December 2022 Holidays – Upper 4 Limbs of Yoga: Meditation – New Years Eve

Happy December 31, 2022 – Meditation

Good Morning Yogis! Today we are having a KISS day – try a Meditation Practice of your choice!

cool perspective looking at fluorescent lit glass art in dark room - meditation, upper limbs of yoga calm mind Quote: Are you a stingy breather? Well, don’t be. Be extravagant with you breathing and come fully alive. - Ron Fletcher
With meditation, you become a sensitized superhero, completely in control, with endless possibilities at your fingertips. – Tara Stiles

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is any Meditation Practice for Upper Limbs Day. You can scan through all of our recent meditations or check our most recent Dharana Day Post for a variety of focused meditative practices. I recommend a New Years Themed Guided Meditation to get a head start for our resolutions practices tomorrow!

New Years Eve

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.

In the past, I also tried an energy clearing guided meditation and theta wave ambient noise meditation for New Years Eve. If these do not resonate with you, perhaps try a guided meditation on finding your path or Positive Affirmation Guided Meditation.

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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!

December 2022 Holidays – Pranayama (Breathing) – Bhastrika Pranayama (Bellows Breath)

Happy December 30, 2022 – Pranayama (Breathing)

Good Morning Yogis! Today is Pranayama Day! We will revisit a warming and energizing new technique – Bhastrika Pranayama or Bellows’ Breath!

cool perspective looking at blue sky reflection in ornate dark mirror - pranayama breath breathing Quote: Are you a stingy breather? Well, don’t be. Be extravagant with you breathing and come fully alive. - Ron Fletcher
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!

This is a great technique to watch and follow along – click here for video instructions!

Diaphragmatic Breath

  • 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.

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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!

December 2022 Holidays – Asanas (Poses) – Asana Styles – Hatha Series

purple yogi girl uttkatasana chair pose yoga
Utkatasana – Chair or Powerful Pose

Happy December 29, 2022 – Asanas (Poses)

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.

Branches Vs Limbs of Yoga

We have talked about the 8 Limbs of Yoga, a number of practices that build upon each other. We will now be focusing on the Third Limb – Asanas or Poses, covering quite a few Asana styles. There are also 6 Branches of Yoga, which come to us from the Bhagavad Gita. I consider different Branches of Yoga to be different Paths of Yoga. In my understanding, different Branches of Yoga give different weights and priorities to particular practices from the 8 Limbs of Yoga. For example, I believe Ghandi’s Karma Yoga emphasizes the practice of certain Yamas – particularly Ahimsa, Satya, and Aparigraha. My particular approach with Daily Yogi focusing on practicing all 8 Limbs of Yoga is quite similar to the Raja (also called Ashtanga) Branch of Yoga. However Raja Yoga places much more emphasis and focus on the Upper Limbs and Meditation, and we are taking a more practical approach with more focus on the Lower Limbs for our daily practices. Remember, I discuss that my personal practice usually includes daily Asanas and Meditation, so please consider adding daily personal practice focuses or intentions each month with me if you would like a more traditional Raja Yoga approach!

Hatha Yoga

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.

Recommended Hatha Yoga Videos

Beginner Morning Hatha Series

AM Connection Hatha Series

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.

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Utkatasana - chair powerful pose - yoga pose yoga girl wearing pink and green sparkle set doing yoga inside in cool pink and green yoga studio
Utkatasana – Chair or Powerful Pose

Like this Yoga set? Click here for product links and discount codes!

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Please comment to share your experience with this Hatha series! Which version did you try? What did you think? Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Niyamas (Personal Observances)

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.

cool perspective two friends walking across a lit up bridge during holidays at night - self-care self-love self-improvement personal development niyamas personal observances Quote: The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development. - Robin Sharma
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

Next INTRO CHALLENGE May 2023

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Please comment and share how you decided to practice one of the Niyamas today. Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Aparigraha (Non-attachment)

Happy December 27, 2022 – Aparigraha (Non-attachment)

Good Morning Yogis! We just completed our special Holiday week of Brahmacharya. Today we will practice the last of the YamasAparigraha / non-attachment.

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our twentieth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! We finished counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), and a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I enjoyed the focus on moderation! We are rounding out the last of the 5 Yamas today with Aparigraha. We will quickly wrap up the remaining 7 Limbs of Yoga before we restart the 8 Limbs of Yoga for our January Challenge.

cool shot of cloudy gray sky over snowy landscape under red rocks - aparigraha nonattachment detachment Quote: 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
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!

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Please comment and share how you decided to practice Aparigraha today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 7 – Boxing Day

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!

cool shot of purple and gray sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - brahmacharya moderation middle path unplug digital detox Quote: We were promised a simpler life, and technology has only complicated our lives. - Freeman Thomas
We were promised a simpler life, and technology has only complicated our lives. – Freeman Thomas

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our nineteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation! We will quickly wrap up the remaining 7 Limbs of Yoga before we restart the 8 Limbs of Yoga for our January Challenge.

Holiday Season – Boxing Day Yoga

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!

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December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 6 – Christmas

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!

cool perspective bare aspen trees and dark green pine trees in snowy alpine landscape under cloudy gray sky - brahmacharya moderation middle path balance rest Quote: 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
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

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our eighteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – Christmas Yoga

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!

Next INTRO CHALLENGE May 2023

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Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 5 – Christmas Eve

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!

shiny blue Christmas decoration in nature among dark green pine trees covered with snow in snowy alpine landscape - brahmacharya moderation middle path silence quiet Quote: 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
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

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our seventeenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – Christmas Eve Yoga

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!

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Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 4

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!

cool shot of purple and blue sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - brahmacharya moderation middle path Quote: 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
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

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our sixteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – 12/23

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.

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December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 3 – Capricorn Season: Mermaid Pose

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!

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana - mermaid pose - yoga pose girl wearing black yoga pants and tank top artsy background sparkly pale pink and yellow lights
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana – Mermaid Pose

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our fifteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – Capricorn Season Yoga

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.

If you want to practice a beginner pose where Brahmacharya is necessary to gently work progress and avoid injury – try gentle standing backbends!

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana - mermaid pose - yoga pose girl wearing black yoga pants and tank top artsy background underwater in ocean with fish and light streaking through the water
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana – Mermaid Pose

Check out our Top 5 Yoga Mats and Equipment for Newbies!

You will likely need both a block and a strap for support as you work your way into this pose!

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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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!

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December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 2 – Winter Solstice

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!

cool shot of alpine mountain valley with snowy pine trees under light blue sky full of snow clouds - brahmacharya moderation middle path Quote: What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. - John Steinbeck
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. – John Steinbeck

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our fourteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – Winter Solstice Yoga

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.

  • If you are wrapping gifts consider using greener options like gift bags, recycled paper, or other options.
  • 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!

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December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 1 – Yule

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!

cool shot of alpine mountain valley with snowy pine trees under cloudy blue sky - brahmacharya moderation middle path Quote: Moderation in exercise, eating and amusement is the best guarantee of a beneficial vacation. - Ollie Reeves
Moderation in exercise, eating and amusement is the best guarantee of a beneficial vacation. – Ollie Reeves

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our thirteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – Yule

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 (using the ancient method of measuring days beginning from sunset, rather than midnight) is also the first day of Yule. Yule is an ancient Germanic and Norse winter holiday festival ranging from twelve days to a month of celebrations. Many ancient Yule traditions have carried into modern Christmas traditions. These traditions include feasting, gift-giving, Christmas trees, holly, mistletoe, and of course Yule-tide and Yule logs as referenced in many Christmas carols.

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!

Next INTRO CHALLENGE May 2023

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Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Asteya (Non-Stealing): Day 3

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!

cool shot of people standing inside big ben clock - asteya non-stealing giving balance time Quote: 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 original work - https://unsplash.com/photos/IXpuRZvhCT0
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!

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Asteya / Non-Stealing in our relationship with and management of time. If you are like me and struggle with this 5-minute late issue, please check out this great detailed list of causes and solutions for tardiness.

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Please comment and share how your Asteya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

December 2022 Holidays – Asteya (Non-Stealing): Day 2 – Hanukkah

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!

alpine valley with darkened green pine trees in snowy epic mountain valley under cloudy blue purple sky with moon and evening star shining through the clouds - asteya non-stealing giving generosity Quote: 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
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

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our eleventh 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 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 – Hanukkah

blue white and gold hanukkah wreath with blue and gold star splatter decorated with menorahs, star of David, dreidel, gift, candle, festive chanukkah circle on dark navy background Quote: festival of lights love and light happy hanukkah
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.

  • Consider participating in a traditional holiday toy drive like Angel Tree and Toys for Toys drives.
  • Donate food or (they prefer) cash to your local food bank.
  • Donate to any charitable cause that is meaningful to you – education, children, seniors, environmental, spiritual, health, or other charitable organizations… whatever resonates to you, give your support to something you care about!
  • Consider making a donation in loved ones’ names in their honor this year if they insist they do not want a gift.
  • Help a friend or family member – reach out and ask what you can do to make things better for them during these stressful times!
  • Whatever feels like the right way for you to actively practice kindness and generosity with others, or to make someone else smile today.

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Please comment and share how your Asteya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!