Yoga Classics: Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar

First published in 1966, B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika has become a yoga classic and a reference stable for modern hatha yoga. Light on Yoga, a must-have for any yoga practitioner’s library, remains the gold standard for its illustration and explanation of hundreds of yoga poses. An Encyclopedia of Poses In the introduction, […]

Eons Before the Yoga Mat Became Trendy

Mehrangarh Museum Trust A yogini from early 11th-century India. WASHINGTON — Pain is a problem. So is pleasure, which causes pain — discontent, confusion, depression — when it ends, as it always does. Escape from this cycle has been a goal of spiritual disciplines universally. And one of those disciplines is the subject of an […]

Inversions Sequence

This sequence of inversions starts with a Headstand (for more detailed instructions, see How to Do a Headstand). Practice at the wall if you are not comfortable in the middle of the room. Another option is to just do the preparatory version of the pose, in which you do not fully invert.

Yoga Journal's Complete Beginner's Guide DVD…

I get a lot of requests for yoga video recommendations from people who have never done yoga before. While I still strongly believe that the best way to learn yoga is from a good instructor, either in a group class or privately, I have finally found a DVD I feel comfortable offering to new beginners. […]

5 Essential Lower Back Stretches

Low back pain is a common complaint, especially in older people and people who sit a lot during the day. The lower back is defined as the five lumbar vertabrae, which make up the curve of the spine just above the sacrum. Pain can originate from any of several interdependent anatomical sources, including the soft discs between […]

Equal Breathing – Sama Vritti Pranayama

Benefits: Calms the body and focuses the mind. Instructions: 1. Come to sit in a comfortable, cross-legged position such as easy pose, taking padding under your seat as necessary. 2. Close your eyes and begin to notice your natural breath, not changing anything at first. 3. Begin a slow count to four as you inhale. […]

Yoga for a Better Night's Sleep

If you have a hard time getting to sleep at night, incorporating yoga into your life can help, especially if your insomnia is stress-related. Yoga has proven to be a great stress buster and can offer you relaxation techniques, including breathing exercises and meditation. Yoga nidra is a deep relaxation methodology that can be particularly […]

Jivamukti Yoga

Jivamukti means “liberation while living.” This modern style of yoga emerged in 1984 from one of New York City’s best-known yoga studios. Founders David Life and Sharon Gannon incorporated their study of Ashtanga yoga with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois with spiritual teachings, placing special emphasis on how to apply yogic philosophy to daily life. Their […]

If the Sun Salutation Has to Fit Into a Cell

Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune Inmates do yoga stretches at the Powledge prison unit in Palestine. The weekly two-hour sessions are led by an Austin lawyer turned yogi. PALESTINE — Quiet is hard to find in prison. But in the Powledge Unit gym on Tuesday afternoon, the silence was interrupted only by the sounds […]

Modo, a New Version of Bikram Hot Yoga, Is Growing Popular

Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times Modo Yoga, a new hot-yoga studio in Manhattan. The owners and instructors Britton Darby (background) and Guillaume Brun work out. Two studio owners in Canada didn’t realize it at the time, but in the inflexible, almost militaristic world of Bikram yoga, where 90-minute classes are taught in 105-degree heat from […]

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