Meditation And Yoga Blog

woman lying in savasana corpse pose from behind
Eastern Philosophy

The Scientific Benefits Of Savasana

Savasana, also known as the corpse pose, is often considered the most relaxing yet deceptively challenging yoga posture. While it may appear simple—lying flat on your back, eyes closed, and fully relaxed—the profound benefits of savasana extend beyond mere physical rest. This pose bridges the mind and body, offering a scientifically-backed gateway to mental and physical rejuvenation.

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mother father and son meditating on a sofa
Mindfulness & Meditation

How to Practice Meditation: 12 Easy Steps for Beginners

Meditation is a powerful tool for enhancing mental and physical health, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being.  If you’re wondering how to practice meditation, but it seems difficult or overwhelming, you’re not alone!  Many beginners are eager to learn the steps to meditation and kick start a simple practice.

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woman's back meditating at home
Mindfulness & Meditation

12 Scientific Research Studies On The Benefits Of Meditation

Meditation, an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, has gained significant attention in recent decades as a subject of scientific research. Researchers worldwide continue to study the benefits of meditation, investigating its effects on stress reduction, cognitive function, emotional regulation, and different aspects of physical health.

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man looking jealous at 2 colleaugues
Daily Life

How To Stop Being Jealous

Learning how to stop being jealous isn’t about eliminating this emotion entirely but understanding it and shifting our mindset towards gratitude and perspective. Here’s how you can stop jealousy from consuming you by focusing on gratitude and acknowledging that we never truly know what’s happening in someone else’s life.

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corporate man meditating in office
Mindfulness & Meditation

Meditation For Burnout: Combating Stigma and Symptoms

The corporate world, with its constant deadlines, high expectations, and ever-increasing workload, can easily lead to burnout—a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion that can severely impact productivity, creativity, and overall quality of life.  Enter meditation for burnout.

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Meditation on the cliffs
Eastern Philosophy

Yoga Teachers: Why Practice And Teach Meditation?

There is a growing demand for meditation classes, and as Yoga Teachers, we have a responsibility to bring strength and balance to our students’ minds, as well as their bodies.  To achieve this you should learn to teach meditation properly, because as you should have learned on your 200 hours yoga teacher training course, yoga is NOT only about the asana yoga poses.

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Charlie holding The Dhammapada
Eastern Philosophy

The 5 Spiritual Books That Changed My Life

In deciding what order to put these spiritual books in, I chose to go with the order in which I read them, as it’s difficult to rank them in order of preference.  Each one came to me at a time when I needed it the most, and each has had a profound impact on my life. 

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Corporate meditation seminars female
Mindfulness & Meditation

Corporate Meditation: Reshaping the World of Work

In today’s frantic and fast-paced corporate world, stress has become a ubiquitous presence. It’s a silent enemy that creeps into the lives of employees, affecting their productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. However, many forward-thinking companies are now turning to an ancient practice to combat modern-day stress, signing up for corporate meditation.

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Charlie benefits of smiling
Daily Life

The Disadvantages and Benefits of Smiling

Due to my research on the benefits of smiling, the current wallpaper and screensaver on my phone, is a simple white screen with the text ‘SMILE’ on it.  I created it to remind me to smile, because I realized that I don’t smile enough at other people.  As you’ll discover, the topic of smiling caused arguments between my husband and I, and was something I had reason to actively not do when I was younger.

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yoga mantras and affirmations
Eastern Philosophy

Yoga Mantras And Affirmations In Practice

Yoga mantras and affirmations are being used more and more in meditation and yoga practices, as a powerful tool to enhance the overall practice, offering a myriad of benefits for the mind, body, and spirit.  Both Sanskrit mantras and affirmations have their unique qualities and advantages, contributing to a deeper, more transformative experience. 

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200 hours yoga teacher training group
Teaching Yoga

10 Tips: Which 200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training To Choose

If you’re wondering how to become a yoga teacher then the simple answer is certifying on a Yoga Alliance 200 hours yoga teacher training course.  However, deciding which 200 hours YTT to choose, is a significant decision that will determine the kind of yoga teacher you’re going to be, and the progress of your own yoga practice. 

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gayatri mantra meditation sun
Eastern Philosophy

Complete Guide To The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is the most revered and ancient mantra from the Rig Veda, considered the oldest text in the world, from the Vedic period of Indian history.  The mantra is dedicated to Savitur, the sun deity, and is composed in the Vedic meter (rhythm) called Gayatri, hence it’s name.

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what yoga style
Yoga & Pranayama

What Yoga Style Is Best For Me? Top 10 Yoga Styles.

Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, has evolved over the years, into a multitude of styles, each catering to various needs and objectives, depending on the society around them.  Yoga has evolved with the environment that it’s in, and with emerging scientific and medical research.  Whether you’re seeking physical, mental or spiritual benefits, there’s a yoga style that will suit you.  

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Charlie on a meditation cushion with hand raised for meditating
Mindfulness & Meditation

How To Use Finger Line Counting For Meditation

Let’s say that you don’t have your mala mantra beads with you, or you need a more tactile anchor to bring you back to your point of focus, well using finger line counting for meditation is the technique that’s been used for just this, for thousands of years. 

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why 108 is important
Eastern Philosophy

A Comprehensive Guide To Why The Number 108 Is So Important

In the rich tapestry of Indian culture, there are many reasons why the number 108 holds profound and mystical meanings. So why is the number 108 so important?  From ancient traditions to modern spiritual practices, this number is woven into the fabric of various rituals, philosophies, and symbolic representations, in other cultures as well.

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yoga for kids training
Teaching Yoga

Meditation and Yoga for Kids with Anxiety

For the last 15 years I have been teaching meditation and yoga for kids (specializing in Autism, ADHD and Anxiety), and have seen the positive effects it can have. Through working with children of 4-16 years old and their parents, using different yoga, breathing, meditation and mindfulness techniques, we have been able to reduce their medication, ease their anxiety, and increase their quality of life.  The increase in stimulation, technology, and social media, in modern life, play a big role in these issues. 

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Mindful listening for critical thinking and problem-solving
Daily Life

7 Mindful Listening Exercises To Enhance Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

In today’s fast-paced and information-saturated world, critical thinking and problem-solving are more important than ever.  With the rise in technology and visual stimulation, the art and importance of listening has slipped into the background. This often undervalued skill can significantly contribute to critical thinking and problem-solving, and enhance our daily lives. 

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what are mala beads
Eastern Philosophy

What Are Mala Beads, How To Use Them, And Why?

In this comprehensive guide on mala beads, I will explain what they are, how to use them, why they’re beneficial, and what they have to do with poop!  Learn how to choose, use, and integrate mala beads into your meditation practice for enhanced focus, peace, and spiritual connection. 

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meditation mantras
Mindfulness & Meditation

My 7 Mantras for Meditation

My students often ask me what my favourite meditation mantra is.  I don’t have one in particular and tend to rotate between the following seven depending on my mood and situation.  In this article I share with you my seven favourite mantras for meditation that have resonated with me, and help me in my day-to-day, each carrying its own spiritual significance.

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eight limbs of yoga patanjali
Eastern Philosophy

The Eight Limbs Of Yoga: Past and Present

The Eight Limbs of Yoga are sequential stages in an individual’s journey through yoga.  According to Patanjali, each step must be understood and followed in order to attain the ultimate goal of Ashtanga yoga, that of liberation of the self.  However, over the last few centuries, as yoga became available to more people, and evolved with the modern world, the strict adherence to perfecting one step before moving on to the next, disappeared.

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3 minutes for a happier life short
Mindfulness & Meditation

Daily Happiness 3 Minutes Meditation

This 3 minutes meditation can be done by adults and kids who are able to write.  It is not your usual gratefulness or journaling exercise, but a more profound meditation, which although incredibly simple, can lead to a happier life. 

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Love without attachment
Eastern Philosophy

Can You Love Without Attachment?

Many students and clients have expressed concern about this topic, so rest assured that Yogic and Buddhist philosophy tell us that we can love without attachment.  However this can be confusing because there is a strong emphasis in Eastern philosophy on the practice of non-attachment.  We are encouraged to not attach ourselves

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3 meditating women animation
Mindfulness & Meditation

7 Common Myths About Meditation Debunked

Many people are put off by the idea of meditation, even though they know it’s good for them. Here I’m going to debunk these common myths about meditation, and convince the haters to give it a go.

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Living Yoga 108 Philosophy Cards
Mindfulness & Meditation

Living Yoga 108 Philosophy Cards

There are 108 cards with quotes from the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras and more, with interpretations, contemplations or meditations on the  other side, to help bring the philosophy of yoga into your daily life. Almost 4000 years of wisdom from Yoga’s major texts, split into 5 colors, and making its philosophy more relatable.

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WARNING
Teaching Yoga

WARNING on Kids Yoga Training Courses

Looking to take a kids yoga teacher training course?  Then make sure you READ this first! There are yoga schools that will tell you that it is not necessary to do the RCYT course if you want to teach yoga to children.

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charlie meditating by lake

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