Asana August 2023 – National Wellness Month

Happy Asana August 1, 2023 – National Wellness Month & Asana Challenge

Good Morning Yogis! Happy August! August is also National Wellness Month.

I find challenge-focused months super helpful for my own motivation, so today we are starting another bonus challenge for the month – Daily Asanas! 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!

Bonus Daily Asana Challenge

We are beginning a daily Asana practice challenge for August! For today’s start of Wellness Month, I recommend a relaxing Yin or Restorative class.

I usually practice with the Yoga Studio App rather than streaming services, so I can download my favorite classes and use in areas without WiFi or phone signal. Today I am doing Intermediate Relaxation (30 minutes).

close-up cool perspective of colorful luminescent bubble art from meow wolf denver - self-care health world health day Quote: Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. - World Health Organization
Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. – World Health Organization

As we begin our bonus daily Asana 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 or contentment in Asana practice to avoid injury. I often set Pranayama or 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. I also set Ocean as the background music in the Yoga Studio App for an extra reminder. 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 August, keeping August’s wellness theme 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.

More on the Power of Positive Thinking

The Law of Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking Intro

11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to
today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

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 Asana challenge for August? Always remember, be kind!

July 2023 Summer Fun & Flow: 4th of July & Clean Beach Week

Happy July 4, 2023 – Mindfulness & Flow: 4th of July & Clean Beach Week

Good Morning Yogis! For those of you in the United States, it is Independence Day – Happy 4th of July! We are in the middle of a special Santosha and Mindfulness Summer Fun Month to align with July’s Anti-Boredom Month. I have heard if we focus on the past we will be depressed, if we focus on the future we will be anxious, and the key to joy is living in the present moment. A couple of the Yamas and Niyamas reflect this secret of happiness hidden in the “now”.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is central to a number of eastern religions and philosophies, and is becoming a common theme in western therapy, psychology, and self-help. We have also focused on mindfulness in some of our past daily practices, especially on past Santosha Days and with some focused meditation practices. Mindfulness and losing oneself in the current moment is my idea of “finding flow” that we most commonly experience during “getting in the zone” during particular athletic, work, and artistic activities. Zen Buddhism takes this concept further with Zen Arts such as Tea Ceremony, Archery, Painting, and Flower Arrangement. So, we will focus this month on trying different practices and activities to at minimum beat boredom for Anti-Boredom Month, and hopefully help you experience a flow state.

cool shot of green bursting firework with yellow shooting sparks - 4th of July Fireworks original work -https://unsplash.com/photos/PKJnzFlvR2w
Fireworks

I learned that plastic is not truly recyclable, and often ends up on our beaches. We are often doing better by throwing plastic in the trash than the recycle bin! Recycle IS last in “Reduce Reuse Recycle” so see if there are other ways you can reduce or reuse your plastics, since they often are not actually recycled.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try today’s Anti-Boredom / mindfulness / flow Activity: get outside and enjoy some time by the water, and do some beach cleanup to honor Clean Beach Week or another form of outdoor clean-up. You can consider this a practice of selfless Saucha. Many of us will be heading to a beach, or another outdoor location for the holiday or to enjoy this summer weekend. Make sure to pack in and pack out all your trash and belongings, and pick up any trash you see along the way for Clean Beach Week! I also find the beach is a perfect place to relax and let everything else slip away, so perhaps you can find your Zen state today by the water!

Environmentalism and Mindfulness

I find the water is a great place to help my thoughts quiet. Try to calmly take notice when your thoughts drift back to the past or forward to the future. Try to bring yourself back to and fully immerse yourself in the present moment by focusing on the sight, sounds, smells, taste, or feel of your surroundings.

Make sure to practice mindfulness and try to enjoy each day’s practice with all five senses.

  • If you are one of the many people heading to the beach this weekend, make sure to pick up after yourself!
  • Maybe bring gloves and trash bags and do some extra clean-up in honor of Clean Beach Week since you’re already there.
  • If you are not near any beaches or have other plans, keep an eye out for litter while you are out and do a little clean up when the opportunity presents itself.
  • If you do not have holiday plans, perhaps find and participate in an organized clean-up.. these events are usually great for maintaining social distancing!
  • Perhaps plant a tree.
  • Or, keep your holiday plans and support beach and ocean cleanup efforts by purchasing a 4Ocean sea plastic bracelet.
  • Or, if none of these suggestions resonate with you, find another way to practice some environmentalism!

We started this month with a deep dive of the Zen Tea Ceremony, but today is a more simple activity. Tea and other beverage recommendations from our intro had enough varieties to suit nearly everyone, but some of our practices this month will not be a good fit for you.. that’s okay! If today’s practice is not for you, try to get outside near another body of water of your choice, or go back and try another personal Tea Ceremony today!

waves crashing on the beach with clear blue skies
Pacific Ocean, California

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.

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

Get easy access to our daily practices inspired by the Yoga Sutras right in your inbox

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

Share your Practice

Please comment and share your experience with today’s practice. Were you able to find flow or contentment in the now? Always remember, be kind!

Asana April 2023: Earth Day & Lyrids Meteor Shower

Happy Asana April 23, 2022 – Earth Day & Lyrids Meteor Shower

Good morning Yogis! Today is Earth Day and tonight is the peak of the Lyrids Meteor Shower! This meteor shower is average (20/hr) and produces bright streaking trails, so try to catch a shooting star if you have clear skies this week! So, before we begin another quick Asana series, let’s take a quick break to celebrate Earth Day and focus on enjoying the earth with Santosha practice, or help conservation and environmental efforts with Ahimsa or Asteya practice today.

Bonus Daily Asana Challenge

We are in the middle of a daily Asana practice challenge for April! Please see our Asana Styles page for links to youtube videos for various Yoga Styles. For Earth Day today, I recommend a dynamic Vinyasa series to focus on physical health, or a more meditative Yin and Restorative Series.

I usually practice with the Yoga Studio App rather than streaming services, so I can download my favorite classes and use in areas without Wifi or phone signal. Today I am trying a new Vinyasa class, one of the specialty focuses I have not yet tried.

close-up cool perspective of leafy purple multicolor art from meow wolf denver - earth day environmentalism conservation Quote: The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for. - Ernest Hemingway
The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for. – Ernest Hemingway

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is a practice of your choice focused on enjoying or conserving nature for today’s Earth Day.

  • Consider making a donation to the World Wildlife Fund to help protect endangered animals and their environments! I am an animal lover and environmentalist, this one is near and dear to me, but I apologize for repeating over and over 🙂
  • April is Stress Awareness Month, so perhaps consider a meditative walk or hike to enjoy your natural environment!
  • Plant a tree!
  • Perhaps go for a hike and bring gloves and trash bags and do some extra clean-up in honor of Earth Day.
  • Find and participate in an organized local clean-up.. these events are usually great for maintaining social distancing!
  • Support beach and ocean cleanup efforts by purchasing a 4Ocean sea plastic bracelet.
  • Or, if none of these suggestions resonate with you, find another way to practice some environmentalism!

Want more Santosha practices? Check out our Santosha Guide!

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

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

Share your Practice

Please comment to share your experience! Which practice did you choose for Earth Day today? Always remember, be kind!

April Fools Day 2023 – Stress Awareness Month, Humor Month & Laughter Yoga

Happy Asana April 1, 2023 – Humor Month & Laughter Yoga

Good Morning Yogis! Happy April and April Fools’ Day! April is Stress Awareness Month and also National Humor Month.

I find challenge-focused months super helpful for my own motivation, so today we are starting another bonus challenge for April – Daily Asanas! 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!

Laughter Yoga

Okay, this is NOT a joke for April Fools’ Day! There is a Yoga Style called Laughter Yoga. This is not an Asana class, but a special practice that incorporates laughing, breathing, clapping, and chanting. I recommend checking out this short video for a quick info and intro session.. her longer videos are even better! I love the quote “Negative thoughts can be neutralized by positive thoughts” from the Yoga Sutras, and Laughter Yoga is a great positivity technique! See more on positivity below.

Bonus Daily Asana Challenge

We are beginning a daily Asana practice challenge for April! For today’s start of Stress Awareness Month, I recommend a relaxing Yin or Restorative class.

I usually practice with the Yoga Studio App rather than streaming services, so I can download my favorite classes and use in areas without WiFi or phone signal. Today I am doing Intermediate Relaxation (30 minutes).

close-up cool shot of swirling van goh painting from immersive exhibition - april fools day laughter Quote: If Laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely DISSOLVE your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them. - Dr. Madan Kataria
If Laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely DISSOLVE your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them. – Dr. Madan Kataria

As we begin our bonus daily Asana 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 or contentment in Asana practice to avoid injury. I often set Pranayama or 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. I also set Ocean as the background music in the Yoga Studio App for an extra reminder. 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 April, keeping April’s stress reduction theme 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.

More on the Power of Positive Thinking

The Law of Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking Intro

11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to
today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

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 Asana challenge for April? Always remember, be kind!

February 2023 – Pranayama (Breathing): Ujjayi Pranayama (Ocean Breath)

Happy February 14, 2023 – Pranayama (Breathing): Ujjayi Pranayama (Ocean Breath)

Good morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a special Pranayama week! Today is also Valentines Day – Happy Valentines Yogis! Today we will be revisiting Ujjayi (oo-JAW-yee) Pranayama. This is literally translated from Sanskrit as Victorious Breath, but is commonly referred to as Ocean Breath due to the sound of this technique. This is another great cooling and calming breathing technique, and is ideal during Asana practice. You may have learned this in Yoga class before, especially if you have attended a Hot Yoga class.

cool shot looking out plane window at night over city looking through lit up sparse clouds - pranayama breath breathing Quote: Breath is the finest gift of nature. Be grateful for this wonderful gift. - Amit Ray
Breath is the finest gift of nature. Be grateful for this wonderful gift. – Amit Ray

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is trying Ujjayi Pranayama or Ocean Breathing.

Ujjayi Pranayama

Start with Diaphragmatic Breathing for 3 full inhales and exhales.

Open your mouth and inhale and exhale through your mouth. Contract your throat to slightly say “HA” on the exhales. Keep this light contraction in your throat so you slightly say “SA” on the inhales. You will start noticing the ocean sound from which this technique gets its name.

Now, close your mouth. Inhale and exhale through your nose, while keeping this contraction in your throat to keep the ocean sound continuing on both inhales and exhales. As you become comfortable with this breathing technique, try your Asana practice with this Ujjayi Pranayama.

Want more on Pranayama? Check out our Pranayama Guide!

light blue breath graphic on dark blue background

Want to See more like this?

Follow DailyYogi on Pinterest!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Share your Practice

Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Ujjayi Pranayama exercise! Have you ever tried this technique as a standalone or during your Asana practice? Always remember, be kind!

Tapas (Discipline) – February 2023

Happy February 1, 2023 – Tapas (Discipline)

Happy Wednesday Yogis! Today is Tapas (Discipline) Day!

Imbolc

I have mentioned my interest in mythology of all kinds, and my super Irish name (Tarryn) means I am particularly interested in Celtic mythology. Today is Imbolc, one of the four seasonal Celtic holidays, half way between the winter solstice and spring equinox. It was traditionally celebrated January 31-February 1 because Celtic days began and ended at sunset, rather than at midnight as they do today. There are many interesting ancient Imbolc traditions and rituals, the main one which has carried into modern times is Spring Cleaning! You can read more about the history here if you are interested. We typically focus on Spring Cleaning for Imbolc. Today is Tapas Day and the word Tapas is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning “to burn.” So, today we will focus on another of the traditional Imbolc rituals – spring cleaning and bonfires (fires for purification).

Daily Habit Check-in

We are continuing on with weaving practice of each of the Niyamas into our day. Today is our second Tapas or discipline Day of 2022! Our intro Tapas Day, we made a goal that was important to us. Each Tapas Day, we checked in on our progress. It has been nearly a month since our last Tapas Day, so if you are a new Yogi and have kept up on your daily habit, you have likely successfully formed a new habit! Congratulations, keep it up!! If you have not kept up, examine why you did not, and consider if you want to keep this goal or set a new one. Evaluate the reminders and/or rewards you set for yourself, and perhaps modify these systems to ensure your success! Yoga is a practice, and successfully changing our habits is about consistency, so we will keep checking in on our goals on Tapas Days.

PS I want to report back on my Duolingo Daily Habit.. I have kept up with this goal and I am currently close to 777, going for 800 🙂 I am extra motivated by my childhood friends who also have this as their daily habit, who just hit 555 days and 1000 days in a row! Feel free to add me on Duolingo @TarrynTyler.

garden water feature surrouded by purple and fuscia flowers among green trees under blue sky - tapas self-discipline daily habits Quote: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to get some exercise for Tapas Day and Work Out Wednesday. If you are having a hard time keeping up with the daily habits you have set for yourself, consider trying and sticking with a 30 Day Challenge! There are many free Apps for other 30 Day Challenge workouts. My favorite is a free app called 30 Day Butt, which allows the pop-up phone notifications I love so much.

I am also going to do a couple of our past Yoga Workouts today – Crab / Boat for Core and Glutes, and Upward Plank Holds for Glutes.

Want more Tapas practices? Check out our Tapas Guide!

Want more Yoga Workout Ideas?
Check our Yoga Workouts Board On Pinterest!

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.

blue and purple flames on black background

Flame Gazing Meditation

Share your Practice

Please comment and share how you are doing. Have you kept up with your daily habit? Are you changing your systems or perhaps setting a new meaningful goal? Are you joining us with our Asana Challenge? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

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 October 2023

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Share your Practice

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!

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!

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!

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

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

Share your Practice

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 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!

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!

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.

Want to See more like this?

Follow DailyYogi on Pinterest!

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 1 – Saturnalia

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 clear purple blue twilight sky -  asteya non-stealing giving balance Quote: People who care about each other enjoy doing things for one another. They don't consider it servitude. - Ann Landers
People who care about each other enjoy doing things for one another. They don’t consider it servitude. – Ann Landers

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our tenth 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 – Saturnalia

Today is the first day of our Asteya (non-stealing) practices. Today is also the start of Saturnalia, a week-long ancient Roman agricultural festival honoring Saturn or Cronus from Greek mythology. I minored in Classics and loved Greek and Roman language and mythology, so am excited to share this random Roman holiday! PS I also am particularly interested in Celtic mythology from my own heritage, and we will cover Yule in the North in a couple of days! Saturnalia was primarily a carnival-like atmosphere about feasting, gambling, and gift-giving. The most interesting part about Saturnalia is that slaves were served a banquet by their masters for this holiday! So, inspired by Saturnalia‘s role reversal, we will do one of my favorite Asteya practices of balance and non-stealing in our relationships.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Asteya / Non-Stealing in our relationships! I am sure no Yogis nowadays treat loved ones like slaves! However, we should consider who in our life gives and cares most for us, and make sure to both show appreciation and give back. Check out this past practice if you need more ideas.

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!

December 2022 Holidays – Satya (Truthfulness): Day 3 – Zamenhof / Esperanto Day

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 mount rushmore under bright blue sky - satya truth honesty truthfulness right speech correct speech Quote: When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say. - Abraham Lincoln original work - https://unsplash.com/photos/9_onxRgAmRA
When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say. – Abraham Lincoln

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our eighth 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 – Zamenhof Day

Today is the third day of our Satya (truthfulness) practices. Today is also Zamenhof Day, honoring the creator of Esperanto.  L. L. Zamenhof created Esperanto in 1887 as an easy-to-learn universal second language. Although Esperanto did not grow into the universal second language as it was intended, it has lived on and in fact grown a bit due to online language programs like Duolingo. Although linguistic Esperanto never really caught on, financial reporting Esperanto has been implemented fairly successfully through International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). As both an accountant and linguistics nerd who attempted to learn some Esperanto years ago, I was particularly excited to learn about Zamenhof Day and pleased it ties in with today’s Satya focus of correct speech.

Okay, back to Satya practice!

We are in the middle of three days of Satya practice to cover each Satya practice recommended by the 8-Fold Path – correct thoughts, speech, and actions. So today we will practice Satya (truthfulness) with our speech. Correct speech from the 8-Fold Path means avoiding lying, idle chatter, and divisive or abusive speech. As we discussed this week, Satya means KIND truth, and is more about restraint than speaking your truth.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Satya / Truthfulness with correct speech from the 8-Fold Path! Try to apply the “Three Gates Rule” for your speech for today’s Satya / truthfulness day.

The Three Gates Rule is one of my favorite sayings about truth, and one of the easiest ways for me to remember the correct practice of Satya and correct speech with restraint and kindness.

beach under pier water cool ocean perspective - satya truthfulness sufi saying Quote: Before you speak let your words pass through three gates. At the first gate ask yourself - is it true? At the second gate ask - is it necessary? At the third gate ask - is it kind? - Sufi Saying
Before you speak let your words pass through three gates. At the first gate ask yourself – is it true? At the second gate ask – is it necessary? At the third gate ask – is it kind? – Sufi Saying

PS For another 3 Gate Rule for Actions related to Brahmacharya / moderation delivered in a quirky, amusing, and wholesome TV show, check out Joe Pera’s approach to grocery shopping. Yes, yes, yes.

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

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

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

December 2022 Holidays – Satya (Truthfulness): Day 2 – Halcyon Days

Good Morning Yogis – Happy Monday! 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!

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our seventh 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.

close-up purple blue hyacinth flowers and green leaves - satya truth honesty truthfulness right thoughts correct thoughts Quote: Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Holiday Season – Halcyon Days

Today is the second day of our Satya (truthfulness) practices, and we just ended 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming) kindness practices. Today is also the start of Halcyon Days. Have you heard of this?! I had heard the name referenced by musicians, and it sounded vaguely familiar from my Classics classes especially Greek mythology, but never really knew. Well, I just learned so you will too 🙂

Halcyon Days nowadays refers to any calm period, but technically these are the 7 days before and after the winter solstice. This two week period is supposed to have particularly calm weather and seas, named after the Halcyon bird (European Kingfisher) which nests during this period. The Halcyon was thought to have the power to calm the seas, from the myth of Alcyone recorded by Ovid. I think random facts are cool…. maybe Halcyon Days will be a trivia question for you in the future!

Okay, back to Satya practice!

We will take the next three days of Satya practice to cover each Satya practice recommended by the 8-Fold Path – correct thoughts, speech, and actions. So today we will practice Satya (truthfulness) with our thoughts. Although this concept of correct thoughts from the 8-Fold Path is fairly complex, we are going to take a simple view for today’s practice – refraining from ill-will against oneself or others. If you do decide to look further into this concept of correct thoughts, you will find Ahimsa is frequently referenced in this kindness in thoughts towards oneself and others. As we discussed yesterday, Satya means KIND truth. So, today we will revisit our challenging Ahimsa of thoughts positive thinking practice for today’s Satya correct thoughts practice.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to practice Satya / Truthfulness with correct thought from the 8-Fold Path!

Remember this can be a difficult practice, so be extra kind and patient with yourself today if today’s practice is difficult.. you have to start somewhere, check out some of the tools above for support!

Geminids Meteor Shower

blue toned top half of earth from space with bright sun in background and shooting star meteor shower

I want to let everyone know tonight is the peak night of the Geminids meteor shower! I love shooting stars, and the Geminids meteor shower is considered the best of the year! Meteors will be visible throughout the sky, but primarily originating from the constellation Gemini (my sun sign). PS tonight is the peak, but if it is too cloudy you can try again for the next couple of days.

Want more on Positive Thinking?
Check our Positivity Board on Pinterest!

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