Yoga Journal

letter from the editor

THE FIRST TIME I was told I suffered from depression and anxiety was in college. After months of feeling down and on edge, I booked an appointment at the student health center. The doctor listened to my symptoms—a crushing sense of hopelessness, months-long bouts of insomnia, and paralyzing panic attacks—then scribbled out a prescription for Prozac (it was 1996, after all) and sent me on my way. Antidepressants helped me, and they—along with other mood-stabilizing medications—have saved the lives of several people I know. But in hindsight, I wish the university doctor had suggested other tools to employ alongside the pills, such as exercise, talk therapy, and yoga. Over the past 25 years, I’ve learned to lean in to all of those aids when my symptoms have peaked, but the last…

our contributors share how they build resilence

WRITE LOVE NOTES TO THE DIVINE Penning letters to a greater, loving force helps me build resilience. Try it: Take a few moments to ground yourself with deep breaths and stillness. From this settled place, write a love note. Start it with Dear Source, God, Love, Natural Order… use whatever name resonates with you. Express your gratitude for miracles around you and within you—for a heart that beats on its own, for the majestic neurological system that protects and informs you, or for specific challenges you’ve overcome. List as many examples as you can in five minutes. Let this practice remind you how little your beautiful life requires your control or intervention. You’ve bounced back and grown from hardship before, and you will again, naturally. Cultivating awe and gratitude inspires peace…

navigate the drama of eclipse season

May Expect steady energy in early May, thanks to solid and secure Taurus. Be mindful to set boundaries around consuming information, communicating with others, and sharing your ideas with discernment. This would be a great time to revisit the first two limbs of yoga—the yamas and niyamas—for ethical guidance. Try journaling on ahimsa (nonharming), aparigraha (nongrasping), and satya (truthfulness). On May 11, we welcome a new moon. This is a beautiful time to find a place—in nature or simply space in your heart—that makes you feel calm in order to manifest your deepest desires. Meditate and become aware of how your desire connects to your community and how it expands resources for all, not just you. On May 13, Jupiter enters Pisces, allowing us to connect with our divine intuition. Much like…

nature’s rx: grow your green thumb

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3 ways to ease insomina

ASANA Taking your head below your heart reverses the usual relationship your body has with gravity, focusing your attention and serving as a tonic for a tired mind. In inversions that require greater physical effort (think Headstand), the breath becomes modulated and spreads feelings of wellbeing and grounding throughout the body, which can help you sleep. Try Viparita Karani (Legs-up-the-Wall Pose), Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand), Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend), Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend), and Janu Sirsasana (Head-of-the-Knee Pose). These can be done at any time of day, as people who experience sleeplessness tend to feel stress around the clock. —KIM WEEKS, E-RYT 500, YACEP, and Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher MINDFULNESS MEDITATION The harder you try to sleep, the more stressed you become about your missed slumber … which makes you feel more frazzled and less…

deepen your practice

MEDITATION 101 WHAT ARE MOVING MEDITATIONS? Moving meditations can take many forms, but walking slowly and consciously is a friendly entry point. Destination, distance, and pace are all incidental—each step is your focal point. Relax your arms at your sides and move freely, coordinating your breath with your steps. Choose a setting you love such as the beach, a favorite park, or a beautiful meadow. The meditation is your complete involvement in the action of walking. —Mara Carrico, author of Yoga Journal’s Yoga Basics and Fitness Yoga: A Guide for Fitness Professionals from the American Council on Exercise TEACHER TIP THE POWER OF PAUSE: CREATE CALM FOR YOUR STUDENTS When I first started teaching yoga, I wanted to live up to the poetic prowess of my own teachers, who guided expertly themed, philosophically rich asana practices.…