Friday, September 24, 2021

Transforming Depression into Compassion (Guided Meditation)

If you or someone you love is struggling with severe depression then this free guided meditation might help. It can be an intense meditation though, so use it mindfully and according to your needs. If you need to pause or even quit the meditation, please feel free to do that as well.

How to STOP Thinking About Your Breathing

Photo by Cooper Baumgartner on Unsplash

A not so common issue when we start pranayama, breathwork, or when we simply do mindful breathing during a yoga class, is that sometimes it seems that we forget how to breathe. This can feel very uncomfortable and preoccupying. So here are a few simple tips to stop thinking about the breath and to allow it to become natural again.

How to do Diaphragmatic Breathing: 7 Simple Exercises [with Script in PDF]

For most people, belly breathing is very easy to learn. Diaphragmatic breathing, on the other side, requires a bit more practice.

So in this blog, I'll share with you a sequence of simple breathing exercises that you can practice to do diaphragmatic breathing properly.

Belly Breathing vs. Diaphragmatic Breathing: What is the Difference?

Although belly breathing is usually equated to diaphragmatic breathing, offering a long list of benefits, there are some limitations to it that are rarely known. Belly breathing can actually be detrimental in some aspects and it does not necessarily engage the diaphragm to its full extent.

Diaphragmatic breathing, on the other side, is not only the foundation for meditation and pranayama practices but is also crucial for our mental and physical health and even for physical performance. So let's discover what is the difference between belly breathing and diaphragmatic breathing and which one is best.

How to Sit for Meditation and Pranayama [with a Straight Back]

Sitting comfortably with the back straight and upright is one of the most important requirements for meditation and pranayama. Unfortunately, this is a skill that takes years to develop. But we can make this journey easier by adapting the posture to the limitations of our bodies. Here are a few ways to achieve just that.

5 Reasons to Sit Straight and Upright for Meditation (and Pranayama)

Photo by Max on Unsplash

If you've ever attended a meditation or a pranayama class you might recall the teacher asking you to sit with the back straight and upright. But why? Why is it important to sit with the back upright? Can we just lay down for meditation instead? I will try to give you a clear answer in this blog.

The Problem with Meditation Apps. Do We Really Need Them?

Photo by processingly on Unsplash

I know, there is an app for everything, but do we really need an app to meditate? I've always had my reservations to use or even recommend any meditation apps, and I have very good reasons. But nowadays I might be changing my opinion. Let me explain.

This is Why I didn't Stay in an Ashram in Varanasi

Beginning of this year, I visited one of the most iconic cities in India: Varanasi. One of my intentions was to stay in an ashram in the holy city, but that proved to be difficult. In the end, I had no choice but to stay in a guesthouse. This is what happened.

I Visited Lahiri Mahasaya and Babaji's Cave Temple in Varanasi

If you want to experience the most authentic spiritual India and the most impressive Ganga aarti, then you have to visit Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India. But what truly motivated me to visit this city earlier this year, is the stories of Indian yogis (such as Lahiri Mahasaya) who walked its streets more than 100 years ago.

Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash

Today is a special day in India called Guru Purnima, a day when all gurus are honored. To understand what exactly is Guru Purnima, why it is celebrated, how it is celebrated, and what foreigners can do on this day I decided to reach out to my friend Arvind Pare, a well known Vedanta teacher based in Mysore, India.