Yoga Journal

a warm welcome

THE LONG, DARK DAYS of winter can make us feel tired, sluggish, and reluctant to leave our warm beds to unroll our mats. But this time of year is also an opportunity to rest, reflect, and recharge. So I invite you to make a cup of tea, curl up under a blanket, and enjoy this issue, which we’ve curated to help you make the most of our annual season of hibernation. One of the best ways to beat the winter doldrums is to generate heat—and we’ve got a few ways to help you do that. In “Modern Vinyasa for the Masses” (page 56), yoga teacher Calvin Corzine takes you through an energizing sequence that will open and strengthen your body (and probably help you work up a bit of a sweat).…

life on the inside

THREE YEARS ago, Oneika Mays began a new job as a mindfulness coach. She hung tapestries on her office walls, laid down oversized yoga mats, and prepared to start advising visitors. But Mays doesn’t work at a yoga studio or a wellness center. She is the first mindfulness coach at Rikers Island in New York, one of the country’s largest and most notorious jails. In her role, the Brooklyn–based yoga instructor and massage therapist works with inmates to help them cope with being jailed and to gather the emotional tools they will need to re-enter their communities when they are eventually released. An Inner Conversation At the 413-acre complex, Mays spends most of her time working in the women’s jail and in the facilities for transgender inmates. She leads a few group meditation…

your time to shine

practice I spent the majority of 2020 in a wheelchair and learning to walk again. So excited to continue my practice and begin teaching!—WHITNEY SCHROEDERWorking toward conquering my fear of Headstands! —MELANIE FERNANDEZI would like to start volunteer-teaching simple poses, maybe chair yoga, to older people at a senior center or living facility. —MARY CAREY teach About a month ago, my husband expressed some interest in doing yoga for the first time. Now, every morning we do yoga together. I look forward to us inspiring each other in 2022. —JULIE HOLDERYoga saved my sanity this past year. In 2022, I’m excited to start teaching (I’m about to get certified!) so I can share this gift with others. —SARAH CAHILL connect I’m in recovery and took the plunge to journal and adhere to a daily yoga…

beauty bar

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3 ways to soothe a sore throat

HERBS When illness or allergies strike, you want to feel better ASAP. Herbal teas and gargles can provide quick, soothing, all-natural relief from throat pain and irritation. Sage The aromatic herb’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties help it calm a raw, red throat and heal bacterial infections such as strep. Mix 2–4 fresh sage leaves (or a teaspoon of dried), a squeeze of lemon, and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water. Steep for several minutes. Drink this blend warm as a tea, or let it cool and use as a gargle. Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm Bark These plants are demulcents—soothing agents that protect mucous membranes and relieve irritation—that also combat inflammation. Stir a teaspoon each of powdered marshmallow and powdered elm bark into a cup of hot water or make…

drive on

YOGA IS LARGELY about relationships—to your practice, to yourself, and to your community. Collecting donations for shelters or delivering food to front-line workers is a powerful way for teachers, students, and studio communities to connect through service (seva). These tips will help ensure your good intentions have the most impact. DON'T ASSUME, ASK If you select an organization to support, ask them which items are in demand. The answer might not be what you expect, says Susan Sanow, a senior manager at Volunteer Fairfax in Virginia. In-demand items often include cleaning supplies, diapers, and personal-care products. “Go out and talk to the people you intend to benefit,” adds Nelson Barry, who founded the non-profit Urban Angels SF in 2015. The organization’s volunteers conduct weekly “angel runs,” or deliveries of meals, clothing, and love…