by Kara-Leah, I know, you're breathing already, automatically, all the time - about 25,000 breaths day. But are you really breathing? Stop right now. Place both hands lightly on your belly. Exhale ALL the air out your lungs through your nose. Now inhale (through the nose) slow and strong right down into your belly, pushing your hands softly outward. Exhale again, all of that air. Inhale thoroughly. Keep moving your hands with your breath, up and down, up and down. NOW you're breathing - … [Read more...]
Day 8 to 14: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya
Missed the beginning of this series? Catch up here: Committing to a Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya Day 1 to 7: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya There have been so many "ah-ha!" moments this week, brought about by a combination of this sadhana, but also an amazing book I am reading called Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, by Stephen Cope. Regular practice of yoga transforms us form the inside out - psyche and all. It's a process I've largely done by myself, … [Read more...]
Day 1 to 7: Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya
It's one week into my forty day Sadhana and I am loving it. No matter what is going on in my day, no matter how I am feeling, I know I can take eleven minutes out to myself to do this practice of sodarshan chakra kriya, and afterward I always feel better. One of the most noticeable benefits has been clarity in the mind. I've been dealing with a lot of mind chatter in the past week, and the difference after my eleven minute practice is like the difference between the height of a downpour … [Read more...]
Committing to a Forty Day Sadhana of Sodarshan Chakra Kriya
As an avid reader of Steve Pavlina's blog, Personal Development for Smart People, I have long admired his tenacity in determining a course of action and sticking to it. He is the champion of the thirty day trial - a process whereby he'll try something out for thirty days to see how it impacts his life. After thirty days, the practice is sufficiently ingrained into his day so that if the results have been beneficial, it is simple to carry on. It's a great way to make a lifetime commitment to … [Read more...]
Bhakti Yoga & Kirtan – it’s How Yogis get High
by Kara-Leah The mission of this website is to get everybody in New Zealand doing yoga - but it's really important to remember that yoga is not just about the physical postures called asana. One of the lesser known and yet perhaps most powerful forms of yoga is Bhakti Yoga. This is the yoga of devotion and is often practiced via kirtan - or chants. Take a moment to think of your favourite music right now, and how it makes you feel when you sing it - when you lose yourself and get right into the … [Read more...]
How do I squeeze yoga and meditation into my jam-packed day?
It’s the end of the week and while you managed to make it to two yoga classes, you haven’t unrolled your yoga mat at home once. Family, work, & household commitments make finding a 90-minute slot during the day next to impossible. Short of getting up at 5am, or re-prioritizing your life to ditch other commitments, there are other ways to regularly practice yoga. After all, home practice is where the deeper rewards of yoga blossom. So how do you manage to fit regular yoga and meditation … [Read more...]
How do I begin to meditate?
By Guest Author James Bryan, of Knoff Yoga For those of us who practice Hatha Yoga (asana, pranayama and meditation), when we are pressed for time, meditation often gets set aside – we want to do it, but how to fit it in our busy day? To get the full benefit of what Hatha Yoga offers, we do need to meditate and in this article, we will look at a few reasons for setting up a daily routine to include it. … [Read more...]
What is this yoga stuff all about?
Yoga. It's not about twisting yourself into a pretzel - although many who practice yoga can manipulate their bodies in incredible ways. It's not about going to classes and learning how to do this posture, or that breathing technique - although practicing asana and pranayama is part of yoga. It's not about chanting, or meditating every single day no matter what because that's your sadhana - although establishing a sadhana ( a daily spiritual practice) is also a part of yoga. So what is yoga? … [Read more...]
How to start a home yoga practice
The only way to connect with your internal guide, that yoga teacher that lives inside of you and can't wait to get out, is to start a home yoga practice. And no matter what your level of yoga experience. No matter what you know or think you don't know. Starting a home yoga practice is simple. You just do it... … [Read more...]
Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga Blog
If you're working on a home practice, one fantastic, free, online resource is Anmol Mehta's blog, Devoted to the Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment and Kundalini Yoga. His depth of knowledge on these subjects and his generousity in offering free online detailed courses with feedback have turned me on to a regular meditation and pranayama practice. Under his online guidance, I feel confident in knowing that I am doing it right. … [Read more...]