Half Butterfly, Yin Style (AKA Janu Sirasana A!)
A favourite pose of our senior Yin teacher trainer Tara Fitzgibbon, and sure to feature on the upcoming Yin Yoga Retreat – Half Butterfly (as it’s known in Yin) differs in essence to it’s hatha [...]
Bhuja Pidasana (shoulder / arm pressure pose)
This pose obviously strengthens the arms, but it is fundamentally a balance and so promotes equanimity of mind and emotions. If you get your centre of gravity correct it becomes less about arm strength and [...]
Exploring Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1.6
Pramana Viparyaya Vikalpa Nidra Smrtayah Sutra 1.6 lists the five movements (vrtti in Sanskrit) of the mind: Correct knowledge; incorrect knowledge; imagination; sleep; and memory. Sutra 1.7 Explains that correct knowledge (pramana) comes from three [...]
Exploring Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2.3
What is holding you back from your true potential of sustained peace? We have looked at the aim of yoga and the path of yoga; Sutra 2.3 lists the five obstacles (the Kleshas) that stand [...]
Living the 8 Limbs – the fifth of the Yamas – Aparigraha
Aparigraha the fifth Yama “aparigraha sthairye janma kathanta sambodha” When one is steadfast in non-possessiveness or non-grasping with the senses (aparigraha), there arises knowledge of the why and wherefore of past and future incarnations. Yoga [...]
Living the 8 Limbs – the fourth of the Yamas – Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya, the fourth Yama Yoga Sutra 2.38 Traditionally this YAMA is often thought of as celibacy - the idea being that the yogi conserves their sexual energy so that this energy is used to progress along [...]
Exploring Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1.33
1.33: maitri karuna mudita upeksanam sukha duhkha punya apunya visayanam bhavanatah citta prasadanam The mind will be undisturbed if you can cultivate the attitudes of friendliness towards the happy, compassion towards those in pain, delight [...]
Exploring Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2.1
2.1: Tapah svadhyaya isvara pranadhanani kriya yogah These Sanskrit words will be familiar to anyone who knows their Nyamas from their Yamas! Patanjali puts extra emphasis on the last three Nyamas by starting Chapter 2 with [...]
Exploring Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Having looked at the first 4 Sutras in the last newsletter, we’re going to jump to 1.12 to 1.16 that delve into the fundamental yogic principles of ‘practice’ and ‘non-attachment’ (abhyasa and vairagya). We learnt [...]
Living the 8 Limbs – the third of the Yamas – Asteya
“asteya pratisthayam sarva ratna upasthanam” When non-stealing (asteya) is established, all jewels, or treasures present themselves, or are available to the Yogi. Yoga Sutra 2.37 In Sanskrit - A = not, Steya = stealing. This [...]