Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Yoga Teacher

Have you ever felt like a fraud while teaching yoga?  I have. Despite being well prepared, I struggled with self-doubt and felt inadequate. I didn’t even know this had a name: Imposter Syndrome.  Luckily, the cure is surprisingly simple, although it took me forever to realize.  Let me share my story.

I Started a NON-Gratitude Journal. It's Changed My Life

I know, everybody recommends having some form of gratitude practice like for instance a gratitude journal.  There are countless videos and blogs talking about it. There is even scientific research proving the mental and physical benefits of having a gratitude practice.  

Yet, instead of writing a gratitude journal, I've decided to keep a non-gratitude journal. Instead of focusing on what I feel grateful about I've decided to focus on what I don't feel grateful about.  

STOP Delaying Happiness: You can choose to be Happy TODAY

Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash

A couple of years ago my friend Sophie, who is now a Buddhist nun, asked me in a text message, "How is your happiness going, Marco?"

I didn't answer anything because the truth is that at that moment I wasn't feeling very happy. As a matter of fact, I had not been feeling happy for a very long time. And the pandemic had made matters even worst, as you can imagine.

The Secrets of the Soham (Haṁsa) Mantra: Its Meaning, Benefits and Purpose

One of the most common types of meditations taught in India as part of the tradition of the Indian yogis is mantra meditation.  And the most important universal mantra that anybody can use for meditation is the so'ham or haṁsa mantra. 

What's significant about this mantra is that you don't need to receive any type of initiation to practice it.  It belongs to you, to me, and to all of us.  It is a powerful mantra and its meaning, purpose, and benefits are profound.  

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.

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.

What is Guru Purnima and How it is Celebrated

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.  

The Beauty of Silence: Learning to Live Without Distractions

I know, this might sound like a strange question but don't you ever feel the need to switch off all distractions and just focus on what you are doing?

I mean, today's technology offers us endless options to keep ourselves busy even while doing mindless tasks.  We have education, information, and entertainment at the reach of our fingertips, and available 24/7.  

I totally love that.  But what if we just put our devices down and simply stay in silence?

Ashtanga Yoga Opening and Closing Chants [Free PDF Download]

One of my favorite things about practicing ashtanga yoga in Mysore is to experience the opening and closing chants that we recite during each yoga class.

Just imagine the beautiful energy that is created when twenty, thirty, fifty people or so, from all around the world, recite these Sanskrit mantras with energy, devotion, and dedication. It's really inspiring.

So I decided to look for an online video to learn the proper Sanskrit pronunciation of these mantras. Unfortunately, the quality of all the videos I found is... let's say, not the best.

Learning the Secrets of Yoga with Guruji BNS Iyengar in Mysore

This February I was very fortunate to join a yoga philosophy and pranayama course with the living legend, BNS Iyengar, in Mysore. It was a priceless experience and I'm really excited to share it with you. Studying with Guruji felt like traveling back in time to learn the secrets of this traditional and authentic yoga, old-school style.

My Six Months Yoga Journey in India [Mysore and Rishikesh]

I had so many wonderful experiences during my recent six months yoga journey in India, from Sep 2018 till Mar 2019. I spent one month in Rishikesh and five months in Mysore.  But somehow I feel as if I learned a lot more and was more productive in Rishikesh compared to Mysore. Why? Let me explain.

How the Search for the Ultimate Truth Led Me to Yoga

When I was a little kid I always struggled to pay attention at school. I was usually lost in my own thoughts. Driven perhaps by a habit acquired from a past life, there was one particular thought that I use to think about over and over again.

Why I Quit My Job Three Times and Then Never Came Back

I had just found a new well-paid corporate job abroad. It was a remarkable achievement, but even before day one, I had already decided that I was going to quit. I gave myself three years before giving everything up to follow a crazy dream.

How Love, Faith and Determination Brought Me to Belgium

It was tough for me to go back home after a year living in India. After such a life-changing experience I couldn't just go back to "normal."  I felt out of place. I felt as if I didn't fit anymore. I was feeling homesick for another country.

This is Why 2005 Became the Best Year of My Life

In January 2005 I had decided to quit my job to travel to the other side of the world. My destination was India. What an experience! But you won't believe how that year came to an end. I took one of the most important decisions of my life, and I also had a little surprise.

Why I Chose Yoga Instead of Buddhism

For a long time, I felt very attracted to Buddhism, which is in many ways connected to yoga. That's why I'd decided to visit a Buddhist monastery in Nepal. One of the best experiences I've ever had, but once I was there I also realized that Buddhism is not really my path.

True Story: I Seriously Considered Becoming a Monk

Yes, I'm being real. I seriously considered becoming a monk. I had this romantic idea of giving everything up and dedicating my time fully to the spiritual path. Crazy, isn't it? Well, let me tell you the whole story.