Yoga teacher Nasa Mitchell

Nasa Mitchell (500 RYT) is a Yoga Alliance registered instructor based in California. She is a talented and beloved teacher (and yes, this is straight from her students!)  who has also been a valued Barefoot Yoga customer for years.

BY: What originally brought you to Yoga?

NM: Heritage and Life;

Where I am from, Yoga is about spirituality, mantras and chants. Back then as a child and an adult, I had no idea it was yoga.

As a mother of two sons, living in noisy, fast and busy lifestyle for years, instinctively everything in and out of me telling me to Just Be and Connect With Myself which is yoga.

Practicing with some BFY signature blocks and straps!

BY: In your experience, how has Yoga affected your physical and mental being? How has Yoga changed your life?

NM: I am physically and mentally stronger by accepting where I am and who I am. Many of us suffer from perfectionism which does not exist. I am originally one of those people.

Through the practice of yoga I am okay with not being the perfect human being. I am kinder to my body when I am practicing asana practice, more forgiving to my judgmental thoughts and worries that do not feed me and people around me. I am back to “Stepping out of your comfort zone” is totally okay and it can be rewarding.

BY: Is there anything in Yoga (poses, styles) that you would like to explore but haven’t yet?

NM: Yoga study is never ending and there is always something new.

Lately I am more drawn into mantras and pranayamas which prepare us to meditation and healing.

BY: Do you have a favorite place to practice?

NM: As much as I love practicing yoga at our home where it is quiet and sacred, ([although] most of the time it is noisy and messy ) I enjoy practicing yoga off the mat and out of my home by just living in everyday life at a store, in my car, out at my kids’ activities, with my students in the studio.

I believe yoga is in everything and everywhere if we allow it to be.

Want to connect with Nasa? Find her on Facebook here.

Looking for some props of your own to get started? Visit us at Barefoot Yoga today to view our full range of straps, blocks, mats, and more!

Posted under Barefoot Yoga News, Health and Fitness, Meditation, Styles of Yoga, Yoga News, Yoga Studios, Yoga Teacher Interview, Yoga Teachers

With yoga’s focus on mindfulness, it’s no surprise that many yogis in the community wish to reach out and help others. One of our favorite yoga-focused charities is Street Yoga, a Seattle-based nonprofit which brings the healing and restorative benefits of yoga to marginalized youth.

Through Street Yoga, a number of generous yoga teachers volunteer their time and skills to teach yoga classes at shelters, schools and treatment centers that assist youth and their families. By teaching yoga, mindfulness and compassion, these teachers try to inspire their young students to grow, heal, and create meaningful and healthy lives.

Street Yoga holds an annual event called YogaLOVE, which brings together 200 Seattle yogis to enjoy an uplifting morning of yoga and raise funds for Street Yoga’s great work. The YogaLOVE festivities include a “half marathon” of 108 sun salutations led by 9 different instructors who represent a variety of styles. There are also raffles and prizes – which this year include a meditation gift basket from Barefoot Yoga! YogaLOVE 2015 is coming up on June 27, so if you’re in the Seattle area, don’t miss it!

Posted under Health and Fitness, Meditation, Press, Yoga Events, Yoga Gift Ideas, Yoga News

You’ve heard for years that meditation has amazing benefits, and you’ve always meant to give it a try, but never gotten around to it. Sound familiar? There are a lot of reasons that you might be reluctant to start a regular meditation practice – maybe you think you don’t have enough time in the day, or maybe trying to quiet your mind for 20 minutes sounds like an impossible feat. But the benefits are undeniable, and it turns out that meditation is way easier than you think!

Here are a few reasons to finally give meditation a try:

1. You don’t actually have to “clear your mind” while you meditate

The idea that meditation involves clearing your mind of all thoughts is one of the main reasons that it sounds so difficult to beginners. But it’s not necessarily true! Even Deepak Chopra says, “The nature of the mind to move from one thought to another is in fact the very basis of meditation.” Allowing your thoughts to flow freely as you meditate is fine, and over time you’ll get comfortable with letting each thought slip by without dwelling on it too much.

2. Meditation can improve your sleep

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to improve insomnia, fatigue and even depression. This type of meditation in particular involves focusing on your breathing or on a positive word or phrase such as “Om” or “Relax.” Again, you don’t have to clear your mind, but try to let go of worries about the past and the future. With a little practice, this causes a relaxation response which can be used at bedtime to help get a longer and fuller night’s sleep.

3. Meditation improves creativity and problem-solving

In our modern world, where many of us can’t sit still for 5 minutes without checking our phones, the practice of being still with your own thoughts can have great benefits. If you’re feeling overworked or mentally exhausted, it’s the perfect time to take a few minutes for a gentle meditation. For one thing, calming your emotions can help you get some perspective when you’re feeling too stressed out. On top of that, research has shown that regular meditators have better luck thinking outside the box and coming up with new and creative solutions to problems. Because of this, meditation can actually be a time saver! Why spend hours struggling with a mental block when you can get relaxed and boost your creativity at the same time?

4. It’s not a big time commitment

You can start meditating for just a few minutes a day. To begin with, you’ll want to make yourself comfortable. You may wish to stretch lightly beforehand, especially if you meditate first thing in the morning. Wear loose or stretchy clothes that don’t pinch or bind. And sit comfortably – try a meditation cushion on the floor, or even just your bed or sofa. Once you’ve had some practice meditating, you may want to work your way up to 15 or 20 minutes a day, but there’s no hurry – be kind to yourself, and enjoy!

For all your meditation needs, come visit us today at barefootyoga.com!

Posted under Health and Fitness, Meditation, Yoga Clothing, Yoga News