by Kara-Leah Grant I was recently in a yoga class with yet another teacher who's not present, not teaching to the room, and not really teaching yoga. Oh, there were postures, and alignment cues, and by the end of the class as she'd come more into herself and some presence, offering some lovely phrases and suggestions. Other people enjoyed the class. They left feeling like they'd done a "good yoga class". They were happy. Content. And they'll keep coming back. Me, I was watching my … [Read more...]
How a Fear of Intimacy was Sabotaging My Intimate Relationships
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat On August 18 I started a forty day Heart-Opening Kriya (see below for a PDF of this kriya). I'd just started a new relationship and wanted to support the opening of the heart as much as I could. That initial commitment to 40 days extended out to 90 days, and finally 120 days - and I finished on Sunday December 15. It was an extraordinary time for me, for many reasons, but I wanted to share with you the major result - if you want to call it that … [Read more...]
How to Deal with the Challenges that Arise in Relationships using Yoga
by guest author Swami Neelmani First, let us look at the word relationship. What does it mean? A relationship is an association, a connection, a bond, an ongoing exchange, a link which occurs with ourselves, other people, nature, animals and objects. There are a variety of things we can have relationships with in life. In relationships we connect and interact with something or somebody else, through our mind, emotions, energy and actions. Possibly the most challenging, confronting … [Read more...]
August 23 – 25: Taupo, Awakening the Heart with Yoga with Swamis Karma Karuna and Sannyasin Atmabhava
Man is a composition of head, heart and hands, so he must have a synthesis of all three yogas initially - Swami Niranjan Experience a heart awakening weekend with yogic practices to direct the emotions, harmonize the body and balance the mind. Leave the intellect at home and experience practices to direct the emotions, harmonize the body and balance the mind. Take this great opportunity to deepen your experience of yoga and open the heart space. Includes: Hatha Yoga classes Anahata … [Read more...]
April 5th – 7th: Christchurch, the Unshakeable Heart with Swami Muktidharma
Inner Peace through Sound and Positive Expression with Swami Muktidharma When we leave the periphery and come closer to the centre, we experience calmness and gain access to an inner source of joy and deep peace. Sometimes life shakes and challenges us and ripples are created in our lives. When we learn to look within, we can connect to a place of strength, balance and unwavering peace. Leave the intellect at home and connect to this innate depth and wisdom. Explore the ancient sciences … [Read more...]
November 2 – 4, Te Moata Retreat, Coromandel, The Breath and the Heart Yoga Retreat
In this weekend workshop we explore the connections between our breath and our heart. Weaving somatic enquiry, yoga asana and loving-kindness practices we will restore ease-full breathing, a calm mind and an open heart. This will be a weekend in which to release into the organic soft support of the heart and the breath. Te Moata is the perfect setting for our deepening yoga practice – the beauty and spirit of the land, the nourishing and delicious food, and the sensitive kindness of the … [Read more...]
An interview with Swami Samnyasananda, a consultant neurophysiologist
Article courtesy Anahata Yoga Retreat Swami Samnyasananda is a consultant neurophysiologist whose research explores the effects of pranayama, meditation and relaxation on the heart, brain and autonomic nervous systems. He is a Certified Yoga Teacher, Life Member and Fellow of the World Society for Clinical Yoga (Lucknow, India), and has over 30 years of experience in classes, personal tuition & clinical counselling in yoga, meditation, relaxation and stress management (M.B.T.I. … [Read more...]
April 14 & 15, Wellington, Iyengar Yoga workshop with Louisa Potter
Louisa Potter is an Iyengar teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. She has been to India to train with BKS Iyengar or his daughter six times. Louisa is coming to Wellington! This is not to be missed if you have even a little Iyengar knowledge. Her workshop will be designed around the needs of the students who come to this workshop Cost: $120 for two days, or Saturday only $60 When: Saturday 10.00-12.30 2.30-5.00 Sunday 9.30-12.00 2.00-4.30 Where: Wellington Yoga … [Read more...]
Home is where the heart is, heart is what the home needs
The latest Musings from the Mat by Kara-Leah Grant Home. It's a deceptively small four-letter word, but oh how much punch it can carry. Our home is our whole world when we're kids, and when we grow up to be adults, we often unconsciously carry around that childhood home inside of us, even when it's not the kind of home we want to recreate in our lives. Home isn't just the place where we live though. Home is also a place where we are truly ourselves, where we let our guard, and our … [Read more...]
It’s ok to be happy you know?
I'm so excited right now. And really happy. There's joy spilling from my fingertips. I've had Massive Attack blasting in the morning as I dance my way through making breakfast and Madonna getting in to the groove when I get ready to go out... Not only have I found an awesome house to live in city-side, but I've also got three super-duper roomies moving in. Plus I'm building up my one-on-one yoga clientale, and LOVING teaching my students. I'm doing writers coaching via Skype … [Read more...]