Our Blog:
On & Off the Mat
Sound Baths: everything you need to know about the ancient practice of sound healing
Here at The Yoga Common, we offer sound baths (along with a yin yoga practice) at both our NYC and Austin studios, an in-person experience that is quite different than the other yoga practices that we offer. We thought we’d take a minute to give some background on sound baths, along with some tips on how to prepare for them.
Our Story, featured in VoyageAustin Magazine
Erica and Cynthia, sisters and co-owners of The Yoga Common, were recently interviewed for VoyageAustin, an online magazine that shares authentic stories from small businesses, local institutions, independent artists and entrepreneurs in Austin.
Homemade Turmeric Latte
Warm yourself up with a tasty and comforting Turmeric Latte, and get your anti-inflammatory boost! This recipe uses fresh turmeric, fresh ginger and stick cinnamon. Ground spices work too, but the whole spices infuse beautifully into the plant milk (while ground spices tend to sink to the bottom of the cup).
Why a gratitude practice really works
We’re wired by our evolutionary biology to easily notice the negatives in our lives (the “threats” to our survival). With practice, though, we can train our prefrontal cortex to notice and appreciate positive experiences.
How yoga can help you notice yourself
If you haven’t yet read The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, drop what you’re doing and bump it up your reading list. While it describes van der Kolk’s research and experiences in treating traumatic stress, his insights have tremendous value for – frankly – anybody.
We’re changing our name
Erica and Cynthia here… We have some big news to share: we’re changing our name! When we first took on our studio space in Murray Hill 15 years ago, it was already known as Mang’Oh Yoga. At the time, we felt no need to change the name, so we stuck with it. However, we’ve spent the last year making significant changes to our business operations…
How to slow down
As hints of a pre-Covid “normal” life start to nudge us back into a lifestyle of busyness, our yoga practice is a reminder to slow down, breathe, and savor the moments. As a transition to a new normal might not come easily to everyone, here are some tips on how to slow down, one step at a time:
Savory Chickpea Pancakes
Possibly the easiest recipe you’ll ever come across, these savoury chickpea pancakes are about as tasty as they are quick and simple to make. They’re a high-fibre, cholesterol-free alternative to omelettes, with a culinary tradition originating in Italy (apparently) and adopted in various parts of the world.
Repetition is the Key to Forming Habits
Repetition is the key to hacking your brain to form good habits – or so the science suggests. A study published in Psychological Review demonstrated that, contrary to what you might have thought, the formation of new habits doesn’t really depend on how much you enjoy the action in question – it depends on how often you repeat it.
Easy Homemade Almond Milk
Homemade almond milk is really easy to make, and relatively affordable if you buy your almonds in bulk. Plus, it’s a good deal more nutrient-dense than storebought almond milk, which has a low percentage of actual almonds and a whole lot of additives. Remember to keep the leftover pulp to add to smoothies, oatmeal or muffin mix – your gut bugs will thank you!
12 ways to take care of your mental wellbeing in tough times
As the city of New York recovers from the devastating impacts of the recent floods, it’s more important than ever to be intentional about looking after ourselves. Here are 12 actionable steps that you can take to care for your mental health and build resilience in a stressful period.
Lockdown Yoga Learnings: an interview with NY Yoga + Life Mag
Andrea Lodico, our Teacher Training program director, recently joined the editor of NY Yoga + Life Mag for a lovely chat between yogis. Watch the video to hear about how the current moment, as we emerge from lockdown, is pivotal as a time of reevaluation and refocusing and lots more.
Muriel’s Black Bean Beet Burgers
Here at Mang'Oh, we love discovering food that nourishes the body and soul. This burger recipe ticks all those boxes and more: it's fully whole-food plant-based, packed with fibre, protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds – and it's very tasty with great texture.
Dimple Patel shares her Mang’Oh Teacher Training experience
We approached former teacher trainees who have completed our 200-hour Teacher Training program, to share a bit about their journey with yoga, and their experience with the Mang’Oh community and training. Here is Dimple Patel.
Keeping Cool with Yoga
Summer is here in all its glory, with early mornings, beautiful sunshine and long evenings. But it can get a bit sweltering, and not everyone wants to (or can) resort to indoor temperature-controlled environments or swimming pools to cool down. Thankfully, yoga tradition has some great techniques to cool your body, with special breathing exercises and cooling postures. And of course, foods can also help keep us hydrated and cool.
Rahul Sarin shares his mang’Oh Teacher Training experience
Rahul Sarin is a graduate of mang'Oh yoga's 200-hour Teacher Training program. He recently took the time to share his experience with us for our blog. "Teacher training has been a step taken to further deepen my own practice and also offer guidance to my family/friends/colleagues about the benefits of yoga." Get to know Rahul, his yoga journey and some great bits of advice for anyone who's thinking of joining the mang'Oh Teacher Training.
Jenny Lee shares her mang’Oh Teacher Training experience
Jenny Lee is a graduate of mang'Oh yoga's 200-hour Teacher Training program. She recently took the time to share her experience with us for our blog. (She is also the instructor for our latest addition to the schedule, the Tuesday 7:15 Sunrise Express!). "As much as yoga helped me through difficult times, I want to help others do the same by teaching them yoga." Get to know Jenny, her yoga journey and some great bits of advice for anyone who's thinking of joining the mang'Oh Teacher Training.
5 Secrets to a Deep Sleep (+ a free mindfulness meditation with David Ito)
Are you one of the many people who struggle to get a good night's sleep? I certainly am (this is Cynthia :)). Between a long day of working at the computer to the list of things that I have to do the next day, I struggle to turn off my mind when it comes time to sleep. During the pandemic, these issues have taken their toll and I’ve had to be more intentional about the way I head to my bed.
6 Journaling Prompts to Explore Boundaries in a Re-Opening World
We're all in a process of exploring the boundaries of who we will become in a post-pandemic world.This can be a process that fills us with hope or fear. More likely than not, it's a mixture of both. Below, we've put 6 of our favorite prompts up on the blog to get you started.
Why online yoga classes are AMAZING…plus, in-person classes resuming this month.
One year ago today, we launched our online Livestream classes. We followed with our Video On-Demand platform just a few months later. It's been 12 months of moving, breathing and being together...even while apart.