As we head towards winter, the days becoming shorter and colder, most wildlife either hibernating, migrating or just physically move more slowly. This is reflected in nature as it too slows down, trees shedding their leaves and going to sleep for the winter. Unfortunately, this is not an option for us, humans. For most of…
What is Yoga? Yoga is a timeless pragmatic science that has evolved over thousands of years. It deals with the physical, moral, mental and spiritual wellbeing of man as a whole. The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning to bind, join, attach and yoke, to direct and concentrate one’s attention upon, to use and apply. Yoga is one of six orthodox…
The invocation is traditionally chanted before the beginning of class to pay our respects to Patanjali, the sage who in around 200 BC, systematised yoga in the Yoga Sutras which were previously conveyed orally. There are 196 sutras set out over four chapters or pada which provide a road map for our yogic journey. The first chapter deals with…
Practice definitely does make perfect, integrating daily home practice into your routine is at the core of yoga. If you are serious about wanting to progress in yoga then developing and establishing a consistent a home practice is essential. When you begin to practice at home you truly learn and experience the transformative effects of yoga…
Mindfulness has been promoted by the media as a new silver bullet to help people manage all sorts of health issues. However, mindfulness is an integral part of yoga, as students become increasingly mindful through yoga asanas and pranayama. The cultivation of concentration is the starting point for mindfulness. Dharana the sixth petal of yoga…
Asanas are multifaceted in that in they help us achieve the mind-body connection but on the surface they look like a purely physical endeavour. To help us understand the profound depth of asana, three sutras in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (the philosophy underpinning yoga) explain, expand and define asana. Firstly, the asana must have…
