Klean Voices: Celebrate National Yoga Month, On and Off the Mat

As T.K.V. Desikachar said, “Anybody can breathe, therefore anybody can practice yoga." There are many ways to practice yoga, the ancient and sacred tradition that leads to a healthier, happier and more blissful life. September, which also happens to be National Yoga Month, is the perfect opportunity for you to celebrate! Here are some suggestions for how to do just that:

1. Share Yoga with a Friend

Do you already have an established practice, a favorite style of yoga, a favorite studio or teacher? If your answer is yes, bring a friend who's new to the practice and share the endless benefits of yoga with him or her!

2. Enjoy One Week of Free Yoga

National Yoga Month is your chance to try different studios and practices for free. As part of its National Yoga Month Awareness Campaign, the Yoga Health Foundation offers a specific “Yoga Month Card.” Click here for details, pick your studio and get on your mat!

3. Do a Five Minute Meditation

According to the old scriptures, we live in Kali Yuga, which is "a vast cycle of time within the evolution." Our time is characterized by drastic changes and turmoil; in modern words: craziness. Lives are fast and full of technology, our minds constantly occupied and (over-) stimulated by radio, TV and computers. Therefore, it is very important to take the time to sit, relax and breathe. Try meditating for five minutes every day: sit down on the floor or on a cushion in a comfortable and upright position. Either close your eyes or gaze at the tip of your nose. Then, begin to breathe deeply and focus on your inhalation and exhalation. Continue to breathe deeply and without interruption for five minutes at a time. This simple technique will allow your mind to quiet down so you may feel refreshed and recharged.

4. Practice Outdoor Yoga

September is the perfect month for spending time outside with friends and family, enjoying sunshine and being active before winter hits us again. Bring your friends and mats to the park for a fun, outdoor yoga practice or check if there are outdoor yoga classes available near you.

5. Enjoy Good Reads

Switch off your TV and make the month of September a month of books! Here are some of my personal favorites:

Klean Voice Contributor Babsi Glanznig is an Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga instructor at RE:treat, an organization based in Telluride, Colorado, that offers yoga inspired adventure retreats in beautiful mountain locations around the world. Photos in this blog post by Babsi.