Practicing Satya in daily life. A look at living in truthfulness according to the Yoga Philosophy
Explore the meaning of Satya and living in truthfulness according to Yoga Philosophy.In the Ashtanga eightfold path/8 limbs of yoga by Patanjali, the second of the Yamas (social behavioural conduct) is Satya, truthfulness.Satya is a Sankrit word which can be linked with the meaning of truthfulness. Following the first of the yamas which is ahimsa meaning non-violence/non-harm, Satya is also...
The 3 states of Chitta. Understanding the mind stuff according to the yoga philosophy
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali provides clear information on what yoga is and its practices. As one of the most popular texts for yoga teachers and yogi aspirants who want to reach self-realisation, the Yoga Sutras is comprised in 4 different sections, each one offering information on the different levels and ways of practice, explaining clear methods and the outcome...
Why is asana practice not a workout? The differences between working out and a yoga asana practice
Understanding the differences between working out and a yoga asana practice. It is quite common these days for some people to think of asana practice as a workout. I have seen it many times in my classes, when students just want to "do a sweaty flow" or power practice. And this is ok, because asana practice has changed so much from...
A gentle asana practice to let go of mental stress and physical tension
Take some time to relax with this gentle asana practice to let go of mental stress and physical tension.Taking a more gentle approach in our yoga practice is needed to maintain a balanced body and mind. Especially so as we tend to live such busy lifestyles and experience stress often. Anytime we feel stressed, this will also transfer to the...
5 Important aspects to support your asana practice
Learn about these 5 important aspects to support your asana practice.On our mat, we encounter pleasant experiences as well as challenges. Both are needed because (in my opinion) although our practice starts on the mat, to fully transform it into a lifestyle, we must learn to take its teachings in our daily life. And life itself is an experience of...
Stretch and let go of stress duo asana practice
A gentle duo asana practice to stretch and let go of stress together. When it comes to asana practice, we should never feel pressured to accomplish anything. It is ultimately a personal sadhana (spiritual practice) that when done with devotion, love and commitment, it can help us to realise our true self, beyond the body and mind. Although this is a...
Asana practice for monthly cycle
A gentle asana practice for monthly cycle.During our monthly cycle, a lot is happening in the body. Our system is cleansing itself, therefore during this time, according to Ayurveda (the sister science of yoga), we can focus on doing less/more gentle physical or external effort in general so that we don’t disrupt the flow of apana prana. WHAT IS APANA PRANA?Apana...
4 Relaxing Yoga asanas to practice before sleep
Relax with these 4 beautiful yoga asanas to practice before sleep. Sleeping well is so important for our overall wellbeing. When we get a good night quality sleep, we naturally wake up feeling more calm, balanced and ready for the day. Practicing some gentle or restorative yoga asanas can help to calm the mind and create a harmonious state between body,...
What is Santosha in Yoga Philosophy and how can we practice it in life?
In Raja yoga, the 8 limbs of yoga are the steps Sri Patanjali suggests to take for those longing for Moksha/liberation from the ego and attachment to the physical self. The second limb, known as the Nyamas refers to the personal behaviours that we should practice according to Patanjali on the spiritual yogic path. The 5 Nyamas are:Saucca - cleanlinessSantosha - contentmentTapas -...
How to structure a yoga asana practice
Learn how to sequence a balanced yoga asana practice.Knowing how to sequence an asana class is important for many reasons, the main one being safety. There are some key aspects to always take in consideration to gradually take the body into the journey of HA THA - union of the dual energies, the feminine and masculine. Regardless if the class...