Yoga Asana Series: Urdhva Dhanurasana aka Wheel Pose

Sanskrit Words: URDHVA DHANURASANA = UPWARD-FACING BOW POSE, aka WHEEL POSE Urdhva = Upward Dhanu = bow Asana = pose (pronunciation: OORD-vah dah-nour-AHS-anna) Urdvha Dhanurasana is most often translated as Wheel pose, although the direct Sanskrit translation is upward bow pose. (Confusingly, this pose is sometimes called Chakrasana, which does literally mean wheel (chakra) pose…

Yoga Asana Series: Virasana aka Hero Pose

Sanskrit Term: VIRASANA = HERO POSE Vira = hero Asana = pose (pronunciation: VEER-AHS-anna) Why You Should Practice Virasana Do you know what we do a lot of in yoga? External hip rotation. Trikonasana, Warrior II, Tree pose, Gomukhasana, Baddha Konasana are just a drop in the ocean of all the yoga poses that depend on external hip rotation. And, do you know what we do very little of?…

Yoga Asana Series: Ustrasana aka Camel Pose

Sanskrit Term: USTRASANA = CAMEL POSE  Ustra = Camel Asana = pose  (pronunciation: oosh-TRAHS-anna) Why You Should Practice Ustrasana Camel pose is a yoga asana that will help you deepen your back-bending ability established in cobra pose, and also improve your core strength, and strengthen and stretch your hip flexors and quads. It's great for the nervous system and…

Yoga Asana Series: Gomukhasana aka Cow Face Pose

Sanskrit Term: GOMUKHASANA = COW FACE POSE Go = Cow Mukha = Face Asana = pose (pronunciation: go-moo-KAHS-anna) Why You Should Practice Gomukhasana If you are looking for some juicy hip opening action coupled with a deep shoulder stretch, look no further than the nice stretch that is Gomukhasana — it is such a great pose! This seated yoga posture is a more difficult pose than some…

Yoga Asana Series: Paschimottanasana aka Seated Forward Fold

Full name: PASCHIMOTTANASANA = INTENSE STRETCH OF THE WEST POST Paschima = West* Uttana = Intense stretch Asana = pose (pronunciation: POSH-ee-moh-tan-AHS-anna) *West... What? The back of the body is referred to as the west side, and the front of the body is the east side. Legend has it this is because, traditionally, you would practice yoga at the break of day facing the sunrise in the…

Yoga Asana Series: Tadasana aka Mountain Pose

Full name: TADASANA = MOUNTAIN POSE Tada = mountain Asana = pose (pronunciation: tad-AHS-anna) Why You Should Practise Tadasana In yoga, tadasana is your standing pose home base. Also, along with bhujangasana it shows up multiple times in Surya Namaskar (it’s where you start and end all your sun salutations), and throughout your practice. And if I were to add a pose to the yoga asana…

Yoga Asana Series: Bhujangasana aka Cobra Pose

Full name: BHUJANGASANA = COBRA POSE Bhujanga = snake or cobra* Asana = pose (pronunciation: booj-ahn-GAHS-anna) * The direct Sanskrit translation of bhujanga is snake. However, as cobras are common in India, and the form of bhujangasana is said to look like a cobra with a flared hood, it is translated as cobra for the position in yoga. Why You Should Practise Bhujangasana…

Yoga Asana Series: Trikonasana aka Triangle pose

Full name: UTTHITA TRIKONASANA = Extended Triangle Pose         Utthita = Extended (pronunciation: oo-TEE-tah)         Trikona = Three angle or triangle (pronunciation: trik-con)         Asana = Pose (pronunciation: AHS-anna) Why You Should Practise Trikonasana Triangle pose is a foundational standing yoga pose; once you get…

What Is Yin Yoga?

When I work out, I like to work. If I'm practicing yoga instead of hitting the gym or running, I favor the fast pace of Rocket Yoga and the intensity of Ashtanga. But putting my body regularly through this type of yoga means that unless I also prioritize well-being, rest, and taking care of my body I risk everything from burnout to injury (yes, I have learned the hard way). Recently, I have…

What is Rocket Yoga?

I'm always amazed when I encounter a new form of yoga. I feel that, after over 15 years of practicing, I would have seen, tried, or at least heard of it all. But no. On my recent trip to Barcelona, I saw many studios had "Rocket Yoga" on their menu and I got curious... Now, that's a name that makes me want to try it! So what is Rocket Yoga? Am I going to shoot to the moon? Sadly not, but…

My Yoga Teacher Training in Berlin at High on Yoga

I’d been wanting to do a second yoga teacher training since moving to Berlin to fully immerse myself into what had been my lifesaver since my arrival. I couldn’t quite figure out the best way to go about it or which school to pick. Then I started practicing with High on Yoga, and it felt like the perfect fit: the studio teaches intense sequences heavily inspired by Ashtanga and I felt like I had…

Yoga Teacher Training Europe 2022 Guide

My first yoga teacher training was in India in 2015, not only was it an amazing way to deepen my yoga practice and learn about anatomy and yoga philosophy, but it was an incredible journey of self-discovery, and I met some truly special people there… a time and people which led to me exploring the beaches of Goa, healing from some pretty devastating heartache, learning Thai massage in a hill…

Surya Namaskar for Beginners: Getting Started with Yoga

Learning the Surya Namaskar steps and beginning with yoga can feel overwhelming — there are so many amazing teachers, studios, online yoga courses, and, if your budget permits, IRL yoga retreats to learn the basics. But I honestly think the best, most accessible, welcoming — not to mention the cheapest — place to start with yoga for beginners, is at home by following the good ol’ Surya Namaskar…

Eight Limbs of Yoga: What are They?

The world of yoga philosophy can be daunting. I love me a yoga book and yoga movie as a way to learn more about this glorious practice and tradition. But I will say that when it comes to yoga philosophy, it’s full of thousands of years worth of different schools and lineages, matter bending metaphysics, and some pretty far out (not entirely helpful for 21st-century living) ideas. But if there…

The Best Yoga Movies to Learn More About Yoga

One of my favorite ways to learn more about something is to watch a documentary about it. I’m a visual person, so the movie format is my best friend and a great way to study the origins of modern yoga for me, plus it’s MUCH quicker than reading sacred books (I do love me a good yoga book, though). Yoga movies and spiritual movies have been an essential source for teaching me more about this rich…

What is Tantra Yoga and Tantra Retreat Recommendations

Yoga is more than just asana, and that’s why I make an effort to read yoga books and watch yoga movies to deepen my knowledge about the rich cultures of this practice. For a while now, I’ve been curious to learn more about the philosophy and practices of Tantra yoga. So I know what you’re thinking. Tantra yoga = sex. Bendy, esoteric, mind-blowing sex that lasts for hours. Well, maybe. But…

It Takes Two, Baby: Yoga Poses for Two People

Friends, couples, random people you meet in the park — there’s no best way than the bonding experience of partner yoga poses. And with a second lockdown looming and people looking for things to do at home, these yoga poses for two people will give you an afternoon of fun and a good stretch. These are also great couple yoga poses for those looking for a new bonding experience. Get yer…

Thoughts on learning the Ashtanga Primary Series

I knew that learning the Ashtanga Primary Series was going to be a challenge. I knew because I had already tried and failed not that long ago, at a time where I wasn't mentally prepared. I have to say, I am quite impressed by my wingspan here. One thing you may not know about me, if you aren’t so close to me or haven’t been a reader of many years, is that the last few years were the…

Empowering Yoga Quotes to Feed your Soul

Yoga has been for me so much more than a sport. As my practice has deepened over the last ten or so years since I started taking some online yoga class and reading books about yoga, at some point, something shifted and yoga took on a profound purpose in my life, and I am so thankful for this. One of my favorite yoga quotes comes from Patanjali and goes: “A mind free from all disturbances is…

What is Kriya Yoga?

The technique of Kriya Yoga is an ancient practice that was revived in the East in 1861 when Mahavatar Babaji taught the technique to his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya. It was then brought to the West in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda and popularised in his 1946 book ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ — which is often cited as one of the most important spiritual books of the 20th Century. But what exactly is…

My Favourite Books About Yoga

As someone who has read countless books about yoga and watched several yoga movies, I know all too well the positive effect that they can have on your practice and on your daily life. Yoga is so much more than simply taking classes. It’s about changing our outlook on life and boosting our physical and mental wellbeing. It’s developing harmony between the mind, body and environment. And…

Cool yoga poses everyone should do

If you come here regularly or follow me on my social media, you probably know that yoga takes a very big role in my life. But beyond the fancy headstands (and don't be shy from trying them! check out those inversions for beginners) and strange contortions I sometimes photograph myself into, yoga established itself as a daily practice in my life when I started backpacking through South East Asia…

What is Angamardana?

I've been on a mission recently to break out of my yoga practice plateau. You know — where suddenly you hit a wall in your practice, or worse yet, things you could do a month ago suddenly become impossible. This is not my first time at the yoga plateau-rodeo, and in my efforts to keep my sanity intact and find a way out of this rut, I came across angamardana — and my curiosity was peaked.…

50 gifts for the yogi in your life

Let’s face it, sometimes purchasing gifts for our loved ones is no easy feat. I still have a little bit of a hard time getting gifts for even the people I know best. If you have a special yogi in your life (or need a treat for yourself!), then look no further than this gift guide with awesome gifts for the yogi. Here are 50 of the best gifts for yoga lovers — not just for the holiday season!……

The Chakras Explained

I remember the first time I took a deep dive into the Chakras. It was during my YTT, and my yoga philosophy teacher pulled up a chart of all the chakra colors and meanings, the different symbols of the chakras, and even got out her collection of chakra crystals and stones… and I spent the next hour trying not to roll my eyes or guffaw out loud. The chakras explained all sounded like New Age…