When I meditate more than an hour per day, I sleep less. During yoga and meditation retreats with many hours of daily practice, I notice an even more substantial drop in the time needed for sleep. And it isn’t just me. Meditators all over the world have the same experience. But is there solid science…
Balancing poses in yoga are beneficial in many ways. For example, they strengthen your core muscles, tone connective tissue and train your nervous system. Here is an overview of everything you get out of practising balance poses. Why yoga poses are suitable for balance training Balance is a fundamental skill; without it, we couldn’t even…
It can be a challenge to stay awake in the deep state of relaxation that yoga nidra brings. Sleeping can be frustrating, and you might think you are wasting your time. Some even wonder if falling into deep unconscious sleep could be risky. In this post, I will explain everything you need to know about…
Is there a time of the day that is particularly good for pranayama (yogic breathing exercises)? If so, how much does the hour of the day influence your practice, and are there other factors that matter more? I will give you the answer without further ado. All else being equal, the best time of the…
Swami Sivananda was one of the masters that shaped yoga as we know it today. Thousands of yoga teachers have been trained within his tradition, and his methods are taught worldwide. But what kind of yoga is Sivananda Yoga? In this post, I will explain his core teachings and compare them to other styles. Sivananda…
Some want yoga to be part of the Olympic games. For others, yoga is a path to enlightenment. Yet others still ask themselves whether it is a religion. How do you make sense of all these contradictions? Let’s examine the ideas people have about yoga to see how it all fits together. Is yoga a…
There is a host of pranayamas out there. But how many of them are unique and not just the same practice with a different name? In this post, you get an overview of all pranayamas, and I will help you understand the fundamentals they are built on. Based on that, you will see how many…
Yoga retreats cost money, and they require you to be away from work and family. Is it then valid to ask if they are worth your while? Since I have participated in many yoga retreats, and I have organized more than twenty myself (and helped others run plenty more), I’ll tell you what I think….
Have you ever wondered how many yoga poses there are in total? I have, so I had a look at how many yoga poses you find mentioned in famous yogic texts. That way, I got a good overview of the number of poses recognised both in the old days and in present times. Here is…
How come it is so easy for some people to get up early and get their yoga done before starting the day? As it turns out, your habits and lifestyle have a significant impact on how effortlessly you can get out of bed when your alarm rings. Here are eleven strategic lifestyle changes that will…
With Forceful Tranquility you get comprehensive yoga and meditation sessions.