If you are brand new to yoga, there are certain postures that are essential for you to learn so you can feel comfortable in a class or practicing on your own at home.

Its not easy to narrow everything down since there are over 300 positions in the physical yoga practice(asana), but these poses can start you off on the right path. If you do each one of these for 5-10 breaths, it also creates a great beginners yoga programfor you to do every day.

Here are my picks for the 10 most important yoga poses for beginners. Note: You don't have to be able to do all these poses exactly as pictured ALWAYS listen to your body and modify if needed.

Before you read on, we've created a free 28-day online yoga program with online classes specifically for beginners like you. Join thefree program here. It's like a personal yoga class with your private yoga teacher.

Mountain Pose is the base for all standing poses; it gives you a sense of how to ground in to your feet and feel the earth below you. Mountain pose may seem like "simply standing," but there is a ton going on.

How to do it: Start standing with your feet together. Press down through all ten toes as you spread them open. Engage your quadriceps to lift your kneecaps and lift up through the inner thighs. Draw your abdominals in and up as you lift your chest and press the tops of the shoulders down.

Feel your shoulder blades coming towards each other and open your chest; but keep your palms facing inwards towards the body. Imagine a string drawing the crown of the head up to the ceiling and breathe deeply in to the torso. Hold for 5-8 breaths.

This online yoga program is your personal home practice.The online classestarget your body and mind and cover all the basic styles of yoga. It's like a yoga studio in your own home. You'll do your first sun salutations on your yoga mat and practice yoga at home like a real yogi.

Downward Dog is used in most yoga practices and yoga classes and it stretches and strengthens the entire body. I always say, a down dog a day keeps the doctor away.

How to do it: Come on to all fours with your wrists under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Tuck under your toes and lift your hips up off the floor as you draw them up at back towards your heels.

Keep your knees slightly bent if your hamstrings are tight, otherwise try and straighten out your legs while keeping your hips back. Walk your hands forward to give yourself more length if you need to.

Press firmly through your palms and rotate the inner elbows towards each other. Hollow out the abdominals and keep engaging your legs to keep the torso moving back towards the thighs. Hold for 5-8 breaths before dropping back to hands and knees to rest.

Plank teaches us how to balance on our hands while using the entire body to support us. It is a great way to strengthen the abdominals, and learn to use the breath to help us stay in a challenging pose.

How to do it: From all fours, tuck under your toes and lift your legs up off the mat. Slide your heels back enough until you feel you are one straight line of energy from your head to your feet.

Engage the lower abdominals, draw the shoulders down and away from the ears, pull your ribs together and breathe deeply for 8-10 breaths.

Triangle is a wonderful standing posture to stretch the sides of the waist, open up the lungs, strengthen the legs and tone the entire body.

How to do it: Start standing with your feet one leg's-length apart. Open and stretch your arms to the sides at shoulder height. Turn your right foot out 90 degrees and your left toes in about 45 degrees.

Engage your quadriceps and abdominals as you hinge to the side over your right leg. Place your right hand down on your ankle, shin or knee (or a block if you have one) and lift your left arm up to the ceiling.

Turn your gaze up to the top hand and hold for 5-8 breaths. Lift up to stand and repeat on the opposite side. Tip: I like to imagine Im stuck between two narrow walls when Im in triangle pose.

Tree is an awesome standing balance for beginners to work on to gain focus and clarity, and learn to breathe while standing and keeping the body balanced on one foot.

How to do it: Start with your feet together and place your right foot on your inner left upper thigh. Press your hands in prayer and find a spot in front of you that you can hold in a steady gaze.

Hold and breathe for 8-10 breaths then switch sides. Make sure you dont lean in to the standing leg and keep your abdominals engaged and shoulders relaxed.

Warrior poses are essential for building strength and stamina in a yoga practice. They give us confidence and stretch the hips and thighs while building strength in the entire lower body and core.

Warrior 1 is a gentle backbend; and a great pose for stretching open the front body (quads, hip flexors, psoas) while strengthening the legs, hips, buttocks, core and upper body.

How to do it: For warrior one, you can take a giant step back with your left foot coming towards a lunge, then turn your left heel down and angle your left toes forward 75 degrees.

Lift your chest and press your palms up overhead. Step forward and repeat on the opposite leg.

Warrior 2 is an external hip opener and opens up the inner thighs and groin. It's a good starting point for many side postures including triangle, extended angle and half moon balance.

How to do it: Stand with your feet one legs-length apart. Turn your right toes out 90 degrees and your left toes in 45 degrees. Bend your right knee until it is directly over your right ankle while keeping the torso even between the hips.

Stretch your arms out to your sides and gaze over your right hand. Hold for 8-10 breaths before straightening the right leg and turning your feet to the other side to repeat on left side.

Its important to incorporate a forward bend in yoga practice to stretch the hamstrings, lower and upper back and sides. Seated forward bend is the perfect fold for everyone to start to open up the body and learn to breathe through uncomfortable positions.

If you feel any sharp pain, you need to back off; but if you feel the tension when you fold forward and you can continue to breathe, you will slowly start to loosen up and let go. You can also keep your knees bent in the pose as long as the feet stay flexed and together.

How to do it: Start seated with your legs together, feet firmly flexed and not turning in or out, and your hands by your hips. Lift your chest and start to hinge forward from your waist. Engage your lower abdominals and imagine your belly button moving towards the top of your thighs.

Once you hit your maximum, stop and breathe for 8-10 breaths. Make sure your shoulders, head and neck are all released.

A counter pose to a forward bend is a back bend. Bridge is a good beginners back bend that stretches the front body and strengthens the back body.

How to do it: Lie down on your back and place your feet hip width apart. Press firmly on to your feet and lift your butt up off the mat. Interlace your hands together and press the fists down to the floor as you open up your chest even more.

Imagine dragging your heels on the mat towards your shoulders to engage your hamstrings.Hold for 8-10 breaths thenlower your hips down andrepeat two more times.

Every one needs a good resting pose and Childs pose is an awesome one not just for beginners but for yoga practitioners of all levels.

Its good to learn childs pose to use when youre fatigued in Down Dog, before bed at night to work out the kinks, or anytime you need a mental break and stress/tension relief.

How to do it: Start on all fours then bring your knees and feet together as you sit your butt back to your heels and stretch your arms forward. Lower your forehead to the floor (or block or pillow or blanket) and let your entire body release. Hold for as long as you wish!

It's time to start your yoga journey! Join 48,292 others for the free Yoga for Beginners Program here.

Read more here:
The 10 Most Important Yoga Poses for Beginners | DOYOUYOGA

Sadhguru describes what the word yoga means and does not mean.

Sadhguru: Essentially in the tradition, once we attach the word yoga to anything, it indicates that it is a complete path by itself. We say hatha yoga, but we will not say asana yoga. Of course, if you come from the United States, they say anything!

The moment you attach the word yoga, it indicates it is a complete path by itself.

If it is a complete path by itself, how should it be approached? If it was just a simple practice or an exercise, you could approach it one way. If it was an art form or just entertainment, it could be approached another way. I am using all these words because they are in usage in todays world. People say recreational yoga, health yoga, people refer to it as an art form they think they are doing a service to yoga by saying it is an art form. No. The moment you attach the word yoga, it indicates it is a complete path by itself.

The word yoga essentially means, that which brings you to reality. Literally, it means union. Union means it brings you to the ultimate reality, where individual manifestations of life are surface bubbles in the process of creation. Right now, a coconut tree and a mango tree have popped up from the same earth. From the same earth, the human body and so many creatures have popped up. It is all the same earth.

Yoga means to move towards an experiential reality where one knows the ultimate nature of the existence, the way it is made.

The word yoga essentially means, that which brings you to reality.

Yoga refers to union not as an idea, a philosophy or as a concept that you imbibe. As an intellectual idea, if you vouch by the commonness of the universe, it may make you popular in a tea party, it may give you a certain social status, but it does not serve any other purpose. You will see, when things come down to even money it does not even have to boil down to life and death even for money, This is me, that is you. The boundary is clear; there is no question of you and me being one.

It actually causes damage to the individual if you intellectually see everything is one. People do all kinds of silly things because they got this idea that everybody is one, before somebody teaches them a good lesson and then they see, This is me, that is you. No way to be one.

If it becomes an experiential reality, it will not bring forth any immature action. It will bring forth a tremendous experience of life. Individuality is an idea. Universality is not an idea, it is a reality. In other words, yoga means you bury all your ideas.

Go here to see the original:
What is Yoga? - Meaning of Yoga, Meditation Or Exercise - Isha

The Big Apple, the City That Never Sleeps, New York City... call it what you will, but there's no denying that New Yorkers love their yoga. With so many different yoga studios in New York City to choose from, we were interested to know what made them special, and their thoughts on New York's yoga community.

Just for you, here are 15 amazing, wonderful yoga studios in New York City that you should check out the next time you're in town.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Om Factory studios?

A range of styles, from Vinyasa to Restorative yoga and specialty classes like Aerial Dance (a yoga-based warm up that leads to aerial-based choreography), Aerial Yoga Core (with a bend towards conditioning exercises) and Aerial Yoga Blast (think Friday night yoga party).

What do you feel makes your studios special?

We are yoga anarchists who dream that our students find their own path through their practice in whatever form it takes. Our greatest strength is the vibrancy of our community.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

There is a massive amount of respect between various studios and often teachers teach at various yoga studios throughout the city. This allows for a beautiful cross-pollination of ideas behind the scenes as teachers contribute to a city-wide identity for yoga, palpably different from that which you might find in another American city.

What kind of yoga do you teach at Pure Yoga studios?

Ashtanga, Hot Power yoga, Slow Flow Yoga, Vinyasa, Yin yoga, Meditation, and Mysore, among many others.

What do you feel makes your studios special?

The spacious facilities, which makes Pure Yoga feel like an oasis in the middle of the city.

New York is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is a strong yoga community between different studios?

New York has such a strong yoga community, and we're grateful to be a part of it. There is a camaraderie amongst instructors and studios, and we love seeing instructors from other studios attend our workshops and take our classes.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Yoga Vida studios?

An open and welcoming Vinyasa flow.

What do you feel makes your studios special?

Our sense of community and inclusion. We want our students and teachers to feel that they are part of something bigger.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Yes, we absolutely feel there is a strong yoga community here in NYC. Our teachers often teach at many different studios so they act as bridges between the community.

What kind of yoga do you teach at Yoga Union?

Strong, safe alignment classes of all levels, including a stimulating Teachers Class and Prenatal yoga. Yoga Union also runs 200- and 500-Hour Teacher Trainings.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

All our staff have serious self-practices and a strong commitment to ongoing education, and the studio puts emphasis on knowledgeable alignment and kinesiology. The studio is also considered to be one of the most beautiful in NY.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Studios are aware of each other, and it is common for studio owners to have friends among the owners of other studios. Certainly, without a sense of community, we would have had a much harder time leading Yoga for NY to victory against the State when we got a bill signed into law by Governor Paterson exempting Yoga Teacher Trainings from licensing.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Dharma Yoga Center?

We are the worldwide headquarters for Dharma Yoga. Dharma Yoga is based on the traditional, classical yoga Sri Dharma Mittra received from his beloved Guru and that he has practiced, refined, and shared for the past half-century.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

The chance to study with a living master and his long-time, fully certified teaching staff. On a given day, there are people here studying yoga from all over the Tri-state area, as well as from around the world.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Unfortunately, no. Most schools are islands unto themselves, although we sometimes collaborate to support worthy causes, which is great.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the New York Yoga studios?

Primarily Vinyasa Flow - ranging from Basics, All Levels, Gentle - with some of the Hottest Power Flow you'll find in the city.

What do you feel makes your studios special?

New York Yoga is truly the neighborhood, community yoga studio. We want students to feel comfortable taking a chance on a new class because they can count on the fact that they will be met and supported wherever they are in their practice.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

The yoga community is a fabulously impressive one. We all know each other and cheer each other on, even if it is just through our liking an Instagram pic, or raving about our favorite teachers to friends.

What kind of yoga do you teach at Yogamaya?

Vinyasa Yoga with a strong emphasis on alignment.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

We have an inspiring and welcoming community of teachers and students that love to include all of the aspects of yoga in their practices. We pride ourselves on creating an environment that promotes learning and growing as well as being thought of as one of the most beautiful studios in NYC!

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

There are a lot of studios and a lot of yogis in NYC, so there is plenty of room for everyone. Some students take advantage of hopping around and trying lots of different classes and teachers while others find the studio and/or teacher they feel a deep connection to and call it home.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Greenhouse Holistic studio?

What we offer aims to traverse the boundaries of so-called "style." It's a throwback to the original intention of the teachers of our teachers, Sri Krishnamacharya and his son T.K.V. Desikachar, who believed that yoga should be adapted to individuals, and not vice versa.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

The diversity and outstanding quality of our teaching staff, and the strong community fostered in the embrace of that diversity makes Greenhouse unique. This is by no means a "guru" studio, but rather a team collaboration. Everyone is welcomed as they are, and offered the space and support to grow.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Yes! The sharing of practice across tradition and lineage is where the magic happens. We make friends, and develop a rare taste for how beautifully tailor-made modern yoga can be, for anyone and everyone.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Sacred studio?

Mainly heated Vinyasa.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

Our community. We celebrate bodies of all shapes and sizes and as a safe home for yogis of color, GLBTQ yogis, and yogis of all ages and walks of life.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Not really. There is definitely crossover, but we are very young in terms of building alliances across yoga studios. We think there has been a pervasive attitude of scarcity or competition as well as an ego attachment to yoga style. We think there is a shift in consciousness beginning, and that the festival community is helping encourage that shift.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Yoga Agora?

Open level Vinyasa, and various workshops for pranayama, Kundalini, Yin yoga, and inversions.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

Yoga Agora is special because we are loyal to the neighborhood of Astoria. We're really non-corporate.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

There is a distinct, and very strong, community in every NYC yoga studio. Practice at one studio long enough and you will start to feel their unique culture.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the ThirdEye studio?

Private yoga sessions for fitness, therapy, and health for all walks of life regardless of age, agenda, or experience.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

We believe that each person is unique and deserves full attention. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for everyone. ThirdEye Yoga is about a physical and mental lifestyle, not a complicated shape or a stressful workout.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

It could be a lot stronger and more connected.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the Sonic studio?

Vinyasa Yoga from the Krischnamacharya lineage as well as classical Hatha Yoga.

Sonic teachers are primarily influenced by the modern wisdom of Shiva Rea and Dharma Mittra, as well as Guru Dharam of the Kundalini tradition.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

An open-hearted community that supports the individual and unique personalities of our teachers and students. Our community is filled with artists, dancers, musicians, as well as people of all walks of life coming together in celebration of life.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Lauren Hanna, the founder, absolutely feels a strong connection to the other NYC yoga studio owners. She has practiced with Sharon Gannon and David Life, Dharma Mittra, Dana Flynn of Laughing Lotus, and Alison West of Yoga Union.

What kind of yoga do you teach at the IYI studio?

The Integral Yoga method, developed by yoga master Swami Satchidananda, is a specific selection and sequence of asanas, deep relaxation, breath work, and meditation to create and maintain health in the body and peace in the mind.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

Integral Yoga teaches all aspects of the great science and philosophy of Yoga. It's not just physical, it's a blueprint for life.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Yes, there is a wonderful diversity of yoga offerings in New York City, and a great understanding among the different schools that we share the same goal of bringing peace and health to our city and our world.

What kind of yoga do you teach at Yoga Junction?

Open level Vinyasa classes.

What do you feel makes your studio special?

Our studio is a neighborhood community studio that offers yoga at an affordable price. The building is a former synagogue and is a very peaceful space with colorful windows overlooking East 6th Street. We are dedicated to providing students with an accessible, community space in which to nurture body and mind.

New York City is a hub for yoga. Do you feel that there is strong yoga community between different studios?

Read the rest here:
15 Amazing Yoga Studios in New York City You Should Visit

Imagine that you are finally taking your well-deserved vacation.

You close your eyes and hear nothing but the sound of a soft breeze and some carefree birds in the distance.

The glow of the sun warms your skin while the prairie breeze whisks away any remnants of heat.

No hustle and bustle to disturb your peace.

No hint of tourism to taint the perfection of nature.

Sounds kinda nice, right?

Thats what the beautiful, yet understated, state of Pennsylvania has to offer.

Farmlands stretch between mountain ranges and cities are humbly scattered throughout. All this land stretching makes for some spectacularly peaceful views.

Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 colonies. It has seen some serious stuff. All over the state you will find museums and historical buildings, all sharing the sometimes dark and troubled history of the United States.

Pennsylvania is full of Amish villages that are otherwise hidden throughout the rest of the country. It provides an interesting peek into a historic culture that is still thriving to this day.

We would be amiss if we touted all the great things about Pennsylvania without mentioning Pittsburgh. The city is rich in cultural history, with lots of monuments, museums, and parks. While American history books tend to go soft on the details, this city provides all the details in droves.

Finding the right yoga retreat in Pennsylvania fully depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. Here are a few of the most popular types of yoga holidays to choose from:

Looking for a balance of a whole wellness approach? The retreats in Pennsylvania are ready for you. Many of the retreats are designed to take advantage of the beautiful surrounding nature so that you can focus not only on your yoga but also your overall well-being.

Pennsylvania is the perfect place for a quick weekend getaway. If coming from the US, its within a few hours of virtually all airports. Many yogis head to Pennsylvania when looking for yoga retreats near DC as this allows them to escape to the beautiful country while still being able to hop over to the vibrant city.

While meditation is supposed to teach you to be able to be at peace amidst all the noise, that is obviously quite challenging to do. Pennsylvania serves as the perfect place to grow your meditation practice as it cuts out all of those distractions you normally have. In a way, it turns basically everything that you do into a sort of meditation.

A leader in the field of yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic health, the Himalayan Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. The Himalayan Institute with its varied activities and programs exemplify the spiritual heritage of mankind that unites East and West, spirituality and science, ancient wisdom and modern technology.

Arsha Vidya isan institute for the traditional study of Advaita Vedanta, Sanskrit, Yoga, and Ayurveda that is located in humble Pennsylvania. You can go there for one of their various workshops, to practice yoga in one of their daily yoga classes, or to learn more about their healing techniques.

Kirkridge describes itself as a retreat centeranda study center. They offer workshops on spiritual and personal growth, theology, writing and the arts, and healing. While they aren't necessarily a yoga center that offers your favorite vinyasa yoga or power yoga, they do offer programs that align with the yogic lifestyle. It could be the perfect complement to your yoga practice. And it's the perfect place for a meditation session 😉

Kripalu is a yoga health and wellness center that offers education on the topics of yoga, Ayurveda, spiritual practice, and meditation. Though they are currently based out of Massachusetts, they have strong ties with Pennsylvania. They offer both yoga retreats and Yoga Alliance yoga teacher training courses all over the world. You can choose from a wide variety of yoga styles, including hot yoga, restorative yoga, hatha yoga, and vinyasa flow. Kripalu is one of the most well-known yoga centers in the United States and will certainly provide a quality experience (and produce quality yoga instructors, too!).

Located in Erie, Plasha Yoga is so much more than just a yoga studio with daily yoga classes. They offer heaps of workshops on a wide range of topics, such as meditation, pranayama, The Yoga Sutras, Yoga Psychology, The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Ayurveda, Prenatal Yoga, Yoga for Athletes,and Kids Yoga. They not only strive to provide quality yoga with experienced yoga teachers, but they also strive to improve the health and wel-being of basically anybody within their reach. For a super cool experience, check them out the next time you're in Pennsylvania.

The best time to visit Pennsylvania is in the fall. The months of fall for that region are September, October, and November. The heat has faded away but the icy winter hasnt set in quite yet. Plus, the changing of the leaves is really a beautiful site.

Pennsylvania is a large state with lots of open lands, so the best way to get around is by car. If you can rent a car during your visit, this will help tremendously with transportation. Otherwise, the Greyhound Bus lines will likely be able to serve you.

Visit link:
14 Best Yoga Retreats in Pennsylvania 2019 | BookRetreats

When beginning the practice of yoga, we usually think of it as a physical exercise. But the quieter aspects can show us a profound way to reconnect with the calm and quiet part of ourselves. Yoga involves integrating every muscle, organ, and cell of the body, restoring balance to body and mind. It affects the entire nervous system and teaches the mind and body a new way of being in the world. Give it a try!

NEW CLASSES FOR 2019!

PLEASE CHECK "CLASSES" for changes to the Feb schedule!!!

WE FOLLOW THE DECISION OF HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS REGARDING INCLEMENT WEATHER

(Example: should there be a 2 hour delay, 9am classwould not be held, but 11:30am classWOULD be taught as scheduled).

Friday March 15 6:15pm PM $20

(save $5 if pre-registered by Thurs 3/14)

(register on Special Events page)

Spiritus Yoga In Hendersonville NC

We offer small group classes and personalized attention in a soothing studio environment. Choose from VinyasaFlow, Yin, Kripalu, Chair Yoga, Restorative and Yoga Nidra. Classes for beginners are offered on the weekly menu -Yoga Essentials, Beginner Basics (coming in May). We specialize in using different yoga modalities to meetthe needs of Baby Boomer students..

View post:
Spiritus Yoga - Yoga Classes, Yoga Gear, Yoga Clothing

Tough Love Yoga has made its mark in Atlanta by providing affordable, accessible,and expertly taught yoga classes to students of all ages and experience levels. Founded by Neda Honarvar,TLY delivers engaging,alignment-based instruction through a variety of beginners and advanced classes to hundreds of students each week.

Simply put, we offer yoga of all levels for yogis of all ages. We believe in the transformative power of yoga and its capacity to challenge and inspire every kind of student, which is why we offer community-focused programs for metalheads, arm-balance addicts, runners, athletes, beginners and everyone in between.

Tough Love Yoga was born in 2010 in the gallery space of Young Blood Gallery and Boutique.We practiced among inspiring works of art that changed monthly and even had a three-legged cat friend named Jolene to keep us company. Our initial offerings included beginners classes and yoga boot camp and soon after, we introduced the concept of Metal Yoga. Our unique approach quickly set us apart from traditional yoga studios.As we grew, we listened to our students and curated unique classes around their interests and needs.

In 2012, we moved into the studio space of our dreams, which we affectionately call "Cobraville." Shortly after,we became a Registered Yoga School (RYS) with Yoga Alliance and launched Tough Love Yoga Teacher Training, which offers 200 hour and Advanced 300 hour Alignment-Based Hatha Yoga programs through which we have trained over 100 yoga instructors.In 2014, with the blessing of Darren Rhodes, we introduced yogaHOUR to our lineup of offerings and have integrated this teaching methodology into our teacher training program. We are proud to be the first Official yogaHOUR Studio in the Southeast.

Come FIND YOUR FIRE and help us shape and build what's to come.

See the original post:
Tough Love YogaTough Love Yoga -Atlanta, GA

As promised, this year's official gift thread!

What's on YOUR wish list, and what are you picking up for your nearest and dearest yogis?

Here's a big list from last year to kick things off:

Books

DVDs

Subscriptions- which sites do you like?

Props you might not have thought to purchase for yourself but find yourself loving

Jewelry

Malas for those who do japa meditation

Online courses- for students

Online courses- for teachers

Some specifics:

** For studio-going yogis:

** Clothing:

** Gear/props:

Mat bags

DIY mat spray (lots of recipes - link to search)

Dharma Wheel

Blocks

Straps

Eye pillow

Sandbags (probably easiest to buy the bag online and the sand @ a Home Depot, etc)

Zafu / zabuton

** Subscriptions/Downloads

** Random things for home practitioners

** Just for fun

** Books

What are your book suggestions for new yogis, experienced yogis, yoga and/or anatomy nerds?

Yoga philosophy

Yoga spirituality

Yoga humor

FAQ section for books

Light on Yoga, Iyengar

Bhagavad Gita

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Autobiography of a Yogi

The Yoga Sutras

** Other ideas

Other resources:

2017 thread

2016 thread

Mat megathread

Search, 'gift'

Please put all the giftygoodness here - other posts will be removed.

Obligatory 'plz to not spam' statement:

If you're here to post your store and your post history does not fall within reddit's 10:1 rule, it will be removed. Spam's been crazy lately. If it's blatant, Bad Santa(yogi?) has a bag of coal.

As always, no referral or shortened links. Amazon links must be just to the item - please nuke anything after the base product info.

Originally posted here:
yoga - reddit

New research found that listening to yoga music before bed might help prevent fatal heart attacks. Buzz60's Natasha Abellard has the story. Buzz60

Pastor John Lindell of Springfield's James River Church delivered a sermon before Halloween about yoga's "demonic roots."(Photo: Gannett file photo )

A pastor of an Assemblies of God megachurch recently took aim at yoga, saying it has "demonic roots" and warning Christians to avoid the popular activity.

Pastor John Lindell told the attendees of James River Church in Ozark which has a congregation of about10,500, according to a 2016 report that the positions in yoga were "created with demonic intent to open you up to demonic power because Hinduism is demonic."

Members of Springfield's yoga community are now speaking out.

A Christian yogi says his practice has brought him closer to God and wants others to know that it's possible to do sun salutations while following Christ.One owner of a yoga studio said she's worried that small local businesses are being hurt. An instructor, feeling on edge after a Florida yoga studio was shot up last week, can't shake a fear thatsomeone might take the church's anti-yoga message too far.

They are takinga stand against the sermon's message, which they say is "ignorant" anddivisive, in a time when unity is needed.

"Yoga transcends religion," said Reggie Harris, who said five years of yoga has transformed his life. "Yoga brings people together in a heart of unity and love. You're teaching people to hate something that may help them physically, emotionally, spiritually."

Lindell delivered a paranormal-themed sermon the Sunday ahead of Halloween. Among other things, he warned congregants about the spiritual dangers of fortune-telling, Wicca, a form of paganism, and finally, yoga.

Pastor John Lindell leads a prayer service at James River Assembly in Ozark in this file photo from 2013.(Photo: File photo)

People might be shocked that the church was comparing yoga to the paranormal,Lindell acknowledged.

"That, to me, is an indication of how far our society has drifted into a post-Christian culture. Earlier, it would have been a given that yoga was inherently a form of eastern mysticism that Christians should absolutely avoid, but that is no longer the case," he said during the sermon.

Yoga is everywhere now, he said, pointing to the local YMCA's class schedule as an example.

Lindell explained that yoga's intent is to "raise and expand consciousness for the purpose of experiencing peace, energy and divine presence."

First, he addressed yoga poses.

"They were designed, they were created with demonic intent, to open you up to demonic power because Hinduism is demonic," Lindell said.

According to the government of India's Ministry of External Affairs, yoga does not adhere to any particular religion or belief system.

Lindell said the sun salutation, a common sequence of positionsin yoga, is meant to worship Surya, the Hindu sun god.

"To say the positions of yoga are no more than exercise are tantamount to saying water baptism is just aqua aerobics," Lindell said.

Then, he talked about meditation.

During meditation, he said, people clear their minds. Sometimes they chant a mantra, which can incorporate the names of Hindu gods, Lindell said.

He said it's "spiritually dangerous" for people to empty their minds.

"Yoga is diametrically opposed to Christianity," he said. "....Christians should stay away from yoga because of its demonic roots."

Lindell said he was coming from a place of concern for people's spiritual well-being.

Stop doing yoga, he told his congregants, and they don't have to be afraid.

"I can't say the same if you keep doing it," Lindell said.

Last Monday morning, only one person showed up to Heather Worthy's yoga class. Her night class only had four people.

At the Republic gym where she teaches, the words "yoga classes" used to be featured on the front door. By Monday, those words had been taken down, even though she's still leading yoga classes.

Worthy said many people at the gym are active members of James River Church, and she speculated that Lindell's sermon had an impact on them.

"It hurt," she said. "It could have been a coincidence, but it's interesting."

Worthy said some points that Lindell made about yoga made her chuckle.

"But at the same time, it's so frustrating .... the whole thing is quite ludicrous to me."

Worthy, who once worked at a church as a staff member, said in her experience, Christianity is "love-based."

"How can attack and cause harm if you are acting out of love?Especially toward a group of people or a practice that you don't understand... blatantly calling it wrong, and saying 'You're going to hell?'" she asked. "That doesn't fit my definition of love."

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Worthy said yoga is a necessary partof herlife. A severe car accident in 2013 left her with mobility issues and chronic pain in her back. She tried physical therapy, acupuncture andprescription pain relievers and muscle relaxers.

She didn't like how the medication made her feel.

"I'm a mom of two. I have a busy schedule and I don't have time to be a zombie," Worthy said.

What made the biggest difference was daily yoga.

"If I don't have a regular (yoga) practice, I can't function. I can't get out of bed, really," she said.

Worthy urged others to "find your truth" and not take other people's statements at face value without more research.

Stephanie Wubbenaowns Live Pure Yoga in Springfield and runs Goats and Yoga out of her Rogersville farm.She said Springfield has a "robust" yoga scene, which is reaching the peak of its popularity.

There are at least 15yoga studios in Springfield, the News-Leader found after an online search.

Stephanie Wubbena leads the class during Goats and Yoga on Herding Dogs Farm in Rogersville on Saturday, May 19, 2018.(Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)

Wubbena made a rebuttal video to the James River Sermon about yoga and posted it to YouTube on Nov. 1. It's received about 500 views as of Friday.

Wubbena told the News-Leader her main concern is that the sermon is "going after small businesses."

"This is our sole source of livelihood," Wubbena said. "One yoga studio lost over 10 members the Monday after the sermon."

Wubbena agreed with Lindell on one aspect: that yoga has "pagan origins," she said.

But so do Christmas and Easter traditions, Wubbena said.

"The blatant hypocrisy was just so overwhelming," she said.

Like Worthy, Wubbena said people should think for themselves.

"In this political air that we have, it's really important to not be caught up in tribalism and not be caught up with listening to just because someone is a Christian or Democrat or Republican, to just do what they want," Wubbena said. "...Look some stuff up, don't be scared and intimidated and blindly follow, because all men are fallible."

Reggie Harris had plenty of aches and pains from his days as a Mississippi State University, then as asemi-professional football player.

He began practicing yoga five years ago to alleviate tightness in his back and hip muscles the result of old dislocations of his hip and shoulders.

Harris said yoga has helped with more than just physical ailments. Emotionally, he said he's less angry and less insecure.

For the 36-year-old, who grew up "old school Baptist," yoga has a deep spiritual side as well.

"I know my relationship with the Lord and my relationship with him has gotten deeper through yoga," Harris said. "....It took me to a whole new level. It made me open my mind up and question things. It made me look at things from other people'sperspectives a whole lot more, and it made me search differently for answers, deepening my relationship with God."

Harris said he felt "disappointed, hurt and angry" when he listened to Lindell's sermon online.

"When you start spreading venom like that, thats when it becomes toxic," Harris said. "Because peoplestart making assumptions about people who practice yoga. You think theyre evil, demonic. Thats the same rhetoric we created about Muslims in America .... That's not right. That's not bringing peace."

Harris said people should judge a "tree by the fruit it bears."

"I looked at how yoga helped a lot of poor people, people who were sick on the inside, had physical illness. I gave it a try. These are all the positive fruits of yoga," he said.

Doing yoga with goats is way more about the goats than the yoga, and its so joyful, youll feel the therapeutic benefits immediately. 10Best Editors, USA TODAY 10Best

Amanda Davis, who has been a yoga instructor for 12 years, said the pastor didn't have a proper understanding of yoga.

"Yoga doesn't prescribe to any religion, and I don't think people understand that so they get false ideas about it," she said.

On Nov. 2, a gunman opened fire at a Florida yoga studio and killed two women and injured five other people before shooting himself.

The gunman espoused misogynistic and racist views in online videos and had a history of inappropriately grabbing women.

It has put Davis on edge.

"It's really... scary," Davis said. "I don't really know if somebody is going to walk into the Y, and shoot us up, or one of the other studios we teach."

When Davis began practicing yoga 13 years ago, the public's attitude toward yoga was different.

"People started out a little apprehensive about it because it was new to the area," she said. "People didn't understand it. As people would show up and take the class, maybe do a little bit of research on their own, they realize it is not a religion it's a way of life. (It teaches you) to be a better person, to be charitable and to be mindful of your environment and the people around you."

Davis said yoga has made her life "a whole lot better."

"It helped me, not only physically, but emotionally as well to be a more balanced individual and be more at harmony with my surroundings and people in my community."

Davis said, in her opinion, the best thing to do is to ignore the people who denigrate yoga as "demonic."

"It's ignorant," she said. "It's hate speech."

Toward the end of his sermon about the paranormal, Pastor Lindell said he hopes people consider his words.

"I don't do it to make anybody mad. If I made you mad, that's unfortunate," he said. "But I have a responsibility before God as the shepherd of souls to say I told you the truth."

The audience broke out into applause.

In response to a News-Leader request for comment, James River Church provided a written statement.

The full statement is as follows:

"As a church our heart is to provide people with Biblical insight and teaching that will strengthen their faith and their daily walk with God.

"We would encourage anyone who wants to know what was said in Pastor Johns sermon Haunted: Pursuing the Paranormal to watch the message available athttps://jamesriver.org/sermon/haunted-pursuing-the-paranormal.

"The James River Church App includes additional resources for further study on the topic."

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James River pastor says yoga has 'demonic roots.' What do ...

Published: February, 2015

Yoga, an ancient practice and meditation, has become increasingly popular in today's busy society. For many people, yoga provides a retreat from their chaotic and busy lives. This is true whether you're practicing downward facing dog posture on a mat in your bedroom, in an ashram in India or even in New York City's Times Square. Yoga provides many other mental and physical benefits. Some of these extend to the kitchen table.

Types of Yoga

There are many types of yoga. Hatha (a combination of many styles) is one of the most popular styles. It is a more physical type of yoga rather than a still, meditative form. Hatha yoga focuses on pranayamas (breath-controlled exercises). These are followed by a series of asanas (yoga postures), which end with savasana (a resting period).

The goal during yoga practice is to challenge yourself physically, but not to feel overwhelmed. At this "edge," the focus is on your breath while your mind is accepting and calm.

A Better Body Image

Yoga develops inner awareness. It focuses your attention on your body's abilities at the present moment. It helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. It's not about physical appearance.

Yoga studios typically don't have mirrors. This is so people can focus their awareness inward rather than how a pose or the people around them looks. Surveys have found that those who practiced yoga were more aware of their bodies than people who didn't practice yoga. They were also more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies. For these reasons, yoga has become an integral part in the treatment of eating disorders and programs that promote positive body image and self-esteem.

Becoming a Mindful Eater

Mindfulness refers to focusing your attention on what you are experiencing in the present moment without judging yourself.

Practicing yoga has been shown to increase mindfulness not just in class, but in other areas of a person's life.

Researchers describe mindful eating as a nonjudgmental awareness of the physical and emotional sensations associated with eating. They developed a questionnaire to measure mindful eating using these behaviors:

The researchers found that people who practiced yoga were more mindful eaters according to their scores. Both years of yoga practice and number of minutes of practice per week were associated with better mindful eating scores. Practicing yoga helps you be more aware how your body feels. This heightened awareness can carry over to mealtime as you savor each bite or sip, and note how food smells, tastes and feels in you mouth.

A Boost to Weight Loss and Maintenance

People who practice yoga and are mindful eaters are more in tune with their bodies. They may be more sensitive to hunger cues and feelings of fullness.

Researchers found that people who practiced yoga for at least 30 minutes once a week for at least four years, gained less weight during middle adulthood. People who were overweight actually lost weight. Overall, those who practiced yoga had lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared with those who did not practice yoga. Researchers attributed this to mindfulness. Mindful eating can lead to a more positive relationship with food and eating.

Enhancing Fitness

Yoga is known for its ability to soothe tension and anxiety in the mind and body. But it can also have an impact on a person's exercise capacity.

Researchers studied a small group of sedentary individuals who had not practiced yoga before. After eight weeks of practicing yoga at least twice a week for a total of 180 minutes, participants had greater muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and cardio-respiratory fitness.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Several small studies have found yoga to have a positive effect on cardiovascular risk factors: It helped lower blood pressure in people who have hypertension. It's likely that the yoga restores "baroreceptor sensitivity." This helps the body senses imbalances in blood pressure and maintain balance.

Another study found that practicing yoga improved lipid profiles in healthy patients as well as patients with known coronary artery disease. It also lowered excessive blood sugar levels in people with non-insulin dependent diabetes and reduced their need for medications. Yoga is now being included in many cardiac rehabilitation programs due to its cardiovascular and stress-relieving benefits.

Before you start a new exercise program, be sure to check with your doctor.

Researchers are also studying if yoga can help people with depression and arthritis, and improve survival from cancer.

Yoga may help bring calm and mindfulness to your busy life. Find registered yoga teachers (RYT) and studios (RYS) through The Yoga Alliance.

Namaste.

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Yoga Benefits Beyond the Mat - Harvard Health

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Learn about the different types of yoga and how it can be used as a tool to help you stay healthy.

Like yoga, the osteopathic approach to wellness focuses on your bodys natural tendency toward health and self-healing.

The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body, explains Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, California.

While there are more than 100 different types, or schools, of yoga, most sessions typically include breathing exercises, meditation, and assuming postures (sometimes called asana or poses) that stretch and flex various muscle groups.

As an osteopathic physician, I focus a lot of my efforts on preventive medicine and practices, and in the bodys ability to heal itself, says Dr. Nevins. Yoga is a great tool for staying healthy because its based on similar principles.

The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome, explains Dr. Nevins. Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia.

Other physical benefits of yoga include:

Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate, says Dr. Nevins. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.

Yogas incorporation of meditation and breathing can help improve a persons mental well-being. Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness; increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the mind; centers attention; and sharpens concentration, says Dr. Nevins. Body- and self-awareness are particularly beneficial, she adds, because they can help with early detection of physical problems and allow for early preventive action.

Because there are so many different kinds of yoga practices, it is possible for anyone to start. Whether youre a couch potato or a professional athlete, size and fitness levels do not matter because there are modifications for every yoga pose and beginner classes in every style, says Dr. Nevins. The idea is to explore your limits, not strive for some pretzel-like perfection. It is a great way to get in tune with your body and your inner self.

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Benefits of Yoga | American Osteopathic Association