The yama helps us engage with the world and deepen our social connection as well as improving our health and well-being. They will guide us as we expand our community and build relationships with others, which will decrease our sense of loneliness and help us feel like we fit into the world.

Living a kindness-forward life and expressing ahimsa with every action, deed, and word will balance the mind and increase a sense of happiness that will influence others to be kind.

An afternoon nap is a healthy and effortless way to escape the midday heat and be cool. Research shows that short naps can enhance mental focus, reduce stress, and support overall physical health.

The yama practice of brahmacharya will help us find our inner chill during these hot days. By being considerate and mindful of how and where we are using our energy, we are creating more space for the things that give our life meaning.

The perfect pairing of summer pranayamas, Sitali and Sitkari are unique mouth breathing practices that cool the body temperature down, induce an inner calm, and care for our heart.

A sankalpa is not a wish or a prayer. It is an intention, a resolve, a vow. Spoken in the present tense, it is a declaration. Each sankalpa carries the energy and determination to manifest meaningful action, alongside the wisdom needed to implement those actions.

Designed to bridge the connection between breath, body, and mind, Bhramari pranayama encourages inward focus and sensory engagement. Whether used as a grounding tool, a therapeutic practice, or simply an enjoyable way to experience breathwork, the humming breath remains a powerful method for cultivating inner peace and well-being.

The purpose of yoga is to calm the mind. We achieve this peace by living with compassion, caring for ourselves, moving and breathing with intention, engaging in introspective practices, and meditating. The path of yoga guides us to samadhi, the bliss of universal oneness.

But what does that truly mean? What is bliss? What is universal oneness? If I become one with the universe, do I disappear? How will I know if I’ve entered samadhi? And if I never reach it, does that make me a bad yogi?

As meditation becomes part of your daily rhythm, you may notice a growing sense of ease in your mind and peace in your heart. Creating space and time for practice is important, but just as essential is making sure you feel comfortable.

When in the process of withdrawing from the sense of your physical self and entering your subtle self, the four phases of mindfulness are used to keep your attention focused on your experience. With time and consistent practice, you will arrive at meditation and from there, reach pure consciousness.

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.