Category: Personal Growth

YOGA ACTIONS for Supta Utthita Trikonasana

What drew me to yoga over 25 years ago and continues to keep me practicing is its emphasis on balance. Not merely the kind of balance that keeps you from falling over, but the inner and outer balance between stability…

Helen Maupin

A Yoga Teaching: Be Real versus Belong

Truth rarely seems to ask the easier choice of us. Deborah Adele In her book, The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice, Adele writes about the many groups we belong to throughout our lifetime. As social beings, all these groups—country,…

Helen Maupin

YOGA ACTIONS for Bhishmasana

Bhishmasana’s extensive support and alignment enable a more profound restfulness, allowing the body to fully release tension and find a deep sense of calm. Tummee.com In the Iyengar tradition, Bhishmasana (Bed of Nails or Bed of Arrows) is specifically designed for…

Helen Maupin

A Yoga Teaching: Truthfulness (Satya)

The first and second of yoga’s eight limbs are the five yamas and five niyamas. The primary significance of these 10 ethical practices cannot be understated in today’s chaotic world. Non-violence (Ahimsa) and truthfulness (Satya) sadly appear absent in global,…

Helen Maupin

YOGA ACTIONS for Wall Stretch

The sedentary lifestyles of knowledge workers have them seated at a computer for several hours each day. Without daily movement that counteracts this inactivity, the space between spinal vertebrae and within all other joints in the body — shoulders, elbows,…

Helen Maupin

How to Spot Stressors and Handle Them Effectively

by guest blogger Chloe Pearson Stress affects both the mind and body, but managing it effectively can lead to a healthier, more balanced life. Recognizing stress triggers and incorporating holistic methods can help reduce tension and improve overall well-being. Strategies…

Helen Maupin

A Yoga Teaching: Pain is a path to Purification

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Much of yoga training is spent reversing such conditioning as the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain. Very early in our practice, we discover that pain is an unavoidable part of life. In…

Helen Maupin

YOGA ACTIONS for Parivrtta Trikonasana

Revolved Triangle pose integrates balance, flexibility, and strength while simultaneously aiding digestion from twisting and moving the abdominal organs. The complexity of the pose is eased by first grounding the legs in Ardha Parsvottanasana. Your hands can press into the…

Helen Maupin

A Yoga Teaching: Samskaras — 9 Obstacles

[W]e’re born with a karmic inheritance of mental and emotional patterns—known as samskaras—through which we cycle over and over again during our lives.   Bo Forbes In Yogic, Buddhist, and Taoist terms, the “wheel of life” or the cycle of birth…

Helen Maupin

Wellness That Sticks: Proven Strategies for Lasting Well-Being

guest blogger Chloe Pearson Embarking on a wellness journey is a commitment to enhancing your quality of life, yet maintaining consistency can often be a hurdle. The key lies in integrating practical strategies that align with your lifestyle and aspirations.…

Helen Maupin

YOGA ACTIONS for Salamba Upavistha Konasana

Forward folding postures, whether supine, standing, or seated, typically challenge 99% of yoga practitioners. Even though the intent of forward folds is to calm the nervous system and ease tension in our muscular-skeletal structure, typically the opposite effect is apparent.…

Helen Maupin

A Yoga Teaching: Ahimsa (non-violence)

In a previous post, I wrote about reacting from ego rather than responding from calm abiding and clear seeing. An everyday example of ego’s reactivity is what we label as “road rage.” It is safe to say that everyone has…

Helen Maupin