton of doughnuts!</p><p></p><p>This is how I dealt with the stress of starting my first company. And to be honest, it was much worse on my family.</p><p></p><p>For 7 years I was just a body at the dinner table. My daughters would bubble with excitement about their day at school. And I would barely respond, &quot;uh huh&quot;. They were instantly deflated. They&#39;d repeat themselves 3 or 4 times and I still wouldn&#39;t be able to listen...</p><p></p><p>I LOVE my daughters, I care about them, and I wanted to listen! But it felt like a train was steaming through my head and running off the tracks... My mind was out of control!</p><p></p><p>My body was there, but I was completely unavailable for my wife, my kids, and everything outside of work. No bedtime stories, no basketball games, nothing like that.</p><p></p><p>I was missing the highlights of their lives... of our lives!</p><p></p><p>I knew I needed to be more present. I needed to be less stressed. I needed to be healthier and more available for my family. But I had too much work to take care of.</p><p></p><p>I wanted to be the father for my girls, that my dad was for me. I wanted them to know they&#39;re loved, to be a meaningful part of their life. And I want them to have amazing memories of us for the rest of their lives...</p><p></p><p>But I was failing. I couldn&#39;t balance work and family. I couldn&#39;t balance health and taking care of my responsibilities.</p><p></p><p>Nearly 10 years of this! I had to do something...</p><p></p><p>So I decided to join a yoga studio. I thought &quot;I&#39;ll get in shape AND reduce my stress!&quot; Sounds great, doesn&#39;t it?</p><p></p><p>... It wasn&#39;t that simple. The studio classes were generalized. It was more about the class and style of yoga than it was about me and my needs. I wasn&#39;t seeing any results.</p><p></p><p>So pretty soon, I was back to the gym and discount yoga classes at The Y... the random gym-class schedule never quite worked for me. I&#39;d always have to miss out because of a meeting or something like that.</p><p></p><p>Then a friend told me about 1-on-1 private sessions with a yoga teacher. He said it&#39;s kinda like my own personal trainer, but for yoga!</p><p></p><p>I was super excited and hopeful again!</p><p></p><p>So I started...</p><p></p><p>Now I was finally getting results! She gave me constant motivation. She kept me accountable. And she helped me to be consistent.</p><p></p><p>The sessions were personalized to my needs. And that alone made a world of difference.</p><p></p><p>I was less stressed, toning up, and feeling like 26 year old me (instead of 46 year old me)!</p><p></p><p>But it was $100 a session, and I stil had to drive to the studio. It just wasn&#39;t sustainable. So pretty soon I had to quit...</p><p></p><p>Then one day, I mentiond all this to a friend. Do you know what she told me? She was doing 1-on-1 sessions ONLINE with a teacher in India! ... Genius!</p><p></p><p>Right away I reached out to my friends back home (I&#39;m from India) and asked them to put me in contact with a teacher.</p><p></p><p>I was hooked! I was getting 1-on-1 sessions for a fraction of the cost! The sessions were in my home. No baby sitter required, no driving, no class full of people to feel awkward in front of. Just me and my teacher.</p><p></p><p>But the scheduling was a pain.</p><p></p><p>We&#39;d write about a dozen emails back-and-forth just to pin down a time for one session. Then my schedule would change and we&#39;d go through the whole process again. (So annoying!)</p><p></p><p>&quot;You know, I didn&#39;t go into business just to make money. I want to contribute something meaningful to the world.&quot;I knew this was big. I knew I had to do something drastic. So I handed off my company to a friend, and hired a team of developers to start building myYogaTeacher.</p><p></p><p>Over the next year we streamlined all the technology and the scheduling!</p><p></p><p>Now anyone can have the most affordable 1-on-1 private yoga sessions. And easy online access to amazing Indian teachers.</p><p></p><p>I&#39;ve been practicing with myYogaTeacher at least 2 or 3 times per week for the last year and half. And my family will tell you, it&#39;s made all the difference.</p><p></p><p>I&#39;m healthier than ever. I haven&#39;t smoked a single cigarette for 14 months. I&#39;m even working on my headstand!</p><p></p><p>And I almost never get stressed. When I do start feeling a bit stressed, I take a 1-hr yoga session and reset.</p><p></p><p>But the best part is, I&#39;m happier and finally here for my family. I make breakfast every morning for my girls. I help them with their math homework and even coach their basketball team!</p><p></p><p>I am present for my family. I&#39;m the father I want to be.</p><p></p><p>And I am so grateful to my yoga teachers who have helped make this happen. I sincerely hope you love your trial with myYogaTeacher and it&#39;s the start of a HUGE transformation for you too!</p><p></p><p>Thanks for taking the time to read this letter. And...</p><p></p><p>Remember your WHY!Jitendra</p><p></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"letter-from-jitendra-ceo-and-co-founder-of-myyogateacher","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"signup","redirectURL":"#","current_url":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/letter-from-jitendra-ceo-and-co-founder-of-myyogateacher","student_details":"","facebookUrl":"","twitterUrl":"","copyUrl":"","emailUrl":"","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Learn Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyisqh482ck60b79rp1r1jcg","name":"[CTA-YIN]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong>, work with an experienced yoga therapist to reduce (and even eliminate) your back pain. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Yoga for Back Pain’) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Therapy – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Back Pain Safely &amp; Effectively Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitki4w2liz0b30tqpzhy4i","name":"[CTA-KRIYA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation <strong>and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong> Learn Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Pranayama!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckykb6i2o1o7f0b368s1m7qow","name":"[CTA-LYMPHATIC]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong> for lymphatic drainage &amp; immunity enhancement. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group yoga classes</strong> (including daily yin-yoga) when you sign up today! No credit card required to sign up.</p><p></p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions –  </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>for Lymphatic Drainage &amp; Boosting Your Immune System!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl2vqlpyfe3yh0biohgxyx2hg","name":"[CTA-LEAD]","description":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl4gnwnrlga640ck37gutx7sn","name":"[CTA-GC]","description":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"}],"post":{"id":"ckfqznbfk02d10178ek7roi65","slug":"letter-from-jitendra-ceo-and-co-founder-of-myyogateacher","author":{"name":"Jitendra","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png"},"title":"Letter from Jitendra (CEO and co-founder of myYogaTeacher)","createdAt":"2020-06-03T00:00:00+00:00","updatedAt":"2021-06-26T21:58:00.373824+00:00","coverUrl":"jitendra-family.jpg","seoDescription":null,"content":{"text":"\"If you want to reach your goals, the WHY is always more important than the HOW.\"This letter to you isn't short but you'll want to read it. Because it could be the start of a life-changing process for you. It was for me...\\n\\nYou see, when I was starting my first company, I was living a super unhealthy lifestyle.\\n\\nI was smoking cigarettes, binge eating and then pushing myself to run like a maniac. I'd exercise to the point of exhaustion and then go right back to eating a carton of doughnuts!\\n\\nThis is how I dealt with the stress of starting my first company. And to be honest, it was much worse on my family.\\n\\nFor 7 years I was just a body at the dinner table. My daughters would bubble with excitement about their day at school. And I would barely respond, \"uh huh\". They were instantly deflated. They'd repeat themselves 3 or 4 times and I still wouldn't be able to listen...\\n\\nI LOVE my daughters, I care about them, and I wanted to listen! But it felt like a train was steaming through my head and running off the tracks... My mind was out of control!\\n\\nMy body was there, but I was completely unavailable for my wife, my kids, and everything outside of work. No bedtime stories, no basketball games, nothing like that.\\n\\nI was missing the highlights of their lives... of our lives!\\n\\nI knew I needed to be more present. I needed to be less stressed. I needed to be healthier and more available for my family. But I had too much work to take care of.\\n\\nI wanted to be the father for my girls, that my dad was for me. I wanted them to know they're loved, to be a meaningful part of their life. And I want them to have amazing memories of us for the rest of their lives...\\n\\nBut I was failing. I couldn't balance work and family. I couldn't balance health and taking care of my responsibilities.\\n\\nNearly 10 years of this! I had to do something...\\n\\nSo I decided to join a yoga studio. I thought \"I'll get in shape AND reduce my stress!\" Sounds great, doesn't it?\\n\\n... It wasn't that simple. The studio classes were generalized. It was more about the class and style of yoga than it was about me and my needs. I wasn't seeing any results.\\n\\nSo pretty soon, I was back to the gym and discount yoga classes at The Y... the random gym-class schedule never quite worked for me. I'd always have to miss out because of a meeting or something like that.\\n\\nThen a friend told me about 1-on-1 private sessions with a yoga teacher. He said it's kinda like my own personal trainer, but for yoga!\\n\\nI was super excited and hopeful again!\\n\\nSo I started...\\n\\nNow I was finally getting results! She gave me constant motivation. She kept me accountable. And she helped me to be consistent.\\n\\nThe sessions were personalized to my needs. And that alone made a world of difference.\\n\\nI was less stressed, toning up, and feeling like 26 year old me (instead of 46 year old me)!\\n\\nBut it was $100 a session, and I stil had to drive to the studio. It just wasn't sustainable. So pretty soon I had to quit...\\n\\nThen one day, I mentiond all this to a friend. Do you know what she told me? She was doing 1-on-1 sessions ONLINE with a teacher in India! ... Genius!\\n\\nRight away I reached out to my friends back home (I'm from India) and asked them to put me in contact with a teacher.\\n\\nI was hooked! I was getting 1-on-1 sessions for a fraction of the cost! The sessions were in my home. No baby sitter required, no driving, no class full of people to feel awkward in front of. Just me and my teacher.\\n\\nBut the scheduling was a pain.\\n\\nWe'd write about a dozen emails back-and-forth just to pin down a time for one session. Then my schedule would change and we'd go through the whole process again. (So annoying!)\\n\\n\"You know, I didn't go into business just to make money. I want to contribute something meaningful to the world.\"I knew this was big. I knew I had to do something drastic. So I handed off my company to a friend, and hired a team of developers to start building myYogaTeacher.\\n\\nOver the next year we streamlined all the technology and the scheduling!\\n\\nNow anyone can have the most affordable 1-on-1 private yoga sessions. And easy online access to amazing Indian teachers.\\n\\nI've been practicing with myYogaTeacher at least 2 or 3 times per week for the last year and half. And my family will tell you, it's made all the difference.\\n\\nI'm healthier than ever. I haven't smoked a single cigarette for 14 months. I'm even working on my headstand!\\n\\nAnd I almost never get stressed. When I do start feeling a bit stressed, I take a 1-hr yoga session and reset.\\n\\nBut the best part is, I'm happier and finally here for my family. I make breakfast every morning for my girls. I help them with their math homework and even coach their basketball team!\\n\\nI am present for my family. I'm the father I want to be.\\n\\nAnd I am so grateful to my yoga teachers who have helped make this happen. I sincerely hope you love your trial with myYogaTeacher and it's the start of a HUGE transformation for you too!\\n\\nThanks for taking the time to read this letter. And...\\n\\nRemember your WHY!Jitendra\\n","html":"<p>&quot;If you want to reach your goals, the WHY is always more important than the HOW.&quot;This letter to you isn&#39;t short but you&#39;ll want to read it. Because it could be the start of a life-changing process for you. It was for me...</p><p></p><p>You see, when I was starting my first company, I was living a super unhealthy lifestyle.</p><p></p><p>I was smoking cigarettes, binge eating and then pushing myself to run like a maniac. I&#39;d exercise to the point of exhaustion and then go right back to eating a carton of doughnuts!</p><p></p><p>This is how I dealt with the stress of starting my first company. And to be honest, it was much worse on my family.</p><p></p><p>For 7 years I was just a body at the dinner table. My daughters would bubble with excitement about their day at school. And I would barely respond, &quot;uh huh&quot;. They were instantly deflated. They&#39;d repeat themselves 3 or 4 times and I still wouldn&#39;t be able to listen...</p><p></p><p>I LOVE my daughters, I care about them, and I wanted to listen! But it felt like a train was steaming through my head and running off the tracks... My mind was out of control!</p><p></p><p>My body was there, but I was completely unavailable for my wife, my kids, and everything outside of work. No bedtime stories, no basketball games, nothing like that.</p><p></p><p>I was missing the highlights of their lives... of our lives!</p><p></p><p>I knew I needed to be more present. I needed to be less stressed. I needed to be healthier and more available for my family. But I had too much work to take care of.</p><p></p><p>I wanted to be the father for my girls, that my dad was for me. I wanted them to know they&#39;re loved, to be a meaningful part of their life. And I want them to have amazing memories of us for the rest of their lives...</p><p></p><p>But I was failing. I couldn&#39;t balance work and family. I couldn&#39;t balance health and taking care of my responsibilities.</p><p></p><p>Nearly 10 years of this! I had to do something...</p><p></p><p>So I decided to join a yoga studio. I thought &quot;I&#39;ll get in shape AND reduce my stress!&quot; Sounds great, doesn&#39;t it?</p><p></p><p>... It wasn&#39;t that simple. The studio classes were generalized. It was more about the class and style of yoga than it was about me and my needs. I wasn&#39;t seeing any results.</p><p></p><p>So pretty soon, I was back to the gym and discount yoga classes at The Y... the random gym-class schedule never quite worked for me. I&#39;d always have to miss out because of a meeting or something like that.</p><p></p><p>Then a friend told me about 1-on-1 private sessions with a yoga teacher. He said it&#39;s kinda like my own personal trainer, but for yoga!</p><p></p><p>I was super excited and hopeful again!</p><p></p><p>So I started...</p><p></p><p>Now I was finally getting results! She gave me constant motivation. She kept me accountable. And she helped me to be consistent.</p><p></p><p>The sessions were personalized to my needs. And that alone made a world of difference.</p><p></p><p>I was less stressed, toning up, and feeling like 26 year old me (instead of 46 year old me)!</p><p></p><p>But it was $100 a session, and I stil had to drive to the studio. It just wasn&#39;t sustainable. So pretty soon I had to quit...</p><p></p><p>Then one day, I mentiond all this to a friend. Do you know what she told me? She was doing 1-on-1 sessions ONLINE with a teacher in India! ... Genius!</p><p></p><p>Right away I reached out to my friends back home (I&#39;m from India) and asked them to put me in contact with a teacher.</p><p></p><p>I was hooked! I was getting 1-on-1 sessions for a fraction of the cost! The sessions were in my home. No baby sitter required, no driving, no class full of people to feel awkward in front of. Just me and my teacher.</p><p></p><p>But the scheduling was a pain.</p><p></p><p>We&#39;d write about a dozen emails back-and-forth just to pin down a time for one session. Then my schedule would change and we&#39;d go through the whole process again. (So annoying!)</p><p></p><p>&quot;You know, I didn&#39;t go into business just to make money. I want to contribute something meaningful to the world.&quot;I knew this was big. I knew I had to do something drastic. So I handed off my company to a friend, and hired a team of developers to start building myYogaTeacher.</p><p></p><p>Over the next year we streamlined all the technology and the scheduling!</p><p></p><p>Now anyone can have the most affordable 1-on-1 private yoga sessions. And easy online access to amazing Indian teachers.</p><p></p><p>I&#39;ve been practicing with myYogaTeacher at least 2 or 3 times per week for the last year and half. And my family will tell you, it&#39;s made all the difference.</p><p></p><p>I&#39;m healthier than ever. I haven&#39;t smoked a single cigarette for 14 months. I&#39;m even working on my headstand!</p><p></p><p>And I almost never get stressed. When I do start feeling a bit stressed, I take a 1-hr yoga session and reset.</p><p></p><p>But the best part is, I&#39;m happier and finally here for my family. I make breakfast every morning for my girls. I help them with their math homework and even coach their basketball team!</p><p></p><p>I am present for my family. I&#39;m the father I want to be.</p><p></p><p>And I am so grateful to my yoga teachers who have helped make this happen. I sincerely hope you love your trial with myYogaTeacher and it&#39;s the start of a HUGE transformation for you too!</p><p></p><p>Thanks for taking the time to read this letter. And...</p><p></p><p>Remember your WHY!Jitendra</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":null}