How to Do a Powerful Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation

{"slug":"trataka-candlelight-meditation","recentPosts":[{"id":"cldixctfr0tox09k7rfoglac8","slug":"yoga-for-bodybuilders","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"10 Effective Yoga Poses for Bodybuilders (Complete Guide)","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga for bodybuilders can help you build more muscle, reduce your chances of injury, improve flexibility and mobility, and lower inflammation.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn the best poses for bodybuilders to improve overall physical health.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-30T14:47:12.900063+00:00","coverUrl":"b8qfyhfhved6qjzxviyd.jpg","content":{"text":"If you’re a bodybuilder, or competitive weightlifter, chances are yoga is not part of your overall fitness routine. After all, yogis are known for long, lean muscles — which is the opposite of what bodybuilders work so hard to create. But contrary to popular belief, incorporating yoga into your weight lifting routine won’t detract from your gains, and it will compliment your efforts in the gym.\\n\\nWhy Bodybuilders Need Yoga\\n\\nIntense weight lifting can put enormous stress on your joints, increasing your risk for injury and inflammation. By increasing your flexibility, lowering inflammation, and improving mobility in your joints, you can counteract any negative effects for better health. Yoga can also prevent you from developing arthritis that could potentially be caused by years of repetitive movement, and reduce any stiffness you might feel after a heavy day at the gym.\\nAlong with improving your range of motion and overall flexibility, yoga can also help improve your posture. From a competition perspective, this can imprtove your performance and potentially level up your chances of doing well.\n\\nYoga can help add to your bodybuilding efforts by toning and strengthening smaller muscle groups that may get neglected through classic weight lifting routines. Yoga postures isolate those minor muscle groups, giving your whole body the workout you never knew you needed. A regular yoga practice can also improve your balance — which will make you more stable and less prone to injury.\n\\nPracticing Yoga for Bodybuilding\\n\n\\nBefore you get started with your own yoga practice, there are a few things you should consider. There are many styles of yoga to choose from, and if you’re just starting out it’s important to start slow at a beginner level. When your body is already a fine-tuned machine, that may be hard to hear. But yoga involves holding postures with very specific alignment — practicing incorrectly can actually cause injury.\\nStart by working with a certified yoga instructor. At \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n, you can enroll in online courses from the comfort of your very own home. You can also sign up for private lessons where your instructor can design your course to cater to your unique needs.\n\\nWhile practicing yoga, it’s also important to pay attention to how your body feels. This should come easy to most bodybuilders, who already have a high degree of body awareness. If a yoga pose causes pain or discomfort, take a break from the posture or use a modification like a yoga block, strap, bolster, or blanket. Developing increased flexibility takes time, and it’s wise to take it easy and slow.\\n\n\\n10 Effective Yoga Poses for Bodybuilders -\\n\n\\nYou can get started with your yoga practice by incorporating the following 10 poses into your weekly workout schedule. Try performing these yoga stretches after your weight lifting routine, or on rest days in-between.\n\\n1. Downward Facing Dog Pose\\n\\n\\nThis classic primary pose is essential to any yoga routine, and there’s a reason why — it efficiently stretches your torso, hamstrings, calves, and lower back, while strengthening your shoulders.\\n\\nWith your hands and knees on the floor, push your hips upward until you are balancing on your hands and feet, and your body resembles an inverted “v” shape. Reach your heels toward the floor, stretching your hamstrings and activating your thighs. Keep your head between your arms, lengthening your side-body as you stretch. Stay here for several breaths.\\n\n\\n2. Low Lunge Pose\n\\n\\nThere’s a chance you’ve already been practicing this pose before performing squats, since it opens up your hips and stretches your glutes.\n\\nFrom Downward Dog, you can transition into Low Lunge by bringing your left foot forward and bending your left leg at the knee. With your right leg behind you, gently kneel on your right knee. Inhale as you reach your arms up over your head, parallel with your ears. Expand your chest, lengthen your spine, keep your chin level and your gaze focused forward in front of you. Repeat on the other side.\\n\n\\n3. Standing Forward Fold Pose\\n\\n\\n\n\\nThis pose also stretches your lower back, hamstrings, and calves — and it’s a great posture for lowering your blood pressure and encouraging your body to relax.\\n\\nStand at the front of your mat, feet hip distance apart. Exhale and bend forward from the waist, with your knees slightly bent and touching your hands to the floor in front of your feet. Inhale and exhale, allowing your torso to extend without rounding your back. Lengthen and soften your neck, and let the muscles of your thighs and lower back open and release any built-up tension. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\n\\n4. Cat-Cow Pose\\n\\n\\nWhile this yoga move may seem incredibly simple, it’s a staple for increasing flexibility in and around your spine, torso, neck, and lower back.\\n\\nStart in a tabletop position with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your spine. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n\n\\n5. Cobra Pose\\n\\n\\nAfter an intense ab workout, Cobra pose is your best friend. This subtle backbend stretches the abdominal muscles to reduce stiffness, soreness, and decrease your body’s inflammatory response.\\n\\nStart by laying down on the floor on your stomach with your legs straight and your arms folded under your head. Place your palms on the mat parallel to your chest. Slightly lift your head off the mat, keeping your head and back aligned, and press your thighs together. Now, steadily pull your elbows towards your rib cage keeping your hands underneath your shoulders. With a deep inhale, press your hands into the mat, curl your shoulders backward, and lift your upper body off the mat, arching your back. Hold this position for a few breaths and then rest.\\n\n\\n6. Bridge Pose\n\\n\\nYou can continue to stretch the muscles in your chest, neck, hips, and spine with Bridge pose. This posture also calms the body while stimulating your digestive organs for a more regulated metabolism.\n\\nStart by lying on your back with your knees bent. On your next exhale, tuck your chin and lift your hips, being careful not to allow your knees to splay outward. Interlace your fingers on the floor underneath you and lift your hips higher, while staying in the pose for 5-10 breaths.\n\\n\\n7. Plank\n\\n\\nThis is another pose you may already be familiar with. Plank pose builds strength in your core and lower back, and works to improve your balance and stability.\\n\\nLie face down on your mat, and using your palms to push up from the floor, lift your body until you are balanced on your palms and the toes of your feet. In this pose, your body should be positioned in a straight line, with your gaze directed at the floor in front of you. Hold for a few breaths, or for 30-60 seconds if you are feeling strong in this pose.\\n\n\\n8. Locust Pose\n\\n\\nSciatica pain is quite common among bodybuilders, since the sciatica nerve can easily become stressed when lifting heavy weights. Locust pose alleviates sciatica pain, increases strength, and stretches your abdominal muscles simultaneously.\n\\nLie face down on your mat, resting your forehead on your forearms and your legs stretched straight out behind you. With an inhale, extend your arms to your sides and lift your lower legs off the mat, keeping your upper legs (thighs and core) flat on the mat. Engage your glutes and press both of your legs together while holding them up. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths.\n\\n9. Boat Pose\\n\\n\\nFor increased core strength, balance, and overall stability, there are few better poses to perform on a regular basis than Boat pose. Use this posture to compliment your ab workout.\\n\\nStart by sitting on your yoga mat with your legs stretched out in front of you and your arms at your sides. Lean back slightly so that your weight is evenly balanced on your sitting bones. Inhale, engage your core, and as you exhale lift both your legs to a 45 degree angle, and extend your arms straight out alongside your legs. If this pose feels too difficult, try bending your knees and bringing your hands behind your knees for support. Keep your spine long and your core engaged as you hold this pose for 30-45 seconds.\n\\n10. Corpse Pose\\n\\n\\nIf you’re asking what could be gained by simply lying down flat on your back and remaining still for several minutes, the answer might surprise you. Corpse pose is one of the most important postures in yoga, since it gives your body an opportunity to integrate all of your stretching and strengthening work. It also calms the mind and body, reduces stress responses, lowers your blood pressure, and reduces inflammation.\\n\\nSit on your yoga mat and lower your body to the floor, relaxing your legs and letting your arms rest on the floor at your sides, palms up. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Relax the muscles in your face and neck, and visualize every part of your body letting go of all tension. Hold this pose for 5-7 minutes.\\n"},"category":["fitness"]},{"id":"cldebisqj8am10bk2riasiyyy","slug":"self-love-yoga-event","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Self Love Yoga & Meditation Event: Empower Yourself This Valentine’s Day","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Empower yourself this Valentine's Day with our Self Love Yoga & Meditation Event. Find inner peace and self-acceptance through yoga and meditation practices","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-27T09:24:55.671424+00:00","coverUrl":"rvpz4az7wyk8pdo4fvyg.png","content":{"text":"Announcing our free Self Love Event February 13-14!\\n\n\\nEmbrace yourself and practice self love this Valentine’s Day and every day with the help of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga teachers.\\n\\nYoga has been a powerful tool for self-improvement and personal growth for centuries, and self-love yoga is no exception. Unfortunately, many of us struggle with self-doubt, self-criticism, and negative self-talk. Self-love yoga can help to change that by promoting self-acceptance and self-compassion.\\nThis special yoga and meditation event\\n focuses on building self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-compassion through a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices.\\nSelf-love is the foundation of all healthy relationships, including the relationship with ourselves. Without self-love, we cannot truly love and accept others!\\n\n\\n\\nHow to join the Yoga for Self Love Event:\\n\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\n\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nMake this event the start of something wonderful for your mental, emotional, and physical health! So you, too, can be happier, more self-confident, and more productive!\\n\\n\\nNurturing Relationships Through Self Love \\n\\nMonday, February 13 at 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST\\n\n\\nSelf love isn’t selfish! It’s critical to creating deeper, more meaningful relationships and becoming the best version of yourself you can be! Join us in this discussion based self love class with a guided meditation and walk away prioritizing your health and happiness!\\n\n\\n\\nEmbrace Yourself: Balancing the Heart Chakra\\n\\nTuesday, February 14 at 5 pm PST/ 8 pm EST\\n\\nReady to love yourself (and others) more and better? Need more compassion and kindness in your life? Join this yoga for self-love class designed to open your heart chakra and help you walk away feeling empowered to have more meaningful relationships and showing more love\n\\nThis special event will offer a unique opportunity to nurture yourself and discover the power of self-love.  Don't miss out on this transformative experience. Sign up today and awaken your inner strength and self-love.\\nAnd don’t forget to check out other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\n\n\\n\\nAnnelise Piers\\n\\n\\nShika Sood\\n\\n\\nSwati Dalvi\\n\\n\\nAbhishek Bodhi\\n\\n\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\n\\nRohan Shroff\\n\n\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Self Love Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":["myYogaTeacher"]},{"id":"clda2r496083c0ak7xfyb3sqr","slug":"beginners-guide-to-shakti-yoga","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What is Shakti Yoga? Beginner’s Guide to Shakti Yoga","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Shakti yoga is an energizing, dynamic yoga routine that awakens your inner feminine power for greater vitality, awareness, and focus.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn about Shakti yoga, and what you can expect from a typical class.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-24T10:08:22.599414+00:00","coverUrl":"j6pbujfzshx7tpqftipc.jpg","content":{"text":"Maybe you’ve seen it offered at your local yoga studio or online, but you haven’t tried it because you’re not quite sure what it is. Shakti yoga, or Shakti yoga flow, is a dynamic, energizing form of yoga that isn’t as commonly known as other types of yoga — like Kundalini, Vinyasa, Flow, or Power yoga.\\nIt can be intimidating to learn a new kind of yoga you’re unfamiliar with, but if you’ve never given Shakti yoga a try, we recommend giving it a chance. Shakti yoga not only increases your energy levels, but it also improves your awareness, focus, and awakens your inner god or goddess. We’ve put together a beginner’s guide to help you know what to expect from your first class, and the benefits that come from this powerful practice. \n\\nOrigin of Shakti Yoga\\n\\nThe root of Shakti yoga lies in Hinduism, where Shakti is revered as a female goddess that embodies divine feminine power, known as The Great Divine Mother. We can think of Shakti as a goddess, but to gain a deeper understanding of the power of Shakti, it’s helpful to consider her as an essence that lives inside all of us — regardless of our gender identity. \n\\nShakti is formless and yet can take on any form — different goddesses, energies and personalities — and she can activate other Hindu gods. Think of Shakti as a limitless, boundless energy that can be called upon through mantras, chants, breath work, meditations, and yogic movement. Her energy lives coiled at the base of your spine, and you can gain access to it through Shakti yoga flow.\\n\\nWhat is Shakti Yoga?\\n\\nParticipating in Shakti yoga can awaken this energy and move it up your spine, channeling it through your chakras. Like a Vinyasa class, Shakti yoga utilizes dynamic, flowing movement in a yogic dance that facilitates the build-up of your Shakti energy and releases it throughout your chakras and your body.\\nWhile Shakti yoga classes may vary depending on your instructor and the structure of the class, generally you can expect flowing movement that is rooted in spirituality and connected to your breath. Shakti yoga also commonly utilizes specific chants designed to encourage the movement of this powerful energy flow. \\n\\nWhat are the Benefits of Shakti Yoga?\\n\\nSo, how does the channeling and release of Shakti energy benefit you as the practitioner? There are many ways in which Shakti yoga can bring a welcome dose of feminine vitality to your daily life. \n\\nOn a spiritual level, when you take a Shakti yoga class, you can expect to come away with an increased felt sense of vibrancy in your being. Your consciousness will be enlivened and you’ll feel a greater connection with your body, your spirit, and all living things.\n\\nShakti yoga also increases your energy reserves. If you’ve been feeling tired, depressed, and like your internal battery is running low, a Shakti yoga session can animate you physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can improve your circulation, recharge your nervous system, build strength and flexibility, and increase your sense of self-awareness. \n\\nSince the goal of Shakti yoga is to awaken this powerful energy, you may come away feeling like the goddess herself, as you’ve taken on her all-encompassing and healing spirit within your own body. If this sounds amazing, that’s because it is — Shakti energy can make you feel as if you are buzzing with vitality and like you’re glowing with endless light.\n\\nShakti Yoga Routine\\n\\nA typical Shakti yoga session utilizes the same kinds of Hatha yoga poses you’d find in a Vinyasa or Power yoga class. Since this type of yoga is meant to invigorate your body and soul, expect standing and strength building poses that may be somewhat challenging. Asanas like Warrior I, II and III, Dancer’s pose, Sun Salutations, Plank, Downward-Facing Dog and Upward Facing Dog are a few common poses in most Shakti yoga classes.\\nEach pose will be linked together with dynamic movement in conjunction with your breath. While performing Shakti yoga, continuous chanting — or mantras — harnesses your kundalini energy and channels it up your spine and through your chakras. If you already have experience practicing Hatha yoga, the poses will feel familiar to you, and if you’ve been to a Vinyasa or Flow yoga class, the Shakti movement will provide a similar experience. Don’t worry if you stumble a bit with some of the chants — as you repeat them throughout the class, you’ll become accustomed to the Sanskrit words, even if they feel a little foreign at first.\n\\n5 Beginner Shakti Yoga Poses :\\n\\nYou don’t have to wait for the next Shakti class to show up on your yoga studio’s schedule. You can start practicing this divine form of yoga at home by performing the poses below in a flowing manner.\\n\\n1. Sun Salutation Pose\n\\n\\nStart by standing at the top of your mat in Mountain pose with your hands in prayer position. Inhale deeply and sweep your arms above your head into Upward Salute. Exhale and fold forward into Standing Forward Bend. Inhale and lengthen your spine as you shift into Extended Forward Fold. Exhale, bend your knees, step backward with your right leg to perform a lunge. \\nInhale, plant your palms on the mat, and step your left leg back to join your right leg in High Plank pose. Exhale and sink into Low Plank, or Chaturanga Dandansana. You can modify this to Four-Limbed Staff pose if needed. Inhale and dynamically flow into Upward Facing Dog. On your next exhale, lift your hips into Downward Facing Dog. \n\\nInhale and step your right foot forward to perform a lunge on the opposite side. As you exhale, step forward into Standing Forward Fold. Return to Mountain pose by inhaling and rolling yourself upward to standing position, one vertebrae at a time. Press your palms together in prayer position to finish the sequence. Repeat at least 2 more times. \n\\n2. Dancer’s Pose\n\\n\\nStand in the middle of your mat with your weight evenly balanced on both feet. Shift your weight onto your left foot, while bending your right knee and grabbing your right foot with your right hand. Lift your left arm up toward the ceiling. Bend at your waist and slowly lean forward, lifting your right leg and engaging your core. For better balance, keep your gaze on a fixed point in front of you. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then repeat on the other side.\n\\n3. Warrior I Pose\\n\\n\\nStart in Downward Facing Dog and step your right foot forward. Keep your toes angled toward the front of the mat, and your front leg knee bent at 90 degrees, while strongly engaging your back leg. Your back foot should be slightly angled. Inhale and bring your arms to either prayer position, or in an Upward Salute position above your head. Extend the front side of your body allowing your back to softly bend. Stay here for five to ten breaths.\n\\n4. Warrior II Pose\\n\\n\\nStep your right foot forward on the mat with your toes pointed forward and your right knee bent. You left foot will stay behind you, parallel to the mat. Keep your hips squared and arms stretched over your front and rear legs, distributing your weight evenly between both legs. Stay in this pose for 5-6 breaths.\n\\n5. Warrior III Pose\\n\\n\\nStart in Mountain pose, with your feet hip distance apart. Step your left foot back, turned at a 45 degree angle, and bend your right knee, keeping your right foot pointing forward at a 90 degree angle. Your torso and pelvis should be squared with the front of your mat. Shift your weight to your right (front) foot, lifting your left (back) leg off the ground, extending it straight back behind you, and straightening your right leg. \\nKeep your standing knee slightly bent and avoid locking it. Extend your arms forward above your head, so that your entire body is positioned in a straight line, parallel to the floor. Engage your core, extend your body from your fingertips to the toes of your lifted foot, and focus your gaze on the floor in front of you. Hold for a few breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n\n\\n2 Powerful Shakti Yoga Mantras :\\n\\nTo deepen your Shakti yoga practice, try incorporating mantras with your routine. Even if you don’t know the meaning of every word, the sounds and syllables are designed to awaken your Shakti energy. Repeat as often as you can during your practice.\n\\n1. Adi Shakti Mantra\\n\\nAdi shakti, adi shakti, adi shakti, namo namo\\nSarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, namo namo\\nPritham bhagvati, pritham bhagvati, pritham bhagvati, namo namo\\nKundalini mata Shakti, mata Shakti, namo namo\\n\n\\nTranslation:\\n\n\\nI bow to the primal power\\nI bow to the all-encompassing power\\nI bow to the creative power at the beginning\\nI bow to the divine mother of all peace\\n\n\\n2. Maha Shakti Mantra\\n\\nYa devi sarva bhuteshu\\nShakti rupena samsthita\\nNamastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaha\\nYa devi sarva bhuteshu\\nChetanetyabhidhiyate\\nNamastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaha\n\\nTranslation:\\n\n\\nOh Goddess, who lives within everything in the form of power,\\nSalutations to you, salutations to you, salutations to you\\nOh Goddess, whom we name with the word awareness,\\nSalutations to you, salutations to you."},"category":[]},{"id":"clczdmysytyzn0ak616x0ikhn","slug":"yoga-for-fitness-event","author":null,"title":"Join the Yoga Movement: Free MyYogaTeacher Yoga for Fitness Event for Everyone!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Join MyYogaTeacher's new free Yoga for Fitness Event starting soon and get fit faster with yoga!","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":["Fitness","HathaYoga","Ashtanga","Yoga","Vinyasa","Hatha"],"createdAt":"2023-01-16T22:27:36.746406+00:00","coverUrl":"fegu2jin0qfhgaefpml6.png","content":{"text":"Are you ready to get fit, flexible, and unleash your inner radiance?! Don’t miss our 3-day FREE Yoga for Fitness Event January 29-31!\\nYoga is a great way to improve your flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as reducing stress and promoting relaxation. This event will feature a variety of yoga styles and levels to suit everyone from beginners to experienced yogis.\\nOur authentic, expert yoga instructors from India will guide you each day through sessions focused on improving your physical fitness and overall well-being. Plus, the even is completely free, so there’s no excuse not to come give it a try!\\nHow to join the Yoga for Fitness Event:\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\nDiscover all the best ways yoga can help you get fit fast. So you can live your life to the fullest and move with more ease.\\nWe've put together an entire schedule of yoga for fitness classes dedicated to helping you relax and sleep better.\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and exciting event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\\n\\n Hatha Yoga for Physical Fitness with Ankit\\n\\nSunday, January 29 at 6:00 am PST/ 9:00 am EST\\n\\n\\nHatha yoga is focused on the physical practice of yoga and is perfect for helping you build strength, get fit, and improve flexibility. Bonus? You’ll feel more relaxed and rejuvenated after this hatha yoga class! Join us for asanas, Sun Salutations, and other strength building poses!\\n\\nFind Fitness in Flow: Vinyasa Yoga with Monica\\n\\nMonday,  January 30 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\n\\nReady to get fit while finding your flow? The fluid movement of this challenging vinyasa yoga class is perfect for building up a sweat, improving flexibility, and building strength, making it a perfect class for overall fitness! Join us!\\n\\nAshtanga Yoga for Increased Fitness with Sujit\\n\\nMonday, January 31 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\n\\nDo you like structure in your yoga class? Need a workout focused on building strength through muscle training? This is for you! Join the ashtanga yoga class designed to help you get fitter and stronger faster!\\nWhether you're looking to improve your physical fitness, reduce stress, or simply try something new, our free yoga for fitness event is the perfect opportunity. So come and join us, and discover the many benefits of yoga for yourself!\\nExperience getting fit in a way that works for you and \\nwith\\n you! We’re here to support you on your journey now \\nand\\n when the event is over!\\nSo join us for this free event! And don’t forget to check out other fitness related yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n\\n\\nShweta Jain\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nMonica Agarwal\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nArchana\\n \\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s Yoga for Fitness Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"clct2nkfx04xw0bk3fr4lrcjp","slug":"yoga-poses-for-osteoporosis","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"8 Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis: Maintaining Bone Health","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga can prevent and in some cases reverse osteoporosis and osteopenia by stretching and strengthening muscle tissue to rebuild and maintain bone density.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to prevent osteoporosis with a few simple yoga poses.","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-01-12T12:33:31.959847+00:00","coverUrl":"pmkhkhuxo5s9dq2qkevm.jpg","content":{"text":"Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis with Yoga\\n\n\\nIf you suffer from the painful symptoms of osteoporosis, or if you are at risk of developing this limiting disease, there is help (and health) in starting your own regular yoga routine. In fact, doctors are now prescribing yoga as treatment and prevention for osteoporosis and osteopenia, making it an important part of maintaining physical health and wellness throughout your 50s and 60s — and beyond.\\n\\nOsteoporosis and osteopenia are conditions that commonly emerge throughout our later years, and if left untreated they can affect your mobility, bone density, and even your ability to remain self-sufficient. These conditions cause bones to be come weak and brittle, and over time more vulnerable to fractures and even breakage. \\n\\nBut a recent\\n \\n2016 study\\n discovered that yoga can be used in conjunction with other treatments to prevent the loss of bone density and in some cases reverse early onset of osteoporosis. Plus, as an added benefit, yoga is also a low-cost and low-risk treatment option, meaning there is little to lose by giving it a try.\\n\\nHow Yoga Can Treat Osteoporosis\\nThe process by which yoga treats and prevents osteoporosis is simple — through stretching and strengthening your muscle tissue you can build bone density and prevent fractures. Yoga postures exert subtle force upon your bones, prompting them to build up density and become stronger.\\n\\nYoga also improves your balance, which can help prevent falls — which may result in fractures or breakage. Along with building strength and flexibility, yoga also increases your mobility, endurance, and energy levels, helping you stay active no matter your age.\\n\\nIt should be noted that yoga may not cure osteoporosis on its own, and for some advanced cases it may not be effective in reversing this disease. Results vary on an individual basis, depending on your age, bone density, and other factors such as weight and co-existing conditions\\n\\nPracticing Yoga for Osteoporosis\\nIf you’re thinking of starting your own yoga regimen to prevent or reverse osteoporosis, there are a few things you should know. It’s important to first consult your doctor before practicing yoga for osteoporosis or osteopenia, to find out if there are any specific precautions you should be taking and whether or not it’s a safe activity for you. \n\\nPatients with advanced osteoporosis who have suffered fractures, breaks, or acute bone loss may need to avoid practicing yoga. If you’ve recently undergone surgery or if you’re still healing from an injury, you should wait until you’ve fully recovered before getting started.\n\\nMost importantly, you should take care to listen to your body when practicing yoga for osteoporosis. If a particular yoga pose causes pain or strain on your bones or joints, stop for a moment and take a break. Or, try using a modification like a bolster, block, or yoga blanket if applicable.\\n\\nIn their 2016 study, scientists found that the best results for using yoga as treatment for osteoporosis came from regular practice. Try performing yoga poses at least 3-4 times per week, or daily if you can. The more regularly you practice, the more bone density you’ll build, and the more strength and balance you’ll develop in your body.\\n\\n8 Yoga Poses for Osteoporosis:\\nIf you’ve been cleared by your doctor to practice yoga and you’re ready to get started, there are some simple yoga poses you can do at home to help prevent osteoporosis. You can also try taking a yoga class specifically designed for patients with osteoporosis. Here at\\n \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n, certified instructors can help you stay safe and injury free while giving you the independence to practice yoga in the comfort of your home.\\nReady to get started? \\nFollow the steps below to begin your own personal yoga journey.\\n\\n1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)\\n\\nThe foundation of all balance poses, Mountain pose helps you find stability and improve your posture.\\nStart by standing at the front of your mat. Keep your feet hip distance apart, and you can rest your arms at your sides or bring your hands together in prayer formation. Inhale and feel your chest opening and your collar bones widening as you focus on balancing your weight proportionally on both of your feet. Gaze straight forward and maintain this pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n \\n2. Tree Pose (Vrksasana)\\n\\nFrom Mountain pose, you’ll begin to transition into Tree pose to further improve your balance and stability.\\nBring your awareness to your left foot and firmly ground it into the mat. Begin to shift your body weight to your left foot, while gently lifting your right foot. Depending on your ability to balance, you can place the sole of your right foot on your left calf or thigh. As you do this, be sure to keep your pelvis aligned, your spine straight, and your gaze focused forward. Give yourself a moment to steady yourself, and then, if you feel comfortable, press your hands together in prayer formation. Hold for 5-6 deep breaths and repeat on the other side, then return to Mountain pose.\\n \\n3. Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana 2)\\n\\nThis standing pose also improves your balance and builds strength in your legs and core. If you have trouble balancing and wish to modify this pose, try practicing it next to a wall or with a chair.\\nMove to the back portion of your mat and step your right foot forward. Your right toes should be pointed forward and your left (back) foot should be kept parallel with your mat. Bend your right knee at 90 degrees, taking care not to overextend. Your right knee should not move forward past your toes. With your hips evenly squared, stretch your arms out to both sides, so that your right arm extended out in front of you and your left arm behind you. Open your chest and focus on activating your legs so that you are grounded into your mat. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n4. Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)\\n\\nThis pose also requires strength and balance, and can be modified by performing it next to a wall. You can also place a block next to your front foot for easier hand positioning. \\nJust like with Warrior II, step your right foot forward for Triangle pose, keeping your left (back) foot parallel with your mat. Inhale and stretch out both your arms the same as in Warrior II, but keep your right leg straight with a slight, soft bend in your knee. As you exhale, hinge at your hip  and bend forward, placing your right fingertips on the floor, or you can place your hand on the block positioned next to your right foot. Turn your upper body and reach your left hand toward the ceiling, and either turn your head to gaze up at your hand, or keep your eyes focused straight ahead. Hold for 3-5 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n \\n5. Cat-Cow Pose (Chakravakasana)\\n\\nThis pose is excellent for increasing mobility in your spine and hips.\\nMove to a tabletop position on your mat, with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. Feel the stretch in your chest and abdomen. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n \\n6. Locust Pose (Shalabhasana)\\n\\nLike Cat-Cow, Locust improves your spinal mobility with a soft backbend, but in this pose you will also be working your core muscles, glutes, and shoulders.\\nFrom Cat-Cow, lower yourself onto the mat so that you are lying face down on your stomach with your legs extended straight and your arms at your sides. On your inhale, strengthen your core and lift your head, legs and arms at the same time, balancing your body on your lower abdomen, pelvis and upper legs. Engage your glutes and press both of your legs together while holding them up. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths, and then relax back onto your mat.\\n \\n7. Child’s Pose (Balasana)\\n\\nAfter the strengthening work of Locust pose, give your body a rest with Child’s pose\\nAfter Locust you’ve likely returned to lying face down on your mat. Press your palms and knees into the floor as if you were rising back into tabletop position, but this time bring your hips back so that your buttocks are resting on your heels, and your big toes are touching each other. Extend your arms forward so that your palms are resting on the mat in front of you, and bring your forehead to the mat. Breathe gently and allow your body to fully sink into this pose, supported by the floor. Hold for 5-6 minutes.\\n \\n8. Corpse Pose (Savasana)\\n\\nAfter practicing the above stretching and strengthening poses, it’s important to let your body fully digest the movement by resting in Corpse pose. \\nCome to a seated position on your mat. Slowly lower your body to the floor, so that you are lying flat on your back with your legs extended straight and your arms at your sides, palms facing up. Close your eyes and bring your focus inward. Bring your awareness to your body and check in with each and every body part, noticing if you feel any tension and allowing yourself to fully relax. Soften your face, neck, and shoulders, and let yourself melt into your mat while visualizing any tension leaving your body. Rest in this post for 5-7 minutes."},"category":["pain_management"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"cl3uq4n3p8gy40bkb6ekztafo","slug":"yoga-for-neck-pain","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"5 Restorative Yin Yoga Poses for Neck and Shoulder Pain","createdAt":"2022-05-31T22:21:04.879358+00:00","coverUrl":"u92rlshwashhjwgeelb0.jpg","content":{"text":"You may hear a lot about yoga for back pain, yoga for joint pain, yoga for lots of different types of pain. That’s why we don’t want to leave out yoga for neck and shoulder pain!\\nYour cervical spine is the most fragile part of your skeletal system! Not only does it hold up your head (about 10-11 lbs!), it is also the least protected of any other part of your body. Think about it. If you’re in a car accident, your neck area is one of the primary areas of injury. \\nMany\\n types of accidents can cause injury to your cervical spine. Additionally, your shoulders are connected to your neck area. So injuries to neck muscles often cause pain and misalignment in your shoulders as well.\\nA yin yoga practice focused on your neck and shoulders is not only beneficial for pain relief from prior injuries, arthritis, or previous surgeries. Yin yoga is great for preventing pain and injury to the neck and shoulder area as well!\\nYin yoga alleviates tension in the muscles, helps correct poor posture, and increases flexibility and circulation in the neck and shoulder areas. \\nOne of our amazing yoga instructors, Supriya, even offers a Yoga for Neck and Shoulders class! Because here at MyYogaTeacher, we know that yoga heals! We 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\\nLet me talk to you about my top 5 yin yoga poses for neck and shoulder pain relief!\\n\\n\\n\n1. Standing forward bend\\nRolling down into standing forward bend, knees bent or straight (depending on your preference), release your head down so the crown of your head faces the ground. This pose is most effective for your neck and shoulders if you relax and sort of dangle and take 5-10 deep breaths. You may also choose to gently sway side to side.\\nThis isn’t traditionally a yin yoga pose because it’s not completely static, but it is restorative and helps stretch your neck, shoulders and back. If you want, you may roll back up to standing or mountain pose and repeat standing forward bend again.]\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Thread the needle\\nThis pose provides significant relief from neck and shoulder pain. The twisting from this pose also releases tension in the lower and upper back. Feel free to place a blanket or block under your head if you need some elevation or are uncomfortable. Perform this pose on both sides, holding for 1-2 minutes on each side.\\nBegin on all fours with your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.\\nLift your right hand up towards the sky and bring it down and underneath your torso to the left along the floor with your palm facing up.\\nPress your left hand into the floor for support as your rest your body on your right shoulder and look over to the left.\\nRemain in this position for 1-2 minutes, as tolerated.\\nRelease gently and slowly, pressing back into Child’s Posefor a few breaths, and repeat on the other side.\\n\\n\\n\\n3. Half lord of the fishes pose\\nYin yoga poses for neck and back often benefit other parts of your body as well. This is one such pose! Half lord of the fishes pose provides a great stretch in the upper \\nand\\n lower back and helps alleviate tension in the muscles that result from bad posture.\\nFrom sitting, bring your right foot along the floor across to the outside of your left hip.\\nPlant your right foot on the floor, so that your right knee is pointing up.Your right foot should be “rooted” on the outside of your left thigh.\\nBend your left knee so that your left foot is still on the floor but close to your body\\nLengthen your spine and then twist your upper body to the left.\\nPlace your left hand on the floor behind your buttocks.\\nBring your right arm to the outside of your left leg.\\nTurn your head to look over either shoulder, or you may gently circle your head.\\nStay in this pose for 1 minute.\\nThen do it on the opposite side.\\n\\n\\n\\n4. Triangle pose\\nTriangle pose stretches the neck, shoulders and upper back. You may use a block under the hand that reaches to the floor for more stability or if you do not have the flexibility to reach the floor. You may also place your hand on your shin or ankle, as long as you maintain proper alignment.\n\\nStand with your feet apart so that they’re wider than your hips.\\nTurn your right toes towards the front of your mat and your left toes out at an angle.\\nRaise your arms up so they’re parallel to the floor with your palms facing down, similar to the beginning of Warrior I, but keep your legs straight. Your chest should be facing out.\\nKeeping your legs straight, reach forward with your right arm as you hinge at your right hip.\\nLower your right arm and lift your left arm up toward the ceiling.\\nTurn your gaze in any direction or you can do gentle neck rotations looking up and down.\\nRemain in this pose for 1-2 minutes, as tolerated.\\nRepeat on opposite side.\\n\\n\\n\\n5. Child’s pose\\nChild’s pose is the most popular and an extremely beneficial yoga pose practiced in all types of yoga! In child’s pose, your neck, back, and shoulders are lengthened, creating space between the vertebrae, similar to standing forward bend. This relieves tension and helps realign your neck and spine. \\nPlacing your arms out in front of you (versus by your sides) gives your shoulders a good stretch as well. You can also place a block or bolster under your head or hips if that is more comfortable. Hold this pose as long as is desired but at least 1-2 minutes.\\nI hope you find these poses as helpful as I do for relieving neck and shoulder pain! A full yin yoga class is a great option to truly get relief in these areas. We carry so much tension in our neck and shoulders from bad posture, sitting at a computer or desk, or from other types of exercise. I invite you to try one of the many classes and \\nworkshops\\n at MyYogaTeacher!\\n\n\\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!\n⁠Check out our latest article on \\n5 Yin Yoga Poses to Loosen Your Hips\\n\\n"}},{"id":"cknfz1b6ocvjy0a81nie3aq02","slug":"yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety","author":{"name":"Rohan","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Practice Yoga for Stress and Anxiety Relief","createdAt":"2021-04-13T11:58:36.28949+00:00","coverUrl":"yoga_for_stress_and_anxiety.jpg","content":{"text":"We've all experienced stress and anxiety at some point. It's a natural, human response to stressful situations and can even save us from danger. Sometimes, it can go deeper than that and become a full-blown anxiety disorder that disrupts our lives.\\n\\nMy class, \\nYoga for Stress and Anxiety\\n can help!\\n\\nYoga for Stress and Anxiety: The Research\\nSince the 1970s, researchers have been looking into stress-reduction techniques and tools. Meditation is one such technique that you hear a lot about, but yoga as a whole practice hasn't gotten the same level of attention until recent decades.\\n\\nAccording to researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a new study from August 2020 found that yoga was significantly more effective for generalized anxiety disorder than simple education on stress management.\\n\\nAnother study from the Ilam University of Medical Sciences (February 2018) found that yoga plays an effective part in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The study went on to conclude that yoga can be used as complementary medicine for these conditions.\\n\\nYet another study from The Center for Health Behavior Research at the University of Mississippi (2011) found that yoga offers a host of benefits: enhanced muscular strength and body flexibility, improved respiratory and cardiovascular function, recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduction in stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improved sleep patterns, and enhanced overall well-being and quality of life.\\n\\nIf you're not using yoga for stress and anxiety management, now's a great time to start. \\nSign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and get access to my class as well as more than 35 other live, online yoga courses every single day.\\n\\nWhat Do Stress and Anxiety Look Like?\\n\\nStress and anxiety can look and feel different for different people. For some, it might be a feeling like waiting for the other shoe to drop. For others, it might be all-consuming. Here are some of the symptoms that typically signal stress and anxiety:\\nPersistent feelings of uneasiness, panic, and fear\\nMuscle tension\\nHeart palpitations or a rapid heartbeat\\nDifficulty sleeping\\nIrritability\\nConstricted breathing\\nCold, sweaty palms\\nRumination on unhelpful, negative thoughts\\nIf your feelings of stress and anxiety are keeping you from living your life, we recommend talking to your doctor about treatment options. But don't forget to practice your yoga!\\n\\nAlleviating Stress and Anxiety Through Yoga\\nOur bodies are pretty miraculous, especially with the body's ability to heal itself. Of course, stress and anxiety can drastically reduce that healing. Fortunately, yoga can help us bring calm, peace, and stillness back into our lives.\\n\\nYoga helps to modulate stress response systems, reducing the stress and anxiety we feel. And, yoga can even help us respond to stress more easily.\\n\\nWe recommend a complete yoga practice that includes more than just asanas. In addition to poses and movement (asanas), you'll want to incorporate \\npranayamas (breathing techniques)\\n, meditation, and yoga philosophy.\\n\\nYoga Practices to Alleviate Stress and Anxiety\\n\\nIn this section, we're going to talk about specific asanas, pranayamas, meditations, and mudras that will help you ease stress and anxiety with yoga. While you can absolutely practice this on your own, I would love to have you join my Yoga for Stress and Anxiety class on myYogaTeacher. You can \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and not only get access to my class but access to 35+ other live, online group classes every single day.\\n\\nYoga Poses\\nThere are several yoga poses that can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Here's a short sequence that you can practice at any time. Start seated in a comfortable position and move through the poses as feels comfortable and soothing for you.\\nSeated neck rolls\\nMarjariasana (cat pose)\\nBalasana (child's pose)\\nAdho Mukha Shvanasana (downward-facing dog pose)\\nUttanasana (standing forward bend)\\nVrikshasana (tree pose)\\nJanu Shirasasana (one-legged seated forward bend)\\nPaschimottanasana (two-legged seated forward bend)\\nSetu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose)\\nSarvangasana (shoulder stand)\\nMatsyasana (fish pose)\\nDhanurasana (bow pose)\\nSavasana (corpse pose)\\nPranayama (Breathing)\\nBreathing is a powerful tool for combating stress and anxiety. Here are a few different breathing exercises you can try when you feel stress or anxiety creeping up:\\nDeep breathing\\nNadi Shodhan Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing)\\nBhastrika Pranayama (bellows breathing)\\nUjjayi Pranayama (ocean breathing)\\nBhramari Pranayama (bee breathing)\\nMeditation\\nMeditation helps you calm yourself, grounding you and producing feelings of stability. There are several different types of meditation to choose from, but research has shown that mindful meditations are great for reducing stress and anxiety. Here's a mindful meditation that walks you through progressive relaxation:\\nFind a quiet place where you won't be disturbed and make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes.\\nStarting with your head, tense the muscles in your face and scalp. Hold this as you inhale for a count of eight.\\nOn the exhale, relax your face completely. Unclench your jaw, relax your forehead and eyes, let everything just fall away. Repeat this clenching and relaxing until your face feels completely relaxed.\\nRepeat this process down your entire body: neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, right arm, right forearm, right hand, left arm, left forearm, left hand, buttocks, right leg, lower right leg, right foot, left leg, left foot.\\nIf you're short on time, you can focus on just your four main muscle groups.\\n\\nMudras\\nMudras can also help you combat stress and anxiety.\\n\\nA mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture done with the hands and used in combination with Pranayama. They activate our body's potential for healing and growth, stimulating different parts of the body to improve the flow of energy.\\n\\nHere are five mudras I recommend for stress and anxiety:\\nGyan Mudra: Join the tips of your index fingers and thumbs with the other fingers outstretched and together in a relaxed position.\\nAgni Shakti Mudra: Touch all four fingers on each hand to the palms of the same hand (almost in a fist shape). Then, join the tips of the thumbs together.\\nKalesvara Mudra: Bring the tips of the middle fingers together and the first and middle joints of the index fingers together. Then, bring the thumbs together, creating a heart shape, and gently curl the rest of the fingers in. Connect the thumbs to the sternum and reach your elbows out to the side.\\nApan Vayu Mudra: Fold the index fingers to touch the tip to the base of the thumb. Then, bring the tips of the middle and ring fingers to the tips of the thumbs. The pinky finger stays straight and points outward.\\nUttarabodhi Mudra: Interlock the fingers of both hands together and keep the thumbs and index fingers extended and touching. Point the tips of extended index fingers up and the thumbs down.\\nWrapping Up\\nThere's a lot of research that indicates yoga is a wonderful way to reduce stress and anxiety. But we're all different. If you have stress or anxiety that is debilitating, please be sure to reach out to your doctor.\\n\\nIt's also possible that yoga can reveal strong feelings and emotions that you've been suppressing. Practice yoga in a place that makes you feel safe and secure. And don't forget to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n so you can join my next class!"}},{"id":"ckq1glzwoe3270b76sdjnhgns","slug":"what-is-yoga-nidra","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What Is Yoga Nidra: Deep Relaxation to Combat Insomnia and Improve Overall Health","createdAt":"2021-06-17T22:13:09.839221+00:00","coverUrl":"mizyluhduef8w9acvtqr.png","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."}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"clbuw5g08lm6z09kb5z7ov6xy","slug":"yoga-for-hypertension","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga For Hypertension: 5 Yoga Asanas to Lower Your Blood Pressure","createdAt":"2022-12-19T14:27:18.678542+00:00","coverUrl":"nlkokdgzajyx8iqo77r6.jpg","content":{"text":"Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common condition that can affect your arteries. Nearly one in three people experience hypertension each year. Since yoga is great for calming the body, it’s great to help you regulate your blood pressure. A regular yoga practice is shown to lower blood pressure naturally over time. According to Yoga Journal, A recent study tested the use of yoga three times a week for people being treated for high blood pressure. The results showed those who practiced yoga experienced a significant reduction in their blood pressure compared to those who did not. Ready to add yoga into your routine to balance your health? \\nJoin us for a class on our online platform!\\n\\nWhy is Yoga Good for People with Hypertension?\\nBecause we practice deep breathing in yoga, and we give the body permission to “slow down”, our blood pressure will lower while we’re on our mat and long after. While yoga makes us more flexible in life and our body, the same goes for our arteries. Yoga will make our blood vessels more flexible which lowers your risk of hypertension as well as long term effects. If you’re looking to reduce meds and try something more natural, a regular yoga practice is shown to reduce blood pressure by about three to five points.\\n\n\\n5 Yoga Asanas to Lower Blood Pressure\\n1. Child's Pose (Balasana)\\n\\nThis relaxing asana provides a chance to slow down and breathe deeply while also releasing stress and tension from the hips and back. \\n\\n2. Bound angle (Baddha Konasana)\\n\\nThis hip opener helps with blood flow by increasing circulation.\\n\\n3. Seated forward fold (Paschimottanasana)\\n\\nThis pose promotes calmness as all forward bends because your spine controls your body’s nervous system. \\n\\n4. Bridge pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)\\n\\nThis powerhouse pose regulates blood pressure as well as opening the lungs and your heart chamber. \\n\\n5. Corpse Pose (Savasana)\\n\\nNever skip this resting pose. After a long day of our busy lives, savasana gives us the opportunity to slow down, breath deep and release all our tension and stress. \\n\\nOther Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure\\nAyurveda, an alternative medicine system that’s closely related to yoga suggest lifestyle changes to improve hypertension. Some of which include waking up with the sun, morning movement (like a walk or yoga), gargling warm water and sesame oil, and different combinations of herbs like thyme, ginger and garlic  you can add to your meals. \\nCut back on “bad habits”. Reduce your salt intake, limit your alcohol and quit smoking.\\nBe conscious of your rest time. Getting a good night’s sleep can help lower your blood pressure. Aim for a bedtime and try to keep your sleep on track\\nPractice breathwork (pranayama) to reduce stress.You cannot control the world around you, but you can always control your breathing. Adding breathwork practices into your day can help you lower your blood pressure and remain calm in stressful situations. \\nSukha Pranayama \\nis the breath practice most commonly used with patients with hypertension.  “To perform this pranayama, sit with the eyes closed and spine straight as in padmasana or sukhasana. After a few normal breaths, inhale slowly for six counts, hold for six counts, exhale slowly for six counts and hold the breath for six counts. This is one round. Complete six to nine rounds then relax for at least five minutes.”-Yogapedia \\n\n\\nWhat type of yoga should I take to balance my blood pressure?\\nWhen choosing a class to take, you want to pick the right class for your condition. These styles will help you slow down your breath and calm the body so you can reduce anxiety to lower your blood pressure naturally. Join us for class to relax and restore.\\n\\nGentle Yoga\\n. In this class you’ll move slowly through asanas taking time for meditation and breathwork. \\n\\nRestorative\\n. This class is great for anyone suffering from any chronic pain or illness. With the help of props, you will hold 4-6 poses throughout the practice which will reduce stress, pain and fatigue. \\n\\nTotal body Yin\\n. This slow meditative practice is a great way to reset and restore. Need an escape from the mundane? Try this class if you’re looking to take a journey on your mat. \n\\nStudies show just 10 minutes of deep breathing can reduce your blood pressure. So grab your mat and join us for a class! The benefits will be long lasting! Ready to get started? Grab your \\nfree two week trial now\\n & join us for hundreds of classes, 1-on-1 sessions events and mor\\n"}},{"id":"clabcglv4n3fc0ais6yxjyhtq","slug":"yoga-before-and-after-workout","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga Before and After Workout: When is yoga best for you and your body?","createdAt":"2022-11-10T17:28:47.493944+00:00","coverUrl":"dirnebto7s5zxueovsfw.jpg","content":{"text":"Yoga has so many benefits for the body on its own. But if you’re trying to kick your routine into high gear, consider adding yoga onto your other workouts for an extra bang for your buck. If you’re new to yoga and wondering how adding it into your workout routine can benefit you, no worries! We’re here to help! We'll help you figure out where to schedule yoga into your routine.\\n\\nBenefits of Adding Yoga to your Workout:\\n\\n1. Flexibility\\nIf flexibility is one of your fitness goals, yoga is a great way to achieve more physical flexibility. It’s also great to take the place of your stretching routine pre or post workout. Yoga can increase range of motion and help in muscle recovery. \\n\\n2. Conditioning\\nLove HIIT? Yoga is a great way to step up your fitness intensity by helping you condition your body with more stamina and longer breathing patterns for increased cardio abilities. It’s also proven to increase coordination. \n\\n3. Strength\\nLove to go to the gym for cardio but hate to hit the weight rack? No worries, yoga can take the place of strength training by just using your body weight. Through repetition yoga builds muscle and endurance for strength. No weights required!\\n\\n4. Mental Clarity\\nFor most people, working out is a great way to increase endorphins and reduce stress. However, if your workout leaves you too tightly wound or doesn’t do the job of lifting your mental load, a slow flow can help bring you down and help you rebalance. \n⁠\n\\nWhy You Should do Yoga Before Workout? (Pre Workout) \\nIf you’re strength training, or going for an easy walk on your rest day, yoga is great for before your workout. Do you like to get up with the sun and start your day with a workout? Well, starting your day with yoga will bring you clarity and get your body ready to move. \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n is a great place to start your practice and your day. Even if it's gross outside you can still get your practice in. You can pull up our app on your phone or our website right on your computer for 24/7 access to live classes with expert Indian instructors.\\n\\nYou can also use yoga as your warm up! If you’re just waking up or it’s a cold weather season, yoga will help you keep your muscles strong and flexible. If you’re going to the gym for targeted strength training, it can help you focus on balance and alignment to keep your body in check through your workout. Yoga will help you stay balanced and avoid injury by increasing mobility in the body. And finally, Yoga puts your mental health in check. Adding in a moving meditation or some breath work before your workout will keep your body calm, help you align with your goals and avoid the flight or fight symptoms that can come on during an intense or tough workout. \n⁠\\n\\n5 Yoga Poses to Practice Before Your Workout:\n⁠\\n1. Child's Pose\\nThis pose will help you open your hips and reduce injury on core or leg days.\\n\\n\\n2. Cat Cow Pose\\nMoving through your spine slowly with these stretches will help increase mobility in the back. \\n\\n\\n3. Downward Dog Pose\\nPushing up into a downdog to start your day will stretch your entire lower body from your toes to your hips.\\n\\n\\n4. Forward Fold Pose\\nFolding forward increases the blood flow in the body and helps us maintain spine and core stability. \\n\\n\\n5. Mountain Pose\\nThis pose helps us to establish alignment and increase body awareness before a workout! \\n\\n\\n\\nYoga Classes to Try Before your Workout \\n\\nRise and shine 30 min flow\\n : Start your day with this quick flow. This class is meant to increase your physical fitness and help build your stamina so you can workout longer!\\n\\nHatha Vinyasa\\n : Gain mental clarity at the beginning of your workout with this traditional hatha flow. \\n\\nSlow Flow Vinyasa\\n : Start your day slow and steady for your mind and body. The slow pace of this class allows us to connect with our bodies and minds as we focus on our breath and alignment. This class helps to build strength, improve flexibility and stability. \n\\nWhy you should do yoga post workout ?\\nIf your workout is more high energy like kickboxing, zumba, cycling etc, yoga after may be best for bringing your body back to homeostasis. Yoga naturally brings down heart rate and reduces stress on the body and mind . You can use Yoga as a cool down or stretching portion of your workout to bring muscles into recovery while extending your burn a little longer. Are you a nighttime warrior? If you tend to work out at night, ending your routine with yoga will help you get a better night’s sleep. \\n\\n5 Yoga Poses to Practice After your Workout:\\n\\n1. Wide Leg Forward Fold Pose\\nWide leg forward fold releases our lower back. Reaching down towards the floor will give our calves a much needed stretch post workout!\\n\\n\\n2. Pigeon Pose\\nThis pose will help to open tight and tired hips and hamstrings. \\n\\n\\n3. Bound Angle Pose\\nThis hip opener stretches your adductors and quadriceps. Try this pose after a run or cardio workout. \\n\\n\\n4. Seated Forward Fold Pose\\nThis pose provides a full body stretch from your head to your heels! \\n\\n\\n5. Happy Baby Pose\\nThis pose helps to alleviate or avoid lower back pain post workout. It can also reduce any stress or anxiety caused by your workout. \\n\\n\\nYoga Classes to Try After your Workout\\n\\nBreath and Flow\\n : This full body flow will help stretch and rejuvenate your muscles as well as relax your mind with meditation and pranayama techniques. \\n\\nYoga Fusion for Joints\\n : This conditioning class combines light weights and foam roller stretches for an active recovery post workout. \\n\\nBreath and Meditation\\n : Join this class to slow down the body and refocus your breathing. Ideal for end of the day or transitions. \\n\\nNo matter what time of day you choose to workout, adding yoga 2 to 3 times a week will extend the life of your routine and help you maintain a positive outlook on your fitness goals. You can add yoga to your workout anytime with us here at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n by creating an account, logging in and joining us for class! "}},{"id":"ckmfcdrvk0p4k0c29d8c2imwz","slug":"ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs","author":{"name":"Rohan","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"What Is Ashtanga Yoga? Explaining the 8 Limbs","createdAt":"2021-03-18T20:44:43.961653+00:00","coverUrl":"ckmfcdrvk0p4k0c29d8c2imwz.jpg","content":{"text":"Sometimes yoga words can be complicated. Especially if you’re a new yogi.\\n\\nComplicated words and descriptions mean people get overwhelmed and uncomfortable when they think about doing yoga. And that’s definitely not what myYogaTeacher is all about!\\n\\nYoga is a practice that incorporates philosophy, meditation, breathwork, behavioral principles, and physical exercise into one’s life. It’s a lifestyle.\\n\\nWe want everyone who comes to us, from young to old, from out of shape to fitness fanatics, to feel like our virtual yoga studio is a safe space to learn about and practice yoga. No judgement. Every question is a good question.\\n\\nThat’s why I wanted to talk to you about ashtanga yoga. What does that word mean anyway, you ask?\\n\\nI’m going to explain what it is and why it’s even important to know what it is. If you’re interested in experiencing ashtanga yoga in action, I invite you to try my \\nAshtanga Yoga Class on myYogaTeacher\\n! \n⁠\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\n\\nThe Sanskrit word ashtanga means “8 limbs.” Let’s explore what those are so we can understand and deepen our yoga practice!\\n\\n1. Yama - Attitude towards environment\\n\\nThe word “yama” originally meant “bridle” or “rein.”  You can think of it similarly to how a bridle works when placed on a horse. It is a means to control how you interact with your environment, including other people.\\n\\nThe yamas of yoga are there to help yogis live an ethical life. A life that is peaceful and that promotes healthy relationships with others. A huge part of a solid yoga practice is creating self-awareness and learning how your yoga practice helps you relate to the world. \\n\\nThere are 5 yamas in ashtanga yoga:\\n\\nAhimsa:\\n Non violence and non harming of animals.\\nSatya:\\n Truthfulness, honesty in words and actions.\\nAsteya:\\n Not stealing other people’s time or possessions.\\nBrahmacharya:\\n Sexual restraint, fidelity, chastity.\\nAparigraha:\\n Non coveting.\\n\\nThese are what we work on as a part of an ashtanga yoga practice. They are important to creating a calm and peaceful life.\\n\\n2. Niyama - attitude towards ourselves\\n\\nEqually important to our attitude towards our environment is the attitude we have towards ourselves. The Niyamas are the second limb of ashtanga yoga.\\n\\nDo we show self love? Self compassion? Are we practicing self care regularly? \\n\\nDeeper questions to ask ourselves would be if we’re content, self-disciplined, and how we feel spiritually.\\n\\nThe Niyamas of ashtanga yoga address all of these things. If we aren’t loving ourselves, our attitude towards others and our environment will become increasingly negative.\\n\\nThe word “niyama” means “moral observance.” There are 5 niyamas that are the focus of ashtanga yoga:\\n\\nPurity\\nContentment\\nSelf-discipline\\nSelf-study\\nSurrender to a higher source\\n\\nNo matter your religion or belief system, these niyamas are important to mastering yourself and creating a moral compass.\\n\\n3. Asanas - physical postures\\n\\nThe asanas are what most yogis are probably the most familiar with.\\n\\nThese are the postures that you move through when you’re practicing any kind of yoga, not just ashtanga. Asanas are the third limb of ashtanga yoga. There are 84 yoga asanas!\\n\\nWe don’t learn them all in my Ashtanga Yoga Class, but we definitely build up a sweat going through a bunch of them. If you want to learn even more asanas and the correct way to do them, \\ntry a 2-week free trial of myYogaTeacher and get access to 35+ classes every day!\\n\\n\\n\\n4. Pranayama - restraint or expansion of breath\\n\\nYou may or may not have heard this word before. There are yoga practices that specifically revolve around pranayama.\\n\\nPranayama is the fourth limb of ashtanga yoga and consists of synchronizing the breath with the asanas or movements between asanas.\\n\\n“Prana” means life energy. Yama means control.\\n\\nIn ashtanga yoga, we literally learn how to control our life energy. It’s an exercise in using our breath to create mental and physical wellness. Even in a vigorous practice, ashtanga asanas will work with the breath, not against it, and you will quickly realize that controlling your heavy breathing is vital to the flow of your life energy!\\n\\n5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses\\n\\nMost yoga students are confused by the fifth limb of ashtanga yoga. Pratyahara is “the conscious withdrawal of energy from the senses.” \\n\\nThis often occurs when we do Savasana, at the end of a yoga practice. Maybe you recognize the feeling of almost falling asleep but not. You still maintain consciousness and contact with the present, but you feel far away from it. \\n\\nIn pratyahara, you are not affected by the disturbances of the surrounding environment. You know they’re there and are aware of them, but you do not react to them. You are in a sort of haven of silence.\\n\\n6. Dharana - concentration\\n\\nThe sixth limb of ashtanga yoga is all about fixing your mind on one point. Maybe it’s a chakra or maybe you bind your mind to one place, object, or idea. \\n\\nWhatever the case, dharana is a step towards deep meditation. The point is to hold that concentration, to maintain that thought without wavering from it for an extended period of time.\\n\\n7. Dhyana - meditation\\n\\n\\nMeditation\\n. Elusive for some, meditation is the complete withdrawal of the mind from environmental and inner world distractions.\\n\\nMeditation is the ultimate state of awareness, peace, and being present in the moment. It is built upon the other six limbs of ashtanga yoga, postures, breathwork, control of senses.\\n\\nDhyana is the union of all the limbs. The attainment of full self-realization.\\n\\n\\n8. Samadhi - integration\\n\\nThe eighth limb of ashtanga yoga is enlightenment! \\n\\nSamadhi is the highest state of mental concentration that one can achieve without actually leaving their body. It is total and complete liberation. In Sanskrit, samadhi means “self-collectedness.”\\n\\nComplete and ultimate bliss. That is samadhi.\\n\\n\\nNow that you have a better understanding of \\nashtanga yoga\\n and the stages, maybe it won’t seem so overwhelming! My hope is that you will feel comfortable practicing yoga and reaching towards the goal of mastering the \\n8 limbs\\n of ashtanga yoga.\\n\\nThere is nothing I could want more for you than complete and total bliss!\\n\\nAre you ready to experience it firsthand? All are welcome to my fast-paced, high-energy \\nAshtanga Yoga Class\\n. If you haven’t yet, \\ntake advantage of myYogaTeacher’s offer of a 2-week free trial and get access to my class and many, many more!\\n All taught by highly experienced yoga teachers from India.\\n\\n"}}],"blogContent":{"id":"ckl8t3amwk53k0b75i0e4wek4","slug":"trataka-candlelight-meditation","author":{"name":"Anuj","teacherMytSlug":"anuj-1","pictureUrl":"anuj-poonia-1.jpg"},"title":"How to Do a Powerful Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation","createdAt":"2021-02-17T02:18:23.420756+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-01T06:55:01.585885+00:00","coverUrl":"ckl8t3amwk53k0b75i0e4wek4.png","seoDescription":"Join Anuj for Trataka candlelight meditation to bring stillness to your body and your mind. Plus, learn about the benefits of Trataka!","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.","html":"<p>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.</p><p>In this meditation, I&#39;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 <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group-classes\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group-classes\">myYogaTeacher</a>.</p><p>Before 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.</p><p>[CTA-TRATAKA]</p><p></p><h3>Benefits of Trataka Meditation</h3><p>Trataka meditation has been around for generations. It has survived over time due to several benefits. Specifically, Trataka meditation:</p><ul><li><div>Alleviates stress and anxiety</div></li><li><div>Improves concentration and memory</div></li><li><div>Strengthens your eyes</div></li><li><div>Purifies and stimulates the sixth chakra, Ajna, that controls intuition and mental awareness</div></li></ul><p></p><h2>How to Do a Trataka Meditation</h2><p>First, we encourage you to remove your glasses while you&#39;re doing a candle meditation. It&#39;s also important that you maintain a distance of 1–1.5 meters between you and your candle, and that you don&#39;t blink during the candle gazing.</p><p></p><h3>Palming Techniques</h3><p>For this Trataka meditation, you&#39;ll need to know three different kinds of palming. Here&#39;s what cupping your hands looks like:</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/a5iYuEQXQPmnORpFZ1OJ\" alt=\"cupped palms.png\" title=\"cupped palms.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><h4>Gentle</h4><p>Rub your palms together to generate heat in your hands. Rest your palms in a cupped shape around your closed eyes.</p><p></p><h4>Press and Release</h4><p>Rub 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.</p><p></p><h4>Constant Pressure</h4><p>Rub 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.</p><p></p><h3>Stretching and Relaxation</h3><p>We&#39;re going to start our Trataka candlelight meditation with a few stretches to bring relaxation into the body.</p><p></p><p>Sit 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.</p><p></p><p>Breathe normally, allowing a gentle smile to rest on your face. Maintain this smile throughout your practice... And throughout the rest of your life.</p><p></p><p>Observe your breath as it comes in and flows out, noticing the cool air that&#39;s coming into your nose and the warm air that&#39;s leaving your nose.</p><p></p><p>Inhale. 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.</p><p></p><p>Next, 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.</p><p></p><p>Join your palms together at heart center, <em>namaste</em>, and let&#39;s join together in chanting <em>Om</em>.</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/sL4AcZ1AQsOE5rJ4pkQV\" alt=\"namaste.png\" title=\"namaste.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Rub your palms together to generate heat in your hands, cup your palms around your eyes, and blink your eyes open.</p><p></p><p>Press 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.</p><p></p><p>Bring 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.</p><p></p><p>Next, 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.</p><video controls width=\"undefined\" height=\"undefined\">\n          <source src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/oDMOqmGxS4GyPGIKtKn4\" type=\"video/mp4\" title=\"elbow shoulder rotations.mp4\" />\n          Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.\n        </video><p>Now, 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.</p><p></p><p>Stretch 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.</p><p></p><p>Bring 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&#39;re sitting in a chair, just bend over to the side as far as you can to feel the stretch.</p><p></p><p>Inhale, coming back to the center, and exhale to the other side.</p><p></p><p>Repeat this movement several times, keeping your hips square and planted on the ground or chair.</p><video controls width=\"undefined\" height=\"undefined\">\n          <source src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/YxeIzVz4S9uYO1paDtv0\" type=\"video/mp4\" title=\"side stretch.mp4\" />\n          Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.\n        </video><p>Interlace 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.</p><p></p><p>Twist once more to the right and then the left.</p><p></p><h3>Eye Movements</h3><p>Now we&#39;re going to move into six practices to strengthen the muscles around your eyes.</p><p></p><h4>Practice One: Eye Movements—Up and Down</h4><p>Sit up straight. For focus, you can bring your thumb out in front of you or, if you&#39;re comfortable without it, that&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Two: Eye Movements—Right and Left</h4><p>This time, you&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Three: Eye Movements—Right-Up and Left-Down</h4><p>Follow 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&#39;ll finish with press and release palming.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Four: Eye Movements—Left-Up and Right-Down</h4><p>Repeat 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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Five: Eye Movements—Clockwise Rotation</h4><p>Now, we&#39;re going to move our eyes in a clockwise rotation—right, up, left, and down. Don&#39;t blink and don&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Six: Eye Movements—Anti-Clockwise Rotation</h4><p>Repeat the rotational movements, this time going left, up, right, and down. As always, don&#39;t blink and don&#39;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.</p><p></p><p>Leave your eyes closed for a few seconds and relax before we move into the meditation. Now you are ready for our candle meditation.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Effortless Focusing</h3><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/djMUBsh8RwmT5TZ6ORj3\" alt=\"candle flame.png\" title=\"candle flame.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" /><p>Start your Trataka meditation by turning down the lights and sitting between 1–1.5 meters from your candle. Sit in a pose that&#39;s comfortable for you and that you can hold for the duration of the meditation. Once you&#39;re comfortable, close your eyes.</p><p>With 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.</p><p></p><p>For the next minute, try not to blink.</p><p></p><p>Look 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.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do press and release palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.</p><p>Candle gazing takes practice. Be patient with yourself as you&#39;re learning this process.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Intense Focusing</h3><p>Blink your eyes open, looking softly at the floor. For the next minute, don&#39;t blink.</p><p></p><p>Once 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.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do constant pressure palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Bhramari Pranayama</h3><p>Blink your eyes open, again looking softly at the floor. Don&#39;t blink for the next minute and a half.</p><p></p><p>Look 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&#39;s aura and the particles around it.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do constant pressure palming.</p><p></p><p>This 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.</p><p></p><p>Place 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.</p><p>Observe the silence within you and find the awareness toward your body. Observe the changes in your body, especially in the eye muscles.</p><p></p><p>Continue 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&#39;d like. If you&#39;re sitting in a chair, you&#39;re welcome to stay there and relax with your eyes closed.</p><p></p><p>Relax in savasana for several minutes.</p><p></p><p>When you&#39;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.</p><p></p><p>Join your palms together at heart center, <em>namaste</em>. Take a deep breath in and finish by chanting <em>Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti</em>.</p><p></p><p>Finish with rest palming and blink your eyes open. Congratulations on completing your candle meditation! </p><p></p><p>Want to take a guided live class? Sign up for a <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">free trial of myYogaTeacher</a> and get access to 35+ live classes every single day.</p>"},"category":["therapy","meditation"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>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.</p><p>In this meditation, I&#39;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 <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group-classes\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group-classes\">myYogaTeacher</a>.</p><p>Before 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.</p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-TRATAKA]"},{"type":"HTML","value":"<p></p><h3>Benefits of Trataka Meditation</h3><p>Trataka meditation has been around for generations. It has survived over time due to several benefits. Specifically, Trataka meditation:</p><ul><li><div>Alleviates stress and anxiety</div></li><li><div>Improves concentration and memory</div></li><li><div>Strengthens your eyes</div></li><li><div>Purifies and stimulates the sixth chakra, Ajna, that controls intuition and mental awareness</div></li></ul><p></p><h2>How to Do a Trataka Meditation</h2><p>First, we encourage you to remove your glasses while you&#39;re doing a candle meditation. It&#39;s also important that you maintain a distance of 1–1.5 meters between you and your candle, and that you don&#39;t blink during the candle gazing.</p><p></p><h3>Palming Techniques</h3><p>For this Trataka meditation, you&#39;ll need to know three different kinds of palming. Here&#39;s what cupping your hands looks like:</p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/a5iYuEQXQPmnORpFZ1OJ\" \n                alt=\"cupped palms.png\"\n                title=\"cupped palms.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/a5iYuEQXQPmnORpFZ1OJ\"\n                alt=\"cupped palms.png\"\n                title=\"cupped palms.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/a5iYuEQXQPmnORpFZ1OJ\"\n                alt=\"cupped palms.png\"\n                title=\"cupped palms.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <h4>Gentle</h4><p>Rub your palms together to generate heat in your hands. Rest your palms in a cupped shape around your closed eyes.</p><p></p><h4>Press and Release</h4><p>Rub 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.</p><p></p><h4>Constant Pressure</h4><p>Rub 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.</p><p></p><h3>Stretching and Relaxation</h3><p>We&#39;re going to start our Trataka candlelight meditation with a few stretches to bring relaxation into the body.</p><p></p><p>Sit 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.</p><p></p><p>Breathe normally, allowing a gentle smile to rest on your face. Maintain this smile throughout your practice... And throughout the rest of your life.</p><p></p><p>Observe your breath as it comes in and flows out, noticing the cool air that&#39;s coming into your nose and the warm air that&#39;s leaving your nose.</p><p></p><p>Inhale. 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.</p><p></p><p>Next, 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.</p><p></p><p>Join your palms together at heart center, <em>namaste</em>, and let&#39;s join together in chanting <em>Om</em>.</p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/sL4AcZ1AQsOE5rJ4pkQV\" \n                alt=\"namaste.png\"\n                title=\"namaste.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/sL4AcZ1AQsOE5rJ4pkQV\"\n                alt=\"namaste.png\"\n                title=\"namaste.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/sL4AcZ1AQsOE5rJ4pkQV\"\n                alt=\"namaste.png\"\n                title=\"namaste.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>Rub your palms together to generate heat in your hands, cup your palms around your eyes, and blink your eyes open.</p><p></p><p>Press 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.</p><p></p><p>Bring 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.</p><p></p><p>Next, 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.</p><video controls >\n          <source src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/oDMOqmGxS4GyPGIKtKn4\" type=\"video/mp4\" title=\"elbow shoulder rotations.mp4\" />\n          Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.\n        </video><p>Now, 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.</p><p></p><p>Stretch 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.</p><p></p><p>Bring 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&#39;re sitting in a chair, just bend over to the side as far as you can to feel the stretch.</p><p></p><p>Inhale, coming back to the center, and exhale to the other side.</p><p></p><p>Repeat this movement several times, keeping your hips square and planted on the ground or chair.</p><video controls >\n          <source src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/YxeIzVz4S9uYO1paDtv0\" type=\"video/mp4\" title=\"side stretch.mp4\" />\n          Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.\n        </video><p>Interlace 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.</p><p></p><p>Twist once more to the right and then the left.</p><p></p><h3>Eye Movements</h3><p>Now we&#39;re going to move into six practices to strengthen the muscles around your eyes.</p><p></p><h4>Practice One: Eye Movements—Up and Down</h4><p>Sit up straight. For focus, you can bring your thumb out in front of you or, if you&#39;re comfortable without it, that&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Two: Eye Movements—Right and Left</h4><p>This time, you&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Three: Eye Movements—Right-Up and Left-Down</h4><p>Follow 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&#39;ll finish with press and release palming.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Four: Eye Movements—Left-Up and Right-Down</h4><p>Repeat 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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Five: Eye Movements—Clockwise Rotation</h4><p>Now, we&#39;re going to move our eyes in a clockwise rotation—right, up, left, and down. Don&#39;t blink and don&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Six: Eye Movements—Anti-Clockwise Rotation</h4><p>Repeat the rotational movements, this time going left, up, right, and down. As always, don&#39;t blink and don&#39;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.</p><p></p><p>Leave your eyes closed for a few seconds and relax before we move into the meditation. Now you are ready for our candle meditation.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Effortless Focusing</h3>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/djMUBsh8RwmT5TZ6ORj3\" \n                alt=\"candle flame.png\"\n                title=\"candle flame.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/djMUBsh8RwmT5TZ6ORj3\"\n                alt=\"candle flame.png\"\n                title=\"candle flame.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/djMUBsh8RwmT5TZ6ORj3\"\n                alt=\"candle flame.png\"\n                title=\"candle flame.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>Start your Trataka meditation by turning down the lights and sitting between 1–1.5 meters from your candle. Sit in a pose that&#39;s comfortable for you and that you can hold for the duration of the meditation. Once you&#39;re comfortable, close your eyes.</p><p>With 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.</p><p></p><p>For the next minute, try not to blink.</p><p></p><p>Look 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.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do press and release palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.</p><p>Candle gazing takes practice. Be patient with yourself as you&#39;re learning this process.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Intense Focusing</h3><p>Blink your eyes open, looking softly at the floor. For the next minute, don&#39;t blink.</p><p></p><p>Once 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.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do constant pressure palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Bhramari Pranayama</h3><p>Blink your eyes open, again looking softly at the floor. Don&#39;t blink for the next minute and a half.</p><p></p><p>Look 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&#39;s aura and the particles around it.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do constant pressure palming.</p><p></p><p>This 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.</p><p></p><p>Place 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.</p><p>Observe the silence within you and find the awareness toward your body. Observe the changes in your body, especially in the eye muscles.</p><p></p><p>Continue 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&#39;d like. If you&#39;re sitting in a chair, you&#39;re welcome to stay there and relax with your eyes closed.</p><p></p><p>Relax in savasana for several minutes.</p><p></p><p>When you&#39;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.</p><p></p><p>Join your palms together at heart center, <em>namaste</em>. Take a deep breath in and finish by chanting <em>Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti</em>.</p><p></p><p>Finish with rest palming and blink your eyes open. Congratulations on completing your candle meditation! </p><p></p><p>Want to take a guided live class? Sign up for a <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">free trial of myYogaTeacher</a> and get access to 35+ live classes every single day.</p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"trataka-candlelight-meditation","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"free-trial-o","redirectURL":"#","current_url":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/trataka-candlelight-meditation","student_details":"","facebookUrl":"","twitterUrl":"","copyUrl":"","emailUrl":"","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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Plus, learn about the benefits of Trataka!","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.","html":"<p>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.</p><p>In this meditation, I&#39;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 <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group-classes\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group-classes\">myYogaTeacher</a>.</p><p>Before 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.</p><p>[CTA-TRATAKA]</p><p></p><h3>Benefits of Trataka Meditation</h3><p>Trataka meditation has been around for generations. It has survived over time due to several benefits. Specifically, Trataka meditation:</p><ul><li><div>Alleviates stress and anxiety</div></li><li><div>Improves concentration and memory</div></li><li><div>Strengthens your eyes</div></li><li><div>Purifies and stimulates the sixth chakra, Ajna, that controls intuition and mental awareness</div></li></ul><p></p><h2>How to Do a Trataka Meditation</h2><p>First, we encourage you to remove your glasses while you&#39;re doing a candle meditation. It&#39;s also important that you maintain a distance of 1–1.5 meters between you and your candle, and that you don&#39;t blink during the candle gazing.</p><p></p><h3>Palming Techniques</h3><p>For this Trataka meditation, you&#39;ll need to know three different kinds of palming. Here&#39;s what cupping your hands looks like:</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/a5iYuEQXQPmnORpFZ1OJ\" alt=\"cupped palms.png\" title=\"cupped palms.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><h4>Gentle</h4><p>Rub your palms together to generate heat in your hands. Rest your palms in a cupped shape around your closed eyes.</p><p></p><h4>Press and Release</h4><p>Rub 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.</p><p></p><h4>Constant Pressure</h4><p>Rub 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.</p><p></p><h3>Stretching and Relaxation</h3><p>We&#39;re going to start our Trataka candlelight meditation with a few stretches to bring relaxation into the body.</p><p></p><p>Sit 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.</p><p></p><p>Breathe normally, allowing a gentle smile to rest on your face. Maintain this smile throughout your practice... And throughout the rest of your life.</p><p></p><p>Observe your breath as it comes in and flows out, noticing the cool air that&#39;s coming into your nose and the warm air that&#39;s leaving your nose.</p><p></p><p>Inhale. 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.</p><p></p><p>Next, 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.</p><p></p><p>Join your palms together at heart center, <em>namaste</em>, and let&#39;s join together in chanting <em>Om</em>.</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/sL4AcZ1AQsOE5rJ4pkQV\" alt=\"namaste.png\" title=\"namaste.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Rub your palms together to generate heat in your hands, cup your palms around your eyes, and blink your eyes open.</p><p></p><p>Press 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.</p><p></p><p>Bring 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.</p><p></p><p>Next, 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.</p><video controls width=\"undefined\" height=\"undefined\">\n          <source src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/oDMOqmGxS4GyPGIKtKn4\" type=\"video/mp4\" title=\"elbow shoulder rotations.mp4\" />\n          Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.\n        </video><p>Now, 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.</p><p></p><p>Stretch 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.</p><p></p><p>Bring 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&#39;re sitting in a chair, just bend over to the side as far as you can to feel the stretch.</p><p></p><p>Inhale, coming back to the center, and exhale to the other side.</p><p></p><p>Repeat this movement several times, keeping your hips square and planted on the ground or chair.</p><video controls width=\"undefined\" height=\"undefined\">\n          <source src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/YxeIzVz4S9uYO1paDtv0\" type=\"video/mp4\" title=\"side stretch.mp4\" />\n          Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos.\n        </video><p>Interlace 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.</p><p></p><p>Twist once more to the right and then the left.</p><p></p><h3>Eye Movements</h3><p>Now we&#39;re going to move into six practices to strengthen the muscles around your eyes.</p><p></p><h4>Practice One: Eye Movements—Up and Down</h4><p>Sit up straight. For focus, you can bring your thumb out in front of you or, if you&#39;re comfortable without it, that&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Two: Eye Movements—Right and Left</h4><p>This time, you&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Three: Eye Movements—Right-Up and Left-Down</h4><p>Follow 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&#39;ll finish with press and release palming.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Four: Eye Movements—Left-Up and Right-Down</h4><p>Repeat 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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Five: Eye Movements—Clockwise Rotation</h4><p>Now, we&#39;re going to move our eyes in a clockwise rotation—right, up, left, and down. Don&#39;t blink and don&#39;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.</p><p></p><h4>Practice Six: Eye Movements—Anti-Clockwise Rotation</h4><p>Repeat the rotational movements, this time going left, up, right, and down. As always, don&#39;t blink and don&#39;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.</p><p></p><p>Leave your eyes closed for a few seconds and relax before we move into the meditation. Now you are ready for our candle meditation.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Effortless Focusing</h3><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/djMUBsh8RwmT5TZ6ORj3\" alt=\"candle flame.png\" title=\"candle flame.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"399\" /><p>Start your Trataka meditation by turning down the lights and sitting between 1–1.5 meters from your candle. Sit in a pose that&#39;s comfortable for you and that you can hold for the duration of the meditation. Once you&#39;re comfortable, close your eyes.</p><p>With 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.</p><p></p><p>For the next minute, try not to blink.</p><p></p><p>Look 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.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do press and release palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.</p><p>Candle gazing takes practice. Be patient with yourself as you&#39;re learning this process.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Intense Focusing</h3><p>Blink your eyes open, looking softly at the floor. For the next minute, don&#39;t blink.</p><p></p><p>Once 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.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do constant pressure palming. Release your palms back down to your knees.</p><p></p><h3>Trataka Meditation: Bhramari Pranayama</h3><p>Blink your eyes open, again looking softly at the floor. Don&#39;t blink for the next minute and a half.</p><p></p><p>Look 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&#39;s aura and the particles around it.</p><p></p><p>Close your eyes and do constant pressure palming.</p><p></p><p>This 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.</p><p></p><p>Place 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.</p><p>Observe the silence within you and find the awareness toward your body. Observe the changes in your body, especially in the eye muscles.</p><p></p><p>Continue 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&#39;d like. If you&#39;re sitting in a chair, you&#39;re welcome to stay there and relax with your eyes closed.</p><p></p><p>Relax in savasana for several minutes.</p><p></p><p>When you&#39;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.</p><p></p><p>Join your palms together at heart center, <em>namaste</em>. Take a deep breath in and finish by chanting <em>Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti</em>.</p><p></p><p>Finish with rest palming and blink your eyes open. Congratulations on completing your candle meditation! </p><p></p><p>Want to take a guided live class? 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