January 01, 2018
Sankalpa - an ancient Sanskrit word - means intention, purpose, commitment. Sankalpa are set before yoga practice, and are connected with while in the flow. Like New Year’s resolutions, sankalpa are about positive change that brings out the best in you for a happier life. However, there is one striking way in which sankalpa are different from New Year’s resolutions.
Resolutions are harsh. Resolutions say this is hard. They punish you when they’re broken. Once you’ve had enough, New Year’s resolutions get cut up, tossed to the side and forgotten about. (At least until next year…)
On the flip side, Sankalpa are kind. They know that the road from intending to having is built on choosing. Over and over and over, step by step by step.
Sankalpa are mindful, conscious efforts to achieve a goal in a way that is truly supportive. Sankalpa explores motivation and inspires curiosity. They pay respect to effort and determination. They do not punish slip ups or being wrong, instead they provide understanding, forgiveness and love.
This New Year’s Eve did you make a resolution or a sankalpa? (Resolved to do more yoga in 2018? Save $25 on your yoga journey with A New You in 2018 Yoga Bundle deal!)
Integrity means being fully whole, at one with your true self and committed to living from your essential nature. We are the source of what we are feeling. Listening to sensations in our bodies unlocks the secrets of how we feel.
Shoulders tight? That’s anger.
Gut tied in a knot? That’s fear.
Heart warm and open? Pure joy.
What is your body telling you right now? If you allow your inner experience to be true, it will always make sense.
Little annoyances build up over time, making us feel royally tense. Stress creates mixed up, down-right negative energy in the body that projects outward. We can treat situations so seriously. Do you ever catch yourself caught up in the moment of an aggravation and ask, how did things get this way? What’s the big deal anyway??
It’s time to lighten up.
How many yogi’s won’t try Lion’s Pose out of fear of looking silly? Forgetting other people’s judgements and giving yourself permission to let go creates confidence, power and internal strength!
Have you ever thanked yourself for getting on your yoga mat and committing to your practice? How did that feel?
Here’s a reminder to show yourself some feel-good gratitude! You deserve it!
Yoga With Adriene generously shares reminders that you are amazing for making it to the mat and taking care of yourself. Thank yourself and feel warm and glad from the inside out!
Listening sounds easy, but hearing is only one part of the formula! Tapping into truly empathetic listening looks like acknowledging your partner’s feelings and experience. Are you willing to fully hear the other person’s response without doing anything to change his or her experience?
If the answer is yes, you are already on the right track. With practice, authentic listening becomes second nature. Listening strengthens relationships, and leads to healthier bonds with your partner, family and friends.
Pranayama is the yogic art of breathing. There are different pranayamas, all of which have different effects on the body deepen your yoga or meditation experience.
The dirgha breath, ujjayi breath, nadi shodhana, kapalabhakti, bhastrika, and brahmari are only a few of the many pranayama breathing techniques that can be used during practice. In 2018, make a commitment to mastering a deep connection to your body through your breath.
Nurture your mind and your body! Or as Mom would say, you are what you eat. Of course, a healthy diet is the perfect compliment to a dedicated yoga practice.
Need help? Expert nutritionist and author Jennifer Workman is serious about her book Stop Your Cravings: Satisfy Your Tastes Without Sacrificing Your Health. Blending the best of traditional Eastern and breakthrough Western wellness, this book reveals how to find balance for a more juicy, nutritious, fulfilling life. (And includes 26 tasty recipes!)
When did you last say no to trying something new? Have you decided against trying a hot yoga class because you thought it might be challenging? Or does hatha practice feel slow and seem to take an eternity to get through?
Trying something new builds confidence. It shows fears otherwise. This year try a yoga class that you’ve never attempted before. You may be surprised by what you learn about yourself!
Start the new year by discovering yoga’s roots.
Reading The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali will support you on your journey to concentration and bliss. Developed over 4,000 years ago, the Sutras explore yogic teachings about poses, ethics, spirituality and calming the mind. Connecting with historical teachings creates a foundation for pure peace. Revered author and ancient Sanskrit translator Sri Swami Satchidananda shares advice and his experiences on championing physical, mental, and emotional harmony.
Practice loving and become love! Keeping relationships alive requires making many more deposits into the emotional bank account of a relationship than withdrawals. Sometimes it feels hard to give others love or appreciation.
The truth it, you don’t have to feel extra lovely or appreciative to share love. You can just choose to be loving. What do you love about your partner / kid / friend / parent / sibling? What do you love about yourself?
This year, commit to becoming a generator of love and to receiving others’ love freely.
Meditating helps bring out your best energy and makes facing the daily grind manageable. Even though meditating for even one minute might feel as difficult as scaling Mount Everest, nothing is more precious that reaching that peak. With practice, the mind sharpens, the soul stretches and becomes flexible. (Need some Mind Food?)
In 2018, we challenge you to meditate more, and become a bold source of clarity!
Kick-start your yoga adventure in 2018 by saving $25 with A New You in 2018 bundled yoga deal!
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June 12, 2024
The Science of Yoga Part 2 examines posture.
Learn more about the scientific effects of meditation on the brain by checking out the work of Harvard Neuroscientist Sara Lazar. Sara Lazar's amazing brain scans show meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.
Watch Sara's TedX talk, "How Meditation Can Reshape Our Brains".
Explore more Yoga and Meditation wisdom here:
May 20, 2024
Whether you are a Boulder native or a tourist, active yogis want to know the best parks for doing yoga outside. There are many benefits of practicing yoga outdoors; breathing in fresh natural air, feeling a zen connection with nature - not to mention taking in Boulder Colorado’s breathtaking mountain views!
Check out 5 of the Best Parks for Awesome Outdoor Yoga in Boulder!
April 20, 2024 1 Comment
What is yoga? The classical texts define yoga as a process of channelling the forces or expressions of the mind. How? By following a discipline. What is the aim of discipline? To establish yourself in your real nature. These are the first three statements in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and are the foundation of yoga practice and philosophy. If yoga was only physical exercises, these statements would reflect that physical component. But they do not. If yoga was a religion, these introductory statements would reflect that religious inclination. But they do not; rather, in the yogic tradition yoga has to be seen as a discipline, a lifestyle and a science of practical living.
In order to create a system, a progressive practice, and to immerse oneself in yogic disciplines, there is a very beautiful sequence. Yoga begins with the body, goes to the mind and aims to realize the inner nature. The question can arise: If yoga deals with the mind, why does it begin with the body? Yoga looks at the well-being of the total personality, of the body, mind and spirit. Body, mind and spirit have to come together so that we can become a complete human being and experience the wholeness of life.
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