I do yoga at home and all other exercise such as bodyweight workouts, step, aerobics and lifting weights as well. For me, it's perfect and currently I don't want it any other way.

With her new book "Yoga At Home: Inspiration for Creating Your Own Home Practice", former editor, writer and yoga teacher Linda Sparrowe has put together a guide to help us create our own home yoga practice, something that even a yogini like Sparrowe sometimes struggles with.

"To be completely truthful, for years home practice was a challenge for me, even as a longtime practitioner and teacher," admits Sparrowe. "How can I possibly practice if I don't have my own yoga room…if I can't commit to 90 minutes or an hour…if I can't figure out what to practice?"

For her latest book, "Yoga at Home: Inspiration for Creating Your Own Home Practice", Sparrowe sought to answer those questions by profiling the at-home routines of renowned yogis like Seane Corn, Rodney Yee, and Elena Brower.

It's part yoga guide, and part yoga voyeurism, since in a lot of cases you're looking into their living rooms.

"[Photographer Sarah Keough and I] were interested in showing how people really live and all the different ways they find moments of stillness and times for practice within their great and messy and beautiful lives," Sparrowe says.

Featured image: Sharon Gannon, co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga in New York City. Photography by Sarah Keough.

Photographer Michael O'Neill has released the beautiful Taschen coffee table book "On Yoga: The Architecture of Peace" (2015) in an effort to document the roots of yoga and its long and rich history.

Now brought together for the first time, this extraordinary body of work tells the story of yoga as it's never been told before, with nearly 200 photographs, most of which have never been seen. Two of O'Neill's most important subjects, meditation master His Holiness Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Ashtanga guru Eddie Stern, join the conversation with their essays on the role of yoga in contemporary culture, the history of the practice from the time of Patanjali, and the healing power of what Michael O'Neill calls "the architecture of peace…a series of postures that bring the practitioner closer to touching the infinite."

"The Master", 2006:

"My E.T.", 2010:

"See God in All", 2009:

"Eddie Stern, Crosby Street", 2014

Image credit: via Artsy

Via @kenchawkin.

Eduardo Pimentel, yoga teacher and the president and founder of the Cuban Yoga Association (CYA), has been instrumental in spreading the teachings of yoga in Havana. Despite difficult working conditions, the practice flourish, and since the improved relations in 2015 between U.S. and Cuba, Pimentel's expertise will now benefit yogis outside Cuba as well.

Eduardo de Jesus Pimentel Vázquez—more commonly known as Eduardo Pimentel, the "Godfather of Cuban yoga"—has taught over 20,000 practitioners in Havana alone. He teaches daily in various locations, such as a rented veranda of a governmental institution, inside of a theater, at a local martial arts center, or at his own apartment with a maximum capacity of 12 students.

The conditions are minimalist—students rest in Savasana on a small area of tiled floor space, surrounded by empty walls with peeling paint and views of lush, fertile jungle outside. Pimentel dreams of one day selling his apartment for a larger space, so that he can open a yoga studio of his own—which as of today, would be the first of its kind.

[…]

Known throughout Cuba as "green medicine," yoga and other forms of holistic healing were backed by the government to promote good health among citizens. Yoga was often broadcast on governmental television networks, featuring Pimentel in many of the segments.

Yoga teacher Rina Jakubowicz Bajos in the photo series "The Cuba Libre Yoga Project" by photographer Robert Sturman:

Featured image: Eduardo Pimentel by photographer Robert Sturman.

The Kickstarter project and coffee table photo book "Faces of Yoga" by Jonah Sargent, consists of uncomfortable photos of people in strange positions.

Sargent told Mashable, that he got the idea for the book after having observed something at an upscale yoga studio in Minneapolis:

"While cleaning at this studio I occasionally overheard yogis being up-sold expensive yoga pants, mats and designer headbands. One day a woman came in and bought nearly $500 of yoga clothing because the yoga instructor was telling her she looked sexy in it. During class the instructor kept complimenting her, and the yogi kept looking in the mirror and readjusting to look more picturesque. It all just made me feel like there was something funny with the glamorisation of this ancient discipline."

I find this book to be interesting for yet another reason – this book conveys the message that yoga can be tough exercise – and yoga teacher Bryan Kest sums it up in a good way by calling Power Yoga for the ultimate cross-training.

Watch Kickstarter video:

Image credit: Via Metro (UK).

The yogaphiles from Brogamats now offer you the action figure Yoga Joe. In a classic green army outfit (and pink), these figures practice some of the most common yoga poses.

Tree pose:

Cobra pose:

Headstand:

Via Boing Boing.

Huffington Post has provided us with a nice infographic and article about all the health benefits that follows a yoga practice.

The Eastern practice of yoga has become a modern-day symbol of peace, serenity and well-being in the West. More than 20 million Americans practice yoga, according to the 2012 Yoga in America study, with practitioners spending more than $10 billion a year on yoga-related products and classes.

The mind-body practice is frequently touted for its ability to reduce stress and boost well-being, but it also offers wide-ranging physical health benefits that rival other forms of exercise. While the scientific research on yoga's health benefits is still young, here's what we know so far about its potential effects on the body.

Via @bhanu_bhatnagar.

Image credit: Infographic by Jan Diehm for The Huffington Post.

In the Vanity Fair, an article about Sonia Jones, the wife of hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones, finding the healing power of Ashtanga yoga, her work of bringing yoga to the masses, how Ashtanga yoga came to the West, and how the Ashtanga community in large has starting to evolve.

Through Paul’s friendship with self-help master Tony Robbins, the Joneses met Pete Egoscue, who is basically the guru of back pain. Pete’s wife, Troi, practiced yoga in Encinitas, California, with one of Pattabhi Jois’s best-known students, Tim Miller. Troi told Sonia that to get well she too had to practice the kind of yoga Jois taught, which is widely known as Ashtanga. In today’s yoga-mad America, Ashtanga can be a rubric for a lot of things, but Troi insisted that Sonia had to practice in the very specific manner Jois taught, and with a teacher he had approved. After the Egoscues interviewed teachers on her behalf, Sonia began working with an ashtangi named Maria Rubinate. “It was a huge turning point in my life,” recalls Sonia.

In the article, the documentary "Ashtanga, NY – A Yoga Documentary" (2003) by Caroline Laskow and Mary Wigmore, is mentioned. Here is the first part of the documentary:

And here's the second part:

It's also on Netflix.

Featured image: K. Pattabhi Jois, founder of Ashtanga yoga, via Michelle May.

H/t James Altucher.

The life and teachings of Indian yogi Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic "Autobiography of a Yogi" (1946), is depicted in the documentary "Awake: The Life of Yogananda" (2014). It will be released on DVD in September this year, but screenings are currently available throghout the United States.

"Who Owns Yoga?" is a new yoga documentary by Al Jazeera reporter Bhanu Bhatnagar. Yoga is gaining popularity throughout the world and Bhanu explore it's commercialisation. For example, it covers the insanity of YogaGlo’s patent application.

Another great documentary on the same topic is "Yoga, Inc." (video link).

Via YogaDork.

Simply said, Michael went from being a goverment lawyer to becoming a surf fanatic, and then finding his true calling in yoga. An inspring portrait of finding the courage to try out something new.

Via Yolanda Padrón.

This skilled yoga practicioner performs his yoga asanas on a…speeding motorcycle! Impressive to say the least.

Photo credit: Barcroft Media.

Via New York Post.

Yogi Cameron shares the recipe for a super tea using turmeric, coriander (also known as cilantro) and ginger and how to use them individually. As of this week, I've added the super tea to my daily regimen.

I have been practicing yoga close to three years now, and my practice has for the most time been Power Yoga. I practice from home, and will probably some time in the future seek out a teacher.

Almost on a daily basis, I step on the mat and use one of three yoga sessions from "Bryan Kest´s Power Yoga Series". To this day, I still deepen my yoga practice by doing this series.

Bryan Kest:

If I can do yoga, anyone can do it. If you'd seen my very first attempt at yoga compared to what I'm able to do now, you wouldn't need any convincing. And yes, the practice is very physical.

If someone stumble upon this post and start benefiting from the practice of yoga, you've made my day. But be cautious, it's very addictive, just writing about this makes me wanna get up and do some asanas.

Here are the Power Yoga videos (YouTube) I'm using:

• Energize - Beginner Level
• Tone - Intermediate Level
• Sweat - Advanced Level

For the time being, I haven't any membership at Power Yoga Online, but I did try out the service for a month a year ago, and since then, much work seem to have been added to the site with many classes to choose from. Worth noting, it's no hassle to cancel your membership.

Image credit: Images from Bryan's blog.

Eric Shaw from Prasana Yoga has posted photos of Marilyn Monroe doing yoga. As Eric mentions, these poses might be coincidental to yoga poses, but Marilyn Monroe told the press in 1956 that yoga was something she did regularly. Either way, the photos are beautiful and cheerful. I haven´t been able to track down the photographer of the images which is a bit unfortunate, since this often opens up a floodgate of images to discover.

Marilyn in Headstand Shirsasana VII:

Marilyn in Halasana Plow Pose:

Featured image: Marilyn in Sukhasana Easy Pose.

Via DoYouYoga.Com and @EkhartYoga.

A new documentary about yoga teacher B.K.S. Iyengar is in the making. After three years of filming the makers of the documentary Sadhaka - the yoga of B.K.S. Iyengar now seek funding to complete the movie. Well worth to notice is that all proceeds from sales and screenings will go to BKS Iyengar’s own foundation the Bellur Trust.

Here is the extended trailer:

Via Patricia Walden.

My own yoga practice has always been a home based one. I´ve been doing yoga for nearly 3 years now and I love to do this at home. It´s become a daily habit, I feel the urge to get on the mat and do the practice. Sometimes it´s a long session, sometimes a shorter one. Very often a planned short session transitions into a longer, just because it makes me feel so good. Yoga International´s article written by Kate Hanley lets you know what to think about when starting your own home yoga practice and suggested reasons why you should:

To build a consistent home practice, you need to carve out space for it—metaphorically as well as literally. Perhaps the biggest challenge is finding the time. In order for Pearce-Hayden to keep her home practice alive, she says, “I can’t allow myself to be swayed by the anxiety that nearly always pops up that I can’t afford to take any time away from getting things done.” Taking even a little bit of time to practice grounds you and inspires you, so that when you return to your to-do list, you are more focused and productive. “I’ve come to realize that when I give myself 10 or 15 minutes, the rest of my day feels more spacious,” she says.

Choosing a dedicated area in your home to practice in can also help create room in your psyche for a practice to take root. And that physical space needn’t be large, pretty, or even particularly Zen. “I’ve been practicing for years on a sliver of floor between the fireplace and the coffee table that’s exactly big enough for a yoga mat,” Lee says. “Even though it’s more of a nonspace, all those practices have imbued it with a feeling that is really attractive to me.” Even when you’re dragging your feet, the aura of your regular practice site will make you more likely to visit it. “When you’re in your special spot, you’ll be fully immersed in your practice after only two breaths,” says Lee. “Just looking at it will be a trigger.”

Featured image shows Reinhard Gammenthaler photographed by Adrian Moser via Der Bund.

Yoga teacher Jennifer Jarret has created this short yoga sequence to start your day with. It only takes 10-15 minutes, which I find great for thoose days I might want to give my body some rest or when I just don´t have the time to do a one hour yoga session.

This is a 10-15 minute morning sequence designed to wake up the body and target all of the places that might need a little extra space and life breathed into them after a night of sleep. I designed this to be a flowing sequence, allowing one pose to flow into the next. I invite you to try it like this, or if that doesn’t work for you and you prefer to complete one pose at a time, guide yourself through it that way by returning to Downward Facing Dog in between each pose. Otherwise, just flow with it.

Featured image via Jennifer´s website.

Related reading:

• The 5 Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Morning
• Get Up and Go Sequence (yoga video with Jennifer Jarret)

The Smithsonian has hosted a Medical Yoga Symposium, discussing the transformational potential of yoga and integrative medicine. One of the keynote speakers was Dr. Dean Ornish:

"We tend to think of advances in medicine as something very new and high-tech and expensive, but what we've been able to show with over three decades of research is that ... lifestyle changes, which is including yoga and meditation, can not only prevent but reverse chronic diseases," Ornish tells The Huffington Post.

Yoga's many possible health benefits -- from improved cognitive function to a lower risk of diabetes -- are well-documented. Recent studies have even suggested that yoga and meditation could influence gene expression, maybe even limiting the expression of genes associated with inflammation. This year, research also showed that lifestyle changes including improved diet, moderate exercise and less stress might actually reverse the aging process at a cellular level.

As the research suggests, practices to reduce stress and calm the mind -- in conjunction with intimacy, community and social support -- may be as important as diet and exercising when it comes to maintaining good health, Ornish explains.

Via Michelle Clemons.

When the going gets tough and you lack faith that things will change for the better, remind yourself of Arthur Boormans´s, a disabled veteran of the Gulf War, yoga journey. Amazing!

You can see more of Arthur in the upcoming documentary Inspired: The Movie.

Via Paul Presley.

A short video presentation about Ashtanga Yoga by yoga teacher Luiz Veiga. Filmed at beautiful and serene Sadhaka Yoga Centre. The music playing is Om (Phil Mison Mix) by Trilok Gurtu.