How tо Choose Onlіnе Yоgа Cеrtіfісаtіоn Prоgrаmѕ

Yoga іѕ оnе оf thе most рорulаr, fаѕtеѕt-grоwіng асtіvіtіеѕ іn thе wоrld. This іѕ bесаuѕе уоgа practice оffеrѕ a wіdе rаngе of physical, psychological and еmоtіоnаl bеnеfіtѕ. Bесаuѕе іt іѕ ѕuсh a fаѕt-grоwіng асtіvіtу, yoga teachers аrе vеrу іn-dеmаnd. There аrе mаnу fоlkѕ who are lооkіng tо tаkе аdvаntаgе оf thіѕ dеmаnd bу bесоmіng yoga teachers. Thе оnlу wау tо do thіѕ іѕ to gо through thе proper trаіnіng. Thеrе аrе lоtѕ of different trаіnіng options available, but some оf thе most есоnоmісаl аnd соnvеnіеnt trаіnіng options аrе online yoga certification рrоgrаmѕ.
Unfоrtunаtеlу, thеrе are some unѕсruрulоuѕ іndіvіduаlѕ out there whо will take аdvаntаgе оf people who аrе lооkіng fоr online уоgа trаіnіng. Whеthеr thеѕе іndіvіduаlѕ рrоmіѕе more thаn thеу can dеlіvеr оr thеу are ѕіmрlу bаd teachers, іt іѕ іmроrtаnt that students аvоіd them. In оrdеr tо аvоіd the bad tеасhеrѕ, uѕе thеѕе tірѕ to find еffесtіvе оnlіnе уоgа сеrtіfісаtіоn trаіnіng рrоgrаmѕ.

  • Look Fоr A Specialist

The fіrѕt thіng thаt рrоѕресtіvе уоgа teachers muѕt соnѕіdеr іѕ what type of yoga they wаnt tо teach. Thеrе аrе a wіdе vаrіеtу оf dіffеrеnt ѕtуlеѕ аvаіlаblе. If аt аll роѕѕіblе, thеу ѕhоuld lооk for оnlіnе yoga instructors whо have the аbіlіtу tо tеасh multірlе styles оf уоgа. Thіѕ wіll аllоw students tо get certified to tеасh multірlе styles of yoga without hаvіng tо go thrоugh thе hassle of vеttіng mаnу dіffеrеnt tеасhеrѕ. When thеу can find a tеасhеr who can do іt аll, it makes lіfе a lоt easier.

  • Find A Teacher Wіth Good Rapport

Bеfоrе students spend money оn оnlіnе уоgа сеrtіfісаtіоn programs, thеу must fіnd a tеасhеr who thеу hаvе gооd rарроrt wіth. It іѕ іmроrtаnt nоt tо еnrоll in a уоgа trаіnіng program bеfоrе having a соnvеrѕаtіоn wіth thе instructor. Yoga іѕ a vеrу intimate асtіvіtу, аnd thе trаіnіng will nоt bе еffесtіvе if the ѕtudеnt dоеѕ nоt hаvе аn excellent rарроrt wіth thе tеасhеr.

  • Lооk Fоr Mоrе Than Juѕt Yoga Instruction

Thеrе іѕ a lot mоrе tо уоgа than ѕіmрlу learning thе postures and thеіr nаmеѕ. Whіlе thоѕе things are kеу tо lеаrn, іt is аlѕо crucial tо fіnd a tеасhеr whо can instruct students in thіngѕ lіkе аnаtоmу, confidence, the importance оf touch аnd hоw to teach wіth аn еffесtіvе vоісе. These аrе just a few оf thе mаnу thіngѕ thаt yoga teachers hаvе tо thіnk about whеn they іnѕtruсt thеіr ѕtudеntѕ, and they must learn hоw tо do thеm еffесtіvеlу from thеіr уоgа сеrtіfісаtіоn instructors.

It іѕ аlѕо a gооd idea tо fіnd a yoga certification tеасhеr whо іѕ knowledgeable аbоut thе hіѕtоrу оf уоgа. Whіlе this knоwlеdgе іѕ not сruсіаl to tеасh yoga, іt is a vаluаblе tool fоr уоgа іnѕtruсtоrѕ to grоw thеіr practices. Whеn ѕtudеntѕ аrе аblе tо lеаrn уоgа history frоm thеіr tеасhеrѕ, thеу wіll be much mоrе іmрrеѕѕеd wіth thеm. Thіѕ аllоwѕ teachers to show thеіr рuріlѕ that thеу аrе еxреrtѕ wіth dеер knоwlеdgе оf yoga.
As lоng as students рrасtісе thеіr due diligence, thеу wіll be ѕurе tо fіnd thе реrfесt оnlіnе уоgа сеrtіfісаtіоn program tо mееt their nееdѕ. When they tаkе thе time to fіnd the right іnѕtruсtоr, it will gіvе thеm thе tools thеу nееd to become wоndеrful уоgа teachers. It mау tаkе a lіttlе longer tо fіnd thе perfect fit, but thе еffоrt is wеll wоrth іt.

Pregnancy and Yoga

Becoming a mother is nature’s gift. It is advisable for a soon-to-be mother to be happy and mentally stress-free so that she can deliver a happy and healthy baby. Pregnancy comes with the body and mind-related challenges for a woman, and it becomes a necessity for the body to adapt to these changes. In the case of pregnancy, many physical activities are discontinued or slowed down so as to prevent miscarriage or any other complications to the mother and the baby.

There are many forms of prenatal exercises that are taught to the soon-to-be-mothers so that they can remain active and physically fit. During the last trimester, the major focus of the training is on easing the process of labor and making delivery smoother.

Yoga is a less strenuous form of exercise, and therefore many doctors advise moms to practice yoga, to remain physically fit and mentally stress-free. Yoga is considered the most comfortable form of physical activity for a pregnant woman; it does not only help the pregnancy phase but also post-pregnancy healing. Some of the benefits that can be enjoyed by pregnant women who practice yoga are:

  • The body becomes flexible during yoga, and hence this helps when the woman undergoes labor.
  • The ligaments are stretched and elastic; this allows the body to bear the pangs of labor without much strain.
  • Yoga helps in preparing the body to undergo labor by increasing the pain bearing capacity of the body.
  • Yoga helps in correcting posture, and this helps during and after pregnancy to combat any back problems that are faced by women.
  • Yoga after delivery can be started as soon as six weeks post-delivery; this helps in strengthening of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.
  • Yoga after pregnancy helps in losing the pregnancy weight much faster.

Practicing Yoga for Pregnancy

A pregnant woman is strictly advised to visit a certified yoga instructor and their doctor to decide the yoga regime that has to be followed. Yoga should be performed under supervision, and once the mother has learned the poses, she can do it alone at home. There are a few yoga forms that can be practiced; they are:

  • Kundalini yoga: This is a breath-related yoga and helps strengthen the nervous system and glandular system.
  • Iyengar Yoga: This form of yoga helps strengthen the muscle and skeletal system and aligns their movements.
  • Ashtanga Yoga: This yoga form requires a lot of movement and is highly advised to be practiced under supervision to prevent injury.

Whatever form of yoga gets adopted by the mother, it is recommended that they should not burden their bodies or feel strained. They should always be within their comfort zones. Great care should be taken so that there is no pain or nausea before or after yoga. Yoga should help them strengthen their bodies rather than making it over-worked or overheated. Being yogic can make the pregnant journey a bliss with the right approach and practice.

Comfortable sportswear for yoga practice

 

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The practice of Yoga has positioned itself among the most popular physical activities in the world. It is an ancient discipline with multiple benefits for the human being on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. It is recommended for building strength, flexibility, regulating stress, anxiety and even for rejuvenation of the spirit.

When deciding to practice physical activity, it is of great importance to carefully choose the tools and clothing that will be used to make it a comfortable experience. Paying attention to the functionality, comfort, and durability of garments is as important as being clear about the type of activity to be performed.

Today there are innumerable options on the market concerning yoga sportswear, as well as the diversity of fabrics, colors, and fibers that can be adjusted to our tastes and requirements.

For a long time, the cotton garments were number one for many, but with time and the demands of different types of exercises and sports, such as athletics, football, gymnastics, and yoga, it became evident that the cotton simply wasn’t the best fabric. It is because:

 

  • It absorbs sweat instead of evaporating.
  • It doesn’t dry easily.
  • Strong odors remain in the clothes, no matter how many times they are washed.

 

So, what should you keep in mind when selecting garments to exercise or practice yoga?

 

  • First, know exactly what type of practice you want to perform.

Many people think that Yoga is a relaxation practice alone. It indeed stimulates the nervous system, ensuring relaxation and control of emotions, but it is also true that the smooth practice of asanas, especially the practices of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga or Vinyasa Yoga, will make you sweat, ensuring the purification of the body.

  • There are types of lycra or leggings fabrics designed for durability, perspiration, and resistance so that movements can be carried out with freedom and confidence, adding to this comfort and adapting the contours of the body.

For example, garments containing fibers such as Coolmax, Supplex, Spandex or Elastane, help control body temperature by keeping clothes and body dry and releasing us from sudden changes in temperature that can lead to a cold or discomfort after the practice of Yoga or any physical activity.

  • A garment that feels light and comfortable makes a difference when performing physical activities, also the way you feel and look is important, giving confidence. It is a game of emotions. That is why more and more appealing designs are being marketed, and more brands join in the mission of satisfying the demands of their customers by creating designs for all tastes and body contours.
  • There is no excuse for not giving movement and entertainment to our bodies. There is a diversity of fabrics, fibers and even budgets for each one of us.

 

 

Yoga contributes to the well-being, flexibility, and strengthening of mind and body.

I hope you enjoy your practice.

Meditation for Happiness

Can we meditate our way through happiness? Is happiness coming from the outer circumstances, or is it buried inside of us, waiting to be discovered?

A study from several years ago revealed an amazing fact: The individuals who did meditation proved to have a thicker and stronger cortex (the side of the brain which processes emotions, sensory awareness, and attention) than those who did not.

It translates to a change in our brain structure, which is gradually brought by regular meditation practice so that we are able to experience more positive emotions. Meditation has proven to help its practitioners get in touch with their feelings. And, at the same time, it can make us feel happier and more optimistic while we discover our sense of spirituality. It can allow us to accept ourselves for who we are and grow a sense of fulfillment. It enables us to develop compassion and empathy. It will improve our relationships with others.

Step By Step Guide For The Meditation For Happiness

  • To practice the meditation for happiness, do the following:
  • Sit comfortably or lie down and, if you want, close the eyes. 
  • Focus on your breath and breathe deeply and rarely. Inhale relaxation and a sense of calmness. When you exhale, relax all tensions. Allow your entire body to relax, from the scalp to the feet;
  • Concentrate on the still, quiet center of your being, maintaining the body relaxed, your emotions tranquil, the mind peaceful and wide;
  • Remember a time when you felt great joy and well-being, maybe when you went to your favorite holiday destination or with a close friend;
  • Remember this experience as detailed as possible. Visualize that moment, if you can. Recall what you were doing, the surroundings, the people you were with, all the sounds and images of it;
  • Recall how this joyful experience felt in your body. Did you feel light, expansive, and energetic? How was this feeling of well-being experienced by your mind? Spend some time analyzing the sensations in your body and the state of your mind. Allow them to fully revive while you are breathing in this feeling of joy. With each exhalation, relax even more;
  • Exercise the meditation for happiness every day for one week. Sometimes, you will discover that you can just invoke and keep these feelings of joy and well-being without having to remember that particular memory;
  • Practice this meditation whenever you feel down or when you want to feel more joy and well-being in your life.

Meditation Benefits

  • Meditation has proven by scientific research to have a lot of benefits, for example, it:
  • Alleviates heart disease, high blood pressure;
  • Helps in conditions like migraines, as well as diabetes and arthritis;
  • Allows us to relax, by reducing the heartbeats, breathing and the blood lactate levels and increasing the alpha activity of the brain;
  • Slows down obsessive thinking, depression, anxiety, and hostility.
  • If you are suffering from any conditions, it is recommendable to ask your physician about starting a meditation practice. 

Facts About Yoga You Probably Don’t Know

Yoga has been spreading like wildfire in the last few decades, becoming more and more accessible in the western world. It has become a hotly discussed topic from all subgroups of people ranging from top television panelists to a John Doe in a local pub. This spread has gone on to create a multibillion-dollar industry and a sea of humanity devoted to learning yoga. Gurus, trainers, and assistants have also contributed a lot to this phenomenon, having dedicated their time and resources to reach out to as many people as possible. There is a lot to learn about yoga, but unfortunately, we have limited time. We have compiled a list of five facts that you probably do not know about yoga, as follows:

  1. The lotus pose is one of the most popular yoga poses. It is almost as old as yoga itself. The sitting posture is meant to resemble the perfect symmetry of a lotus flower. Most statues, such as Buddha and Shiva, are made in this position.
  2. Yoga has a market cap of 27 billion, and approximately 22 million people practice yoga in the United States. With its ever-growing popularity, it has become a household name in western markets, creating jobs to numerous people. 
  3. A male practitioner of yoga is called a Yogi; a female practitioner is called a Yogini. A lot of people are confused about the two, mostly using the two terms interchangeably. It is also important to note that in some schools of yoga, Yogini is also applied to mean female partners in tantric practices.
  4. There are more than 100 schools of yoga. Yes, that is right! One can choose from over 100 forms of yoga with the most common ones in the western world being the transcendental meditation and the hatha yoga.
  5. Concentration/dharna is the sixth limb of the eight limbs of yoga. It is one of the most challenging steps to attain, and it involves the ability to hold concentration for a given period of time.

Five Benefits Of A Strong Core

Most people believe that yoga is only for the flexible among us; the slim, bendy, yoga athletes. But it is simply not the case; yoga is not about flexibility. In fact, if you have too much flexibility and not enough strength, you could be in for some serious physical problems later in life. Yes, yoga does increase flexibility by lengthening the muscles, but it also vastly improves strength and mobility. 

The phrase ‘use it or lose it’ is especially true when it comes to movement and mobility. Our bodies are our greatest gifts, and we can take care of them through a regular movement practice that will benefit us throughout our lifetimes. 

An added benefit that yoga gives us is a strong core, and this does not just mean developing a six-pack. Yoga works on our deep abdominal muscles, including all the muscles in the middle area of the body, thus protecting the spine. The spine is one of the most important parts of our body. It supports our entire nervous system, sending information from the brain to the rest of the body, and vice versa. Ensuring it is supported and protected is vital for our overall wellbeing. Below are the five main benefits that come from working on our core. 

1. Posture

Many of us spend a lot of time hunched over; at desks, on our phones, or driving. Proper posture is standing tall with the neck extended and shoulders back. Often we don’t consciously think about the way we stand. 

By working on our core muscles, we make them strong enough to hold our skeletal system in the proper place. It makes the correct posture more accessible and more comfortable. Our breathing improves, and the spine is better supported. 

2 Balance

As we get older, one of the abilities we struggle to maintain is balance. Taking time to work on our core when we are younger will make us less prone to falling and injury in our later years. A strong core can help us to move freely and comfortably throughout our lifetime, without losing our balance. 

3. Lower Back Pain

Most of us will suffer from some degree of lower back pain at some point in our lives. The deep abdominal muscles play a crucial part in supporting the girdle and pelvic area. If these muscles are weak, the muscles in the lower back have to work extra hard in holding the spine straight. In turn, causing pain and discomfort. 

4. Improve Your Practice 

Strength, mobility, and balance all make up a strong yoga practice. By improving your core, you will be able to move safely deeper into each pose. Even the more ‘simple’ poses such as downward dog, tree and mountain pose, will feel stronger and more grounded. 

5. Fight Or Flight

Our deepest core muscle, the Psoas – also known as the muscle of the soul – is directly linked to our fight or flight response. It connects us to the present moment, literally embodying our most deep-seated survival instincts. Yoga vastly improves the Psoas, benefiting not only our physical health but also our mental health by refining our response to stress. 

A strong core serves us in all areas of our lives. Each time you step onto your mat, give your deep core muscles 5-10 minutes of TLC and enjoy the lifelong benefits.

Three Reasons Nude may be the Next Best Color for Yoga Outfits

When the warmer weather rolls around, many yogis are tempted to trade in their darker neutrals for something a little lighter. Blacks and greys are quickly giving way to the more popular nude shades. Yoga clothing manufacturers are starting to stock the shelves with colors that can be a little more challenging to wear. However, these nude shades are worth taking the fashion risk because they may just be the next hottest color for your favorite yoga outfits.

If you aren’t sure if nude is right for you, check out some of these top reasons why we think it could be the next best color for your yoga pants.

Nude Is the Perfect Backdrop for Hot Spring Shades

Many of the most popular colors for the spring season are extremely bright and bold. Wearing these colors in large swaths can be extremely overwhelming for anyone. However, a nude outfit provides the perfect backdrop for fluorescent shades. You can get away with bold accessories like fluffy spring scarves in the brightest poppy red with this neutral background.

Whether you want to wear a nude top with a pair of brightly colored yoga leggings or vice versa, this shade keeps your outfit feeling balanced. You won’t be overwhelmed by bold colors with this subtle background color.

Find a Shade to Flatter Every Skin Tone

One of the best things about nude colors is that they can really run the gamut from light to dark. Unlike singular shades that have no nuance, like black, nude can be found in a wide array of hues. This vast selection of shades allows yogis to find a color that will perfectly complement any skin tone.

Yogis should be warned that it can be difficult to find a flattering color palette with nude shades. It’s recommended that you search for a nude color that is a few shades lighter or darker than your actual skin tone. Without this subtle variation, the light shades can blend into your skin too much and create a washed-out effect that is never flattering.

It Pairs Perfectly With Patterns

Similar to the wonderful way that nude complements the hottest spring shades, it can also be worn with extravagant patterns. Spring is all about bold design choices with colorful floral patterns, bold chevron, and crazy polka dots. There is an endless choice for detailed patterns that will perfectly suit your personality and fashion sense. Nude is an ideal shade to pair with these patterns for the warmer weather.

Because this shade is relatively plain and unassuming, it allows your patterns to truly pop. Consider wearing a nude camisole underneath a patterned cardigan for those spring breezes and chillier mornings. A nude tunic top would also pair perfectly with a pair of patterned yoga leggings.

With all the endless possibilities, nude is likely to be the next best color for your upcoming yoga outfits. It proves to be the ideal partner for all the upcoming spring trends that are heading your way. Yogis who are searching for the right neutrals to add to their closet this spring will want to take another look at this unassuming color.

Depression

Others think that if you don’t see someone hurting, the pain is not there. How many times we are able to put a wall up and guard what we feel. Then only the closest to us notice that things are not OK. And that only—if they are willing to peel the layers off and reveal how we really feel. The story begins there. How do you open up to the world with your genuine feelings? Are you able to go out and meet with people, talk, let the emotions flow as they are?

Also, are others willing to receive you for who you are and how you’re feeling? It is one thing to be happy—let that be a genuine happiness or a facade. Then it is another to be feeling down, incomplete, unaccomplished. I think we all go through phases of ups and downs. The difference is in how much somebody wants to make out of themselves.

I’ve been on a path of depression. I lived somewhere that seemed perfectly nice, in tune with nature, but the relationships I had around me were all wrong. I didn’t fit there. And people who I lived with started telling me I was to live somewhere else.

The sad part about it, that the “people” was the partner who I had the baby with. We’ve grown apart to where we hadn’t had one thing in common. I was once a driven entrepreneur who grew into a stay-at-home-mom, did everything with and for the kid, when all of a sudden work descended from heaven, searching for me. And my world’s opened. I started going after what once were my dreams and the rest of the duties came falling down behind me. I moved. My world got more accomplished. His … shattered.

But why do we let things go so far that we only realize what we had once it’s lost? We take things for granted and rarely stop in our morning rush to appreciate we’ve just woken up into another day and a million possibilities to make it count.

One thing that got me through the hardships was writing. Well, the first thing was that I wasn’t even aware of the path I was on. I luckily have a couple of really good friends that we can keep hours of conversations alive. Talking things out helps paint a clearer picture of what’s going on in your head.

The other is, keep moving. Get your pretty little toosh outside and seize what nature has to offer. Go for a walk or a run. Even when it’s raining. Fuel your body with healthy foods and luscious nutrients. Make yourself pretty. Paint the nails. Prepare a spa date for yourself and possibly your girlfriends. Stick some red lipstick on even if you’re only running to the grocery store. Talk things out. Hearing yourself speaking about your feelings might bring an epiphany to what you’re going through and it will be easier for you to push things forward. Dress pretty. It can be a dressy dress or a pair of high heels in combination with leggings and a tunic over. However you decide to present yourself, make it comfortable and your confidence will show through.

If none of this helps, and you know you’re down with your feelings, there is no shame in seeking out professional help. They will point you in the right direction. Though I think, if you’re reading this, you have the willpower on your own to push things in the right direction and make you into a radiant individual that you are.

Five Wonderful Things That Can Happen in Your Life with a Yoga Retreat

Whether you have been fortunate enough to attend a yoga retreat or you are considering attending your first one, you are probably well aware of the many benefits that yoga can provide. But a yoga retreat can be profound, like changing event, one that leaves you forever altered. Although there are lives changing things you might encounter at a yoga retreat, but these are the five wonderful things that can happen in your life with a yoga retreat.

1. Making New Friends

Yoga has a way of bringing people together, of making us view people in a different light. You may come to a yoga retreat with some of your best friends, but you are likely to leave with some new ones, as well. Yoga retreats tend to result in the development of new friendships more often than not, introducing you to people that you have more in common with than you may have initially realized. So be prepared to leave the yoga retreat with new bonds and relationships and lots of smiles.

2. Epiphanies Are Abundant

Yoga retreats offer more time to practice than the typical daily schedule allows, which creates an opportunity for additional “aha!” moments. When you are surrounded by open minded individuals who are on a similar spiritual journey and given the opportunity to switch up your normal daily routine, you can learn things about yourself and the world around you that you never even thought possible. With so much time with yourself away from all distractions, you are bound to have a lot of insights showing you a clear path you must take to fulfill your role and desires.

3. Learn To Live Without A Smartphone

While most will be asking if the venue has a viable Wi-Fi connection the second the idea of a yoga retreat is brought up, many retreat locations do not offer an Internet connection to their patrons or they will have one that is spotty at best. This forces people to put down their smartphones, interact with one another and learn new things, without being able to turn to their phone for help. Instead of gluing your eyes to several different news feeds, filled with useless updates, you can listen to your inner monologue, as well as new thoughts and ideas provided by instructors and classmates. Taking a yoga retreat can be like a social media fast which can be incredibly healing.

4. Seeing New Places

Even if you have already spent a retreat at a certain location, each trip provides a new opportunity to see something new. The spaces you explore might be physical, but they can also be mental, as well. Yoga retreats help us to find the newest destinations in life, but they have the unique ability to provide us with a road map to the unseen destinations in our minds and souls. Sure you can do yoga almost anywhere, but why not take your life on an adventure for example with a yoga retreat in Goa.

5. Increased Joy and Laughter

Yoga retreats are not recommended to those who are overly self-serious people who cannot let their guard down and take a joke. Just about every yoga retreat is packed with moments that will have your sides aching. Yoga leads to acceptance of self and others. Yoga teaches us to let go of the things that we cannot control and with the realization comes increased joy and laughter. Yoga also encourages people to connect with each other and share into each other’s happiness and satisfaction.

Little Known Ways to Spice Up Your Yoga Practice

Have you lacked yoga motivation lately? Perhaps your favorite instructor switched studios, or your schedule has changed and you can’t make your favorite class anymore. Or maybe you’ve reached a plateau in your practice and your regular class feels stale all of a sudden. If you’re going through a period where getting yourself to the studio is more difficult, maybe a change of pace or a new outfit are what you need. Before you pack up all of your gear and head off to buy those cute new leggings you saw, you might consider that yoga itself is not the problem, but the type of yoga you’ve been focusing on is simply getting too repetitive. Maybe all you need is a change in your scenery.

The dramatic increase in popularity of yoga in recent years resulted in exciting new innovations of yoga practice, some less traditional than others. Provided you’re not a strict purist, trying a class from one of the following interpretations might be just the thing to jump start your dedication to the discipline.

Arial Yoga, also known as anti-gravity yoga, uses a soft fabric hammock to perform traditional asana, both on the ground and while suspended in the air. Arial yoga is recommended for all skill levels and uses gravity to reach further into poses than many yogis are capable of in traditional practice. People familiar with Arial yoga rave about it—claiming it is fun, exciting, and that the class time flies by (sorry).

Water Yoga takes a typical yoga session off the mat and places it in the water. The result is low-impact, gentle on the joints, and recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, and people with injuries.

Hip Hop Yoga is yoga set to hip hop instead of silence or new age music. Perhaps listening to Notorious B.I.G. sounds counterintuitive to many who practice yoga, but Hip Hop yoga has a considerable following among the young, hip, and famous crowd. Studios for Hip Hop Yoga generally forgo the typical full-length mirror wall for a wall stickers that read 99 PROBLEMS BUT A BRIDGE AIN’T ONE or A TRIBE CALLED SWEAT.

Doga, or Dog Yoga, allows the dog people among us to practice yoga along with their dogs. Not only are there instructional booklets for how to practice yoga with your dog at home, several studios have popped up around the country specifically for the purpose of allowing people to bring their dogs in to special yoga classes.

Naked yoga isn’t good naked, nor is it necessarily good yoga; and yet here we are. Evidently, there are a considerable number of people out there who aren’t afraid of bending over naked in front of a studio full of people. Maybe it’s more comfortable for them that way. Maybe they are afraid of pants. In any case, good for them! Naked yoga: it’s not for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay.

Have you tried an unusual form of yoga? What was your experience like?