You may be interested in...

Embracing Spring Renewal: How Yoga Inspires New Beginnings and Self-Care

by Shop Commerce
Spring is nature’s gentle reminder that new beginnings are always within reach. As a seasoned yoga practitioner, I find this season to be the perfect invitation to refresh my mind, body, and spirit—and yoga plays a powerful role in that renewal. Just as the earth blooms anew, spring encourages us to...

Accessible Yoga for All Body Types: Start Where You Are

by Shop Commerce
By a Yoga Instructor Who’s Seen It All (and Still Can’t Touch Her Toes Some Days) If you’ve ever thought, “Yoga isn’t for me,” you’re not alone. Maybe you’ve seen picture-perfect poses online or felt overwhelmed walking into a studio full of experienced yogis. But here's the truth: yoga is...

🧘‍♀️ Smarter Stretching: How AI-Powered Yoga Is Transforming Home Practice

by Shop Commerce
In today’s fast-paced world, carving out time for wellness can feel like a luxury. But what if your yoga instructor lived in your pocket, ready with a perfectly tailored routine whenever you needed it? Thanks to AI-powered yoga apps, that’s no longer a dream—it’s a reality. Welcome to the future...

Yoga for Mental Health and Stress Relief: Your Path to Inner Peace

by Shop Commerce
In our fast-paced, demanding lives, stress, anxiety, and depression have become all too common. Yoga provides a holistic, accessible method for managing these mental health challenges by combining mindful practices, gentle physical movement, and meditation to support emotional and physical well-being. Why Yoga for Mental Health? Yoga is more than...

Unlock Your Flexibility: 10 Essential Tips for Using a Yoga Wheel Effectively

by Shop Commerce
Have you ever felt a longing to deepen your yoga practice and enhance your flexibility? Enter the yoga wheel — a remarkable tool that not only adds a new dimension to your asanas but also helps you unlock the full potential of your body. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or...

Quick Yoga Routines for Busy Schedules

by Shop Commerce
A 15-Minute Yoga Routine for Maximum Impact Life can get hectic, but that doesn’t mean your wellness should take a backseat. This 15-minute yoga routine is perfect for busy women who need a quick yet effective way to stretch, strengthen, and refresh. Designed to be done at home, in the...

Level Up Your Yoga Practice: How Props Can Take You Further

by Shop Commerce
If you’ve ever stepped into a yoga class and seen people reaching for yoga blocks, wheels, or therapy balls, you might have wondered—do I really need those? The short answer? YES! (Well, maybe not need, but trust me, you’ll want them.) Yoga props aren’t just for beginners. Whether you’re working...

How to Choose the Right Yoga Mat: Expert Tips & Trending Insights

by Shop Commerce
Choosing the perfect yoga mat is essential for a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable yoga practice. With so many options available—eco-friendly choices, non-slip mats for sweaty sessions, and supportive designs for joint health – it can feel overwhelming to find the right one.  This updated guide will walk you through everything...

The Sixth Chakra: Unveiling the Mysteries of the Ajna

by Shop Commerce
The human body is an intricate tapestry of energy, woven together by threads invisible to the naked eye. Among these threads, the chakras stand out as focal points of energy that resonate with our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The sixth chakra, known as Ajna or the Third Eye, is...

Finding Balance in the Fifth Chakra: A Journey to Authentic Expression

by Shop Commerce
In the world of energy centers known as chakras, the fifth chakra, or Vishuddha in Sanskrit, holds a unique place. Positioned at the throat, it serves as the bridge between the heart's emotions and the clarity of the mind's expression. This chakra is associated with communication, self-expression, and the ability to...

Finding Equilibrium: The Journey to Balancing the Heart Chakra

by Shop Commerce
In the vibrant tapestry of our energetic body, the heart chakra, or Anahata in Sanskrit, emerges as a central figure. This pivotal energy center, located in the middle of the chest, acts as a bridge between our physical and spiritual selves, interconnecting the three lower chakras of matter with the...

Strengthen Your Core with These Yoga Poses

by Shop Commerce
A strong core is essential not only for executing complex yoga poses but also for improving posture, balance, and overall physical health. Contrary to popular belief, the core extends beyond the abdominal muscles, encompassing the entire trunk, including the muscles of the back and the pelvic floor. Yoga, with its...

Unleash Your Inner Power: Understanding your Third Chakra

by Shop Commerce
In the fascinating journey through the chakras, the body's energetic centers, the third chakra stands out as a profound source of personal power, self-confidence, and the ability to manifest one's intentions into reality. Known as the Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura in Sanskrit, which means "lustrous gem," it shines bright...

Finding Balance in the Second Chakra: A Journey to Emotional and Creative Harmony

by Shop Commerce
In the intricate tapestry of human energy, the chakras play a vital role, serving as the focal points through which life force flows. Among these, the second chakra, also known as Svadhisthana in Sanskrit, is a fascinating and essential center of our being. Located in the lower abdomen, just below...

Exploring Your Grounding Energy

by Shop Commerce
Grounding is all about connecting with the earth to feel more present, stable, and balanced. It's especially helpful during stressful times. Here are some easy ways to enhance your grounding energy: 1. Walking Barefoot Walking barefoot, also known as "earthing," directly connects you with the earth's natural energy. This simple...

Setting Intentions in Yoga: A Path to Deeper Practice

by Shop Commerce
Yoga, an ancient practice rooted in Indian philosophy, has evolved into a popular form of exercise and meditation across the globe. While its physical benefits are widely recognized, the spiritual and mental aspects are equally important. One way to deepen the connection between mind, body, and spirit in yoga is...

Elevate Your Yoga Practice: Unlock the Magic of Yoga Props!

by Shop Commerce
Yoga is an ancient practice that brings together mind and body.  The ancient yogis used logs of wood, stones and ropes to help them practice poses (asanas) effectively.  The use of props makes the asanas more accessible to all, regardless of flexibility, age, strength or training level.  Props allow muscular...

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Programming...

by Shop Commerce
In much the same way that mundane daily routines can bog your life down, they can also similarly affect your kids. Routines are important for children. They provide them with consistency and predictability that their developing minds need to make sense of a world sometimes full of chaos. Waking up,...

This New Year, Don’t ‘Let It Go’ – Let It Be

by My Yoga Essentials
As we begin another new year and consider setting intentions for 2024, it’s easy to lean on the idea of letting go. If you’ve practiced yoga in a studio or an online class setting, you’ve probably heard this phrase often – that we should let go of attachments, the past, the...

Feeling the Seasonal Blues? These 4 Yoga Poses Will Help

by My Yoga Essentials
The days are getting shorter, the sun is setting earlier, and the temperatures are dropping. While for some, Fall is a welcome respite from the heat of a long summer, for many of us it marks the onset of seasonal depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression...

Ayurveda 101: It’s Vata Season

by My Yoga Essentials
Often referred to as the sister science of yoga, the direct translation of the Sanskrit word ayurveda is “knowledge of life.” Originating in India over 3,000 years ago – one of the oldest systems of holistic medicine still in practice today – ayurveda is based on the idea that illness in...

Stay Cool With These Breathing Practices

by My Yoga Essentials
Summer is winding down – but it’s still hot, and after weeks of fiery weather, many of us are in need of strategies to help us cool down.  While the physical practice of yoga is often designed to build heat, there are breathing practices that can help do the opposite and...

4 Yoga Poses to Help You Fall Asleep

by My Yoga Essentials
For many of us, sleep doesn’t come easily. Whether you have trouble winding down as a result of stress, a long day, or eating your last meal of the day too late in the evening (which is an actual, scientific concept), you may need a few strategies to make it...

3 Ways to Strengthen Your Core – Without Crunches

by My Yoga Essentials
Practicing yoga has numerous benefits, both physical and mental. A consistent practice helps you find better balance, flexibility, and strength – in the body as well as the emotions and mind. You may have also heard that yoga helps develop core strength, which is essential for stability and proper functioning of...

3 Ways to Incorporate Yoga Blocks Into Your Practice

by My Yoga Essentials
There’s a misconception that using yoga props somehow equates to inexperience or weakness – this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Whether you’re new to practicing yoga or have been practicing for years, props offer many benefits. Yoga blocks, in particular, are a diverse tool that can be used for a...

3 Poses to Relieve Tech Neck

by My Yoga Essentials
Even before remote work became the norm, tech neck has been an issue for anyone who spends time using digital devices. Tech neck occurs when there’s repetitive strain to the muscles that surround the cervical spine (e.g., from looking down at a cell phone for extended periods of time), and...

Creating a Mindfulness Routine

by My Yoga Essentials
One of the outcomes of a consistent yoga practice is increased mindfulness, or better self awareness and presence in daily life. The more frequently you return to your mat, the more time you take to hit pause on daily stressors, the more mindfully you begin to approach your relationships and...

Turn it Upside Down - Inversions for Everybody

by My Yoga Essentials
The term “inversion” can evoke mental images of headstands and handstands. While balancing on your head or your hands can be fun and fulfilling, these are not the only inversions available in the practice of yoga.  Here’s what every beginner yogi should know about inversions, their benefits, and examples of...

3 Restorative Yoga Poses for Renewal

by My Yoga Essentials
Spring is a season of renewal – dormant plants come back to life, the days grow longer, and we as humans begin to emerge from our more restful, hunkered down winter states.  Practicing yoga in a way that’s aligned with this season means leaning toward poses that create a feeling of...

Spring Cleaning for the Body and Mind

by My Yoga Essentials
It’s a new season in many ways – Spring has officially begun, and the world as we know it is also undergoing a slow shift away from the dramatic life changes that began in 2020. Many of us engage in some sort of spring cleaning for our homes during this time...

4 Reasons to Practice Heart Openers

by My Yoga Essentials
Yoga instructors don’t just use the phrase “heart opening” as a cliche – poses that encourage the practitioner to expand and lift the chest tap into the energetic center of the body referred to in yoga as the heart chakra.  In yogic philosophy, this is the space connected to your ability...

Yoga Poses for Grounding

by My Yoga Essentials
As you settle in to 2021, do you still feel a little… unsettled?  A new year doesn’t always come with a fresh start, or even a fresh perspective. Maybe you have a short list of intentions you’ve set, and you’re still looking for ways to focus on these and let...

For 2021, Set Intentions – Not Resolutions

by My Yoga Essentials
If you’ve ever set New Year’s resolutions in the past, you may have noticed yourself falling into this pattern:  The resolution is set, and you’re excited! You slip up a few times, or forget about your resolution. By February, you’ve given up on your resolution completely.  Sound familiar? The idea...

Self-Care Through the Holiday Season

by My Yoga Essentials
2020 has been a unique year, to say the least. As a society, we’ve had to change the way we work, the way we shop, the way we interact with friends and family… the list goes on. We have to remember that all these changes also require a shift in...

Yoga Therapy Balls: The Recovery Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed

by My Yoga Essentials
We’ve all experienced aches, pains, and soreness that go beyond what can be remedied by stretching – or even taking a yoga class.    When these pains feel like more than just a twinge (have you ever woken up and not been able to turn your head in one direction?), we...

Six Yoga Poses to do Daily for Strength

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
When we imagine Yoga, we probably think the Instagram world of poses, where we wonder whether its an Adobe-pose (or an #IRL pose). What is often not shown, but far more powerful, are the concrete foundational poses of yoga that strengthen you from core to surface. Yoga has long been...

Six Daily Yoga Poses for Improved Balance

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
You know when you’re really tired and ready to hit the mat for that final Shavasana? Then the yoga instructor tells you “Ok, now repeat on the left side”? There’s a reason for that, and it’s not just to watch you sweat. It has to do with BALANCE. Achieving physical...

10 yoga poses to do daily for flexibility

by My Yoga Essentials
Yoga is important for many reasons.  The physical benefits can be distilled down to flexibility, balance and strength.  The focus of this article is flexibility. Yoga however is not limited to its physical benefits. In yoga, the word prana means “life force” or our energy that rules over the five senses...

9 Great ways to start using a Yoga Wheel

by My Yoga Essentials
Admit it, you're curious! If you have been itching to try something new and have seen these yoga wheels, don't be shy.  We've compiled a number of exercises to try, and even a video tutorial to show you the wheel in action.  What are you waiting for? What's so great...

The perfect yoga practice for YOU

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
There are so many different types of yoga out there, you can practice yoga whether you want a physically demanding class, one that requires great concentration and precise movements, or a gentle, relaxing, or meditative class.  And whether you are new to yoga, returning after many years, or have a...

COMMUNITY IMMUNITY: THE IMMUNE ENHANCING EFFECTS OF DIFFUSERS

by Aiza Leano
  By David Crow, L.Ac. Essential oil-containing aromatic plants have been used for anti-infectious purposes for millennia. The unpleasant odors of sewage, rotting garbage, sick people, and environmental pollution reveal the presence of proliferating microbial toxins. Without knowing the details of what pathogenic agents were present, people have always known that...

Nurture your Grounding Energy

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
With so much uncertainty surrounding us at this time, many of us find ourselves recommitting our minds to self-improvement/self- knowledge, and with it a closer look at how to prioritize our time and energy.  At this time of seeking balance, I feel compelled to explore with you the vital energy...

Understanding Chakras As a Gateway To Better Understanding Yourself

by Aiza Leano
Everything in our universe is made up of energy, from the towering mountains, the deep seas to the tiny blades of grass. In human bodies, every single cell radiates energy in diverse ways depending on its location and purpose. Long before the emergence of modern technology and science, ancient societies...

10 Benefits of Yoga on Your Mental and Physical Health

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
The ancient practice of Yoga has become a worldwide phenomenon in recent years. What started as a spiritual practice eons ago is now one of the leading methods of promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being. A quick search on the topic "yoga" will present you with numerous research studies like this...

An introduction to the seven Chakras

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
This is just a quick overview of a topic that has an abundance of information and depth and is not intended to be a comprehensive or detailed, but rather introductory.  The chakras primarily represent energy.  These energies are not something we can see or touch, but rather feel.  There are seven of these...

Why Choose Organic & Wild Harvested Essential Oils

by Amanda -My Yoga Essentials
Essential oils have exploded in popularity over the years, broadening to such a complex extent it can be difficult for most people to determine which oils are best. Some may be surprised how genuinely powerful these substances can be. The extent to which they can influence our health, mood, and wellbeing...

Protecting Our Pollinators: You Make a Difference

by Amanda -My Yoga Essentials
You're probably familiar with the beautiful orange monarch butterfly, and you may have heard about this incredible insect's 2,000-mile journey from Mexico all the way up to Canada. Unfortunately, the population of these gorgeous butterflies has decreased by 97% since the 1980s. Sadly, the plight of the monarch butterfly is mirrored...

Getting Started: Yoga Styles to Meet You Where You Are

by Amanda -My Yoga Essentials
If you look at a yoga class schedule, you might be overwhelmed before you even step on the mat. So many names! So many styles! Which one is right for you? When you're getting ready to start a yoga practice, it helps to have an idea of what to expect...

How to Choose a Yoga Mat

by Mary -My Yoga Essentials
Not all yoga mats are created equal — which is why it can be challenging to choose the one that's right for you! They come in a wide range of prices, not to mention sizes, thicknesses, colors, materials, and even shapes. With all these options, how do you start narrowing...

Yoga Truly Is for Everyone

by Amanda -My Yoga Essentials
At one point or another, you've probably considered trying yoga. Maybe you were just about to sign up for your first class when you saw an Instagram post of someone doing a handstand on an actual fence post, and you thought, "Well, maybe not."  Please reconsider. Fence post yoga is...