The Gift of Yoga & Meditation: Recent Episodes
Colette Marie
The Gift of Yoga & Meditation is a guided yoga and meditation platform offering a wide range of guided meditations and yoga practices such as Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga and other styles of practice. This podcast is developed to assist any practitioner through a guided series of yoga practices and meditation, from beginners to the more seasoned individual. For more information about Colette Marie, please visit: http://iamcolette.com
Follow along with the breathing pattern presented in this podcast episode, to help you make a connection to your own breath pattern and also to help you slip seamlessly into a meditative state.
Today’s practice is centered around Mindful Breathing. It is a breathing practice that will help settle the mind, allow your thoughts to slow down, invite calm and relaxation to both the body and the mind, while establishing a deep connection to the way in which you breath.
Today’s practice is a Vinyasa yoga style practice with a special intention set at the beginning that will be reiterated throughout. Yoga props include blocks and a bolster if needed.
Today’s practice is an unscripted free flowing vinyasa flow practice. All you need to do is simply show up to your mat and let the practice guide you along. Props include 2 yoga blocks.
Today’s practice will focus on long hold times in various postures to help release tension and tightness in the hips and hamstrings, as well as the lower back. This will be a restorative yoga practice, therefore, all necessary props will be appropriate incorporated such as a bolster, head pillow, eye pillow, blanket and yoga strap.
Today’s yoga practice is a 50/50 flow, meaning half of our practice will be dedicated to a nice rigorous flow of movement coupled with our Ujjayi breathing. The second half of our practice will be dedicated to yin yoga, with long hold times, in each posture to thoroughly tap into the hips and hamstrings, groin and quads. Yoga props are recommended to help facilitate certain postures for added comfort and ease.
Today’s practice will focus on linking together a series of postures in a seamless vinyasa style flow practice. This method of movement helps to invigorate the body, clear energy blockages, encourage deep breathing, thus generating more oxygen in the body and relieving the body of tension and tightness. Props will include yoga blocks if needed.
Today’s practice is a restorative yoga prescription for the mind, body and soul. This practice is designed to create space, induce a feeling of extreme relaxation, thus promoting an altered state of consciousness through continuous breathing, long stretch hold times, and sounds of nature. Props will be needed for this class, such as a bolster, yoga blocks, strap, blanket, eye pillow, neck or head pillow, socks to keep the toesies warm and a light sweater.
This practice is referred to as Yoga Rx, or Yoga Prescription. The symbol Rx, is used here as a play on the medical terminology, to draw attention to the healing qualities of physical postures. In other words, the prescribed postures in this practice will focus on shoulder openers, back openers, lateral stretches and more. Additionally, the theme of this practice is finding stillness and finding comfort in the uncomfortable. Yoga props include, blocks and or a yoga strap if needed.
Today’s practice will focus on fluidity, strength, stability and stamina as we move through a series of Sun Salutation A’s for a period of time before moving into a warrior series, and so forth. This practice will not only inspire determination to find inner strength but will invigorate the body in a unique way. Props include yoga blocks.
Today’s practice is a wonderful opportunity to decompress, find stillness and allow your mind to wander until there are no more thoughts left, thus coming into contact with present moment awareness, through a series of passive stretches, and breathing techniques. This style of Hatha yoga is designed to help the nervous system switch from sympathetic to parasympathetic, hence, slowing down everything, and immersing yourself in a state of bliss, peace, and stillness.
Today’s practice is rooted in the Vinyasa yoga tradition, however, mindful movement and breathing will be the focal point, thus deliberately connecting with each aspect of transitioning in and out of postures, and the breath. This practice will require patience, grace, and consideration of your body’s willingness to hold postures for an extended period of time and its willingness to surrender to how the posture is expressed. Props will include yoga blocks and a strap if needed.
Today’s practice is Yin Yoga, tapping into our Ujjayi breathing, accessing breath to warm the tight tissues of the body, while holding a variety of stretches targeting the hips, hamstrings and muscles that support the spine. For this class, you will need a yoga strap and a yoga block or two, perhaps a blanket to use to soften the knees in certain postures.
Today’s practice is a devotional one, amplifying the meditative quality of the sequencing and movement, the transitions, the hold times, the inversions and the breath. Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion. Therefore, you will dip your toes into the devotional aspects of your personal practice, challenging yourselves and pushing past your comfort zones, thus expanding your practice, and your consciousness, experiencing the meditativeness of your entire physical practice, hence slipping into an altered state of consciousness.
Today’s class will be a series of postures dedicate to working with the hips, the shoulders and the spine, through a playlist of standing balancing postures and other poses to invigorate the hips, shoulders and the spine. Inversions will be practiced in this class such as a headstand. Feel free to pause your practice at any time and find rest when needed.
Today’s practice is a delicious restorative yoga class, focusing on long hold times, to bring ease and calm to the body and mind. Furthermore, this practice is an opportunity for the body to return to homeostasis, thus inviting balance, wholeness and healing to the body and mind. This style and modality of class will require a bolster, 2 yoga blocks, a blanket, neck or head pillow and an eye pillow. Additionally, wearing socks and a sweater is highly recommended to remain warm and comfortable.
Today’s class is a vinyasa flow practice, tailored with a series of sun salutations A and B, a warrior series, a standing balancing series, forearm stand practice, back bends, hip openers and more! Props needed are a blocks and a yoga strap.
Today’s class is a 40-minute power flow series to boost the body’s energy and stamina, incorporating standing balancing postures, inversions, and core stability poses, all tied together seamlessly through Ujjayi breathing. All you will need for this practice is your mat and possibly a yoga block for some support in specific postures if needed.
Today’s practice is about relaxing and resetting through a sequence of restorative postures using the wall as our main prop to facilitate various poses. In other words, this is a wall yoga practice! You will slip seamlessly into a state of blissfulness and calm through mindful breathing and easy hip-opening stretches. Each posture will be held for a few minutes, thereby reaching the deeper layers of muscle tissue while also increasing circulation throughout. This practice serves as a tool to help switch us from sympathetic nervous system function (fight or flight) to parasympathetic nervous system function (rest and digest). For this practice, you will need a bolster, neck or head pillow, eye pillow, yoga blanket, yoga strap, socks, and a light sweater to keep warm.
Today’s practice will focus on two concepts: Sukha, meaning sweet, or bliss, or happiness, and Sthira, meaning strength, steadiness, and the state of being firm. During this practice, we will be engaging in a variety of sequences dedicated to increasing stamina, strength, and steadiness while also experiencing and tapping into the state of blissfulness, joy, and sweetness of each pose and transition in and out of postures. Lastly, we will focus on building and maintaining heat throughout the body through the full utilization of Ujjayi Warrior breathing technique. Please note, that this is a strong flow style practice. Therefore, please be mindful of your body’s limitations and abilities in order to execute postures safely and successfully. Props will include a yoga block, strap, and or blanket.
Today’s practice is about generating vitality through a series of inversions, breathing techniques, and the intervals of both to increase and boost our energy, and healing responses, while also creating calm throughout. This practice will ride the wave of duality, thereby establishing an internal environment in which both the element of calm and energy coexist. In other words, this practice will embody the balance of Yin and Yang energies. Please note this practice is advanced and does require you to be entirely in tune with your body’s limitations and abilities in order to execute each posture safely and successfully. Props include a yoga block, blanket, seating cushion, or kneeling bench.
Today’s practice is Yoga Nidra, also known as Yogic Sleep, an opportunity to slip into an altered state of consciousness betwen the waking state and sleep state. We will move from the Annamaya Kosha to the Pranamaya Kosha within the Pancha Maya Kosha System, while also brining our awareness to the Throat Energy Center. Props will include, a yoga bolster or thick pillow for the legs, a blanket for the body, small pillow or neck pillow for the head, an eye pillow or folded hand towel for the eyes, socks on the feet, and perhaps a light sweater to keep warm.
Today’s practice is an opportunity to invite vitality, balance, harmony, and invigoration to the Solar Plexus Energy Center, the 3rd Chakra of the body, through a series of revolved postures and kapalabhati pranayama breathing exercise to start. Items you will need will include, a block, yoga strap, blanket for the knees if needed, and or seating cushions to support the beginning of practice.
Today’s class will be focused on the Heart Center, engaging in various postures to expand this space, increase lung capacity, while also centering our thoughts on increasing our heart’s capacity to love unconditionally, experience more compassion and to feel more connected to ourselves and others. Props include, yoga blocks, blankets, and or yoga strap where needed.
Enjoy a 10 minute guided meditation to shake of the day or to set up your evening, essentially hitting that mental reset button and allowing yourself to drift into a relaxing mental space for yourself.
Enjoy a 10 minute standing meditation experience, focusing on stability, grounding, and the breath. This form of meditation is to help one notice subtle energy shifts, and become more connected to the ground in which one stands.
Begin learning the art and practice of Kapalbhati breathing technique, a Kriya Yoga practice for detoxifying the body, bringing calm to the body and mind, while also improving respiratory function. This breathing practice does induce a feeling of euphoria for some people.
Enjoy a 40 minute YogaFit practice to help strengthen your body and mind. This is a more intermediate practice, and includes some core work as well.
Enjoy a 3 minute countdown meditation, counting backwards from 100 to help distract the mind and refocus the mind on the present moment.
Enjoy a more rigorous practice, including 3 kettlebell exercises such as kettlebell squats, kettlebell deadlifts and kettlebell swings. We will begin with a warm up and end with a stretchy cool down for muscle recovery. All levels of practice welcome. However, if you are new to kettlebell exercises, you may wish to view a few YouTube tutorials on kettlebell squats, kettlebell deadlifts and kettlebell swings to better acquaint yourself with body mechanics.
Enjoy a 45 minute Ashtanga Yoga flow style practice, filled with lots of Sun Salutations to really invigorate the body, while also inspiring balance, stamina, strength, flexibility and range of motion throughout!
Enjoy a longer breath retention hold time, for about 15 cycles, lasting approximately 5 minutes to invite calm, relaxation, peacefulness and serenity.
Enjoy a 3 minute breath retention practice to reset your day, or to simply find a moment of relaxation in your day. Breath retention is a great way to balance ones mood, find calm, and readjust the nervous system.
Begin your practice with classical sun salutations A + B, to help warm up the body, loosen up tight joints, creating more mobility, flexibility, and range of motion throughout. This practice is for all levels.
Enjoy a relaxing guided sleep meditation to help prepare for a more restful sleep. If you have trouble falling to sleep, practicing meditation before bed will help to trigger the mind to move from a place rapid thought to a more meditative mindscape.
Take 5 minutes to detach from the external world, and use the time to invite a sense of calm and relaxation for your mid-day!
Enjoy a guided flow of movement, focusing on bits and pieces of Sun Salutation A, just enough to subtly invigorate the body.
Enjoy a 3 minute guided meditation practice, becoming acquainted with the art of mindful breathing.
Enjoy a guided restorative practice deferring to a few key postures to help facilitate a delicious and relaxing yoga experience.
Enjoy a 15 minute guided restorative yoga practice part 2, with the use of a bolster, blocks, eye pillow and or other items to help facilitate the blissful experience of utter relaxation!
Enjoy a 5 minute guided meditation experience to help reset your day or to bring closure to your day.