Yamas & Niyamas: Yoga and Activism
The ethical foundation of yoga bursts with inspiration and guidance beyond a quote or shared moment of intention in class. Yoga’s ethical system draws on the yamas and niyamas. They are a set of principles outlined in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. They are considered to be a cornerstone of yoga’s philosophical foundation. The teachings are not only meaningful on the mat but can be applied in daily life and in actions of activism as well.Mindful Meals: Eating for the Planet
Next in our Cut Your Carbon Footprint series, we explore many ways to live a more sustainable life through our food habits.
Read on for guidance on how to minimize your carbon footprint and potentially improve your health. We’ll introduce methods such as: planning meals to reduce waste, growing your own food, and transitioning toward a more plant-based diet.
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Yoga and Activism
Join us over the next few months as we explore the intersection of yoga and activism. How yoga can be used as an agency for social good. The posts in this series will share lesser-known stories about activist and yoga leaders, yoga’s place in transformative movements, and as tools for activism. We will also examine aspects of yoga’s history and philosophy.
Madison is a graduate of Yoga District’s teacher training program. She hopes her series will deepen your spiritual connection to the practice along with motivating you to engage with yoga and activism in your own life.
Meditating during Quarantine
Learn about meditation’s benefits and easy ways to start a practice during quarantine!
Meditation is a healthy and beneficial habit accessible to almost anyone. It is prevalent across yoga studios, many workplaces, and all kinds of lifestyles. There are even apps and video channels dedicated to guiding folks through the practice.
The benefits of meditation are wide-ranging. They include: improved sleep, lower anxiety, lower blood pressure, and reduced stress-induced inflammation (1).
Whether you have a steady practice, want to revisit it, or are curious about starting meditation, there is something for everyone. Find out which meditation practice(s) are best for you!
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Why Yoga Studios are Shoeless
You enter a studio, take off your shoes, and step onto your mat. With a deep inhale and relaxing exhale, you begin your yoga class. Have you ever wondered why it’s customary to practice yoga barefoot? Or the reason you remove your shoes when entering a yoga studio?
Read on to learn about the cultural, practical, and physical reasons that yoga studios are shoeless.
Breathing Through it: The Benefits of Breathwork
On your mat, you close your eyes taking a deep breath in and out. If you are familiar with yoga, you have probably heard an instructor guide you to focus on your breathing (1). Breathing seems to be an intricate part of practicing yoga but breathwork can also be powerful on its own as well.
Yoga District instructor Emily defines breath-work, its different types, and what to expect in breathwork sessions.
Find Your New Edge – Discover the Benefits of Yin Yoga
“Most yoga that you practice is likely yang in nature like a Vinyasa Flow. A dynamic class that is active to a certain degree working your muscles, building strength, stamina and flexibility. In contrast Yin Yoga (1) is a stable and passive practice where grounded poses are held for about 3 to 5 minutes with gravity deepening the pose. When holding a yin pose it tends to feel almost meditative to me and pushes me to a new edge. I usually leave class feeling rejuvenated and a bit taller like my body has been stretched straight.”
Read on as Michelle, a Yoga District teacher, talks about her experience with Yin Yoga and maybe try a Yin class or her Yin workshop for yourself.
Mindfulness in Relationships with Marci
Mindfulness is the ability to be aware of one’s feelings, thoughts, and actions in the present moment.
If you are ever swept up by emotions during communicating with others or struggle to know your role in relationships, then being more mindful can help.
Mindfulness is a strategy for being more present in your conversations resulting in a more positive and healthy outcome. Marci, a Yoga District teacher, intuitive coach, and healer, shares her insights about how to cultivate mindful, loving relationships. Feel free to attend her May 12th workshop to learn more.
More Yoga Myths Debunked
It’s time again to dispel some common myths about yoga. A yoga practice is for anyone, at any time, anywhere. Don’t let yoga misconceptions stop you seeking to start a practice or broaden an existing one.
Check out our first post to learn about 5 other Yoga Myths that Yoga District debunked.
Read the myths below to learn some truths about yoga and feel reinvigorated to make it part of your life.
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5 Yoga Myths Debunked
T
here are a lot of misconceptions surrounding who does (and does not) participate in yoga. But, it’s important to know that the practice of yoga welcomes all people–not just one, particular type of person.
Keep reading to learn about five of the most common yoga myths.
The Teachers
The diverse family of DC yoga teachers at Yoga District are dedicated to making yoga accessible to everyone through a huge variety of yoga class types, from vinyasa flow to restorative and beyond. Most Yoga District teachers are graduates of Yoga District’s nationally-attended 200 hour teacher training program. All Yoga District classes focus on coordinating breath with body movement to promote flexibility, strength, and peace of mind. We strongly believe in yoga as therapy, so catch one of our classes whenever you need a healthy dose of self-care.
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The Next Step
The Yoga District 200 and 500 hour teacher training certification programs, registered by the Yoga Alliance are unique in their emphasis on diversity of teaching styles studied, personal attention, and trauma sensitive yoga. It's no coincidence that Yoga District is regularly voted the leading studio in the nation's capital, and that most of its classes are taught by graduates of its training program. As a full time yoga school, small group trainings are led up to eight times a year by a dedicated faculty including Jasmine Chehrazi, contributor to the Harvard Karma Yoga Project teacher training, teacher training faculty at George Washington University, Yoga Alliance Standards Committee Advisory Board Member, Yoga Activist Founder, and Yoga Service Council Advisory Board Member. So take your practice and community involvement to the next level by joining a training. There's a reason why our graduates call the training "transformative."
Check out the yoga teacher training »