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Yoga

What Is Soma Yoga?

What Is Soma Yoga?

Yoga
With so many different styles and practices of yoga out there, it can be tough to understand what each one means and whether it’s right for you. There’s Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prana Yoga, and so on, among which is Soma Yoga. Soma yoga is a blend of somatics and yoga. It’s a therapeutic and healing form of yoga that focuses on releasing tight, restricted muscles through neuromuscular retraining. Sounds complicated? Don’t worry, we’ll break it down for you. What Even Is Somatics? To understand what Soma Yoga is, you should first know what somatics is all about. First developed in 1970 by a philosopher called Thomas Hanna, somatics is a term that describes an alternative therapy that increases bodily awareness through relaxation and movement. Essentially,...
What Is Siddha Yoga?

What Is Siddha Yoga?

Yoga
It goes without saying that all yoga teachings involve a spiritual component and are based on a philosophy of self-discovery and enlightenment. While they retain those aspects, yoga classes are now adapted to our Western lifestyle. This means most yoga styles focus on physical movement, breathing exercises, and light meditation. But what about spirituality and personal growth? If you’re interested in a more spiritual approach, you should learn more about Siddha Yoga. In this article, we’ll introduce you to Siddha Yoga and its teachings, cover its benefits, and explain what makes it different from other types of yoga. What Is Siddha Yoga About? Simply put, Siddha Yoga describes the process of the soul’s spiritual transformation. The inner transformation happens through self-d...
What Is Patanjali Yoga?

What Is Patanjali Yoga?

Yoga
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is an ancient collection of sutras, also known as aphorisms, that serve as a comprehensive synthesis of knowledge about the theory and practice of yoga. Attributed to the ancient Indian sage Patanjali, this profound work has been passed down through generations. Despite the lack of information about the author, their legacy endures through the essence of yoga. In the future, scholars may figure out the true identity of Patanjali. But for us, what matters is the transformative power of their teachings — the guide they created to achieve a union between our individual consciousness and the universal consciousness. The Story Behind Patanjali Yoga Sutras The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali contains 195 or 196 aphorisms/sutras — along with the origins of the sa...
How To Start a Daily Yoga Practice

How To Start a Daily Yoga Practice

Yoga
The thought of starting a new activity and trying to fit a daily practice into your life can be overwhelming. Yoga is no different. However, to truly reap the benefits of yoga, you need to be disciplined and regular with your practice. How to achieve this? Well, keep reading as we have created an easy, step-by-step guide to starting a daily yoga practice. Let’s find out what it entails. A Step-By-Step Guide to Starting a Daily Yoga Practice 1) Set a time for your yoga practice. One of the best ways to be consistent is to schedule time for your daily yoga practice. If possible, make it the same time every day. Consistent timing is key as it allows you to transform this new activity into a routine. Make sure to choose some time of the day that fits well with your responsibili...
How to Make Yoga Mat Less Slippery

How to Make Yoga Mat Less Slippery

Yoga
A slippery yoga mat poses a serious risk of injury. Whether you didn’t know how to pick the right mat, your mat became more slippery due to regular wear and tear, or the product didn’t meet the description, you should not do yoga on a slippery mat. While the issue is frustrating, there are ways to make your mat less slippery. The trick is knowing what makes it slippery. If you don’t know why your mat is slippery, finding an effective solution would be twice as hard. Because of this, the first step in finding out how to make it less slippery is to identify the reason behind it. Why Is Your Yoga Mat Slippery? There are several common reasons why yoga mats become slippery. Try and see if you can identify the reason behind your slippery yoga mat. You just got a new yoga mat. M...
What Is Sunrise Yoga?

What Is Sunrise Yoga?

Benefits Of Yoga, Yoga
Yoga comes in many forms — from the downright strange (goat yoga, anyone?) to the obscure and everything in between. It seems there's a style of yoga for just about any time and circumstance. Although not strange sounding, Sunrise yoga is a less commonly known practice, so you're probably wondering what it's all about. Sunrise yoga is the practice of doing yoga as the sun rises in the morning. This time of day is called the "divine time" when a person's spiritual energy is most active. With the mind still uncluttered by the upcoming day’s events, you can approach your practice with clarity and focus. Ready to rise and discover what sunrise yoga is all about? Let's go. Why Get Up at Sunrise? Early morning has a special quality that other times of the day lack. Everything is stil...
Why Is Yoga So Popular?

Why Is Yoga So Popular?

Benefits Of Yoga, Health Benefits, Yoga
Yoga is such a popular activity due to a number of reasons, with the main ones being the health benefits it provides. However, to truly understand what makes yoga a sensation, we need to dig in deeper and analyze all areas of our lives that yoga seems to touch. Simply put, yoga’s widespread popularity is due to a multitude of factors, and it’s so much more than just a way to stay in shape. Yoga Stats That Matter First, let’s see some stats about yoga’s popularity before we dive deep into the practical reasons. People who practice yoga with breathing and relaxation exercises at least three times per week might have lower blood pressure levels than those who don’t practice. (Reuters) Back in 2019, the global yoga market size was $37.46 billion and is projected to reach $66.2...
How Long Does It Take to Get Good at Yoga?

How Long Does It Take to Get Good at Yoga?

Yoga
No one can tell you exactly how long it’d take you to get good at yoga. While there are factors to keep in mind, you’ll simply know it when it happens. You’ll feel it. This is so because being good at something is intrinsically linked to how you perform, feel, behave, and perceive things. The art of becoming good at yoga isn’t any different. Below, we share our take on it in greater detail. Make sure to stick with us till the end, as we cover some useful yoga-related information in our FAQ section. Without any ado, let’s get into it! What Does It Take to Get Good at Yoga? First and foremost, everything depends on you remaining committed to growth, paying attention to your breath, practicing mindfulness, not rushing, staying in good health, and, perhaps most importantly, doing t...
Do You Have to Be Flexible to Do Yoga?

Do You Have to Be Flexible to Do Yoga?

Benefits Of Yoga, Yoga
"Oh, I'd love to do yoga, but I'm not bendy enough" is a phrase that's all too commonly uttered. It's easy to see why. Instagram would have us thinking that yoga is some kind of contortionist nightmare that only elite Cirque De Soleil performers can master. However, I'm going to let you in on a secret. Yoga is for everyone. Whether you're young, old, or somewhere in between; fit, unfit, or a professional couch potato. Everyone can enjoy yoga, but the key is choosing the correct yoga class for your level. In time and with practice, yoga will allow you to become flexible. Interest piqued? Read on, and discover how yoga can benefit you. No, Really, I Can't Even Touch My Toes Everyone has to start somewhere, right? And, if you can't touch your toes, it's a great first goal to aim f...
How Hot is Hot Yoga?

How Hot is Hot Yoga?

Benefits Of Yoga, Health Benefits, Yoga
Hot yoga is a type of popular yoga that happens in a hot and humid room. Today, there are different varieties of hot yoga, classified according to the temperature and humidity, ranging from 90℉ to 108℉ (32℃ - 42℃). Founded by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s, the first and “original” hot yoga called Bikram yoga is a formalized workout that goes through 26 poses, always in the same order, without variations. In Bikram yoga, the studios are heated to 105℉ (40.5℃), and the humidity is 40%. Basically, hot yoga is based on the idea that the heat improves flexibility and enables better stretching, and in that way provides a chance for a better workout. But, some think and believe that heat boosts other health benefits as well, such as clearing the pores of the skin, boosting metabolism, s...