I’ve come to realize that teaching yoga in a trauma-informed way is more important now than ever.

Our world is shaped by systems of oppression and trauma that strip agency and choice from our daily lives.

I have been teaching yoga for seven years now, and as I become more skillful every year, there are a few tenets of teaching yoga āsana I return to again and again. 

1. Get to know your students and make them feel like a true community.
   This is foundational. Without our students, we would not be teachers.

This is one of my favorite practices when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed. And as someone with anxiety, I have a whole toolkit!

Bharmar means “bee” and in this practice, you imitate the same deep, low-pitched humming sound of a bee. This sound vibration creates a soothing effect on the mind and nervous system.

Om or Aum is a beej mantra, a sacred sound, symbol, and Upanishad. Om serves as a sonic representation of the divine and is referred to as “Pranava” or the cosmic sound. It is said to encapsulate all of past, present, and future.

When we chant OM (the practice of japa), we connect to the universal frequencies and vibrations, promoting harmony and balance.

By cultivating an attitude of friendship towards those who are happy, compassion towards those in distress, joy toward those who are virtuous, and equanimity toward those who are nonvirtuous, lucidity arises in the mind.

In this yoga sutra, Patanjali outlines a practice essential for enhancing the sattvic quality of our minds, a prerequisite for having a steady, undisturbed, and clear mind.

This is news I have been holding in for a while and it feels incredible to be able to share it now.

This book aims to share how yoga is a spiritual path of uncovering who you truly are and how you can transform yourself while healing the collective. Who are you under the layers of social construction?

Here are four ways to practice yoga more responsibly with reverence and mindfulness.

1. Acknowledge the roots of yoga and where it comes from: originating from the Indian subcontinent 2500+ years back. Take time to understand the origins and history of these traditions and practices.

Loneliness and I go way back. Although it has been a tumultuous relationship throughout.

I can’t say the first time loneliness paid a call, but it has been a frequent visitor in the internal house of my emotions. For most of my life, loneliness also brought along sadness, shame, and intense insecurity with it as its companions.

This is a big topic in yoga and rightly so.

Cultural appropriation is defined as when a member of a dominant culture takes one aspect of a culture that is not their own and uses it for their own personal interest or profit, without regard for the context or respect or even acknowledgment of the culture it’s taking from. Sound familiar?

We need to decolonize our understanding of the word “community” and redefine its meaning not only in theory but most importantly, in practice. When a teacher orders their students to introduce themselves to each other before class, that is not building community. When a teacher asks why we are so serious, it is not building community. It’s just negging.

I write this because it serves as an important reminder to myself that I have done the inner work to not only love and accept my body but not to base my sole worth based on how my body looks.

A reminder: my body is my own and not for others to make comments on or put their judgments on.

Yesterday was my uncle’s funeral. My uncle — my mom’s oldest brother — a funny man but also an alcoholic…

Let’s talk about anxiety.

This is something I have struggled with since college but it only reared its ugly head 2 years ago when I was going through a rough time.

During college, it was always low lying. The voice would come in or the sensation of something isn’t quite right would set in…

I consider myself a self-aware person. I’ve been practicing yoga and meditation for the last three years. I journal every day. I’ve been working with my therapist for the last 2 ½ years. I read countless self-help, business, and spirituality books. I stopped drinking alcohol a year ago when I noticed how much more improved my life was without it. I treat my body right with clean food and I prioritize my mental health…

My secret weapon (or not so secret anymore) is this Moleskin journal.

I started writing every day almost 2.5 years ago when my anxiety was out of control and I couldn’t find any strategy to calm it down. Thoughts were constantly racing through my mind and I felt bogged down by my concerns. Finally, out of frustration and desperation, I pulled out a piece of paper and poured the contents of my brain out by furiously writing.

I haven’t had a drop of alcohol in over six months now.

Since I started drinking at the age of 18, I can’t remember the last time I went over a week without drinking. College normalized this and then working full-time (especially in marketing and sales) supported this behavior continuing.