DVD Review: Love and Happiness

Swami Ji on Love and Happiness

See the end of this review for a chance to win a copy of Love and Happiness. I’m a sucker for snail mail. I’ll take just about anything if it’s going to come in the post. So when I was offered up a copy of Swami Govindananda’s Love and Happiness DVD I jumped at it. A few days later a lovely brown package showed up in my mail box. Unwrapping the packaging, I flipped it over to read the description on the back, I opened the case looked at each of the six discs, then put the … [Read more...]

How to make online yoga classes work for you

Jessica 'attending' her online yoga class with My Yoga Online

As practitioner who enjoys doing yoga in the morning, before getting ready for the day but after the rest of the house has left to start theirs, I have a limited time slot available. Thirty minutes is the longest I can do without anxiety, and the shortest I can do with results. Many people are similar – morning yoga prepares us for the day mentally and physically.  Precious time must be dedicated and we must step on our mats and do a practice. Raise your hand if you’ve dedicated … [Read more...]

DVD Review: Bhakti – The Path of Love

Beautiful Krishna, an aspect of the Divine

Win your own copy of Swami Ji's Bhakti - The Path of Love. See the end of this article for details. I’ve always considered myself a bhakti yogini – 4 of my 5 tattoos are overt reminders to myself of my relationships with the Divine. Yet it wasn’t a topic covered by any of my trainings or workshops.  Bhakti Yoga is one of the major paths of yoga, alongside Hatha Yoga, yet very little of this particular approach is shared in the West. So  I was rightly chuffed to be assigned … [Read more...]

What’s it like attending an Online Studio?

Jessica 'attending' her online yoga class with My Yoga Online

Starting with My Yoga Online was a bit rougher than expected. Sure – my membership came through before the holidays, quick and efficient, but it was also within spitting distance of a two week computer free period (a total treat if I may be so bold to admit) and that made beginning immediately seem silly.  Two weeks on, two weeks off didn’t appeal to my slight OCD. Instead I worked out the wee kink in my login, (excellent customer service response – MYO score points!) got my profile … [Read more...]

ReTreat Yourself – the joys of going on a yoga retreat

Enjoying a yoga retreat

by guest author Jan Goldie Retreat is a funny word.  It's evolved over time. Back in the day it meant to run away or draw back from the enemy. It was a bit of a cop out. Nowadays, we focus on the second half of the word. Treat! To go on a retreat is to find a safe place, a haven.  Perhaps to get away from a different kind of enemy; the worries and stresses of everyday life. So when I was offered the chance to join my Mum and sister at my second Ashram Yoga weekend, a Revival … [Read more...]

Reflections on organising Global Mala Wellington 2010

Global Mala Wellington 2010

by guest author Melissa Billington, organiser of Global Mala Wellington So if I look at what was (instead of what I wished would be), there were about 160 people at Global Mala Wellington, about ninety on yoga mats and another seventy on the edges, plus uncounted people coming and going around Frank Kitts Park. There were people who were very helpful, enthusiastic, supportive and who had ideas and resources to offer.  And there were others who were along for the ride & still others … [Read more...]