Like many yoga workshops, the recent Anusara Workshop in Christchurch with Noah Maze shook up our concepts of reality, purpose, values and life. Only in this workshop, Heroes and Heroines: Stories and Practices of Yoga, it wasn't the teachings nor the practice or even the teacher doing all the shaking, it was the earth herself. On Saturday morning, at 4.35am... just hours after a stimulating two hour practice to kickstart the weekend underpinned by the mythology of Hanuman the Monkey … [Read more...]
Applying the first yama, Ahimsa (non-violence), to daily life
by Kara-Leah Last week I made the decision to apply myself seriously to the study and application of each yama (or wise characteristics that denote how we interact with other people) week by week. First up is Ahimsa, which literally means the avoidance of violence. How hard can that be? Don't hit anyone. Don't kill anyone. Don't pinch, punch or slap anyone. I'm not by nature a violent, nor angry person, can't be too tough right? Ah... but wait. Does this apply to sentient beings … [Read more...]
Can You Name all the Yamas and Niyamas from Patanjali’s Eight Limbs?
by Kara-Leah Grant I've been contemplating a few things lately, both while on my mat and off my mat. Things like how yoga and business mix, what it means to be a yoga student, what it means to be a yogi, how our shadow sides present themselves and affect both us and the people around us, and what life is really all about. I know, big stuff. Something that's mean tying it together for me, over and over and over again, is that how we choose to behave when the pressure is on reveals how mature … [Read more...]
What if yoga is like religion?
by guest author Melissa Billington, from MYOGA For years I’ve seen the fear people have around Yoga, some claiming it’s a cult or a religion and refusing to take part because they would be seen by the upholders of their own religion as hypocritical or blasphemous. Many yoga styles and schools are based in a religion and there is even Christian yoga. While many more styles and schools stick to their claim that yoga is an art, a philosophy, and a science, but not a religion. The word … [Read more...]
Following the threads of life and honouring one’s energy levels
I'm getting into the flow of getting into the flow. It's a magical, scary way to operate. Like yesterday. On the bus from Roseneath, cruising into town at about 5pm for a 6:30pm yin yoga class at Hot Yoga. I knew had time to spare, but I didn't know where I was going and what I was going to do… and as I sat in that space on the bus I was surprised to see that it felt vulnerable. Like I was free-falling. I knew I was putting myself in the hands of Grace, and who knew where that might … [Read more...]
Breaking free and living life via inspiration – the yogic way
Over the last couple of weeks, I've been musing about the nature of reality, and life, inspired by Steve Pavlina's latest thirty day trial. I've written about Steve before - he's a blogger and personal development guru I much admire. From possible prison and definite bankruptcy, he's risen to become the most successful blogger in America, a book author, and organizer and creator of the Conscious Growth Workshops. Life is one giant experiment to Steve - he's always playing around with how … [Read more...]
Turning Yin – an insider’s look at Yin Yoga
by guest author Jessica Powers While my official Yoga anniversary celebrates the January 2001 DVD sale that got me started, I was doing Yoga back in high school without knowing. In the afternoons I would come in the kitchen door, drop my bags on the table and carry on into the dining room: I only ever managed to get a few steps into the dining room before kicking off my shoes and melting down onto the floor. My knees would fall to either side, the soles of my feet press … [Read more...]
Getting out of my mind – drugs, yoga, meditation and me
by Kara-Leah Grant Our society is awash with drugs of all kinds - legal, illegal, prescribed and self-medicated. We (mostly) all do them (caffeine anyone?), but those who are caught doing illegal drugs are judged harshly in the media. If you take drugs you're bad, or weak, and you certainly don't want other people finding out. People like future employers, future parents-in-law, or future kids. The media in particular LOVE jumping all over any public figure who's caught doing drugs. … [Read more...]
Is it wrong to mix different yoga traditions in one practice?
by guest author Elissa Jordan When I step onto my mat at home for a personal practice I see it as my practice. It is a practice made up of teachers, books,workshops and what feels good for my body at that time. It's got elements of Astanga, Acro Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Iyengar, Sivananda and Kundalini. It suits my mood and my tempo. Sometimes it's fast, sometimes slow, sometimes intense, sometimes restorative. It's mine. But when I was recently in India a teacher commented to me that yoga is … [Read more...]
How yoga can ease the shift to a brand new city
by guest author Elissa Jordan I miss Jaqui. I was a happy Canadian girl living in London. I had my push bike and my belly dancing and my charity job. I had friends and I had my yoga. Then I met a Kiwi boy and fell in love. And now I'm in Wellington. A whole new chapter with thrilling opportunities and possibilities. It's an exciting time. And in every yoga class I go to in Wellington I am met by my mat, my openness to the teachings and a stranger leading the practice. And so I miss … [Read more...]