From vinyasa to hatha, there are many different types of yoga suited for different goals. Today we will cover the eight different types of yoga and their individual benefits. Read on for information on yoga and learn which one is right for you! When we say “yoga” you may picture a bunch of different poses in a hot room with tranquil music in the background. While you’re not wrong to imagine this setup, there is much more to yoga – and many different types of yoga – that you might not know about! And our favorite fact: while widely known for it’s stretching and stress relieving properties, yoga can also provide a killer workout! A short history of yoga Before we dive into the different types of yoga, we’ll cover a brief history of yoga. Yoga has been around for thousands of years and most major historical institutions believe that yoga originated in around 3000 BCE. The word “yoga” encompases much more than stretching, yoga was originally created as a spiritual practice that included working …

Meditation is an ancient practice that has been around for hundreds of years, but in the years of social media it has been popularized worldwide. Many wellness influencers and bloggers have touted meditation as their key for reducing stress, but meditation has many other benefits. According to Psychology Today, “the word meditation stems from meditatum, a Latin term that means ‘to ponder.’ Through the practice of meditation, we can seek to find a better connection with our body in the everyday moments that we often let pass us by, and create stronger awareness for how our emotions influence our behavior.” If you’re interested in meditation, but want to know more about the benefits, read on. There are so many reasons to start incorporating meditation into your daily routine. But the hardest part of starting a meditation practice is the actually getting started. The most frequent complaints about starting a meditation practice are time constraints and people being generally unsure if they’re doing it correctly. When people get frustrated that they’re not “doing it right”, they’re …

Picture this: you wake up in the morning and instead of reaching for your phone first thing, you reach one arm up in the air, stretching your spine gently. You repeat with the other arm, and immediately feel your mobility increase. Congrats! You’ve started your morning stretching routine and are on your way to a restful day. Unfortunately, most people do not start their day with some morning stretching, but instead dive right toward their cell phones. Deloitte shows that 43 percent of people check their phones within five minutes of waking up, and 17 percent check their phones immediately after opening their eyes. Using your phone first thing in the morning can have negative effects on your overall productivity. Kick that habit to the curb and start your day a new way, with some light morning stretching. Not sure how to start your morning stretching? We’ve got you covered. We also cover stretching in depth throughout the blog, so if you want more stretching content, check out: Static vs Dynamic Stretching, The Benefits of …

After a year that forced us to spend more time indoors, in our home, than we ever had before, the world turned away from typical comforts like going out for a movie and had to invent new rituals for self care. We were all isolated separately, our routines were shaken up and taking care of our mental health became more important than ever. During upheaval it’s natural to turn to comfort, and the demand for self care ideas rose. According to Healio self care isn’t a fad that’s going away anytime soon, 80 percent of Americans intend to regularly practice self-care after COVID-19 pandemic. And why should it? Taking care of yourself is a great method of improving quality of life. But not everyone practices self care in the same ways! What works for one person, might not work for another. So if you’re looking for self care ideas for women, from women, look no further. What is Self Care? The World Health Organization defines self care as “the ability of individuals, families and communities …

People have been performing massage therapy since before 3000 BCE. Historical evidence points to massage therapy originating in India as a form of sacred natural healing, and it has since evolved over the ages. Now there are many different styles with different benefits (over 13 different popular styles in the US alone!) The four most popular types of massage are shiatsu massage, swedish massage, deep tissue and sports massage. Shiatsu Massage Shiatsu Massage is used to improve energy flow and to reduce stress. Shiatsu stimulates acupressure points with localized pressure applied in a rhythmic sequence. Shiatsu massage is commonly used to ease pain and lack of mobility in the neck, shoulders and upper back. Swedish Massage Swedish Massage is a massage for full body relaxation. This method uses broad, then specific strokes for problem areas. Swedish massage is a very common massage style, often found in spa settings because of its pleasing and relaxing effect on the human body.  Deep Tissue Deep tissue massage is a focused, therapeutic massage. This method targets muscle knots and …

Picture this: you wake up in the morning and instead of reaching for your phone first thing, you reach one arm up in the air, stretching your spine gently. You repeat with the other arm, and immediately feel your mobility increase. Congrats! You’ve started your morning stretching routine and are on your way to a restful day. Unfortunately, most people do not start their day with some morning stretching, but instead dive right toward their cell phones. Deloitte shows that 43 percent of people check their phones within five minutes of waking up, and 17 percent check their phones immediately after opening their eyes. Using your phone first thing in the morning can have negative effects on your overall productivity. Kick that habit to the curb and start your day a new way, with some light morning stretching. Not sure how to start your morning stretching? We’ve got you covered. Start with an Upward Stretch Interlace your hands and press your palms straight up. Make sure to squeeze your biceps in toward your ears and …