When Yoga Happens Suddenly
I had a career in the software industry for almost 14 years achieving the highest rung in the career ladder and traveling across many countries. However, for me, finding Yoga happened all of a sudden.
As a Program Manager at an IT firm in Bangalore, I managed 25 projects and 200 people by working 18-hour days. With this heavy workload and my poor eating habits, my health went for a toss. I had a skin allergy, severe back pain, and breathing issues. To make matters worse, I was away from my family.
My company was preparing my Visa to travel to Australia for an extended work trip. Considering my health, I asked for a week off before this trip. But it was rejected, including even the option to work from home. At that point, my organization wanted a 24-hr shift as they could not manage my team of 200 people without me.
All of a sudden, when I was struggling with project issues and my time-off rejection, I went truly blank for few minutes. Questions began circling in my mind. What more am I going to achieve by going to Australia? What am I going to do when my health is getting worse each day? And with my family being away from me? Is this truly adding any value to my career?
In short, where am I going?
These questions started circling again and again and I could not move an inch or concentrate on my work anymore. So I shut down for the day and went to my room. I was hoping that by the next day I would feel fine. However, I did not. With my health going back and forth, I did not want to work so hard to only spend my earnings paying doctors to prescribe medication for me.
Around this time, one of my friends in Chennai who worked with me in the US, told me about this yoga course he was taking. As I was not a fast-paced gym person, my muscles were tight, and I was having issues with insomnia, I thought of trying yoga to improve my health. I remembered that a few years back when I was in the U.S, I attended a workshop and course from Art of Living. Even then, the application of Yoga was a huge relief for me.
I quit my job at that moment and came to YOGA! Yes, I resigned!
My initial intent was to heal myself and regain my health. Slowly, with the practices of Yoga, I began to understand how rigid my body and mind had become. My mind was like a cockroach, with my antennas always alert managing 25 projects!
I started slowing down in my daily life.
As I became more present, my back pain, breathing issues and other troubles of acidity started diminishing day by day. My hip, which was like a rock, started becoming so light and flexible. My sleep improved so much that now it takes me only a few minutes to fall asleep.
As I was always highly alert and sharp, I asked my mom if I had become very slow or dull after coming to yoga. She responded “No! Now I find you normal.” She was so happy for me that I had chosen to concentrate on my health.
My interest in yoga continued to grow. As I got relief from my pain, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to share these skills so that I could help people who were also facing such issues attain a healthy and happy life.
After several rounds of a difficult interview selection process, I joined a dense course for 1.5 years at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. Krishnamacharya was the guru of BKS Iyengar. The mind, body, and breath concepts that we covered in my education amazed me.
Yoga is not a one size fits all approach.
It is as unique as each of us. Hence, the practice also differs for each individual and needs customization. The skills of Yoga must be taught “not as it applies to us, but as it applies to the other”.
Further enhancing my knowledge, I obtained a certification in Yoga Therapy from Bihar School of Yoga. It has been over 4 years since quitting my corporate job and the hi-fi environment. Yet, there has not been a single moment that I regret my decision or feel like going back even when I think of the fond memories I have for some of it.
Yoga has changed my life from stress-filled to peace-filled. Above all the co-human connectivity which I establish with my clients and students and the satisfaction I get out of it is immeasurable. Yoga helped me understand what my NEEDS truly are rather than what I want.
Nevertheless, all of this would not have been possible without the love, care and support shown by my family and people around me. They believed in me then and continue to believe in me today. They are my biggest pillars of my strength.
Yoga is all about what lies within and there is nothing without it!
Keep Calm and Love Yoga
Sowmya
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{"slug":"when-yoga-happens-suddenly","recentPosts":[{"id":"cl8kb5f23jq1w0ciscs2h2bxw","slug":"benefits-of-yoga-for-pregnancy","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What are the Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga for Pregnancy is excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor. Read more to understand the benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:42:36.767798+00:00","coverUrl":"kvvlqndsbow5dsckhw7i.jpg","content":{"text":"When you get pregnant, people come out of the woodworks with advice, remedies and old wives tales. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should spend your pregnancy. But the one thing we know for sure is, yoga is great for mom and baby alike. If you’re curious about prenatal yoga, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down why this type of yoga is excellent for moms (and babies).\\nWhat is prenatal yoga?\\nPrenatal yoga was designed for women who are expecting. Rather than taking a regular class and having to worry about modifications or safety, this class is specifically designed for pregnancy. The practice can help women with common pregnancy aches and pains, ease hormonal and emotional stress and help women’s bodies prepare for birth and their postpartum journey. A regular yoga practice when pregnant has tons of amazing benefits!\\nBenefits of Prenatal yoga: \\nWe asked women who’ve done prenatal yoga while pregnant for their reviews, one said “ It’s excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor.” And they all said they’d recommend it to friends! \\nSo let's break down the benefits: \\nRelaxation : \\nPregnancy can be very stressful! But yoga will help you to relax physically, mentally and emotionally and create a safe, relaxing environment for birth. Prenatal helps you with coping and breath techniques for all stages of your pregnancy.\n\\nPreparation for birth : \\nFor first time moms, and even sometimes vets, labor can be scary. This practice will help you to learn birth techniques so you’re relaxed and ready to go!\n\\nYoga can Help with Labor : \\nIn a 2015 study\\n, It was found that a regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy can improve the mother's comfort during labor and help facilitate the labor process. The “yoga group” in this study on average was in labor two hours less than those who didn’t practice. Past your due date? Prenatal Yoga is also known to help induce labor\n\\nCommunity : \\nYoga classes have always been known to help us build community but during pregnancy, it's so important to have a group of women who understand what you’re going through. Taking part in a prenatal class puts you in a group of women who get it. You’ll have a built in support system and maybe even first friends for your baby!\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Prenatal Yoga:\\nIs Yoga for Pregnancy safe?\\nYes. Yoga is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, you should always consult your doctor & make sure you’re practicing with a teacher who understands the prenatal experience and can keep you safe. Our teachers are experts in yoga and are ready to help you on your journey. If you’d like to check out our offerings, you can get started today with a two week free trial! \\nWhen during pregnancy can you practice yoga?\\nDuring your first trimester, you can stick to your regular practice with some modifications. \\nYour second trimester is a GREAT time to start prenatal yoga! At this point, you’ll be starting to officially come into your “pregnancy body” and you’ll need to be practicing poses more specific to prenatal. The second and third trimester are considered the “prep period” for your body to prepare for labor. So it's a great time to keep moving and stretching in your new skin as you make room for the baby to grow! \\nWhat yoga poses should you avoid doing? \\nFor the most part, yoga is considered safe during pregnancy. You really only need to focus on any poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You should avoid any and all twisting poses, backbends and inversions.. \\nYoga for Pregnancy Poses you can perform at Home :\\nIt’s important to stay active during your pregnancy for both mom and baby! You should try to get in some sort of movement daily for at least 30 minutes. You can stick to low impact workouts or walks but if you want to do some yoga at home, it’s a great way to end your day. Yoga while pregnant can help with pain, help you sleep better and fight tiredness and fatigue. \\nHere are some poses you can practice at home to keep you moving! And as a bonus, most of these poses will also help your body prepare for giving birth!\\n1. Bound angle pose (Baddha Konasana) :\\n\\nBaddha Konasana pose will help you open your hips, releasing any pain in your back. It can also help to reduce swelling\\nHow it helps with labor: Opening the hips will help you to stretch the muscles needed to open the birth canal.\\n2. Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana Bitilasana) :\\n\\nMarjaryasana Bitilasana pose release back and shoulder pain and also reduce pressure from the belly\\nHow it helps with labor: Back pain is a common occurrence during the birth process. This pose will help to keep your muscles limber and help to avoid muscle spasms and pain in your back during labor. \\n3. Yogi squat (Malasana) :\\n\\n\\nBeen sitting too long\\n? This is a great hip opener and will also release lower back pain. \\nHow it helps with labor: This pose will widen the pelvic floor making the birth easier,which may help to reduce injury during birth.\\nRemember, if you’re practicing at home, it’s always best to consult your doctor and make sure yoga is safe for your pregnancy.\\n\\nOther ways to practice self-care during pregnancy\\nBeing a mom is the hardest job in the world. And there are no days off. Starting with pregnancy, we feel out of control of our body, its growth and the way we feel. Remember to take time during this beautiful process to practice self-care so you can be present, happy and relaxed. \\nBook a prenatal massage :\n\nA prenatal massage is GREAT for mom and baby. It can help reduce stress and swelling without meds, help you to sleep and get your body ready for labor and delivery. \n \\nTake a bath :\n\nTaking a warm bath while pregnant can also help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. It’s a great way to relax and rest your growing body. If you’re feeling pain or swelling, it can be very beneficial to relax in a warm bath. \n\\n\\nAyurveda for Pregnancy :\\n\n\nThis week, MyYogaTeacher has a special Ayurveda event running where you’ll learn how to align with your best self through nutrition and health changes. This specific class is designed to help you have your most healthy pregnancy with nutrition guidelines for a mom and foods to help with baby's development! \\n\nYou can also choose to work 1 on 1 with an instructor of your choice through your MyYogaTeacher membership! Let us help you have your healthiest pregnancy possible! \\n\\nGet started today!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"cl8ka13l4ionz0ck2fe0pme7l","slug":"chronic-neck-pain-relief-yoga-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Are you suffering with Chronic Neck Pain? 10 yoga poses to find relief!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:11:15.683866+00:00","coverUrl":"rbh6duxy7hy3y207sg1c.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you suffer from chronic neck pain? Nearly 30-50% of adults suffer from recurring neck pain. \\nNeck pain can be a common occurrence for people who:\\nhave long commutes or sit at a desk all day\\nwho have issues with posture \\nwho have chronic sleep issues\\nOur neck and shoulders can also be a place where we may carry tension or pain due to stress. In any case, the good news is yoga can help you to relieve your neck pain and move on symptom free! \\nDaily changes you can make to avoid neck pain\\nStay in alignment. Keep good posture and try not to carry heavy bags on one side of your body. Also, if you sit at a desk and work on a computer, move your monitor to eye-sight so you’re not looking up or down. Need help finding your center? \\nWe can help here at MyYogaTeacher! \\n\\nStay active! It’s important to stay mobilized. If you sit all day, take breaks to move around and give your body a break from being stuck in one position. Can’t take breaks at work? Try to go for a walk on lunch or maybe before or after your workday. \\nCheck your sleep environment. Make sure your mattress and pillows are still in good shape. Look into the best pillows for your sleep type or body. Getting quality sleep will help you avoid tossing and turning and can be your remedy to wake pain free. \\nIf you’re feeling like you need to move, starting with any slower yoga practice will help! Yin, hatha and restorative classes will all leave your body feeling relaxed, renewed and free of pain. Want to flow on your own? Here are our top ten poses to try! \\n10 Yoga Poses to relieve Chronic Neck Pain :\\n1. Easy seat with ear to shoulder stretch\\nThis pose releases your neck and shoulders and helps relieve tension and stress.\\nStart by sitting with your legs crossed and a straight back. Shoulders down. Bring your ear down to your shoulder. To deepen the stretch, bring your opposite arm overhead. \\n\\n\\n\\n2. Child’s Pose\\nReleases tension in the upper body including the neck and chest.\\nBring your knees as wide as the mat and sit into your heels. You can bring your chest to the mat and extend your arms forward or come to rest on a pillow or bolster. Try to hold this pose for up to 5 breaths. \\n\\n\\n\\n3. Downward facing dog\\nHelps to relieve neck pain by strengthening the upper body and releasing the spine. \\nStart by coming onto all fours. Check your alignment- make sure your shoulders are over your wrist, and your hips over your knees. Without changing the position of your hands and feet, push up and back to bring your heels into the ground. Relax your head, neck and shoulders down. \\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bridge Pose\\nReleases chest, neck, spine and hips.\\nLay down on your mat, bring your feet as close to your glutes as possible. Bring your hands to the sides of your body palms down. Push into the feet and hands while you lift your core and back to the ceiling. Try to relax and breathe here. \\n\\n\\n\\n5. Wide Leg forward fold\\nReleases spine, neck and back. If you’re in pain perform this stretch slowly, and come up one vertebrae at a time. \\nBring your feet as wide as you can, feet facing forward. Hinge at the hips and slowly bend forward and down towards your feet. You can hang here or grab yogi toe lock around your big toe. \\n\\n\\n\\n6. Cow face pose\\nStrengthens core and spine.\\nSit up tall and stack your knees directly over one another. Reach one arm back around your waist and one arm over your shoulder with your palms reaching towards one another. If you can, clasp your hands. If not, rest them on your back, you will still benefit from the pose. \\n\\n\\n\\n7. Sphinx pose\\nThis pose will help to physically open up the shoulders and neck. Looking side to side slowly is a great addition to the pose. \\nLie on your stomach and bring your hands next to your chest facing down. On your inhale press into the ground and lift your upper body. \\n\\n\\n\\n8. Thread the Needle \\nIncreases mobility and releases tension in the upper body. \\nCome on to all fours. Check your alignment, make sure your hips are over your knees, shoulders over your wrist. Reach one arm out to the side and thread it through the opposite side under your ribs. You can stay here or open up the opposite side by reaching the hand to the back or straight up and over. Make sure to do both sides. \\n\\n\\n\\n9. Legs up the wall\\nReleases tension and stress from the upper body by reversing blood flow. \\nFind a wall near your practice space and sit next to the wall as close as possible. Lower your head, neck and shoulders onto your mat, then roll onto your back and stretch your legs up the wall. You can stay in this restorative pose for up to 10 minutes. \\n\\n\\n\\n10. Savasana\\nSavasana releases any stress, lowers heart rate and calms the body. \\nCome onto your back on your mat, and release your body down. This is known as corpse pose because it is a full and final rest at the end of our practice. Release and let go of any and all tension. \\n\\n\\n\\nClasses to help relieve neck pain \\n\\nYoga fusion for joints \\n- This class will help you roll out your joint pain and stretch your tight limbs and joints. \\n\\nYoga for Back Pain\\n - Sometimes, neck pain can be caused by tightness in the spine. Experts say yoga helps soothe muscle pains. Try this class to strengthen and lengthen your neck and back for pain relief! \\n\\nYoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain\\n - Do you sit all day at work? Struggle with your posture? This class will help relieve upper body tension. \\n\nSo if you’re ready to make your neck pain a thing of the past, join us today. Our trial includes two free weeks of group fitness classes, one on one classes and so much more! \\nGet started on your yoga journey now!\\n"},"category":["yoga_poses"]},{"id":"cl8cuq5nnh5860biyek2vhu2w","slug":"reproductive-rights-for-women-yoga-workshop","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop - Supporting Women Through Yoga","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-22T09:28:27.679552+00:00","coverUrl":"dkjwcigamkavxe0yziwq.jpg","content":{"text":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s first ever Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in the wisdom of women to make their own choices about their health. \\n\\nThat’s why we’re excited to offer the\\n Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop on October 2 from 9 AM - 11 AM PST (12 PM - 2 PM EST) for only $10!\\nIn the past, our community events have been free. So why are we charging a nominal fee for this one?\\nBecause ALL proceeds from the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop go to support the \\nCenter for Reproductive Rights\\n charity, a nonprofit organization, the \\nonly\\n global legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing reproductive rights.\\nIn the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade and on the day before the new term of the Supreme Court begins, we think this workshop is a perfect way to silently protest this new ruling through self-care and donations to an organization like the Center for Reproductive Rights.\\nThis will also be a time of healing and processing with a couple of awesome expert yoga instructors!\\nHow to join the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop\\nWhether you’re a member or not, \\nJust click this link and register \\nas you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nIntroducing a very special guest yoga instructor coming just for this event!\n\\nMeet Harpinder Mann, RYT-500!\\n\\n\n\\nHarpinder is a yoga, meditation, mindfulness teacher, and decolonizing activist based in Los Angeles. She works with women of color who want to reclaim their power and intuition through the lens of a spiritual, joyful, and sustainable path. Her studies have spanned from reading the Japji Sahib since she was 3, to over 700 hours of yogic training within the traditions of Raja, Vinyasa, Kundalini, and Prenatal Yoga. \\nWe’re super excited to have her lead the beginning of the workshop. Afterwards, MyYogaTeacher yoga instructor, \\nTrupti Parikh\\n, will lead us in asanas, and a discussion session will follow.\\nAre you ready to experience a workshop where we solely focus on supporting and advocating for women’s health \\nwhile\\n improving our mental, emotional, and physical health?\\n\\nJoin us for the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\n\\nTogether, we make a difference."},"category":["workshops"]},{"id":"cl8a9804vy5de0biznpg4ai2t","slug":"yoga-benefits-for-runners","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga For Runners : Why Runners Should Incorporate Yoga Into Their Training?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Adopting an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Read now to learn more","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-20T13:50:56.406936+00:00","coverUrl":"tbdacuzob0fuqml8dyjd.jpg","content":{"text":"Training for a big race? Setting some goals you want to crush before the year ends? No matter what your reasons, yoga can be a great way to cross train for running from a 5k to a marathon! Running is great for your heart and body but can also be a huge strain on the muscles. Having an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Let’s dive into how yoga can help!\\n1. Breathing\\nProper breathing and breath stabilization are both incredibly important principles in Yoga and Running. If you can practice proper breathing while running, you can maintain speed longer because you will take long deeper breaths to match your long strides, instead of short breaths which cause instability and speed decline.\\nPracticing Pranayama for runners - \\nAdding a pranayama breath practice before a run can help you to maintain focus as well as speed. Even if running is a release for you, and feels relaxing, Using breathwork to relax and focus can help you clearly see the physical and mental road ahead. Pranayama can also help if things are going off course on your run. If you need to regain control, you can come back to your breath and refocus. With these practices together, your run really can be a religious experience, or a way to relieve stress! \\nTo start a pranayama practice, all you need to do is focus on controlling your inhale and exhale. Start by standing tall and relaxed, or sitting tall and calm if you prefer. Close your eyes and focus inward. Start by breathing in for two and out for two. As you continue to grow your practice, you can build up to breathing in for six and out for six. You can even play with pausing for two to four breaths in between your inhale and exhale. When you finally build a practice you’re confident with, you can start to set intentions and visualize your success. With this practice, you’ll begin to see your running dreams come true!\\n\\n2. Flexibility/Strength\\nIt would be great if in life, we only ever needed to do one thing to get to our goals. But in reality,just like we can’t have cookies for every meal, cross training for runners is essential to maintaining a long term healthy routine. While you could easily just add weight training or stretching a la cart into your week, yoga gives you more by going deeper and getting into those smaller, harder to access ligaments and tendons you might otherwise miss with strength training . Adding yoga into your running routine can reduce the risk of injury and help to maintain your goals. The more flexible your muscles are, the less likely they are to tense up or be stressed during running so you can move with more confidence and ease. Not to mention, it’s always great to look forward to a nice long stretch after a run. \\n\n3. Conditioning \\nWe all know running is GREAT for your cardiovascular health, can add years on to your life and keep your heart pumping at its best! But it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran, running can make your body sore. Yoga is great for conditioning those tired and fatigued muscles without having to “take a day off” to rest. In between your runs or on conditioning days, you can take a class focused on your back or knee health, or even a class to open tight hips after a long run. There’s nothing the magic of yoga can’t do! \\n\n4. Balance/Posture\\nEven though running is a “walk in the park” compared to ballet where balance is concerned, you still need to do your best to focus on alignment while you move.\\nYoga can improve your running form by elongating the limbs so you cover more ground in less time. You'll be PR’ing in no time! Proper alignment is also important when running because as you increase your speed, the level of impact (and injury) becomes greater. Maintaining your body's alignment during movement assures you arrive at the finish line aliment free! Love a tree pose? Want to learn to fly into a warrior? Lots of yoga poses force you to balance on one leg, which helps you to build a unilateral movement practice much like the ebbs and flows you take while running. \\n5. Stress and Mental Clarity\\nFeeling stressed before a big run? Worried about your PR? Yoga can help! Focus your breathing and set an intention. You’ve got this!\\nFocus and clarity are so important when running so you can know where you’re headed and stay on track. Add your yoga practice in before training or race days and you’ll feel your worries melt away. According to scientists at \\nHarvard,\\n adding just minutes of yoga to your week can improve your outlook, slow down the body and decrease stress. You’ll find your body will be more relaxed, focused and ready to run for those goals when you release your tension with yoga. \\nGetting started:\\nSo what do you need to get started? Simple! Yourself, a mat, some water and a quiet space are all you need! Are you ready to add yoga into your running routine? \\nGet started with a two week free trial of our classes and one on one sessions!\\n\\nLet’s figure out where your yoga practice would serve you best! \\nDoing yoga BEFORE your run will help you to warm up your muscles and ligaments. By fully warming up your body before you hit the pavement, you decrease the chances of injury, help with an easier recovery and can improve your PR as you continue to train! \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice before a run :\\nHigh Lunge - This pose stretches the legs from top of the thighs down to the ankle\\n\\nWarrior II - Helps with focus and stamina. Great before heading out!\\n\\nSide angle bend - This stretch helps to stretch the side body and release any tension in the shoulders and spine. \\n\\nPrefer to do yoga after your run? That’s a great option too! Yoga is great for recovery after a run! Finishing your running routine with a yoga stretch helps you to rebalance. You can stretch muscles or limbs that became tight during your run and strengthen anything that may have become fatigued. You can also refocus and deepen your breath to reset for the next part of your day. \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice after a run :\\nButterfly Pose - a basic hip opener to ease into your stretch\\n\\nHalf Pigeon - A great pose for multiple alignments! Working through the psoas and hip flexors. Make sure to practice on both sides.\\n\\nHappy Baby - This pose is great for finishing up your hip opener extension while giving a nice massage to the back and stretching the soles of the feet.\\n\\nWant to take a class? Try some of our favorite classes for runners!\\n\\nYoga for Strength and flexibility \\n\\n\\nYoga for Knee Pain\\n\\n\\nYoga for Back health\\n\\nReady to join us for class? \\nGet started with a free trial now! \\n\\nRemember, with a great training plan for your runs, and an ongoing yoga practice you’ll be ready to run to your greatest finish line feeling and looking your best! Just like peanut butter and jelly, yoga and running are great together!"},"category":["fitness","yoga"]},{"id":"cl81n0o6wh1g80ajz2gpco553","slug":"yoga-at-home","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How to Start Doing Yoga at Home","subTitle":"Everything you need to know for an at-home yoga routine","seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Get a beginner’s guide to starting yoga at home with tips and suggestions for setting up your own practice, including online yoga classes and private lessons.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to perform yoga at home with this quick and easy guide","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-14T13:07:13.39269+00:00","coverUrl":"cqivxw3vkrcihpumlny7.jpg","content":{"text":"There are lots of reasons for doing yoga at home instead of a yoga studio, some of which include distance, busy schedules, kids, financial concerns, and health issues. The good news is you can set up your own yoga practice at home, and still get all the benefits of a regular yoga routine — without the studio. It can also be a great way to integrate yoga into your life on a regular basis, and it’s easy to do in your own home.\\nCan Anyone do Yoga at Home?\\nAnyone can perform yoga at home, and you don’t have to be an advanced yogi to try. Even beginners can practice yoga in a home environment, all you need is adequate floor space, a few (optional) pieces of equipment, and guidelines for practicing the primary yoga poses. \\nIf you’re a beginner, it’s recommended to first learn from a certified yoga instructor, so you can progress with the proper technique and alignment to avoid injury. Thanks to online learning platforms like\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, you can still practice yoga at home with the help of a qualified teacher.\\n11 Tips on How to Perform Yoga At Home\\nThe idea of starting a yoga practice in your very own living room can seem daunting or intimidating at first, especially if you’re accustomed to attending classes in a yoga studio. But with a little bit of preparation and creativity, you can set up your own yoga space and develop a mindful yoga routine that can benefit your life.\\nHere are some suggestions to help get you started:\\n1. Make Space in Your Home for Yoga\\nIt’s easy (and fun) to make your own yoga space, and you can design it as a temporary space or a dedicated one, depending on your needs. All you need is enough floor space to move around and stretch out the full length of your body — a little more than the length and width of your yoga mat. This can be your living or bedroom floor, your kitchen, or your backyard. Just make sure there isn’t any furniture or objects lying around that could get in your way or cause injury.\\n2. Decorate With Calming Accessories\\nYou can also create a comfortable and inviting space for yoga by hanging calming or inspiring artwork on the wall, lighting a candle or incense, and keeping a few house plants nearby for a pleasing atmosphere. The more you can tailor and dedicate your space for yoga, the easier it will be to motivate yourself to keep up a steady routine. Hanging a mirror in front of your practice space is also helpful in maintaining the correct alignment while performing postures.\\n3. Be Prepared With the Right Equipment\\n\\nYou’ll want to invest in a yoga mat, and it’s wise to also keep modifying props on hand — like blocks, bolsters, blankets, and a strap. If you’re just starting out and you’d like to improvise for props, you can use pillows, blankets, and other items around the house to suit your needs. Just make sure your props are sturdy, supportive, and nearby for when you need them.\\n4. Practice Regularly\\nThe best part about practicing yoga at home is it can be done any time you want. The challenge lies in your dedication and commitment to the practice even when your couch appears more inviting.\\n \\nAccording to this study\\n, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to create a new habit. It’s important to be patient with yourself and identify guidelines for your practice that you can realistically follow through with. \\n5. Schedule Your Yoga Session\\nSet yourself up for success by committing to your yoga practice at a certain time of day, and for a specified number of days per week. It’s best to start out easy with goals that are achievable and progress as you gain momentum. For instance, if you’ve never been an early riser, don’t expect yourself to suddenly start practicing yoga at dawn. If that’s the case, try scheduling your yoga session for late morning, afternoon or evening, and keep your existing schedule in mind when planning a time that works for you.\\n6. Keep it Simple\\nRegardless of your experience or ability level, practicing yoga at home means watching out for your own safety. Make sure you have props handy for when you need them, and avoid overdoing it with strenuous poses. When it doubt, keep your routine simple. Even if you’re an advanced yogi, those basic, primary yoga poses are still an important part of a holistic yoga practice, and may be less likely to cause injury.\\n7. Listen to Your Body\\nThe best way to avoid getting hurt while practicing yoga at home is to listen to your body. If any posture causes you discomfort or pain, stop practicing it immediately — no matter how easy or difficult the pose. Don’t push yourself too hard, and remember to focus on your alignment. If you are unsure of how to execute a specific pose, try learning it from a certified instructor before performing it on your own at home.\\n8. Take an Online Yoga Class\\n\\nBy far the best way to practice yoga at home is with an online class. This way, you get all the benefits of doing yoga at home in your own time, with the added help of an instructor who can make sure you’re performing poses safely and effectively. You can find\\n online group classes\\n for every type of yoga at\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, with over 42 classes offered throughout the day. Private, 1-on-1 instructors are also available for at-home yoga, giving you plenty of options to get the right kind of training while still practicing in the comfort of your own home.\\n9. Squeeze in a Short Practice\\nThe beauty of an at-home yoga practice means you can squeeze in a quick session when you just have 20-30 minutes of time. Even short yoga routines are beneficial for your body and mind, and performing a few of the primary yoga poses on a daily basis will change your life for the better. Try incorporating the Sun Salutation flow series into your morning routine when you first get out of bed in the morning, or practicing some relaxing poses like Legs-Up-The-Wall or Savasana in the evening. \\n10. Switch it Up and Make it Fun\\nYoga doesn’t always have to be serious, and you can make your home yoga practice fun and spontaneous for you and your family. Practicing with your kids is a great way to help them learn mindfulness and self-awareness, while stretching and strengthening their growing bodies. You can also take your practice to the backyard to enjoy sunshine and good weather, or invite friends over to share in the experience. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!\\n11. End Every Practice With Savasana\\nWhen practicing yoga at home, it can be tempting to skip important parts of the journey due to time constraints, distractions, or disinterest. If there is one element of yoga you should never skip, it’s Savasana, or otherwise known as Corpse pose. Always end your practice with 5 minutes of relaxation to help your body integrate the routine. Keep a blanket nearby to warm your body after it has cooled down, and consider an eye pillow to help you relax. Your body and mind will thank you as you move on to the rest of your day, having given yourself the gift of healthy movement to better your life."},"category":["yoga","therapy"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"ckyxpcp4wm10x0d26pz3qteep","slug":"yoga-teacher-taining-for-everyone","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"6 Things That a Yoga Teacher Training Course Will Do for You – Even If You Don’t Want to Teach","createdAt":"2022-01-28T01:04:08.583471+00:00","coverUrl":"amrbzvz8deegkjnh7v7y.jpg","content":{"text":"If you’re reading this right now, you probably are at least \\nthinking\\n about how a yoga teacher training course can benefit you. You’re curious.\\nEver heard that quote, “Those who can’t do, teach”? Yeah, us too. And when it comes to yoga, that quote couldn’t be more wrong.\\nFirst of all, we haven’t met a yoga teacher yet that can’t do yoga. Can they do every single yoga pose ever created? No, of course not. Not many (if anyone) can. But, for the most part, they’re very capable of practicing yoga.\\nHowever, that doesn’t mean you \\nhave\\n to teach just because you get certified as a yoga teacher!\\nYogis take a yoga teacher \\ntraining\\n course for many reasons that we’re about to discuss, but so many more yogis choose not to take one because they don’t want to teach.\\nAnd we’re here to let you know that a high-quality, comprehensive yoga teacher training course is an amazing experience for all yoga practitioners, whether they’re brand new to the practice or have been practicing yoga for many years.\\nIf you’re interested in learning more about MyYogaTeacher’s Teacher Training Courses, we’d love to have you! \\nCheck it out here!\\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:\\n\\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 \\n\\nBefore saying yay or nay to a yoga TTC like the one MyYogaTeacher offers, consider these 6 benefits…that have \\nnothing\\n to do with teaching!\\n\\n\n1. Yoga teacher training helps you deepen your practice\\nWant more out of your yoga practice? More than what you’re able to get from a one hour class however many times a week?\\nMaybe you want to learn about the physiology of yoga, how it biologically affects your body. Maybe you want to become more focused, self aware, and mindful of your alignment and how your body feels during your yoga practice. It could be that you need more help with breathwork or want to explore various types of meditation to complement your yoga practice.\\nDuring a yoga teacher training course, your instructor (or \\ninstructors\\n) will have the opportunity to give you very specific feedback on how you are performing asanas, how various poses benefit your body, and you’ll certainly learn different types of breathing techniques and meditation variations.\\nLearning the principles behind good alignment, breath work, and meditation will help you in many different ways in daily life.\\nBetter posture, less stress and anxiety, reduced back and joint pain due to better alignment. All of these are benefits of deepening your yoga practice through the participation in a yoga teacher training course!\\n\\n\\n2. A yoga teacher training course will boost your confidence\\nWho \\ndoesn’t\\n want to be more confident? \\nEmbarking on a journey of yoga teacher training will help you discover strengths you didn’t know you had, improve weaknesses (whether physical, mental, or emotional), and help you develop a better sense of self, of who you are.\\nYou will overcome the stresses and insecurities that invariably accompany the pursuit of any type of challenge or obstacle. And participating in a constant physical practice will help you to see exactly how strong you really are!\\nWe’re not gonna lie. A yoga teacher training course really is challenging. But your yoga teacher and the community of other students you’re taking the course with will be the support you need to move through, over, and around those challenges and grow as a human and a yogi!\\n\\n\\n3. Yoga teacher training helps develop your sense of compassion\\nWe all have moments when we’re uncompassionate. When we are inconvenienced by someone else’s struggles or mistakes. We’re often irritated by slow drivers or when our food order is wrong. Some people are just so consumed with their own lives that they don’t have the emotional room or energy to be compassionate towards others.\\nIn a yoga teacher training course, you’ll explore and practice the concepts of \\nmetta\\n, or lovingkindness, and \\nashima\\n, evoking feelings of compassion. Many times, we are uncompassionate towards others because we are unable to show compassion for ourselves.\\nYou will learn how to show compassion and love towards friends, family, even strangers. But most importantly, you will learn how to show compassion for \\nyourself\\n.\\n\\n\\n4. A yoga teacher training course will teach you selfcare\\nOne of the primary things missing in the lives of many people the world over, but especially Americans, is selfcare. While studies show that self care practices have increased during the pandemic times, it is not nearly enough to keep our busy lives balanced.\\nAnd who’s to say the increase will last after all the pandemic chaos is over?\\nA yoga teacher training course emphasizes the necessity for regular selfcare. Selfcare shouldn’t be something special you only do once a week on the weekend. It should be something you incorporate as a part of your daily life.\\nYou can not pour from an empty cup. Selfcare promotes physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Numerous studies have shown the positive effects of regular self care practices.\\n\\n\\n5. Yoga teacher training courses teach self-awareness\\nIn my opinion, gaining self-awareness is one of the most beneficial aspects of taking a yoga teacher training course. Why?\\nWe are often so busy, we have no time to reflect on our day or our life, who we are at a base level as a human being. Instead, we are parents, partners, spouses, friends, children, co-workers. We are defined by what we \\ndo\\n instead of \\nwho we are\\n.\\nIncorporating new habits, experiences, knowledge, and activities into our lives is how we grow. Becoming aware of ourselves as individuals, apart from our roles and relationships, is how we become better in everything we do, every aspect of our lives.\\nIn a yoga teacher training program, you will not only learn the tools and techniques to discover your self-awareness, but you will be taught how to continue on afterwards.\\n\\n\\n6. You will learn how to let things go in a yoga teacher training program\\nOne of the fundamental concepts of yoga is letting go that which no longer serves you. But so often, we don’t. \\nWe carry grudges, stay angry, avoid confrontation. We harbor hate and envy and so much negative energy that it just consumes us. But it doesn’t serve us well. In a yoga teacher training program, you will focus on letting go of all the things that do not help you grow or make you happy.\\nYou will learn how to assess the thoughts, feelings, people, things, jobs, roles, and responsibilities in your life and decide if those things are helping you or hurting you. And with the tools from a yoga teacher training course, you’ll be empowered to remove what no longer serves you.\\nHere are MyYogaTeacher, we are passionate about helping people become the most radiant, beautiful, healthy people we know they are. Humans and humanity are amazing. Our yoga teachers recognize that and strive to provide expert guidance, love, and support that all their students need.\\nWith MyYogaTeacher 100% of your TTC is live. And you'll get access to incredible teachers with rare levels of experience and yoga education. Rohan himself has taught 17 in-person TTCs, 6 online TTCs, and managed 13 other TTCs!\\n \\nWe're not like those self-paced courses you'll find on the internet.\\n With a TTC from MyYogaTeacher, you're not paying for a series of videos \\n(that you can watch or not)\\n, a few live Q&A sessions \\n(that you can attend or not)\\n, and booklets or packets \\n(you can read or not)\\n.\\nWith our \\nYoga Alliance certified\\n TTC, you'll get:\\n ✔️ 100% live instruction\\n✔️ A group chat with your teachers and classmates\\n✔️ A 150-page e-book\\n✔️ Recordings of each of your classes\\n✔️ A community setting that keeps you motivated and energized\\n When you enroll in our Yoga Training Course, you’re not just saying yes to being a yoga instructor. Because some of you may not have that goal.\\n \\nYou’re saying yes to \\nYOU\\n.\\n \\nGet more info or sign up here!\\n\\n"}},{"id":"cl7zwz24chnlt0biyk8wtb0cj","slug":"start-hatha-yoga-practice","author":{"name":"Namrata Khandelwal","teacherMytSlug":"namrata-2","pictureUrl":"namrata-k-pro.jpg"},"title":"Interested in starting a Hatha yoga practice? 10 tips to get started!","createdAt":"2022-09-13T08:10:21.940734+00:00","coverUrl":"kwfhavtczeih1sjadbhk.jpg","content":{"text":"Are you new to yoga? Looking to develop a practice but don’t know what style or where to begin? Hatha yoga is a great choice for beginners looking to build a routine or veterans looking to deepen their practice of breathing and flexibility.\\nFirst things first, What is Hatha Yoga?\\nHatha yoga is a form of gentle yoga made up of poses and breath work and often starts or ends with a meditation. This type of practice can be challenging because in most traditional Hatha classes, poses are held for 30 seconds to a minute. \\nStyles of Hatha Yoga that we offer at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n:\\nHatha Yoga - This practice focuses separately on each asana. Focusing on connecting each asana with the breath and deepening each pose. This practice allows for breaks between poses and is more gentle and slow paced. \\nHatha Vinyasa - Known as a flow class, adding in the vinyasa makes the practice a little more fast paced. The poses are more linked together and the movement is connected to your breath work. \\nWhat are the benefits of a Hatha Yoga Practice?\\nThere are many benefits to building a hatha yoga practice. On the surface, for your physical health, hatha can increase flexibility, strength and balance! Hatha is proven to fight signs of aging and help with joint or muscle pain and improve blood flow!\\nWhen you turn your practice inward, it can also deepen your sleep and with the addition of the breathwork, your practice can also help you cope with anxiety or depression symptoms. \\nHatha is a great place to start your yoga journey because you can take your time to get familiar with the poses and learn to connect them to your breath. It’s good for the body and the mind!\\nHere are 10 tips to get you started with a Hatha Yoga Practice:\\nKnow your why - Before you start to build your practice, it’s important to establish why you’re coming to your mat. Is your reason for physical health, mental health or maybe just to press pause on your day and breathe? Each flow can be personalized for whatever brings you to your mat each day.\\nBe a student! - Take a class with us so you can learn how to flow on your own. Sometimes before you fly solo, you need a co-captain. And if you never decide to fly on your own, we're happy to have you here with us! Our teachers are the best and we think you'll love their classes!\n\nCheck out these three Hatha classes we love!\n\\nHatha for Beginners\\n\n\\nHatha Yoga Intermediate\\n\n\\nHatha Vinyasa\\n\\nLearn to breath - In this practice, you'll be holding in poses and breathing into the space you create. The traditional breath practice for a hatha yoga class is\\n Ujjayi breathing\\n otherwise known as victorious breath. This breathing practice is often used in yoga because it forces you to slow down and focus on your breathing and its connection to your movement. \\nChoose your asasas - While Hatha is usually a gentle practice, there is no right or wrong way to build your Hatha flow. The goal is just to focus and move your body! All you need is a minimum of three to five poses to get started! Start by reviewing the poses you know and then when you’re ready, add more as you grow.\\nPractice your pause - once you know what asanas you’d like to practice, grab a stopwatch! Work on holding each pose for 30 seconds, then 45 seconds, then a minute. Don’t forget to breathe into it. And if you can, try to find space and deepen into each pose as you practice more. \\nFind a way to beat the mental fatigue - Don’t give in to the voice in your head that says you can’t do this. Holding the poses can be difficult at first. Have a little grace and try your best not to give up. Practice your mantras to keep you going. Our favorite? Your stronger than you think!\\nBuild a meditation practice - When building a meditation practice, it’s important to figure out what you need from it. Do you need mantras to help you keep going? Do you need to visual what's coming? Or do you need to focus inward on your breath and the current moment. Remember, there’s no wrong answer. Play with this practice. Add it to the beginning, then the end and see where it serves you. Can’t settle in for quiet reflection? Try journaling instead. \\nBe benevolent to yourself - In Hatha yoga, one of the most important practices is the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) this means do no harm to yourself or to others Try to go through your life being kind to yourself on and off your mat. For more on this practice, check out \\nthis article\\n by Yogauonline\\nRead the text- Like a lot of Yoga, hatha isn’t just based on a movement practice. In fact, there are two connected texts to teach you the foundations of this practice. \\nHatha Yoga Pradipika \\n- a 15th century Sanskrit manual on the practice and style. \\nSiva Samhita\\n - from the hindu perspective breaking “yoga” the practice, down into five parts.\\nTrack the progress of your practice - Once you’ve developed your practice, there is no ‘ end' in yoga, we can only keep coming back to deepen or extend our practice. That’s why it’s a “practice” because there is no perfect. You can always adjust. Some days you’ll need more, some days less. But all the days…you'll need yoga. \\nFive poses to get started with Hatha Yoga:\\n1. Childs Pose\\nFocus on your third eye here. Move your head from right to left to massage your forehead.\\n\\n\n2. Cat Pose\\nBreath into your spine as you arch your back away from the floor. Relax your neck.\\n\\n\\n3. Down Dog\\nFocus on lengthening your heels into the floor and pushing your hips towards the back of the room. \\n\\n\\n4. Forward Fold\\nSurrender into this pose. Reach your palms towards the floor and deepen your stretch with every exhale.\\n\\n\\n5. Savasana\\nRelax your entire body into the ground. Release all the tension and slow your breath. \\n\\n\nNow that you have the tools you need, you’re ready to go! Find where your practice fits best and get ready to feel relaxed and enlightened! If you’re doing hatha for physical health, try adding the practice in after another workout or at the end of your day. \\nLooking to build a practice for relaxation or to wind down from your anxiety? Try starting your day with practice and a cup of green tea! \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n has tons of options available to you! See you on your mat! "}},{"id":"ckfqz1ipk01yq0126vja711fn","slug":"afternoon-slump-recharge-your-whole-body-in-10-minutes","author":{"name":"Amanda","teacherMytSlug":"amanda@myyogateacher.com-1","pictureUrl":"amanda-pro.jpg"},"title":"Afternoon Slump? Recharge your whole body in 10 minutes","createdAt":"2019-12-15T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"mark-zamora-x0a7bo1qodu-unsplash.jpg","content":{"text":"Reset your nervous system, clear out unnecessary thoughts, and get back to a balanced state with this 10-minute yoga sequence.\\n\\nLooking for a routine guaranteed to bring your energy back? Book a free session with one of our experienced teachers to help design the routine perfect for you. \\nNot signed up? Click here to take advantage of 5 free sessions now (supplies limited).\\n\\n\\nEasy Reset \\nYoga Routine\\n\\n\\nForward Fold\\n\\n\\nSeated Twist\\n\\n\\nSide Bend\\n\\n\\nLegs Up The Wall\\n\\n\\nChild's Pose\\n\\nForward- FoldPlace your feet about 3 feet apart. Exhale bring your arms and torso down into a forward fold. You can place your hands on the floor, a block, or even on a chair.Take 5 deep breaths. Come back to the starting position with an inhale.Seated TwistWhile seated, place one hand behind you and the other on the opposite knee. Take five breaths, reaching the top of the head towards the ceiling. On an exhale, return to center and repeat on the other side. Side-bendInhale lift both arms up, and if you like, interlace the finger and flip the palms to the ceiling. Exhale and reach your palms towards the to the side. Inhale to come back to center and repeat on other side.Legs Up the WallEasy peasy. Bring both legs up a wall and extend the arms outward. Take at least 10 breaths, or more if you're enjoying it!Child's PoseFrom a kneeling position, exhale and bring your forehead to the floor. Relax the hips towards to the heels and extend the arms in front of you. Hang out for as long as you like. \\n\\nHeadphones on! \\n\\nWant a guided experience by one of our expert teachers? Check out this relaxing sequence by Aparna! Ready to book a session? \\nClick here to take advantage of 5 free sessions now\\n (supplies limited).\\n\\n\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"cl8kb5f23jq1w0ciscs2h2bxw","slug":"benefits-of-yoga-for-pregnancy","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What are the Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy?","createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:42:36.767798+00:00","coverUrl":"kvvlqndsbow5dsckhw7i.jpg","content":{"text":"When you get pregnant, people come out of the woodworks with advice, remedies and old wives tales. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should spend your pregnancy. But the one thing we know for sure is, yoga is great for mom and baby alike. If you’re curious about prenatal yoga, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down why this type of yoga is excellent for moms (and babies).\\nWhat is prenatal yoga?\\nPrenatal yoga was designed for women who are expecting. Rather than taking a regular class and having to worry about modifications or safety, this class is specifically designed for pregnancy. The practice can help women with common pregnancy aches and pains, ease hormonal and emotional stress and help women’s bodies prepare for birth and their postpartum journey. A regular yoga practice when pregnant has tons of amazing benefits!\\nBenefits of Prenatal yoga: \\nWe asked women who’ve done prenatal yoga while pregnant for their reviews, one said “ It’s excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor.” And they all said they’d recommend it to friends! \\nSo let's break down the benefits: \\nRelaxation : \\nPregnancy can be very stressful! But yoga will help you to relax physically, mentally and emotionally and create a safe, relaxing environment for birth. Prenatal helps you with coping and breath techniques for all stages of your pregnancy.\n\\nPreparation for birth : \\nFor first time moms, and even sometimes vets, labor can be scary. This practice will help you to learn birth techniques so you’re relaxed and ready to go!\n\\nYoga can Help with Labor : \\nIn a 2015 study\\n, It was found that a regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy can improve the mother's comfort during labor and help facilitate the labor process. The “yoga group” in this study on average was in labor two hours less than those who didn’t practice. Past your due date? Prenatal Yoga is also known to help induce labor\n\\nCommunity : \\nYoga classes have always been known to help us build community but during pregnancy, it's so important to have a group of women who understand what you’re going through. Taking part in a prenatal class puts you in a group of women who get it. You’ll have a built in support system and maybe even first friends for your baby!\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Prenatal Yoga:\\nIs Yoga for Pregnancy safe?\\nYes. Yoga is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, you should always consult your doctor & make sure you’re practicing with a teacher who understands the prenatal experience and can keep you safe. Our teachers are experts in yoga and are ready to help you on your journey. If you’d like to check out our offerings, you can get started today with a two week free trial! \\nWhen during pregnancy can you practice yoga?\\nDuring your first trimester, you can stick to your regular practice with some modifications. \\nYour second trimester is a GREAT time to start prenatal yoga! At this point, you’ll be starting to officially come into your “pregnancy body” and you’ll need to be practicing poses more specific to prenatal. The second and third trimester are considered the “prep period” for your body to prepare for labor. So it's a great time to keep moving and stretching in your new skin as you make room for the baby to grow! \\nWhat yoga poses should you avoid doing? \\nFor the most part, yoga is considered safe during pregnancy. You really only need to focus on any poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You should avoid any and all twisting poses, backbends and inversions.. \\nYoga for Pregnancy Poses you can perform at Home :\\nIt’s important to stay active during your pregnancy for both mom and baby! You should try to get in some sort of movement daily for at least 30 minutes. You can stick to low impact workouts or walks but if you want to do some yoga at home, it’s a great way to end your day. Yoga while pregnant can help with pain, help you sleep better and fight tiredness and fatigue. \\nHere are some poses you can practice at home to keep you moving! And as a bonus, most of these poses will also help your body prepare for giving birth!\\n1. Bound angle pose (Baddha Konasana) :\\n\\nBaddha Konasana pose will help you open your hips, releasing any pain in your back. It can also help to reduce swelling\\nHow it helps with labor: Opening the hips will help you to stretch the muscles needed to open the birth canal.\\n2. Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana Bitilasana) :\\n\\nMarjaryasana Bitilasana pose release back and shoulder pain and also reduce pressure from the belly\\nHow it helps with labor: Back pain is a common occurrence during the birth process. This pose will help to keep your muscles limber and help to avoid muscle spasms and pain in your back during labor. \\n3. Yogi squat (Malasana) :\\n\\n\\nBeen sitting too long\\n? This is a great hip opener and will also release lower back pain. \\nHow it helps with labor: This pose will widen the pelvic floor making the birth easier,which may help to reduce injury during birth.\\nRemember, if you’re practicing at home, it’s always best to consult your doctor and make sure yoga is safe for your pregnancy.\\n\\nOther ways to practice self-care during pregnancy\\nBeing a mom is the hardest job in the world. And there are no days off. Starting with pregnancy, we feel out of control of our body, its growth and the way we feel. Remember to take time during this beautiful process to practice self-care so you can be present, happy and relaxed. \\nBook a prenatal massage :\n\nA prenatal massage is GREAT for mom and baby. It can help reduce stress and swelling without meds, help you to sleep and get your body ready for labor and delivery. \n \\nTake a bath :\n\nTaking a warm bath while pregnant can also help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. It’s a great way to relax and rest your growing body. If you’re feeling pain or swelling, it can be very beneficial to relax in a warm bath. \n\\n\\nAyurveda for Pregnancy :\\n\n\nThis week, MyYogaTeacher has a special Ayurveda event running where you’ll learn how to align with your best self through nutrition and health changes. This specific class is designed to help you have your most healthy pregnancy with nutrition guidelines for a mom and foods to help with baby's development! \\n\nYou can also choose to work 1 on 1 with an instructor of your choice through your MyYogaTeacher membership! Let us help you have your healthiest pregnancy possible! \\n\\nGet started today!\\n"}},{"id":"ckfqz0aq801yj0136gps4jqeb","slug":"yoga-gave-me-everything","author":{"name":"Shivayogi","teacherMytSlug":"shivayogi-1","pictureUrl":"Shiva-1.jpg"},"title":"Yoga Gave Me Everything","createdAt":"2019-11-14T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"Shiva-1.jpg","content":{"text":"from Shivayogi \\n\\nMy name is Shivayogi, but I don't know why my parents named me that. When I decided to enter into the world of Yoga, my parents actually stood against me. They were not confident in my decision. I turned away from 16 years of education and came to an unfamiliar city to follow this passion. \\n\\nMy \\njourney\\n started as a fitness trainer, completing certificates in Pilates, strength and conditioning and Strong by Zumba. I worked in a well-established gym called Chisel in Bangalore. Finally, I entered into the beautiful ocean called YOGA by enrolling in a Hatha and \\nAshtanga\\n Vinyasa certificate program in the Yoga capital of the world: Rishikesh, India.\\n\\nI fell in love with \\nyoga\\n.\\n\\nYoga is so so beautiful, monumental and soul-bearing and I adore it. Since completing that certificate program, I have worked with more than 50 multigyms in Bangalore and conducted more than 1,000 group classes. Each week, I teach everything from workshops to personal one-on-one classes and styles including hatha, \\nvinyasa\\n, power and even \\nacroyoga\\n!\\n\\nMy experience, training and love for this practice enable me to teach confidently.\\n\\nYoga gave me \\nconfidence\\n. Yoga gave me health.Yoga gave me a sound mind in a sound body.\\n\\nIn short, \\nyoga\\n gave me everything.\\n"}},{"id":"cl15mzam56v6p0civ30s56jgb","slug":"yoga-for-menopause","author":{"name":"Sarita","teacherMytSlug":"","pictureUrl":null},"title":"Yoga for Menopause : Why Menopausal Women Benefit From Yoga","createdAt":"2022-03-24T23:39:17.49117+00:00","coverUrl":"ik4av8npvdeyhe4qheep.jpg","content":{"text":"Did you know menopause yoga is a a real form of yoga? Granted, it’s not a traditional form of yoga like ashtanga, vinyasa, or yin yoga are. But it incorporates authentic, traditional yoga poses that benefit menopausal women.\\nMenopause may be a touchy subject for some of you, but here at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in being open and honest about all parts of our humanity.\\nDiscussing typically taboo topics like menopause helps women learn how to better manage their symptoms and lets them know they are not alone. \\nDuring menopause, women often seek medical treatment for their physical and psychological symptoms. But yoga for menopause symptoms offers hope for a natural remedy for many of the symptoms that you may experience during this transitional time! \\nAt MyYogaTeacher, every member is a part of a supportive community of yogis. We have students from all ages, all walks of life and who are experiencing many different phases of the human life cycle, including menopause.\\nMyYogaTeacher offers 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\n\\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\\nLearn more below about why menopausal women benefit from a consistent yoga practice!\\n\\n\\nRestorative yoga poses alleviate hot flashes\\nNo one really knows why women have hot flashes during (and even before) menopause. But this classic symptom is recognizable by an intense surge in body temperature and increased heart rate, making women feel flushed and hot.\\nYoga for menopause shouldn’t be vigorous. Any tension in the body or tightening of the muscles can make hot flashes worse. Cooling, restorative poses such as reclining bound angle pose, child’s pose, reclining hero pose, and reclined butterfly pose are good ones to help alleviate hot flashes. \\nAdditionally, using bolsters, blankets, blocks, or other props to make your yoga practice more comfortable is encouraged!\\n\\n\\nYoga for menopause helps manage decreased hormone symptoms\\nTraditionally, the allopathic route to resolving symptoms of decreased hormone production has been hormone replacement therapy. Doctors believe that to combat menopausal symptoms, replacing decreasing hormones such as estrogen was a solid solution.\\nUnfortunately, studies have shown that hormone replacement exposes women to serious health risks. Risks like dementia, stroke, heart attacks, as well as several types of cancer.\\nWhile yoga might not directly affect estrogen production, it has certainly shown to be effective at holistically managing the symptoms that occur due to the lack of estrogen that is produced during menopause.\\nSymptoms such as irritability, insomnia, fatigue, and lack of focus can all be managed with a consistent yoga practice.\\n\\n\\nMenopausal women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease\\nIn an \\narticle from the National Institute of Health\\n, studies show the use of yoga therapy for menopausal women decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). During menopause, women become more insulin resistent and have increased metobolic and vascular changes, all of which strongly contribute to CVD.\\nIncreasing evidence demonstrates that with proper guidance, yoga helps menopausal women reduce their risk of CVD, particularly in older adults who may have pre-existing medical conditions that make them especially prone to cardiovascular issues.\\nYoga also provides mental, physical, and emotional health benefits to this population of women that will help them live a more comfortable, happy, healthy life during and after menopause!\\n\\n\\nYoga poses for menopause\\nI guess you’re wondering what are some yoga poses you can do to help alleviate your menopausal symptoms! Let’s go over a few here to get you started.\\nYoga poses for mood swings\\nForward bend - \\nRelaxes the mind, fights depression and anxiety, calms the nervous system\\nBow pose - \\nOpens up the chest, lifts mood, and stimulates digestive organs\\nCamel pose - \\nHelps you feel safe and secure and aids in working through negative emotions\\nDownward facing dog - \\nIncreases circulation and wakes you up\\nLegs up a wall - \\nReduces fatigue and insomnia, calms the brain and relieves depression\\nYoga poses for hot flashes\\nChild’s pose - \\nCalms the heart rate, cools the body\\nReclining hero pose - \\nRelieves tight muscles that tense up when you’re uncomfortable\\nBridge pose - \\nReduces pain in back and stretches the neck and spine, improves circulation\\nReclining bound angle pose - \\nHelps create hormonal balance from overtaxed adrenal glands\\nWide leg forward bend - \\nLowers heart rate and blood pressure, cooling the body\\nYoga poses for cramps and heavy bleeding\\nSupine twist pose - \\nMassages reproductive organs, relieves tension in those areas\\nChild’s pose - \\nStretch lower back and allows lower abdominal muscles to relax\\nBow pose - \\nStretches out abdominal muscles and opens up reproductive organs\\nCobra pose - \\nStretches out abdominal muscles and puts gentle pressure on lower abdomen\\nHead to knees forward bend - \\n Relieves menstrual cramps, headache, and fatigue\\nTrying any or all of these poses each day you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms is sure to get you feeling better quickly, but try practicing yoga therapy for menopause every day for consistent relief from the uncomfortable symptoms you may be experiencing during this transitional time in your life.\\nAnd if you need some more guidance on how to get through these transitions with more ease, grace, and comfort, I encourage you to check out the affordable 1-on-1 private online yoga classes at MyYogaTeacher! We help people just like you!\\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!"}}],"blogContent":{"id":"ckfqxlh94011o013695vx2ptp","slug":"when-yoga-happens-suddenly","author":{"name":"Sowmya","teacherMytSlug":"sowmya-1","pictureUrl":"sowmya-pro.jpg"},"title":"When Yoga Happens Suddenly","createdAt":"2019-01-30T00:00:00+00:00","updatedAt":"2021-06-26T21:20:38.774897+00:00","coverUrl":"teach-what-is-inside-you-not-as-it-applies-to-you-to-yourself-but-as-it-applies-to-the-other.png","seoDescription":"","content":{"text":"I had a career in the software industry for almost 14 years achieving the highest rung in the career ladder and traveling across many countries. However, for me, finding Yoga happened all of a sudden.\\n\\nAs a Program Manager at an IT firm in Bangalore, I managed 25 projects and 200 people by working 18-hour days. With this heavy workload and my poor eating habits, my health went for a toss. I had a skin allergy, severe back pain, and breathing issues. To make matters worse, I was away from my family. \\n\\nMy company was preparing my Visa to travel to Australia for an extended work trip. Considering my health, I asked for a week off before this trip. But it was rejected, including even the option to work from home. At that point, my organization wanted a 24-hr shift as they could not manage my team of 200 people without me. \\n\\nAll of a sudden, when I was struggling with project issues and my time-off rejection, I went truly blank for few minutes. Questions began circling in my mind. What more am I going to achieve by going to Australia? What am I going to do when my health is getting worse each day? And with my family being away from me? Is this truly adding any value to my career? \\n\\nIn short, where am I going?\\n\\nThese questions started circling again and again and I could not move an inch or concentrate on my work anymore. So I shut down for the day and went to my room. I was hoping that by the next day I would feel fine. However, I did not. With my health going back and forth, I did not want to work so hard to only spend my earnings paying doctors to prescribe medication for me.\\n\\nAround this time, one of my friends in Chennai who worked with me in the US, told me about this yoga course he was taking. As I was not a fast-paced gym person, my muscles were tight, and I was having issues with insomnia, I thought of trying yoga to improve my health. I remembered that a few years back when I was in the U.S, I attended a workshop and course from Art of Living. Even then, the application of Yoga was a huge relief for me. \\n\\nI quit my job at that moment and came to YOGA! Yes, I resigned!\\n\\nMy initial intent was to heal myself and regain my health. Slowly, with the practices of Yoga, I began to understand how rigid my body and mind had become. My mind was like a cockroach, with my antennas always alert managing 25 projects!\\n\\nI started slowing down in my daily life. \\n\\nAs I became more present, my back pain, breathing issues and other troubles of acidity started diminishing day by day. My hip, which was like a rock, started becoming so light and flexible. My sleep improved so much that now it takes me only a few minutes to fall asleep. \\n\\nAs I was always highly alert and sharp, I asked my mom if I had become very slow or dull after coming to yoga. She responded “No! Now I find you normal.” She was so happy for me that I had chosen to concentrate on my health. \\n\\nMy interest in yoga continued to grow. As I got relief from my pain, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to share these skills so that I could help people who were also facing such issues attain a healthy and happy life.\\n\\nAfter several rounds of a difficult interview selection process, I joined a dense course for 1.5 years at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. Krishnamacharya was the guru of BKS Iyengar. The mind, body, and breath concepts that we covered in my education amazed me. \\n\\nYoga is not a one size fits all approach. \\n\\nIt is as unique as each of us. Hence, the practice also differs for each individual and needs customization. The skills of Yoga must be taught “not as it applies to us, but as it applies to the other”.\\n\\nFurther enhancing my knowledge, I obtained a certification in Yoga Therapy from Bihar School of Yoga. It has been over 4 years since quitting my corporate job and the hi-fi environment. Yet, there has not been a single moment that I regret my decision or feel like going back even when I think of the fond memories I have for some of it. \\n\\nYoga has changed my life from stress-filled to peace-filled. Above all the co-human connectivity which I establish with my clients and students and the satisfaction I get out of it is immeasurable. Yoga helped me understand what my NEEDS truly are rather than what I want. \\n\\nNevertheless, all of this would not have been possible without the love, care and support shown by my family and people around me. They believed in me then and continue to believe in me today. They are my biggest pillars of my strength.\\n\\nYoga is all about what lies within and there is nothing without it! \\n\\nKeep Calm and Love Yoga\\n\\nSowmya\\n","html":"<p>I had a career in the software industry for almost 14 years achieving the highest rung in the career ladder and traveling across many countries. However, for me, finding Yoga happened all of a sudden.</p><p></p><p>As a Program Manager at an IT firm in Bangalore, I managed 25 projects and 200 people by working 18-hour days. With this heavy workload and my poor eating habits, my health went for a toss. I had a skin allergy, severe back pain, and breathing issues. To make matters worse, I was away from my family. </p><p></p><p>My company was preparing my Visa to travel to Australia for an extended work trip. Considering my health, I asked for a week off before this trip. But it was rejected, including even the option to work from home. At that point, my organization wanted a 24-hr shift as they could not manage my team of 200 people without me. </p><p></p><p>All of a sudden, when I was struggling with project issues and my time-off rejection, I went truly blank for few minutes. Questions began circling in my mind. What more am I going to achieve by going to Australia? What am I going to do when my health is getting worse each day? And with my family being away from me? Is this truly adding any value to my career? </p><p></p><h5><strong>In short, where am I going?</strong></h5><p></p><p>These questions started circling again and again and I could not move an inch or concentrate on my work anymore. So I shut down for the day and went to my room. I was hoping that by the next day I would feel fine. However, I did not. With my health going back and forth, I did not want to work so hard to only spend my earnings paying doctors to prescribe medication for me.</p><p></p><p>Around this time, one of my friends in Chennai who worked with me in the US, told me about this yoga course he was taking. As I was not a fast-paced gym person, my muscles were tight, and I was having issues with insomnia, I thought of trying yoga to improve my health. I remembered that a few years back when I was in the U.S, I attended a workshop and course from Art of Living. Even then, the application of Yoga was a huge relief for me. </p><p></p><p>I quit my job at that moment and came to YOGA! Yes, I resigned!</p><p></p><p>My initial intent was to heal myself and regain my health. Slowly, with the practices of Yoga, I began to understand how rigid my body and mind had become. My mind was like a cockroach, with my antennas always alert managing 25 projects!</p><p></p><h4><strong>I started slowing down in my daily life. </strong></h4><p></p><p>As I became more present, my back pain, breathing issues and other troubles of acidity started diminishing day by day. My hip, which was like a rock, started becoming so light and flexible. My sleep improved so much that now it takes me only a few minutes to fall asleep. </p><p></p><p>As I was always highly alert and sharp, I asked my mom if I had become very slow or dull after coming to yoga. She responded “No! Now I find you normal.” She was so happy for me that I had chosen to concentrate on my health. </p><p></p><p>My interest in yoga continued to grow. As I got relief from my pain, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to share these skills so that I could help people who were also facing such issues attain a healthy and happy life.</p><p></p><p>After several rounds of a difficult interview selection process, I joined a dense course for 1.5 years at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. Krishnamacharya was the guru of BKS Iyengar. The mind, body, and breath concepts that we covered in my education amazed me. </p><p></p><h4><strong>Yoga is not a one size fits all approach. </strong></h4><p></p><p>It is as unique as each of us. Hence, the practice also differs for each individual and needs customization. The skills of Yoga must be taught “not as it applies to us, but as it applies to the other”.</p><p></p><p>Further enhancing my knowledge, I obtained a certification in Yoga Therapy from Bihar School of Yoga. It has been over 4 years since quitting my corporate job and the hi-fi environment. Yet, there has not been a single moment that I regret my decision or feel like going back even when I think of the fond memories I have for some of it. </p><p></p><p>Yoga has changed my life from stress-filled to peace-filled. Above all the co-human connectivity which I establish with my clients and students and the satisfaction I get out of it is immeasurable. Yoga helped me understand what my NEEDS truly are rather than what I want. </p><p></p><p>Nevertheless, all of this would not have been possible without the love, care and support shown by my family and people around me. They believed in me then and continue to believe in me today. They are my biggest pillars of my strength.</p><p></p><p>Yoga is all about what lies within and there is nothing without it! </p><p></p><p>Keep Calm and Love Yoga</p><p></p><p>Sowmya</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>I had a career in the software industry for almost 14 years achieving the highest rung in the career ladder and traveling across many countries. However, for me, finding Yoga happened all of a sudden.</p><p></p><p>As a Program Manager at an IT firm in Bangalore, I managed 25 projects and 200 people by working 18-hour days. With this heavy workload and my poor eating habits, my health went for a toss. I had a skin allergy, severe back pain, and breathing issues. To make matters worse, I was away from my family. </p><p></p><p>My company was preparing my Visa to travel to Australia for an extended work trip. Considering my health, I asked for a week off before this trip. But it was rejected, including even the option to work from home. At that point, my organization wanted a 24-hr shift as they could not manage my team of 200 people without me. </p><p></p><p>All of a sudden, when I was struggling with project issues and my time-off rejection, I went truly blank for few minutes. Questions began circling in my mind. What more am I going to achieve by going to Australia? What am I going to do when my health is getting worse each day? And with my family being away from me? Is this truly adding any value to my career? </p><p></p><h5><strong>In short, where am I going?</strong></h5><p></p><p>These questions started circling again and again and I could not move an inch or concentrate on my work anymore. So I shut down for the day and went to my room. I was hoping that by the next day I would feel fine. However, I did not. With my health going back and forth, I did not want to work so hard to only spend my earnings paying doctors to prescribe medication for me.</p><p></p><p>Around this time, one of my friends in Chennai who worked with me in the US, told me about this yoga course he was taking. As I was not a fast-paced gym person, my muscles were tight, and I was having issues with insomnia, I thought of trying yoga to improve my health. I remembered that a few years back when I was in the U.S, I attended a workshop and course from Art of Living. Even then, the application of Yoga was a huge relief for me. </p><p></p><p>I quit my job at that moment and came to YOGA! Yes, I resigned!</p><p></p><p>My initial intent was to heal myself and regain my health. Slowly, with the practices of Yoga, I began to understand how rigid my body and mind had become. My mind was like a cockroach, with my antennas always alert managing 25 projects!</p><p></p><h4><strong>I started slowing down in my daily life. </strong></h4><p></p><p>As I became more present, my back pain, breathing issues and other troubles of acidity started diminishing day by day. My hip, which was like a rock, started becoming so light and flexible. My sleep improved so much that now it takes me only a few minutes to fall asleep. </p><p></p><p>As I was always highly alert and sharp, I asked my mom if I had become very slow or dull after coming to yoga. She responded “No! Now I find you normal.” She was so happy for me that I had chosen to concentrate on my health. </p><p></p><p>My interest in yoga continued to grow. As I got relief from my pain, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to share these skills so that I could help people who were also facing such issues attain a healthy and happy life.</p><p></p><p>After several rounds of a difficult interview selection process, I joined a dense course for 1.5 years at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. Krishnamacharya was the guru of BKS Iyengar. The mind, body, and breath concepts that we covered in my education amazed me. </p><p></p><h4><strong>Yoga is not a one size fits all approach. </strong></h4><p></p><p>It is as unique as each of us. Hence, the practice also differs for each individual and needs customization. The skills of Yoga must be taught “not as it applies to us, but as it applies to the other”.</p><p></p><p>Further enhancing my knowledge, I obtained a certification in Yoga Therapy from Bihar School of Yoga. It has been over 4 years since quitting my corporate job and the hi-fi environment. Yet, there has not been a single moment that I regret my decision or feel like going back even when I think of the fond memories I have for some of it. </p><p></p><p>Yoga has changed my life from stress-filled to peace-filled. Above all the co-human connectivity which I establish with my clients and students and the satisfaction I get out of it is immeasurable. Yoga helped me understand what my NEEDS truly are rather than what I want. </p><p></p><p>Nevertheless, all of this would not have been possible without the love, care and support shown by my family and people around me. They believed in me then and continue to believe in me today. They are my biggest pillars of my strength.</p><p></p><p>Yoga is all about what lies within and there is nothing without it! </p><p></p><p>Keep Calm and Love Yoga</p><p></p><p>Sowmya</p><p></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"when-yoga-happens-suddenly","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"signup","redirectURL":"#","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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However, for me, finding Yoga happened all of a sudden.\\n\\nAs a Program Manager at an IT firm in Bangalore, I managed 25 projects and 200 people by working 18-hour days. With this heavy workload and my poor eating habits, my health went for a toss. I had a skin allergy, severe back pain, and breathing issues. To make matters worse, I was away from my family. \\n\\nMy company was preparing my Visa to travel to Australia for an extended work trip. Considering my health, I asked for a week off before this trip. But it was rejected, including even the option to work from home. At that point, my organization wanted a 24-hr shift as they could not manage my team of 200 people without me. \\n\\nAll of a sudden, when I was struggling with project issues and my time-off rejection, I went truly blank for few minutes. Questions began circling in my mind. What more am I going to achieve by going to Australia? What am I going to do when my health is getting worse each day? And with my family being away from me? Is this truly adding any value to my career? \\n\\nIn short, where am I going?\\n\\nThese questions started circling again and again and I could not move an inch or concentrate on my work anymore. So I shut down for the day and went to my room. I was hoping that by the next day I would feel fine. However, I did not. With my health going back and forth, I did not want to work so hard to only spend my earnings paying doctors to prescribe medication for me.\\n\\nAround this time, one of my friends in Chennai who worked with me in the US, told me about this yoga course he was taking. As I was not a fast-paced gym person, my muscles were tight, and I was having issues with insomnia, I thought of trying yoga to improve my health. I remembered that a few years back when I was in the U.S, I attended a workshop and course from Art of Living. Even then, the application of Yoga was a huge relief for me. \\n\\nI quit my job at that moment and came to YOGA! Yes, I resigned!\\n\\nMy initial intent was to heal myself and regain my health. Slowly, with the practices of Yoga, I began to understand how rigid my body and mind had become. My mind was like a cockroach, with my antennas always alert managing 25 projects!\\n\\nI started slowing down in my daily life. \\n\\nAs I became more present, my back pain, breathing issues and other troubles of acidity started diminishing day by day. My hip, which was like a rock, started becoming so light and flexible. My sleep improved so much that now it takes me only a few minutes to fall asleep. \\n\\nAs I was always highly alert and sharp, I asked my mom if I had become very slow or dull after coming to yoga. She responded “No! Now I find you normal.” She was so happy for me that I had chosen to concentrate on my health. \\n\\nMy interest in yoga continued to grow. As I got relief from my pain, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to share these skills so that I could help people who were also facing such issues attain a healthy and happy life.\\n\\nAfter several rounds of a difficult interview selection process, I joined a dense course for 1.5 years at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. Krishnamacharya was the guru of BKS Iyengar. The mind, body, and breath concepts that we covered in my education amazed me. \\n\\nYoga is not a one size fits all approach. \\n\\nIt is as unique as each of us. Hence, the practice also differs for each individual and needs customization. The skills of Yoga must be taught “not as it applies to us, but as it applies to the other”.\\n\\nFurther enhancing my knowledge, I obtained a certification in Yoga Therapy from Bihar School of Yoga. It has been over 4 years since quitting my corporate job and the hi-fi environment. Yet, there has not been a single moment that I regret my decision or feel like going back even when I think of the fond memories I have for some of it. \\n\\nYoga has changed my life from stress-filled to peace-filled. Above all the co-human connectivity which I establish with my clients and students and the satisfaction I get out of it is immeasurable. Yoga helped me understand what my NEEDS truly are rather than what I want. \\n\\nNevertheless, all of this would not have been possible without the love, care and support shown by my family and people around me. They believed in me then and continue to believe in me today. They are my biggest pillars of my strength.\\n\\nYoga is all about what lies within and there is nothing without it! \\n\\nKeep Calm and Love Yoga\\n\\nSowmya\\n","html":"<p>I had a career in the software industry for almost 14 years achieving the highest rung in the career ladder and traveling across many countries. However, for me, finding Yoga happened all of a sudden.</p><p></p><p>As a Program Manager at an IT firm in Bangalore, I managed 25 projects and 200 people by working 18-hour days. With this heavy workload and my poor eating habits, my health went for a toss. I had a skin allergy, severe back pain, and breathing issues. To make matters worse, I was away from my family. </p><p></p><p>My company was preparing my Visa to travel to Australia for an extended work trip. Considering my health, I asked for a week off before this trip. But it was rejected, including even the option to work from home. At that point, my organization wanted a 24-hr shift as they could not manage my team of 200 people without me. </p><p></p><p>All of a sudden, when I was struggling with project issues and my time-off rejection, I went truly blank for few minutes. Questions began circling in my mind. What more am I going to achieve by going to Australia? What am I going to do when my health is getting worse each day? And with my family being away from me? Is this truly adding any value to my career? </p><p></p><h5><strong>In short, where am I going?</strong></h5><p></p><p>These questions started circling again and again and I could not move an inch or concentrate on my work anymore. So I shut down for the day and went to my room. I was hoping that by the next day I would feel fine. However, I did not. With my health going back and forth, I did not want to work so hard to only spend my earnings paying doctors to prescribe medication for me.</p><p></p><p>Around this time, one of my friends in Chennai who worked with me in the US, told me about this yoga course he was taking. As I was not a fast-paced gym person, my muscles were tight, and I was having issues with insomnia, I thought of trying yoga to improve my health. I remembered that a few years back when I was in the U.S, I attended a workshop and course from Art of Living. Even then, the application of Yoga was a huge relief for me. </p><p></p><p>I quit my job at that moment and came to YOGA! Yes, I resigned!</p><p></p><p>My initial intent was to heal myself and regain my health. Slowly, with the practices of Yoga, I began to understand how rigid my body and mind had become. My mind was like a cockroach, with my antennas always alert managing 25 projects!</p><p></p><h4><strong>I started slowing down in my daily life. </strong></h4><p></p><p>As I became more present, my back pain, breathing issues and other troubles of acidity started diminishing day by day. My hip, which was like a rock, started becoming so light and flexible. My sleep improved so much that now it takes me only a few minutes to fall asleep. </p><p></p><p>As I was always highly alert and sharp, I asked my mom if I had become very slow or dull after coming to yoga. She responded “No! Now I find you normal.” She was so happy for me that I had chosen to concentrate on my health. </p><p></p><p>My interest in yoga continued to grow. As I got relief from my pain, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to share these skills so that I could help people who were also facing such issues attain a healthy and happy life.</p><p></p><p>After several rounds of a difficult interview selection process, I joined a dense course for 1.5 years at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai. Krishnamacharya was the guru of BKS Iyengar. The mind, body, and breath concepts that we covered in my education amazed me. </p><p></p><h4><strong>Yoga is not a one size fits all approach. </strong></h4><p></p><p>It is as unique as each of us. Hence, the practice also differs for each individual and needs customization. The skills of Yoga must be taught “not as it applies to us, but as it applies to the other”.</p><p></p><p>Further enhancing my knowledge, I obtained a certification in Yoga Therapy from Bihar School of Yoga. It has been over 4 years since quitting my corporate job and the hi-fi environment. Yet, there has not been a single moment that I regret my decision or feel like going back even when I think of the fond memories I have for some of it. </p><p></p><p>Yoga has changed my life from stress-filled to peace-filled. Above all the co-human connectivity which I establish with my clients and students and the satisfaction I get out of it is immeasurable. Yoga helped me understand what my NEEDS truly are rather than what I want. </p><p></p><p>Nevertheless, all of this would not have been possible without the love, care and support shown by my family and people around me. They believed in me then and continue to believe in me today. They are my biggest pillars of my strength.</p><p></p><p>Yoga is all about what lies within and there is nothing without it! </p><p></p><p>Keep Calm and Love Yoga</p><p></p><p>Sowmya</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":[{"session_uuid":"0ab35d4d-d0fb-4e8d-a963-b16429dfe9c0","student_uuid":"6ea535b8-e859-4928-9126-a1091b887db7","teacher_uuid":"56b60514-3592-499e-98db-7843a993bee8","teacher_name":"Susheel Jain","teacher_first_name":"Susheel","teacher_slug":"sushil-1","teacher_photo":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/v1658477901/teacher/photos/mfwok3jplg0taesfyhsw.jpg","group_session_name":"Yoga For Strength & Flexibility","group_session_description":"Yoga that helps you to stretch your body out completely & helps you to deepen your flexibility, safely!","duration":60,"epoch_time":1664893800000,"local_session_time":"Tue, Oct 4th, 7:30 AM PDT","no_of_participants":6,"group_session_limit":200,"time":"7:30 AM","target_audience":"Intermediate","student_created_date":"","student_created_day":"","last_attended_time":"","start_date_std":"2022-10-04","class_page_uuid":"ecce3506-a16b-4a0e-8927-4d7daf094e7b","class_type_uuid":"2e4be7b7-e8ff-424d-8e05-0915a7c3c006","allow_booking_by_everyone":0,"featured_in_recommended":0,"teacher_recommendation_score":0,"reco_key":"","reco_val":"","self_booked":0,"group_session_student_uuid":"","banner":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/f_auto,q_70,w_792,h_420,g_auto,c_fill/v1655996304/group-classes/fvh7za3j0xvfqaihb6qa.png","bootcamp_workshop_uuid":"","bootcamp_workshop_slug":"","goals":["Increase strength and flexibility"],"health_keywords":["overweight"],"show_book_button":1,"non_member_participants":0,"max_non_member_participants":75,"is_premium_group_session":0,"session_type":"GROUP_SESSION","class_page_slug":"yoga-for-strength-and-flexibility-by-archana-and-shelly","class_page_name":"Yoga for Strength and Flexibility - by Archana and Shelly","hide_from_newbie_trial":0,"hide_from_beginner_trial":0,"recommended_for":"","available_slots":{"day_full":"Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday","day":"Tue, Wed & Thu","days":["Tue","Wed","Thu"],"days_full":["Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday"],"slots":[{"uuid":"0ab35d4d-d0fb-4e8d-a963-b16429dfe9c0","duration":60,"epoch_time":1664893800000,"epoch_end_time":1664897400000,"title":"Tue, 4th Oct, 7:30 - 8:30 AM","self_booked":0},{"uuid":"363e48bb-bb81-4b73-9ba2-530ba22fd751","duration":60,"epoch_time":1664980200000,"epoch_end_time":1664983800000,"title":"Wed, 5th Oct, 7:30 - 8:30 AM","self_booked":0},{"uuid":"af42ebfe-0447-4638-b294-d086e0a79dd1","duration":60,"epoch_time":1665066600000,"epoch_end_time":1665070200000,"title":"Thu, 6th Oct, 7:30 - 8:30 AM","self_booked":0}],"session_time":"7:30 - 8:30 AM"},"in_pref_time":0},{"session_uuid":"09d8234f-114f-4f2a-8414-96d54736a650","student_uuid":"d24b647c-97ab-4135-895f-ff869410b531","teacher_uuid":"bbd06898-05a7-4473-8618-ddcbd04d676e","teacher_name":"Trupti Parikh","teacher_first_name":"Trupti","teacher_slug":"trupti-1","teacher_photo":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/v1575617548/teacher/photos/gpbrhdz2larrvxhv3rai.jpg","group_session_name":"Gentle Yoga","group_session_description":"Gentle yoga is a slow and relaxing class. 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