As yoga teaches us alignment, balance, and the significance of being present, it also indirectly guides us to curate our meals with intention. Every meal becomes an opportunity to nourish not just the body, but also the soul. This is where the role of quality ingredients, like oils, comes into play. The vitality and health benefits of oils have been celebrated for centuries across cultures, and in a world of abundant choices, ensuring the use of the right oil and in the right amount becomes paramount.

UPkitchen’s easySpray is emblematic of this mindfulness. In a world of overindulgence, it stands out by advocating precision and moderation. This isn’t just an oil sprayer; it’s a tool that resonates with the ethos of yoga ‘ promoting balance, awareness, and intention in every spray. Using easySpray isn’t merely about culinary excellence; it’s about making a conscious choice every day, reflecting the same dedication a yogi shows on the mat.

The challenges posed by our digital age, from information overload to the sedentary trap of binge-watching, demand a counterbalance. And this equilibrium is found in the embrace of yoga and conscious nutrition. While yoga addresses our mind and spirit, tools like easySpray cater to our physical well-being, ensuring that every meal is aligned with our greater goal of holistic health.

As we plunge deeper into the digital age, the blend of yoga’s ancient wisdom with innovative tools like easySpray from UPkitchen offers a roadmap to navigate the complexities of modern life. They remind us that amidst the whirlwind of notifications and online engagements, there’s profound peace in pausing, reflecting, and making choices that resonate with our true selves.

The Fusion of Modern Tools and Ancient Wisdom

As we increasingly understand the importance of balance in our lives, the synergy between yoga and conscious choices in our diet becomes even more apparent. These aren’t isolated aspects of well-being but rather interlinked facets of a holistic approach to health and mindfulness.

In our pursuit of mental clarity and physical wellness, we often overlook the importance of the food we consume. Just as a car requires the right kind of fuel to function optimally, our bodies thrive on the right nutrients. In various ancient scriptures and teachings, oils have been cited as powerful sources of energy and vitality. Their consumption, in the right manner and quantity, can lead to significant health benefits.

The UPkitchen easySpray brings a modern twist to this age-old understanding. With its emphasis on moderation and precision, it aligns perfectly with the yogic philosophy of ‘middle path’ or balance. As yoga practitioners, we’re trained to listen to our bodies, understand its signals, and respond with care. The easySpray encourages a similar attentiveness in our kitchens.

Beyond the physical implications, there’s an emotional and psychological aspect to this. Making conscious choices, whether it’s holding a yoga pose or selecting the right tool for our meals, generates a sense of empowerment. In a world where we often feel adrift, every such decision anchors us, providing a feeling of control and purpose.

Additionally, the ritualistic nature of both yoga and cooking, when combined, offers a therapeutic escape from the chaotic external world. The act of selecting ingredients, using tools like the easySpray, and cooking with intention can be as meditative as a session of deep yogic breathing or meditation. It’s a dance of flavors, aromas, and textures, akin to the rhythmic flow of a yoga sequence.

In conclusion, as the boundaries between the ancient and the modern continue to blur, tools like UPkitchen’s easySpray stand out as symbols of this beautiful fusion. They’re a testament to the fact that innovation and tradition can coexist, guiding us towards a path of holistic well-being, grounded in ancient wisdom but tailored for the contemporary soul.

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What Is Doga?

So, what exactly is Doga? Doga is a type of yoga that is practiced with the help of a dog. It can be a great way to bond with your furry friend while also getting some exercise. There are a number of benefits to doing Doga, such as:

-Improving the dog’s circulation
-Bonding with your dog
-Calming the mind
-Relieving stress and anxiety
-Helping the dog to become more flexible

If you are interested in trying out Doga, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it is important to find a comfortable place to practice. You will also want to make sure that your dog is well-behaved and will not be disruptive during the session. Finally, it is important to start slow and gradually increase the difficulty of the poses as you and your dog become more comfortable with the practice. Make sure your dog is not running away by using one of these invisible dog fences.

Now that you know a little bit about Doga, let’s discuss some of the best poses to try out with your pup! One great pose is Chaturanga. This pose helps to improve circulation and can also be used as a way to bond with your dog. To do this pose, simply have your dog lie down on their back. Then, gently place your hands on their chest and begin to rub in a circular motion. You can also try Puppy Paw Mudra, which is a great way to help your dog relax. To do this pose, simply have your sit in a comfortable position. Then, take your dog’s paw in your hand and begin to massage it gently. Finally, Savasana is a great pose for both you and your dog to relax in. To do this pose, simply have your dog lie down on their back with their legs outstretched. You can then place your hand on their chest and begin to rub in a circular motion.

But how can you train your dog to join yoga? We will provide a few step-by-step techniques below.

The first thing you need to do is get your dog comfortable with the yoga mat. You can start by simply placing it down on the floor and letting them sniff it and explore it at their own pace. Once they seem comfortable, you can try doing a few simple poses next to them. Downward facing dog is a great one to start with. If they seem interested and willing to participate, then you can move on to the next step.

The next step is to begin teaching your dog some basic yoga poses. Start with easy ones like downward facing dog and warrior I. As they master these, you can move on to more challenging poses like crow pose and headstands. It is important to go at your dog’s pace and not force them into anything they are not comfortable with.

Once your dog is a pro at yoga, you can start incorporating it into your daily routine. You can do a few poses before breakfast, during your lunch break, or even right before bed. It is a great way to bond with your furry friend and get some exercise at the same time.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post about Doga! Remember, if you are interested in trying out Doga, it is important to find a comfortable place to practice and start slow. You can also try some of the poses we discussed above. We guarantee that both you and your pup will enjoy the experience

The post How to Start Practicing Yoga with Your Dog: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Yogific.

The spine is the main indicator of everything that happens to a person. Back pain, even the most insignificant one, can affect mood. And if it is not stopped in time, over time it distorts even the adequate perception of the world and situations. Observe people who suffer from back pain (even if it’s cervical). As a rule, they are more emotional, irascible or apathetic. They have a lot less energy. Instead of enjoying life, a person is forced to shift his attention to the painful points. If you add to this an improper diet, lack of sleep and lack of proper rest, a minimum of movement – you get not the most pleasant “bouquet”.

Taking attention away from the back, we get in addition headaches, excessive tension of the whole body, pain in the legs (often the right side), spasms in the lower back, heart and digestive disorders.

So how can yoga help improve the health of our backs?

A well-chosen practice can improve circulation. Attention to the body will allow you to feel the deep, inner muscles that support our spine. As a consequence, you achieve deep muscular relaxation combined with strength, which affects your overall well-being. And physical health becomes a conduit to mental health. Yoga literally cultivates mental clarity and physical vigor. And these are the two main criteria that make further practice of yoga and meditation more conscious.

Five asanas that are good for the spine

Matsyasana – Pisces pose

Technique of performance:

• Lie down on the mat, legs together, arms outstretched along the body.
• Press your palms against your hips, or press them firmly against the mat.
• Inhale and support your palms and elbows, pressing them against your body.
• As you exhale, arch your back and chest and lift your neck off the mat. Pull your head back, trying to pull the top of your head toward the floor. Push your shoulders down and back.
• Hold this position for 5-7 breathing cycles.
• Come out of the asana without any sudden movements, returning to the supine position.

Effect: extension of the spine, expansion of the chest and lung volume, stimulation of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, relaxation of the muscles of the throat, neck and abdomen.

Contraindications: hyperthyroidism, spine diseases and injuries, especially cervical, high or low blood pressure, insomnia.

Kumbhakasana – Planka pose

Technique of performance:

• From Adho Mukha Shvanasana (Downward-facing dog pose), on an exhalation, lower the body down.
• Lean on the palms (they are under the shoulders) and the toes.
• Arms straight, body parallel to the floor. Pull shoulders back.
• Neck stretched in a straight line with the spine. Look down.
• Keep Uddiyana bandha (belly taut) and calm.
• Keep the waist straight without bending!
• Keep this position for 5-7 breathing cycles. If it is difficult, move to your knees or rest on your forearms and elbows.
• Switch to balasana for rest.

Effect: the extensor muscles of the back and the muscles that serve as the frame for the spine and run along it are actively engaged. The pose helps to strengthen these tissues, reduce lower back pain and improve posture.

Contraindications: hand joint disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, critical days, pregnancy, high blood pressure.

Purvottanasana – intense extension pose (inverted Planka pose)

Technique of performance:

• Sit on the mat, back straight.
• Legs and feet are pulled forward, connected together.
• Palms rest on the floor behind the hips. Fingers facing forward.
• Inhale and pull your head up, shoulders back.
• As you exhale, lean on your palms and push up from the mat. Lift your legs, buttocks and torso up. Tummy tucked in.
• Neck out, look up.
• Put your feet together and touch the floor with your toes.
• Hold this position for 5-7 breathing cycles.
• Then go to Pashchimottanasana (tilt to your feet).

Effect: extension of the front surface of the body: upper legs, abdomen, chest, shoulders; strengthening the arm and leg muscles, toning the neck area, returning mobility to the joints of the hands, the formation of a healthy “royal” posture.

Contraindications: wrist and neck injuries, hernias, stomach ulcers.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana – Bridge Building pose

Technique of performance:

• Lie on your back, arms along your body.
• Bend your knees and put your feet close to your buttocks.
• Inhale and press your hands and feet firmly into the mat.
• As you exhale, lift your pelvis and lower back up.
• Rotate your shoulders and interlace your fingers behind your back. Neck extended, chin pressed to chest.
• On the next exhale, lift up on your toes.
• Keep your legs and buttocks strong.
• maintain this position for 5-7 breathing cycles.
• on the exhale, lower yourself down, pressing your knees into your ribcage.

Effect: flexibility of the spine and strengthening the nervous system, nourishing the intervertebral discs, reducing lower back pain, tones and strengthens the muscles of the back.

Contraindications: hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers. In late pregnancy, do not lift your pelvis higher than 15 cm from the ground.

Supta Matsyendrasana – Lying Curl pose

Technique of performance:

• Lie on the floor, arms along your body, legs straight.
• Pull your right knee up to your chest.
• With your left hand, gently wrap your left hand around the outer surface of your right thigh.
• Take a breath and extend your right arm out to the side, resting the palm of your hand on the floor. Your neck is straight or turned to the right.
• As you exhale, bring your right leg to the left, with a little help from your hand.
• Hold this position for 5-7 breathing cycles.
• As you exhale, return the knee to the starting position and switch sides.

Effect: relieve pain and muscle spasms in the back, improve digestion, has a therapeutic effect in the prevention and treatment of sciatic nerve pain.

Contraindications: acute, severe back pain and spinal injuries, especially lumbar spine, herniated spine.

Be mindful and thoughtful of yourself, listen to your body and its signals and don’t let pain defeat you. Let your pain win over yoga. Always.

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One of the most basic human needs is to feel that there is meaning and purpose in our lives. In order to understand what that meaning is, you must first understand what motivates you to act, who you are. The Bhagavad-Gita says that a person is what his “shraddha” is. This word is usually translated as “faith. However, what is meant here is not faith in the classical sense of the word, but rather faith in oneself.

You know what shraddha is because you experience it. Your shraddha is what defines you. It is reflected in your values. It is what defines your sense of self, your character. And your character, or nature, determines your destiny. It shapes how you perceive the world, how you live in it and what motivates you. And when those values are not taken into account, your reaction can be very violent.

These situations give yogis the opportunity to practice mindfulness. You can learn a lot by observing those people, actions and situations that are your triggers. They manifest what is important to you.

This determines what you most aspire to-and what you aspire to reveals what you most value.

What is dharma

Your values point to your dharma. Dharma is your purpose and meaning in life and it is directly connected to shraddha. It is not necessarily what you do for a living but it is inevitably present in your life in some way. The more you live according to your dharma, the more satisfied you feel.

Meditation on Determining Your Dharma: 4 Steps

1. Ask yourself three questions.
   What are my beliefs?
   What am I passionate about?
   What are my greatest strengths?
2. Take notes.
   As you reflect, write down not only the answers to the questions, but also the emotions that come over you.
3. Analyze your answers.
   Try to find something in common, a common theme. And then answer the final question, “When, where, and how often do I live up to my answers?”
4. Write down your “dharma statement.”
   Put your answers together and write a statement. This is a kind of filter through which you can pass situations or conflicts. If something passes through the filter, then there is a possibility that it fits your shraddha and is part of your dharma. If not, perhaps it is time to change your direction.

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Even if you’re going to the other side of the world, a yoga tour is first and foremost a story about an inner journey. It’s a space and time to connect with Self.

Don’t think that such an experience can only be good for seekers of their purpose and spiritual path, pumped-up yogis, sectarians and esotericists.

Here are just a few markers that indicate it’s time for a yoga vacation:

• You’ve stopped enjoying life and seeing meaning in what you’re doing.
• You have difficulty keeping up with your daily rhythm and you can’t seem to let go of the feeling of fussiness.
• You have trouble sleeping and have a chronic feeling of not getting enough sleep.
• You have a weakened immune system.
• You feel constant tension and cannot relax.
• You are dissatisfied with your body condition and appearance.
• You have gastrointestinal and metabolic problems.
• You are living on emotional swings and your anxiety level has increased.
• You don’t feel in touch with yourself.

Yoga vacation is an opportunity to get to the assemblage point, to listen to your body, emotions, signals sent to you by your subconscious, and to establish a dialogue with this “team”, to update your tuning systems: let go of reactions and behavior patterns that hinder you, and lay down new ones.

How it works

Yoga practice

Daily yoga practice will help the body to quickly get in shape, gain strength and flexibility, lose excess weight, and regulate the functioning of all internal systems of the body. Naturally, it will affect your appearance: your complexion, skin and hair will improve, swelling will go away, etc. But the main revolution will happen inside. You will be able to return to a point of balance and become more calm and balanced. The practice of being present will teach you to stay in the moment and live your life more fully. And most importantly, will free up space inside, in order to return to start with a clean slate.

Synchronizing with nature

On a yoga vacation, you’ll have an early rise, and each morning will begin with an invigorating yoga practice or meditation. After a few days you won’t want to go to bed past midnight, and by the end of the retreat even hardened owls will discover that they are larks. Here to help not only the schedule, but the proximity to nature. Yoga tours are most often held away from the city in beautiful natural locations. Time in nature is healing in itself. Walking in the woods, listening to the sound of the sea, meeting the dawns and admiring the sunsets – all this not only resets, but also helps to get in tune with the rhythms of nature. For example, move active activities (including meals) to the sunny part of the day, and dedicate the time after sunset to resting and preparing for the next day, going to bed early and getting up early. You’ll see how not having dense dinners, going to bed early and getting up early will change the quality of your sleep and you’ll finally remember what it’s like to wake up rested and full of energy. Add Vitamin Sea with Vitamin D from sunbathing, and the formula for falling in love with life is ready.

Nutrition

As a rule, at yoga workshops a vegetarian diet is offered. It cleanses not only the body, but also the mind, and even if you’re not planning to give up steak and alcohol once and for all, it’s a great opportunity to experiment. What if you like it? What if this particular dietary system will give your body lightness and health? Plus, you’ll always have the opportunity to ask questions of more experienced vegetarians, how to make a balanced menu, how to avoid protein shortages, and more. And if you’re ready to take one more step toward a healthy lifestyle, try reducing your coffee intake. And risk living not on caffeine, but on your own battery of energy. If only to feel it and understand it.

Digital detox

Surely not only are your eyes tired of phones, but you yourself do not like the habit of constantly Googling, liking, scrolling, checking your inbox. The monkey mind of modern man is a consequence of this “bulimia of the mind”, the constant absorption of information. Hence nervousness, memory impairment, inability to focus on one subject for a long time. Some retreats impose restrictions on the use of phones, and some more rigorous ones suggest giving up gadgets altogether. And the results, I must say, are incredible. It’s like going on a week-long fast and quitting hard drugs at the same time.

Wellness

Yoga vacations are a time to nourish yourself, to come to a state of abundance. A state from which you are happy to share and give back to the world. The yoga practice program can be supplemented with a variety of care treatments: a course of massage, spa, wraps, ayurvedic treatments. Many yoga tours now take place at health centers or spa hotels. Take advantage of this opportunity. The desire to give yourself care and care instantly responds in the body with a sense of relaxation and gratitude.

The Right to Asociality

On group trips, many are deterred by the prospect of finding themselves in the company of strangers (who knows what to expect from these sectarians) and the need to socialize. The format of a yoga tour implies that, first of all, you came to establish a dialogue with yourself, and communication with others is optional. At my workshops, for example, I offer the practice of mauna (silence) for those who wish to do so. A day or two or a week in silence helps not only to get rid of empty conversations and superfluous words, but also opens the gateway to thoughtlessness.

When people around you relax in shavasana instead of with a glass of Prosecco, when they order grilled vegetables instead of kebabs, when people sit in the lotus position instead of on their phones and watch sunsets instead of TV shows, then after a pause of amazement “Is that possible too?” it will not be difficult for you to readjust. At least for a week. And when you return, you’ll probably want to keep some of the new habits.

Well, and, of course, it’s great luck to get into the field of a strong master, to live with him side by side for at least a week.

They say that the main words are spoken very quietly. Yes, they are. And the most important thing cannot be verbalized at all. It is transmitted from heart to heart.

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