Passing teacher training is one thing, a triumphant thing that you should feel immensely proud of, but taking what you’ve learnt into your own teaching can feel like a totally different thing all together. The first yoga class is always going to be the hardest: we are out of a training environment, where others around […]
Yoga may be about as good as physiotherapy for treating lower back pain, according to a new study published in a major medical journal. The results of the long-term study, which involved a large and racially diverse group of participants, come as welcome scientific support for using yoga as a therapy for back pain. Whilst
Our scapula, or shoulder blade, glides around on the chest wall allowing the complex movements that we use in our asana. It plays a vital role in keeping the scapula firmly fixed on the chest wall. Here is how to activate, strengthen and make the most of this important muscle in your classes. The When and
Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a Japanese word meaning ‘universal life energy’ and is a beautiful system of natural healing that can be particularly beneficial for yoga teachers. Founded by a Japanese Buddhist, Dr Mikao Usui (1865 – 1926), in the late 19th century, Reiki has evolved as a result of his research, experience and dedication. What
Welcome to Zen Monkey’s Āsana Dictionary! This department came to be as a result of the Zen Monkey Āsana Challenge in June of 2015, and we’re constantly adding to and improving it! Please click on the pose titles below to see details about each of the poses listed, and check back regularly to see new poses as we add
Envy is a dark, hidden emotion. It can sour friendships, harden hearts and most of all, poison yourself. In the yoga world, where the underlying philosophy is based on love, light, and unity, the dark underbelly of envy and jealousy goes un-spoken about, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not there. Sometimes you’re the one
The yoga of finding joy in the midst of suffering. The capacity to feel joy is a gift we all possess. You only need hear a baby laugh to know that the ability to be joyful is a natural and innate thing. But, life being life, we all inevitably go through periods where we can
Meditation and Tai Chi don’t just calm the mind – they seem to affect our DNA too. Evidence has emerged that these ‘mind-body practices’ reduce the activity of genes associated with inflammation – essentially reversing molecular damage caused by stress. It has been found that genes related to inflammation become less active in people practising
So, you’re considering a yoga teacher training in India…where to begin? Rather, how to begin? You’ll find a plethora of information on the web, teacher training schools all touting themselves as the best in India, but what is it that you need and how on earth can you narrow down your options? In this article,
What is drishti? Concisely, drishti is a focused gaze. We might have attempted to use it in yoga classes, especially when we’re endeavouring to balance in tree pose, but there is much more to this topic than meets the eye – or gaze. Let’s put drishti under the microscope. The Sanskrit word drishti literally means
