Foundations

Ancient Tibetan yoga practices are slowly being introduced in the West, but teachers remain cautious about revealing their secrets.

By making it a conscious, controlled action, pranayama begins to transform breathing into a spiritual practice.

Tune in to the infinite and tune up your body with this energizing Kundalini sequence for optimum health.

Check out Richard Rosen's author page.

More and more Westerners are embracing Tantra as a means for transforming day-to-day experiences into a cause for blissful celebration. Can it change your life?

When life hands you a difficult choice, try this time-tested process for discovering your dharma—the right action for this situation.

Learn about this ancient guide to spiritual enlightenment.

You can change the world, or at least your experience of it, by discovering how mindful speaking can change our realities.

This Hindu goddess, consort of Shiva, proves that dignity and smarts prevail.

Invoking your inner goddess isn't a girl thing—it's a chance to tap into the deepest source of empowerment, creativity, and happiness.

Time spent alone doesn't have to be lonely. Embrace it as a chance to connect with what's truly essential.

A personal crisis can be a gift on the path to spiritual maturity. Learn to accept this gift, and you'll feel reborn.

Maybe. Here's what you need to know to manage desire—whether it's for ice cream, a mate, or true happiness.

One woman's story of finding her happiness through owning less and living more will inspire you to kick your material habits to curb.

Sometimes we crave change. Other times we dread it. Either way, we can't escape it. Here are some effective methods for dealing with change.

You can break free. A yoga teacher and psychologist shares her blueprint for transforming negative habits.

Free yourself from destructive emotional patterns and behavior. We can help you do it with these six simple steps.

Though he never visited the United States, this Indian guru had a profound influence on yoga in America.

Yoga teaches us that happiness is always available to us, no matter what our circumstances. To tap into it look within.

Learning to focus on sukha, rather than dukha, when you practice can lead to liberation and bliss.

Impermanence is the truth of life. Embracing it in our most basic daily activities can be the key to everyday ease.

From the monkey to the warrior, learn the myths behind the asana names to infuse your practice with history.

After renouncing his own religion at the age of 34, Krishnamurti espoused learning the truth experientially, rather than through an organized belief system.

The ancient sages believed that thinking was at least as important as Downward-Facing Dog in reaching our full human potential.

The Romanian born scholar of religion and author of more than 1,000 works, wrote his doctoral dissertation about yoga.

Many people believe that anger is "unspiritual," a damaging misconception that often causes us to stuff it inside. Spiritual traditions such as yoga and Buddhism can teach us how to react skillfully to anger without repressing it.

Our second annual selection of yogis who bring their practice into the real world through service to others.

To many people, there seems to be an inherent conflict between being in the present and accomplishing everything that needs to get done. But do you have to choose between your housework and meditation?

If yoga is such a gentle practice, why are so many people getting hurt? Learn how to honor yourself and your limitations to prevent yoga injuries.

Living ethically, according to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, is the first step on the true path of yoga.

The five koshas, or 'layers' of the body, constitute a map for navigating the inner journey.

In a world of information overload, the yoga practice of pratyahara offers us a haven of silence.

This mantra meditation from the Kundalini tradition encourages a renewed sense of peace and balance.

Do you often hear yourself saying, "When such and such happens, then I'll be happy"? Why wait for happiness when it's available to you right now, at this moment?

Use these breathing techniques to induce relaxation during your restorative yoga and meditation practice.

Learn more about the lineage of the intensely physical practice of Ashtanga Yoga.

Timothy McCall, MD, takes a look at the validity of scientific proof behind yoga's various benefits.

Personalize your home practice with these key points in mind to get the most out of it.

YJ explores the argument for using a specific system or approach to spirituality to guide beginners in the process.

Check out Richard Rosen's author page.

Check out Kathy Wyer's author page.

Check out Timothy McCall MD's author page.

Before the invention of the sticky mat, doing yoga was a slippery proposition.

Where it all began—learn about the history of yoga, the roots of this ancient practice.

The history behind the hand position.

Check out Elaine Lipson's author page.

Use self-care techniques based on Traditional Chinese medicine to maintain health and energy through the winter.

There's more to yoga than just the asanas themselves. Judith Lasater talks about the benefits of asanas and how they can create awareness in the body.

Discerning dharma from kharma or bhakti from shakti is key—whether you are a beginner or a long-time yogi.

Sat Kriya is one of the most basic and powerful exercises of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.

Growth of these qualities is a sure sign that your students are on the right path in their spiritual practice.

Twists can be heaven for a bad back—if you don't push too hard. Learn how to do these 9 stretches for the spine to ease pain in your back.

Find the courage to face your biggest fears.

If you want to make lasting change in your life, practice starting over.

While the asanas are a great place to start, adding other yogic tools may help deepen spiritual growth and well-being.

Check out Sara Avant Stover's author page.

Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is the posture that invokes Samasthiti. These poses are not different. They are the same.

Count your blessings and you'll find that even a "bad" day is filled with precious gifts.

Practicing generosity not only makes you feel good but it connects you with the essence of who you really are.

How can you forgive yourself when the person you wronged won't?

Enhance your yoga practice and go deeper in your meditation with this vipassana meditation tutorial.

Check out Ellen Gilchrist's author page.

Consider the pros and cons of using music to complement your teaching.

Breathing specialist and yoga therapist Leslie Kaminoff offers advice for asthmatic kids.

Check out Dan Charnas's author page.

Sat Kriya is one of the most basic and powerful exercises of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.

The use of props in Iyengar Yoga has been one of the fruits of Mr. Iyengar's innovative genius—and also the object of jokes.

Check out Dan Charnas's author page.

Ahimsa, yoga's moral code of non-harming, tells us we shouldn't eat meat. But what if you're not ready to become a vegetarian: By changing your eating habits, you can become a more caring carnivore.

Check out Alison Stein Wellner's author page.

Check out Alison Stein Wellner's author page.

We all suffer in this world, to one degree or another, but yoga offers ways to mitigate it. The first step is to become aware of the causes of suffering, which according to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, are the five kleshas (CLAY-shas), a word meaning "pain, affliction, distress."

Check out Jaimal Yogis's author page.

Check out Richard Rosen's author page.

Check out Shoba Narayan's author page.

Check out Sally Kempton's author page.

At the 2005 YJ Estes Park Conference, Sri BKS Iyengar encouraged students to keep striving—but to also realize that what we're searching for is already inside us.

Check out Richard Miller's author page.

Practice acceptance of your partner, even if he/she doesn't share your spiritual beliefs.

Getting comfortable using chanting and kirtan in your hatha yoga classes can take your teaching to new heights. Pick up the tools for incorporating chants into your classes in an authentic way.