With its rich and varied history, meditation offers countless ways to engage with the practice. While interpretations may differ about what meditation is or isn’t, at its core, it is a self-reflective process that brings harmony across all layers of our being, from the physical body to the subtle mind and ultimately to the blissful self.

Our lived experiences shape how we interpret the world. This can lead to either comprehension or misapprehension. Over time, these patterns become habits that influence whether we feel light and joyful or burdened and distressed. The path of yoga is designed to bring clarity to this inner landscape.

Beyond journaling, svadhyaya is the practice of self-reflection and enhances mental clarity and the connection one has to themselves, others, and the world as well as cultivating a calm mind and gentle heart. 

Connected to the manamaya and vijnanamaya koshas, the gunas are three states of mind that give us our sense of self and individualism; an awareness of the gunas can help calm the chitti vritti in the mind and be in a sattvic state. Practicing the yamas and niyamas, particularly svadhyaya, support the balance of the gunas as well as mediation. 

The bandhas bridge the physical and subtle bodies, connecting the koshas in a dynamic and transformative way. The bandhas do not need to be engaged continuously to be effective—only light engagement is necessary to enhance the yoga practice. When introduced “artfully and not obsessively” into both asana and pranayama, the bandhas offer a powerful tool for deepening the yogic journey.

The koshas are where the effects of soul care are felt—through mindfulness, meditation, prana, chakras, and much more. While the subtle energy of the koshas may seem mystical or cosmic, they represent real, tangible experiences—it’s where yoga truly happens.

Saucha is the ultimate self-care niyama to lean on as our life expands with new purpose and expectations. By incorporating simple daily practices—such as mindfulness, nourishing our bodies with balanced meals, and using breathwork to maintain calm—we can effectively nurture our mental, physical, and energetic well-being.

Regardless of which side we breathe, prana remains in constant motion. The breath manipulation of Nadi Shodhana leads to a gentler, softer self with greater mental focus and calm. While breathing through one side isn’t necessarily better than the other, each side offers its own subtle benefits.

Nadi Shodhana, a foundational pranayama practice, is a breathing technique that uses prana to restore balance to the mind. Commonly known as alternate nostril breathing, the practice involves alternating the breath between the right and left nostrils, using the fingers to gently close one nostril at a time.

Mouth taping as a sleep aid is a growing wellness trend, fueled by anecdotal feedback. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of conclusive scientific evidence to fully support its benefits. The primary goal of mouth taping is to promote nasal breathing, and one of the reported benefits is a more restful sleep.

When you tape your mouth at night, your breath is directed through the nose, where it is filtered and purified before circulating through the body. The primary benefit of mouth taping is to breathe through the nose. The human body is designed for nasal breathing—it not only supports heart health but also fosters a sense of calm and well-being.

The chitti vritti misapprehension or perception, is the “most frequent activity of the mind” and therefore the one with the most influence on how the mind moves. Within perception is another layer–kleshas. They are obstacles to understanding and clarity and influence our thoughts and behaviors. Yoga offers a way to break free from these patterns of thoughts and behaviors. 

The purpose of yoga is to calm the mind. Thoughts and feelings ebb and flow, mostly without our direction. According to the Yoga Sutra, there are five states of the mind — the chitti vritti. These can be either helpful or harmful, depending on various factors. The chattering chitti vritti create tangled perceptions that influence how we behave. Yoga calms the chitti vritti and let's us be chill.

Loving-kindness meditation is an outpouring of love and compassion, allowing you to soften your heart and expand your compassion. The more you practice loving-kindness meditation, the more love you have. Acts of self-love strengthen resilience and support the self during life's ebbs and flows, making a person stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically.

The chakras are interwoven through the physical, subtle, and causal bodies and form a foundational part of yogic philosophy. Energy workers have been exploring the mechanics of subtle energies since the Kundalini Upanishad, and now academic research is expanding this knowledge, highlighting the benefits and necessity of subtle energy medicine techniques.

Prana is the spark within the breath that enables life to happen and continue. It is both the energy of the breath itself and the energy that emerges from it.

While there are several pranayama practices, they fall into one of two categories. The first is samavritti pranayama–it’s when the inhalation, exhalation, and retention of breath are for the same length. The second is visamavritti pranayama–when the four phases of breath are held for different lengths, normally with an extended exhale. Choosing the appropriate breathing ratio for the task is based on two things: what is possible and what are your goals.

Breath is involuntary, it happens without thought, and yet is the singular most important thing the body does. Everything relies on continued repetition of the inhale and the exhale.

A yoga-inspired perspective can transform New Year’s resolutions from average goals into an exciting journey of personal growth.

Sound bathing offers a unique way to practice mindfulness. Even when your mind wanders, a new sound can bring you back to the moment and your breath.