5 Sanskrit Words Every Yogi Should Know
Feel the language barrier when you enter the yoga studio? These 5 words are a good place to start breaking it.
Yoga Journal’s editorial team has provided inspiration and instruction to those who want to learn about the practice and philosophy of yoga since 1975.
The California Yoga Teachers Association founded Yoga Journal and brought on Judith Hanson Lasater as one of the first editors. Throughout the years, Yoga Journal has shared insights and explanations from experts in various aspects of the tradition of yoga through the support of thousands of yoga teachers, writers, editors, and photographers. We continue to report on the ways in which yoga has evolved to serve differing communities who come together for the same practice and how yoga supports you in all aspects of your everyday life.
Feel the language barrier when you enter the yoga studio? These 5 words are a good place to start breaking it.
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Take your practice to the next level with awe inspiring asana.
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
Check out YJ Editors's author page.
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
One woman learned that saying yes is the secret to living a happier, more exciting life.
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
Check out YJ Editors's author page.
Check out YJ Editors's author page.
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Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a yoga teacher and health psychologist at Stanford University, shares tips for dealing with chronic pain through yoga and meditation.
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
One poetic translation of Camatkarasana means "the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart."
This online guide to sharing yoga with your family offers a respite from the school year hustle.
Baron Baptiste’s playlist starts off primed for Sun Salutations, builds energy for a series of standing poses, and then chills out for seated and supine poses.
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Gather your girls, a few pink feather boas, and a gaudy beauty pageant sash that says "Bachelorette!" It's wedding season—and with that comes the rehearsal dinner, the bridal shower, the next-day brunch, and of course the infamous bachelor/bachelorette party....
Yoga practitioners across the country celebrate Earth Day as a practice that relates to ahimsa, the yogic principle of non-harming.
There has been a lot of discussion in the yoga community lately about why women make up such a large majority of yoga students. Could it be because yoga clothing companies aren't providing appropriate attire for men? Could it be...
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine confirmed what many yogis have long known.
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
Vinyasa teacher and co-founder of Laughing Lotus studios in New York and San Francisco, Dana Flynn says playing soulful tracks during a flow sequence brings out a “fierce grace.”
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Paramahamsa Nithyananda, an Indian spiritual guru, told oneindia.in that yoga should be about intention, not a formal asana practice: "There is nothing to achieve by practicing Yoga. You will be shocked to hear this. Many people have told you that...
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The next generation of young, gifted and talented yoga teachers in America.
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Is there a better pose for me to meditate in if I can't comfortably stay in Lotus?
This side-reclining pose stretches the backs of the legs, the sides of the torso, and tones the belly.
When you practice Standing Splits focus on the stretch in your quad and hamstring, not how high you can lift your leg.
This arm balance, Bhujapidasana, relies more on precise positioning than on strength, making it more accessible for students beginning an arm balancing practice.
This pose gently brings a greater awareness to the hip joints.
According to Hindu lore, the Peacock symbolizes immortality, love, and patience. Peacock Pose, called Mayurasana in Sanskrit, works to lovingly strengthen the core while stretching the palm side of the wrists.
Low Lunge, or Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit, stretches the thighs and groins and opens the chest. It provides recovery post-workout, and boosts energy while consciously working to improve posture.
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II allows you to stretch the entire front body and deep into the hip flexors to strengthen your back and improve posture.
I feel uncomfortable about having money when people in the world are suffering. And I feel bad about having more money than my friends. What should I do?
This variation of High Lunge, sometimes called Crescent Pose, is a great preparation for the full version of Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose).
Find length in front body before forward folding in Ardha Uttanasana.
Urdhva Hastasana translates to "Raised Hands Pose," but it is also sometimes called Talasana, the Palm Tree Pose.
Counteract the effects of Modern-Day Sitting Syndrome by lengthening your hip flexors in High Lunge.
When it comes to music, students of Kundalini instructor Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa never know what to expect.
Prana Flow Yoga creator Shiva Rea turns up the music to offer inspiration and rhythm to yogis moving through the 108 rounds of Sun Salutations she leads as part of her ongoing Global Mala Project.
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Check out YJ Editors's author page.
Q: I am very fond of chanting—my students do not all have the same reaction.
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Maybe. Here's what you need to know to manage desire—whether it's for ice cream, a mate, or true happiness.
Five writers offer glimpses of how yoga is practiced around the world.
Learn more about the lineage of the intensely physical practice of Ashtanga Yoga.
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Sat Kriya is one of the most basic and powerful exercises of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.
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Sometimes considered a preparation for pranayama, other times a formal practice in itself.
Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya II tones the belly and spine, strengthens the arms and wrists, and gives your self-confidence a big boost.
Practice this pranayama technique for increased breath awareness and control.
The Fire Log Pose stretches the outer hips intensely, particularly the piriformis, which is often the main culprit of sciatic pain.
A cross between Child's Pose and Downward-Facing Dog, Extended Puppy Pose lengthens the spine and calms the mind.
In Extended Hand-to-big-toe Pose, maintaining solid grounding through the standing foot helps keep you steady.
Eka Pada Koundinyasana I or Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I has a lot going on—the twist, the legs going their separate ways, oh, and the arm balance. Master it.
An excellent facilitator of good pelvic floor health, Garland Pose, called Malasana in Sanskrit, stretches the ankles, groins, and back while stimulating proper digestion. No worries if your heels don't reach the floor—simply rest them on a folded blanket.
Can you practice Wheel with straight arms and Headstand without strain? Then, you're ready.
Kapotasana invigorates your body and gives your spirits a lift. This extremely deep backbend is appropriate for advanced practitioners only.
This pose gently lengthens and strengthens even stubbornly tight hamstrings.
Ease up into Half Frog Pose, called Ardha Bhekasana in Sanskrit. This pose strengthens the back while gently opening up the shoulders, chest, and thighs—a loving treat for the entire body.
Sphinx Pose is the infant of backbends. It can be practiced with either an active or passive approach.
Dolphin Pose strengthens the core, arms, and legs, while also nicely opening the shoulders.
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Kumbhaka is the central practice of traditional Hatha pranayama; there are two types of retention: after an inhale (antara), and after an exhale (bahya)
Kapalabhati is a traditional internal cleansing technique (kriya), and can be used as a simple warm-up for formal pranayama