I almost didn’t become a yoga instructor because I always thought that yoga teachers were poor.The truth is that many of them are but not all of them and, years later, not me.But how much do yoga teachers make running from yoga studio to yoga studio, teaching...
There is a world of difference between ‘getting cured’ and ‘getting healed’. When you fall sick, the disease does not just affect your body, but also your mind and spirit. Eventually, when you overcome the disease, your ecosystem may bounce...
April 2, 2021 • By Brett Larkin • Verified By Sahara Rose • Our Editorial Process So much of yoga today focuses on the asana practice, which is limited to the physical body. But SO much of yoga, according to the eight limbs of yoga, is focused on the subtle body,...
It’s that time of the month again, you’re probably tired and a little achy and not sure what to do about it. YOGA, duh! Although you might be thinking, “Can we do yoga during periods?” 💯 you can! Let’s dive deep into different thoughts on this...
I used to hear the word “boundary” and thought that it meant putting up an energetic brick wall. This was not fun (and not feasible). In today’s episode, I share practical tips about what I’ve learned on setting and holding boundaries with an...
Let’s talk about your pleasure center…..no I’m not talking sexual pleasure per se, I’m talking about Svadhisthana, your Sacral Chakra. This powerful energy center, located in the lower abdomen, is your source of sensuality, pleasure, creativity, fluidity, and joy. So...
What is your yoga personality? Are you the caring, compassionate Healer? The strong and empowering Queen? Or the motherly and protective Matriarch? These three archetypes embody distinct qualities and energies that can enhance and deepen your yoga journey. ...
Ugh… that annoying “self care” word again. It’s overused. We know we should be doing it. But what is it really? Today, I attempt to dissect and lift the veil on what self care truly means (hint, it’s not just bubble baths). Listen and discover:...
Are you a good listener? Maybe you have good communication skills, and your friends often come to you for advice. Perhaps because of these skills you have given thought to becoming a life coach, but are not really sure if you ACTUALLY have the bigger skills needed to...
Welcome to the fascinating world of the Chakra system! Let’s get into the Root Chakra, the foundation of our energetic system. I’ll uncover how blockages in the Root Chakra, located at the base of the spine, can affect your life force energy flow, sense of stability,...
Influencer burnout, overwhelm, childhood trauma, ketamine — no stone is left unturned in this juicy conversation with me and one of my yoga BFFs, Sarah Beth of Sarah Beth Yoga. Tune in to today’s episode to discover: 🔹 How to use your yoga practice to process...
As you go deeper into your practice, it’s inevitable that you’re going to want to hungrily read as much as possible about yoga. Believe me, I get it. When I first started to deepen my yoga practice, I became obsessive with it. I wanted to learn as much as...
Ever felt like you’ve unlocked a new level of happiness or success… only to have everything come crashing down around you? That’s because we self sabotage when we leave our energetic comfort zone. For many of us (sadly) we’re *more* comfortable with...
So you’re thinking about becoming a yoga instructor, huh? Becoming a certified yoga instructor can seem like a daunting task, but I promise you that it isn’t. In fact, it can be an exciting experience for you to embark on in your life! Getting your yoga...
One of the most important lessons for yogis to learn is that yoga is much more than asana classes. As you dive deeper into your practice, you’ll find scores of philosophy, breathing techniques, cleanses, meditations and other wellness practices. All of these are...
The lesser-known Moon Salutation, aka Chandra Namaskar, is a sequence of yoga poses that are designed to honor and connect with the calming and reflective lunar energy. Whereas we start the day with a couple of Sun Salutations, we often practice the Moon Salutation...
The BEST goddess to liberate you from guilt, shame, doubt, fear? KALI! Our Kali Yoga Challenge starts in just a few days. Kali is the FIERCE goddess of death and rebirth. She’s profoundly misunderstood. 🔥 Despite how she looks, Kali is not evil –...
Did you know that your chronic fatigue or sinus issues could be a physical manifestation of an energetic problem? Or that knee pain can come from feeling a lack of safety or security? Don’t roll your eyes, because it’s true! When you’ve got chakra imbalances it not...
Welcome back to the beautiful realm of energy centers within your body! I’m going to dive into the Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura chakra. It is the third of the seven chakras in your body’s energy system. It shines brightly in the upper abdomen. This...
Let’s talk SNAKES! 🐍 And join me for the upcoming Kali Yoga Challenge. You may know that Kundalini has been historically represented through the symbol of the serpent, but why? Why a snake? As most ancient yogic translations, it all starts with Sanskrit. The...
Is it that time of the month? LOL yogi, it’s that time of the millenium 🙄 Just like the sun and moon impact our natural cycles and mood, we are currently experiencing the energetic shift of the Aquarian Age. Astrologers love to argue about when this age actually...
Are you constantly thinking about what’s coming next? Worried about the future? Breakfast after yoga, work after breakfast, next year’s vacation, next quarters bills to pay… Add in your love of zodiac signs and the sun’s position and you’re probably...
Kundalini yoga is unlike any other type of yoga that you might practice. Where hatha yoga and vinyasa flow might focus on the physical exercises (asana) that yoga has to offer, Kundalini focuses on the spiritual practice of yoga. It’s about the energy body as...
If you’re anything like me, then your personal yoga practice has naturally found its way to the spiritual practice that yoga has to offer. And let me tell you from experience: that is where the real magic happens. But jumping from a basic asana practice, where...
It’s been a minute since I’ve podcasted! (4 years to be exact). But the Sivana Podcast is back with a new look and a Google Drive folder full of delicious episodes ready to release right here to YOU. It’s my belief you are listening because you want...
Is it, like, ritual sex? 🚫 No. Does it charge your energy?⚡ Absolutely. So…what is White Tantra? Why is anything labeled as ‘Tantra’ stigmatized in certain yogic circles? First, let’s define Tantra. Tantra means “to weave,” but in a historical and...
“Somatic therapy” is the new hot word. Mindset coaching is so last decade. Many wellness pros are saying that mindset coaching and talk therapy will be phased out perhaps entirely over the next 10 years. Why? Because somatic coaching can be so much more...
If you’re like me, you love yoga not only because it helps you feel good physically, but because it fuels success in every aspect of your life – your job, your relationships, AND in difficult situations. That’s because yoga impacts so much more than just your...
There’s nothing worse than finally getting yourself to yoga class and then your yoga instructor calls out certain yoga poses that you just.can’t.do.Rather than grunting through them and shifting your weight awkwardly as you try to balance through the pain,...
Jump to yoga nidra script We’ve all been there. Tossing and turning, struggling to fall asleep at night. Whether it’s the stress for work that is filling our head with racing thoughts or all the caffeine we drink to get us through the day, a good...
The jal neti kriya, also known simply as jal neti or neti-potting, is one of the key practices of shatkarmas. The shatkarmas are six purification practices fundamental to the Hatha yoga tradition. Jal neti is a powerful technique that cleanses the nasal passages,...
⚠️ Disclaimer: this article does not suggest that positivity will solve all of your problems. The Positive Mind ≠ a positive mindset. Wait.. what? Aren’t yogis supposed to be, like, eternally positive? Hear me out. In the history of, umm, the universe, has...
Do you ever feel like you are in a constant state of unrest? Yeah, me too. How could you not be with the way the modern world is constantly bombarding you with decisions, information, and negative sensationalized stories? It’s time for a nervous system reset. ...
When you free the breath, you free the being. If you’re a yogi, you already know this first hand! Breathing patterns often mirror how tension is held in both the body and deep in your psyche (it’s all connected, of course). It’s almost impossible to attend a yoga...
The neutral mind is one of the least-valued assets we have as yogis in this crazy modern world. If you’re thinking oh yeah…like beginner’s mind! 🙃 Not exactly We’re talking about the 10 bodies today, yogis! According to the Kundalini tradition, we...
Hello, beautfiul! 🥰 When was the last time you appreciated how literally AMAZING your body is? It’s easy to ignore the fact that you even have a body sometimes. Hands feeling, nose smelling, eyes seeing, ears hearing, organs processing energy – you are...
Have you ever dealt with stomach issues? I mean, who hasn’t right? Well, imagine if your yoga practice could actually help your digestion along with generally strengthening your core. It can! All with a little help from the uddiyana bandha. In this post, we’ll...
Have you ever been in yoga class and heard your teacher talk about bandhas? Maybe in downward dog mentioning the hasta bandha? If you’ve ever wondered what the heck they mean when they say this, you’re in luck because that’s what we’ll be talking about here! A...
You are a broadcast of light and sound radiating from your own unique soul. Living in the physical body, you experience the world through your Earthly senses. Yet when you learn to live in the radiant body, you experience the world as eternal and ever-expanding. The...
Podcasts….there are so many out in the world today it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to listen to. Just like with Netflix, or pulling through the drive through at Starbucks, there are so many options that you get “analysis paralysis.” You do nothing because...
Have you ever thought about becoming a life coach, but you aren’t sure what is required to do that, what exactly you need, who you should contact, or maybe there are just too many programs to choose from? I can help with that. You are going to have all the...
Have you been feeling super heavy lately? Like you’re just bogged down from the weight of life? You can’t focus, aren’t sure what to do with yourself or what your next moves should be? You might need to work on elevating your energy to uplift yourself and figure out...
You’ve probably had it happen once or twice, I know I have. I’m going through an amazing yoga flow and feeling great when I realize that something in my body doesn’t feel right. I stretched a little too far and have unfortunately pulled,...
Do you feel lost when it comes to social media? You’re putting stuff out there, but you don’t know if it is affecting your yoga business in a positive way. Perhaps you’re running out of content ideas. Or posting, but then terrified about what people will think…...
You’ve got your Yoga Teacher Training Certification….now what? Maybe you’re teaching yoga at an amazing yoga studio, but not making the revenue you’d hoped. Maybe you’re working five days a week at a hot yoga studio and the pay is okay, but you want to stop...
Do you ever feel like you are just surrounded by darkness and struggling to find the light? Everything you see on the news is tales of despair. People are arguing all over the internet. All you see, or maybe feel, is ego. It’s hard to determine what is the truth...
Practicing gratitude can be difficult in our busy, day-to-day lives. Inspiring gratitude is usually saved for holidays (happy thanksgiving!), but if you ask me, that’s not enough! You are amazing. Life is amazing. And we should be practicing gratitude every...
Do you ever go through your day and then realize what a pain in the rear you’re dealing with? Literally, a pain in the rear, like a numbing shooting pain from your butt to your foot? It’s annoying, extremely painful and makes it hard to function sometimes. WHAT IS...
You have so much love to give, and you give it in so many ways!!! Perhaps by cleaning up after your family, cooking for them, holding them, or making an extra stop on the way to work and picking up a coffee for your friend because you know it’s her favorite. You are...
Has modern life got you down? It’s all go, go, go. Achieve all the things, don’t ask for help, think this, no think that…..UGH HOW EXHAUSTING!!!! The modern world requires you to go fast and never get out of your head, which eventually will take a toll on your mind...
You’ve just graduated from your 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training! Now let’s put your amazing skills to work! Did you know you can make $5,000 a month teaching yoga? Whether you chose to become a yoga teacher to help others through yoga or you wanted to...
If you have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) then you know what a frustrating condition it can be. The irregular periods and/or difficulty conceiving, acne, weight gain and extra hair might have you feeling like less of a woman. The anxiety and depression that comes...
Dr. Azita Nahia defines trauma as “a highly stressful event or experience that disrupts your world and the way you have come to make meaning of it, leaving you feeling helpless, immobilized, disconnected, and stuck.” Stuck is the word that sticks with...
Planning a yoga retreat can seem overwhelming at first. In our most recent Uplifted masterclass for yoga teachers, Yoga Retreat Magic, we touched on all the steps (scroll down for the video). Many components go into a retreat and it can make the planning process...
Your bags are packed… you’re ready to go… HAVE A BABY! What a magical time in your life. You are in the home stretch of your pregnancy journey. You are probably feeling excited, nervous, and maybe some back pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue....
Raise your hand if you’ve ever peed a little when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or jump. Or maybe you have some unexplained pelvic pain you’re embarrassed to ask your doctor about. As a mother of 4, I can tell you I have and it’s not fun! Perhaps you think...
How often do you feel sick to your stomach? For me, it can be pretty often…which is no fun. So many things can cause nausea! Anxiety, excitement, anger, intense pain, morning sickness, motion sickness, food poisoning, the list could go on and on! With...
Gosh, doesn’t it feel good? To finally decide to follow your bliss (or borderline obsession LOL) and decide to take your practice to the next level? I’m so excited for you as a 200-hour training will absolutely change your life! (If you’re still a bit confused...
Ever think about the way your morning sets the tone for your whole day? Like, if you slept through your alarm and then had to rush to get the kids up and fed so you forgot to feed yourself. Then traffic feels worse than normal (when in reality it probably isn’t) and...
Modern life, stress, birth control… so many things are not working in the best interests of your hormones… and as a result, lots of people have developed thyroid disorders. But don’t panic if you are one of many women suffering from thyroid diseases! On...
So, you’re considering doing a 200-hour yoga teacher training? Can we first just pause, let that sink in, and say… HOLY COW! That’s amazing! I mean it’s kind of a big deal, right? To make space in your busy life, follow your passion, and become a student...
Do you experience chronic pain? Maybe you experience strong abdominal pain or painful periods. These are common symptoms of Endometriosis. But wait, don’t I experience menstrual cramps each month? Your endometrium (or the lining in your uterus) sheds every...
Feeling a small yet present tension in your chest? Have the sense that your brain might just actually explode? You most likely have what I call: YTT Search Overload. Don’t worry, it’s a fully normal part of the process! I know you thought the hardest part...
If you’re like me, maybe you first started yoga as a way to stay fit. Over time, I realized getting on the mat wasn’t just about keeping myself in good shape. My yoga practice created a balance between my mind, body, and spirit, which ultimately, has helped me and so...
Welcome back friends! I’m excited to share with you this series of posts that I hope is really helpful for you as you consider which online yoga teacher training is best for you. I get that it’s a little daunting as you’re basically going back to school! And I know...
When it comes to self-discovery, you’ve probably tried it ALL. I know I have—and so have most of my students! You probably know your astrology sign and attachment style, right along with your birth time and blood type. Maybe you’ve dabbled in getting to know the...
How are you feeling about choosing your 200-hour yoga teacher training?! Excited? Nervous? Confused? Overwhelmed? First, this is all 100% normal (phew, right?) Second, I’d love to help you feel a bit less of those last few things! Let’s...
Chronic pain is a *&^%$! Seriously, living with a condition that makes your body hurt all over doesn’t feel much like living does it? You might feel like your body has betrayed you, that you are stuck in a pool of molasses and can’t wade your way through to feel...
“I don’t want to work today.” …Do you ever say this to yourself? Or feel like you have to drag and force yourself through an invisible pressure to get any work done? These could be the beginning signs of burnout. You might have heard that word a lot in recent years,...
COVID SUCKS! There, I said it. Between the lockdowns and restrictions and actually getting the illness… it’s the worst! Add in that after you’ve actually had COVID you can retain symptoms for months or even years afterward (known as “long COVID” for...
Cleansing practices seem to be all the rage right now! From juice cleanses to intermittent fasting; the idea of being able to detoxify and purify the body is EXTREMELY appealing. Especially with all the toxic chemicals and ingredients in foods and care products. Did...
If you’re into yoga, you’ve probably been looking for ways to bring your practice off the mat. Truth? Yoga was always meant to be understood in the context of its sister science, Ayurveda. Translated from Sanskrit, Ayurveda literally means “life knowledge.” That’s...
SLOW DOWN!! Beauty, if I can give you one cheat phrase to think about while you’re on cycle it is “SLOW DOWN” — both on and off the mat. Why? Menstruation is a natural reset for your body. A built in “time out” that’s nature...
You can run, you can hide, but you can’t escape your EMOTIONS!! Seriously though, I hate to break it to you, but no matter how much you try to bury them, your feelings are extremely powerful and subconsciously running your life. I mean, think about it, you’re having a...
Trying to get pregnant is not always the smoothest journey. If you’ve been trying to conceive for some time and are having trouble, it’s normal to feel stressed or upset. Assisted reproductive technology and fertility treatments can be draining on your time and...
Have you ever thought about signing up for a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) course, but just didn’t know where to start? What is the difference between all of them? I didn’t know where to start on my yoga teacher training journey. I felt so confused when I first...
The dreaded bloat! Ugh, one of the worst feelings is when your stomach is full and tight and uncomfortable. And what’s worse, it can be so hard to figure out the cause sometimes! Bloating can be caused by a number of different foods you eat or a big meal, it can be a...
If you’re like me, you want to know everything there is to know about yoga (or teaching it!). You’re ready to soak up as much knowledge as possible, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to your well-being. Maybe you’ve considered getting into Ayurvedic medicine? Or...
Mental health and mental illness is becoming a largely discussed topic these days in yoga classes. As someone who teaches yoga for personal transformation, I am here for it! Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. I find yoga students...
It’s that time of the month….again! I don’t know about you but my periods are painful!!! I get bloated, menstrual cramps, back pain, lethargic, and the list could go on. I learned at a young age that physical activity is great for alleviating some of these symptoms....
I am woman, hear me ROAR!! As a woman, you are a beautiful, powerful, divine being. I mean, think about it….what creature is more powerful than the one that has the ability to create life? You find ways to balance domestic duties (which is a full time job alone),...
LIFE IS STRESSFUL!!! Whether it’s good stress or bad stress it seems to be a part of our everyday life. When all that chronic stress starts to build we start to feel pretty yuck, whether it be physical (headaches/exhaustion) or emotional (anxiety/mild...
Hi, friends! How are you? And how goes your adventure of choosing a yoga teacher training? If you’re reading this, it must be still going haha! Remember that this contemplation period is part of the training process itself! And all the time and...
Have you ever gone to a yoga class where you couldn’t keep up? Maybe you were asked to contort your body into shapes that just weren’t attainable for you. Did you leave feeling defeated instead of confident? Yoga isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it’s not a competitive...
You’ve been doing Kundalini Yoga for a while now and you feel like you’ve got the Adi Mantra down, right? Perhaps you took a Kundalini Yoga class that had some new words after the tune in… and you’re wondering what they mean? Or you’ve been...
Daunting. This is the word I imagine most of you would use to describe the process of choosing a yoga teacher training program amidst the sea of training types and yoga styles that are out there. I mean, you might even still be wondering which level of...
Forget about mixing… I say business IS a pleasure! I love making business a spiritual practice. I love to teach yoga in person, online, and sell my training. If you want to see how I achieved this with templates you can use to score your first yoga studio job,...
Using a yoga sequencing template can help you design transformative yoga classes, even more so than creating a sequence from scratch. How? Creating yoga sequences can be a time consuming process. So much energy is spent in the preparation that a lot of the inspiration...
As an SEO, I’ve used a lot of different blogging platforms with a mix of different SEO tools. I’ve tried everything from a drag and drop website builder to a headless CMS, and I know what “website maintenance” really looks like. So when Brett...
Just as we make shapes with our bodies in yoga—asana, we can make shapes with our hands—mudras! Mudras, also referred to as seals or locks, are another interesting way to use your physical body, to direct energy and intention. Just as we are deeply affected by the way...
You’re obsessed with yoga or teaching yoga (me too!). If you’ve already been teaching yoga and want to learn more and go deeper, perhaps you’ve considered becoming a yoga therapist. What’s that all about? When I was researching the difference between being a...
Trigger Warning: This article contains reference to sexual assault. If you’re a survivor or loved one of a survivor seeking support to heal from an experience of sexual abuse, me too can help. I want to start this article by stating complete and unconditional...
Once you start to dive deeper into the world of energy healing and yoga you’re bound to have heard of the term Shakti or Kundalini energy. Shakti means ‘power’ in Sanskrit and is also used to describe feminine energy and life force energy. In the...
Congratulations, you’re having a baby! Now is the time for questions that lead to research that leads to… TA-DA! More questions. I’ve been there! You’re probably here because you’re caught between two worlds; you’re considering a...
At some point, every aspiring Kundalini yogi wonders what’s up with Kundalini clothing. Why the all-white outfits and head coverings? Before diving into why wearing white yoga clothing is an integral part of Kundalini Yoga, it’s important to understand the essence of...
If you have a monthly cycle, then you already know that the planets influence us on a daily basis. Maybe you’re like, next level about it, and know enough to wonder if Mercury in retrograde is causing another computer glitch (ugh!). What you probably don’t know...
After completing both my 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher training programs, I hired YTT graduate Andrea as an Uplifted Mentor to share her remarkable journey to becoming a yoga teacher – while in rehab following multiple surgeries. This is her story. -Brett...
If you’re reading this, you’re likely considering an online yoga teacher training. You’re doing your research (GOOD!). Now that you’re here, considering joining our Uplifted campus, you may be wondering… What makes Uplifted YTT better?Why is it so expensive?How is it...
Do you need an instant fix of calm, cool and collected? Who doesn’t these days! Lucky for you (and – literally – all of humankind) – there’s a breath practice to help you out. Yogis have used calming pranayama practices to get out of high gear and...
In yoga, we often talk about stoking our internal fire to awaken prana. This is in part why people love vinyasa flow so much. You know – the same people who love a daily 5-mile jog and core work. We -(yes, I am one of you) love to feel the burn and know we’re...