Physiologically speaking, feeling hot-headed is your body's regulatory answer to anger. Contemporary science has shown that your heart rate increases, your blood pressure rises, and your core body temperature climbs as the emotion activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is the body's fight-or-flight response.
Whenever this spiral occurs, I've found that certain yoga poses for anxiety—or at least, poses that ease my anxiety—help stop the madness. And they do so in very little time. Dropping into my favorite shapes quickly slows my mental chatter, slowing my sense of urgency to far more reasonable and manageable levels.
AI tools like ChatGPT have become pretty much inescapable. The generative chatbots are designed for mental outsourcing, helping humans research, learn, ideate, and even create. As these tools gain in popularity, there's a question of discernment that seems to be haunting us all: what is AI useful for, and what undertakings should be reserved for humans alone? Having ChatGPT help craft an itinerary for an upcoming vacation, for example, is helpful; having it finish a song you've been writing is...less so.
Turning on a yoga practice on YouTube was my method of choice for slowing down. I quickly scrolled through the overwhelming number of options for "slow" and "gentle" yoga practices, a task which was almost enough to dissuade me from taking a break. "I can rest later," I thought. But I knew better. Later usually turns into late at night which turns into tomorrow which easily turns into never.
"To become fully mature as human persons, we must bring to life within ourselves the dynamics that fashioned the cosmos. We must become these cosmic dynamics and primordial powers in a new human form. That is our task: to create the human form of the central powers of the cosmos.... The powers that build the universe are ultimately mysterious, issuing forth from and operating out of mystery. They are the most awesome and numinous reality in the universe. Humans are these dynamics brought into self-awareness.'
Whenever we talk about practicing yoga for the heart chakra, our focus is releasing tension around the heart, including the chest as well as the upper back and shoulders. More than that, the anahata, or heart chakra, has to do with our ability to give and receive love as well as our ability to feel compassion and empathy toward ourselves and others in the world.
Many of us spend a large part of our days sitting. Commuting, working at a desk, and scrolling on our phones. Without realizing it, we stand up from whatever task we were doing and feel the tension that's accumulated in the body and the mind. Although movement is essential for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, it isn't always realistic to squeeze in a workout or make it to the yoga studio regularly.
I vividly recall watching Saved By the Bell as a little girl and being drawn to the character of Zack Morris. My grandfather Tati, however, would repeatedly mention AC Slater and the fact that a Latino cast member on an American TV show was amazing. After renting Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet on VHS and gushing over Leonardo DiCaprio, I would listen to my grandfather point out John Leguizamo in the cast.
PCOD is closely associated with stress, insulin resistance, and hormone imbalance. Yoga can to address the root cause through a variety of ways: Balances Hormones Certain yoga postures stimulate endocrine glands like the thyroid, ovaries pituitary gland, as well as adrenal glands. They help to regulate the release of hormones. Enhances blood circulation Yoga boosts circulation of blood to pelvic regions, thereby improving the function of the ovaries.
To her followers and yogic practitioners, Kali Maa is not a scary goddess. She is the ultimate Mother. She represents the slayer of illusion and the symbol of truth that brings freedom. She is the symbol of the cycle of time, transformation, the loss of self and awakening to the spiritual realm. In yoga, Kali Maa is linked to inner cleansing. She helps awaken the kundalini and gives courage. This courage helps us face our darkest sides.
Remaining present in the modern world includes noticing the good. We're not talking toxic positivity here. We're referring to a simple commitment to also noticing what's good in the world even as you navigate what's not. Whether you find these reminders burrowed in a news story, the feeling of being on your mat or out on a run, or the eyes of a loved one doesn't matter. Noticing them does.
Headstand (Sirsasana) is often called the "king of poses" because of the many benefits it affords. It teaches balance and poise, increases the strength of the arms, positively affects the cardiovascular system, and allows, more than many poses, a few minutes for mental and physical stillness. It's a difficult pose, involving many precautions and prerequisites. Many Westerners feel that if they can practice Headstand, they are practicing "real" yoga.
Health insurance plays a vital role in safeguarding Indians from mounting healthcare costs. With medical inflation rising and hospital bills becoming unaffordable, having robust individual health insurance is no longer an option but a necessity. Recognising this, the Indian insurance regulator made a crucial change in April 2024. Now, health insurance and individual health insurance plans must cover hospitalisation cases where the patient is admitted for as little as two hours.
I had no idea what to practice, when to practice, or for how long. As a result, my practice lacked structure, variety, and inspiration. Then, I discovered an online yoga & meditation platform rooted in Himalayan wisdom. It wasn't just about movement; it was about building a relationship with myself. I started with 15 minutes a day. That was it. Sometimes, just breathwork. Other times, meditation. And occasionally, a full-body kriya that left me buzzing with energy.
Gina was one of the golden girls of my circle-charming, smart, and seriously cool. As our other friends rode through their mid-20s on roller coasters of elation and despair, Gina maintained an almost daunting level of emotional perspective. She gave birth to a child who experienced cognitive impairments and cared for him without losing either her detachment or her sense of humor. She went through cancer surgery with her usual rueful grace.
The winter blues are very real. The lack of light and cold temperatures can pull you into a slump-but practicing yoga can help you feel more like yourself and help you overcome some of the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. All it takes is a willingness to commit to some movement, even-or especially-when you're feeling a bit blah. This grounding morning flow helps you overcome winter sluggishness with some breath-guided stretching and slow activation.
Come flow with us every 4th Sundays! After the community yoga class, enjoy a cup of coffee on us at @javabeachsf to warm you up from our San Francisco summer weather. 12pm, Judah and Great Highway Park BYO mat and coffee mug. No registration required, just show up and enjoy yoga to the sound of waves. Sundays at the Beach are possible thanks to a grant award from @avenuegreenlight and help from our friends across the community like @yogabeachsf for helping us bring weekly joy
Like many people, I always wanted to do yoga daily. I'd roll out my mat a few times a week, follow a YouTube video, and feel great... for a while. But between work, life, and mental exhaustion, my practice was inconsistent at best and forgotten at worst. That changed when I discovered the right approach - one that felt more like a cup of calm than a chore on my to-do list.
Games did not suddenly become "worse." Games adapted. Attention got tired, schedules got tighter, and competition for free time turned brutal. A ten-minute gap now has to fight against messages, videos, and endless feeds. In that environment, long-form sessions still exist, but short sessions often win because they respect reality instead of demanding a perfect evening. That shift is visible everywhere, from mobile puzzlers to competitive titles and even casino-style experiences where a quick crore win feeling is part of the appeal.
Aging isn't just about wrinkles-it's about how your body moves. Or doesn't move. As we age, we often lose strength, balance, and range of motion. Our spines compress. Our glutes weaken. All of this manifests as pain, stiffness, and fatigue. But as Yogi Aaron reminds us, the true signs of aging come from a loss of mobility. The good news? You can get it back through regularpractice of our yoga routine to stay young, which includes breath, muscle activation, and mindful movement.
Still, even in the early days of social media, there was a lot of talk about what a mind-mess these platforms could create, including research that tracked declines in mental health. I deliberated cutting ties with Instagram because I noticed myself falling into the classic trap: looking at what my friends were posting and wondering, "Why aren't I doing what they're doing?" and "Should I be doing that?"
