Team Yogahood

6 Steps To Channel Envy Into Positivity

Transform envy into a positive practice for finding—and fulfilling—your greatest potential with these six steps from Sally Kempton. By Pamela  Bond If anyone should be immune to feelings of envy, it’s Sally Kempton. Having spent decades as a monk in the Indian tradition, she now teaches meditation and spiritual-wisdom workshops around the world, and ...

How to stay healthy when you travel?

Yoga teachers weigh in. Here's what some do when they travel. “I meditate on the plane with Satanama Meditation, and I travel with essential oils—my favorites are lavender, peppermint, and oregano.” -Kat Tudor, Yoga teacher and artist “Travelers commonly experience symptoms of aggravated vata dosha: difficulty sleeping, constipation, nervousness. Vata oversees the intake ...

Digital Detox: The Power of Off

Our method for escaping the present moment is shared, societal, and considered a reasonable way of living. In this excerpt from her new book, psychotherapist Nancy Colier offers tips for mindful unplugging and staying present. NANCY COLIER Are you in denial about your tech addiction? In this excerpt from The Power of ...

Intention & Inspiration

Setting an intention can be a powerful practice that helps you align with your higher goals. But keeping that intention front-of-mind so you actually follow through? That can be more challenging. Enter the DIY affirmation card. “I leave these little love notes— acknowledgements of divinity, reminders of presence, and notes of ...

Meditation: Establish a Habit

According to Sally Kempton, acclaimed meditation teacher and author, who has taught meditation and yoga philosophy for more than 40 years, it's helpful for beginners to establish conditions for a meditation practice that will remain basically constant—the same time, the same cushion, the same quiet corner. Our minds and bodies have natural rhythms, ...

How to deal with frustration in a yoga class?

Our expert weighs in on observing your feelings and letting them go—even when your practice or class gets irritating. By Bija Bennett Answers to your questions about health, nutrition, anatomy, and more. Q: Sometimes in yoga class, I get irritated—especially when a teacher doesn’t follow a sequence I’m used to. What can I ...

Big Toe Pose: Step by Step

This pose gently lengthens and strengthens even stubbornly tight hamstrings. Big Toe Pose: Padangusthasana Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1 Stand upright with your inner feet parallel and about six inches apart. Contract your front thigh muscles to lift your kneecaps. Keeping your legs completely straight, exhale and bend forward from your hip joints, moving your torso ...

Chin Mudra: the Consciousness Seal

This mudra connects us to our higher Self, helps lift dull energy, creates a more receptive state, calms the mind, and brightens the overall mood. It is often used in meditation, pranayama, and asana. chin = consciousness; mudra = seal, gesture Rest your hands on top of your thighs with your palms open. Gently ...

Eight-Angle Pose: Step By Step

Fire up your abs for this difficult asymmetrical arm balance, Eight-Angle Pose (Astavakrasana). (ahsh-tah-vah-krahs-anna) asta = eightvakra = bent, curved Eight-Angle Pose: Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1 Stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), with your feet separated a bit wider than usual. Exhale, bend forward to Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend), press your hands to the floor outside your feet. Then with ...

Visualization technique for Meditation

Turn Your Eyes Inward: Visualization What It Is: The eyes are a powerful sensory organ, and they're typically hyperalert, focusing on the outside world. A visualization meditation can help you reverse this natural tendency. "Let's say you're walking down Broadway in Manhattan," says Nikki Costello, a yoga and meditation teacher based in New ...