Category Archives: yoga

Best Websites for Online Yoga in 2021

Jan 2021 Update: This is a repost from a blog post I wrote back in 2018 – but I added a little bit of spice to make it COVID-relevant and show off some new products that I’m loving. Thank you to Shaman’s Market for the products! 

How Can I Get Into Yoga Online in 2021?

Hey friends! 2021 is here, and although we all hoped to wake up to COVID being a big, bad dream – it’s not. So I wanted to bring back a blog post I wrote three years ago, with some recommendations about where to practice Yoga online.

Personally, I’ve chosen to stay out of the Yoga studio in 2020. The studios I’ve practiced at in the past have not been strict about mask usage, and I didn’t want any grocery store trips or occasional outdoor coffee shop visits to result in spreading COVID to the Yoga community. Yoga, to me, is about showing up for people on your mat. If that means metaphorically showing up by staying home and sacrificing group practice to keep everyone safe, I’m willing to wait until I’m vaccinated to join my fellow Yogis face-to-face. Plus, I’ve been hosting monthly Yin classes on Zoom and recording meditations on Insight Timer – there are ways for us to connect virtually, and I’m willing to explore them in 2021.

(Interested in joining the Yin classes? Reach out to me on Instagram – @climb_and_flow – and I’ll add you to the list!)

#YogaGoals for 2021

There is still room for exploration within the Yoga practice, even if you’re not at a studio or paying a membership. As you can see, I’ve been given a beautiful gift from the team at Shamans Market: Palo Santo and an Avalokiteshvara Singing Bowl.

The Palo Santo fills my apartment with a relaxing scent and the singing bowl makes my meditation practice that much more relaxing! Thank you again, Shamans Market!

On the bottom of the bowl is the Avalokiteshvara mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum. This chant suggests that through the union of the practice and wisdom, you can transform yourself into a being with pure mind, body, and soul. Is there a better mantra for a new year?

My goal for this year is to bring this mantra, and this singing bowl into my practice. I am so grateful to Shamans Market for this gift, and I recommend checking them out if you are looking to enhance your year with a singing bowl, Palo Santo, or essential oils! There is so much stuff on their website.

And in the meantime, if you’re looking to explore some at-home Yoga practices, look no further! All of these resources and flows are available online.

Enjoy! Namaste!

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Yoga In Bed

Yoga For Bed! In Bed!

Three years ago, I filmed a Chair Yoga and Meditation from my parents’ home. I wanted to challenge myself to learn more about Chair Yoga and make my YouTube channel more accessible. Accessibility has always been one of my top priorities as a Yoga teacher.

My nana started watching the video and loves it, so I wanted to film a practice based on her requests. She wanted to do yoga in bed, which is very much a vibe in 2020. So here you go! A 40-minute practice to gently open up the body and reduce stress. Try it in the morning, at night, or whenever you just want to retreat to your room and shut out everything else.

Do I need props? I would keep pillows and blankets nearby. They’re not necessary, although we do move through a Restorative Bridge posture, which is best done with support under your sacrum. Bolsters or yoga blocks work too!

What if my bed is really soft? The hard floor feels better on some postures, so adjust your body accordingly. I found myself completing a few postures with pillows underneath my head. Get comfortable. This posture is about gently opening the body – not challenging yourself physically or breaking a sweat.

What if a pose feels uncomfortable? You should feel a gentle stretch in the body, but not too much more than that. First, grab some props and see if that takes some strain off the body. If your body just isn’t calling for the posture, continue with the previous posture, move into Savasana, or try a posture that feels better for your body. Even if you lie down for 40 minutes and breathe, you’re still doing Yoga.

Enjoy this 40-minute Restorative Yoga Practice In Bed!

Have questions? Feedback? Suggestions? Throw them in the comment section! I want to do what I can to help you feel more comfortable and enjoy Yoga in 2020.

Want more Yoga and Meditation?

Download this PDF with postures that help to relieve anxiety.

Grab my Yoga eBook, with more PDFs and my insights about the practice. 

Follow me on Insight Timer! This free meditation app allows you to explore many different types of meditation. My page includes Yoga Nidra, Loving-Kindness Meditation, and a few breathing practices to help ground you and cultivate gratitude. 

toplus yoga mat review

Toplus Yoga Mat: Review

Hey friends! I’m here with another yoga mat review. TOPLUS was kind enough to gift me one of their yoga mats and I’m happy to share my thoughts. Thanks, y’all!

TOPLUS is a fitness brand that primarily sells yoga mats. You can find the mat I’m reviewing here in the “Professional Yoga Mat” section (fancy.) They also provide more basic mats, yoga mats for kids, and suede yoga mats. The suede yoga mats personally caught my eye, but let’s just focus on the mat at hand. (Or rather, at my feet.)

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Summer Joy Flow! (With Free Playlist!)

Ah, it’s finally summer time…up in the States!

I spent a fair bit of the winter down in South America this year, but it was still nice to arrive home in late April and see that I had time to help my parents out with their vegetable garden! Warmer weather is always a reason to smile, so I put together a Yoga flow that would allow you to twist off the winter and feel fresh before beach season.

This flow was filmed in Jasper! This May, I (impulsively) rented a car and drove from Vancouver to Banff to Jasper and back. It was a lovely drive and I’ll have an itinerary with tips up soon!

Enjoy!

As usual, I have a Spotify playlist that you can pop on while you flow! It’s got a wee bit of explicit language, sorry (not really that sorry)!

More Yoga!

I’ve got a few flows online – and as always, I welcome all feedback/questions/suggestions on my YouTube channel!

I’ve also got an eBook out if you want to flow on your Kindle! The book offers flows and poses for different activities and exercises to help you get to know your body. Whoo-hoo!

yoga ebook cover

Ground Under Your Feet Is Now On Amazon!

I recently met a woman who was starting a blog. She asked me if I had any advice and I resorted to my (slightly snarky) automatic response:

“Don’t expect to make any money.”

Okay, I admit that’s a big pessimistic, and it doesn’t really help. (It’s true and realistic, but that’s a blog post for another time.)

What I should have done was given the advice that my dad has given me ever since I started showing interest in writing:

“Do what you love, even if you have to do it for free. Keep doing it and keep improving and at some point, someone will pay you to do it.”

It’s the best advice I’ve ever received.

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restorative yoga poses for anxiety

Restorative Yoga Poses for Anxiety (Free PDF)

Update: You can get this PDF and seven other sets of poses and flows in my new ebook!

My mom likes to remind me of a story from when I was five and I was very passionate about animals. (Took me until I was 20 to become a vegetarian, though.) One day, I decided I was going to start a club to save the animals. Which ones? I don’t know. Just all of them. My tiny self made business cards on Microsoft something-or-other advertising a Save the Animals club meeting, at recess, on the playground.

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hip hop yoga playlists

Four Playlists For Yogis Who Prefer Hip-Hop Over Nature Sounds

Update: I’ve added some new hip-hop playlists! Check them out! 

Want some poses for these playlists? I recently published an ebook on Amazon! Get flowing!

I’ve seen hip-hop yoga studios, hip-hop classes, Namasdrake, Yoncé Yoga, etc. And you know what? I love it. Sure, if you’re going to a yoga class to clear your mind and you want peace and quiet, by all means, hip hop yoga doesn’t sound appealing. But if a little Drake puts you in a good mood and keeps you in your Warrior 2 a little longer, go for it.

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Yoga After Work! | Beat, Broke, Backpacking

NEW ONLINE YOGA: Yoga Flow for After Work!

Hey friends!

I’ve finally got a new yoga flow for you! I recorded the audio for this flow in Austin, and filmed the video in Australia! I originally called this flow the Uber Driver flow (it starts out by gently stretching legs that have been sitting all day), but hey, anyone who’s sitting or standing around at work could use these gentle stretches and backbends. So it’s now the Yoga Flow for After Work!

All you need is your mat and your lovely soul…so enjoy!

FREE YOGA / NOMAD MEET UPS IN BRISBANE:

I will be hanging out in Brisbane for the next two months or so, and I want to teach a few donation-based classes at my new flat! I was thinking it would be a great opportunity for fellow yogis, Couchsurfers, and nomads to meet up, have a free fitness class, and hang out with like-minded people. If you would like more information, respond to this Couchsurfing event or head on over to my Facebook page!

That’s all for now! Cheers!