Can Yoga help my sister?

“A mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality. It most commonly manifests as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking with significant social or occupational dysfunction. Onset of symptoms typically occurs in young adulthood, with around 0.4–0.6% of the population affected. Diagnosis is based on the [...]

The Significance of Namaste

What does “Namaste” mean? This is usually the final “formality” before the closure of a yoga class and I have always wanted to know more about the significance of the gesture. The gesture (or mudra) of Namaste (anjali mudra) is a simple act made by bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart chakra, and lightly [...]

Ahimsa

Yoga Sutra 2.35 says”ahimsā pratishthāyām tat vaira-tyāgah”. ahimsa = non-violence, non-harming, non-injury pratishthāyām = having firmly established, being well grounded in tat = that, of his or her vaira-tyāgah = give up hostilities (vaira = hostility, enmity, aggression; tyāga = abandon, give up When translated into English, it means – “As a Yogi becomes firmly [...]

Karma

“Karma” means action. It refers to the intentional deeds we do with our body speech and mind through action, talking and thinking. Karma is the law that every deed done, given the conditions, will bear certain fruits. How does Karma work? All deeds leave imprints or seeds on our consciousness, which ripen into our experiences [...]

Sirsasana (Headstand)

Sirasana (sirsa = head) or Headstand is an inverted pose which reverses the action of gravity on the body. Inversions turn everything upside down, allowing us to experience a different perspective. The increased blood flow to the brain brings increased oxygen and nutrient to the mind thereby improving the clarity of thought and ease of [...]

Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Stick Pose)

Chaturanga (chatur=four; anga=limb; danda=staff, stick) is an excellent pose to build awareness of the muscles that support and stabilize our shoulder blades. It is also an excellent core exercise to prepare us for more challenging arm balances. Benefits are as follows: -   Strengthen the legs, buttocks, back, abs, shoulders, arms, and wrists; -   Improves circulation [...]

Asanas for the 7 Chakras

Chakras refer to the energy centers in the human body which is vertically aligned in the center of the body close to the spine. There are seven chakras, or energy centers, in our body. Each of these chakras is associated with a different part of the body along the spine from the coccyx to the [...]

Yoga off the Mat

How yoga has changed me is an interesting question. It is a question that I really have to think about…. I ask myself another intriguing question – what is yoga “off the mat”? We practise patience, determination, concentration, calmness, etc “on the mat” in a yoga class. How then do we apply them when we [...]