by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
If the economy has put a damper on your yoga class attendance, it’s time to start a home practice. A home practice can help fine-tune your grasp of the basics, so you can get more out of class time and more bang for your yoga buck. More yoga, better yoga -– it’s a win-win. A home practice doesn’t have to be long or elaborate either; you can easily squeeze it into your day without the extra time needed to get to class. Just unroll your mat in a quiet and reasonably clear space (indoors or out) and go to it. Let’s start with the sun salutations…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
People initially drawn to yoga to help cope with stress in their lives often discover it becomes the catalyst for career change. There is a misconception that once you make a big career change, particularly if it’s to yoga, work life will be so much easier to navigate because you will be doing what you love. While there is truth to that, some of the biggest work challenges have been in my yoga career. My biggest challenge is finding a balance between being yogic and being businesslike…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
The infusion of yoga into the American cultural landscape has fueled people fleeing high-powered jobs to seek fulfillment. Consider how many Americans try yoga as a way to exercise and reduce stress. While developing their practice they begin to recognize and address the imbalances in their bodies, minds and lifestyles. The first area that typically gets questioned is work…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
Winter blahs bringing you down? New Year’s resolutions feeling old already? Here’s an inspirational blend of five frequently asked yoga questions. I’ve found that exploring these topics usually sparks something in my students…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
Welcome to the holiday season. It can easily become overwhelming and stressful if we get swept up in the current of consumerism and the idea that more is better. How to find holiday joy and meaning? Firmly ground your heels in tadasana (mountain pose), adopt an attitude of gratitude…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
Hiking is a great reminder to have fun when you exercise. We do it not just for the health benefits, but also for enjoyment. Health-wise, it’s great to get outside and into nature, and there’s the body and mind benefits of the long, low-intensity cardio workout from a good solid hike. So what else do you need to add to this almost-perfect mix? Yoga, of course.

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
Margaret demonstrates her favorite Cowgirl Yoga poses for stretching and strengthening the muscles affected by horse riding. Try them before or after you ride to enhance your time in the saddle…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats
Learning to ride and having a horse was a childhood dream, but before arriving in Montana I’d only ever been on horseback a handful of times. Now my main teacher is a horse named Belle…

By Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats

The main tenant of my personal yoga philosophy has evolved from the overall philosophy that reaches beyond the physical practice or asana: Learn to live in the present moment. I have a vivid memory of awakening to this principal as a new yoga student…