#breathing-light

#breathing-light

Join Rachel for an immersive, all-levels outdoor flow using Silent Disco headphones near the Lake Merritt Pergola. Kids are welcome to participate, too!

I was not getting enough sleep. I was not eating full meals. And I was putting more stress on myself than was even necessary. I felt like if I continued to treat my body this way, there would be some repercussions.

Being methodical usually involves creating a process that you trust will eventually lead to an acceptable result, and then committing to executing it over and over. This reduces a lot of mental load, and helps when you don't know exactly how long something will take or how many attempts you'll need to make.

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. I was born with spina bifida and faced multiple surgeries, leading to uncertainty about my ability to walk again. Despite the fear and pain, I refused to accept paralysis as my fate.

The human neuroendocrine system has changed very little since the time of cave people. Yet today we are likely to receive more stimulation in one day than our ancestors did in their entire lifetime.

In today's fast-paced world, stress and anxiety have become constant companions for many of us. It may feel impossible to get out from under our fears, worries, and other distressing thoughts. That's why learning how to get grounded is so important. Keep reading to discover seven quick and easy grounding techniques to reduce anxiety and help you enjoy a more peaceful, joyful life.

Eugene Teo, 34, began lifting weights at the age of 13, looking for validation. I was short, skinny and I thought it would give me confidence, he says. Bodybuilding for me was the ultimate expression of that. Now living on the Gold Coast in Australia, with his partner and daughter, the fitness coach spent from age 16 to 24 training and competing. At times, he lifted weights for up to four hours a day, aiming to get as muscular and lean as possible.

At the heart of yoga philosophy is the belief that stillness is not simply the absence of movement, but a profound engagement with our inner landscape. Practices such as asana (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation serve as gateways to this stillness, allowing us to cultivate awareness amidst chaos. Through these disciplines, we learn to quiet the mind's incessant chatter and tune into our true essence.

Whenever this spiral occurs, I've found that certain yoga poses for anxiety—or at least, poses that ease my anxiety—help stop the madness. And they do so in very little time. Dropping into my favorite shapes quickly slows my mental chatter, slowing my sense of urgency to far more reasonable and manageable levels.

Popular definitions of yoga often include terms such as balance, harmony, health, and peace. While these qualities are certainly desirable, and must be created before one can enter the state of fixity, or yoga, they are not included in the definition Patanjali offers us in his Yoga Sutras, the classic second-century B.C. exposition generally accepted as the bible of yoga.

Aging isn't just about wrinkles-it's about how your body moves. Or doesn't move. As we age, we often lose strength, balance, and range of motion. Our spines compress. Our glutes weaken. All of this manifests as pain, stiffness, and fatigue. But as Yogi Aaron reminds us, the true signs of aging come from a loss of mobility. The good news? You can get it back through regularpractice of our yoga routine to stay young, which includes breath, muscle activation, and mindful movement.

"I can't do yoga because I'm not flexible." These might be the most damaging words in the wellness world. And yet, so many people say them-and believe them. But here's the truth: a gentle yoga for beginners practice has absolutely nothing to do with flexibility. In fact, when you approach yoga from the perspective of breath and muscle activation-as we do in the AYAMA™ method-you begin to understand that real yoga isn't about stretching at all.

This calming bedtime yoga practice is all about getting comfortable and allowing your system to downshift. With supportive shapes and plenty of ease, you'll set yourself up for seriously nourishing rest. Let yourself ease into this practice. Move slower than you'd like, allow yourself to luxuriate in the movement, and think of releasing any stress or tension you may be holding onto from your day. Then let the poses do the rest.

I had no idea what to practice, when to practice, or for how long. As a result, my practice lacked structure, variety, and inspiration. Then, I discovered an online yoga & meditation platform rooted in Himalayan wisdom. It wasn't just about movement; it was about building a relationship with myself. I started with 15 minutes a day. That was it. Sometimes, just breathwork. Other times, meditation. And occasionally, a full-body kriya that left me buzzing with energy.