Foundations

For non-yogis, it can be difficult to believe it's the "wonder" practice that devotees make it out to be. One yogini recalls her skepticism, and the moment she found faith in yoga.

Try these seven simple ways to reset. Some take only a few seconds, and none takes more than 15 minutes. But in every case, the very act of taking time to stop and nurture yourself is as important as the practice you choose to explore.

Connect with the part of you that remains steady to accept change.

A new book out this week, explores North American yoga and its connection to increasingly relevant issues plaguing the yoga community.

A yogini struggles through her work duty at an ashram, until she finally finds peace with her chores—and a miracle happens.

Sometimes things don't go your way. But understanding the causes of suffering can help you meet life's challenges with equanimity.

Give thanks to your food by offering a blessing before you eat.

Practicing yoga won't make you live forever, but it can help you put the fear of death into perspective. Neal Pollack explains how.

Yogis are often asked "Is yoga cardio?" While it may not seem to be the case, all practices aren't created equal, and some strategic sequencing can help you get a cardiovascular workout from your practice.

A new study finds that yoga can help ease depression during pregnancy.

Four stories of transformation to reinvigorate your own yoga practice.

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Let music move you through this chakra-focused, confidence-boosting flow.

Getting to the root of your anxiety can help you overcome it.

When having a baby sets Erica Rodefer Winters's yoga practice back, she struggles with remembering that yoga is not about advanced poses, but the process of getting there.

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You'll feel calmer and more centered after these practices.

Take it from an entrepreneurial yogi: Setting goals helps you climb higher.

Susan Cole talks about leaving behind her Christian roots and the norms of her community to discover her own brand of spirituality.

Get ready for change by your yoga practice to super-charge a fresh start with Sunday's new moon solar eclipse.

Connect with the warmth of the sun as you nourish your body and spirit with this revitalizing sequence.

Lead with your heart and embrace the universe with bhakti yoga and kirtan chanting.

Patanjali outlines five functions of the mind. Understanding them will bring you closer to knowing your true Self.

Yoga is banned in many Islamic countries, but some Western Islamic leaders say that yoga—done in a respectful way—can be enjoyed.

Self-reflection is the first step in breaking patterns and tendencies that no longer serve you.

A young yoga practitioner injures herself and then learns to listen to her body instead of her head by taking the word 'should' out of her practice.

The Take Back Yoga campaign argues that the practice's Hindu roots have been intentionally ignored in the West.

During this darkest of seasons, kindle your heart's flame and share your light with the world.

Innovative yoga teacher, Dana Flynn, discusses Lotus Flow Yoga, a fusion of yoga, music, and dance.

Prepare for surgery with mind-body techniques that may help you recover faster.

Baxter Bell offers a yogic prescription for sufferers of the autoimmune disease lupus.

Clear the pathway to achieving your goals with focused practice and detachment.

Rituals make even mundane activities intentional and sacred. Here, Katie Silcox explains how to create rituals in everyday life.

Establish a place of refuge and weather even the toughest of times with grace.

There are no shortcuts to true knowing, so relax and take it one step at a time.

AcroYogis play with communication, connection, and trust to get their practice off the ground.

One man found his authentic voice by singing for inspiration. Here's his advice for following tradition while finding your own creative expression.

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The society and lifestyle magazine points the spotlight on a brewing controversy within one of yoga's most respected traditions.

Use music during your yoga practice to harmonize your breathing and life.

"Vinyasa" doesn't translate as fast and furious. See how it can help you move with skill into a seated pose.

Use these core yogic teachings to support you through radical life changes.

A proven antidote to anxiety, yoga nidra has been adopted by veterans, recovering addicts, and average stressed-out people.

Is there a conflict in belief? Leading scholars and experts weigh in on all we hold sacred.

Practicing the art of accepting a gift—be it a material item or something less tangible like a compliment, favor, or piece of wisdom—can help us live, and give, with more meaning.

A new book reveals that yoga philosophy, like that found in the Bhagavad Gita, was used as justification for violence by members of the S.S.

You can plant the future of your dreams when you act with an understanding of karma.

Shine a light on the dark side of yourself to discover your negative tendencies, and change them.

Make a connection with yourself, and maybe someone special, in yoga class.

Elena Brower explains the action steps that have helped her take her spiritual practice to the next level.

An American kirtan revolution turns chanting God's name into something hip as well as holy.

Use yoga to stay centered and grounded this holiday season. Here's why you should practice more.

Bikram Choudhury sues donation-based New York yoga studio chain for copyright infringement. Do you think he has a case?

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An environmentalist leaves his stressed self behind and becomes more effective with Kundalini Yoga.

By now it's common knowledge that yoga has its roots in Hinduism. For this reason one Seattle pastor says there's no room for yoga in Christianity. Yoga is demonic, says Pastor Mark Driscoll, and it can't be separated from...

Find the benefits of approaching your yoga practice and life, with a sense of play through AcroYoga.

Utilize these yoga four poses to jump start your work day and incorporate yoga for the office.

This past Sunday, The New York Times dedicated real estate in its Opinion Pages to reflect upon what Vivekananda meant to yoga in the West, as the 150th anniversary of his birth approaches. Author Ann Louise Bardach reflects on how...

Connect with your inner light and share with the world.

The Indian deity Parvati is surprisingly relevant to anyone looking to balance strength with gentleness.

See through your thought patterns and perceptions and discover the freedom to be your Self.

Embrace life by understanding the 5 basic levels of life's pleasures.

Replacing hard-headed discipline with self-compassion is a more effective strategy for making changes.

How do you put your spiritual practice to use in the face of danger? This is the fundamental question behind Fire Monks: Zen Mind Meets WIldfire at the Gates of Tassajara, written by former Yoga Journal senior editor Colleen Morton...

Alignment is essential for the health of the knees. Unfortunately, practicing Triangle Pose too often without its counterpose can create an imbalance in the joint. Lean how to stay safe.

Summer's here. This means extra time with kids, lazy days at the beach. Why not give them some books on the themes that yogis hold dear? We Are Like the Sky by Elisabeth Rose Wilds was inspired by the author's...

"You go into any yoga class in the West, and it's filled with women. And it's so ironic, women were never part of the yoga tradition at all," says author Linda Sparrowe in YogaWoman, a new documentary film by sisters...

An underwater experience teaches Coral Brown about the yogic wisdom of going with the flow.

Feel yourself slipping into old patterns? Here are 7 ways to keep that from happening.

Krishna Das says chanting the names of Hindu gods isn't religious—it's just joyful.

One scholar's quest to trace his practice back to its source ultimately gives him a glimpse of yoga's greater truth.

Ever since Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke out against Christians doing yoga, the blogosphere has gone wild. If you haven't heard about it yet, the story revolves around an article on Mohler's website, where he...

You can be present doing any task as long as you make an effort to be aware. Here are a few of my favorite everyday moments that I try to savor the present moment.

Feel the language barrier when you enter the yoga studio? These 5 words are a good place to start breaking it.

Om shrim mahalkshmyai namah! Reverence to the power of sri, the great goddess Lakshmi!

Cultivate equanimity in the face of life's ups and downs, and find deeper access to joy.

Check out Diane Anderson's author page.

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