Meditation

{"posts":[{"title":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s First Mental Health Awareness Event: Making Mental Health a Global Priority","coverUrl":"uqopxkfllwhswprb3saq.png","slug":"mental-health-event-oct-2022","content":{"text":"You’re invited!\\nMental health conditions are increasing worldwide. Approximately 13% of the world’s population suffers from some kind of mental health issue. That’s over 1 billion people. Not including those who haven’t been diagnosed or those of us who simply (or not so simply) struggle managing our stress!\n⁠\\nThat’s why MyYogaTeacher is hosting its first ever free 3-day Mental Health Awareness Event October 9th - 11th: Making Mental Health A Global Priority.\\n\\nYou’ll be inspired, seen, heard, and guided by three of our amazing, expert MyYogaTeacher yoga instructors! It’s going to be a phenomenal experience and way to improve your mental (and emotional) health!\n\\nHow to join the Mental Health Awareness 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. You’ll get instant access to the event – plus two weeks of free group classes and two 1-on-1 sessions with a MyYogaTeacher instructor\\n\\nHas your free trial expired and you’re not a member?\\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\\nCheck out the 3 classes that will change your life!\\n\\n\\n\n\\n\\nExploring Mental Health & Spirituality with Vinay Varanasi\\n\\nSunday, October 9 at 05:00 pm PST\\nHow do mental health and spirituality affect one another? In this 60-minute session, you’ll explore how your mental health is related to your spirituality (not religion) and vice versa. Both heavily impact your life’s journey. People in all stages of spirituality are welcome to attend!\n\\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\n\\nManaging Stress with Mindfulness with Shweta Jain\\n\\nMonday, October 10 at 06:00 am PST\\nA meditative lifestyle helps you manage stress and anxiety! But what exactly is mindfulness and meditation? How is it done? Get the answers to those questions and explore how mindfulness applications promote holistic well-being in this 60-minute session.\n\\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\n\\nExperiencing Calm in the Storm: What to do When You’re Stressed or Depressed with Vanitha Chandrasegaram\\n\\nMonday, October 11 at 05:00 pm PST\\nThis 60-minute interactive session begins with a warm-up and fun physical activity before jumping into the psychology behind stress, anxiety, and depression and how it impacts your life. Then you’ll explore tools and be provided tips to help you find peace in those situations. A 15-minute Q&A follows!\n\\n⁠\\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\nManaging your mental health doesn’t end when the event does!\\nThat’s why being a MyYogaTeacher member is so helpful. We offer 100% live classes from authentic, expert Indian yoga teachers that are here to help you continue your journey to better mental, emotional, and physical health.\\nCheck out these classes focused on improving your mental health…offered regularly! And available during your two-week trial and to all MyYogaTeacher members.\n⁠\\nClass\\nTime (PST)\\nTeacher\\n\\nBreathing and Meditation\\n\\n8:30 am\\nArchana R\\n\\nBhakti Yoga: Mantra Chanting for Mental Health\\n\\n4:30 pm\\nNiyata Sahu\\n\\nYoga For Stress & Anxiety with Nandeep H\\n\\n5:30 pm\\nNandeep\\n\\nRestorative Yoga- For Deep Relaxation \\n\\n5:30 pm\\nSwathi K S\\n\\nYoga Nidra \\n\\n7:30 pm\\nShivayogi\\n\\nChakra & Sound healing\\n\\n5:30 pm\\nAbhishek \\n\\nKundalini \\n\\n3:30 PM\\nSujit Tiwari\\n\\nBreathing and Meditation\\n \\n3:00 PM\\nSheena\\n\\nTrataka - Candlelight Meditation\\n \\n4:30 AM\\nAkshay Bhat\\n\\nPranic Energization Techniques: Revitalize Your Whole Self\\n\\n6:30 PM\\nBodhi Abhishek\\n\\nBreathe And Flow \\n\\n5:30 PM\\nBharath\\n\\nKundalini Yoga - Breathing movement and Meditation \\n\\n5:30 AM\\nBodhi Abhishek\\n\\nKriya, Pranayama and Meditation\\n \\n4:30 PM\\nRohan shroff\\n\\nKriya, Pranayama and Meditation\\n\\n5:00 AM\\nRohan shroff\\n\\nVipassana - Meditation \\n\\n4:30 AM\\nAkshay Bhat\\n\\nMantra,Mudra and Meditation\\n\\n6:30 PM\\nBodhi Abhishek\\n\\nHealing Oneself Through Loving Kindness Meditation\\n\\n6:30 PM\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\nLaughter Yoga\\n\\n9:30 AM\\nKanika Sud\\n\\nRest and Rejuvenate with Golden Light Meditation\\n\\n6:30 PM\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\nTheta Meditation: Accessing the brain power\\n\\n6:30 PM\\nBodhi Abhishek\\n\\nStretch and Breath\\n \\n5:00 AM\\nShrutika\\n\\nManaging stress with Mindfulness \\n\\n6:00 AM\\nShweta Jain\\n\\nExperiencing Calm in the Storm: What to do When You’re Stressed & Depressed \\n\\n5:00 PM\\nVanitha\\n\\nExploring Mental Health and Spirituality \\n\\n5:00 PM\\nVinay Varanasi\\n\\nConsider how much more joyful you’d be if you were able to control your mental health instead of letting it control you? How would being mentally and emotionally healthy affect your daily life? How would you move better in the world? \\n\\nJoin us on the journey to better mental health for ourselves \\nand\\n others at MyYogaTeacher’s first ever Mental Health Awareness Event October 9th to 11th!\\n\\nLet’s make mental health a global priority.\\n"},"createdAt":"2022-10-04T14:46:29.029785+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["mental_health","meditation"]},{"title":"11 Morning Ayurvedic Rituals to Start Practicing Now ","coverUrl":"wr5dvjeez6fvbqm45mby.avif","slug":"morning-ayurvedic-rituals","content":{"text":"How you spend your morning can have a huge impact on the rest of your day, dictating your mood, focus, and energy level throughout. In those early hours after waking up, you’re setting the stage for how the next 12-18 hours of your life will go — so why not set yourself up for success? By creating a healthy morning routine, you can provide an easy way to hack your mind and body, and make each day the best ever.\\nThe ancient Ayurvedic yogi tradition provides an actual road map to guide you through a morning ritual that not only prepares your body for the rest of your day, but it establishes grounding, self-care habits that will help you be the best version of you. And once you start making a daily routine of certain Ayurvedic rituals, you’ll start noticing their cumulative effects in just a few weeks. Your skin will look healthier, you’ll have more energy throughout your day, and you’ll experience better focus and balance overall. \\nAyurvedic Rituals to Improve Your Life\\nYou don’t have to be an advanced yogi to start incorporating Ayurvedic rituals into your daily life. Even if you’ve never heard of Ayurveda practice before, you can still use some of the most basic techniques to improve your day-to-day habits and develop a healthy lifestyle. By integrating Ayurveda into your every day, you can start enjoying the benefits of this ancient wisdom.\\nHere are 11 Ayurvedic rituals to help you jump start your day:\\n\\n1. Wake before sunrise\\nAyurvedic wisdom states that the best time to wake up every morning is an hour or two before sunrise, synchronizing your day with the sun and establishing a circadian rhythm for your body. Depending on the time of year, that usually means around 6 a.m. If you’re worried about feeling tired after getting out of bed that early, you shouldn’t — according to Ayurveda, waking after the sun rises is what will cause you to feel sluggish. However, it’s more important to allow yourself adequate sleep, so if you can’t wake up that early, try making it a habit out of waking up at the same time every day.\\n\\n2. Drink water\\nThe first thing your body needs in the morning is water, and you should drink it warm. Try adding some ginger or lemon with honey to help activate and flush your digestive organs. Drinking water after getting out of bed also hydrates your body after a night’s rest, and gives your skin a healthy morning glow. \\n\\n3. Clean your face and sinuses\\nDid you know that splashing water on your face is an Ayurvedic ritual? Rejuvenate yourself physically and mentally by splashing your face with water a recommended seven times to follow this simple custom. Take it a step further and give your sinuses a rinse with Neti Pot for a complete refresh.\\n\\n\\n4. Scrape your tongue\\nAfter a full night of sleep, our tongues are coated with Ama, according to Ayurvedic doctrine. By using a tongue scraper to remove Ama from your tongue, you’re getting rid of accumulated bacteria and helping to kickstart your digestion. It also helps improve your breath and prevents tooth decay.\n\\n5. Oil pulling\\nWhile you’re taking care of your oral hygiene, try incorporating the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling into your routine. Simply swirl a spoonful of oil in your mouth for about 10-20 minutes. Make sure you do this before eating on a completely empty stomach. You can use coconut, sunflower, or avocado oil.\\n\\n6. Clear your digestive system\\nAyurvedic wisdom tells us that it’s important to have regular bowel movements throughout the day, including one in the morning. This is essential to our health and for setting ourselves up to maintain good energy throughout the day. That glass of lukewarm water along with a healthy diet is key to making a bowel movement a regular morning routine.\\n\\n7. Stretch, breathe, meditate\\nGiving your mind and body a chance to gently wake up is the kind of self-care that Ayurvedic wisdom promotes, with a prescription for a morning yoga and meditation routine designed to give you an optimal start. First, start with a some easy stretching. A few rounds of \\nSun Salutation\\n asanas are a simple flow sequence that will activate your muscles and get the blood moving throughout your body. Next, practice pranayama, or breath work. Use whatever technique feels right for you in the moment. Follow up with a meditation session to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the day.\\n\\n\\n8. Give yourself a massage\\nA good Ayurvedic morning routine is meant to wake your body up through activation of all of your senses, and with a morning massage, you can help relax your muscles and open up your body’s energy channels. Use warm oil to massage your body, including your legs, arms, face, head, shoulders, etc., to rejuvenate your body and skin, and energize your spirit. In Ayurveda medicine, this practice is called Self-Abhyanga, and it’s considered to be an effective self-balancing technique.\n\\n9. Take a bath\\nThis Ayurvedic ritual will help cleanse your pores, relax your mind and body, and hydrate your skin — giving you that glowing, yogi radiance throughout the rest of your day. Try adding milk, essential oils, herbs, and/or flower petals to your bath for that extra dose of self-care. Make sure to use natural soap and avoid any bath products that contain chemicals. Rinse yourself after under a warm shower.\\n\\n10. Drink some tea\\nTreat yourself to some herbal tea of your choosing in the morning, or keep it light with hot water and lemon. Make a ritual out of the task of making the tea, remaining present through each part of the process, and allowing yourself a quiet moment to relax and sip your brew. Try keeping that meditative stillness here that you’ve cultivated throughout your morning, and mindfully establish an intention for your day. You can also choose this time to write some notes in your journal, or read some inspiring words from your favorite guru or teacher.\\n\\n11. Eat Breakfast\\nEating three, balanced meals every day is a part of the Ayurvedic way of living, and part of a perfect morning routine is making sure you eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. Keep it light and healthy, with foods that nourish your body and fuel your digestive system. Try starting your day with a morning smoothie, granola, yogurt, or some fruit.\\n\\n\\n\nYou can learn more about Ayurveda practice and medicine by visiting\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n and working with a yoga instructor who specializes in Ayurveda, and can help you deepen your practice with this traditional, ancient wisdom. Sign up for a free, \\ntwo-week trial\\n, and access morning yoga classes, as well as instruction on pranayama, meditation, and cleansing workshops online."},"createdAt":"2022-09-08T09:23:18.01003+00:00","author":{"name":"Supriya","pictureUrl":"supriya.jpg","teacherMytSlug":"supriya-1"},"category":["meditation","therapy"]},{"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":"5 Proven Ways Meditation Positively Affects Brain Behavior","coverUrl":"im2iwdslj01ob1qu5w4r.jpg","slug":"meditation-effects-on-brain","content":{"text":"Meditation and brain studies have been around, and increasing, for a number of years now. And new studies are consistently revealing more and more incredible information about how meditation positively affects the human brain!\\nBut what precisely are the benefits of meditation on our brain?\\nWe already know meditation lowers cortisol levels, reduces or eliminates anxiety and depression, lowers blood pressure, and even regulates insulin levels in the body.\\nIt’s pretty amazing that something as ancient and simple as meditation can create such a positive impact on people, an impact that has a ripple effect.\\nHowever, scientific research actually reveals that meditation literally changes the composition of the brain and how the brain behaves.\\nMyYogaTeacher offers multiple meditation-only classes on our platform! All taught by extremely experienced, expert yoga instructors. If you aren’t reaping the rewards of meditation or don’t know where to start, \\nget your free 2-week trial of MyYogaTeacher here\\n and check out any or all of the group classes offered!\\nNow, on to the ways meditation positively affects brain behavior.\\n\\n1. Meditation changes the brain structure\\nBefore we dive into this topic, let’s go over the names of the parts of the brain that will be mentioned. No one likes having to look up big words!\\nDon’t worry. There are only four areas we’ll talk about here!\\nGray matter\\n - Controls muscle movement, sensory perception (including emotions, hearing, speech, memory, seeing, and decision making).\\nAmygdala \\n- In charge of emotional responses.\\nPrefrontal cortex\\n - Responsible for decision making.\\nHippocampus\\n - Controls memory and learning.\n\\nAccording to a study reported by the \\nNational Institute of Health\\n (NIH), regularly participating in a specific type of meditation called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) increases the brain’s gray matter in the hippocampus.\\nNot only that, but that same study also showed that the part of the amygdala involved in stress, fear, anxiety, and depression \\ndecreased in size\\n.\\nThe actual \\nphysical\\n structure of the brain changed because of meditation.\\nMind-blowing, right?! (hehe)\\nThis means meditation restructures the brain so that you feel less stressed, anxious and depressed and have better memory and learning capabilities.\\nImagine how this would affect a child’s growing brain! And since I mentioned it…\\nThe effects of meditation on the brain is perhaps even more promising when it comes to children. And children in schools. Studies show that even short bursts of meditation through a child’s school day reduces discipline problems, increases their focus, memory, and improves executive functioning.\\n2. Mindfulness meditation reduces brain aging\\nWhile certain types of stress responses are beneficial to our survival (even in the modern world), some are not.\\nThose stress responses that are triggered by our misguided perceptions of a situation or event promote brain cell death. Stress kills. True story. \\nWhen we have emotions that stem from something reasonable, we react in a meaningful way. This does not contribute to excessive aging the way emotions stemming from false beliefs or fear-based worries do.\\nThe good news?\\nStudies show that mindfulness meditation increases thought awareness, improves control of those thoughts, and reduces cognitive stress. That’s the stress that leads to brain cell death, not the kind that saves your life.\\nCreating more positive states of mind and decreasing the negative ones slows down the rate of cell aging.\\n3. Meditation improves symptoms of depression and anxiety.\\nMeditation is by no means a cure all for \\nany\\n type of mental health condition, much less anxiety or depression. But it’s an excellent tool for managing the symptoms and, in some cases, does eliminate them altogether.\\nMost importantly, meditation changes your response to negative thoughts and, when practiced regularly, can even help you manage them in a healthy way.\\nHow?\\nIt teaches you to be aware of your thoughts without judging them or making assumptions about them.\\nThis is not to say you’ll never have depressing, anxious, or generally negative thoughts. But meditating regularly will give you the tools you need to manage them appropriately and behave in healthier, more positive ways.\\n4. Meditation helps with addiction.\\nAccording to the \\nNIH\\n, decades of research have shown that mindfulness based meditation helps stop addiction and even prevents relapse.\\nThe important thing to remember is that for addiction, consistency in a meditation practice is the key to success. However, it’s also an important practice to start or continue in the event of a relapse.\\nBecause many people who suffer from addiction have little awareness of the negative consequences of their behaviors on their body, relationships, family, and life, meditation plays an important role in helping them gain awareness and gives them tools to change their behaviors.\\nAnother thing to note is since regular mindfulness meditation changes the structure of the brain, the positive side effects are two fold.\\nSince breaking an addiction is obviously stressful, meditation also helps alleviate that stress response during withdrawals. There is also growing evidence that MBSR training cultivates a practice called “savoring.” This is where focused attention is created around natural rewards. In studies involving this idea, participants had reduced cravings and were less likely to take part in substance abuse behaviors. This “savoring” practice helps people pay more attention to pleasant daily activities and focus on the positive emotional responses they have towards those experiences.\\nSo exciting to think about the idea that mindfulness meditation could actually be saving lives!\\n5. Meditation reduces default mode network activity\\nWhat is default mode network activity (DMN)? The DMN is the network within the brain that’s operating when we’re not really thinking about anything at all.\\nIt’s the mind-wandering part of your brain.\\nStudies show that mind-wandering and “background thoughts” lead to worry, stress, anxiety, and general unhappiness.  This network is most active when we’re left to our own thoughts or don’t actively have something we’re thinking about (i.e. when we’re performing a task).\\nA common misconception about meditation is that you’re doing nothing when is really quite the opposite.\\nMeditation is active. Just not in the way most people think.\\nMeditation involves drawing your attention to and concentrating on your immediate experience. It requires you to learn how to be present in each moment. This practice does not generally come naturally (or easily) to humans! \\nSo meditation, then, requires us to \\nthink\\n. Which, in turn, helps reduce the “background noise” of the brain that is not only mostly unproductive, but also can lead us into states of worry, anxiety, and depression.\\n6. (Bonus!) Meditation has a stacked effect on the brain.\\nWhile there is tons of scientific evidence showing that various forms of meditation positively impact the brain, the short and sweet of it is…\\nA consistent meditation practice makes our lives better.\\nHere’s a quick list of just some of the benefits of meditation:\\nImproves concentration and memory\\nReduced blood pressure\\nHelps control pain\\nImproves sleep\\nReduces age-related memory loss\\nHelps fight addictions\\nHelps control food cravings\\nReduces emotional and binge eating\\nIncreases attention span\\nHelps you become more self-aware\\nControls anxiety\\nReduces stress\\nAs with many types of medication or therapy, meditation doesn’t just help with one or the other (or maybe a few) of these things listed above. A consistent meditation practice benefits you – and your brain – in \\nall\\n the ways!\\nCan you tell we’re pretty passionate here at MYT about your health and wellness? We truly do care about your mental, emotional, \\nand\\n physical health. That’s why we are excited to have such an amazing group of experienced, expert yoga instructors with varying backgrounds and who have extensive education in their field on board the MyYogaTeacher platform!\\nMyYogaTeacher hosts a variety of  35+ group classes, offers 1:1 classes, and members get discounted pricing on all of our phenomenal workshops! If you haven’t tried us out, we want to make it easy for you to do so by offering \\na 2-week free trial that you can get right here!\\n No credit card required!\\nWe hope to see you on the mat!\\n"},"createdAt":"2021-10-24T13:50:43.10345+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["meditation"]},{"title":"10 Things You Should Know Before You Start Meditating","coverUrl":"rimflxvurbzhsoxolcr2.jpg","slug":"before-you-meditate","content":{"text":"We all want that experience that experienced meditators talk about.\\nThat magical time when you’re totally and completely relaxed and in a sort of euphoric, beautiful state. It’s calm and quiet. You’re centered and grounded.\\nBut it’s not actual magic.\\nA meditation practice takes...well, practice. It doesn’t come naturally to most people. But the more you do it, the easier it gets, and the more benefit you receive from it.\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\nA deep meditation is amazing. But here’s what you should know before starting your journey.\\n1. Don’t expect to have a blank mind.\\nIt is the brain’s natural state to jump from thought to thought to thought. The purpose of meditation isn’t to create a blank mind but to become more aware of the thoughts you’re having and guide your mind back to your meditation practice.\\nMany types of meditation actually emphasize the art of being mindful of thoughts as they arise.\\n2. You don’t need to sit in a particular position.\\nWhile it is often recommended that you sit or lay on the floor or ground, it isn’t necessary. It’s more important to be comfortable and in a place or position that helps you feel grounded. \\nOf note, unless it’s a sleep meditation or body scan meditation, lying down during your meditation practice might not be your best option. Unless you don’t mind falling asleep!\\n3. Meditation comes with health perks.\\nOne of our other instructors discussed this in their article, but we can’t emphasize this enough. Meditation helps reduce stress, blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. It improves sleep, increases feelings of wellbeing and happiness, and boosts the immune system.\\nA regular meditation practice can even help you kick smoking or alcohol addictions to the curb!\\n4. Meditation actually changes your brain.\\nIt’s true, meditation is scientifically proven to alter your brain...in a good way! \\nStudies show that mindfulness practices thicken  the prefrontal cortex of the brain which is responsible for things like concentration and awareness. In this case, thicker is a good thing.\\nAlso, meditation is proven to reduce the brain’s fight or flight response. This means your body responds better to stress resulting in lower cortisol levels and better health.\\n5. Lots of famous people you’ve heard of meditate!\\nI’m sure you knew Oprah meditates. That is a given.\\nBut did you know that Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfield, Howard Stern, Barbara Walters, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Will Smith and even Clint Eastwood also meditate?!\\nAnd they don’t mind letting people know about it either. They understand the power of meditating!\\n6. You may not think you’re doing it right the first time.\\nIt’s ok.\\nThe first time you meditate may feel awkward, strange, uncomfortable. It may just feel like you’re doing it wrong.\\nYou may feel like this the second or third or even fourth time. Stick with it. Just like your yoga practice or anything else you want to be better at, the more you practice, the better you’ll get.\\nThe better you get, the more benefits you’ll experience.\\n7. Reflect on how you feel.\\nIt’ll be important, especially during the early days of your practice, to take a step back and reflect on how you feel in between practices.\\nIt is not uncommon to feel bored, discouraged, or distracted during or after a meditation session. Hopefully, as you go, you’ll have more times of feeling happy, energized, relaxed and calm. Either way, take note of how your days and weeks go.\\nYou might be surprised how quickly you start to experience the benefits of meditation.\\n8. You don’t need a mantra, and you don’t have to chant.\\nSome people are wary of meditating because they’re uncomfortable with chanting or having a mantra. They just want to be silent.\\nAnd that’s totally fine.\\nMantras, chanting, and sound are tools many people use to facilitate their meditation practice. But they aren’t necessary to reaping the rewards of one. However, your mind will have a tendency to wander. It’s completely normal. And a mantra, chanting, or even just counting your breaths will help bring your mind back to your practice.\\n9. You can meditate with a purpose or for general health.\\nThere are many types of meditation, but there are many more ways to practice those different types. \\nSome people meditate specifically to ease anxiety, depression, or to reduce their stress levels. Maybe they want to become more grateful, kind, or compassionate. There are plenty of specific reasons for one to meditate.\\nIt’s also completely ok to meditate for wellness. \\n10. You DO have time.\\nYou want to know the truth?\\nWe make time for the things that are important to us. No matter what that is. \\nIncorporating meditation into your daily life doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. Even 5 minutes a day can be beneficial. And you’ll probably find that after a while, 5 minutes a day won’t feel like enough and you’ll be more inclined to carve out more time for an even deeper meditation practice.\\nIf you’re new to meditation, start with shorter increments and see how you feel!\\nThere are many ways to learn how to meditate, and the world is your oyster when it comes to all the varieties of meditation practices. It can be hard to choose what’s best for you when you’re new to it.\\nI encourage you to try some of the breathing and meditation classes offered on myYogaTeacher! If you’re a member, you may have already tried some of them. If not, \\nclick here to grab your free 2-week trial\\n! All of the instructors at myYogaTeacher are experts in yoga and meditation and most come from the birthplace of yoga and meditation, India! We’d love for you to have an authentic meditation experience!"},"createdAt":"2021-07-08T14:12:47.965022+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["anxiety","meditation"]},{"title":"Five Ways Meditation Can Start Improving Your Life Right Now","coverUrl":"uhdar3thpz9nzwzopvqv.jpg","slug":"meditate-for-health","content":{"text":"Whether you’re into yoga or not, I’m fairly certain you’ve at least heard of meditation. It’s one of the (oldest) new ways to improve your life. \\nAnd people are beginning to catch on.\\nThe truth is there are some really \\nmajor\\n \\nbenefits\\n to meditation (yoga is included, by the way). \\nAnd science agrees. \\nBefore I get to the scientific evidence that meditation can improve your life significantly, let’s just address the fact that, for the most part, I’m excited to offer a \\nBreathing and Meditation\\n class with myYoga Teacher!\\nIf you’re not yet a member, it’s definitely worth your time to \\ngrab a free 2-wee trial of MYT\\n. You’ll have access to my class and 35+ more!\\nAlso, more and more people are looking to alternative health\\n \\npractices, products, and practitioners to improve their lives. \\nWhy? Well, everyone has their own reasons I suppose. But mostly it’s because they’re tired of feeling crappy. And whether their traditional forms of medicine are helping or not, there are side effects to all of them that make them feel terrible in ways they maybe weren’t before. Also, most people can agree, natural remedies, when available and helpful (not harmful) are just better for us. \\nWith all that in mind, let’s get to the science behind it all.\\nANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND INSOMNIA\\nAnxiety and depression is a big deal.  Lots of people are crippled by it on a day to day basis. Did you know that according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 40 \\nmillion\\n American adults suffer from an anxiety disorder? That’s about 18% of the population of the U.S. And it’s \\nnot \\nall in their heads. \\nIf you struggle with anxiety or depression, you are most certainly not alone, and you are definitely not the only one looking to alternative health practices to help alleviate your symptoms. Actually, congratulations! If you’re reading this, you’re taking an active, healthy step in overcoming your anxiety and/or depression! \\nAccording to PubMed (a highly regarded medical database of the National Institute for Health), regular practice of meditation over a period of 8 weeks or more will improve your anxiety and depression. Score one for alternative (or complementary) health! In case you aren’t aware, complementary health is a term used to describe alternative therapies that are used in conjunction with traditional ones.\\nSo give meditation a chance to work if you try it at all. Don’t give up on it after a couple of times! \\nAlso, I am in \\nno way\\n saying you should stop whatever your traditional doctor has prescribed for you and replace it with meditation. I’m simply telling you meditation is an excellent addition to help alleviate symptoms. If you love it and it works, then maybe you can talk with your doctor about your medication management.\\nThere are many different types of meditation that are good for anxiety, depression, and insomnia.  Here are a few popular ones:\\nBody scan or progressive relaxation\\n:  This type of meditation is a practice in mindfully releasing tension in various parts of the body.  Normally starting at the head and moving to the toes.\\nMetta Meditation\\n:  Metta Meditation is also known as loving-kindness meditation.  The goal is to create an attitude of love and kindness towards everything, including stressors.  It generally includes repeating affirmations.\\nMindfulness Meditation\\n:  This form of meditation assists practitioners in focusing heavily on the present and existing surroundings.  Not past or future.  It’s the most widely used form of meditation currently, primarily because it can be done almost anywhere at any time.\\nFor beginners, a guided version of any of these three would be the most beneficial.  But even regular, long-term practitioners often still use guidance in their meditation practices.\\nAnother way meditation and breathwork helps people?\\nPAIN MANAGEMENT\\nBefore you say anything, I completely understand some types of pain are not “cured” by meditation. There \\nARE\\n other possible alternative therapies to assist with pain that are not traditional medicine or pharmaceutical related though, but that’s a different topic. \\nI’ll stay on track by saying the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has conducted several studies that reveal that mindfulness meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction training (MBSR), and Cognitive Behavioral Training (CBT) all help reduce pain, particularly back and neck pain, but also many other types of pain. \\nIn some studies, “...scientists suggest that meditation activates certain areas of the brain in response to pain.” (NCCIH) \\nMost people who have chronic pain are willing to try almost anything. Trying something not harmful with zero side effects equals \\nZERO \\nrisk.\\nYoga is also particularly great for pain management of some conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraines, arthritis, and low back pain.  \\nAshtanga\\n, \\nBikram\\n, \\nKundalini\\n, and hot yoga are all various types of yoga that assist with pain management.  If you have questions or concerns about chronic pain, you should \\nfirst speak with your physician.\\nAlso, lots of people suffer with more than one problem. I’d go so far as to say \\nmost\\n people do. Meditate on it. Boom. Killing two birds with one stone! \\nOr check out my Breathing and Meditation class for a simple, restorative practice for beginners.\\nTHE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING\\nVery, cliche, I know. But emotional health DOES matter! \\nSome other benefits people notice are:\\nMore calm throughout the day, less stressed..\\nMore patience, compassion, and kindness.\\nReduced emotional eating. \\nMoney savings from reduced emotional eating.\\nAccording to studies done by the National Institute for Health, various different forms of meditation have been proven to improve one’s emotional well-being and overall mental health. I encourage you to do some research on what types of meditation would be most helpful for you, but some suggestions are Kindness-Based Meditation and guided mindfulness meditation. Which leads me to my next point.\\nKINDNESS\\nResearch published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology suggests that mindful meditation practices inspire people to be more empathetic and nicer to strangers.\\nHave you ever heard that f you’re looking for the negative, you’ll find it? If you’re looking for the bad in your life or just waiting for something bad to happen, you are finding it. Negativity attracts negativity. You may not even want to be kind because you’re so cynical right now. \\nThe news is mostly negative. \\nFacebook is a lot of negative. \\nRoad rage. \\nWaiting-in-line rage. I read once you are a culmination of the 5 people you surround yourself with the most. And what comes out of all of that is your contribution to unkindly behavior, words, and attitudes. \\nYou \\ncan\\n escape this pattern. I know because I did. Meditation makes me a nicer person. It’s improved my relationship with my husband and kids. I have less (almost none, actually) road rage and waiting-in-line rage. And I encourage myself and others daily to focus on the positive parts of their day or life. And honestly, that is almost solely due to guided mindfulness meditation practices. I am more peaceful, calm, content. And those feelings and attitudes produce more compassion, kindness, and empathy. \\nEVERYONE\\n can use more of those things. \\nThis one \\ndoes\\n take work and practice. It’s not an overnight sort of “fix.” But if you dare to “open” your mind to it, it’s really not hogwash. And it can apply to everyone, from \\nall\\n walks of life.\\n BLOOD PRESSURE — IT’S IMPORTANT!\\nThis one is last primarily because addressing all of the above concerns is scientifically proven to help lower your blood pressure. But people completely underestimate the importance of having good blood pressure! \\nAccording to the NIH, hypertension affects nearly \\n1 billion\\n people worldwide and results in 7.1 million deaths. The studies suggest that interventions such as meditation used either alone or with lifestyle changes has been shown to help decrease blood pressure.\\nMeditation is \\nnot a\\n “cure-all” for high blood pressure, so don’t do it in lieu of seeing your doctor. But it’s scientifically proven to help lower it. According to the NCCIH, “A literature review and scientific statement from the American Heart Association suggest that evidence supports the use of Transcendental Meditation (TM) to lower blood pressure.” The American Heart Association website also has many other helpful (and practical) tips about lowering your blood pressure, in case you’re in need of another free resource that gives free advice on how to get (or stay) healthy without breaking the bank.\\nNot sure how to begin your practice of meditation and breathwork? Join us in my \\nBreathing and Meditation class\\n! All are welcome, and we’ll journey to better health through meditation together.\\nIt’s also a perfect reason to go ahead and \\nscoop up your free 2-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n! You’ll find all the support you need there from experts in yoga and meditation who are happy to help you navigate your path to better health, less stress, and more harmony!\\nLove, light, and peace!"},"createdAt":"2021-07-01T19:53:37.651367+00:00","author":{"name":"Trupti","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["anxiety","meditation"]},{"title":"What Is Yoga Nidra: Deep Relaxation to Combat Insomnia and Improve Overall Health","coverUrl":"mizyluhduef8w9acvtqr.png","slug":"what-is-yoga-nidra","content":{"text":"What Is Yoga Nidra?\\nYoga Nidra is a meditation that guides you to conscious awareness of your body for deep relaxation. Despite sometimes being referred to as \"yogic sleep,\" Yoga Nidra isn't about falling asleep, but instead cultivating relaxation and inner awareness that is just as restorative as deep sleep.\\n\\nWhen you mention \"yoga\" to most people, what immediately springs to mind is flowing movements requiring a certain level of balance and fitness. And that's followed closely by images of hyper-flexible people twisted into pretzel-like poses.\\n\\nBut yoga is about more than movement, physical strength, and flexibility.\\n\\nThere's a meditative aspect to yoga that often gets overlooked. And that's where Yoga Nidra comes in.\\n\\nYoga Nidra was introduced by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1976. It was presented as an easy-to-learn meditation practice that anybody from any culture could use without previous \\nknowledge of yoga\\n.\\n\\nThis practice is a guided meditation in which you rest in savasana as you move through deep relaxation techniques. The purpose of Yoga Nidra is to help the physical, emotional, and mental self completely relax and heal.\\n\\nThe practice can help with insomnia, PTSD, trauma, and anxiety, as well as improve overall health, restore energy, and promote creativity. Yoga Nidra soothes the sympathetic nervous system, leaving practitioners with a sense of peace and calm.\\n\\nHow Does Yoga Nidra Differ From Meditation?\\nWhile Yoga Nidra is a type of meditation, there are key differences. For starters, Yoga Nidra is done in savasana with the goal of reaching a deep state of conscious awareness, deeper than most meditations.\\n\\nAccording to Judi Bar, yoga therapist and yoga program manager, meditation is a waking state of consciousness, focusing the mind and letting thoughts come and go. This helps us get into the theta state. Yoga Nidra helps us get to the deeper, delta state.\\n\\nHow to Practice Yoga Nidra\\nMany yoga studios offer Yoga Nidra and you can easily do it at home for free with YouTube or a meditation app. Plus, no need to invest in any equipment. You just need a yoga mat (or even just a blanket) and something to support your lower back, spine, and head.\\n\\nYoga Nidra is best practiced in a quiet space where you'll be able to relax without being disturbed. When you're ready, dim the lights and get comfortable in savasana.\\n\\nAllow your eyes to gently close and take a few deep breaths in and out. Let your body relax completely. From there, you'll go through a progressive relaxation of your entire body, starting with your right foot. Move your attention up to your right knee, thigh, and hip. Then, repeat the process on the left leg.\\n\\nContinue this pattern of awareness and relaxation for your entire body.\\n\\nOnce you've completed this process for your entire body, allow yourself to relax completely. Stay here for as long as you'd like.\\n\\nWhen you're ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings and slowly come up to a seated position before opening your eyes.\\n\\nTo get the most from your Yoga Nidra practice, here are some tips you can use:\\nStart with an intention. Why are you practicing? What is it you're hoping for?\\nUse a sleep mask to block out light.\\nPractice where you're most comfortable. The bed? A recliner? Go for it!\\nUse a blanket to keep yourself warm.\\nStart with shorter sessions of 15–20 minutes.\\nPractice whenever it makes sense for you.\\nDon't give up! Meditation is hard. You're being asked to quiet your mind against the innumerable things competing for your attention. Go easy on yourself.\\nBenefits of Yoga Nidra\\n\\nYoga Nidra works on the autonomic nervous system. This is the system that regulates body processes like your heartbeat, breathing, blood flow, and digestion. Since it's such deep relaxation, Yoga Nidra also stimulates the pineal gland and encourages the \\nrelease of hormones\\n like melatonin. Melatonin helps manage blood pressure, cortisol levels, immune function, and is a common over-the-counter treatment for insomnia.\\n\\nPlus, while meditation is documented to \\nreduce anxiety and stress\\n, in recent studies, Yoga Nidra has been seen as even more effective in reducing anxiety, as well as being a useful tool in reducing anxiety symptoms.\\n\\nA 2020 study of Yoga Nidra found that stress affect and sleep quality saw sustained positive influence thanks to meditation. In addition, practicing Yoga Nidra consistently for just 11 minutes resulted in increased satisfaction with life, sleep quality, and mindfulness while leading to decreases in stress. For some of the study's participants, Yoga Nidra practice was reported to be particularly helpful when it came to acute stress situations (critical life events, exams, relationship problems, etc).\\n\\nHere are some other benefits of a Yoga Nidra practice:\\nConnect with yourself\\nPhysical and emotional healing\\nFlushes toxins\\nEase symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and depression\\nThere's no wrong way to practice\\nComplement Your Yoga Nidra Practice With Classes from myYogaTeacher\\nDid you know that 50–70 million adults in the United States alone have a sleep disorder? And it's a good bet that stress and anxiety play a huge role in that number! And, nearly 38% of those with sleep disorders report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once a month.\\n\\nIf that sounds like you, Yoga Nidra can help!\\n\\nTo get the greatest benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice, it's recommended that you do some light exercise — like a yoga class — before settling in for your Yoga Nidra session.\\n\\nThat's where myYogaTeacher can be an enormous help! We offer tons of yoga classes to choose from, but our Hatha, Gentle, or Slow Vinyasa classes would be a perfect complement to your Yoga Nidra sessions. We invite you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial\\n of myYogaTeacher. You'll get access to all of our live online group yoga classes (more than 35 each day) led by skilled and experienced Indian yoga teachers.\\n\\nClasses with myYogaTeacher can be exactly what you need to get the most benefit from your Yoga Nidra practice so you can ease anxiety, get a better connection between your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves, and get better sleep."},"createdAt":"2021-06-17T22:13:09.839221+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["therapy","meditation"]},{"title":"9 Types of Yogic Breathing Exercises and When to Use Them","coverUrl":"iw8hvubtyzsebykywef1.jpg","slug":"types-of-yoga-breath","content":{"text":"Don’t you hate it when you’re in a tizzy about something – maybe crying or angry – and someone tells you to “just breathe?”\\n\\nIt’s the worst, right?\\n\\nYou’re all I AM BREATHING! And they’re all “not really.”\\n\\nThe truth is, even though you may be upset at whoever is giving you the very common suggestion to stop freaking out and take a breath, they’re right.\\n\\nIn yoga, breath is your life force. It’s what keeps you grounded, calm, clear headed. It’s what helps you make better decisions in all sorts of situations. Yogic breathing exercises are not like any other type of breathing. \\n\\nFor thousands of years, yoga breathing techniques that we are familiar with are scientifically proven to:\\n\\nImprove blood pressure\\nReduce symptoms of anxiety and depression\\nRestore energy levels\\nReduce pain\\nRelax muscles\\nLower stress-induced cortisol levels\\n\\nAs a yoga teacher, I am constantly integrating different forms of yoga breathing techniques into my practices. It helps my students have more harmony and peace in their lives as well as better focus and mental clarity.\\n\\n[CTA-BREATH]\\n\\nIn the meantime here are the different types of yoga breathing exercises names you should be familiar with:\\n\\n\\n1. Nadi Shodhana or Alternate Nostril Breathing\\n\\nThis type of breathing brings almost immediate relief to those who are suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, or when you’re feeling agitated.\\n\\nIt helps slow your heartbeat, lower your blood pressure, and calms down the central nervous system. Alternate \\nnostril breathing\\n is a good practice for general well being as well. And the more you practice, the easier it will be to use this type of yogic breath during times of stress.\\n\\n2. Ujjayi or Ocean’s Breath\\n\\nOcean’s Breath is the most common form in yoga for breathing practices.\\n\\nThis yoga breathing techniques has been shown to improve the quality of life in cancer patients, patients who suffer from severe depressive issues, and has even been shown in a few studies to help people who suffer from hypothyroidism by improving pulmonary function.\\n\\nIn yoga, breath is even more important than the actual poses. Here are some other names Ocean’s Breath may go by:\\n\\nVictorious breathing\\nSnake breathing\\nWhispering breath\\nSnoring breath\\n\\nWe practice ujjayi breathing in almost every one of the classes I offer on \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n!\\n\\n3. Shitali pranayama or cooling breath\\n\\nThis type of breathing is most effective in the warmer months when your body may need a little help cooling down.\\n\\nCooling breath, also known as “Taco Breath” after the curled tongue used to move the air, is known to:\\n\\nQuelch thirst and hunger\\nImprove bad breath\\nReduce fatigue\\nReduce fevers\\nImprove high blood pressure\\n\\nWhen done properly, this yoga breathing types exercise directs heat away from the head, neck, and digestive system to help cool the body.\\n\\n4. Sitkari pranayama or hissing breath\\n\\nThis type of yoga breath is another variation of cooling breath \\nmeditation\\n. The only difference is shitali pranayama is performed through a rolled tongue stuck out of the mouth, and sitkari pranayama is performed through clenched teeth.\\n\\nDuring hissing breath, do not clench your teeth so tightly that it hurts your teeth or jaws. Teeth should be only just clenched. \\n\\nHissing breath is also another cooling breath and can be done in the heat of the day or any time when the body needs to be cooled down. It also reduces anxiety, anger, agitation, and calms the mind.\\n\\n5. Brahmari or humming breath\\n\\nThe name of this breath type is named after a black Indian bee.\\n\\nIf you have a hard time meditating or maintaining focus while you’re meditating, humming breath is very helpful, but it is also good to do before going to bed.\\n\\nBrahmari pranayama releases cerebral tension and helps lower blood pressure, helping to relax your central nervous systems.\\n\\nThis yoga breathing techniques should not be done lying down. Always practice this breath sitting upright. It is also contraindicated in pregnant or menstruating women, and people who suffer with extremely high blood pressure, epilepsy, chest pain, or ear infection.\\n\\n6. Bhastrika or bellows breath\\n\\nIf you’re wanting to lose weight, this type of yogic breathing might be useful to you! \\n\\nBellows breath is used to energize and awaken the body. It also may help boost digestion and increase metabolism. However, absolutely do not practice this yoga for breathing exercise if you have cardiac issues, extremely high blood pressure, or a hernia (or previous issues with hernia).\\n\\n7. Surya Bhedana or solar breath\\n\\nThe main purpose of the solar breath is to bring vital energy and life to the body, to revitalize it. This type of yogic breathing gives the sympathetic nervous system a boost and increases the efficiency of the digestive tract. \\n\\nYou will be bringing heat to the body through your inhale (on your right nostril) and cooling your body on the exhale out of your left nostril.\\n\\nThe whole digestive system is affected by this form of breathing, so it is best not to do it right after eating.\\n8. Chandra Bhedana or lunar breath\\n\\nThis yoga breath practice is just the opposite of how you perform the solar breath practice. The idea is to bring coolness to the body..\\n\\nIt is important not to do both breaths on the same day and only do twice a day, in the morning and evening.\\n\\n9. Active Yoga Breathing\\n\\nThis yoga breathing exercise will help you be more prepared to do the common Ocean’s Breath during almost any yoga practice.\\n\\nIt is the practice of breathing deeply, evenly, and consistently during physical activity, such as walking or bike riding. If walking, use 5-10 steps for your inhale and 5 to 10 steps to exhale.  Doing this helps to calm your body and give you the benefits of deep breathing while also getting exercise.\\n\\n\\nIf you’re looking to learn more about the different types of yogic breathing and their benefits, you should definitely give MyYogaTeacher a try! \\nYou can get your 2-week free trial here and check out all the different yoga teachers and what they have to offer.\\n\\n\\nFeel free to check out any of my classes as well! I offer one called\\n Breathe and Flow\\n that you just may enjoy!\\n\\nI hope to see you on the mat soon!\\n\\nNamaste.\\n"},"createdAt":"2021-06-11T18:50:52.169324+00:00","author":{"name":"Bharath","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["anxiety","meditation"]},{"title":"Why Breath is an Important Part of Your Yoga Practice","coverUrl":"hjrzagexcb4hn9uy17cx.jpg","slug":"breathwork-and-yoga","content":{"text":"I’m pretty certain you’ve heard a lot about doing breathwork, also known as breathing exercises, before, during, and after your yoga practice.\\n\\nBut is breathing through your asanas just something you’ve been doing because your teacher told you to? Is breathwork just that, breathing? What is breathing to you?\\n\\nFor me, breath is life. It’s magic. It’s my pathway to heaven while I’m still alive.\\n\\nAnd the breath is a tool to connect, calm, and control your mind. To bring awareness to your inner self.\\n\\nWhich is what yoga is all about.\\n\\nThis is why I wanted to teach a \\nBreath and Flow class with myYogaTeacher!\\n Because pranayama (breath) and meditation are really the best part of yoga.\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\nLet’s look at how breath works in yoga and why the breath is the most important part of your yoga practice.\\n\\nBreath and your yoga flow\\n\\nPhysiologically\\n\\nWhen you begin your yoga practice, you begin synchronizing your breath with your movements. Whether an instructor is guiding you through this process or you’ve become accustomed to doing it on your own, breathing becomes conscious, versus automated.\\n\\nYou become aware of how your breath moves with your body, particularly during more strenuous flows or asanas where controlling your breath becomes more difficult. \\n\\nThis is where the magic begins! \\n\\nThe mind gets quieter. The body feels calmer.\\n\\nMentally and emotionally\\n\\nBreath is what allows us to experience life! Literally.\\n\\nThe practice of yoga is designed to bring harmony to our inner and outer selves. So we can experience the very essence of life through all our senses.\\n\\nWithout breath, senses can not exist.\\n\\nOptimizing our breath with even inhales and exhales during our yoga practice also opens us up to our greatest potential. It releases tension, anxiety, and revitalizes our mind and spirit.\\n\\nPhysically\\n\\nThis brings us to how breathwork and meditation as a part of a comprehensive yoga practice affect our physical bodies.\\n\\nBreath awareness can eliminate tension in the muscles, joint compression, and help realign our posture. When we hold our breath, we prevent oxygen and nutrients from reaching our muscles and organs, causing contraction. Which then causes pain.\\n\\nYoga teaches us how to breathe properly and in a way that is much more beneficial than what we are accustomed to.\\n\\nBreath and your mind\\n\\nBeing active and moving your body definitely releases endorphins. You feel good, happier. But that is often short lived.\\n\\nWhen your breath changes, it’s telling you something about yourself, your mind. For example, you may not notice but when you’re stressed, tense, angry, you breathe heavier. Much more shallow breaths. When you’re sleeping, your breathing is generally much deeper and slower, just like when you’re relaxed.\\n\\nThe breath moves with the mind and vice versa!\\n\\nIt makes sense, then, that if we can control our breathing, we can control much of what’s going on in our mind.\\n\\nIf we can control our mind, we can move with more ease and positivity in our environment and world.\\n\\n4 Types of yoga breathing and their benefits\\n\\nUjjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath or Ocean Breath)\\n\\nThis is the most common of yoga breathing techniques and is usually identified as sound like the wind in the trees or the rise and fall of the ocean waves against the sand.\\n\\nUjjayi Pranayama is soothing and calms the central nervous system even when done in conjunction with a faster paced vinyasa practice. The flow of the breath with the movements releases tension throughout the body.\\n\\nNadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing)\\n\\nThis form of breath work is designed to purify and unblock your nadis, energy channels that flow through your body and connect to your chakras.\\n\\nStudies have shown that people who practice this form of breathing on a consistent basis have lower blood pressure and better mental focus. Alternate nostril breathing is often done at the end of a yoga practice.\\n\\nKumbhaka Pranayama (Breath Retention)\\n\\nKumbhaka Pranayama is probably known to you simply as deep breathing. Except in this practice, you actually hold your breath for a bit, breathe in a little bit more and hold it for as long as you can before releasing.\\n\\nThis can be difficult for people who are very anxious, so they may want to begin with holding their breath for much shorter periods of time. But ultimately, this type of breathing is meant to fully oxygenate the blood.\\n\\nKapalabhati Pranayama (Breath of Fire)\\n\\nFeeling groggy? Maybe you woke up in a fog or you’re just having a mentally exhausting day. The Breath of Fire breathing technique will bring a pep back into your step and improve decision making and mental focus.\\n\\nThis type of breathwork is not beneficial when you’re already under a lot of stress.\\n\\n\\nIf you’re unsure about how to perform any of these breathing techniques, you’d definitely love my \\nBreathe and Flow class!\\n It’s perfect for any level of yogi, and we focus on breathing, meditation, and foundational yoga poses in a full-body flow.\\n\\nAs I mentioned before, myYogaTeacher is full of almost any type of yoga class you could possibly want to attend! And they’re taught by instructors like me, from the birthplace of yoga, India. Whether you need a personalized 1:1 session or are game for a group session, we’re here to guide you on your health journey. We give you tips and tricks, corrections and goals.\\n\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher here and jump into my class!\\n\\n\\nMy name’s Bharath. I’ll be your teacher. :-)\\n"},"createdAt":"2021-05-20T16:30:37.624653+00:00","author":{"name":"Bharath","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["anxiety","meditation"]},{"title":"How to Practice Kriya Yoga: Pranayama and Meditation","coverUrl":"kpm_ckls3edxs0bhu0a23kkjd2myu.png","slug":"kriya-yoga-pranayama-meditation","content":{"text":"You've likely heard the phrase \"breath is life\" before. And it's true. That's why we practice pranayama or breathwork. Today, our focus is on Kriya pranayama which is part of the ancient Kriya yoga system revived by Mahavatar Babaji around 1861 through Babaji's follower Lahiri Mahasaya. It was then pushed to international attention with the publication of Paramahansa Yogananda's \\nAutobiography of a Yogi\\n.\\n\\nBenefits of Kriya Pranayama\\nKriya pranayama offers several benefits. First, it teaches us the proper way to breathe through slow, deep breathing. It can help increase your lung capacity, reduce toxins in the body, aid digestion, improve metabolism, calm and soothe the nervous system, reduce stress, and a host of other things that will improve the quality of your life.\\nAs a matter of fact, pranayama meditation benefits aren't limited to Kriya! There are many ways breathwork brings healing to the body mind and soul. Pranayama yoga:\\nImproves sleep patterns and sleep quality.\\nReduces pain throughout the body.\\nBoosts immunity.\\nIncreases feelings of self-love.\\nReduces the amount of cortisol and adrenaline released in the body.\\nAnd literally anyone can enjoy kriya yoga benefits. Breathwork and \\nmeditation\\n is accessible and can be practiced almost anywhere! At work, home, your car, a park bench or the ground. This form of selfcare requires no more space than the space your body takes up.\\n\\nHow to Practice Kriya Yoga: Pranayama and Meditation\\n\\nKriya Yoga\\n focuses on the reciprocal relationship between breath and mind. The belief is that breath control is self-control. In the practice of this Kriya yoga technique we're sharing with you today, we'll start with a simple pranayama preparation before moving into specific kriya pranayama techniques. While we finish this practice with a 30-minute Pranic Energization Technique, we won't be including that in this article. \\n[CTA-KRIYA]\\nPreparing for Kriya\\nSit in a meditative posture—Padmasana (Lotus Pose), Siddhasana (Perfect Pose), Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose), etc.—keeping your head, neck, and spine in line. Shoulders are relaxed and rolled back and down. Place your palms on your knees or your thighs. Draw your chin in towards your chest slightly, and gaze down at the floor.\\n\\nClose your eyes. Become aware of your breathing. Just observe your natural breathing for a few moments.\\n\\nNow, we'll move into Ujjayi pranayama. Ujjayi is \"victorious\" breath and is a balancing pranayama.\\n\\nStart by bringing your chin to your chest in Jalandhara bandha, or chin lock. Roll your tongue in your mouth, the lower part of your tongue should touch the upper palate. Don't force it, just rest comfortably.\\n\\nBring your focus to the back of your throat. Breathe in and out through your nose, producing a sound like the ocean with your breath. Again, there's no need to force the sound. If it comes, it comes. Breathe oceanic breaths for a few minutes.\\n\\nJoin your palms at your heart center in \\nnamaste\\n. Take a deep breath in and on the exhale chant Om. We'll complete this three times, total, followed by a Kriya pranayama yoga meditation prayer:\\n\\nOm Sahana Vavatu (May we be protected together)\\nSahanau Bhunaktu (May we be nourished together)\\nSaha Viryam Karavavahai (May we create strength among one another)\\nTejasvi Navaditamastu (May our study be filled with brilliance and light)\\nMa Vidvishavahai (May there be no hostility between us)\\nOm Shanti Shanti Shantihi (Om peace, peace, peace)\\n\\nExhale and bow down over your hands. Inhale, come back up. \\nNamaste\\n.\\n\\nKapalbhati Pranayama\\nKapalbhati is a Kriya yoga breathing technique that involves cleansing. It can be practiced in two ways, one of which is a basic variation that has no limitations—anyone can practice it. In this variation, we focus on the throat and a rapid and forceful inhale and exhale through the nose 50 times for three rounds.\\n\\nThe traditional variation of Kriya yoga meditation shouldn't be practiced if you are pregnant or menstruating, have high blood pressure, abdominal inflammation, ulcers, hernia, heart ailments, epilepsy, or if you're a child under the age of 12. This variation is focused on abdominal movement and forceful exhalation, 50 times for three rounds.\\n\\nDon't force it. If you're just starting out with breathwork, you're welcome to limit the inhale/exhale cycles to 10–20 per round.\\n\\nIf you'd like, you can place a palm on your abdomen to feel the movement as you breathe. At the end of each round, tuck your chin to your chest and hold your breath for a count of 10 before returning to normal breathing for a few moments.\\n\\nKapalbhati is a Kriya yoga technique that generates heat in the body, energizes the nervous system, releases toxins from the body, and is a great practice for those suffering from hyper-acidity.\\n\\nKapal Randhra Dhauti and Karna Randhra Dhauti\\nThis practice has several benefits. It can relieve pain from headaches and migraines, reduce stress and anxiety, calm the nervous system, improve circulation, increase oxygen flow to the brain, and more.\\n\\nTo do it, place your thumbs at either side of your temples and use your fingers to massage the sinus points in your forehead:\\n\\nNow, pinch your eyebrows along their length a few times.\\n\\nThen, with your middle and ring fingers, massage your cheeks moving down the sides of your nose, out towards your ears, and upward. Repeat this several times.\\n\\nWith your index and middle fingers, massage the sides of your face and behind your ears. Repeat several times.\\n\\nNext, alternate your hands, moving your fingers across your mouth area, repeating several times.\\n\\nLook up towards the ceiling and use your palms to massage your neck with upward strokes.\\n\\nFinally, put your little fingers in your ears and rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise.\\n\\n\\nDog Breathing\\nThis pranayama cleanses and detoxifies the body, expels toxins, strengthens the abdominal muscles, improves respiratory capacity, and strengthens your overall system to improve immunity.\\n\\nDog breathing has the same limitations as the traditional variation of Kapalbhati, so be sure to exercise caution.\\nStart in Vajrasana, leaning slightly forward and resting your hands on your knees. Open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out as far as it can go. Start panting as a dog pants. Each time you exhale, be sure to contract your stomach.\\n\\nYou'll do two rounds of 30 seconds each.\\n\\nRabbit Breathing\\nWhile dog breathing focuses on the abdominals, rabbit breathing is more about the thoracic region. Rabbit breathing is calming and allows you to catch your breath, making it especially beneficial for those with asthma. It’s recommended for people with diabetes and nasal allergies, but not for those with epilepsy or high blood pressure.\\n\\nStart in Vajrasana and bend forward with your elbows and forearms on the mat in front of you. Keep your head, shoulders, and hips in a straight line. Partially open your mouth and stick out your tongue so the tip of your tongue touches your bottom lip. Breathe rapidly and continuously for two rounds of 30–40 breaths.\\n\\nAfter each round, relax into Sasangasana (Rabbit pose). Return to Vajrasana.\\n\\nMandukasana (Frog Pose)\\nMandukasana helps open your hip joints, reducing strain on your needs, as well as improving abduction, strengthening your lower back, and aiding digestion. Limitations are the same as Kapalbhati and also include eye disorders. If you have any of these limitations, you can sit in Vajrasana and practice equal breathing (deep inhalations, deep exhalations).\\n\\nFor this breathing exercise, you won't be going fully into Mandukasana. Instead, you'll keep your knees and feet in Vajrasana position. Move into the pose and breathe for five counts before returning to Vajrasana. You'll complete five rounds of this.\\n\\nBefore moving on, move into a counterpose (intense stretch) for a count of five:\\n\\nPranic Energization Technique (PET)\\nPranic Energization Technique is an advanced technique that utilizes our prana shakti to bring energy to the entire body. This practice brings vitality and strength into every organ of our body.\\n\\nWe'll practice this technique for about 30 minutes, using a variety of breathing techniques like Brahmari (bee breath) during which you make a buzzing sound. Brahmari is a wonderful breathing practice that can help lower blood pressure, soothe the nervous system, stimulate the pineal and pituitary glands, dissipate anger, help you sleep, and more.\\n\\nWe'll also do Nadi Shuddhi (alternate nostril breathing) using the right hand in Vishnu Mudra:\\n\\nNadi Shuddhi is a great technique to calm the mind and bring it back to the present, improve circulatory and respiratory problems, aid in relaxation, purify and balance the nadis (energy channels), and harmonize the right and left sides of the brain, among other benefits.\\n\\nDuring the \\nmeditation\\n, there are a few things we will be doing to experience the prana. You will sometimes be asked to bring your hands to namaste and move them slowly apart and back together. You will also be asked to hold your hands with palms facing each other and move them clockwise or anti-clockwise. Here's what those movements look like:\\n\\nChoose a meditative posture that you can maintain for 30 minutes. If you want to lie down in Savasana, that's fine, too.\\n\\nWe'll start with the \\nPranayama\\n yoga prayer:\\n\\nPranasyedam Vase Sarvam Tridivee Yath Prathishtitham\\nMaateva Putraan Rakshasva Shrischa Pragnascha Videhinaam Ithi\\n\\nTranslated:\\n\\nWhatever exists in the three worlds is all under the control of Prāna.\\n(O Prāna) protect us as a mother protects her sons; give us affluence and intelligence.\\n\\nInterested in experiencing the rest of this Kriya pranayama yoga and meditation practice? Sign up for a \\nFree trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and get access to not only this class but 42+ live classes every single day."},"createdAt":"2021-03-02T14:14:34.057202+00:00","author":{"name":"Rohan Shroff","pictureUrl":"qrgfegrgnhqevaotkukn.jpg","teacherMytSlug":"rohan-1"},"category":["yoga","meditation"]},{"title":"How to Do a Powerful Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation","coverUrl":"ckl8t3amwk53k0b75i0e4wek4.png","slug":"trataka-candlelight-meditation","content":{"text":"Trataka is a candle gazing meditation technique that uses sight to bring stillness to the body and mind. You can practice Trataka using any object—a star, a point on the wall, the ground in front of you. Trataka is traditionally practiced using an actual candle flame.\\nIn this meditation, I'm going to take you through six practices to strengthen your eye muscles before we move into a three-part candle gazing meditation. If you enjoy this practice, please find more classes with me on \\nmyYogaTeacher\\n.\\nBefore we start, I want to remind you that candle meditation typically requires a lot of concentration and can not be performed anywhere like other forms of meditation can. Be sure you have a quiet space prepared where you will not be interrupted before beginning this practice.\\n[CTA-TRATAKA]\\n\\nBenefits of Trataka Meditation\\nTrataka meditation has been around for generations. It has survived over time due to several benefits. Specifically, Trataka meditation:\\nAlleviates stress and anxiety\\nImproves concentration and memory\\nStrengthens your eyes\\nPurifies and stimulates the sixth chakra, Ajna, that controls intuition and mental awareness\\n\\nHow to Do a Trataka Meditation\\nFirst, we encourage you to remove your glasses while you're doing a candle meditation. It's also important that you maintain a distance of 1–1.5 meters between you and your candle, and that you don't blink during the candle gazing.\\n\\nPalming Techniques\\nFor this Trataka meditation, you'll need to know three different kinds of palming. Here's what cupping your hands looks like:\\n\\nGentle\\nRub your palms together to generate heat in your hands. Rest your palms in a cupped shape around your closed eyes.\\n\\nPress and Release\\nRub your palms together to generate heat in your hands. With your palms in a cupped position, place them around your closed eyes. As you inhale, apply light pressure around your eyes with your cupped palms. On the exhale, release the pressure (keeping your palms cupped around your eyes. Repeat this for five cycles of breath.\\n\\nConstant Pressure\\nRub your palms together to generate heat in your hands. With your palms in a cupped position, place them around your closed eyes. Apply constant pressure around your eyes with your cupped palms. Maintain the pressure for five cycles of breathing.\\n\\nStretching and Relaxation\\nWe're going to start our Trataka candlelight meditation with a few stretches to bring relaxation into the body.\\n\\nSit up tall in a chair or cross-legged position with your palms on your knees. Roll your shoulders back to open your chest and close your eyes.\\n\\nBreathe normally, allowing a gentle smile to rest on your face. Maintain this smile throughout your practice... And throughout the rest of your life.\\n\\nObserve your breath as it comes in and flows out, noticing the cool air that's coming into your nose and the warm air that's leaving your nose.\\n\\nInhale. On the exhale, lightly twist your torso to the right. Inhale back to the center and exhale to the opposite side. Inhale back to the center and relax for a moment.\\n\\nNext, drop your head to the right side on the exhale. Inhale to return center and repeat on the other side. Continue to warm up your neck, tilting your head back and forward, inhaling each time as you return to center.\\n\\nJoin your palms together at heart center, \\nnamaste\\n, and let's join together in chanting \\nOm\\n.\\n\\nRub your palms together to generate heat in your hands, cup your palms around your eyes, and blink your eyes open.\\n\\nPress your palms into your knees and tilt your head back, eyes looking up, stretching the front of your neck. Exhale your chin to your chest, stretching the back of the neck. Repeat this five more times.\\n\\nBring your palms to your shoulders on either side of your neck with your fingertips pointing down your back. Pull down slightly on your shoulders as you exhale, tilting your head back, your eyes look up towards the ceiling. Hold this stretch for a count of five.\\n\\nNext, bring the fingertips of each hand together and place your fingertips on your shoulders with your elbows touching in front of your body. Start rolling your shoulders, circling your elbows down, out, up, and touching them in front of your body 10 times. Reverse this movement for another 10 counts.\\n\\nNow, swing your arms to the front and back of your body, allowing them to cross in front of your body on the exhale. Do this 10 times.\\n\\nStretch your legs out in front of you and shake them out a bit, moving them side to side. Then, start rapidly bending and straightening your knees. This is a good practice for both relaxation and knee pain.\\n\\nBring your arms out to the side of your body and inhale. On the exhale, bend to the right side, dropping your elbow to the ground and stretching along the left side of your body. Let your left arm reach up and over your body. If you're sitting in a chair, just bend over to the side as far as you can to feel the stretch.\\n\\nInhale, coming back to the center, and exhale to the other side.\\n\\nRepeat this movement several times, keeping your hips square and planted on the ground or chair.\\n\\nInterlace your fingers in front of you and stretch your arms up over your head, inhaling. On the exhale, allow your arms to float down to your side and then behind you, grabbing your right wrist with your left hand. Exhale and bend forward over your legs, keeping your arms behind you. Repeat this a few times, inhaling to come up and exhaling to fold forward.\\n\\nTwist once more to the right and then the left.\\n\\nEye Movements\\nNow we're going to move into six practices to strengthen the muscles around your eyes.\\n\\nPractice One: Eye Movements—Up and Down\\nSit up straight. For focus, you can bring your thumb out in front of you or, if you're comfortable without it, that's fine, too. Inhale, look to the tip of the thumb, and fix your gaze. Begin to move your thumb up and down, following the movement with your eyes without blinking and without moving your head. Remember to smile. Try to keep your eyes in each position for one second (up for one second and down for one second). Do this 10 times and finish with rest palming.\\n\\nPractice Two: Eye Movements—Right and Left\\nThis time, you'll be following the movement of your thumb to the right and left, without blinking and without moving your head. Keep your eyes in each position for at least one second. Do this 10 times and finish with rest palming.\\n\\nPractice Three: Eye Movements—Right-Up and Left-Down\\nFollow the movement of your thumb on the diagonal—up to the right and down to the left. Once again, do this without blinking and without moving your head, keeping your eyes in each position for at least one second. Do this 10 times. This time, you'll finish with press and release palming.\\n\\nPractice Four: Eye Movements—Left-Up and Right-Down\\nRepeat the diagonal eye movements, this time going up to the left and down to the right. Do this without blinking and without moving your head for 10 repetitions, with your eyes in each position for at least one second. Finish with press and release palming.\\n\\nPractice Five: Eye Movements—Clockwise Rotation\\nNow, we're going to move our eyes in a clockwise rotation—right, up, left, and down. Don't blink and don't move your head. Be sure to keep your eyes in each position for at least one second. Complete this clockwise rotation 10 times before finishing with constant pressure palming.\\n\\nPractice Six: Eye Movements—Anti-Clockwise Rotation\\nRepeat the rotational movements, this time going left, up, right, and down. As always, don't blink and don't move your head, just your eyes. Keep your eyes in each position for at least one second and complete the anti-clockwise rotation 10 times. Finish with constant pressure palming.\\n\\nLeave your eyes closed for a few seconds and relax before we move into the meditation. Now you are ready for our candle meditation.\\n\\nTrataka Meditation: Effortless Focusing\\n\\nStart your Trataka meditation by turning down the lights and sitting between 1–1.5 meters from your candle. Sit in a pose that's comfortable for you and that you can hold for the duration of the meditation. Once you're comfortable, close your eyes.\\nWith your eyes closed, observe the lightness around your eyes. Listen to your breath. Slowly, with your head angled down slightly, blink your eyes open, looking softly at the floor.\\n\\nFor the next minute, try not to blink.\\n\\nLook at the base of the stand that your candle is sitting on. Slowly bring your gaze up the length of the candle stand to the base of the candle itself. Then, let your gaze move up the candle to the flame. Look at the flame for the next 30 seconds.\\n\\nClose your eyes and do press and release palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.\\nCandle gazing takes practice. Be patient with yourself as you're learning this process.\\n\\nTrataka Meditation: Intense Focusing\\nBlink your eyes open, looking softly at the floor. For the next minute, don't blink.\\n\\nOnce again, look at the base of the candle stand and slowly move your gaze up the candle stand to the base of the candle. From there, let your gaze continue up the length of the candle to the flame. Look at the flame of the candle and deepen your focus. See the wick inside of the flame. Watch the wick burn inside of the candle flame for 30 seconds.\\n\\nClose your eyes and do constant pressure palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.\\n\\nTrataka Meditation: Bhramari Pranayama\\nBlink your eyes open, again looking softly at the floor. Don't blink for the next minute and a half.\\n\\nLook towards the base of the candle stand, slowly bringing your gaze up to the base of the candle itself before continuing up the length of the candle to the flame. Focus on the flame of the candle for the next 30 seconds. Bring your awareness completely towards the flame, deepen your awareness and focus. Really look at the flame, observing its shape, color, and size. Notice the flame's aura and the particles around it.\\n\\nClose your eyes and do constant pressure palming.\\n\\nThis time, instead of dropping your palms back to your knees, allow them to remain on your eyes as we move into Bhramari Pranayama, or humming bee breath. Take a deep breath in and hum, producing a sound like a buzzing bee, allowing your body to feel the vibration.\\n\\nPlace your hands behind your back, grabbing your right wrist with your left hand, and inhale, arching your back and looking up to the ceiling. On the exhale, fold forward. Return to an upright position with your palms on your knees.\\nObserve the silence within you and find the awareness toward your body. Observe the changes in your body, especially in the eye muscles.\\n\\nContinue with your eyes closed. Move into savasana, laying down on your back with your palms facing up. Feel free to cover yourself with a blanket, if you'd like. If you're sitting in a chair, you're welcome to stay there and relax with your eyes closed.\\n\\nRelax in savasana for several minutes.\\n\\nWhen you're ready, interlace your fingers over your head and give yourself a full-body stretch. Keeping your eyes closed, bring your knees to your chest, roll to one side, and return to a sitting position.\\n\\nJoin your palms together at heart center, \\nnamaste\\n. Take a deep breath in and finish by chanting \\nOm, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti\\n.\\n\\nFinish with rest palming and blink your eyes open. Congratulations on completing your candle meditation! \\n\\nWant to take a guided live class? Sign up for a \\nfree trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and get access to 35+ live classes every single day."},"createdAt":"2021-02-17T02:18:23.420756+00:00","author":{"name":"Anuj","pictureUrl":"anuj-poonia-1.jpg","teacherMytSlug":"anuj-1"},"category":["therapy","meditation"]},{"title":"Beginner's Guide to Clearing Chakras | Benefits, Healing & Chanting Chakras","coverUrl":"clear-your-chakras_72106447.png","slug":"clear-your-chakras","content":{"text":"Maybe you don’t expect to see a chakra clearing session mixed in with yoga classes. The western part of the world tends to be more focused on outward results, and you do yoga because that’s what you want. Results.\\nStrength. Flexibility. Toning. Gentle exercise for an injured or unconditioned body.\\nAnd you know nothing of chakras or chanting or all that other “woo woo” stuff.\\nThe truth is, yoga, chakra clearing, and chanting work together to create harmony with your inner and outer world. They are all forms of meditation!\\n\\nIf you’re new to the woo, then this post will be helpful in understanding why I offer a \\nChakras and Sound Healing class \\nthrough MyYogaTeacher.\\n\\nWhat are Chakras?\\nChakras are energy points in your body that correspond to organs, nerves, and areas of our body that affect our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. We are all made up of energy! Everything is made of energy.\\nSo it is no surprise that energy flows through and around us.\\nWhen your chakras or energy centers are off balance or blocked, you may experience negative emotional or physical symptoms related to a particular chakra.\\n\\nThe 7 Important Types Of Chakras:\\n\\n1. Root chakra (Muladhara): \\n Responsible for your sense of security, stability, and safety.\\n2. Sacral chakra (Svadhisthana):\\n Responsible for sexual and creative energy and linked to how you relate to and connect with others.\\n3. Solar plexus chakra (Manipura):\\n Corresponds to confidence, self-esteem, and helps you feel in control of your life.\\n4. Heart chakra (Anahata):\\n All about our ability to love and show compassion.\\n5. Throat chakra (Vishuddha):\\n Has to do with how we communicate verbally.\\n6. Third eye chakra (Ajna):\\n Linked to intuition and imagination.\\n7. Crown chakra (Sahasrara):\\n Represents your spiritual connection to self, others, and the Universe/God. Also linked to your life’s purpose.\\n\\nHow do you know if you have one or many – or any – blocked chakras? And what does clearing them even mean? Or do?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nClear Your Chakras and Improve Your Life.\\n\\nHaving balanced chakras (or imbalanced ones) impacts all areas of your life. Chakras are receptors and emitters. They receive and give back energy. You will receive the same frequency of energy back from the world that you emit.\\nAn easily relatable example of this is when you constantly see the negative attributes in someone’s character. The more you talk, think, and explore those negative things, the more you will find. This also works in reverse. When we love someone, we choose to see all the good things in them, which leads us to find more good things. \\nWhen you feel poor, you often act poor. So you receive more of the same. When you are unkind, you are often met with unkindness.\\n\\nThis is energy. Chakra energy.\\n\\nHow to Identify Blocked Chakras :\\n\\n1. Root chakra:\\n Stress about money, digestive issues, arthritis, problems in the legs, feet, tailbone or rectum, prostate issues.\\n2. Sacral chakra:\\n Constant fear of betrayal, sexual or reproductive health issues, hip or lower back pain, urinary or kidney dysfunction.\\n3. Solar plexus chakra:\\n Fear of rejection, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, pancreas or gallbladder problems.\\n4. Heart chakra: \\nFear of being alone, asthma, arm and wrist pain, jealousy or bitterness, upper back or shoulder problems.\\n5. Throat chakra: \\nFear being out of control, thyroid issues, sore throats, ear infections, trouble expressing yourself, neck and shoulder pain.\\n6. Third eye chakra:\\n Moodiness or stubbornness, blurry vision or eye problems, sinus issues, headaches.\\n7. Crown chakra: \\nFear of alienation, rigid thoughts, analysis paralysis.\\n\\nRegularly clearing your chakras through a guided chakra clearing session or by visiting an energy healer will help alleviate many of these symptoms.\\n\\nAnd don’t rule it out as a part of your regular yoga routine!\\n\\nStep-by-Step Beginner's Guide to Clear Chakras :\n\\nChakras are energy centers in your body that are believed to be responsible for different aspects of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By clearing these energy centers, you can remove blockages that may be preventing you from feeling your best. Here's how to get started:\\n\\nStep 1: Find a quiet, comfortable space where you won't be disturbed. It's important to be able to focus your attention on your body and your breath without distractions.\\n\\nStep 2: Take a few deep breaths and close your eyes. Allow yourself to settle into the present moment and let go of any worries or distractions that may be on your mind.\\n\\nStep 3: Start with the root chakra, located at the base of your spine. Visualize a red ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire pelvic area. As you focus on this visualization, repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am safe and secure.\"\\n\\nStep 4: Move up to the sacral chakra, located just below your navel. Visualize an orange ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire lower abdomen. Repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am creative and passionate.\"\\n\\nStep 5: Next, focus on the solar plexus chakra, located just above your navel. Visualize a yellow ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire upper abdomen. Repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am confident and empowered.\"\\n\\nStep 6: Move up to the heart chakra, located in the center of your chest. Visualize a green ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire chest. Repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am loved and loving.\"\\n\\nStep 7: Next, focus on the throat chakra, located at the base of your throat. Visualize a blue ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire throat area. Repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am honest and expressive.\"\\n\\nStep 8: Move up to the third eye chakra, located in the center of your forehead. Visualize an indigo ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire head. Repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am intuitive and aware.\"\\n\\nStep 9: Finally, focus on the crown chakra, located at the top of your head. Visualize a violet ball of energy at this location. Imagine this energy ball expanding and filling your entire body. Repeat the following affirmation to yourself: \"I am connected and at peace.\"\\n\\nStep 10: Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to sit in this state for a few minutes. When you're ready, slowly open your eyes and come back to the present moment.\\n\\nCongratulations, you've just completed a chakra clearing exercise! With regular practice, this can be a powerful tool for enhancing your overall well-being. Remember to stay patient with yourself and enjoy the process.\\n\\nMeditation for Clearing Chakras\\n\\nMeditation is a powerful tool that can be used to clear your chakras and bring your mind and body into a state of balance and harmony. By focusing your attention on your breath and your energy centers, you can release blockages and allow energy to flow freely throughout your body.You may not feel comfortable chanting at the end of your yoga practice. Might want to check on your throat chakra about that (jk)!\\nOr maybe it’s just unfamiliar to you. Why do we do it? What’s the point? \\nSound healing is real. \\nThe practice of using vibrations in order to relax and heal the body has been scientifically proven to be effective.\\nTraditionally, the chanting of “Om” (pronounced “AUM”) happens at the beginning and end of a yoga or meditation session. The letters AUM symbolize the divine energy of Shakti. Shakti is referred to as the “Great Divine Mother” in Hinduism. \\nThe three main characteristics of Shakti are creation, preservation, and liberation.\\nThe sound Om, when done correctly, vibrates at a frequency of 432 Hz, the same frequency as everything throughout nature. It’s a universal sound that helps us connect with ourselves and everything around us.\\nChanting not only helps us open and close our practice, separating it from the rest of our day. It also helps slow down the nervous system and calm the mind.\\nJust as chanting helps calm the mind and connect and ground us to the present, “Namaste” shows respect and reverence for the experience, the Universe, and the other people around you.\\nIt may seem weird to you, but think of it as a handshake of gratitude to your body, your instructor, and the planet that supports you both.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nHow do you Chant Chakras?\\n\\n⁠Chanting is a powerful way to activate and balance your chakras. The vibration of the sound can help to clear blockages and promote the flow of energy through your energy centers. Here's how to get started with chanting your chakras:\\n\\nChoose a chant that resonates with you: There are many different chants and mantras that can be used to activate and balance your chakras. Explore different options and find one that resonates with you. .\\nFind a comfortable and quiet space: Choose a quiet and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed. This can be a room in your house, a quiet outdoor space, or anywhere else that feels calming and peaceful to you.\\nFocus your attention on the specific chakra you want to activate: Each chakra has its own unique sound and vibration. As you chant, focus your attention on the specific chakra you want to activate. For example, if you're working on your heart chakra, you might focus on the sound \"YAM.\"\\nUse deep, intentional breathing: As you chant, use deep and intentional breathing to help you connect with your body and your energy centers. Breathe in slowly and deeply, and exhale slowly and fully.\\nRepeat the chant as many times as you like: You can repeat the chant as many times as you like, whether that's for a few minutes or for an extended period of time. The important thing is to stay focused and present, and to allow the sound of the chant to help you connect with your chakras and promote the flow of energy through your body.\\nFAQs about Clearing Chakras\\n\\nAre chakras scientifically proven? \\nWhile the existence of chakras is not widely accepted within the scientific community, there are studies that have explored the connection between the body's energy centers and overall health and well-being.\\n\\nHow do chakras relate to life purpose? \\nAccording to some spiritual teachings, each chakra is associated with a specific aspect of life and can provide insight into one's life purpose. For example, the heart chakra is associated with love and compassion, while the throat chakra is associated with communication and self-expression.\\n\\nHow often should you clear your chakras? \\nThere is no set schedule for clearing your chakras, but many people find it helpful to do so on a regular basis. You might choose to clear your chakras daily, weekly, or whenever you feel like your energy needs a boost.\\n\\nHow to heal chakras? \\nThere are many different techniques that can be used to heal and balance your chakras. Some popular options include meditation, yoga, energy healing, and sound therapy.\\n\\nWhy does my solar plexus feel weird? \\nThe solar plexus is associated with personal power and self-confidence. If you're feeling a strange sensation in this area, it could be a sign that your solar plexus chakra is out of balance. Consider exploring techniques to balance this energy center, such as practicing self-empowerment or visualizing a ball of bright yellow light in this area.\\n\\nWhat is the chakra for digestion?\\n \\nThe third chakra, located in the solar plexus region, is associated with digestion and metabolism. A balanced solar plexus chakra can help promote healthy digestion and a strong metabolism, while an imbalanced chakra can lead to digestive issues and low energy levels. Techniques such as yoga and meditation can help to balance this energy center and promote digestive health.\\n\\n\\nI encourage you to challenge yourself to a\\n Chakra and Sound Healing session\\n. Feel the difference in your heart, mind, and body afterwards. Pay attention to how it makes you feel. Do any parts of your body ache or hurt less? Is your mind more calm and focused? Do you feel more connected to yourself and nature?\\nThese are some of the benefits you may experience!\\nNot sure about it just yet? \\nmyYogaTeacher offers a 2-week free trial\\n where you have access to my class and many more! Group yoga, meditation, sound healing, and chakra clearing classes from the comfort of your own home. \\nAll are welcome here!"},"createdAt":"2021-02-05T21:07:01.067503+00:00","author":{"name":"Abhishek Sharma","pictureUrl":null,"teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["therapy","meditation"]},{"title":"What Is Three Part Breath?","coverUrl":"Social-post-10-1.png","slug":"what-is-three-part-breath","content":{"text":"Yogis tend to view breath differently, and no story greater sums up this concept than hearing about the tests police offers have to take in the academy. In one of the tests, contenders are strapped in to a lie detector and asked several questions. They are also asked something every yogi hates to hear:\\n\\n“Just breathe normally.”\\n\\nI have taught yoga for four years, and any time someone tells me to focus on my breathing I snap into Three Part Breath. It is hardly conscious, but as the soon-to-be-frustrated LAPD testing assistant would attest to, it is far different from “breathing normally.”\\n\\nThree Part Breath stems from the Pranayama concept of \\nyoga\\n— the idea that through controlling our breath we can control our minds and, potentially, tap into a higher power. In Sanskrit, Prana means life force, or breath sustaining the body; Ayama translates as “to extend or draw out.” Extending and lengthening our breaths calms and quiets the mind, which is the goal of yoga as a whole. \\n\\nThrowing poses in the mix was designed for us to challenge that control— an expert yogi can control their breath even in handstand or with their feet behind their head. The struggle of that breath control, for most of us, is a reminder that we are human, and thus we are all works in progress. \\n\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\nWhere do we start with\\n Pranayama\\n? Three Part Breath. \\n\\nSenior yoga teacher Swami Karunananda states, “three-part deep breathing is the foundation of all the yogic breathing techniques. Studies have shown that you can take in and give out seven times as much air— that means seven times as much oxygen, seven times as much prana— in a three-part deep breath than in a shallow breath.” \\n\\nIn yoga, you are encouraged to flow through your practice maintaining this three-part breath to the best of your ability. It helps you focus your mind, relieve stress, and move inward, deepening your poses and strengthening your practice. Sounds amazing, right? It also sounds nearly impossible once you’ve held chair pose for a minute straight and the teacher is still going. Because truthfully, in challenging poses, three-part-breath is hard. And the best way to get better at it is to practice.\\n\\nHere’s a little Three Part Breath practice you can try right now:\\n\\nFind a comfortable spot, sitting or lying down. Sitting is a great choice if you’re looking for energy; lying, on the other hand, might help you feel your breath deeper and relax more. Without changing anything, notice how you’re breathing now. Let your thoughts pass you by— do not cling to them.Begin to deepen your inhales and exhales.Start imagining that your belly is a balloon, or a ball— something to be filled with air. Comfortably fill it on your inhale, and empty it on your exhale. Repeat this a few times, growing accustomed to it.On your next inhale, when your belly is full, take another sip of air, filling your rib cage. You may feel some expansion and opening in your upper back— this is great. On your exhale, let your chest empty of air first, then your stomach. Continue this for several more breaths.On your next inhale, fill your belly and your rib cage— then breathe just a little bit more into your upper chest. Feel your heart rise with your breath. This is the third part.On your exhale, empty your upper chest and throat, then your ribcage, then your belly. Continue this for 8 to 10 rounds, and start to feel your body relax. Note that this shouldn’t feel like you’re filling your lungs to burst, but rather that you are moving through levels as if your breath was an elevator. This should feel comfortable and deep. \\n\\nThe more you practice Three Part Breath, the more natural it will feel. It is a great way to get your breathing practice started, and a great way to move inward during your next \\nonline yoga class. \\n\\n"},"createdAt":"2020-03-30T00:00:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Jitendra","pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png","teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["therapy","meditation"]},{"title":"What is Breath Ratio breathing?","coverUrl":"Social-post-11-1.png","slug":"what-is-breath-ratio-breathing","content":{"text":"As part of our Breathing to Find Calm series, we are exploring Yoga \\nbreathing techniques\\n that cultivate a sense of peace and calm in the body. In this article, we'll talk about the Breath Ratio!\\n\\nSimply put, breathing with a \\nBreath Ratio\\n is evening out the inhale, the natural pause between breath and the exhale. In this example, you can count to 4 but really the number doesn't matter! Just do what feels good to you. \\n\\nBreathing in this way relaxes the nervous system. With an even and predictable breath, the body relaxes. With your mind focusing on the breath, your mind also relaxes. \\n\\nTry this for several breaths and tell us what you think!\\n"},"createdAt":"2020-03-21T00:00:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Jitendra","pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png","teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["fitness","meditation"]},{"title":"Yoga Nidra Cured My Insomnia","coverUrl":"isq4hw4ivknbxwkgziz0.jpg","slug":"yoga-nidra-cured-my-insomnia","content":{"text":" \\n\\nWhat is the translation of Sankalpa?\\n\\nClick here to find out!\\n\\nFrom Sanskrit --> English!\\n\\nSankalpa is a Sanskrit word. \"San\" means a connection to our highest self and \"kalpa\" means vow or promise. So it literally means a promise to yourself!\\n\\nTo find my Sankalpa, I use two methods. Sometimes I scan my body and my emotions and see what I come up with. If I notice that my jaw is really tight or my stomach feels anxious, I might state “I have peace within my body.” \\n\\nThe other method I use is to imagine what my perfect life would be like. How do I feel? What do I think about? What happens in the morning? What is the best part of that day? And then I use that to craft a short statement. For example, “I have time to enjoy things.”\\n\\nOnce you have decided your Sankalpa, you say it a few times in the beginning of the session. \\n\\nYou do not fall asleep in Yoga Nidra\\n\\nIt happens sometimes! And if it does, just go with it. Your body is the expert and might need sleep more than Yoga Nidra that day.\\n\\nI once heard it described as the “knife’s edge of sleep.” In Yoga Nidra, your body is asleep but your mind is not. This is called the hypnagogic starte, but no need to geek out. \\n\\nWith your body asleep, much of the brain power normally used to control the body is reduced. This lets you to get to the source of your sleep issues: YOUR MIND.\\n\\n \\n\\nThe Five Steps of Yoga Nidra\\n\\nAfter an initial relaxation and stating your Sankalpa, your teacher guides you through five stages. These five stages generally align with the Koshas. The Koshas, according to ancient Yoga texts, are the “sheaths of being”. The Yoga Nidra sequence addresses each of these, moving from the outermost physical layer to the most central self (called the “Atman” in Sanskrit). \\n\\nWant the hard science behind this?\\n\\nClick here!\\n\\nScience Rocks!\\n\\nYoga Nidra changes the pace of brain waves while also releasing hormones that relax blood vessels, initiate digestion and other parasympathetic nervous system activities.From a psychological perspective, this journey can be considered explorations through the ego to the self, observing inner reactions with an unbiased perspective.\\n\\nThis is why Yoga Nidra begins with the sequence of naming body parts. This allows your mind to spend energy and focus on the physical body. The particular sequence of body parts is very important and done in a similar fashion each and every time. By the end of this sequence, the mind can release it’s hold of the body and begin to focus on something else. In turn, the muscles of the body soften and release any holding or tension. \\n\\nThe next three stages address the breath, then the energy within your body, then moves to your senses. This part of the practice balances the way you feel emotionally and physically. \\n\\nThen you can begin the deep work of Yoga Nidra.\\n\\nWhile in this deeply relaxed state, you can begin to release some of those nasty patterns that keep us awake, keep us stressed, and keep us unhealthy. In Yoga, we call these \"Samskara\". Samskara are the mental and emotional habits or loops we get stuck in. Our brains love autopilot. Autopilot is why we can continually learn new things without forgetting the old. But sometimes, autopilot keeps us stuck.\\n\\nIsn't this the same thing as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?\\n\\nNope! But it's close. Click here to learn more.\\n\\nIt's super close though!\\n\\nCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing schemas, sometimes called assumptions or core beliefs. Schemas are automatic thought patterns that have negative effects. If every time, you make a mistake you think “I’m so dumb” that’s a (very basic) example of a schema. Samskaras are almost identical to this but they tend to be deeper and difficult to articulate.\\n\\nFor example, my insomnia wheels were turning at the thought of things I’d say at meetings, concerns over etiquette and competency. My Yoga Nidra practice began peeling back the layers about WHY I thought these things. Yoga Nidra helped me face one of my Samskaras. \\n\\nThis is the real power of Yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra can help you rewire things that are no longer serving you. Yoga Nidra can help you be a better person - to yourself.\\n\\nFor this part of Yoga Nidra to be effective, you NEED a trained and experienced teacher. It's even better when you're seeing the same teacher and they know you well.\\n\\nAt the end of the practice, you revisit your Sankalpa and your teacher skillfully guides you back to an awake state. Your body and mind energized - but relaxed. A truly amazing feeling. From here you can go on with your day, or as I did that first night, find your way to bed for a wonderful satisfying sleep.\\n"},"createdAt":"2020-02-14T00:00:00+00:00","author":null,"category":["anxiety","meditation"]},{"title":"Breath as a messenger","coverUrl":"nitika-pro.jpg","slug":"breath-as-a-messenger","content":{"text":"When I manage to successfully draw my awareness to my breath and its effect on my body, I feel one with it. I am my breath.\\n\\nDuring my second 10-day \\nVipassana\\n meditation retreat, I stayed back one day to ask the teacher about pain. I felt intense pain in my back/ thigh/ ankle. Just as the meditation method, she said pain is also a sensation - how can I try to maintain equanimity with it? Can I try to stay with the pain, really focus on it? Does it have a texture? Does it have a radius? An epicentre? Sure enough, in my practice thereafter, initially it felt as though the more I focused on the pain, the worse it got… until it didn’t. Something happened, the pain started to dissipate, almost as if just sending my awareness and my breath there gave it the attention it needed then its message was delivered. It could now calm down and just be. \\n\\n\\nYoga\\n is similar in that sense. Although, it’s important to know the difference between discomfort (and how to work with it) and pain (and how to avoid hurting your body). How can you make the tiny muscles in your foot to relax completely when you can’t even feel them? With your breath and awareness of course. A lot can happen just by sending these two messengers there. They reassure and allow relaxation. Part of this practice is getting off auto-pilot. We’re not aware of harmful habits and thought patterns that affect us. This practice is about tuning in and becoming aware of patterns. \\n\\nTen years ago, I was looking for a fitness activity to support my physical development so that I could focus on my dance training. I tried the gym but felt that its benefits were only temporary- I felt myself deflate like a balloon every time I stopped using machines to exercise my muscles. I had also started having regular backaches. I knew I needed something more holistic. Something that wasn’t just temporary and for the external physicality. I went for my first \\nYoga class\\n (it was also the first time I meditated) and I remember feeling completely different at the end of the session. Something had shifted. I felt great- mentally and physically. I was hooked!\\n\\nOver the years, the physical practice was an entryway to something deeper - simply being in the present moment. Meditation has helped deepen this practice. This awareness practice continues to be a catalyst in my personal growth journey. My yoga practice grounds me in my body, the only reality I really have. Everything I experience is through this body. Learning to listen to it and respect it has been a long but rewarding journey. \\n\\n2018 was a year of big changes for me, I quit my corporate job and finally decided to live my true calling- working with the body. I pursued my Teacher Training with an amazing teacher who could not stress enough on the importance of safe practice. I grant her the credit for my strong foundation in the importance of accurate cueing and body awareness.\\n\\nI feel immensely lucky to be able to offer this gift to others now. I hope to help more people stay in touch with their body through breath and mindfulness. \\n"},"createdAt":"2020-02-06T00:00:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Nikita","pictureUrl":"nitika-pro.jpg","teacherMytSlug":"nikita-2"},"category":["fitness","meditation"]},{"title":"Try it! Humming Bee Breath (Bhramari Pranamaya)","coverUrl":"matthew-t-rader-ohygdzgWbr4-unsplash.jpg","slug":"try-it-humming-bee-breath-bhramari-pranamaya","content":{"text":"Think of how your mind feels when you've got too much going on . . . you're trying to manage too many things . . .you're stressed or you're tired.  Now, imagine that feeling has a sound. Maybe, for you, it would have a low-grade or a high-pitched hum - like a car in overdrive.  Do you know what I mean? \\n\\nWhen our thoughts are bustling and just moving non-stop, they create chatter in the mind. These thoughts can drain us even more or put us into freeze mode. \\n\\nA great rule of thumb is to match like-with-like. And that is how this breathing technique works. You make a low-grade humming sound during your exhale. Not only does this sound create a vibration in your jaw and temples (which is soothing!), it also creates a steady backdrop for your mind. Your mind can relax and calm down with this sound and vibration. \\n\\nBut enough reading - this is definitely one of those techniques you just have to try to really understand it. \\n\\n\\n\\nBhramari Pranamaya\\n\\n\\nFind the right hum that makes you feel better. Traditionally, this technique calls for a loud hum, but feel free to find the right sound and frequency for you. \\n\\nFind a comfortable seat. Take a moment to feel your bones settle and your joints relax. \\nBring a little straightness into the spine but keep the shoulders relaxed. \\nYou may close your eyes, or soften your gaze. \\nDraw your breath in your nose and exhale out of your mouth once or twice.\\nTake a deep inhale. Keeping the mouth closed, exhale smoothly through the nose while making a humming sound, like a bee, in the back of your throat. \\nRepeat this at least 5 times. \\n\\nThen, most importantly, check in with your body and mind directly afterwards. Take about a minute noticing if the mind feels different, the nose or the throat. Even check in with your shoulders and ears. \\n\\nTo amplify the vibrations and the internal experience, you may close your ear by placing your index finger on the cartilage flap and pressing it against the opening of your ear. \\n\\nAdditional Benefits of Humming Bee Breath\\n\\nAs with most things Yoga, the benefits of this \\npranamaya\\n are far-reaching. Here are just a few: \\n\\nHelps migraines\\nRelaxes the mind and body for sleep\\nReduces tension in the jaw\\nLowers blood pressure\\nCreates grounding in the mind\\n"},"createdAt":"2020-01-10T00:00:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Jitendra","pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png","teacherMytSlug":null},"category":["therapy","meditation"]},{"title":"5 Easy Tips for Bone-Deep Sleep Tonight","coverUrl":"5-easy-tips-4.jpg","slug":"5-easy-sleep-tips-for-bone-deep-sleep-tonight","content":{"text":"Does winter kick your butt? Shorter days hit us really hard - making us feel sleepy all the time. We can’t make the days longer, but here are some tips to get that bone-deep sleep and wake up refreshed. \\n\\nWe’ve crafted this mini-routine below to help you get started.\\n\\nHave a snack\\nKeep the snack small and not too sweet. Maybe a piece of toast or a handful of nuts. Being even a little hungry can keep you up. \\n\\nTry a mini yoga sequence before bed\\nIf you can’t schedule a night-time \\nyoga session \\nwith your teacher, this sequence will do in a pinch. \\n\\nForward Fold\\n\\n\\n\\nSide Bend\\n\\n\\n\\nSeated Twist\\n\\n\\nChild's Pose\\n\\n\\nLegs Up The Wall\\n\\n\\n\\nFind your breathFind a comfortable position in bed. Count your breaths: 1 for the inhale and 2 for the exhale. Do this for at least a minute or two, trying to keep your focus on the breath.  \\n\\n\\nYoga pose\\n in bedYou don’t need a mat for yoga! Try reclined butterfly with your hands on your belly or heart. Not into that pose? Ask your teacher for some personalized suggestions.\\n\\nBody scan \\nmeditation\\n begin at the top of your head, moving down to the toes. Name each part of your body, taking one breath. For example, you can start by thinking “Top of the head, back of the head, forehead, eyebrows, nose” and so on. \\n\\nGood luck and always feel free to drop us a line to let us know how it goes!\\n"},"createdAt":"2019-12-04T00:00:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Will","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg","teacherMytSlug":"will-1"},"category":["meditation"]}],"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":"meditation","pageTitle":"Meditation","schema_category":"Meditation"}