Santosha, contentment, is the second Niyama. Being content means being happy with the present moment just as it is. It’s knowing that happiness comes from within and that no one or nothing external can make us happy. Santosha is about accepting without judgement and moving past the mindset that says I’ll be happy when… But […]
The Niyamas, or observances, tell us what qualities to cultivate. Saucha, cleanliness or purification, is the first Niyama. We cleanse the external by picking up after ourselves at the yoga studio; putting our weights away when we’re finished at the gym; and keeping our home clean and uncluttered. We purify the internal with meditation; being […]
Aparigraha, non-attachment, is the fifth Yama. We can become attached to anything, people, possessions, expectations about how life should be, our physical appearance, our routine, and even our journey toward enlightenment. When we cling to these, we can go to great lengths to avoid losing them. Aparigraha teaches us that rather than fearing an inevitable […]
Brahmacharya, moderation, is the forth Yama. Moderation means stopping before we’ve had or done too much. We can go overboard with anything, from work to food to exercise. Being distracted can cause us to overdo it. We’re at the gym thinking about food, planning our post-workout meal or watching cooking shows on T.V. While we’re […]
Asteya, non-stealing is the third Yama. Like ahimsa and satya, asteya means more than just the translation and it can be applied toward others, ourselves and the environment. We steal from others when we take from them; not just things, but also their time. We also steal from others when we neglect to give them […]
Satya, truthfulness, is the second Yama. We can practice satya within ourselves by living our truth and with others through truthful communication. We must speak the truth while still practicing the first Yama, ahimsa, non-harming. Truthfulness is not the same as honesty. If we are being honest, we are saying what we believe to […]
Our yoga practice doesn’t have to end when we roll up our yoga mat at the end of class. We can live our yoga all day long and we don’t have to give up all of our possessions and live in a cave to do it. We can take our yoga off the mat […]
Q: Bianca, corporate fitness student asked “Why don’t we bench press in class?” A: Bench press usually isn’t part of my group programming for a few reasons: In the limited amount of time we have, I want to include the exercises that will give them the most benefit for their time and effort. The goals […]
Get your bands here. Alicia Cross is a Certified Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, and Yoga Instructor with more than 15 years’ experience working with clients in classes and one-on-one. She is a yogi, meditator, vegan, and lifter of heavy things. If you’re ready to discover the strength and peace that comes from within, email Alicia@AliciaCrossTraining.com. […]
You’re working out, going to yoga, using your foam roller, maybe even getting 8 hours of sleep. But how’s your nutrition? Here are my 10 steps to fix your nutrition: 1. Water: Drink at least 100oz of water everyday. Caffeinated, sweetened, artificially sweetened, and alcoholics drinks do not count. Carry a water bottle with you […]
