Kemetic Yoga is an ancient African form of yoga based on the culture of ancient Egypt, then known as Kemet. Kemetic Yoga utilizes movement and mythology from one of the oldest civilizations on Earth, particularly the national story, the Asarian resurrection. Yoga has been practiced since ancient times in different cultures and countries. Yoga didn't originate in Egypt, however, it has been practiced there for an estimated 10,000 years.

Benefits
The benefits of Kemetic yoga start with breathing. Because so much concentration is focused on breathing, lung capacity and physical endurance improve. When deepening your breathing, you are prompting a relaxation response, which eases stress and calms you, also benefiting your ability to concentrate and putting you into a positive, happy frame of mind. Yoga has also been shown to have positive effects on heart health, asthma, arthritis, back pain and insomnia.

Poses
While traditional yoga poses are practiced in Kemetic yoga, the primary focus is on meditation and breath control. Kemetic yoga integrates these two elements with yoga poses, but breaks the poses down so that the body is in continuous movement, flowing seamlessly through several stages of one movement before going on to the next (similar to Vinyasa style). Breathing is coordinated with the movements to intensify energy circulation.

In Kemetic Yoga there are a series of 28 postures and 5 phases to move into the Divine Company of the gods and goddess of ancient Egypt. Each god or goddess is understood as field of energy or cosmic principle in which to align oneself. Traditional yoga poses are typically used in Kemetic yoga and have been found depicted in ancient Egyptian artwork and spiritual texts. In a typical Kemetic Yoga class, your physical and energetic bodies symbolize the Soul's journey on earth. Among the poses used in Kemetic Yoga are Tree pose, Sphinx pose, Bow Pose and Camel pose to name a few. The Pose of Immortality appears on a chair that belonged to King Tut, a significant example of the symbology of not only the pose but Kemetic yoga as a whole practice.

Want to practice this style of yoga? Check out this video for beginners: youtu.be/Z2IJEIaBG8k
 

There are many opportunities in our everyday lives where we can add more yoga. Yoga is not just the physical practice on the mat, but it’s also who we are off the mat too!  Here are 10 ways to incorporate the mental practice of yoga in your life:

1. Practice deep breathing when you’re on the train, stuck in traffic in your car, or doctor’s office. Place your hand on your lower stomach so you can connect deeper to your own breath and body, close your eyes and take deep breaths through the nose and into the belly. Breathe deeply.

2. Meditate on a plane, train or bus while travelling.

3. Practice peace, compassion and love; not only towards others, but to yourself as well. You can't be a loving, happy, healthy person if you don’t love yourself first. Be compassionate towards yourself even when you can’t quite accomplish that hard yoga pose (yet), practice one that feels right for your body and modify when needed!

4. When standing in line at the grocery store think of three things that you're grateful for. Express gratitude (whether verbally or mentally) before eating. Allow this to become a habit; it will help you cultivate gratitude in your life.

5. Practice Utthanasana (Standing Forward Fold) when you feel stressed. Utthanasana calms anxiety and brings more oxygen and nutrients to the brain.

6. Practice Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall pose) after exercise, work, or after sitting for extended periods. This pose has many benefits including regulating blood flow, calming anxiety, relieving head and back aches; just to name a few.

7. Eat for health, not for weight loss. Nourishing our bodies with healthy, wholesome food is essential for wellness and vitality. Incorporate more plant-based food in your diet like beans, lentils, nuts and grains. Eat lots of colorful fruits and vegetables along with healthy fats.

8. Counterbalance your daily activities. For example, do a chest opener after spending time on a computer, writing, or driving; most of our daily routines involve slumped shoulders and rounding of the back. Open your chest by practicing back-bends daily.

9.  Practice inversions every day. Inversions are great for your health! Remember you don’t have to do fancy inversions like handstands, you can practice something as simple as Legs Up the Wall pose or even Child’s pose after a long day.

10. Be in the moment: turn off your phone, computer, or television and be open to the present moment. Spend some time (maybe a day) completely unplugged from the electronic world.
 

​Yin Yoga is a non-heated, slow-paced style of yoga in which asanas (postures), are held for longer times (sometimes for 5-10 minutes). This spiritual, meditative style of yoga is beneficial for recovery after injury, pain management and enhancing the mind-body connection. While more active yang styles, such as vinyasa yoga, focus on movement with the breath, strengthening and toning, yin is the opposite. Yin yoga targets the deep connective tissues, known as the fascia, within the body. This meditative style helps regulate energy flow throughout the body.
 
Yin Yoga Poses
Most yin poses are seated or reclined postures. You follow a more meditative approach to release tension from the fascia. Meditation is an important component to this style of yoga. You might initially struggle with sitting still and working through feelings and sensations that come up during each posture. Cultivating a meditative mindset is important for finding spiritual stillness, harmony and balance. Yin teaches you to truly sit still and listen to your body. Often it can be difficult to find moments of stillness and surrender. In yin practice, it is the perfect time to come into one's own body and mind, accept what is, and simply learn to be. This spiritual practice is important for working through not only physical limitations, but also past emotional ordeals.
 
Benefits of Yin Yoga
Benefits of a non-heated yin practice include: regulating energy levels in the body; calming and balancing the mind and body; increasing mobility, especially in the joints and hips; lower stress levels; and faster recovery from injury. Releasing tension from the fascia not only for movement, stamina and flexibility, but also achieving greater relaxation. Once you get into a regular practice, you can sit still longer for meditation and find the practice of meditating more rewarding and calming.
 

Meditation is a great way to unplug, take a break, and relieve stress and anxiety. It’s all about taking a break from everything: phone notifications, computer/tablet screens, talking, and even your own thoughts. Oftentimes, stress stems from over-thinking. Over-thinking can nag at you bringing upon worry that repeats itself over and over in your brain; which will thus cause anxiety. Meditation is one possible cure to this condition. For 5,10, 15, minutes, or more meditation helps put a healthy distance between you and all the problems swirling inside your head. Although it seems simple, meditation works. In fact, evidence shows that meditation is an effective tool against anxiety, stress, and panic disorder. Need more proof? Check out the above for more benefits of meditation.

There are as many reasons for hip pain as there are approaches to resolving it. Hip joints connect the pelvis and leg bones. No wonder hip health relates to the back, knees, ankles and feet. So, what can you do? If you have a regular yoga practice, notice if your hips feel the same, better or worse after your practice and up to 48 hours after. Move in a way that does not increase the pain. Starting a yoga practice that includes gentle hip exercises can help relieve pain in the hips safely. Relieving hip pain can also relieve pain in the lower back, as tight hip flexors can misalign the pelvis and affect the muscles of the back. You may even want to consider a yoga therapy session. Here, you can find out which muscles are supporting your hips and which are overworking that should be resting. You don't need to understand the anatomy but you will learn to listen to your body for the answers. Here are 4 yoga poses for hip pain relief:

​

​Bound Angle Pose can relieve hip pain caused by sciatica, while also stretching the inner thighs and groin. You may wish to sit on a folded blanket before starting, as this helps your pelvis tilt forward, aiding in the stretch. Start in a sitting position with your knees bent and the soles of your feet pressed together. Hold your feet, bringing your heels as close to your pelvis as is comfortable. If you can't comfortably hold your feet, hold your ankles or shins. Sit up straight, keeping your shoulders pressed down.

Happy Baby Pose gently stretches the hip flexors. Start by lying on your back. Bend your knees and bring them towards your chest so that you can grab the outsides of your feet. If you can't reach your feet, use a yoga strap or belt. Widen your legs, gently pulling your knees towards your armpits. Keep your shoulders pressed into the floor, and press your feet into your hands. Push your tailbone down towards the floor to release pressure on your lower back.

​Wide-Legged Forward Fold stretches the hip flexors, while also stretching the spine and legs. Step your feet out so that they are hip-width apart (about 2 of your fists in between your feet). Put your hands on your hips and keep your spine long as you bend forward from the hips. Release your fingers to the floor directly under your shoulders. Relax your shoulders down your back so they don't press up around your ears. Place your hands back on your hips and keep your spine straight as you bend upward out of the pose.

​Fire Log Pose is a hip opener that can be as gentle or as challenging as you'd like it to be. If needed, sit on a blanket to help your pelvis tilt forward. Place your left leg on top of your right leg so that your shins are lined up straight in front of you. Your left ankle should sit just outside of your right knee. Keep your torso straight and let your fingers graze the floor for support. For many, this is enough of a stretch, though you may also fold forward if you want to increase the stretch. Switch legs.

A lot of people (including yogis) have questions on why they should meditate. Questions such as, Is meditation just another “fad”? Am I doing it the “right way”? or, what will I gain from practicing meditation?
 
We spend much of our days rethinking things we’ve already experienced or thought of or plan future scenarios that may or may not occur. We expend so much energy by allowing our brain and thinking mind to take over. In doing so, we lose connection with the source. Enter meditation. Meditation allows us to take the time quiet the brain. It allows us a time to reconnect with our higher selves and our higher purpose. We begin to stop allowing the caricature of life to play through our minds like a movie; we bring our focus to one thing only. That one thing is the present moment. By meditating, we not only connect with the Divine in ourselves and in the world, we make space for new, creative thoughts.
 
The first time you meditate, you likely will not experience any of that (you may, which is be great!). Instead, you will likely struggle with attempting to quiet the mind for perhaps the first time in your life. To help yourself, find a meditation instructor, use a guide to begin with, and follow these steps to lead yourself into meditation:
 
Go to a place dedicated to meditating where there are no other distractions. Begin with simple breathing exercises. Becoming aware of the breath is the fastest way to get yourself in the present moment.
 
Practice yoga asanas for 10 minutes to an hour to get your body relaxed and clear away any blockages or stale energy.
 
Sit in a “natural” position. This isn’t a straight spine as many believe. Feeling relaxed, yet sitting upward is key here.
 
Begin with a simple mantra meditation to keep your breath and mind focused. Only after you have become fully immersed in the one-pointedness of your meditation can you start to let go of the mantra and relax into your bliss.
 
Give thanks! to the Universe and to yourself, you did it!
 
You should meditate to give yourself the great gift of quiet, of connectedness and of peace. Even a few minutes a day will help bring your awareness to the non-thinking part of yourself. Ultimately, your meditation practice will give you not only the answers you seek, but also a calm and peaceful sense of just being..