Category: Yoga for Students
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Yoga Alliance: Is Yoga Alliance Worth It? Yoga Alliance Changes & More
If you’re a yoga teacher, you’ve likely heard about recent announcements about changes coming to Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) credentials from Yoga Alliance in 2027. There’s a lot of chatter online debating whether or not Yoga Alliance is worth it. Some people say a Western organization whose CEO made more than $500,000 a year doesn’t…
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5 Online Yoga Teachers I Recommend
Online yoga is such a convenient way to integrate yoga into your daily life. With “5 minute yoga” videos available in a quick search, you can do yoga anywhere, anytime, with customizable selections ranging from standing yoga, to yoga in bed. I love taking Alexandria, VA yoga classes in person, but sometimes on busy days,…
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How Yoga Benefits Sleep: Reasons to Do Yoga for Sleep
Sleep problems are common in the U.S. As many as 1 in 3 adults don’t get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep needed for good health, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The Mayo Clinic recommends adults get at least 7 hours of high-quality sleep per night. Poor sleep is associated with…
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5 Ways Yoga Is an Act of Self-Care: Benefits of Self-Care & More
If you’ve ever been on a flight and heard, “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others,” the same sentiment can be applied to everyday life. By taking care of ourselves, we can be our best selves for helping others. If we neglect our own needs, that can lead to burnout, stress and even…
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Virabhadrasana II: How to Do Warrior II & Benefits of Warrior II in Yoga
Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II) is a staple pose in yoga classes I teach. This foundational yoga pose is also one of the fiercest. Like its name implies, you feel like a strong warrior who can take on any challenge when you move into this pose. Warrior II is a great lower body strengthener, as well…
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5 Ways to Make a Friend Through Yoga
When I take inventory of some of my closest friends in my life, it’s amazing what a significant portion came from the yoga world. It makes sense, because there’s often a unique vibration among yogis, one that’s focused on taking care of oneself, as well as showing respect for others and for the planet. Taking…
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10 Research Studies That Confirm Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is often an integral part of any yoga class you take, whether it’s closing your eyes and grounding yourself before your yoga practice, or coming into stillness during Savasana (Corpse Pose) to close a practice. The ancient Indian sage Patanjali, who compiled the Yoga Sutras that inform yoga teachers today, listed meditation as one…
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Anjali Mudra: What Are the Benefits of Prayer Hands? How to Use Namaskar Mudra in Yoga
The Anjali Mudra, also known as the Namaskar Mudra, is one of the most common hand positions we’ll use in all types of yoga classes, especially yoga where meditation or meditative motion is a strong focus. Also known as “prayer hands” or cued as “bringing your hands into prayer,” you don’t have to be religious…
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How Yoga Is Meditation in Motion: Benefits & More
One of my favorite ways to describe what you can expect from yoga is “meditation in motion”. Yoga truly provides mind-body benefits. It’s more than moving your body into interesting and challenging shapes. A yoga practice can help quiet the mind, improve focus and make you feel more at peace with yourself. If you’ve heard…
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Child’s Pose in Yoga: How to Do Child’s Pose (Balasana) & Tips for Child’s Pose
If I were to name the two most quintessential yoga poses that are found in most flow practices, they’d be Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and Child’s Pose (Balasana). Child’s Pose, in my opinion, is one of the best yoga poses around. It: Child’s Pose may be a resting posture, but it’s also very…