What’s it like attending an Online Studio?

Jessica 'attending' her online yoga class with My Yoga Online

Starting with My Yoga Online was a bit rougher than expected. Sure – my membership came through before the holidays, quick and efficient, but it was also within spitting distance of a two week computer free period (a total treat if I may be so bold to admit) and that made beginning immediately seem silly.  Two weeks on, two weeks off didn’t appeal to my slight OCD. Instead I worked out the wee kink in my login, (excellent customer service response – MYO score points!) got my profile … [Read more...]

How to maintain a home yoga practice with a baby (or generally demanding life)

Fitting babies into a yoga practice - Samuel at 6 months

It's something other mothers have been asking me for the last few months - how do I maintain my home yoga practice (crucial as a yoga teacher) when I've got a 9 month old baby boy, and shared custody of a seven year old girl? It's simple really. I make my practice the priority for the day. It's my one must-do every single day. Everything else can wait. In practice, this isn't easy, and requires discipline. But it is simple, and it applies not just to parents with young children, but … [Read more...]

How to apply the right yoga practice to your daily life

Win of free Yoga Nidra CD

Life is busy. Most of us are juggling some combination of work, family, socialising, passions & hobbies and health & well-being. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, the things that we know make us feel the best - like regular yoga practice - can be the most difficult to maintain. This is especially true when we go through a life change, or a particularly stressful period. Right when we need it most, our yoga practice falls away. Our job changes, or we shift house, or we have … [Read more...]

How to fit well-being into your holiday season

Yoga Christmas card from Cafe Press

Ah, 'tis the season to be jolly, and merry, and over-indulge, because by golly you've earned it. 'Tis also the season to rush around like crazy, attending parties and drinks, buying presents and gifts, and squeezing as much fun and leisure into your holiday break as possible. In short, 'tis a time of madness, when long established patterns of well-being - think solid eating habits and regular yoga practice - fall by the wayside like Christmas wrapping paper on Boxing Day. To make it … [Read more...]

A short home yoga practice for managing back pain

Lauren & Kelly in a standing backbend

Inspired by an uncle-in-law who's doctor told him he needed to do yoga to help his back... this practice is designed for people who have never done yoga before, but know it might be able to help them with their back issues. Of course, it is also great for people who have done yoga before, and who also need help with back issues. A healthy spine is probably one of the most wonderful things one can experience - I know the more I practice yoga, the more my spine opens up, the more liberated I … [Read more...]

How to build a home yoga practice

Wellington Yoga Teacher Taisuke Tanimura

As a yoga teacher, my goal is to inspire my students to practice yoga at home. It's great when people get themselves to classes three times a week, but the true benefits of yoga really start to unfold when you commit to just showing up on your mat by yourself and seeing what happens. In a class, your focus is both internal and external. You're listening to the teacher and watching the demonstrations while also paying attention to what's going on inside of you. … [Read more...]