Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair

{"slug":"yoga-for-skin-and-hair","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":"cl60y1ikp2srx0ak63fnq2txk","slug":"7-days-of-relaxation","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Celebrating National Relaxation Day With MyYogaTeacher: Free 7 Days of Relaxation Event","createdAt":"2022-07-25T16:08:37.667528+00:00","coverUrl":"i9lswae7b72hwhv8bjas.png","content":{"text":"August 12-18\\nKeep reading to learn more and sign up for some very special sessions!\\nThe pandemic, politics, climate change, a recession and inflation…these things do not have to define your mental and emotional status! You \\ncan\\n experience deep relaxation in the midst of stress and chaos.\\nWe've put together an entire schedule of classes dedicated to helping you relax deeply, no matter what's going on at home, at work, or in the world.\\nIf you were more relaxed, more calm, more present – what would your home life look like? What would your work life look like? Now do you think it's worth carving out a few hours for yourself, to relax, to connect with WHY you do what you do? (ie. the love you feel for these people in your life)\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\nThis event is completely free. It starts on August 12 and goes through to August 18th.\\nNote\\n: If you signed up for a free trial more than two weeks ago, your free access is probably gone. No worries, if you want to attend any of the sessions - send an email to care@myyogateacher.com and say “Please restart my trial so I can join the Relaxation Day event!” And, as always with MyYogaTeacher, these sessions are all live, interactive, and online. So you can learn from master yogis, in India, from the comfort of your home!\\n\\nAnd yes, we are going to keep many of these relaxation sessions going even after the free event ends. So if you're a member and you're reading this, you get to continue to soak up the mellow vibes.\\nBring your friends and family!\\nYou're welcome to invite your family members, friends, or anyone you think could benefit from a little stress relief. In fact, we encourage you to do this with your entire family! Imagine what your household would look like if everyone was a little more at ease, peaceful, and patient.\\nThere are 23 classes being offered for this event (a lot, right?!). Including our very special featured class with the amazing Dr. Savitha Kootil!\\nBreathing Life Back Into Your Mental and Emotional Wellbeing with Dr. Savitha Kootil\\nDr. Kootil takes a holistic approach to health. She offers patients, and those feeling anxiety and stress, various breathing, meditation, and mindfulness tips that are grounded in yoga philosophy. “I tell patients that yoga is not just a physical practice with difficult poses, but also a mental practice that can help with breathing, posture, and feeling better emotionally,” says Dr. Kootil. Her webinar “Breathing Life Back Into Your Mental & Emotional Wellbeing” will address how people can take control of their emotions and thoughts which are making them feel angry, depressed, helpless, inert, sad, or scared. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\n\\n                                      \\nClick here to see a zoomed in version of the schedule\\n\\n\\nPartner Tantra Yoga (Building Your Relationship in New Light) with Niyata and Bodhi\\nPeople practice couple/partner tantra to feel connected to their partner on a higher level. Strengthens relations. Tantric techniques involve the five senses and their intimate understanding, which leads to new discoveries about yourself and the person you are practicing with.Tantric yoga demands your full focus, which will allow you to connect and reflect. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBhakti Yoga (Bhajan,Kirtan and Mantra Chanting) with Niyata\\nThis practice has been found to provide a number of physical and mental health benefits, such as increased energy and stamina, reduced anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as improved sleep quality, enhanced self-esteem and self worth.  It improves overall psychological well being. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nLove and Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation) with Preeti\\nLoving-kindness meditation or ‘Metta’ meditation is an ultimate form of generous and selfless love towards ourselves and others.It is the simplest meditation. You will become more self-accepting than ever andl feel a deep sense of emotional strength that balances your thoughts and actions. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nMeditation For Sleep - Golden Light Meditation with Preeti\\nThis is a simple method of transforming your energy and leading to a deep state of rest. If you are seeking restful sleep and refreshed mornings, this is the perfect class for you. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nLaughter Yoga (Hasyayoga) with Sujit\\nLaughter yoga helps to ease anxiety and helps with depression ... simply by allowing you to stay in the present moment. These exercises are value based, playful and Yogic but they are all ultimately about letting go and are very diaphragmatic. It helps to bring oxygen to the brain and all the cells in our body and helps to release all the feel good chemicals and endorphins. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nMantra,Mudra and Meditation with Bodhi\\n Chanting mantras has the power to transform our mind, body, and spirit. When we recite any mantras mantra, it creates vibrations in our whole body. The movement of energy regulates the chemicals in our brain. So mantras can make a profound impact onour mind. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nTheta Meditation: Accessing the brain power with Bodhi\\nCreated for deep relaxation, this class uses theta waves. Theta activity has a frequency of 3.5 to 7.5 Hz and is classed as a “slow” activity. It is seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, and sensations. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nPranic Energization Technique (PET) with Bodhi\\nWhat is PET? An advanced Yogic meditation technique where we use our Prana Shakti to energize the whole body. It can strengthen the immune defense system of the body. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nTrataka - Candlelight Meditation with Akshay\\n Using the candlelight we gaze at the flame learning to train the eyes not to blink. It gives great relaxation to the eyes and nervous system. The benefits of Trataka candlelight meditation: increased cognitive performance and focus. improved sleep quality. improved eye health. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nVipaasana Meditation with Akshay\\nVipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It involves observing your thoughts and emotions as they are, without judging or dwelling on them. Vipassana can reduce stress and anxiety, which may have benefits for substance use. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nYoga Nidra with Shivayogi\\nSome relaxation breathing techniques. Holding longer restorative poses before bed helps your body find restful sleep that leaves you waking up refreshed and ready for the day. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nStretch and Breath with Shrutika\\nA simple practice of stretching, connected with your breath, to improve elasticity and muscle tone. The result is a feeling of increased range of motion, muscle control, and flexibility. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nRestorative yoga for deep relaxation with Swathi\\nRestorative yoga allows the body to slow down & relax with 4-6 poses/asanas per session, each pose is held for longer duration. This Practice will help to relieve chronic stress, improve sleep, improve digestion, balance your Blood Pressure, reduce muscle tension & general fatigue. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nKriya, Pranayama and Meditation with Rohan\\nThis practice focuses on breathwork and using breath and meditation to relax, rejuvenate, and heal the mind, body, and spirit. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nKundalini Yoga-Breathing,Movement and Meditation with Bodhi\\nKriyas are a set of purifying practices intended to help the body to clear energy pathways and strengthen the immune system. Simple kriyas can be included in a daily practice to boost self-confidence and promote vibrant health. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBreathing & Meditation with Trupti\\nMeditation stills and calms the mind. Your teacher will guide you to focus on your own breath and then clear your mind from excessive thoughts and distractions. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBreathing & Meditation with Archana\\nMeditation stills and calms the mind. Your teacher will guide you to focus on your own breath and then clear your mind from excessive thoughts and distractions. Meditation is a great way to restore energy to a tired mind and help you gain mental focus and clarity. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBreath & Flow with Bharath\\nA Yoga class for all! This class introduces foundational yoga asanas combined with a full-body flow which will help to stretch, strengthen and rejuvenate. In addition to asana, the class includes opportunities for pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nChakras & Sound Healing with Abhishek\\nChakra meditation followed by bamboo flute and jaw harp. Greater and faster ability to heal your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional self. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nKundalini with Sujit\\nA Kundalini practice is enlivening and even beginners will feel a sense of awakening. The breathing techniques are used to stimulate the nervous system, leaving the mind feeling sharp and alive. Kundalini yoga uses the breath, postures, and meditation. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nLaughter Yoga with Kanika\\nThis modern exercise involves prolonged voluntary laughter. This type of yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter.  much playfulness between participants. Intentional laughter often turns into real and contagious laughter. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nYoga for Stress & Anxiety with Nandeep\\nThis is a mind-body practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, kriyas, pranayama, deep relaxation & meditation. With a regular yoga practice, your stress hormone levels drop & your body functioning improves thus creating an environment for your mind to effectively manage stress. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\nJoin the MyYogaTeacher team and community for this rejuvenating 7 day event from August 12-18!\\n"}},{"id":"ckn82svwg5yc60b71lx48j6l9","slug":"yoga-philosophy-patanjali","author":{"name":"Sandeep Gupta","teacherMytSlug":"sandeep-1","pictureUrl":"zla3scezkpyagrlmpzfi.png"},"title":"Yoga Philosophy: Exploring Patanjali's Yoga Sutras","createdAt":"2021-04-07T23:21:52.404353+00:00","coverUrl":"ckn82svwg5yc60b71lx48j6l9.png","content":{"text":"Yoga is a belief system that promotes mindfulness through a mix of movement and meditation. As yoga's popularity has grown around the world, there's been a shift in focus on yoga as simply asanas (poses and movement).\\n\nBut that's not all there is to yoga.\\n\nIn my \\nyoga philosophy class on myYogaTeacher\\n, we'll explore the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I encourage you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and join me! In addition to the yoga philosophy class, you'll get access to more than 35 live, online yoga classes with a variety of styles and teachers.\\n\nHere, we'll be taking a brief look at who Patanjali was, what the Yoga Sutras are, and why it's so important to know about this side of yoga.\\n\\nWho Was Patanjali?\\nPatanjali (also known as Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the author of the Yoga Sutras. These works first gained prominence in the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE. In addition to the Yoga Sutras, which we'll look at in this article, Patanjali is also credited as being the author, or one of the authors, of Mahabhashya, a defense of grammarian Panini against his main critic Katyayana.\\n\nWhat Are the Four Yoga Sutras?\\n\\nWritten by Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras is one of the classic yoga texts and introduced Patanjali's understanding of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. It was originally written in Sanskrit and, despite not even covering the asanas we've learned to associate with yoga, is the most popular and well-recognized techniques for training your body and expanding your mind.\\n\nThe entire book is a collection of 196 aphorisms that cover everything from art to science to the philosophy of life. It consists of four chapters:\\nSamadhi: You \\nare\\n a soul; you \\nhave\\n a body\\nSadhana: The actions you should take\\nVibhuti: The mystic powers gained through yoga practice\\nKaivalya: Self-realization\\nEach attempt to learn the meaning of the Yoga Sutras is said to bring you a step closer to true enlightenment.\\nLet's look at each of the four chapters more closely.\\n\\nSamadhi\\nThe first chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Samadhi. It includes 51 sutras and teaches you the foundation of what you need to know about yoga, obstacles to overcome, the importance of abhyasa (constant practice), and vairagya (the detachment from material experiences and worldly pleasures).\\n\\nSamadhi gets into how the mind works as well as how you can bring peace and calm to your mind with an understanding of mental activities such as:\\nPramana: Good thoughts and true knowledge\\nViparyaya: Bad thoughts and wrong understanding\\nVikalpa: Confusion\\nNidra: Sleep while the mind remains active\\nSmriti: Memory or using the senses of smell, touch, sight, taste\\nPatanjali tells us that we can restrict these mental activities through abhyasa and vairagya.\\n\\nSadhana\\n\\nThe second chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Sadhana. In this chapter, Patanjali introduces the principles of Ashtanga yoga, Kriya yoga, and Karma as well as the Eight Limbs of Yoga:\\nYamas: Ethical standards (Ahimsa—non-violence; Satya—truthfulness; Asteya—not stealing; Brahmacharya—celibacy or not over-indulging; and Aparigraha—lack of ego)\\nNiyamas: Self-discipline (Shaucha—purity; Santosha—contentment; Tapa—fortitude; Svadhyaya—study; Ishvara-pranidhana—devotion to God or your own higher self)\\nAsana: Yoga postures\\nPranayama: Breath control\\nPratyahara: Withdrawal\\nDharana: Concentration\\nDhyana: Single focus\\nSamadhi: Total self-collectedness\\nVibhuti\\nThe third chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Vibhuti. In this chapter, Patanjali discusses how Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are all connected and pays particular attention to Dhyana and Samadhi.\\n\nDharana means fixing your focus on a single object. Then, focusing and concentrating your mind on the object becomes Dhyana. When the object, and only the object, fills your consciousness entirely, that's Samadhi.\\n\nYou'll notice that this sounds a lot like meditation. Many times, Dhyana is misinterpreted as \"meditation,\" but it's not exactly the meditation we're familiar with these days. Dhyana is what happens when you can't separate a sense of self from the act of meditation or really even perceive it.\\n\nDharana is actually closer to what we understand modern meditation to be. Through the practice of Dharana, we can better understand our minds, their patterns, and notice the thoughts that interrupt us.\\n\nKaivalya\\nThe final chapter of the Yoga Sutras is Kaivalya. In this chapter, Patanjali reflects on the mind's achievements and prepares you for moksha (complete liberation). This liberation comes from the separation of the soul (Purusha) from the source (Prakriti). While separation is often seen as a bad or scary thing, in this case, the soul no longer experiences the misery that comes from this connection.\\n\nWhy Bother With Yoga Philosophy?\\nNow you know a bit more about yoga philosophy and you may be wondering if it really matters? Does \\nknowing more about yoga philosophy\\n really make a difference to your practice?\\n\nThe answer, as with most things, is \"it depends.\"\\n\nHere are three key reasons I think it's important to study Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.\\nConnect to Your Yoga Roots:\\n If you practice yoga, you're part of a yoga lineage. Your yoga teacher learned from a teacher who learned from a teacher, and so on. These lineages can be traced back centuries. Studying texts like the Yoga Sutras can help you stay connected to your yoga lineage and achieve a deeper, more authentic practice.\\nFigure Out What's Holding You Back:\\n Through the Yoga Sutras, you can better understand how your thoughts hold you back and keep you from living your best, most satisfying life.\\nLet Go of Suffering:\\n While asanas have many health benefits, a complete yoga practice can do so much more for you. According to Patanjali, \\nyoga chitta vritti nirodhah\\n, \"yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.\" Through discovering and understanding that you are complete as you are, you can start to let go of your suffering.\\nBuild a Practice You Believe In With Yoga Philosophy\\nIn Western culture, yoga has been distilled into a simple practice of poses and meditation, but yoga is so much more than that.  When you learn about the roots of yoga, you can develop a more authentic practice that will not only improve your physical, mental, and emotional health but can transform your life.\\n\nI hope you enjoyed this quick look at Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Don't forget to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n to join me for the next \\nyoga philosophy class\\n or, if you're interested in what else we have to offer, check out 35+ live, online yoga classes every single day.\\n"}},{"id":"ckuk2cit4qtvg0b809xa4kr39","slug":"the-ayurvedic-diet","author":{"name":"Hema","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"The Ayurvedic Diet: Why There is No Such Thing as a Bad Food","createdAt":"2021-10-09T17:20:19.353219+00:00","coverUrl":"pvpoevkzziolcsp1ajuh.jpg","content":{"text":"Ayurvedic medicine has existed for literally thousands of years. If you’re not familiar with it, Ayurveda medicine is a whole-body, holistic practice that encourages a balance between body and mind. \\nAyurveda uses diet, yogic breathing, and herbal treatments to accomplish a healthy, balanced body. This Hindu-derived practice enforces the idea that all diseases are caused by an imbalance in the physical body and stress in a person’s consciousness.\\nThe Ayurvedic diet promotes better physical, mental, and spiritual health. And unlike many other diets, the Ayurvedic diet gives personalized recommendations on what the best foods are to eat for your body type.\\nThat’s not to say there are any \\nbad\\n foods. It just means there are some foods that meet your body’s needs better than others!\\nAnd we’re going to talk about it all here!\\nIf you read this and want more guidance or information on how to integrate Ayurvedic medicine and eating into your life, check out my class on MyYogaTeacher, \\nAyurvedic Concept of Diet\\n! We’d love to have you, and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about this lifestyle.\\nNot a member of MyYogaTeacher yet? \\nGet your free 2-week trial here and check it out!\\n No credit card required and you get access to all 35+ group classes taught by expert teachers from India.\\nWhat is the Ayurvedic diet?\\nThe basis for Ayurvedic medicine is that there are five elements that make up the universe — air, water, space, fire, and earth.\\nThese elements create different forms of energy called doshas, and each dosha has its own unique responsibilities within the body. There are three of them:\\nVata\\n - Also known as “king of the doshas,” Vata is responsible for all movement processes at a microcellular and macroscopic level. It’s also responsible for circulation, respiration and the nervous system. Vata combines the space and air elements.\\nPitta\\n - This dosha is in charge of digestion and metabolism in the body. It is located in the small intestines, stomach, liver, spleen, and pancreas. Pitta is responsible for all the processes that involve conversion and transformation throughout the mind and body.\\nKapha\\n - Water energy. Kapha aids in lubricating the joints and provides the body with its physical form. Kapha also helps the tissues in the body move smoothly.\\nThe Ayurvedic diet is a component of Ayurvedic medicine that teaches you to eat the foods that promote balance between all of your doshas.\\nIn doing so, you not only eat the foods that are best for your body specifically, but you also create and maintain a healthier mind, body and spirit.\\nHow the Ayurvedic diet works\\nWhile some may feel like eating according to Ayurvedic diet guidelines seems somewhat restrictive, the opposite is really true. \\nNo food is a bad food.\\nBut some foods are better for you than others and are perfect for your dosha, or body type.\\nHere are some of the main characteristics of each dosha so you can get an idea of which one matches you the best!\\n\\nPitta Dosha (Fire energy)\\n\\nMedium height\\nSlender frame\\nGood metabolism\\nCompetitive\\nGood leadership skills\\nVery intelligent\\nShort temper\\nMay suffer from indigestion\\nMay have high blood pressure\\nGoverned by emotions\\n\\n\\nVata Dosha (Wind energy)\\n\\nCreative\\nEnergetic\\nLively\\nThin, light frame\\nProminent joints/bones\\nFlat-chested\\nLittle/no willpower\\nNervous\\nFearful\\nShort term memory issues\\nKapha Dosha (Water Energy)\\n\\nEasy-going/relaxed\\nTolerant, compassionate\\nLoyal\\nHave weight issues\\nLarger frame\\nProne to diabetes\\nForgiving\\nPeaceful\\nGood stamina\\nGenerally happy\\n\nYour dosha determines which foods you should eat to promote inner balance. For instance, here are some Ayurvedic diet food recommendations to go with your dosha:\\n> \\nPitta:\\n Wheat, white rice, oats, barley. Fruits like grapes, mango, pineapple, oranges, melon, coconut, avocado, and plums help balance the Pitta dosha. Stay away from sour foods, salty, or pungent foods like garlic and onions.\\n> \\nVata\\n: Hot stews and soups are great for balancing the Vata dosha. Also, eating moist foods like yogurt, melon, berries, zucchini, squash. Seeds and nuts, ghee, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon are also great!\\n> \\nKapha\\n: Spicy, acidic, filling foods and most fruits and vegetables are good for keeping Kapha bodies in balance. Also unprocessed meats, grains, eggs, and low fat cheeses. Kaphas should avoid heavy foods like oils, fats, nuts, and seeds.\\nI really want to stress that this way of eating is not about restriction. It’s about eating for your body type!\\nWhich means there are tons of options and opportunities for you to eat and be full. We’re not about being hungry here at MYT!\\nBenefits of eating an Ayurvedic diet\\nBesides helping you feel and be your healthiest, most amazing self, there are lots of science-backed benefits of participating in an Ayurvedic eating plan or adopting the entire Ayurvedic holistic wellness lifestyle.\\nAyurvedic eating prevents disease\\nBecause the Ayurvedic lifestyle promotes the consumption of whole foods and the reduction or complete elimination of processed foods, there is a huge component of eating in this way that addresses disease prevention.\\nStudies show that eating processed foods and foods high in refined sugar or high levels of salt are associated with inflammation, chronic and acute diseases, higher risk for cancer, and even death.\\nEating whole foods high in fiber, vitamins and minerals can prevent and, in some cases, even reverse disease.\\nAyurvedic eating promotes weight loss\\nSeeing as the Ayurvedic diet focuses on nutrient-rich foods, studies show that eating for your dosha (particularly pitta or kapha) assists with weight loss. It can also help stave off cravings and prevent overeating.\\nMindful eating is a huge part of Ayurvedic medicine. This means people who adopt this lifestyle eat more conscientiously and become more aware of their body’s needs. Mindful eating helps people with issues like emotional or stress eating.\\nAnother benefit to mindful eating is enhanced self-control and the development of a healthier relationship with food.\\nThe gut biome and Ayurvedic diet\\nWe’ve discussed some of the health benefits of Ayurvedic eating, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t talk about how this lifestyle affects your gut!\\nIf you don’t know how your gut biome affects your mental, physical, and even emotional health, join my class and let’s talk about it! Your gut biome is the primary location for healthy bacteria, immune function and even the primary source of the feel good chemicals that our body and brains crave!\\nBecause an Ayurvedic diet improves your gut health, you also get:\\nImproved digestion\\nBetter metabolic processes\\nEnhanced detoxification\\nImproved fertility and sexual health\\nAll while still eating foods you love! \\nWhile the Ayurvedic diet is customized for each dosha, this doesn’t mean you will never eat some of the foods that may be listed for you to avoid. It simply means you may want to limit those foods and eat more of the foods that help harmonize your body, mind, and spirit!\\nThe goal of my class, \\nAyurvedic Concept of Diet\\n, is to help you discover the right combination of foods to eat for your body. You’ll learn all about Ahara, the best way to prepare and serve certain dishes, and the proper time to eat various foods. I invite you to join us on this Ayurvedic eating journey!\\nMyYogaTeacher is a great platform to learn about many different forms of yoga. There are many expert and highly experienced yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India, who really care about their students’ health and well-being! Whether you’re brand new to yoga or consider yourself an advanced yogi, there’s a class that’s a perfect fit for you! \\nGet your 2-week free trial here and try it out!\\n\\nNamaste.\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"ckfqz04k001y401786aes2rh5","slug":"get-your-voice-back-fast-when-you-have-laryngitis","author":{"name":"Jitendra","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":"jitendra1.png"},"title":"Get Your Voice Back Fast When You Have Laryngitis","createdAt":"2019-11-07T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"jason-rosewell-ASKeuOZqhYU-unsplash.jpg","content":{"text":"Lost your voice? Full blown case of laryngitis where all the sound you can make is a long drawn out squeak? Here are some quick remedies that you can do from anywhere to get your voice back.\\n\\n\\nTurmeric is easy to find at any grocery store. This remedy is super simple and fast-acting. \\n\\nAdd ¼ tsp of turmeric to 6 oz of hot water.  \\nStir and sip slowly. \\n\\nIf you’d like personalized help in recovering from laryngitis (or nearly any other illness) you can try a 1-on-1 session with one of our amazing yoga teachers. They’re experts in helping you to bring your body back into balance naturally. Right now, we’re offering 2 free private sessions with expert \\nIndian yoga\\n teachers, \\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\n\\n\\nThis one is a breeze to add into any healing practice. You can even snag some honey packets to keep in your bag. Take a spoonful before bed, add it to hot tea or even plain hot water! Not only is it absolutely delicious, but has antibacterial and soothing properties.\\n\\n\\nWarm water helps break up congestion and opens circulation. Plus, the steam prevents your throat and sinuses from drying out. If there is one thing inflamed vocal cords hate, it’s being dry!\\n\\n\\nIf you are near an herbal shop or even a Whole Foods, you can find these in the supplements aisle. Each of these soothes swelling on contact - so great to chew or drink. \\n\\nSlippery elm: Soothes sore throats and reduces coughs. Add the powder to warm water. Black Licorice: Chewing tablets work best. Make sure it is actually licorice. Anise oil is often used as a substitute and doesn’t work the same way.Marshmallow Root: As a tea or as a lozenge, this helps hydrate the throat and has antioxidant effects.\\n\\nSimilar to the first remedy, this one adds milks to help coat the throat and help the turmeric sink in. \\n\\nAdd turmeric to milk (or your milk substitute of choice). Warm the milk gently. You can cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger to taste. \\n\\nWhen you’re not feeling well, carving out a few hours to focus on healing is a gift.  This remedy starts by clearing out mucus, firing up your immune system and letting your body relax. It’s followed by steam to rinse the sinuses and closes with a soothing milk-based tonic.\\n[CTA-GC]\\nAbout an hour or two before bed:\\nBoil water. Add your favorite decaf \\ntea\\n (ginger tea is really good here). Sprinkle some (or a lot) of black pepper on top. Add Tulsi leaves if you have them. If not, add sliced or powdered ginger. Wrap yourself in blankets or bed. Keep yourself very warm.Inhale and exhale the steam. Inhale smoothly and deeply and exhale completely to bring the steam in and out of the lungs.Sip slowly to let the warm pepper coat the throat.Rest for at least a half-hour.Take a warm shower. Follow with Spiced Milk (recipe above). \\nEat, drink mindfully\\n and slip into a restful sleep.\\n\\nIf you have trouble sleeping, you can listen to a \\nYoga Nidra\\n \\nmeditation\\n to prepare the mind and body for a restful sleep.\\n\\nNow, if you have any questions, or would like personal 1-on-1 help to get healthy fast. You can sign up for 5 free sessions with an expert Indian \\nyoga teacher\\n. \\n\\nThese are live 2-way video sessions with a real human being. Your teacher will help you to bring your body into balance, feel healthier and happier fast, and reach your fitness goals! \\n\\nWe can’t offer these free sessions to everyone and spaces fill up lightning fast. So if you think you might benefit from personalized \\nonline yoga\\n sessions with an awesome teacher!\\n\\n"}},{"id":"cknfz1b6ocvjy0a81nie3aq02","slug":"yoga-for-stress-and-anxiety","author":{"name":"Rohan","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Practice Yoga for Stress and Anxiety Relief","createdAt":"2021-04-13T11:58:36.28949+00:00","coverUrl":"yoga_for_stress_and_anxiety.jpg","content":{"text":"We've all experienced stress and anxiety at some point. It's a natural, human response to stressful situations and can even save us from danger. Sometimes, it can go deeper than that and become a full-blown anxiety disorder that disrupts our lives.\\n\\nMy class, \\nYoga for Stress and Anxiety\\n can help!\\n\\nYoga for Stress and Anxiety: The Research\\nSince the 1970s, researchers have been looking into stress-reduction techniques and tools. Meditation is one such technique that you hear a lot about, but yoga as a whole practice hasn't gotten the same level of attention until recent decades.\\n\\nAccording to researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, a new study from August 2020 found that yoga was significantly more effective for generalized anxiety disorder than simple education on stress management.\\n\\nAnother study from the Ilam University of Medical Sciences (February 2018) found that yoga plays an effective part in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The study went on to conclude that yoga can be used as complementary medicine for these conditions.\\n\\nYet another study from The Center for Health Behavior Research at the University of Mississippi (2011) found that yoga offers a host of benefits: enhanced muscular strength and body flexibility, improved respiratory and cardiovascular function, recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduction in stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improved sleep patterns, and enhanced overall well-being and quality of life.\\n\\nIf you're not using yoga for stress and anxiety management, now's a great time to start. \\nSign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and get access to my class as well as more than 35 other live, online yoga courses every single day.\\n\\nWhat Do Stress and Anxiety Look Like?\\n\\nStress and anxiety can look and feel different for different people. For some, it might be a feeling like waiting for the other shoe to drop. For others, it might be all-consuming. Here are some of the symptoms that typically signal stress and anxiety:\\nPersistent feelings of uneasiness, panic, and fear\\nMuscle tension\\nHeart palpitations or a rapid heartbeat\\nDifficulty sleeping\\nIrritability\\nConstricted breathing\\nCold, sweaty palms\\nRumination on unhelpful, negative thoughts\\nIf your feelings of stress and anxiety are keeping you from living your life, we recommend talking to your doctor about treatment options. But don't forget to practice your yoga!\\n\\nAlleviating Stress and Anxiety Through Yoga\\nOur bodies are pretty miraculous, especially with the body's ability to heal itself. Of course, stress and anxiety can drastically reduce that healing. Fortunately, yoga can help us bring calm, peace, and stillness back into our lives.\\n\\nYoga helps to modulate stress response systems, reducing the stress and anxiety we feel. And, yoga can even help us respond to stress more easily.\\n\\nWe recommend a complete yoga practice that includes more than just asanas. In addition to poses and movement (asanas), you'll want to incorporate \\npranayamas (breathing techniques)\\n, meditation, and yoga philosophy.\\n\\nYoga Practices to Alleviate Stress and Anxiety\\n\\nIn this section, we're going to talk about specific asanas, pranayamas, meditations, and mudras that will help you ease stress and anxiety with yoga. While you can absolutely practice this on your own, I would love to have you join my Yoga for Stress and Anxiety class on myYogaTeacher. You can \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n and not only get access to my class but access to 35+ other live, online group classes every single day.\\n\\nYoga Poses\\nThere are several yoga poses that can help alleviate stress and anxiety. Here's a short sequence that you can practice at any time. Start seated in a comfortable position and move through the poses as feels comfortable and soothing for you.\\nSeated neck rolls\\nMarjariasana (cat pose)\\nBalasana (child's pose)\\nAdho Mukha Shvanasana (downward-facing dog pose)\\nUttanasana (standing forward bend)\\nVrikshasana (tree pose)\\nJanu Shirasasana (one-legged seated forward bend)\\nPaschimottanasana (two-legged seated forward bend)\\nSetu Bandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose)\\nSarvangasana (shoulder stand)\\nMatsyasana (fish pose)\\nDhanurasana (bow pose)\\nSavasana (corpse pose)\\nPranayama (Breathing)\\nBreathing is a powerful tool for combating stress and anxiety. Here are a few different breathing exercises you can try when you feel stress or anxiety creeping up:\\nDeep breathing\\nNadi Shodhan Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing)\\nBhastrika Pranayama (bellows breathing)\\nUjjayi Pranayama (ocean breathing)\\nBhramari Pranayama (bee breathing)\\nMeditation\\nMeditation helps you calm yourself, grounding you and producing feelings of stability. There are several different types of meditation to choose from, but research has shown that mindful meditations are great for reducing stress and anxiety. Here's a mindful meditation that walks you through progressive relaxation:\\nFind a quiet place where you won't be disturbed and make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes.\\nStarting with your head, tense the muscles in your face and scalp. Hold this as you inhale for a count of eight.\\nOn the exhale, relax your face completely. Unclench your jaw, relax your forehead and eyes, let everything just fall away. Repeat this clenching and relaxing until your face feels completely relaxed.\\nRepeat this process down your entire body: neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, right arm, right forearm, right hand, left arm, left forearm, left hand, buttocks, right leg, lower right leg, right foot, left leg, left foot.\\nIf you're short on time, you can focus on just your four main muscle groups.\\n\\nMudras\\nMudras can also help you combat stress and anxiety.\\n\\nA mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture done with the hands and used in combination with Pranayama. They activate our body's potential for healing and growth, stimulating different parts of the body to improve the flow of energy.\\n\\nHere are five mudras I recommend for stress and anxiety:\\nGyan Mudra: Join the tips of your index fingers and thumbs with the other fingers outstretched and together in a relaxed position.\\nAgni Shakti Mudra: Touch all four fingers on each hand to the palms of the same hand (almost in a fist shape). Then, join the tips of the thumbs together.\\nKalesvara Mudra: Bring the tips of the middle fingers together and the first and middle joints of the index fingers together. Then, bring the thumbs together, creating a heart shape, and gently curl the rest of the fingers in. Connect the thumbs to the sternum and reach your elbows out to the side.\\nApan Vayu Mudra: Fold the index fingers to touch the tip to the base of the thumb. Then, bring the tips of the middle and ring fingers to the tips of the thumbs. The pinky finger stays straight and points outward.\\nUttarabodhi Mudra: Interlock the fingers of both hands together and keep the thumbs and index fingers extended and touching. Point the tips of extended index fingers up and the thumbs down.\\nWrapping Up\\nThere's a lot of research that indicates yoga is a wonderful way to reduce stress and anxiety. But we're all different. If you have stress or anxiety that is debilitating, please be sure to reach out to your doctor.\\n\\nIt's also possible that yoga can reveal strong feelings and emotions that you've been suppressing. Practice yoga in a place that makes you feel safe and secure. And don't forget to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n so you can join my next class!"}},{"id":"cl77o54vxciuw0ck85uv39v9x","slug":"yin-yoga-for-digestion","author":{"name":"Bharath","teacherMytSlug":"bharath-1","pictureUrl":"bharath-pro.jpg"},"title":"Yin Yoga for Digestion","createdAt":"2022-08-24T13:45:35.992969+00:00","coverUrl":"kfzbgmsrthjpcvpiht8o.jpg","content":{"text":"If you experience bloating, gas or upset stomach but don’t exactly know the source, yoga can be great to help aid in your daily digestion. Yoga can help you to regulate your digestion, get a detox or relieve stomach pain from a meal gone wrong. If you’re looking to add yoga into your routine, we’d recommend yin yoga for help with digestion and stomach issues\\nWhat is Yin Yoga?\\nYin Yoga is a slower, restorative style that targets your deep connective tissues. Rather than a traditional vinyasa class that fatigues your muscles, yin goes deeper to connect under your skin to your ligaments, deep tissue and bones. This practice goes back centuries and is actually based in Chinese medicine.\\n“The practice of yin yoga is based on ancient Chinese philosophies and Taoist principles which believe there are pathways of Qi (energy) that run through our bodies. By stretching and deepening into poses, we’re opening up any blockages and releasing that energy to flow freely.” - Mind body green\\nWhy Yin Yoga?\\nYin Yoga allows you to come to your mat and answer the question “what does my body need today?” When you come to your mat for this style class, you can do a body scan and connect to your body. Notice how you feel and what’s bothering you today. Then, you can target your practice for your specific need or ailment. If you’re taking a live \\nyin yoga\\n class, the instructor will usually open class by giving you an opportunity to answer that question.\\nHow does yin yoga aid in digestion?\\nWhen you do yin or restorative poses for digestion, the poses target your spleen and stomach to aid in your digestion and promote detox qualities. You may think if your stomach is bothering you, it’s definitely something you ate. However in reality, the spleen can also carry worry. If you are stressed, upset or chronically worried, you may be experiencing pain due to stress. So coming to your mat and releasing your stomach and spleen may not only detox bloating or pain, but could also lighten your mental or emotional load. \\nWhen should you do Yin yoga to relieve stomach distress?\\nThere is no perfect time to do yoga. Every hour of the day is good for yoga if it fits in your schedule! But for maximum results, we recommend first thing in the morning or right before bed. \\nIf you choose to do your yin practice in the morning, your detox will continue all day and help your body to maintain homeostasis throughout the day. If you choose to do it at night, not only will you continue to detox while you sleep, you will benefit from a deeper more restful sleep and wake more rejuvenated.\\nSo what Yin yoga poses will help with your pain or symptoms? Try these poses to help with tummy issues whenever and wherever you are! If you prefer to practice alone or have a tight schedule, find time to fit these poses in during your busy day! Make sure to drink water after to aid in the process.\n⁠\n⁠Following are the 10 recommended yin yoga poses for digestion :\\n\n⁠1. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Seated twist)\\nThis move will release anything trapped in your GI tract and beat bloat. \\n\\n\\n2. Marjaryasana/Bitilasana (Cat/Cow)\\nThis set of poses massages the inner abdominal and stimulates digestion. \\n\\n\\n3. Supta Matsyendrasana (Supine Twist)\\nThis pose is said to relieve constipation and bloating\\n\\n\\n4. Pawanmuktasana (Wind Reliever)\\n This pose eases gas and bloating and increases blood flow in the stomach. \\n\\n\\n5. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)\\nThis pose stretches the stomach and supports digestion. \\n\\n6. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog)\\nBreathing into your belly in this shape can help to create space in your intestines. \\n\\n\\n7. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)\\nThis pose releases stress and stimulates your organs. It will help to speed up normal digestion.\\n\\n\\n8. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)\\nThis pose brings new blood flow to the stomach & helps to wake up fatigued tissue and muscles.\\n\\n\\n9. Uttana Shishosana (Puppy Pose) \\nThis pose helps to stretch your belly. It’s suggested for after a large meal. \\n\\n10. Viparita Karani (Legs Up The Wall)\\nReverse your blood flow, give into the ground and let go. Letting go will slow down your heart rate and release any blocked stress. \\n\\n\\nTry these poses on your own time when you’re experiencing stomach distress or add them to your morning routine for  digestive support throughout your day! Don’t think you’re ready to flow on your own? Join us for a class! \\n[CTA-GC]\\nClasses to take to aid in digestion or detox: \\n\\nYin Yoga with Annelise\\n - This intermediate class is great for before bed and will help with an overnight detox. \\n\\nRestorative with Swathi\\n - This all levels class will keep you in long holds to aid in detoxification and target deep tissue release. \\nOther holistic ways to relieve stomach issues:\\nIf you want to take your new digestive practice off your mat, add these simple things into your daily routine to keep your belly happy all day long! \\nTea\\nIn many scientific studies, Tea has been found to be great for digestive health because of its flavonoids. This ingredient can be found in many teas and is proven to calm the stomach and help to regulate the digestive process\\nGreen Tea\\nGreen tea is known to aid in a healthy daily detoxification because of its high levels of flavonoids which occur naturally in the fruits and veggies used to make green tea. Green tea will detox the liver and other major organs. The high level of antioxidants will keep your skin clear and refreshed as well! \\nGinger Tea\\nGinger is like nature’s pepto bismol. It can release gas and improve digestion by moving along what may be blocking your digestive process. While green tea is great for a slow all day detox, ginger tea is fast acting and gets to work immediately after drinking.\\nPeppermint Tea\\nPeppermint has been known to relieve gas, bloating and pain in the stomach. It’s a great choice for days when you feel cramping or intense stomach pain. Peppermint tea is great for staying hydrated if you’re not feeling well and is also great for a full day detox. \\nWhich brings us to our next category, When your belly is bothering you, it’s important to hydrate! It can feel overwhelming when your stomach hurts to drink water or remember to focus on your hydration, but being dehydrated could cause you much more pain or trauma. If you’re already not feeling well, try these options for hydration! \\nLemon Water\\nLemon water can aid in digestion because the citric acid in the lemon helps to break down and digest food. Lemon water also works harder to hydrate your system than plain water. It won’t run through your system or sweat out as quickly. \\nCoconut Water\\nDrinking coconut water after meals helps with digestion and helps your body to avoid bloat. The electrolytes in coconut water also help to keep your system functioning normally which promotes healthy digestion! \\nSo if you want fries on the side of your salad or ice cream after dinner tonight, no worries! Just keep this list of digestive aids handy and tomorrow, you’ll be good as new! Every day is a new day to start again…and your belly will thank you for incorporating these healthy options into your life. "}}],"blogContent":{"id":"cknabgsso4cxb0c80ev4250xl","slug":"yoga-for-skin-and-hair","author":{"name":"Rashika","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair","createdAt":"2021-04-09T12:59:57.071033+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-01T06:47:23.402135+00:00","coverUrl":"cknabgsso4cxb0c80ev4250xl.jpg","seoDescription":"Need healthier skin and hair? There's a yoga for that! Discover how yoga helps your skin and hair in this informative article.","content":{"text":"You know you’re at least a tiny bit jelly of that one person who has the most amazing hair and perfect skin. Or maybe you are that person already! (Good for you!)\\n\\nFor many people, growing a thick, healthy mane of hair they’re proud of is hard. Like, really hard! Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with beautiful hair and skin. Sometimes we have one but not the other, right?\\n\\nThe fact is no one’s perfect. And that’s, of course, beautiful in and of itself! \\n\\nBut we’re here to tell you a regular yoga practice helps you have healthy hair and skin. I talk more about this in my \\nYoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class \\non myYogaTeacher, so if you’re still interested after reading this, hop on over and check it out!\\n\\nNot a MYT member? That’s ok too! \\nGrab your MyYogaTeacher 2-week free trial here\\n and get access to my class and tons of others here. \\n\\nIn the meantime, let’s go over some ways yoga promotes healthy skin and hair!\\n\\n\\n1. Breath is life\\n\\nIf you’re not a yogi or you’re a new yogi, you’ve maybe taken advantage of the fact that you breathe. Unconsciously. \\n\\nBreathing comes naturally. But the quality of your breath does not.\\n\\nWhen you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry, your breathing changes. Some people hold their breath without even realizing it. You may take shorter breaths, faster or more shallow breaths. This reduces the amount of oxygen flowing through your body to your muscles and...you guessed it, your skin.\\n\\nYour skin is your body’s largest organ! Getting enough oxygen to your skin and hair follicles is important for healthy skin and hair.\\n\\nA regular yoga practice includes conscious breathwork. Deep, intentional breathing, belly breathing, is a major component of circulating more oxygen throughout your body.\\n\\nBreathwork also reduces stress, anxiety and helps calm your nervous system so that you will unconsciously breathe better!\\n\\nSpeaking  of circulation…\\n\\n\\n2. Yoga increases blood flow\\n\\nThis may seem obvious to you, especially during that fast-paced hatha yoga flow. You know when the sweat struggle is real and your muscles are on fire.\\n\\nBut there are specific yoga poses that increase blood flow to the scalp and skin. And better and more circulation of blood means more nutrients are being brought to those areas. Here are some poses I focus on in my Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class:\\n\\nDownward facing dog.\\n Any time your head is below your heart, gravity draws more blood down towards your scalp.\\nCamel pose.\\n This pose is great if you’re struggling with acne because it helps balance cortisol hormones.\\nStanding forward bend.\\n Another good pose to promote healthy hair and scalp.\\nHeadstand or shoulder stand\\n. Even if you’re unable to fully do these, the modifications for them still promote healthy skin and hair since they are inversion poses\\n\\nThere are many inversion asanas that help bring more blood flow to skin and scalp, particularly facial skin, which is where many people struggle with acne.\\n\\nWe cover most of these poses in my class!\\n\\n\\n3. Better digestion, better skin and hair\\n\\nYou’ve no doubt heard about how a healthy gut biome affects your health in almost every way – brain function, immunity, organ function and heart health. But did you know that a healthy digestive cycle also improves those things?\\n\\nYour digestive system plays a huge role in healthy skin and hair as well. Your digestive tract absorbs nutrients from the food you eat, and then those nutrients are distributed to the various different tissues in your body, including your skin.\\n\\nIf your digestive system isn’t on track (pun intended ;-) ) it can’t absorb the nutrients your body needs to thrive. This means your skin and hair also suffer.\\n\\nKnow what’s particularly helpful for digestion? Yes! Yoga!\\n\\nThere are waaaaaaay more poses that exist to aid digestion than we can mention here, but here are some that are perfect for every body type and any fitness level:\\n\\nSeated or reclined twists.\\n Twisting poses are particularly useful for better digestion.\\nCobra or upward facing dog.\\n Both of these poses open up the chest and stretch out the abdomen, lengthening the digestive tract.\\nCat and cow.\\n The gentle stretch and contraction of the abdominal muscles in this active asana stimulates digestion.\\nSide stretches.\\n Asanas like triangle pose, pyramid pose, and seated side stretch are also gentle poses that assist with digestion.\\n\\nNext time you overeat or ate something that didn’t agree with you, try some of these poses and see if they help. Hold each pose for 5-10 slow belly breaths for maximum benefit.\\n\\n[CTA-GC]\\n\\n4. Meditation makes a difference\\n\\nI’ve talked before about how \\nmeditation\\n affects your mental, emotional, and physical state. But you’re probably wondering how it helps your hair grow and your skin glow, right?\\n\\nInadvertently. That’s how.\\n\\nA regular meditation practice is usually a part of a regular yoga routine. At least at myYogaTeacher it is. Yoga isn’t just about the physical. The work out. It’s about creating an inner and outer world that work together for the good of all.\\n\\nWhen we meditate regularly, we stress less, worry less. We are angry less. We are happier, calmer, and more clear-headed. We’re more at peace. And when we are this way, we take better care of ourselves.\\n\\nMeditation is a part of your yoga practice that is very, very important. Because when you feel good enough to take better care of yourself, your hair and skin will show it. Whether it’s brushing your hair more often or using hair and skin products that are better for you or work better for you. Maybe you go to the salon or you finally go see a dermatologist or holistic health practitioner about your skin problems.\\n\\nEither way, yoga helps.\\n\\n\\nIf you need help in these areas, definitely try out my \\nYoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class on myYogaTeacher!\\n I would be honored to help you move past the things in your life that are preventing you from having healthy hair and skin or things that are contributing to your bad health in general.\\n\\nIf you’re not a member of MYT yet, don’t worry! \\nYou can go here to sign up for your 2-week free trial and get access to 35+ different classes a day!\\n Try it out. I’m sure you’ll love it.\\n\\nNamaste.\\n","html":"<p>You know you’re at least a tiny bit jelly of that one person who has the most amazing hair and perfect skin. Or maybe you are that person already! (Good for you!)</p><p></p><p>For many people, growing a thick, healthy mane of hair they’re proud of is hard. Like, really hard! Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with beautiful hair and skin. Sometimes we have one but not the other, right?</p><p></p><p>The fact is no one’s perfect. And that’s, of course, beautiful in and of itself! </p><p></p><p>But we’re here to tell you a regular yoga practice helps you have healthy hair and skin. I talk more about this in my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\">Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class </a>on myYogaTeacher, so if you’re still interested after reading this, hop on over and check it out!</p><p></p><p>Not a MYT member? That’s ok too! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">Grab your MyYogaTeacher 2-week free trial here</a> and get access to my class and tons of others here. </p><p></p><p>In the meantime, let’s go over some ways yoga promotes healthy skin and hair!</p><p></p><p></p><h2>1. Breath is life</h2><p></p><p>If you’re not a yogi or you’re a new yogi, you’ve maybe taken advantage of the fact that you breathe. Unconsciously. </p><p></p><p>Breathing comes naturally. But the quality of your breath does not.</p><p></p><p>When you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry, your breathing changes. Some people hold their breath without even realizing it. You may take shorter breaths, faster or more shallow breaths. This reduces the amount of oxygen flowing through your body to your muscles and...you guessed it, your skin.</p><p></p><p>Your skin is your body’s largest organ! Getting enough oxygen to your skin and hair follicles is important for healthy skin and hair.</p><p></p><p>A regular yoga practice includes conscious breathwork. Deep, intentional breathing, belly breathing, is a major component of circulating more oxygen throughout your body.</p><p></p><p>Breathwork also reduces stress, anxiety and helps calm your nervous system so that you will unconsciously breathe better!</p><p></p><p>Speaking  of circulation…</p><p></p><p></p><h2>2. Yoga increases blood flow</h2><p></p><p>This may seem obvious to you, especially during that fast-paced hatha yoga flow. You know when the sweat struggle is real and your muscles are on fire.</p><p></p><p>But there are specific yoga poses that increase blood flow to the scalp and skin. And better and more circulation of blood means more nutrients are being brought to those areas. Here are some poses I focus on in my Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class:</p><p></p><ul><li><div><strong>Downward facing dog.</strong> Any time your head is below your heart, gravity draws more blood down towards your scalp.</div></li><li><div><strong>Camel pose.</strong> This pose is great if you’re struggling with acne because it helps balance cortisol hormones.</div></li><li><div><strong>Standing forward bend.</strong> Another good pose to promote healthy hair and scalp.</div></li><li><div><strong>Headstand or shoulder stand</strong>. Even if you’re unable to fully do these, the modifications for them still promote healthy skin and hair since they are inversion poses</div></li></ul><p></p><p>There are many inversion asanas that help bring more blood flow to skin and scalp, particularly facial skin, which is where many people struggle with acne.</p><p></p><p>We cover most of these poses in my class!</p><p></p><p></p><h2>3. Better digestion, better skin and hair</h2><p></p><p>You’ve no doubt heard about how a healthy gut biome affects your health in almost every way – brain function, immunity, organ function and heart health. But did you know that a healthy digestive cycle also improves those things?</p><p></p><p>Your digestive system plays a huge role in healthy skin and hair as well. Your digestive tract absorbs nutrients from the food you eat, and then those nutrients are distributed to the various different tissues in your body, including your skin.</p><p></p><p>If your digestive system isn’t on track (pun intended ;-) ) it can’t absorb the nutrients your body needs to thrive. This means your skin and hair also suffer.</p><p></p><p>Know what’s particularly helpful for digestion? Yes! Yoga!</p><p></p><p>There are waaaaaaay more poses that exist to aid digestion than we can mention here, but here are some that are perfect for every body type and any fitness level:</p><p></p><ul><li><div><strong>Seated or reclined twists.</strong> Twisting poses are particularly useful for better digestion.</div></li><li><div><strong>Cobra or upward facing dog.</strong> Both of these poses open up the chest and stretch out the abdomen, lengthening the digestive tract.</div></li><li><div><strong>Cat and cow.</strong> The gentle stretch and contraction of the abdominal muscles in this active asana stimulates digestion.</div></li><li><div><strong>Side stretches.</strong> Asanas like triangle pose, pyramid pose, and seated side stretch are also gentle poses that assist with digestion.</div></li></ul><p></p><p>Next time you overeat or ate something that didn’t agree with you, try some of these poses and see if they help. Hold each pose for 5-10 slow belly breaths for maximum benefit.</p><p></p><p>[CTA-GC]</p><p></p><h2>4. Meditation makes a difference</h2><p></p><p>I’ve talked before about how <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/yoga-online-classes/meditation\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/yoga-online-classes/meditation\">meditation</a> affects your mental, emotional, and physical state. But you’re probably wondering how it helps your hair grow and your skin glow, right?</p><p></p><p>Inadvertently. That’s how.</p><p></p><p>A regular meditation practice is usually a part of a regular yoga routine. At least at myYogaTeacher it is. Yoga isn’t just about the physical. The work out. It’s about creating an inner and outer world that work together for the good of all.</p><p></p><p>When we meditate regularly, we stress less, worry less. We are angry less. We are happier, calmer, and more clear-headed. We’re more at peace. And when we are this way, we take better care of ourselves.</p><p></p><p>Meditation is a part of your yoga practice that is very, very important. Because when you feel good enough to take better care of yourself, your hair and skin will show it. Whether it’s brushing your hair more often or using hair and skin products that are better for you or work better for you. Maybe you go to the salon or you finally go see a dermatologist or holistic health practitioner about your skin problems.</p><p></p><p>Either way, yoga helps.</p><p></p><p></p><p>If you need help in these areas, definitely try out my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\">Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class on myYogaTeacher!</a> I would be honored to help you move past the things in your life that are preventing you from having healthy hair and skin or things that are contributing to your bad health in general.</p><p></p><p>If you’re not a member of MYT yet, don’t worry! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">You can go here to sign up for your 2-week free trial and get access to 35+ different classes a day!</a> Try it out. I’m sure you’ll love it.</p><p></p><p>Namaste.</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga","restorative"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>You know you’re at least a tiny bit jelly of that one person who has the most amazing hair and perfect skin. Or maybe you are that person already! (Good for you!)</p><p></p><p>For many people, growing a thick, healthy mane of hair they’re proud of is hard. Like, really hard! Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with beautiful hair and skin. Sometimes we have one but not the other, right?</p><p></p><p>The fact is no one’s perfect. And that’s, of course, beautiful in and of itself! </p><p></p><p>But we’re here to tell you a regular yoga practice helps you have healthy hair and skin. I talk more about this in my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\">Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class </a>on myYogaTeacher, so if you’re still interested after reading this, hop on over and check it out!</p><p></p><p>Not a MYT member? That’s ok too! <a\n            class=\"inline-cta\"\n            id=a9a39fd1-39e9-4e6a-adf8-48da82f3002d\n            href=\"/signup?utm_source=MYT__article&utm_medium=cknabgsso4cxb0c80ev4250xl&utm_campaign=inline_cta&utm_content=CTA-INLINE&entity_name=Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair&entity_slug=yoga-for-skin-and-hair&page_or_popup=/articles/yoga-for-skin-and-hair&entity_location=hyperlink_midst_of_article&article_cta=CTA-INLINE&from_article_page=true\"\n            onclick=trigger_mixpanel_sign_up_cta(\"a9a39fd1-39e9-4e6a-adf8-48da82f3002d\")\n            title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" \n            data-title=\"Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair\"\n            data-slug=\"yoga-for-skin-and-hair\"\n            <u>Grab your MyYogaTeacher 2-week free trial here</a></u>        \n            </a> and get access to my class and tons of others here. </p><p></p><p>In the meantime, let’s go over some ways yoga promotes healthy skin and hair!</p><p></p><p></p><h2>1. Breath is life</h2><p></p><p>If you’re not a yogi or you’re a new yogi, you’ve maybe taken advantage of the fact that you breathe. Unconsciously. </p><p></p><p>Breathing comes naturally. But the quality of your breath does not.</p><p></p><p>When you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry, your breathing changes. Some people hold their breath without even realizing it. You may take shorter breaths, faster or more shallow breaths. This reduces the amount of oxygen flowing through your body to your muscles and...you guessed it, your skin.</p><p></p><p>Your skin is your body’s largest organ! Getting enough oxygen to your skin and hair follicles is important for healthy skin and hair.</p><p></p><p>A regular yoga practice includes conscious breathwork. Deep, intentional breathing, belly breathing, is a major component of circulating more oxygen throughout your body.</p><p></p><p>Breathwork also reduces stress, anxiety and helps calm your nervous system so that you will unconsciously breathe better!</p><p></p><p>Speaking  of circulation…</p><p></p><p></p><h2>2. Yoga increases blood flow</h2><p></p><p>This may seem obvious to you, especially during that fast-paced hatha yoga flow. You know when the sweat struggle is real and your muscles are on fire.</p><p></p><p>But there are specific yoga poses that increase blood flow to the scalp and skin. And better and more circulation of blood means more nutrients are being brought to those areas. Here are some poses I focus on in my Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class:</p><p></p><ul><li><div><strong>Downward facing dog.</strong> Any time your head is below your heart, gravity draws more blood down towards your scalp.</div></li><li><div><strong>Camel pose.</strong> This pose is great if you’re struggling with acne because it helps balance cortisol hormones.</div></li><li><div><strong>Standing forward bend.</strong> Another good pose to promote healthy hair and scalp.</div></li><li><div><strong>Headstand or shoulder stand</strong>. Even if you’re unable to fully do these, the modifications for them still promote healthy skin and hair since they are inversion poses</div></li></ul><p></p><p>There are many inversion asanas that help bring more blood flow to skin and scalp, particularly facial skin, which is where many people struggle with acne.</p><p></p><p>We cover most of these poses in my class!</p><p></p><p></p><h2>3. Better digestion, better skin and hair</h2><p></p><p>You’ve no doubt heard about how a healthy gut biome affects your health in almost every way – brain function, immunity, organ function and heart health. But did you know that a healthy digestive cycle also improves those things?</p><p></p><p>Your digestive system plays a huge role in healthy skin and hair as well. Your digestive tract absorbs nutrients from the food you eat, and then those nutrients are distributed to the various different tissues in your body, including your skin.</p><p></p><p>If your digestive system isn’t on track (pun intended ;-) ) it can’t absorb the nutrients your body needs to thrive. This means your skin and hair also suffer.</p><p></p><p>Know what’s particularly helpful for digestion? Yes! Yoga!</p><p></p><p>There are waaaaaaay more poses that exist to aid digestion than we can mention here, but here are some that are perfect for every body type and any fitness level:</p><p></p><ul><li><div><strong>Seated or reclined twists.</strong> Twisting poses are particularly useful for better digestion.</div></li><li><div><strong>Cobra or upward facing dog.</strong> Both of these poses open up the chest and stretch out the abdomen, lengthening the digestive tract.</div></li><li><div><strong>Cat and cow.</strong> The gentle stretch and contraction of the abdominal muscles in this active asana stimulates digestion.</div></li><li><div><strong>Side stretches.</strong> Asanas like triangle pose, pyramid pose, and seated side stretch are also gentle poses that assist with digestion.</div></li></ul><p></p><p>Next time you overeat or ate something that didn’t agree with you, try some of these poses and see if they help. Hold each pose for 5-10 slow belly breaths for maximum benefit.</p><p></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-GC]"},{"type":"HTML","value":"<p></p><h2>4. Meditation makes a difference</h2><p></p><p>I’ve talked before about how <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/yoga-online-classes/meditation\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/yoga-online-classes/meditation\">meditation</a> affects your mental, emotional, and physical state. But you’re probably wondering how it helps your hair grow and your skin glow, right?</p><p></p><p>Inadvertently. That’s how.</p><p></p><p>A regular meditation practice is usually a part of a regular yoga routine. At least at myYogaTeacher it is. Yoga isn’t just about the physical. The work out. It’s about creating an inner and outer world that work together for the good of all.</p><p></p><p>When we meditate regularly, we stress less, worry less. We are angry less. We are happier, calmer, and more clear-headed. We’re more at peace. And when we are this way, we take better care of ourselves.</p><p></p><p>Meditation is a part of your yoga practice that is very, very important. Because when you feel good enough to take better care of yourself, your hair and skin will show it. Whether it’s brushing your hair more often or using hair and skin products that are better for you or work better for you. Maybe you go to the salon or you finally go see a dermatologist or holistic health practitioner about your skin problems.</p><p></p><p>Either way, yoga helps.</p><p></p><p></p><p>If you need help in these areas, definitely try out my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\">Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class on myYogaTeacher!</a> I would be honored to help you move past the things in your life that are preventing you from having healthy hair and skin or things that are contributing to your bad health in general.</p><p></p><p>If you’re not a member of MYT yet, don’t worry! <a\n            class=\"inline-cta\"\n            id=2d268c12-7c4b-4c0e-a29d-6b154863643f\n            href=\"/signup?utm_source=MYT__article&utm_medium=cknabgsso4cxb0c80ev4250xl&utm_campaign=inline_cta&utm_content=CTA-INLINE&entity_name=Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair&entity_slug=yoga-for-skin-and-hair&page_or_popup=/articles/yoga-for-skin-and-hair&entity_location=hyperlink_midst_of_article&article_cta=CTA-INLINE&from_article_page=true\"\n            onclick=trigger_mixpanel_sign_up_cta(\"2d268c12-7c4b-4c0e-a29d-6b154863643f\")\n            title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" \n            data-title=\"Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair\"\n            data-slug=\"yoga-for-skin-and-hair\"\n            <u>You can go here to sign up for your 2-week free trial and get access to 35+ different classes a day!</a></u>        \n            </a> Try it out. I’m sure you’ll love it.</p><p></p><p>Namaste.</p><p></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"yoga-for-skin-and-hair","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. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz37hsu0cj0a76mgb4594m","name":"[CTA-FREECLASS]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice with Authentic Indian Yoga Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz6nq0tqdr0c258titvagg","name":"[CTA-REVIEWS]","description":{"html":"<p>Find out what all the hype is about! <strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Hatha Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>with Authentic Indian Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cky90p88g3zgc0d23yz6taont","name":"[CTA-NASAL]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>to relieve post nasal drip and clear out your sinus. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic Indian yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Post Nasal Drip &amp; Clear Your Sinus Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyirvl8g25ce0c70cldmca2g","name":"[CTA-TRATAKA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>with experienced Trataka teachers. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Candle Gazing Meditation) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Learn Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyisqh482ck60b79rp1r1jcg","name":"[CTA-YIN]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong>, work with an experienced yoga therapist to reduce (and even eliminate) your back pain. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Yoga for Back Pain’) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Therapy – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Back Pain Safely &amp; Effectively Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitki4w2liz0b30tqpzhy4i","name":"[CTA-KRIYA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation <strong>and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation Today!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitxgyg2pot0b79lu1fcpp1","name":"[CTA-BREATH]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) and <strong>2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>, like ‘Stretch and Breathe’, ‘Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation’, and many others. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong> Learn Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Pranayama!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckykb6i2o1o7f0b368s1m7qow","name":"[CTA-LYMPHATIC]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong> for lymphatic drainage &amp; immunity enhancement. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group yoga classes</strong> (including daily yin-yoga) when you sign up today! No credit card required to sign up.</p><p></p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions –  </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>for Lymphatic Drainage &amp; Boosting Your Immune System!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl2vqlpyfe3yh0biohgxyx2hg","name":"[CTA-LEAD]","description":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl4gnwnrlga640ck37gutx7sn","name":"[CTA-GC]","description":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"}],"post":{"id":"cknabgsso4cxb0c80ev4250xl","slug":"yoga-for-skin-and-hair","author":{"name":"Rashika","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Grow and Glow: 4 Ways Yoga Helps Your Skin and Hair","createdAt":"2021-04-09T12:59:57.071033+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-01T06:47:23.402135+00:00","coverUrl":"cknabgsso4cxb0c80ev4250xl.jpg","seoDescription":"Need healthier skin and hair? There's a yoga for that! Discover how yoga helps your skin and hair in this informative article.","content":{"text":"You know you’re at least a tiny bit jelly of that one person who has the most amazing hair and perfect skin. Or maybe you are that person already! (Good for you!)\\n\\nFor many people, growing a thick, healthy mane of hair they’re proud of is hard. Like, really hard! Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with beautiful hair and skin. Sometimes we have one but not the other, right?\\n\\nThe fact is no one’s perfect. And that’s, of course, beautiful in and of itself! \\n\\nBut we’re here to tell you a regular yoga practice helps you have healthy hair and skin. I talk more about this in my \\nYoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class \\non myYogaTeacher, so if you’re still interested after reading this, hop on over and check it out!\\n\\nNot a MYT member? That’s ok too! \\nGrab your MyYogaTeacher 2-week free trial here\\n and get access to my class and tons of others here. \\n\\nIn the meantime, let’s go over some ways yoga promotes healthy skin and hair!\\n\\n\\n1. Breath is life\\n\\nIf you’re not a yogi or you’re a new yogi, you’ve maybe taken advantage of the fact that you breathe. Unconsciously. \\n\\nBreathing comes naturally. But the quality of your breath does not.\\n\\nWhen you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry, your breathing changes. Some people hold their breath without even realizing it. You may take shorter breaths, faster or more shallow breaths. This reduces the amount of oxygen flowing through your body to your muscles and...you guessed it, your skin.\\n\\nYour skin is your body’s largest organ! Getting enough oxygen to your skin and hair follicles is important for healthy skin and hair.\\n\\nA regular yoga practice includes conscious breathwork. Deep, intentional breathing, belly breathing, is a major component of circulating more oxygen throughout your body.\\n\\nBreathwork also reduces stress, anxiety and helps calm your nervous system so that you will unconsciously breathe better!\\n\\nSpeaking  of circulation…\\n\\n\\n2. Yoga increases blood flow\\n\\nThis may seem obvious to you, especially during that fast-paced hatha yoga flow. You know when the sweat struggle is real and your muscles are on fire.\\n\\nBut there are specific yoga poses that increase blood flow to the scalp and skin. And better and more circulation of blood means more nutrients are being brought to those areas. Here are some poses I focus on in my Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class:\\n\\nDownward facing dog.\\n Any time your head is below your heart, gravity draws more blood down towards your scalp.\\nCamel pose.\\n This pose is great if you’re struggling with acne because it helps balance cortisol hormones.\\nStanding forward bend.\\n Another good pose to promote healthy hair and scalp.\\nHeadstand or shoulder stand\\n. Even if you’re unable to fully do these, the modifications for them still promote healthy skin and hair since they are inversion poses\\n\\nThere are many inversion asanas that help bring more blood flow to skin and scalp, particularly facial skin, which is where many people struggle with acne.\\n\\nWe cover most of these poses in my class!\\n\\n\\n3. Better digestion, better skin and hair\\n\\nYou’ve no doubt heard about how a healthy gut biome affects your health in almost every way – brain function, immunity, organ function and heart health. But did you know that a healthy digestive cycle also improves those things?\\n\\nYour digestive system plays a huge role in healthy skin and hair as well. Your digestive tract absorbs nutrients from the food you eat, and then those nutrients are distributed to the various different tissues in your body, including your skin.\\n\\nIf your digestive system isn’t on track (pun intended ;-) ) it can’t absorb the nutrients your body needs to thrive. This means your skin and hair also suffer.\\n\\nKnow what’s particularly helpful for digestion? Yes! Yoga!\\n\\nThere are waaaaaaay more poses that exist to aid digestion than we can mention here, but here are some that are perfect for every body type and any fitness level:\\n\\nSeated or reclined twists.\\n Twisting poses are particularly useful for better digestion.\\nCobra or upward facing dog.\\n Both of these poses open up the chest and stretch out the abdomen, lengthening the digestive tract.\\nCat and cow.\\n The gentle stretch and contraction of the abdominal muscles in this active asana stimulates digestion.\\nSide stretches.\\n Asanas like triangle pose, pyramid pose, and seated side stretch are also gentle poses that assist with digestion.\\n\\nNext time you overeat or ate something that didn’t agree with you, try some of these poses and see if they help. Hold each pose for 5-10 slow belly breaths for maximum benefit.\\n\\n[CTA-GC]\\n\\n4. Meditation makes a difference\\n\\nI’ve talked before about how \\nmeditation\\n affects your mental, emotional, and physical state. But you’re probably wondering how it helps your hair grow and your skin glow, right?\\n\\nInadvertently. That’s how.\\n\\nA regular meditation practice is usually a part of a regular yoga routine. At least at myYogaTeacher it is. Yoga isn’t just about the physical. The work out. It’s about creating an inner and outer world that work together for the good of all.\\n\\nWhen we meditate regularly, we stress less, worry less. We are angry less. We are happier, calmer, and more clear-headed. We’re more at peace. And when we are this way, we take better care of ourselves.\\n\\nMeditation is a part of your yoga practice that is very, very important. Because when you feel good enough to take better care of yourself, your hair and skin will show it. Whether it’s brushing your hair more often or using hair and skin products that are better for you or work better for you. Maybe you go to the salon or you finally go see a dermatologist or holistic health practitioner about your skin problems.\\n\\nEither way, yoga helps.\\n\\n\\nIf you need help in these areas, definitely try out my \\nYoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class on myYogaTeacher!\\n I would be honored to help you move past the things in your life that are preventing you from having healthy hair and skin or things that are contributing to your bad health in general.\\n\\nIf you’re not a member of MYT yet, don’t worry! \\nYou can go here to sign up for your 2-week free trial and get access to 35+ different classes a day!\\n Try it out. I’m sure you’ll love it.\\n\\nNamaste.\\n","html":"<p>You know you’re at least a tiny bit jelly of that one person who has the most amazing hair and perfect skin. Or maybe you are that person already! (Good for you!)</p><p></p><p>For many people, growing a thick, healthy mane of hair they’re proud of is hard. Like, really hard! Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with beautiful hair and skin. Sometimes we have one but not the other, right?</p><p></p><p>The fact is no one’s perfect. And that’s, of course, beautiful in and of itself! </p><p></p><p>But we’re here to tell you a regular yoga practice helps you have healthy hair and skin. I talk more about this in my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\">Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class </a>on myYogaTeacher, so if you’re still interested after reading this, hop on over and check it out!</p><p></p><p>Not a MYT member? That’s ok too! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">Grab your MyYogaTeacher 2-week free trial here</a> and get access to my class and tons of others here. </p><p></p><p>In the meantime, let’s go over some ways yoga promotes healthy skin and hair!</p><p></p><p></p><h2>1. Breath is life</h2><p></p><p>If you’re not a yogi or you’re a new yogi, you’ve maybe taken advantage of the fact that you breathe. Unconsciously. </p><p></p><p>Breathing comes naturally. But the quality of your breath does not.</p><p></p><p>When you’re stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry, your breathing changes. Some people hold their breath without even realizing it. You may take shorter breaths, faster or more shallow breaths. This reduces the amount of oxygen flowing through your body to your muscles and...you guessed it, your skin.</p><p></p><p>Your skin is your body’s largest organ! Getting enough oxygen to your skin and hair follicles is important for healthy skin and hair.</p><p></p><p>A regular yoga practice includes conscious breathwork. Deep, intentional breathing, belly breathing, is a major component of circulating more oxygen throughout your body.</p><p></p><p>Breathwork also reduces stress, anxiety and helps calm your nervous system so that you will unconsciously breathe better!</p><p></p><p>Speaking  of circulation…</p><p></p><p></p><h2>2. Yoga increases blood flow</h2><p></p><p>This may seem obvious to you, especially during that fast-paced hatha yoga flow. You know when the sweat struggle is real and your muscles are on fire.</p><p></p><p>But there are specific yoga poses that increase blood flow to the scalp and skin. And better and more circulation of blood means more nutrients are being brought to those areas. Here are some poses I focus on in my Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class:</p><p></p><ul><li><div><strong>Downward facing dog.</strong> Any time your head is below your heart, gravity draws more blood down towards your scalp.</div></li><li><div><strong>Camel pose.</strong> This pose is great if you’re struggling with acne because it helps balance cortisol hormones.</div></li><li><div><strong>Standing forward bend.</strong> Another good pose to promote healthy hair and scalp.</div></li><li><div><strong>Headstand or shoulder stand</strong>. Even if you’re unable to fully do these, the modifications for them still promote healthy skin and hair since they are inversion poses</div></li></ul><p></p><p>There are many inversion asanas that help bring more blood flow to skin and scalp, particularly facial skin, which is where many people struggle with acne.</p><p></p><p>We cover most of these poses in my class!</p><p></p><p></p><h2>3. Better digestion, better skin and hair</h2><p></p><p>You’ve no doubt heard about how a healthy gut biome affects your health in almost every way – brain function, immunity, organ function and heart health. But did you know that a healthy digestive cycle also improves those things?</p><p></p><p>Your digestive system plays a huge role in healthy skin and hair as well. Your digestive tract absorbs nutrients from the food you eat, and then those nutrients are distributed to the various different tissues in your body, including your skin.</p><p></p><p>If your digestive system isn’t on track (pun intended ;-) ) it can’t absorb the nutrients your body needs to thrive. This means your skin and hair also suffer.</p><p></p><p>Know what’s particularly helpful for digestion? Yes! Yoga!</p><p></p><p>There are waaaaaaay more poses that exist to aid digestion than we can mention here, but here are some that are perfect for every body type and any fitness level:</p><p></p><ul><li><div><strong>Seated or reclined twists.</strong> Twisting poses are particularly useful for better digestion.</div></li><li><div><strong>Cobra or upward facing dog.</strong> Both of these poses open up the chest and stretch out the abdomen, lengthening the digestive tract.</div></li><li><div><strong>Cat and cow.</strong> The gentle stretch and contraction of the abdominal muscles in this active asana stimulates digestion.</div></li><li><div><strong>Side stretches.</strong> Asanas like triangle pose, pyramid pose, and seated side stretch are also gentle poses that assist with digestion.</div></li></ul><p></p><p>Next time you overeat or ate something that didn’t agree with you, try some of these poses and see if they help. Hold each pose for 5-10 slow belly breaths for maximum benefit.</p><p></p><p>[CTA-GC]</p><p></p><h2>4. Meditation makes a difference</h2><p></p><p>I’ve talked before about how <a target='_blank' title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/yoga-online-classes/meditation\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/yoga-online-classes/meditation\">meditation</a> affects your mental, emotional, and physical state. But you’re probably wondering how it helps your hair grow and your skin glow, right?</p><p></p><p>Inadvertently. That’s how.</p><p></p><p>A regular meditation practice is usually a part of a regular yoga routine. At least at myYogaTeacher it is. Yoga isn’t just about the physical. The work out. It’s about creating an inner and outer world that work together for the good of all.</p><p></p><p>When we meditate regularly, we stress less, worry less. We are angry less. We are happier, calmer, and more clear-headed. We’re more at peace. And when we are this way, we take better care of ourselves.</p><p></p><p>Meditation is a part of your yoga practice that is very, very important. Because when you feel good enough to take better care of yourself, your hair and skin will show it. Whether it’s brushing your hair more often or using hair and skin products that are better for you or work better for you. Maybe you go to the salon or you finally go see a dermatologist or holistic health practitioner about your skin problems.</p><p></p><p>Either way, yoga helps.</p><p></p><p></p><p>If you need help in these areas, definitely try out my <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/group_classes/yoga-for-healthy-hair-and-skin-by-rashika\">Yoga for Healthy Hair and Skin Class on myYogaTeacher!</a> I would be honored to help you move past the things in your life that are preventing you from having healthy hair and skin or things that are contributing to your bad health in general.</p><p></p><p>If you’re not a member of MYT yet, don’t worry! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\">You can go here to sign up for your 2-week free trial and get access to 35+ different classes a day!</a> Try it out. I’m sure you’ll love it.</p><p></p><p>Namaste.</p><p></p>"},"category":["yoga","restorative"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":[{"session_uuid":"f1374717-c5a4-4b48-a49d-4c1a0968ede3","student_uuid":"3975ccdb-a85e-4ad9-8540-13ca77c16690","teacher_uuid":"ffdf8a79-d986-4ab3-8fe8-b28ca7ad6a9c","teacher_name":"Rohan Shroff","teacher_first_name":"Rohan ","teacher_slug":"rohan-1","teacher_photo":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/v1663072548/teacher/photos/qww2qflht6gf4emjllie.jpg","group_session_name":"Kriya, Pranayama and Meditation","group_session_description":"Kriyas are a set of purifying practices intended to help the body to clear energy pathways and strengthen the immune system. Simple kriyas can be included in a daily practice to boost self-confidence and promote vibrant health. 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