How to Open-Eye Meditate

Steady gazing, Trataka, is a concentration and purification exercise. Among the six Shat Karmas (yogic purification practices) Tratak is known as the simplest to do. It involves gazing at an object or point of focus without blinking, then closing your eyes and continuing to hold the visual of the object in your mind’s eye. Consistent and correct practice of trataka increases concentration power and purifies the mind from fluctuated thought patterns. It also has proven to improve eyesight and stimulates the brain in at least two studies.

Is Your Spiritual Practice Fulfilling and Effective?

Is your spiritual practice effective at fulfilling your highest intentions? Though there are many different answers to this question, there are also some indicators of the progress one is making on a spiritual path. Consider the depth and expansion of your awareness of the divine. Are you aware of the perfect nature of existence on a moment-to-moment basis?

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerJuly 20, 2022yogic philosophy, sadhana, spirituality

OM: The Meaning Behind the Universe’s Sacred Sound

What is Om and why do we chant it in yoga class? Om actually has many meanings and associations. It’s primary purpose is to move beyond the mental and physical practices of yoga and into a heart-centered space where the essence of the devotional practice of yoga is invoked.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerJune 20, 2022om, hinduism, kali, upanishads, consciousness, sanskrit

Make Every Month Earth Month by Connection to Nature

Mother Earth invites us to let in more gratitude and reverence – spiritual qualities that we need more of in our lives. This leads to a deeper connection with all of life and the ability to see our environment not just as something ‘out there’, but as something we are part of and have a role to play in. As we become more and more aware of our sacred relationship to the earth, our spiritual work becomes that of earth’s recovery.

The Healing Power of Nature: 3 Ways the Outdoors Can Improve Your Yoga Practice

The feeling of sunlight on your skin; the chirping of the birds; the smell of a rose or seeing an awe inspiring vista can have an instantaneous positive effect. Science is starting to back-up what humans have known since the dawn of our existence: being in nature helps to heal the mind and body in profound ways, from boosting our mood to lowering our blood pressure and providing us with the essential elements for living with vitality.

Five Reasons to Go On A Yoga Retreat

The purpose of a yoga retreat, workshop, or intensive is to allow yogis to deepen their practice without the pull of everyday distractions and responsibilities. Retreats give participants an experience of connecting to something bigger than themselves and building community. Here are five reasons why a yoga retreat could be just the refresher you need!

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerMarch 7, 2022retreat, learning, nature, community, intensive, workshop

Releasing Chronic Pain, Stress and Blockages

Acute Pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to injury or the possibility of injury and the need to take action to protect and care for yourself. Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists for three to six months or more than the normal healing time of an injury. Chronic pain may originate from an initial trauma or injury, or there may be an ongoing cause of pain. However, some chronic pain may occur in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerFebruary 11, 2022Chronic Pain, chronic pain, pain, stress, nervous system, emotions, chair yoga, gentle yoga

Surrender Is Not a Dirty Word

The idea of surrender can have a negative connotation in Western culture and can even be synonymous with defeat, failure, or giving up your power. Standard English dictionary definitions of the word surrender reinforce this idea by describing it as something done “by demand” and “under duress.”

Thankfully, yoga philosophy offers a more positive version of surrender, that of trusting in and being of service to something much greater than yourself.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerJanuary 3, 2022surrender, ishvara pranidhana, ego, god, goddess, savasana, yamas, niyamas

To Find Contentment, Take Action

How can we overcome the afflictions of the mind that get in the way of our contentment? First, we must understand what the obstacles are, get to know how they effect us and find the self-discipline to improve ourselves, realizing that what we cannot change we must let go of.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerNovember 29, 2021kleshas, tapas, ishvara pranidhana, svadyaya, igorance, avidya, dvesha, aversion, asmita, ego

Pain-Relief and Performance Enhancing Self-Massage

This article recommends some basic tools you can start with for self-massage. A couple easier places to learn to massage that can make a big impact on the comfort of your whole body and bring your yoga practice to the next level by opening up the body and preparing it for more demanding postures and longer meditations are explained.

Is Stress Causing Your Neck Pain?

This is the second installment of a two-part series on yoga therapy for neck pain (read par t one here.) The first article was about neck anatomy and postures for healing. This article dives into the relationship of psychological stress/emotions and neck pain while offering a few therapeutic practices.

Therapeutic Practices for the Neck

Neck tension and pain are widespread today and some of the most common causes are due to our modern lifestyles. This article offers practices to help one become more aware of the anatomy of the neck and heal from some of the physical causes of neck pain. In the second installment of this two-part series on yoga therapy for the neck, the effects of psychological stress and emotions will be explored, too.

Learn Metta Meditation to Live and Love More Fully

Metta meditation, also known as the loving-kindness meditation, comes from one of four 2,500-year-old teachings called the Brahma Viharas. These virtues and the meditations that accompany them were originally taught by the Buddha to help us connect most directly with our desire for true happiness. Metta meditation is one of these practices that can open the heart to greater love and kindness towards ourselves and others.

Ankle Modifications for Happy Joints

Some of the most commonly practiced and beloved yoga poses put a lot of weight on, and take a lot of flexibility from, the ankles joints. It is important to maintain healthy ankles since they allow us to maintain and build strength and prevent future injuries caused by lack of strength or range of motion throughout the entire lower body. This article will offer some ways to maintain and gain range of motion that are low-impact and, thus less stressful for sensitive, tight or injured joints.

Wrist Modifications for Happy Joints

Some of the most commonly practiced and beloved yoga poses put a lot of weight on the wrists, which can be a great way to maintain and build upper body strength and even prevent future injuries caused by lack of strength or range of motion. For many people hand balances, or even less strenuous poses like Downward-Facing Dog or Upward-Facing Dog pose, can be a problem if they are experiencing an injury or arthritis that is causing pain or a limited range of motion.

Foster Wholesome Habits for the Future This Earth Day

This Earth Day is a time to reflect on how we as individuals and as a society have been taking care of our planet. Much of the yoga practice is about being able to sense and observe ourselves, called svadyaya, clearly. With this clear seeing (vidya) we can then create more wholesome behaviors that foster a state of being where enlightenment to grow.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerApril 22, 2021Earth, sustainability, investing, esg, stock market, svadyaya, vidya

Creative Contentment

I have a special guest for this months blog. Since meeting Susie Lipps I have had the opportunity to get to know her well and have been impressed by her life's work. Her leadership, open heart and quiet activism has touched me in many ways. In particular, this poem we are sharing with you today, paints a beautiful picture of the way nature and spirituality are deeply intertwined.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerMarch 29, 2021contentment, nature, poetry, susie lipps, leadership

It's All About Love

What we are all looking for is deeper connection; connection to ourselves, others or Source/Goddess/The Divine. And, we all struggle to stay connected, because of discomfort, fear, pain and numerous other reasons. Yoga welcomes you to focus on staying connected to your body, your heart and your mind and stay curious about what you find.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerFebruary 12, 2021love, sutras, Yoga Sutra, Swami Vivekananda, B.K.S Iyengar, Ego, Boundaries, Anahata Chakra

Eating to Thrive

With it being the middle of winter and post holiday season it is no surprise I have had more students coming to me looking for weight loss. It is true that yoga can aid in overall physical health. With that said, I am not a fitness instructor or personal trainer. I am not a nutritionist or dietician and do not provide advise on how to eat. What I can offer is a spiritual approach focusing on ideas such as exploring one's relationship to food, self-esteem, self-care and body image.

Surrendering to Darkness, Opening to Light

All animals (humans included), not just Mother Earth, go through seasonal cycles. This is the week of the winter solstice. It is the darkest time of the year and energetically the lowest time of the year. We, as inhabitants of this planet, are meant to slow down and rest more. It is what gives us the reset for the light that is coming.

Practical ArticlesSierra WagnerDecember 17, 2020solstice, winter, Gyan Mudra, Mudras, Meditation, Chakras, Mindfulness