Some of the best things in life are unexpected. For me, this is particularly true with yoga. In my pursuit of learning more about the connection of the chakras to yoga, I stumbled upon Kundalini. Likely because Kundalini (I soon learned) is the energy of the…
It seems that not too long ago there were only a few deviating factors between yoga practices: It was either a hot room (Bikram), a flow of fluid intense movement (Astanga/Vinyasa), a variety of props to ensure proper alignment (Iyengar) or classes using passive poses…
If you tend to sweat during your yoga practice, you have probably slipped on (or off!) your mat at some point. And if you sweat a lot (like me), a regular towel doesn’t offer much help — usually soaking up sweat like a sponge, only to…
Probiotics? Enzymes? Glucaric Acid? Glucosamines? All these helpful ingredients come together in a popular beverage called Kombucha (pronounced kômˈbo͞oCHə/). Kombucha is produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria, and is showing up in the refrigerated sections of more and more…
When I first heard about BUTI yoga (pronounced, as you might have guessed, “booty yoga”), I immediately had terrible thoughts of Miley Cyrus twerking. (Note to self: need to work on pre-judgements.) But after taking a class in the bright pink studio at Lotus Kitty, with the encouraging…
Depending on the type of yoga (and yoga instructor), you may be asked to silently “set an intention” at the beginning of class. And yet, from personal experience, rarely does the instructor explain what an intention is. So whether you are a beginner or have…
We all know that breathing is important as we can perish within minutes without oxygen. But according to Dr. Andrew Weil, breathing is special in several respects: it is the only function you can perform consciously as well as unconsciously, and it can be a…
In a hot yoga room, there is often nothing more critical than having a cold beverage within reach. In fact, I would often freeze a 32 oz. plastic water bottle so that mid-way through class, I was still guaranteed an ice-cold sip. Now, I’ve found…
Admittedly, I am a Bikram yoga junkie. The heat and sweat is addicting, as is the one and a half hours of being free from texts, cell calls – and laundry. Doing the same 26 poses day after day with the same dialogue is like…
The secret to having the best experience in the yoga studio, is to prepare your body and mind before you enter — particularly if it is a heated room. Kevin Mattison, MS, a certified Bikram Hatha instructor at Bikram Yoga Santa Barbara, shares his approach…
Completing a 30-Day Yoga Challenge is much like training for a marathon. One and a half hours a day of yoga for 30 days in a row is not only a time commitment, but an emotional and physical commitment as well. Despite working three jobs,…
