Yoga is a complex practice that has touched the lives of a countless number of people. The definition of the term and its traditional meaning is to completely know yourself, or the union of becoming One. Though yoga is practiced by millions of people today, many yogis don’t know the origins of their favorite postures or even the practice itself.
Here is a simple graphic I’ve been using in my training programs (and in yoga classes) to explain why the yoga I teach is different from other kinds of yoga […]
More than just postures, set into a sequence, followed by savasana (corpse pose), Yoga is complex. It weaves together inner and outer disciplines, physical practice, and breath work while guiding us […]
Spring is here! Birds are chirping, snow is melting, and the sun is shining. Time to start Spring Cleaning of You! This is a great time to clear out stagnation, reset the body and mind, and create fertile ground for new growth and abundance.
Yoga teacher Caitlin Renz provides two practices for you to start your new year off in the right direction. By applying these simple daily practices, you can make this the best year yet!
Connect with yogis from all around the world! Join in our #yogachat at 10am PST every other Friday or just tweet with the hashtag #yogachat at any time to join in the yoga chat and meet other yogis.
“To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do, you will sink and drown. Instead, […]
I may never make it to a high mountain in Tibet to sit in the presence of a cross-legged spiritual master. Yet, with this one phrase during yoga class and a different perception of an underused vocabulary word, I was offered my own mountain top to become the student of a wild haired, brilliant and sacred teacher.
Recently, I was faced with a challenge. I am passionate about gardening and local organic food, as well as educating young people about the world around them so they can become […]
When making a behavior change, it’s important to have confidence and hope, but not overconfidence. “People who believe that they can succeed are more likely to succeed than are people who do not.”
Taking things up a notch seems to imply working harder, self-deprivation and increased effort. What if, instead, it could mean finding ease in the work, indulgence and trusting your body’s […]
Sequentially, day eleven follows day ten. No big deal, unless it is the first day after the last day of a ten day cleanse. Day eleven then becomes ripe with […]
“I never have enough time to meditate, I can only fit in yoga once or twice a week or there is no way to find peace and harmony at home, […]
On occasion my yoga practice turns into a messy throw down with an evil, two headed, mutant monster. I am surprised by the practices that go from a simple intention […]
Chiropractor and yogi Erika Putnam shares why a yoga practice is essential to healthy joints and mobility. “All joints must move through a particular plane with relative ease. The more restricted the motion of a joint, the less motion is allowed, thus decreasing the health of that joint. Think of joints like…”
One very cold, very dark, and very early morning in January, I crawled out of my bed and slipped on the clothes I had laid out the night before. I […]
Master yogi Debbi Murphy shares the 9 distractions that prevent us from living our dharma. She provides several questions for you to ponder and then journal and meditate upon, to help you discover and ignite your passion.
Every New Years thousands of people worldwide create a resolution for themselves for the year to come. This “goal” is usually set around health and happiness and may include shedding […]
I have been saving a particular picture of white feathers with their tips dipped in silver glitter as inspiration for my holiday decorations. I could envision their creation long before […]
This time of year is filled with delicious meals surrounded by family and friends, decorations and lights, and gift giving. Many of us get wrapped up in the cycle of […]
Our teacher started class by placing the heels of her hands together forming a small cup shape. Next she softly brought her fingers to touch leaving the middle space open. […]
I met Sarit at an Eat, Breathe Thrive yoga workshop in Los Angeles. I was immediately drawn to her. She looked so cool, calm and comfortable in her own […]
Admittedly, my yoga journey began as an accident or possibly divine intervention. A writer that I admired was co-teaching at a yoga and writing retreat in Mexico and I planned […]
In October of 2014, I attended a workshop that focused on developing a sustainable home yoga practice. There where students ranging from 19-67 years of age and we all created […]
The heart is like a garden: it can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. ~ Jack Kornfield One of the first questions I ask of my YTT (Yoga Teacher […]
We need to build a society that is strong enough to fight intolerance ~ Pope Francis This morning I woke to the inspiring words of Pope Francis speaking on the […]
Forgiveness. A word that instantaneously tastes bitter on my heart. When I was invited to write about forgiveness, I knew it was calling me. Despite every nerve ending that preferred […]
As I sit on my mat, soles of my feet pressing together, knees floating above the ground, my hips trying to release some deeply-held tension, I bow down over my […]
After listening to the Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield describe ‘Labeling the Thoughts’ as a meditation, I decided to try it for myself. As I move through life, I am constantly […]
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. E.E.Cummings Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. Anais Nin Most of us think Courage is […]
This breathing is a voluntary doorway to the involuntary body, a conscious doorway to the subconscious mind. ~A.G. Mohan Nadi Shodhana, commonly referred to as alternate nostril breathing, is a […]
Like the lotus, live joyfully among the sorrows of the world. Parmahansa Yogananda Last week as I sat down to write about Santosha, I was side-tracked by the dramatic news story […]
For most of us, when we think of contentment, we picture something like a beach, a cozy cabin, a warm fire, being surrounded by loved ones, or completely alone, but the […]
Satya is a Sanskrit word meaning truth or reality. Patanjali refers to it in verse 2.28 of the Yoga Sutras as the second of the five Yamas – a list […]
Last month, I discussed the difference between authenticity and truth. Authenticity is “the truth of bearing who you are”, I said. It’s the work of diving deep, peeling off layers […]
The Story of Bharadvaja (bah-ROD-va-JAH) The yoga pose bharadvajasana is a seated twist named after the sage Bharadvaja. Bharadvaja was a devout scholar who studied the Vedas (ancient Hindu philosophical […]
Quotes on Authenticity Why, when we know that there’s no such thing as perfect, do most of us spend an incredible amount of time and energy trying to be everything […]
As a veteran yoga teacher, (I’m in my 21st year teaching professionally) as well as a teacher trainer, and mentor to new teachers, I am fascinated with the journey we […]
Krishna advising Arjuna It is better to strive in one’s own dharma than to succeed in the dharma of another. Nothing is ever lost in following one’s own dharma. But […]
I would like to invite you on a journey. A journey that explores your own authenticity. A journey that explores the potential for alchemy in your life. Our theme here at […]
Master teacher Debbi Murphy shares insights on finding balance. “Our own elegant physiology also reflects the importance of balance. Every move we make, every breath we take is a biological drive towards homeostasis, equanimity.”
Yogis share the best advice they ever received as a yogi. Join Darla Brown of ShareYoga.com and her friends, and share your best yoga advice with our community of yoga writers.
Overall wellness hinges on a dynamic balance of web-like interconnections, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. The human body is a fully interconnected organism, nothing working in isolation, and […]
Our Day in the Life of a Yoga Teacher series continues with a teacher I am completely in awe of. I am in awe of her strength, her vitality and […]
Yesterday I went to a yoga class for complete beginners. The truth is I didn’t initially go for the yoga, I went to make friends. Less than two weeks ago […]
Our theme for the month of March is “Simplicity”. As I was sitting here contemplating on the meaning of simplicity and how simplicity applies to our yoga practice and our […]
I had a physical asana practice for over 15 years before I actually understood the role of intention in yoga. I recall instructors in New York City in the early […]
Ganesha is often called the Remover of Obstacles, but if you look deeper into his story, you will see that he can also put obstacles in your path. So a […]
We’ve rounded up our most popular blog posts of 2014 and highlighted our amazing contributors consisting of yoga teachers, authors, nutrition experts and more!
Learn each of these mantras related to the seven chakras. The chakras are energy centers located along the vertical axis of the body.
What is seva? “Seva” is a Sanskrit word meaning “selfless service” or work performed without any thought of reward or repayment. In ancient India seva was believed to help one’s […]
This Friday on Yoga Chat we will be talking to one of our favorite yoga teachers, Julian Walker. Julian is well known for his ability to incorporate music as part of his teaching style. He skillfully and effectively creates playlists that let your heart sing while you experience a more profound mind body connection
A lot of times during the holidays, we lose space to practice. Either we’re traveling and there’s literally no time or room to do a full asana practice, or we just get exponentially busier. That’s where these mudras come in!
Have you ever wanted to go to a yoga class but decided not to because of how you feel in yoga clothes? Honestly, I have. Despite my best efforts to NOT care what others think of me, I’ll admit, my mind (when left unchecked) has caused me to succumb to its insecurities.
What happens when you don’t rest? You don’t digest. You don’t heal. You don’t give your body a chance to say – phew, finally a minute where I can look around and take stock of what needs to be fixed
Want to practice Yoga but don’t know how to pick a Yoga teacher right for you? This “CALM” check list will help you to find the right Yoga teacher for you.
I’ve decided to become good at conversation. You know what Larry King says about that? He says the best way to be good at conversation is to be interested. And interesting. Hmmm. What makes […]
Put aside what you know or think about the nutritional detox, just for a bit, so we can take a deeper look at what it actually is. It’s confusing for […]
Don’t miss this Friday’s Yoga Chat (#yogachat) at 10am PST / 1pm EST. This week’s topic is Eat Breathe Thrive: Yoga for Positive Body Image with special guest and Eat […]
Are you interested in learning more about how yoga can help improve your relationship with your body? Are you tired of our culture’s emphasis on the way you look instead of the way you feel? Are you a mental health professional that works with clients with disorganized eating? Do you want to feel good about your body and stop worrying about how you look? Watch this brief webinar and learn more!
I’m no expert on eating disorders, but I had one. It wasn’t anorexia, or bulimia, or binge eating, orthorexia, body dysmorphia – it was all of those and more. […]
This month in our “A Day in the Life of a Yoga Teacher” series we are featuring a yoga teacher near and dear to my heart. From the very first […]
The gurgles of the baby, that innocent smile, the little hand that beckons and the tongue that rolls out a sound , ‘Mumma’ …’papa’. Yes! Parenthood is a delightful […]
On this week’s yoga chat we will be talking about your love of yoga music on and off mat, the artists that inspire you the most, and we will offer resources to create your own yoga playlist!
Check out these 7 very shareable quotes on breath and pranayama from TKV Desikachar, Max Strom, Sylvia Plath, Rodney Yee, and more!
Read the 8/1/14 #yogachat transcript here Breathing at Work Every other week we host a Yoga Chat on Twitter with the hashtag #yogachat. This Friday, we will be discussing the […]
Since childhood I’ve had a fascination with journaling, and at the same time a fear of not having enough to write. That all recently changed when I took a Brene Brown […]
Food is alchemy, transmutation, the seemingly magical process of transformation, creating life from life. It is a true uniting of forces, an integration, a Yoga. Ancient sacred practices abound with […]
Welcome back to our new series, “A Day In the Life of a Yoga Teacher”! Part two in this series finds us on the other side of the country in […]
Yoga positions and the practice of yoga can be beneficial to your mind, your muscles, and even internal functions like your digestive system. With so many benefits, it is no […]
Modern travel takes a toll on the body and spirit as it frequently involves unnatural hours of sitting, standing and waiting, maneuvering oneself and baggage through massive crowds, disorienting time zone changes, and helpless dependency on events outside of our control.
But here is where yoga comes in…
How do we honor our own experience as we move into the summer solstice? This insightful post dives into the meaning behind sun salutations and includes tips on how to make this change in season your own.
How is surfing yoga, you might be wondering. They couldn’t be more different, you might be saying. Friends, allow me to guide you through an arbitrary exposition of how surfing is totally yoga.
When Celestyna Brozek found yoga there was no turning back. She jumped wholeheartedly into her practice and even became a certified yoga teacher. Celestyna, also an avid surfer and runner, […]
Smoothies are AMAHZING. Want to make them even better?! Check out these tips for improving flavor and texture – two key smoothie elements (whilst amping the nutrition factor – it’s […]
Welcome to our new series, “A Day in the Life of a Yoga Teacher”! In this series, we will be revealing what you’ve always wanted to know about your favorite […]
Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. ~ Martin […]
Dr. Maya Angelou was a hero to me and to so many. Upon hearing of her passing this morning, I felt, if she were here, she would be holding and […]
Kula: A Sanskrit word that means community. Specifically, a community of the heart, a group coming together of its own free will. An intentional community, a family. You know the […]
If you’ve been meaning to stop by the exhibit “Yoga: The Art of Transformation” at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, you will need to do it soon. The exhibit ends […]
Join us Friday May 9th as we discuss “Gratitude and Yoga” on our bi-weekly yoga chat on Twitter (Go here #yogachat). Questions to consider for this week’s topic: Is gratitude […]
“Yoga starts with the Earth. Our bodies are made from elements of the planet, our blood from its waters, the air we breathe from its atmosphere. We are not separate. […]
Spring is in the air here in Los Angeles and we are inspired to talk about new beginnings. What words come to mind when you think about spring? Renew Rebirth Retreat […]
Creating a Plan Y! Sunday, March 16 at 5:00 PM PST – Setting yourself up for a successful yoga week! This Sunday we will be holding a special #yogachat. Our […]
Yoga is an ancient science that aims to create a balance between the body, mind and spirit, thereby curing physical mental and spiritual disorders that are caused by this imbalance. […]
This happens: scarfing something down whilst working/watching TV only to realize you tasted nothing, and while your belly is full, your mind/mouth/heart/everything else is still hungry. Sound familiar? Yet, the […]
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Share Yoga’s friends Justin Michael Williams and Karen Mozes. From time to time, we share opportunities that we feel coincide with our readers’ interests. See Justin’s bio […]
Greetings, yogis! I hope this finds you well and that you have had a safe, happy & healthy holiday season. As you may know I took this past week off […]