Yoga chitta vritti nirodha. This is how Patañjali defines yoga in the second sutra. It translates as, calming the fluctuations of the mind. Aside from the obvious fact that traditionally, yoga is not practised to a soundtrack coming from an iPod, this argument lies in the notion that by providing distractions such as music during our […]
As a novice yogi, I clearly remember the frustration of poor upper body strength. My shoulders were so weak that chaturaṅga daṇḍāsana resembled a breakdancing caterpillar and iconic poses like bakāsana (crow) and handstands were an impossible dream. But I was not alone. Many people lack strength in their shoulders when they first come to
Do you ever find your yoga practice slipping away from what your instincts tell you is yoga? Are you rushing to class in a frenzy, or feeling like practice is yet another thing to tick off the to-do list? If that feels familiar, chances are you might be in need of a little self-care. But
How often have you walked into a studio, grabbed a mat, and settled down to the floor, preparing for the next hour (or so) of time just for you? You may have your own mat, or maybe more than one, rolled up in your yoga corner. Choosing a mat these days can — like most
Is it safe to do a headstand or shoulderstand during your period? What about other inverted poses or downward dog? What about strong twists and back bends? Admittedly, there’s mixed messages out there for women about the do’s and dont’s of inversions during a period. Some say that any inversions during your period should be
What does purity of speech and thought have to do with our āsana practice? Does having a pure heart really make us better at yoga? Find out why the way you approach life off the mat really make a difference to your practice on the mat. Say What? We’ve already covered the five yamas (non-harming,
Ever heard the expression feel the fear and do it anyway? Whether it’s a fear of a particular yoga posture or a fear of death itself, overcoming your greatest fears is an important part of your yoga journey. As a species we’re naturally adverse to things we think will hurt us. We want to keep
Do you care about what you eat? If getting your 5-a-day isn’t enough, and you’re rigidly stuck to the latest food trends, you could be suffering from orthorexia. It might sound crazy at first since we all know that it’s important to look after our health. After all, isn’t that what yoga is about? Well,
Props are really, really great. They are SO useful to keep you safe in class and help you to move deeper into a pose than you could without them. They open up a world of possibilities for making poses more accessible AND more challenging. But let’s start from the beginning… What ARE Props? Props
Ever wondered how your yoga teacher knows when to breathe in or out as you move through a sequence of poses? Do you know how hard to push that stretch – I mean, how much stretch is a good stretch after all? And what is that ‘microbend’ in knees and elbows all about? I know
