As yoga teachers, it is wise to reflect on our passion to practice and share yoga. Practicing yoga, sharing yoga: the two are interdependent. None of us would be driven to teach if we didn’t find our own practice inspiring. Therefore, our first need is intentionally to keep our own yoga practice joyful, inspired, and vibrant —so we can infuse … Read More
Autumn is a time of change: the leaves fall from the trees and the weather signals a time of transformation for nature, animals, and people. With the energetic activity of summer behind us, there is now an opportunity—with encourage from nature—to slow down, calm the mind, and go within. As animals prepare for hibernation, you too can take a mini-hibernation … Read More
During my early years of nurses’ training, I took a job on Saturday mornings piercing ears at a local department store. In the early 1980’s ear piercing was a new fad and stores wanted people with medical training doing the procedure, so they recruited students from the local nurses’ training program. Since it was a new and exciting fad, there … Read More
Supported Bridge Pose “I offer every thought as a bridge to divine grace.” This pose will give you an experience of slowing, cooling, and introspection. It is an antidote for living in an age, which manipulates our brains and nervous systems into being fast, hot, and extroverted. This is a great pose to practice during the summer time when our minds and … Read More
This past year, I returned to teaching yoga after a nearly two-year hiatus while I recuperated from a painful back injury: a bulging disk at L5-S1, which was further complicated by a very inflamed sacroiliac joint. How did the injury happen? In brief, because I did not listen to my body when it was telling me the low back was … Read More
by Kyle McDonald As Ananda-trained yoga and meditation teachers, many of us find ourselves teaching in environments where our language skills are put to test, particularly in replacing or avoiding the word “God.” This year, I had the opportunity to work in two very different environments, one secular and one non-secular. Semantics proved helpful in one situation and harmful in … Read More
by Michelle Dossett As the end of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training approached, and I realized that it would likely be six weeks before I would have a chance to lead a yoga class or sadhana back home, I wondered if I would get rusty. Might there perhaps be an opportunity to lead a sadhana or two while I was staying … Read More
People often ask, “When we come out of deep relaxation in Savasana, why do you always have us roll onto our right sides? Why not the left side?” I sometimes jokingly answer, “I want everyone to roll the same way so they don’t bump into each other, and since most people are right-handed, I’m fairly sure they know which way … Read More
Well-meaning friends, acquaintances and even strangers are quick to give all kinds of advice to a new mother. Before she knows it, a new mother is likely to be given the following advice from a variety of people. “When the baby sleeps … meditate, do yoga, clean the house, pay the bills, make your phone calls, take a bath, take … Read More
Anyone can receive many benefits from meditation during pregnancy, and all of those benefits—calmness, communion, centeredness and more—are especially important at this special time in life. Meditation practice can help you get through, not only the challenges of pregnancy, but also those of delivery. However, meditating while pregnant can have its challenges. Here are some tips on how to work … Read More
