Vibrance Yoga: Practice and Perspective

This episode is a flow that's on the spicier side, but with an emphasis on letting the breath really, honestly, truly guide you. We will often muscle our way through the physical practice, or indeed any physical endeavor, but should we? This flow helps you to explore and recognize when you're doing it, so you can choose on purpose.

This Slow Flow was recorded live with a general theme of "Yoga is Skill in Action" as put forth by the Bhagavad Gita. Just because it's slow doesn't mean it isn't strong. Always take the options that work for you, with the idea of striving without grasping at outcomes. The journey is the destination!

Practice Yoga Nidra with me. This practice is one to deeply relax you, and invites a conscious awareness. Yoga Nidra isn't quite meditation, and it isn't quite sleep, but somewhere between the two. It can be deeply restorative, and particularly helpful if sleep is elusive!

Today's episode (our lucky 13th!) was recorded live, and is a pretty spicy flow. Best to have some familiarity with the poses, but feel free to give it a try regardless of your experience level. It may be challenging, but remember that making the physical shapes isn't the intention of the practice! Listening, learning, and choosing what's right for you is far more important. And if that means you...

Relax and reset with a Yoga Nidra and progressive relaxation session. In this fifteen-minute practice you'll get the opportunity to allow yourself complete rest, which is sometimes pretty hard to come by in small enough chunks to work into your day. Give yourself enough time to come out of the practice without rushing, if at all possible. Settle yourself as completely as you can. It's just for a l...

Join me this week for a Yin Yoga practice. Grab any props you might like, such as blocks (you can use sturdy books or small boxes taped shut!), blankets or towels, bolsters (maybe a couple of pillows will do the trick for you) and whatever else you might need. The practice of Yin Yoga relies heavily on stillness rather than on movement, which is challenging for some of us. Try not to push too deep...

Many of us have heard that meditation has wonderful benefits, but we wonder if we're doing it right. This episode talks about the differences between guided and unguided meditation, and how to get where we want to go with it. Hopefully it can clear up a few misconceptions and clear the way for you to have a meditation practice that is helpful for you! This episode isn't a meditation itself, just a...

Please don;t allow whatever makes you human to prevent you from practicing! In this episode, I share a pranayama practice that I find helpful when my mood is just not great, and then we flow. If you are in a mood (like I was,) or have some distractions, or physical twinges, or whatever else going on, then know that your humanity doesn't preclude you from practice! We often feel like everything nee...

You probably don't spend much time thinking about how you breathe from moment to moment, but your breath can profoundly affect how you feel. This episode begins to explore diaphragmatic breathing, also called belly breathing. We practice the breath (many of us are not used to it and it might be difficult to cultivate at first; keep at it!) and talk briefly about how the breath helps to propel us t...

This episode features a practice that stays on the ground--no standing required! Grab some blocks, a strap, maybe a towel to roll up as a cushion for your knees or as a bolster for a restful Savasana. The practice has an open end, so feel free to stay in your final rest for as long as you require (the longer the better!) and come out gently.

Settle in with a practice that is intended to allow you to relax and sleep well. Yin Yoga is quite different from flow practices, so if you're new to it you should expect a lot of stillness rather than much movement. A degree of discomfort is to be expected, but never pain. If you find you are in pain, please do not stay there, but take care of yourself by coming out of the pose. The practice ends...

Another episode recorded live for you to practice along with me. Give yourself the gift of awareness while you practice, having a conversation with your body along the way to find the degree of each pose that works well for you in the moment. Each day is a new one and every practice will be different. Hope you enjoy it!

The books in this episode can be found at the links, or from your favorite bookseller. The Heart of Yoga , by TKV Desikachar Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Translated by Shyam Ranganathan The Bhagavad Gita Translated by Eknath Easwaran Yoga: Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow's Vision by Indu Arora Yoga--Anticolonial Philosophy: An Action-Focused Guide to Practice by Shyam Ranganathan

You'll find a live-recorded slow-ish flow here, with a longer build to work with strength and presence. There is a gentle focus on Asteya, the third Yama from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras here. Always practice to your own body's tolerance and take good care of yourself as you do!

Flow with me! This practice is about 45 minutes long. Take your time and enjoy the process. As I mention in the episode, if you find that you're suffering, back off. There's enough suffering in the world without adding to it with our practice. Enjoy!

Welcome to the podcast! We'll be talking about yoga, practicing yoga, and learning together. Join me on this journey. In this episode, you'll hear about my plans and my background. Stay tuned for the second episode, which will be an audio practice!