12 Things Most Yoga Students Need to Feel Comfortable in Class
Yoga class can be a container for transformation—if it feels like a safe place to be.
Calin Van Paris is an editor at Yoga Journal. She spent a decade covering beauty and wellness for Vogue, with additional contributions to Bustle, Well+Good, Allure, and more.
In addition to playing with language, she spends her time exploring the planet, spending as much time as possible in nature, and reading anything that enriches her experience.
Calin is currently pursuing her RYT-200.
Yoga class can be a container for transformation—if it feels like a safe place to be.
I've been trading meditation for a few purposeful minutes outside. Research backs me up.
Use these shapes to move through that afternoon slump.
Healthy hips, happy life.
All that matters is that you make it your mat.
Real yoga teachers move and breathe.
A little stillness serves everyone.
They were surprisingly hard to find, but we'll never stop looking.
We'll all float on.
Your body, your cycle, your yoga.
Wellness, distilled.
It's all about creating a container.
Which yogi are you today?
Home is where the intentions are set.
The best mindfulness methods are the ones that work for you.
Give yourself the space to fully exhale.
Your yoga goes beyond your mat.
You're still you, no matter your Sun sign.
Inhale, exhale...
Let your thoughts float by, focus on your breath, root through your hands...
Think the Sutras meet Eat, Pray, Love.
Deeper breaths, better rest.
Honest and a touch compulsive.
And we'll probably still be having 50 years from now.
An anthropological look at yoga through the lens of this magazine.
Flow right through your anxious thoughts.
Find stillness, create momentum.
This stack is full of surprises.
The conservationist exemplified intentional living.
Yoga is not a performance.
With physical fitness, a little intention goes a long way.
Sometimes you just need to lie down.
It's time for a seasonal slow down.
A yoga body is a strong body.
Yin is a practice of acceptance.
It's all about the journey.
Honor yourself where you are.
It's less of an era and more a forever state.
Stretching and strengthening, never straining.
Every yoga win is a big win.
Allow your practice to be effortless.
How a new setting helped me tap into my inner peace
These roomy yoga pants invite you to loosen up.
Always handle your body with care.
Exchange dull uncertainty for a brighter shine.
You don’t need to come out a different person for it to be worthwhile.
Your pose pairing serves as still point amid the swirling celestial weather.
Looking to the stars and planets doesn't mean you have to rely on them
Play can be transformative.
Finding presence in your practice is self-care.
Choosing the right YTT is simpler when you understand your options.
Because the world needs a collective calm down.
Find your focus to better your balance.
Let's get more real, with less Reels.
Because nature is the ultimate studio space.
It's much more than stretching.
This gentle flow will calm your racing mind.
Because one non-negotiable for your wedding day is presence.
With four study legs to your two, a chair is a yogi's best friend.
"There's nothing to do, and nothing to undo."
Creating a soothing sound experience comes with some hidden labor.
Seeing red? Some stillness can help cool your perspective.
Consider the wall your most supportive yoga bestie.
Consider the Moon Salutation the grounding, goddess-coded sister to the Sun Salutation.
The publication may be gone, but its legacy of life-affirming inquiry is forever.
Hang on to your big toe for dear life.
Meditation, singing bowls, visualization, and a whole lot of play factor into yoga teacher Andrew Sealy's pre-class routine.
A quick vitality boost is as easy as finding the right shape for you.
Because rest is revolutionary.
YTT comes with many, many musings.
Sometimes the whole "calm" thing really must come after the storm.
And it looks a lot like Sphinx Pose.
Getting away with a group of yogis is bound to result in some stories worth sharing.
Your new favorite yoga jams echo the energy of the cosmos.
I'm feeling ready to close out this particular cycle.