Inside Yoga 33

Category : Philosophy 3rd April 2011

Who am I? What is the mind? Is it my mind? And is my body really my body? When one answers these questions from the viewpoint of yoga, the answers can change the way we, in the West, see things. Especially as Western philosophy takes the view, as Descartes – seen by some as the father of modern (western) philosophy […]

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Inside Yoga 32

Category : General advice 24th March 2011

All change! There are many lessons in life, but there is one that underlines our existence. It is a simple truth about life that the Buddha pointed out thousands of years ago – and one that is still relevant today. The Buddha said it simply: Everything is impermanent. All things change; all things must pass. Yes, we do know that […]

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Inside Yoga 31

Category : General advice, Philosophy 18th March 2011

(First published 23/6/2010) There is one word in yoga that can be described as a summary of all we seek in a yoga practice. It covers all points in one word – or to be precise in its three words that come together to make one; which in itself is a metaphor for yoga, a practice that brings together seemingly […]

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Inside Yoga 30

Category : General advice 17th March 2011

(First published 9/5/2010) The arrival of my baby girl in February reminded me of how precious life is. This new born has come into this world so pure and vulnerable, yet already able to teach us so many things. Babies and young children are our teachers as much as we are their teachers. One of the most important teachings in […]

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Inside Yoga 29

Category : General advice, Philosophy 15th March 2011

(First published 21/3/2010) As some of you might recall, during last week’s classes I mentioned one of the verses from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – one of the major source texts of yoga, and many say, the principle text for yoga. TKV Desikachar puts it simply: “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is the heart of yoga.” Written about 2,500 years ago by Patanjali […]

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Inside Yoga 28

Category : Asanas (Postures), General advice 14th March 2011

(First published 20/1/10) During some of my recent classes I asked you to perform some exercises called bandhas. These were used to control the flow of your breath and also hold the breath in a particular posture. So below you will find an explanation of bandhas. The literal translation of Bandha means: joining together, fettering or catching hold of, to […]

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Inside Yoga 27

Category : General advice 13th March 2011

(First published  23/11/09) There are numerous reasons why we start yoga, and for many of us as we travel down our own individual yogic journey, we discover that there are unexpected benefits and lessons from yoga. By nature, yoga is a holistic practice – tailored to fit every individual and also something that reaches the parts other practices might not […]

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Inside Yoga 26

Category : Asanas (Postures), General advice 12th March 2011

(First published 27/10/09) “A major part of the art and skill in yoga lies in sensing just how far to move into a stretch,” writes American yoga teacher, Erich Schiffmann, in his book, Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness. The skill comes in knowing the middle path, the line that falls between “not enough and too much”. […]

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Inside Yoga 25

Category : General advice, Philosophy 11th March 2011

(First published 5/10/09) In the second chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, called Sadhanapada, the yoga master describes the “qualities necessary to change the mind effectively and gradually from a state of distraction to one of attention.” Patanjali’s short aphoristic sentences are designed to guide the student, to stimulate reflection and inquiry into the practice and our relationship with it. The […]

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Inside Yoga 24

Category : General advice, Philosophy 9th March 2011

(First published 16/9/09) “Asana will make the body light, Pranayama strengthens prana, Dharana purifies the intellect, Dhyana purifies the mind.” These words were written by T. Krishnamacharya, a renowned and influential yoga teacher, who lived for 100 years – dying just a few days short of his 101st birthday in 1989. He taught his son, TKV Desikachar, and also BKS […]

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