3 reasons why you won’t regret signing up for online yoga

I was skeptical too. How can online yoga be as good as in person? But what I found is that online yoga is different…and better than in person in some ways! I’ve been teaching and practicing online since March 2020. I’ve seen the students that attend my online classes go deeper into their yoga practice — in ways that weren’t possible in person. My personal practice has also gone to another level by attending online recorded classes and practicing on my own. I believe, having in person and online will always be a part of my life now. If you’re new to online yoga— Here are 3 reasons why you won’t regret signing up for my Online Yoga Membership:

Consistency: When people sign up for my online yoga Membership, I sure see a lot of them! You see, it can be easier to turn on the computer or ipad, than it is to get in the car and drive across town. I’ve noticed that people stick with the Membership and people show up. I also have seen this in myself! Since I started practicing at home in 2020, my practice is way more consistent. It’s rare day that I don’t do a yoga class. Being able to practice at home, saves a lot of time. On most days, no matter what I’m doing, I have at least 30 to 60 minutes to dedicate myself to the practice.

Creativity: I’ve found that online yoga can be a creative space because people have more chance for exploration. You can modify a pose, do a different posture, stay in a posture longer or come out of pose—This allows more freedom of expression of what self-care means to you on that day. I’ve noticed in myself, that I’m more tuned into my body and my practice. Doing classes online has given me more initiative to create a practice that suits me best in the moment. I feel more in touch with myself doing online yoga.

Community: My online classes are small, and we get to talk more than we would in a larger in person class. I also get to connect to people through emails and text messages, and get to know people in a different way. Through my online teaching, I feel I connect with people more. We keep in touch and check in. Being online also gives us access to create communities—my chair yoga classes are attended by people that don’t live in my town. It’s given a way for my family members in different cities to attend my classes, and then invite their friends in different areas. The online yoga space gives us a chance to create our own communities!

Teaching online yoga and taking online classes has opened my world, and expanded my teaching and my practice! I bring all this up to let you know, I understand if you have some doubts about practicing yoga online. I did too, and now I’m so happy I took the plunge and started online learning! You can join me in the AcuYogini Online Membership and try it for yourself! I teach 5 classes a week of Yin, Chair, and Gentle Yoga, and you can attend Live or watch the Replay. I’m offering a new student special this month—CLICK HERE to sign up and use coupon code: FREEMONTH at check out for a free month of yoga!

4 reasons why Metta Loving Kindness Meditation will change your life

I practice Metta, or Loving Kindness Meditation, to take good care of myself, which then helps me take good care of others. Metta is a Pali word that translates as friendliness. Metta Meditation is about creating a friendly or a kind attitude towards yourself, people, and the planet. It often involves silently saying phrases such as “may you be happy, may you be well, may you be safe.” You can listen to a Metta Meditation I created by CLICKING HERE. I’ve found this style of meditation helpful these past two years. To cultivate feelings of compassion towards yourself and others can be a radical act.

How can Metta Meditation change your life?

1.) Concentration. Have you been feeling distracted? Overwhelmed? Life got way more complicated these past two years, with all the changes, twists and turns. Also, as technology continues to grow and alert us, there is more to focus on at once. Meditation is a way to let the mind focus on just one thing. It may sound simple, but that is different than the way most of us are being asked to engage in the world. In Metta Meditation, you let your mind settle on the words you are saying. Words create feelings and vibrations in the body. You might try it right now: say the word—PEACE to yourself a few times. How does that center your mind? How does it feel in your body?

2.) Re-Wiring. Us humans are creatures that are designed to look for the danger. That helped us out when we were running away from animals that wanted to eat us years and years ago. Times have changed and we don’t need to be in this state of sympathetic “fight or flight” activation all the time, but our bodies react the same way. I’ve heard so many people, myself included, start to say negative self talk when things don’t go as planned. As I mentioned in the last paragraph, words create feelings in the body. Why not change the narrative to a positive one and see what happens? The next time you feel you’ve made a “mistake” instead of talking down to yourself, try holding yourself in the field of Metta and say to yourself, “may I be kind, may I forgive myself, may I love and appreciate myself.” You can re-wire your negative grooves and go down a new positive path. I’ve found that to be freeing and been able to open to new ideas that wouldn’t have come to me otherwise.

3.) Community. We really are all connected. What happens in another part of the world effects us. When someone is hurting, we all feel it, because we relate to each other. As Maya Angelou is quoted saying, “The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free.” In Metta Meditation, you send well wishes to people you know, to people you don’t know well, and to strangers. This sharing of good thoughts strengthens the bond between you and others. It’s a reminder we are not in this world for ourselves, but we are bound to each other, to lift each other up. Our survival depends on it.

4.) Protection. When I know that my intention is to share myself with the world from the place of Metta, Loving Kindness, I know my intentions are pure. This protects my heart because I’m confident that I’m moving from a pure place. If someone approaches me with an attitude that is less than kind, my Metta practice teaches me to be compassionate to myself and the person in front of me. I don’t let anyone else’s negativity effect me because I realize it’s the practice to be compassionate to people that are suffering. In this way, the Metta Loving Kindness Meditation helps me create strong boundaries.

Metta Loving Kindness Meditation can help you improve concentration, re-wire your brain to the positive, help you feel connected to people, and protect your heart. You can make it simple and say a few phrases to yourself whenever you have a free moment or take time to sit for a longer practice. I’ve found it a life changing meditation, that I use when I can’t sleep at night, when I feel stressed, or if I’m feeling that I want to do something to help others. It’s an active meditation that creates transformation. You can learn Metta Meditation in my upcoming online course: Meditate with KC- 7 day Meditation Challenge.