by Elly Barry, Yoga and Body Centred Inquiry Each of us contain within, a symphony of thoughts, whispers, and truths yet to be given breath. To listen within asks more than the ability to become quiet. To listen to another, more than the willingness to be all ears. Attributing a gesture of great love and attention to one body part alone, is to fall short. Deep listening begins with the ability to inhabit for a moment, the source of someone else’s longings and unmet … [Read more...]
How to Harness the Power of Connection & Positivity with Satsang
by Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat Human beings are naturally social. Despite strongly held values of independence predominant in our modern society, we often gravitate towards connection and support in groups, whether in a yoga class, a rugby game, a party or a gym. Whichever environment or group of people we spend time with, at a subtle level it influences us. The grandfather clock offers us an example of this concept. Through many experiments, we know that when the grandfather … [Read more...]
How Yoga Gave Me a Way Out of the Cycle of Blame and Shame
by Nicole Allan, Raw Yoga Modern Yoga has become like therapy for a lot of us. Far from the traditional goal of gaining enlightenment, most are simply looking for a tool to help us stay sane. When it comes to our sanity there are many factors to consider, for now, I have focused on a societal foundation - the blame/shame model of modern societies. Blame and shame have become so ingrained it’s hard to know where it all began... It is embedded in our thoughts, language and … [Read more...]
How to Connect with the Energy of the Divine Feminine
by Kara-Leah Grant I'm leading a Women's Circle at Power Living Wellington on July 8th where I've promised that women will learn how to embody and evoke the energy of Maha Shakti - one aspect of the Divine Feminine - through the practice of asana, pranayama and meditation. But what does that mean? I feel the energy of Shakti in me when I practice, when I walk, when I dance, when I write, when I make love. She is always there, within, only a breath away from my awareness. But how do … [Read more...]
Why ‘Ambivalence’ Is The Most Powerful Word I Know
by Lucinda Staniland I've been using the word 'ambivalent' a lot recently. I like the sound of it. I like that it acknowledges complexity - of myself and of the world. I like that it doesn't lock me, or anyone else, into a box. Take getting married for example. My partner and I were married in January 2017, and for me, it was a classic experience of ambivalence. In fact, it was during the preparations for our wedding that the word 'ambivalent' became a core part of my vocabulary. I … [Read more...]