The number of men practising yoga is growing. According to the 2016 Yoga in America Study by Yoga Journal and the Yoga Alliance, of those practising yoga in America, 28 percent are men. Though that may not sound very high, it’s up significantly from the mere 17.8 percentage of men identified in the 2012 edition […]
Are you wanting to start something to improve your fitness? Maybe help you deal with stress or sleep better? Are you looking for something to look after your physical and mental health that only takes up a few minutes a day? Well, a home yoga practice could be just the thing for you. Home Practice
Many people come to yoga as a way to increase their flexibility. I certainly did and I remember SO clearly how impossible some yoga poses seemed to be. How could I even dream of doing an utthita pādāngusthāsana balance (standing big toe hold) when I couldn’t actually reach my big toe? My adho mukha śvānāsana (downward-facing
There are many reasons to give yoga a go. My fellow Zen Monkey writer, Rob Cook, who’s never done yoga before is about to dive into yoga with both feet by doing 30 yoga classes in 30 days in July. An inspirational, if extreme, idea. You might have a friend who’s been saying how great
I hated backbends when I began practising yoga. They were soo hard and seemed unachievable for my stiff middle-aged body. But now I can’t get enough! I love the feeling of length in the front of the body; my hips opening into extension and my chest broadening and lifting. Sometimes I truly feel like I
Our necks are incredible. A delicate column of bone and soft tissues that support the head and protect the vital plumbing that keeps us alive. It needs to be strong and supportive at the same time as mobile and versatile. So how does it manage all of this? And, as yogi’s, how can we look
Ever been in class and see someone looking very yogic and wise by making funny gestures with their hands? These are mudras, and they’re more powerful than they look. When used with awareness, mudras can alter our mood, change our attitude and increase our concentration. On advanced practitioners, it is thought that mudras can be
I had been taking yoga classes for six years before I even thought about doing yoga practice at home. At first it was not something I would even consider, practising at studios was so normal and seemed to be the only way to practice yoga. Unfortunately, practising at studios was not possible on a regular basis
Are you a more mature person, maybe in the autumn of your years ? Have you heard how yoga is SO good for you but wish you’d known this 10 / 20 / 30 or more years ago because then you were young enough to give it a try? And now it is surely too
So how is your yoga practice going after the holiday break? It can be such a struggle to ease back into regular practice after the fun and festivities, can’t it? Or maybe, like me, you have been laid low with this horrible flu virus and haven’t even contemplated rolling out your mat for a while
