There are days where we can feel heady, buzzy, and just beside ourselves. Many of us are constantly multi-tasking and running from one thing to the next. We eat on the go, rush to meetings, and battle traffic on a regular basis. If we don't give ourselves enough time to rest and relax we burn the candle at both ends.

Before beginning a yoga practice, it is always helpful to set an intention. Defining your intention is like creating a purpose for your practice. It could be for overall healing, letting go of specific patterns that don't serve anymore, or attracting something into your life that you so deeply want to experience.

Often, people go to yoga and think, "Man, I'm not very good, so I'll just stay in the back." When people fall or wobble during a pose, they judge and criticize themselves harshly, fueling feelings of embarrassment. I often see people trying to compete or compare, which leads to feelings of supremacy or inadequacy. When we take a deeper look at all these self-conditioned beliefs, we realize how much expectation, perfection, judgement, and criticism we carry. These beliefs are burdening to the soul and we end up getting in the way of our own selves!

You will LOVE these practices! you can even do them at work :)

Namaste Everyone! Happy New Year! I thought it would be great to start the year off by writing about one of my favorite foods...Kitchari!

Sore throats, runny noses, and fevers, oh my! As the year closes and Winter sets in, people often find a massive shift happening in their bodies. Biologically, we shift with the seasons and the Winter months can be considered a hibernation period. People may find themselves wanting to sleep more, eat more, and retreat into warmth. When the body changes and we do not comply with these changes (i.e. continuing to work long hours and not getting enough sleep) our immune systems can suffer. When the body's internal environment becomes imbalanced, we find ourselves with an onslaught of colds, flus, and even infections.

If you are new to yoga you probably have noticed all the yoga props that studios make available to you. You may have seen styrofoam or cork blocks, straps, bolsters (different sized pillows), and blankets. These items may look very random at first, so here is a good guide as to how these props can improve your yoga practice. Next time you go to a class, you'll know what to grab!

Often times in a yoga practice the first parts of your body to tire quickly are your arms and shoulders. Holding your own body weight is highly dependent on your upper body...you've got to hold up your head and torso, and that can be quite challenging if you're not used to it. Your yoga practice will improve dramatically once you build up your upper body strength--core included! Here are three helpful poses for strengthening your arms and shoulders--be sure to keep a steady practice so you can start feeling the difference!

Does your low back give you grief more often than not? Millions of people suffer from low back pain daily and default to medications to solve the problem. For most medically uncompromised back pain, the solution is rather simple, and yoga can play a huge part. Common back pain can result from a number of things ranging from sitting for long periods of time to constant involvement with high impact activities (i.e. running, tennis). The following yoga postures can help with strengthening and lengthening your low back. Remember to keep a steady breath pattern in all postures. I highly recommend doing these postures everyday ... before you leave for work and when you come home.

Have you ever heard the word "bandha" mentioned in a yoga class? In sanskrit, bandha means to lock, tighten, or hold. Energetically, these "locks" or areas of tightening help the body to direct the flow of prana (flow of energy into the body) and apana (flow of energy out of the body). Physically, the locking of the bandhas helps keep proper alignment and protection of the spine during meditation and yoga. When you can master these locks on both the outside (postures) and inside (concentration, breath, clear mind), you can regulate and control all your hormonal, metabolic, digestive, and sexual systems. Let's explore the bandhas.