Today is also New Years Eve, the last day of the year. 2021 has been a challenging year full of changes, and I am focused on continuing the positive changes with a New Years Themed Guided Meditation today.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Share your Practice
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! Today is Pranayama Day! We will revisit a warming and energizing new technique – Bhastrika Pranayama or Bellows’ Breath!
Are you a stingy breather? Well, don’t be. Be extravagant with you breathing and come fully alive. – Ron Fletcher
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is Bhastrika Pranayama, an energizing Pranayama Practice. We will start diaphragmatic breathing, which is part one of this breath. Please note this is a technique that should be practiced on its own, NOT during Asana practice! This Pranayama is best first thing in the morning, or if you need an energy boost during the day. Also, this technique is best on an empty stomach, or at least a couple hours after eating!
Start by evaluating your current breath pattern. Place one hand on your chest, and the other on your belly. Breathe in and out, and notice when the hands resting on your belly and chest move to indicate expansion. You SHOULD use your diaphragm and breathe into your belly, so your belly expands on the inhale and contracts on the exhale. Most of us breathe shallowly into our chest only, and our belly hand never moves!
Breathe in and make sure your belly expands, pushing your hand out as your entire torso fills with air.
Breathe out, contracting the belly, making sure you empty the lungs completely
Continue breathing in to a full count of 6, and out to a full count of 6, using your diaphragm to fill your lungs with air, and contract the belly to empty lungs completely. Focus on keeping your chest hand fairly still, and using your diaphragm to breathe into your belly.
Bhastrika Pranayama / Bellows Breath
After 5-10 full Diaphragmatic Breaths, close your mouth and begin the Bellows Breath:
Exhale forcefully through the nose, followed by inhaling forcefully through the nose.
These are quick forceful breaths, about one second for each inhale and one second for each exhale.
Use your diaphragm to initiate this breath, so your belly moves in and out quickly with your breath. Note that due to the speed, your breath will likely only reach your chest, not your belly.
Keep head, neck, and shoulders still throughout this technique.
Complete a round of 10 Bellows Breaths.
Move back to Diaphragmatic Breathing for 5-10 complete breaths. If you are getting dizzy, just stick with one round.
Complete a second round of 20 Bellows Breaths.
Move back to Diaphragmatic Breathing for 10 complete breaths.
Complete a third round of 30 Bellows Breaths.
Do not practice more than 3 rounds or 60 total Bellows Breaths at a time.
Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox Register for our email list!
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Share your Practice
Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Pranayama exercise! Have you tried this breath technique? How many rounds did you complete? Do you have another Pranayama practice you particularly enjoy? Always remember, be kind!
We just wrapped up practice of the Niyamas after our extended Yamas Holiday practices, and we are now on to Asanas, the 3rd Limb of Yoga. Today we will cover Hatha Yoga and try a Hatha Yoga Series. I have been trying to keep Asanas as a daily practice lately, and I practice Hatha style most frequently as part of my morning routine.
We will start with Hatha Yoga, which is both an Asana style and a Branch of Yoga. The Hatha Branch of Yoga actually covers all styles of Asana (from fast-paced Vinyasa to calming Restorative), since Hatha Yoga is the Branch that focuses on Asanas or poses and movement.
Hatha can be translated to English as either “Sun and Moon” (implying balance) or “Forceful”. Even though all Asana Styles and Asana Practices are technically Hatha Yoga, you can typically expect a Hatha class at a Yoga studio to be a more slow paced class than a Vinyasa class, and to have more detailed instructions. Often Hatha classes at studios are the beginner / intro Yoga classes.
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a beginner Hatha Asana series. I am a huge fan of Rodney Yee. I practice at home with videos or apps far more than I do at Yoga Studios. The first Asana Yoga practice I ever tried was in college, with my roommate and a Rodney Yee DVD. So, I feel it is appropriate to start with a couple video options from Rodney Yee‘s Hatha and Beginner series.
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.
Check out a sped up version of the first video above, to get a quick idea of what Hatha style is like! You will notice beginner poses held for a longer period of time with more instruction.
Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox Register for our email list!
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Happy December 28, 2022 – Niyamas (Personal Observances)
Good Morning Yogis! We just completed our special Holiday week of Yamas practices. We typically take 5 days to practice each of the Niyamas (personal observances), but today we will have a ‘personal day’ and select one or two of our choice to practice today.
The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development. – Robin Sharma
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice any of the 5 Niyamas or personal observances of our choice. I am practicing Saucha with some cleaning and organizing, and Svadhyaya with a journal day! Need more ideas?
Practice Saucha with cleaning your surroundings or a personal deep-cleaning
Practice Santosha with mindfulness practices or living in the moment
Practice Tapas with a workout or getting something done you have been putting off
Practice Svadhyaya with a journal day or reading a sacred text of your choice
Practice Ishvara Pranidhana with acceptance and non-attachment with your actions and any difficult situations
To Karma (action) alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive; neither let there be in thee any attachment to inaction. – The Bhagavad Gita
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Aparigraha/ non-grasping with our actions. Today we will take action without making expectations of a particular outcome. Need some ideas? Sometimes we do nice things for others, hoping for a particular result and we then end up disappointed if the other person does not react how we planned. Try today to not hold expectations for another person’s behavior. Or perhaps set aside a few hours to relax, or enjoy time with loved ones, or just go for a drive without a pre-set agenda, and see where life takes you!
Today’s quote is from the Bhagavad Gita, check out the Daily Yogi App for quick access to the Gita!
Want to See more like this?
Follow DailyYogi on Pinterest!
Share your Practice
Please comment and share how you decided to practice Aparigraha today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Happy December 26, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Good Morning Yogis! We are wrapping up our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
We were promised a simpler life, and technology has only complicated our lives. – Freeman Thomas
Today is the final day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today is also Boxing Day, a UK and Canadian holiday I grew up with on my calendars but never understood! Boxing Day was originally a day off for servants to celebrate the Christmas holiday with their families, and was named because their employers presented them with a “box” gift for the holiday. In modern times, Boxing Day is more like a Black Friday shopping discount holiday. Today we are closing our week of holiday moderation with one of my favorite Brahmacharya practices – a digital detox day!
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Brahmacharya / Moderation with our electronics and social media. Perhaps try an Unplugged Weekend with no electronics! Social media may be a useful tool to keep in touch with friends and family, especially in this isolating time. However, social media does not make us happy, and it can also distance us from the people we are spending time with. Many of us spend WAY too much time on our phones. It is the weekend, so many of us are off of work today. If you can, practice Brahmacharya with your phone and especially with social media, and enjoy your time with your loved ones this weekend. Perhaps encourage the entire household to spend a few hours “off the grid.” Or, go all out today with a full digital detox!
Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox Register for our email list!
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Share your Practice
Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Happy December 25, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. – Maya Angelou
Today is the sixth day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today is also Christmas, which is a day nearly every business is closed. So, today we will practice Brahmacharya with our lives by taking a full day off from work! Many of us, especially in the US, work many more hours than the typical 9-5, and with email and remote access we often are expected to communicate for work from home as well. There is research that this excessive work focus is NOT good for our mental health, so please take the opportunity today if you can to completely disconnect from work including emails!
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya/ moderation with our work / life balance by taking a full day off from work. PS I have friends who are medical professionals who often work on this holiday to allow coworkers with children to be with their families… if you also have to work today, plan to completely turn off from work on your next day off! If you are too busy with work or holiday events to relax today, schedule for yourself a complete ‘day off’ as soon as possible!
Happy December 24, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that come from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence. – Deepak Chopra
Today is the fifth day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today is also Christmas Eve. I grew up celebrating Christmas, and my favorite Christmas Carol growing up was Silent Night on Christmas Eve. So, today we will practice Brahmacharya with our speech.
Today’s Positive Practice
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya/ moderation with our speech. Perhaps have a truly Silent Night and enjoy a quiet night at home with the family. You can follow our Gate Rule we use for Satya for speech, or perhaps just try to only speak if necessary for the day. For those of you that know me, this will be quite a challenge!
Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!
Share your Practice
Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Happy December 23, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my nerdy research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you don’t, life controls you. – Tony Robbins
Today is the fourth day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today we will examine another translation of Brahmacharya as celibacy. I do not completely agree with this, I generally prefer to follow the middle path as we have discussed. In fact, I believe this middle path concept (and the emphasis in Buddhism on meditation) is the primary difference between Yoga and Buddhist philosophy. I myself consider this an evolution in the philosophy, and generally adhere to the middle path rather than any form of abstinence… I am the type of person where avoidance frequently leads to over-indulgence! I personally consider celibacy a goal or path only for monks, similar to perfect adherence to Ahimsa / non-harming which can be difficult or impossible in some professions (especially medical professionals). Some Yogis consider celibacy to be an extremely important practice on the path to enlightenment and I will admit my preferred translation of “Godlike” does tie in with this. Either way, Brahmacharya practice is typically related to the channeling and appropriate use of all forms of personal energy, which I do my best to practice. So, perhaps try a day of or set yourself up for a period of celibacy if you are interested in this practice – but remember this practice is not for everyone, and consider first non-harming with your partner if you are in a relationship! Or, you can focus on the practice of controlling and proper use of our own personal energy in its various forms.
In addition to moderating sexual energy, we should consider our mental and physical energy usage as well. A number of our past Brahmacharya practice days relate to moderation of food, which is an important practice in regulating desire for myself as a foodie… and the Buddha’s realization surrounding the middle path arose from considerations surrounding his aescetic’s diet. We frequently waste time and mental energy reading social media, or ruminating on negative thoughts, experiences, or fears. Most of us are prone to either lethargy or over-exertion physically. I am personally constantly trying to strike a better balance between work and personal time, and many of us are so busy with our day-to-day lives we do not have time during the day for even 5-10 minutes of self-care.. this constant business is not an ideal use of energy, and many of us experience burnout. I find mindfulness to be one of the easiest ways to practice Brahmacharya, both being present in the moment, and examining both our reasons for and our feelings with our actions or inactions.
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya/ moderation and the middle path in our lives with our own energy. We are in the middle of a full week of holiday Brahmacharya focused moderation practices. Although some Yogis translate Brahmacharya as celibacy and focus on redirecting this energy, we will examine proper use of various kinds of personal energy. I recommend practicing mindfulness with your actions and desires today, and evaluating whether you are using your mental and physical energy appropriately. Or, perhaps set yourself up for a period of celibacy if you are interested in this practice and it is compatible with your life.
Follow us on Instagram – easy access to our daily positive practices Plus second daily reminder photo /edit On INSTAGRAM Only (2nd Insta post currently paused)
@dailyyogi.world tag us with your Asana pics! enable notifications for pop-up reminders!
Share your Practice
Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Happy December 22, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my nerdy research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
Today is the third day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today we will also celebrate the start of Capricorn Season which technically started yesterday! I was surprised to learn that although Capricorn is an earth sign, this sign is represented by a Sea Goat! This Sea Goat is basically half-fish and half-goat, so I selected the half-fish Mermaid Pose for today! This is an advanced pose, that I am not able to hold safely yet.. please do not try this advanced pose until you are ready! For our second focused moderation practice, we will examine practicing moderation with Asana practice.
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya/ moderation and the middle path with our Asana practice. This is somewhat similar to the practice of Santosha or contentment with our Asanas. There are many advanced poses I cannot yet express fully, and the Asana I selected to represent the start of Capricorn Season is Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (EH-huk PAH-duh RAH-juh-kah-po-TA-sa-nuh) or Mermaid Pose is one of those poses! This pose requires a lot of openness in both the chest and hips, and have just started being comfortable with step two of this pose, to bend my back leg from regular One-legged Kapotasana or Pigeon Pose, and cannot yet hook my arm! When practicing Asanas and working into advanced poses, keeping Brahmacharya and Santosha in mind is important to avoid injury, and to only move as far into a pose as is comfortable, and be gentle with your body. You will notice this Yogi is a model, not me, since I am not yet able to perform this pose. Like our Scorpio advanced pose, we will only include instructions for advanced teachers and Yogis on Tummee below.
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.
Share your Practice
Please comment and share how you practice Brahmacharya with your Asanas. Are you able to express Mermaid Pose? How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Happy December 21, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)
Good Morning Yogis – Happy Winter! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. – John Steinbeck
Today is the second day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today is also the Winter Solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year. Many cultures have important holidays on the Solstice such as Dongzhi and Yalda. So, for our first focused moderation practice, we will examine our energy and resource usage, and I recommend using candles on this longest night of the year.
Today’s Positive Practice suggestion
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya/ moderation and the middle path in our lives with energy and resource consumption. We are in the middle of a full week of holiday Brahmacharya focused moderation practices.
Review your adherence to reduce reuse recycle – which should be practiced in that order.
Or, on this darkest night of the year, perhaps skip the electricity and use candles or the fireplace!
Practice moderation with energy consumption in a way that is meaningful to you!
Follow us on Instagram – easy access to our daily positive practices Plus second daily reminder photo /edit On INSTAGRAM Only (2nd Insta post currently paused)
@dailyyogi.world tag us with your Asana pics! enable notifications for pop-up reminders!
Share your Practice
Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis – Happy Yule ! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my nerdy research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
Moderation in exercise, eating and amusement is the best guarantee of a beneficial vacation. – Ollie Reeves
Today is the first day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today we will have a KISS (keep it super simple) Day and revisit my interpretation of Brahmacharya as the middle path – neither excess nor avoidance. Set an intention for yourself for taking the middle path this week in an area of your choice. I will be keeping this in mind throughout Christmas week in the US. Do not deprive yourself, enjoy small amounts of your holiday treats without over-indulging! If this concept of the middle path is new to you, please see more here or go here for a deep-dive.
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya/ moderation and the middle path in our lives and set an intention for this week of moderation. This is the start of a full week of holiday Brahmacharya practices, so we will will have focused moderation practices, but I suggest setting a goal for yourself for this week in a way of your choosing! I often choose to revisit food-related moderation because I love candy, and easily eat far too much when I partake mindlessly rather than mindfully… and this is especially true with the special holiday treats around Christmas!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back. – Harvey MacKay
Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule
We are on our twelfth day counting down the 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing) before we have a full week (starting tomorrow!) of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation! We will focus on a different way to practice each of these Yamas each day.
Holiday Season – 12/19
Today is the third and final day of our Asteya (non-stealing) practices. Today we will practice the positive of non-stealing in a specific way – with time.
This is always a challenge for me, so I am excited to start integrating this Asteya practice! It seems like I try to be 10 minutes early for everything, but always end up 5 minutes late. This is something I always want to improve on.. I dislike having to sit for a long time in a waiting room, and always feel guilty doing this to people waiting for me! I did a bit of research, and learned this is a problem for optimists, who generally hope for things to go well and do not plan a buffer for things that inevitably go wrong. This commute optimism is my main problem, both in the city when traffic can build up quickly and in the mountains where you can easily get stuck behind a slow truck on a single-lane road. Additionally, if I am running late and see a beautiful cloud formation, or sunset, or another picture-perfect scene, I do not have the flexibility to stop and enjoy or photograph the moment!
Follow us on Instagram – easy access to our daily positive practices Plus second daily reminder photo /edit On INSTAGRAM Only (2nd Insta post currently paused)
@dailyyogi.world tag us with your Asana pics! enable notifications for pop-up reminders!
Please comment and share how your Asteya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!
We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. – Seneca
Festival of Lights – Love and Light – Happy Hanukkah
Today is Hanukkah – Happy Hanukkah to all Yogis who celebrate! This holiday is a winter festival of lights.. we will notice many cultures celebrate festivals of lights near the winter solstice – Diwali was just a couple of weeks ago! I grew up outside of Boston and loved celebrating friends’ Hannukkah traditions – especially the Latkes! Hanukkah is celebrated over 8 days beginning at sunset today, commemorating the 8 days of light from the traditional story. Today’s quote on kindness is one of my favorites, and is from the Talmud – a sacred text that includes the story of Hanukkah. PS – since I am a linguistics nerd… both Hanukkah and Chanukah are correct spellings – the latter is a more traditional transliteration from Hebrew to English!
Hanukkah is a community holiday, and so our practice today is to benefit the community.
Today is the second day of our Asteya (non-stealing) practices. Today we will practice the positive of non-stealing with a random act of generosity.