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Welcome

Welcome to our December issue, with the wonderful Victoria Tso of Inner Child Yoga School gracing our cover for the first time. Read more about this amazing yoga teacher inside.

Contributors

Our contributors this month.

My secret place

Yogi: Stephanie Champlin Photographer: Matt Champlin

N@maste

Love OM magazine and want to tell the world? Here’s your chance.

Yoga Changed My Life

Former lawyer Stephanie Howard found yoga a comforting friend during the early years of motherhood and living away from family and friends.

Breath for all

A new campaign invokes the popularity of breath work to raise funds for medical oxygen supplies in Africa.

The Happiness Explorer

How to…celebrate your successes.

Living the teachings — understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings

SAVASANA: THE CORPSE POSE.

Amazing SPACES

BRIGHTSIDE INFRARED YOGA & SAUNAS.

Planet yoga

Stories from around the weird and wonderful world of yoga.

OM Books

The best books!

Yoga is for every body

Your pictures. Your community.

One step closer to world peace

What if everyone in the world was a yogi?

Meet the winners

The inaugural OM Yoga Awards took place at the OM Yoga Show in October this year inside London’s Alexandra Palace.

Favourite Yoga Studio: Hotpod Yoga

Hotpod Yoga has grown into one of the best-known yoga studio franchises in the UK and beyond — and, it seems, one of the bestloved too.

Favourite Yoga Teacher: Bhavisha Pankhania

You may have seen Bhavisha Pankhania on the cover of OM a few months back, so we’re delighted that she’s landed the Favourite Yoga Teacher award.

Favourite Yoga Mat: Liforme

What item do people first think of when they think about yoga? Yoga mats, of course! And this year’s favourite yoga mat according to our readers is Liforme.

Favourite Yoga Charity: The Prison Phoenix Trust

The winner of our first ‘Favourite Yoga Charity’ award is The Prison Phoenix Trust (PPT), which has been featured in OM in recent months.

Favourite Yoga Clothing Brand: Blossom Yoga Wear

Blossom Yoga Wear is your Favourite Yoga Clothing Brand, as voted for by OM readers.

Good Karma Award: Chessie Hutchings

The Good Karma Award is slightly different to all our other awards, with the winner selected not by voting, but by OM’s own editor.

Favourite Yoga Teacher Trainer: Aimée Garcia-Marshall

The quality of yoga teacher training in the UK is exceptional, but we asked you to vote for just one favourite — and this year’s favourite teacher trainer is Aimée Garcia-Marshall.

Favourite Yoga Retreat: Suryalila

Suryalila Yoga Centre in southern Spain was set up by renowned yoga teacher trainer Vidya Heisel a decade ago. We’re delighted to see that it has been voted your favourite yoga retreat in our inaugura

Favourite Yoga Platform Or App: MFML

Movement for Modern Life, or MFML as it’s more commonly known, has become a huge hit with online yoga fans since its launch in 2013.

Happy New Yoga

10 poses to end your year with clarity, peace and self-love.

A 360º over view of... Shoulder Stand Pose (Sarvangasana)

Shoulder Stand Pose (Sarvangasana)

VICTORIA TSO

A former primary school teacher, Victoria Tso is our cover star this month.

Breathing life back in

5 yoga techniques to unlock your chest and process heartbreak.

Yoga snacking

Looking for a convenient way to workout with a busy schedule? Try exercise snacking — or yoga snacking — where you can dip in and out of any kind of movement without too much commitment.

Merry OM Christmas!

Happy Christmas everybody! If you’re still in search of some festive inspiration this year then browse through 14-pages of wonderful, ethical yoga goodies and gift ideas inside this special report.

Lie down and listen

Wind down for Christmas with a Lie Down & Listen experience that will help you float through the festive season this year.

Full Power Cacao, Ceremonial Grade

Ethically sourced in Venezuela, energetically blessed in Manchester with the highest vibrational energy by Full Power Cacao founder Liam Browne and Paulina ‘Amora’ Griffin.

INFINITY AROMATIQS CANDLES, WAX MELTS & OILS

Artisanally crafted wellness products, each infused with one of the 5 signature blends of essential oils.

Mandala Alignment Yoga Mat - 4mm

Discover the art of perfect alignment! Elevate your yoga practice to new heights with the Yoga-Mad Mandala Alignment Yoga Mat.

TOETOE Serene Anti-Slip Ankle Toe Socks

When the elements of the foot create a continuous movement pattern, this makes the movement at the next joint up easier.

Revive Active

Cruise through Christmas with these actively reviving little wonders from the clever folks at Revive Active.

SHAKTI MA

Hailing a new season of enchanting, resonant music steeped in ancient wisdom and mantras of the Vedic world, singer-songwriter Matangi Devi has released her debut album ‘Shakti Ma’.

Christmas Gift Hamper

Gift some tranquillity this Christmas with a chic mini hamper.

Huni - Acacia Honey Natural Coffee Syrup

Crafted from a blend of acacia honey and natural flavourings.

Success Starts with Self:

35 Must-Read Articles to Set You Up For Long-Term Success in Life, Love and Your Career

Eco-friendly yoga mats

Treat your yoga pals (or yourself!) to a new ecoYoga mat this Christmas

Huzur Vadisi yoga retreats

Treat someone you love to a yoga retreat! Huzur Vadisi’s 30 years’ experience provides the best care so you can simply unwind and enjoy.

Mindful Moments Box

A choice of three thoughtful boxes that make for ideal Christmas gifts.

Asana Cards

Stunning card deck featuring uniquely illustrated yoga poses and breathing techniques.

OM FOR MEN

Contents

MAN ON THE MAT

BHEKASANA (FROG POSE)

Healing the inner child

Meet Belgium-based photographer, Simeon Van der Hoeven, a visionary artist and healer who creates mass nude projects that reflect themes and ideas that will resonate among the yoga community, including a spectacular chakra series

The Chakra Series

Exploring the stunning and ambitious Chakra Series artwork by photographer Simeon Van der Hoeven.

Savasana: the pause that replenishes our prana

Embodied Living: Mindfulness & Yoga for Life’s Everyday Challenges.

A healing JOURNEY

Yasmine Aker, an actress and activist, singer and songwriter, now based in LA, was born in Dubai to Iranian parents and later moved to Canada, experiencing trauma and breakdown along the way. Here, she shares key aspects of her healing journey

Yoga vs Stress

Yoga is good for you — and it can be a great way to keep a lid on all that stress from everyday living in 2023. Start now and breeze your way through Christmas and into the new year season.

Yoga: a path to mental clarity and focus

How yoga can dial down stress, to enhance your mental clarity, focus and concentration.

7 stress busters

Seven ways to manage your stress levels and feel zen again!

4 yogic practices to reduce stress

Four simple and gentle yoga ways to curb daily stress.

Stress, female hormonal health… and yoga

How yoga, pranayama, stillness and relaxation practices can improve our overall health, whatever we are going through.

Don't worry, be happy

How yoga can help reduce your child’s stress (yes, children get stressed too!).

3 ways to connect with nature

Getting back to nature is an excellent way to soothe stress. Here are three mindful activities that will help you gently reconnect with the great outdoors.

Be more yoga

If you want less stress, just be more yoga.

Join the lifestyle revolution

Introducing ALTR Life: a new holistic, bespoke yoga and wellness toolkit to help you surf through the stress.

Do yoga. Reduce stress

Yoga, meditation and mindfulness are all highlighted in a new academic paper outlining positive lifestyle behaviours to adopt in the battle against hypertension.

eat drink yoga

Healthy eating goodies.

Cocktails & Sweet Dreams

The countdown to Christmas has begun. Here are some festive sweet treats and drink ideas to celebrate the season in style.

Say 'yes' to seaweed

5 beauty and wellbeing benefits of adding seaweed to your daily diet.

TEACHER ZONE

A deeper understanding of yoga... for teachers, by teachers.

MyYoga Biz

Tips from the experts to help you grow the yoga business of your dreams.

The Wellbeing Dilemma

We recognise the importance of our wellbeing more than ever, especially after the pandemic…so why has it become so elusive?

What do you look for in a yoga teacher?

Look beyond the surface when you’re selecting a yoga teacher.

Yoga van life

Awe-inspiring retreats and ideas for yoga explorers.