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.

Yoga is so much more than the physical practice of the asanas. Meditation isn’t its own separate thing, it’s a part of the larger practice. The eight limbs of yoga provide a path to guide us on how to treat ourselves, how to focus our energy, and how to be in the world.

Here are a few tips to help prepare you for your next yoga class, even if it’s your first. This list is not exhaustive. Instead it is designed as ‘broad-stroke’ guidance to support any yoga activity.

With only so many hours in a day, schedules can quickly become packed. An unconventional yet delightful way to sneak in 15 minutes of daily mindfulness is by making a cup of loose-leaf tea. 

Finding small moments of quietude fosters resilience and a gentle heart and is one expression of a yogi inspired life.