The Yoga Sutras were composed nearly 2,000 years ago and have become one of the classic yogic texts. You may have seen it on the bookshelf at your local studio, on the reading list for teacher trainings, or heard it alluded to in class. But it can often remain shrouded in a certain mystery. So, […]
Say What? Confession time: aparigraha is one of the yamas I really love thinking about. Translated as non-grasping, I remember the first time I heard it and thinking, “Wow that really resonates!” A few hours later I was sitting in front of my laptop. The TV was on in the background, and my phone buzzed.
What does feeling connected mean to you? How does this relate to your yoga practice? Read on to discover why our fourth niyama, svādhyāya, is crucial to a truly mindful practice. Say What? Svādhyāya translates roughly as self study; sva meaning self and dhyaya meaning to contemplate, or think. It’s also thought of as spiritual
Once we start to move beyond a purely physical practice, and come to appreciate the deeper psychological dimensions of yoga, we start to see that it’s not all about poses. Yoga is about finding a sense of awareness that connects us to ourselves and to life itself. It’s possible to have the most impressive asana
Ahimsā is the practice of not causing harm to ourselves or others – in other words, being kind and considerate. Sound easy? Read on to find out if you may be bringing unnecessary pain into your life – and how you can practise more ahimsā both on and off the mat. Say What? Ahimsā, pronounced ‘a-hymn-sa‘, is a combination
Learn how to build your internal heat and bring discipline to your yoga practice without getting burnt along the way with this niyama, tapas. Say What? Tapas (not to be confused with delicious Spanish nibbles) is like fire. Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘tap’ which means ‘to burn’, Ashtanga teacher Melanie Cooper calls it the
For the discerning Yogi, ancient texts are paramount to an authentic practice. The Yoga Sutras, The Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Upanishads along with hundreds more all fall under this umbrella and each one has their own distinct voice within the vast collection of yogic literature. That’s not to say by turning the final
So we’ve been going through the Eight Limbs of Yoga for the past few weeks. We started with the grossest, or most physical of the limbs, yama and niyama, moved on to asana, pranayama and pratyahara. We’ve also explained why we practice these limbs: to tame that ever-mischievous monkey mind. Now we start getting to the
What can’t you live without? Whether it’s not knowing when to say no to that last drink, eating one too many cakes, or even being attached to how you think your body should look on the yoga mat, attachment isn’t about giving up the pleasures in life, more about learning how to enjoy them. Renounce
Ever looked in the mirror and not liked what you see? Ever criticised yourself for being too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short? Do you congratulate yourself on your long legs, flat stomach or shiny hair? Whether it’s positive or negative, these thoughts and beliefs towards ourselves are a classic example of our ego
