Asanas (Poses) – Meditation March 2023: Top 5 Meditation Poses

Happy Meditation March 11, 2023 – Top 5 Meditation Asanas (Poses)

Good morning Yogis! We just wrapped up practice of each of the Yamas and Niyamas, and we are now on to Asanas, the 3rd Limb of Yoga. Today we will cover my Top 5 Positions or Asanas for Meditation.

Please try all of these meditation poses, at least briefly and see which feels best for you! Please note there is no right or wrong here.. I am sharing MY Top 5, but many others may disagree with me. For example, I find Virasana / Hero Pose comfortable for an extended time only with a block under my seat, and occasionally find Lotus Pose enjoyable, which is too intense for many Yogis.

Bonus Daily Meditation Challenge

We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. Try our breath-focused meditation, or perhaps a meditative drive or hike! If you prefer guided meditations, for Asana Day today try a Restorative Asana class with Guided Meditation.

forest green yogi female meditate siddhasana adept's pose tree overlay
Siddhasana – Adept’s Pose

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a meditation in the position / Asana of your choice. My favorite is #1!

Top 5 Meditation Positions (Asanas)

1. Siddhasana (Adept’s Pose) – Cross-legged Seated Meditation

Siddhasana - adepts adept's pose - yoga pose forest yogi girl wearing black, outdoors yoga in the woods
Siddhasana – Adept’s Pose

I enjoy Siddhasana (sid-DAH-sa-na) or Adepts Pose for Meditation. This is basically my comfortable seated position, and that is just how I always envisioned meditating! This Asana is basically a slightly more difficult version of Sukhasana / Easy Pose.

Start in a comfortable cross legged position. Then spread your knees a bit further, and bring your feet in towards your groin – keep your leg on the mat and tuck your ankles/shins over each other. Look down and make sure there is no empty space between your legs and feet. Keep your torso straight and tall over your hips. Take note of your rib cage. If you notice the bottom of rib cage is sticking out, pull back in and down to correct your posture. Next notice your shoulders. Try to gently roll your shoulders back and down, away from your ears. Notice how this helps your chest open. You can put your hands on the ground and gently press to lengthen your back, or rest your hands on your knees. You can pull a bit on your knees to help open your chest and help keep your back straight. You should keep your head, neck, and shoulders aligned over your hips in any seated pose. Your hands can either gently rest on knees and/or in your favorite mudra/placement for meditation. PS if any poses are uncomfortable, try with a couch pillow or block under your seat! Try not to move your body while meditating, I find it helps to switch my legs each day of practice for any cross legged positions to even out my posture!

Make sure you keep your back straight, not rounded in any seated position! If you notice your back rounding in this pose, move your legs back out to Sukhasana / easy pose, making a small triangle of empty space between your legs. I prefer Siddhasana over Sukhasana, because bringing in my feet helps me maintain a straighter back. I also prefer Siddhasana over Padmasana / Lotus Pose for meditation, since Lotus can get a bit strenuous on my ankles for an extended time.

2. Seated In A Chair – Seated Meditation

Chair Yoga is very common, and chairs are often the most comfortable seat we can find! It is important to be comfortable and maintain your posture if you will be sitting for an extended period of time, and a chair can help with both. Driving is also my favorite meditative activity, so sitting in a chair (driver’s seat also counts to me) makes this #2 for my Top 5!

3. Shavasana (Corpse Pose) – Reclined / Supine Meditation

shavasana savasana - corpse pose - yoga pose girl red hair wearing black on gray yoga mat
Shavasana – Corpse Pose

Shavasana or Corpse Pose is often considered the most important Asana, especially after Asana Class. I occasionally enjoy deep meditations if I need help to fall asleep, and it is absolutely required to be in bed in Shavasana for those guided meditations! One of my favorite things about meditation in Shavasana is that I can breathe more deeply into my belly than I am able to in a seated position.

Lay on your back, and allow your legs and feet to gently splay open. Rest your arms a few inches away from your body, with palms facing up. Close your eyes, and allow your entire body to relax and sink into the mat. You can use a couch pillow under your head and/or knees, or any modifications to make this pose more comfortable for an extended time. I occasionally take Shavasana with knees bent and feet on the floor, and/or with elbows bent and hands under my head or cactus-arms to the side.

To come out, gently roll onto your right side, then press your hand into the mat to come back up slowly into a seated position.

4. Tadasana (Mountain Pose) – Standing / Walking Meditation

Tadasana - mountain pose - yoga pose yoga girl wearing black doing yoga outside in the rocky mountains
Tadasana – Mountain Pose

Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is often thought of as neutral standing, but this a power pose for many Yogis. Yoga Retreats frequently offer meditation walks or mindfulness hikes. This is something I try with our Santosha practices of enjoying the present moment! A meditative walk or hike is a great way to begin meditating, especially if mindfulness practices are new to you, or you have difficulty calming the mind while sitting quietly.

5. Virasana (Hero’s Pose) – Kneeling Meditation

Virasana - hero hero's pose - yoga pose forest yogi girl wearing black, outdoors yoga in the woods
Virasana – Hero’s Pose

Virasana / Hero’s Pose is actually the most comfortable seat for many Yogis. However, this is my Top 5, and I find kneeling positions strenuous on my feet and knees for extended periods of time. I can only hold kneeling positions comfortably with a block under my seat! I do enjoy meditation in a kneeling position, resting my hands on my knees.

This is a kneeling Asana, and usually much more comfortable for Yogis with tight hips than the cross legged posses above. Start kneeling with knees and toes together. Then, bring the toes apart, and sit yourself down between your legs. Make sure to keep your back straight, with hips, shoulders, and head in line. This pose can be rough on my knees, and sometimes bothers my heels and tops of my feet if I’ve been wearing high heels. I find this pose much more comfortable with a block under my seat as pictured below.

Virasana - hero hero's pose with block - yoga pose forest yogi girl wearing black, outdoors yoga in the woods
Virasana with block

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TOP 5 YOGA Equipment and Yoga MATS!

I would recommend a block, couch pillows, or perhaps a folded-up blanket for support under the seat. Pick your favorite chair for a seated meditation, or comfortable shoes for a meditative hike or walk!

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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.

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More Positive Practices

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Share your Practice

There you have it, my Top 5 Meditation Positions! Please comment to share if your Top 5 would be different.. I know many Yogis enjoy seated positions other than Adept’s Pose, or prefer Shavasana to any other position. Always remember, be kind!

February Expect Success & March Nutrition Month 2023 – Intentions and Yoga Philosophy

Happy February 28, 2023 – Intentions and Yoga Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! Today is the last day of February. We are beginning a meditation-focused March. You do not have to participate in this or any of our particular monthly challenge themes, we will be continuing our daily Positive Practices drawn from Yoga Philosophy throughout next month. Consider getting the Daily Yogi App for reminders if you are participating – this is a great Tapas tool!

February Expect Success & March Nutrition Month 2023

February is International Expect Success Month and March is National Nutrition Month. Before we get into our Eight Limbed meditation practices, I wanted to take a day to pause and reflect on our intentions and the year so far, and these two monthly focuses.

cool shot looking at orange pink and blue sunset over darkened mountain range - meditation, upper limbs of yoga positivity Quote: The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. - Florence Scovel Shinn
The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. – Florence Scovel Shinn

March’s National Nutrition Month is focused on what we put into our bodies physically. I believe February’s International Expect Success Month is about what we are putting into our bodies mentally. From National Today – ‘Researchers have discovered that sadness and pessimism are linked. In reality, depressed individuals are often pessimistic in the beginning. A fundamental aspect of battling depression is to transform the outlook on the world from pessimism to optimism.
In other words, if you can learn to ‘expect success’ every morning, you can gradually improve your productivity at work, form meaningful relationships with others, and improve the overall quality of your life.’

As we begin our bonus daily meditation challenge, I want to discuss an important common concept from Yoga Philosophy – Setting Intentions! If you have attended Yoga classes at a Yoga Studio, you likely have heard your teacher recommend setting an intention for your practice that day. We have talked about keeping Santosha (Contentment) in Asana practice to avoid injury. I often set Pranayama (Breath) as my intention for Asana practice with a mantra of “breathe” or “just breathe”, since in more dynamic classes I forget to maintain my preferred Ocean Breath as the Asana series picks up speed. Here is a great article with more on intentions and mantras on and off the Yoga mat.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set a positive intention for yourself for March, keeping these mental and emotional wellness themes in mind. This can be big or small:

Part of the reason we set intentions in Asana practice is to have something positive to come back to that we want to focus on. Additionally, we will have this to return to when we meet challenges. I set “just breathe” as my intention for nearly a decade now, and I do truly breathe into difficulties on the mat, and I have improved my breath during Asana practice by keeping this in the back of my mind. There is much to be said for the power of positive thinking.

Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking and believe this helps with emotional wellness, I will discuss my own views on this a bit later this month. Here is more info if you do not want to wait!

More on the Power of Positive Thinking

The Law of Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking Intro

11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

The Old School of Positive Thinking – Earl Nightengale

The Old School of Positive Thinking – Florence Scovel Schinn

Tomorrow we start the first day of our Daily Meditation Challenge for March! Some of my favorite guided meditations are Manifest Meditations, which harness the powers of positive thinking, visualization, and the law of attraction. Today my meditation practice is one of my favorite 10 Minute Manifest Meditations.

Want more on Meditation? Check out our Upper Limbs & Meditation Guide!

More Positive Practices

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Share your Practice

Please comment and share how if setting positive intentions is part of your Yoga or Asana practice. Are you taking other steps to improve your mental and emotional wellness this month? Are you going to join us in our daily meditation challenge for the month? Always remember, be kind!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Ashtanga Vinyasa Series

Happy February 11, 2023 – Asana Styles: Ashtanga Vinyasa Series

purple yogi girl halasana child pose yoga
Halasana – Plow Pose

Good morning Yogis! This is the last day of your series on the different styles of Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

We have talked quite a bit about Ashtanga, or the 8 Limbs of Yoga. This is a direct reference to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. There is also a style of Yoga or Asana called Ashtanga, or Ashtanga Vinyasa you have likely seen at some Yoga studios. I am just a student of Ashtanga Yoga, not a teacher.. which will require a trip to the one Ashtanga Yoga school in India (one day!). Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a series of specific, challenging, and dynamic sets of Asana sequences and other Yoga practices. There are 6 Ashtanga Vinyasa Series: beginner, intermediate, and four advanced.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a beginner Ashtanga Vinyasa Asana series. Even though this is called a beginner series, you will see it is quite challenging!

This video is about as gentle and easy as possible for the beginner series.

This video is a more challenging and traditional version of the Ashtanga beginner series.

Check out a sped-up version of each of these videos above, to get a quick idea of what this style is like! You will notice a rigorous flow practice combined with advanced Asanas.

halasana - plow plough pose -  yoga pose yoga girl wearing blue fish-scale dragon-scale set doing yoga inside in cool indigo blue studio
Halasana – Plow Pose

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

Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

Check out our Top 5 Yoga Equipment and Yoga Mats!

Do not push yourself to pain on your Yoga Journey! Many Yogis of all levels embrace all kinds of blocks and props. Do not hesitate to grab a couch pillow for extra support, a block for extra support or when you cannot reach the floor, or a strap for extra arm-reach and leverage.

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Bikram / Hot Yoga Series

Happy February 10, 2023 – Asana Styles: Bikram / Hot Yoga Series

purple yogi girl dhanurasana bow pose yoga
Dhanurasana – Bow Pose

Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our exploration of various styles of Asanas or poses.

Hot Yoga

Hot Yoga is probably my favorite style! I know this can be very divisive.. a few of my friends who are Yogis think I’m nuts for loving Hot Yoga so much. I kind of get it.. Hot Yoga is super intense, and many go to Yoga Classes to chill out, not sweat in a room over 100°F! I usually drink an entire large water bottle both before and during the class. However, I find the added flexibility I get from basically doing Yoga in a sauna to be well worth the extra sweat!

Bikram Yoga

Bikram is basically a brand name of Hot Yoga. Bikram Studios are always 105°F (41°C) and 40% humidity. Bikram Yoga is a set 26 pose sequence, and only Bikram Studios can perform this particular series. Many other Hot Yoga studios do similar but not identical sequences, and they may also have cooler “hot” rooms to accommodate Hot Vinyasa or other blended style offerings. Whether true Bikram or another Asana style in a cooler hot room, all Hot Yoga makes you SWEATY! Bonus Saucha (Purity) practice – make sure to take a quick shower very soon after all Hot Yoga! When they open, most Hot Studios have showers in case you live far from the studio.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a Hot or Bikram series. If you are able to, perhaps try to practice these in a warm room or perhaps outside if today is a warm nice day. See if you can find the increased flexibility from Asana practice in a hot area, despite all Hot Yoga and Bikram studios likely being closed for COVID! I am trying in my living room, which is about 85°F on warm sunny summer afternoons if we do not open doors or windows! Make sure you have plenty of water, and if trying the Hot Vinyasa series make sure the temperature is well below the 105°F standard Bikram room!

Beginner Bikram Series (this 26 pose sequence is traditionally performed twice)

Hot Vinyasa Series

Check out a sped-up version of the beginner series above, to get a quick idea of what this style is like! In a Bikram or a more traditional Hot Yoga class, you will notice a fixed series of 26 intermediate Asanas (traditionally performed twice) with beginning and ending special Pranayama practices.

PS If Hot Yoga is not your thing, perhaps go back to one of your favorite styles this week and try the second video! Also, Hot Yoga can be particularly dangerous or difficult for those with injuries or health conditions, so please evaluate safety with a medical professional before trying Hot Yoga.

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Dhanurasana – Bow Pose

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Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

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Share your Practice

Please comment to share your experience with these Hot and Bikram series! Which version did you try? What did you think? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Vinyasa Yoga Series

Happy February 9, 2023 – Asana Styles: Vinyasa Series

Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog Pose

Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our exploration of various styles of Asana or poses.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa is arguably the most common class at Yoga Studios in the West. This is a fast-paced Asana practice combining breath with fast transitions between Asanas or poses to “flow” almost like a dance. Although these classes are popular, they are not for beginners. You should know many poses very well and sometimes how to transition between these poses

We are on our second day covering the two different Vinyasa types. Vinyasa and Power Yoga are similar, but not exactly the same. Vinyasa refers to the connections between breath and movement and a traditional Vinyasa class will move like a dance. Power flow also has this breath/movement connection or “flow” but is primarily cardio and strength-focused.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a traditional Vinyasa Yoga series. This is a very challenging Asana practice moving quickly between each Asana.. you may want to try the beginner version if you have never tried a Vinyasa class before or are still learning the poses!

Beginner Vinyasa Series (try if you are still learning to “flow” breath with movement)

Intermediate Vinyasa Series

Check out a sped-up version of each of these videos above, to get a quick idea of what this style is like! You will notice linking breath to motion to “flow” through poses like a dance, with each Asana often held for only one breath.

Check out our Top 5 Yoga Equipment and Yoga Mats!

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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.

Adho Mukha Svanasana - downward facing dog down dog pose - yoga pose yoga girl wearing multicolor star print set doing yoga inside in cool pink and purple yoga studio
Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog

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Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

Share your Practice

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

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Vinyasa – Power Yoga Series

Happy February 8, 2023- Asana Styles: Vinyasa – Power Yoga Series

Adho Mukha Svanasana – Downward Facing Dog Pose

Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our exploration of various styles of Asanas or poses.

Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa is arguably the most common class at Yoga Studios in the West. This is a fast-paced Asana practice combining breath with fast transitions between Asanas or poses to “flow” almost like a dance. Although these classes are popular, they are not for beginners. You should know many poses very well and sometimes how to transition between these poses

Power Vinyasa Yoga

We will take two days to cover two different Vinyasa types. Vinyasa and Power Yoga are similar, but not exactly the same. Vinyasa refers to the connections between breath and movement and a traditional Vinyasa class will move like a dance. Power flow also has this breath/movement connection or “flow” but is primarily cardio and strength-focused. Since today is Wednesday, we will cover Power Yoga first for Workout Wednesday!

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a Power Vinyasa Yoga series. This is a very challenging Asana practice.. you may want to try the beginner version if you have never tried a Vinyasa class before!

Beginner Vinyasa Series (try if you are still learning to “flow” breath with movement)

Power Flow Series

Check out a sped-up version of each of these videos above, to get a quick idea of what this style is like! You will notice linking breath to motion to “flow” through poses like a dance, with each Asana held for only one breath. Power Yoga is more cardio and strength focused than a traditional Vinyasa class, which we will cover tomorrow!

Check out our Top 5 Yoga Equipment and Yoga Mats!

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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.

Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana - downward facing dog	variation three-legged down dog pose  - yoga pose yoga girl wearing multicolor star print set doing yoga inside in cool pink and purple yoga studio
Tri Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana – Three-legged Down Dog

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Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

Share your Practice

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

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Yin and Restorative Series

Happy February 7, 2023 – Asana Styles: Yin and Restorative Series

purple yogi girl balasana child pose yoga
Balasana – Child’s Pose

Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our introduction to the variety of styles of Asana or poses. Although passive Yin and Restorative Yoga is probably a bit easier than our Iyengar style from yesterday, knowing proper alignment is extremely important since they are held for an extended period of time.

Yin Yoga

The concept of Yin is probably familiar to those in the west from “Yin and Yang” (PS Yang actually rhymes with pong, not pang!). Yin and Yang is a concept of complementary opposing forces. Yin represents dark, shade/shadow, feminine, and passive sides. Yang represents light, sun/light, male, and active sides. Yang Yoga Styles include Hot / Bikram Yoga, and Vinyasa is also a very active style. So, we would expect a Yin class to be passive, and the opposite of an active Vinyasa style class. Yin classes are often slow paced, with passive Asanas (poses) held for a longer period of time

Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga is a type of Yin Yoga. This style usually utilizes props to support the body in Asanas (poses) held for very long periods of time, typically 5-10 minutes. Restorative Yoga is typically extremely gentle and safest for Yogis with injuries.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a Yin or Restorative series. As I mentioned, Restorative Yoga typically requires a lot of support! I prefer lots of blankets, bolsters, and/or pillow for most restorative poses. Usually, I only use blocks during restorative practice for support under limbs… I prefer couch pillow for my head! So. if you do not have a bolster, you can try a large firm pillow.

Recommended Videos

Beginner Yin Yoga

Restorative Yoga (bolster or large firm pillow required)

Check out a sped-up version the Yin video above, to get a quick idea of what this style is like! You will notice passive poses held for an extended period of time, often with support from blocks, bolsters, or pillows.

Balasana - wide child's pose - yoga pose yoga girl wearing pink and black lace set doing yoga inside in cool pink and purple yoga studio
Balasana – Wide Child’s Pose

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

Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

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

You may want to try a block, couch pillow, blanket, or bolster to help yourself find a comfortable seat.

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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 to share your experience with these Yin and Restorative series! Which version did you try? What did you think? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Iyengar Series

Happy February 6, 2023 – Asana Styles: Iyengar Series

purple yogi girl trikonasana triangle pose yoga
Trikonasana – Triangle Pose

Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our exploration of various styles of Asana or poses. Today we are moving on to a slightly more difficult style.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar is somewhat between Hatha and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. The creators of Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa trained under the same Yoga Master, so it is no surprise there are some similarities! Iyengar, like Ashtanga, is typically a regimented series progression of Asanas (poses), with Sun Salutations in the series. However, Ashtanga is a flow style, while Iyengar instructors usually focus on proper alignment, and often hold the poses for a longer time. Iyengar also often uses props to aid with proper alignment. Because of this approach to Asanas, Iyengar classes are typically a good fit for beginners or Yogis with injuries. I really enjoy learning proper alignment with Iyengar, and trying to bring these “corrective focuses” into flow classes.

Have you used props before? If not, I strongly recommend trying today with an Iyengar series! I typically use blocks and a strap to help get proper alignment in some poses impacted by my tight hamstrings. We will talk more about different props another time, but these two are probably the most helpful to Yogis at all levels!

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is an Iyengar series. We have recommendations for Iyengar series both with and without props. I have demonstrated this series without props, but I am fairly flexible.. props are strongly recommended for this style to properly perform each Asana!

Beginner Iyengar Series with Props

Iyengar Series with and without Props

Check out a sped up version of the second video above, to get a quick idea of what this style is like! You will notice beginner poses held for a longer period of time, with an emphasis on alignment using props or modifications if needed.

Trikonasana - triangle pose - yoga pose yoga girl wearing pink and black lace set doing yoga inside in cool pink and purple yoga studio
Trikonasana – Triangle Pose

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

Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

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

You may want to start with a block if you are a beginner and do not have any props.. they are helpful for proper alignment and support when holding poses for a longer period of time.

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


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 to share your experience with these Iyengar series! Which version did you try? What did you think? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Kids and Family Yoga

Happy February 5, 2023 – Asana Styles: Kids and Family Yoga

purple yogi girl vrksasana tree pose yoga
Vrksasana – Tree Pose

Good morning Yogis! We are continuing covering the various Asana styles. I have covered these in the past, and for the next week will revisit or introduce some of the various Styles of Yoga. Hopefully you will find one or a few favorite Asana styles to integrate into your daily practice, and be more informed to select between class offerings at a Yoga studio. Today we will cover Kids and Family Yoga and try a Family Yoga Series.

Kids and Family Yoga

Many Kids’ Yoga classes use traditional Yoga Asanas (poses) with fun animal names and animal sounds. Most family and kids classes are more exciting versions of Hatha Yoga Style from yesterday. This is a great trick for busy parents – get some Yoga in your day, even if it is hard to find alone time in your day! Unfortunately, the animal noises and trippy cartoons in Family or Kids’ Yoga may not be as relaxing and meditative as you are used to, and most classes for kids cannot flow, but I personally find the physical benefits of Asanas practice equally if not more beneficial than the mental benefits. You will also get a laugh.. it is hard not to smile at silly stories, animal noises, and the other fun things in kids yoga. The nontraditional approach may be a bit more challenging for experienced Yogis than an intro Hatha class.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a family Yoga series and connect with your inner child!

Recommended Videos

Cosmic Kids Yoga – check out the Disney-themed Yoga Adventures!

Yoga with Infants

Yoga with Toddlers

Check out a sped-up version of a Cosmic Kids video above (I tried Minecraft Adventure), to get a quick idea of what this style is like! You will notice beginner poses held for a longer period of time, silly names for poses, and fun motions for kids… I could not stop giggling during the Zombie section, but my dogs got a bit upset!

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Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

Vrksasana - tree pose beginner variation - yoga pose yoga girl wearing pink and green sparkle set doing yoga inside in cool pink and green yoga studio
Vrksasana – Tree Pose

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

Share your Practice

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

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

February 2023 – Asana (Pose) Styles: Hatha Series

Happy February 4, 2023 – Asana Styles: Hatha Series

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

Good morning Yogis! We have talked quite a bit about working various techniques into your Asana practice and discussed Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations). However, I realize many of you may be new to Yoga, and there are many kinds of Asana styles. I have covered these in the past, so for the next week we will take a brief detour and revisit or introduce some of the variance Styles of Yoga. Hopefully you will find one or a few favorite Asana styles to integrate into your daily practice, and be more informed to select between class offerings at a Yoga studio. Today we will cover Hatha Yoga and try a Hatha Yoga Series.

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!

Want to check out more types of Yoga? Check out our Asana Styles Guide!

Share your Practice

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

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

January 2023 30 Day Challenge: Day 12 – Pranayama (Breathing): Flowing Breath with Asanas

Happy January 13, 2023 – Pranayama (Breathing): Diaphragmatic Breath

Happy Friday Yogis! Before we get into our detailed review of the Sun Salutations Asana Series discussed yesterday, we will take two days to cover the remaining 8 Limbs of Yoga. We are going to review Diaphragmatic Breathing today, along with our challengers, with an introduction to basic flowing for Asana and Pranayama.

30 Day Challengers

Doing our 30 Day Challenge? Click here for today’s post!

looking up through purple flowers and green leaves at sky with cool perspective - pranayama breath breathing Quote: Our breathing is designed to help us release any tensions that have become so much a part of us that we no longer sense their presence. - Carla Melucci Ardito
Our breathing is designed to help us release any tensions that have become so much a part of us that we no longer sense their presence. – Carla Melucci Ardito

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is Diaphragmatic Breath, a Pranayama Practice with “flowing” between our first two Sun Salutations Series Asanas. This is an intro to linking breath and movement, if you are familiar with this already perhaps try a more advanced Asana class today and focus on your breath. Today we are going to start standing in Tadasana to prep for our Sun Salutations Asana Series rather than in a comfortable seat as we have done in the past. This is also a great calming technique for anxiety.

Diaphragmatic Breath

  • Start standing in Tadasana. Begin 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
  • Now, on an inhale, raise your arms above your head to come into Talasana (Palm Tree Pose) or a gentle Anuvittasana (Standing Backbend) as you breathe into your belly
  • Exhale and lower your hands back to your sides to come back into Tadasana
  • 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. Raise your arms as your breathe in, and lower them as you breathe out, to start getting a basic flow coordinating your movement and breath. Focus on keeping your chest hand fairly still, and using your diaphragm to breathe into your belly.

Want more on Pranayama? Check out our Pranayama Guide!

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Share your Practice

Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Pranayama exercise! Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

January 2023 30 Day Challenge: Intro Weekend – Resolutions and Intentions: New Year 2023

Happy January 1, 2023 – 30 Day Yoga Challenge Intro Weekend – Resolutions and Intentions

Good Morning Yogis! Welcome to January and 2023! Also, welcome to our 30 Day Intro Challenge! We are starting another 30 Day Intro Challenge for January. This year January’s start lines up perfectly with our Saturday intro weekend for Resolutions / Intention Setting, so we will be a couple of days off between the day of month vs our challenge posts which start with Day 0 Intro Weekends. We will set our New Year’s Resolutions today, and tomorrow we will start our 8 Limbs Practices. New Yogis – please focus on learning about the 8 Limbs for now!

New Yogi 30 Day Challenge Posts

New & Intro Challenge Yogis – Please navigate to our intro weekend posts below!

00 Birthday/New Year Resolution
Ashtanga – The 8 Limbs of Yoga (must read!)

cool perspective looking at bright moon in cloudy sky through dark room - new year resolutions setting intentions self improvement Quote: What the new years brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year. - Vern McLellan
What the new years brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year. – Vern McLellan

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set our New Year’s Resolutions for 2023. Our daily practices will stay synced up with our 30 Day Challenge Group throughout January.

If this is not your first month of Daily Yogi, consider setting an intention for yourself for this month, or keeping another daily Yoga practice (ie Asanas, Pranayama, or Meditation) that is meaningful to you!

Daily Yogi’s Resolutions for 2023

I am really trying to keep my Hydration habit for the year, which was most successful in 2022 than ever before. I am working at sticking to my morning and evening self-care routines, and have a new wonderful app/tool called Fabulous. I have practiced Ekadashi fasting for the past year, and plan to maintain this practice – although I am not Hindu, I wanted to incorporate regular fasting into my spiritual practice and decided the lunar schedule of Ekadashi was the best practice for me. I also am doing a pretty intense detox for January 2023, and will be vegan and caffeine free for the first month of the year.

I also like to prioritize certain practices from the 8 Limbs of Yoga more often than our typical 13-30 day rotation. For 2023, I am prioritizing Svadhyaya (self-study) with maintaining my daily journal habit. I also want to maintain my focus on Aparigraha and gratitude to maintain positivity, and Santosha (contentment) with mindfulness and living in the present moment. These are the same three Yamas and Niyamas I focused on in 2022, and I enjoyed these practices. This year I am also making sure to include Sun Salutations in my daily morning routine.

In 2021 I prioritized Svadhyaya (self-study) with increasing the frequency of my journaling habit, Satya (truthfulness) particularly with myself and things that no longer serve me, and Santosha (contentment) with mindfulness. In 2020 I prioritized Ahimsa (non-harming) and Meditation. Or, perhaps consider the Karma Yoga path of Ghandi with prioritizing Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya (truthfulness). Or, review the 8 Limbs of Yoga and select a few that you would like to practice more frequently than every 10-20 days with our Daily Yogi practices.

This is a great time to journal, so you can review your intentions throughout the year!

Next INTRO CHALLENGE May 2023

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Share your Practice

Please comment if you would like to share your intentions or your own personal bonus daily yoga practice for this month. Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

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.

Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox
Register for our email list!

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
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!

Share your Practice

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

November 2022 Challenge: Asanas (Poses) – Talasana & Vrksasana

Doing our 30 Day Challenge? Click here for today’s post!

Happy Monday Yogis! As our 30 Day Challenge group is working on a detailed breakdown of each of the poses in the Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutations Series, we will review these Asanas along with our challengers. Or, if you prefer, you can practice a twisted/sister version of each pose during this series!

Sun Salutations AsanaTalasana / Palm Tree Pose
Twisted/Sister AsanaVrksasana / Tree Pose

Talasana - palm-tree palm pose - yoga pose yoga girl wearing black doing yoga outside in the rocky mountains
Talasana – Palm Tree Pose
Vrksasana - tree pose - yoga pose forest yogi girl wearing green dress, outdoors barefoot yoga in the woods
Vrksasana – Tree Pose

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to go “back to basics” with either Talasana / Palm Tree Pose or Vrksasana / Tree Pose. Both of these are great balancing poses for new Yogis! I find practicing balancing Asanas brings a calming stillness after focusing on holding the pose.

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Please comment to share your experience! What did you think? Which was your favorite of these arboreal Asanas? Always remember, be kind!