To Om or Not to Om

Whether or not to chant Om during a yoga class is a personal choice, both for the teacher and the students. Is this common practice just a way to “spiritualize” an otherwise Western approach to yoga or is it a way to actually invoke the divine and infuse that into a yoga practice? One yoga teacher has come to grips with a clearly defined dichotomy in his approach. As a student, chanting Om provides a deeply spiritual and uplifting experience for him. But as a teacher, his comfort level in leading an Om chant is just not there. Read more about the mystery behind this common practice here.

Green Your Practice

If you are a yogi, you are probably an eco-conscious consumer. You probably recycle, buy organic, and think twice about driving an SUV. But what about your yoga practice and the philosophy of the studio where you do your downward dogs? Is your mat earth-friendly and your yoga top created by a fair-trade clothing company? As a yoga studio owner, are you doing everything you can to ensure a non-toxic environment for your students? The Green Yoga Association strives to educate and support green yoga practices. Read here about how you can contribute to a wholesome clean yoga environment.

Do it at Your Desk

Got one of those jobs where you’re balled and chained to your desk all day? With just a few free minutes, you can use yogic principles to loosen those tight neck and shoulder muscles. Cynthia Funk, a teacher at the Yoga Sanctuary in Toronto, offers an easy-to-memorize three-minute video of seated yoga, designed for over-stressed office workers with neck and shoulder pain. If your lower back is the problem, here’s Cynthia’s seated three-minute solution for unwinding those muscles through twisting: