One of the most important principles in yoga is to trust your body and natural instincts. Listen to what your body is telling you.Always take a moment to check in with yourself and notice what feels right, rather than simply following your teacher’s instructions. The foundation of every practice is mindfulness and self-appreciation.Ask yourself: Yoga…

Simple Gestures with Powerful Benefits Mudras, coming from the Sanskrit words for “gesture” or “seal,” are specific hand and finger positions that are believed to regulate the flow of prana = vital life energy. From a yogic point of view, these hand gestures help energy flow in the body. This can improve your focus, calm…

As part of nature, humans have always learned from animals and the environment around us. Innovations like Velcro, inspired by burrs that stick to fur, and airplanes, modeled after the flight of birds, many inventions show humans deep inspiration from nature. What is Animal or Primal Movement?It is a training style inspired by animals naturally…

You’ve probably noticed — balance is everywhere. It comes up in conversations about health, mindfulness, work, and life in general. But is it just another buzzword, or does it really matter? Balance isn’t just about staying calm or keeping things equal. It’s about how you manage change, stress, and competing demands. It takes discipline, awareness,…

“Practice, and all is coming.”This well-known phrase by yoga teacher Sri K. Pattabhi Jois reminds us of the power of consistent, dedicated practice. It’s through showing up regularly that we grow, deepen our self-understanding, and experience transformation through yoga. As we wrap up our Yoga Basics Series after 10 weeks, let’s take a moment to…

After building a foundation in breathwork and asana alignment, in our 10th session of Yoga Basics, I’d like to give you a glimpse into Yogic philosophy. We explore the Eight Limbs of Yoga, outlined in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, who compiled this ancient wisdom into 195 aphorisms. These eight steps offer a complete path…

In yoga, an inversion is any posture where your heart is positioned higher than your head. While often associated with advanced poses like Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) or Forearm Stand (Pincha Mayurasana), inversions also include deeply restorative shapes like Child’s Pose (Balasana) or Legs-Up-the-Wall (Viparita Karani). The essence lies not in complexity, but in a…

These gentle movements have a calming effect on the nervous system, inviting you to soften, let go, and cultivate a sense of humility with each breath. Forward bends gently lengthen the entire back of the body while offering a subtle massage to the internal organs. As you fold forward, your nervous system is gently guided…

Backbends are a beautiful way to build strength and flexibility while inviting lightness into both body and mind. These heart-opening postures—like Cobra or Locust—gently activate the muscles along the spine, helping you develop endurance and resilience over time. Beyond their physical benefits, backbends offer something deeper. As you open the chest and expand the heart…

Welcome to the center—your core.In yoga, connecting to your core isn’t about sculpting a six-pack like in traditional fitness; it’s about grounding yourself, finding inner strength, and feeling truly anchored from within. These deep core muscles—primarily the transversus abdominis, multifidus, pelvic floor muscles, and diaphragm—work together to form a natural corset around your spine. They…