Niyamas

In Sanskrit niyama means ‘observance’ and it comprises the second limb of Patanjali’s eight-limbed yoga system.  These practices help to extend the ethical guidelines provided in the first limb, the yamas. Niyamas describe actions and attitudes that we should cultivate to help us maintain a positive environment in which to grow.  The practice of niyama [...]

Yamas

Yamas are a form of moral commandments or goals within Hinduism, and specifically Raja Yoga.  Yama is a code of conduct for living that will help bring a compassionate death to the ego or “the lower self”.  The Yamas comprise the ‘shall-not-do’ list in regards to our interaction with the external world and help us [...]

Asana Practice Makes Me Happy

While plenty of other exercise regimes have always left me tired, worn out and sometimes grumpy at the end of the session, a yoga practice in contrast always makes me feel the exact opposite.  After finishing my mat time, I consistently feel refreshed, uplifted, energetic and, most surprising to me, extremely happy. Pondering on what [...]

Savasana – My Favorite Pose?

Some people may think that Savanasana, or relaxation pose, at the end of your yoga practice is a hard earned break, or just a chance to lay down and finally relax for a moment.  I know some non-yogi friends who have seen the famous pose at the end of yoga glasses and think the entire [...]

Arm Balances – Learning to Fly With Confidence

Many yoga practitioners today have a tendency to be intimidated by challenging-looking arm balance poses.  So many times my fellow yogi girlfriends give me the ‘not in this lifetime’ look when I point out asanas such as Bhujanpidanasa in yoga publications or on the web.  Interestingly enough, it’s not just women who are intimidated to [...]

The 8 Limbs of Yoga

The practice of yoga asana’s is dedicated to creating a union between body and the mind and in doing so prepares the practitioner for a deepening of their meditation practice.  However Yoga cannot be summed-up by only identifying it as the well-known practicing of asana’s or poses that most people are familiar with.  Yoga is [...]

Ahimsa – Do No Harm

Ahimsa is a Sanskrit term meaning to do no harm (literally: the avoidance of violence).  Ahimsa is an important part of Patanjali’s yoga belief.  It is one of the five Yamas (restraints), which make up the standard code of conduct, the first of the Eight Limbs of Yoga.  As applies to yoga, Ahimsa involves practicing [...]

The Joy of a Yogic Diet

I became a vegetarian about 6 months ago.  I did it on a whim and told myself, let me just see how long I can go without eating meat.  It was not meant to be any type of commitment to a new eating plan, just a desire to try not eating meat and see how [...]

Perfection in Poses?

Wouldn’t it be convenient if all things in life were effortless?  I am in a constant state of striving for effortlessness, in many aspects of my life, but especially in my Asana practice.  I love to watch Yogi’s on DVD or the Internet who move into and out of seemingly perfect poses while making it [...]

Taking your Asana practice to the next level – Find the strength and happiness of practicing outdoors

I love Asana practice.  I love it anytime and any place I can get the chance to steal those precious moments and unroll my mat.  No matter when or where I’ve practiced yoga, and trust me I practiced in some unusual places and situations, I always feel better, lighter and more peaceful.  In fact, I [...]