When the pressure is on—whether it’s a big presentation, an intense negotiation, or a high-stakes athletic performance—your ability to stay calm and focused can make all the difference. Breathwork, the intentional practice of controlling your breath, is a simple yet powerful tool to help you navigate these moments with clarity and resilience.

At Better Yoga, we believe the most meaningful gifts are those that make a lasting impact—ones that support well-being and won’t end up forgotten or in a landfill by midsummer. That’s why we’ve curated a list of thoughtful, wellness-focused gift ideas inspired by Ayurveda to inspire your giving and help foster health, happiness, and connection this holiday season.

The holiday season brings joy, connection, and—let’s face it—a lot of food. Thanksgiving, in particular, can be a time of overindulgence, leaving us feeling heavy, bloated, or lethargic. Ayurveda, the ancient science of holistic health, offers timeless wisdom to help you enjoy the festivities without sacrificing your digestive health. Here are some tips to help you savor the season while keeping your Agni (digestive fire) strong and balanced.

To decide whether in-studio and online yoga classes are the best fit for you, it’s important to first identify your primary goals for practicing yoga. Are you looking to calm your mind, improve flexibility, relieve pain, or connect with a community? Clarifying what you value most—convenience, personal attention, or social interaction—will help you choose the type of class that best meets your needs.

How can we nurture both mindfulness and intention-setting in the same breath? Here’s a gentle reminder: they’re not opposites but allies. By balancing mindful presence with intentional planning, we honor our current journey while setting the groundwork for growth.

As the fall season brings cooler temperatures and shorter days, our bodies naturally shift toward a slower, more reflective state. Yet the seasonal bustle—filled with back-to-school activities, holidays, and shifting schedules—can often sweep us away from this natural rhythm, making it an ideal time to seek balance through grounding breathing practices.

Your body is a detox machine. Every day, the detox pathways in your body clear out toxins to keep all the other organs, systems, and processes running smoothly. In Ayurveda, these pathways are called srotas; toxins accumulate when they become overwhelmed, sluggish, or clogged.

If you spend long hours at your desk, you’ve probably experienced the tension that builds up in your back, shoulders, and neck. Sitting still for extended periods, combined with less-than-ideal posture, can lead to discomfort and even long-term pain. But the good news? With just a few small adjustments throughout the day, you can prevent these issues and feel more energized and focused.

If you are suffering from sciatica, you know that it can be a real pain in the butt, literally and figuratively; if you are a yoga teacher and have students dealing with sciatic pain, these techniques can be the difference between helping their bodies heal and causing more harm. 

Our Ayurvedic cleanse is rooted in the healing wisdom of Ayurveda, which prioritizes balance and gentleness. Unlike more intense liquid cleanses, we focus on a mono-diet of kitchari with seasonal veggies, a soothing, complete protein made from mung beans and rice. It’s nourishing, grounding, and ideal for diverse constitutions. This approach allows your body to detox without feeling depleted.

Katonah Yoga is a modern style that blends traditional Hatha yoga with principles of Taoism, sacred geometry, Chinese medicine, and imaginative metaphors from the natural world. Developed over the past four decades by Nevine Michaan, this unique practice offers a practical and multidimensional approach to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Katonah Yoga uses the body to understand, measure, and harmonize personal and universal patterns.

We are constantly breathing. Usually, the more you do something, better at it you get. Yet so many of us are breathing in such a way that is unsupportive of our broader health goals. Whether it's feeling like you can't take a deep breath, gasping for air during exercise, or hyperventilating when you're anxious, poor breathing can make everyday life feel more challenging than it needs to be.

According to Ayurveda, late summer is often associated with an increase in Pitta dosha, which consists of fire and water elements. Out in nature, heat has been building for several months now, and as natural beings, we may be feeling the effects of this accumulation of fire, too, characterized by heat, intensity, and sharpness.