by Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat The term ‘Vedanta’, or ancient texts such as the Upanishads, may ring a bell, but for many, they are shrouded in mystery, scholastic views or firmly wedged in history. Perhaps one wonders how these ancient philosophies relevant to the modern-day yogi, engaged in holding a Warrior II Pose? According to Vedanta, anything that is changeable or measurable, or which has a beginning and end, is Maya. It often translates as illusion or magic, … [Read more...]
How My Ashtanga Practice Taught me to Practice Courage
by guest author Pip Bennett After all that darkness of my last article, I decided I wanted to up my practice. I wanted to devote myself and commit to the Ashtanga practice as it demands: six days a week. To take on the challenge and see the benefits of a regular practice. Two weeks later, I hadn’t practiced yoga even once. It’s now been a couple of months since then. I did get myself back into the yoga room, but only for a couple of weeks. Turns out that although you can do yoga anywhere and … [Read more...]
Breaking Down, Hitting Blocks and Finding Beginner’s Mind in Ashtanga Yoga
by guest author Pip Bennett At the beginning of this year, I chose love and moved to Costa Rica (from NZ) to be with my partner. In doing so, I left everything I knew behind. Work, family, friends, culture. I have found it hard making the changes. Everything is different. Even on my best days, the smallest things can piss me off or make me miss home. Most of the time I can’t even work out what it is that is so difficult. I have a suspicion that whatever it is, it lies within me, rather than … [Read more...]
October 5 – 7: Wellington, Seminar, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Chapter III
Due to family reasons, this event has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience. Join Dr Kausthub Desikachar for a seminar in the tradition of Yogacarya T Krishnamacarya No study of yoga is complete without a study of the yoga sutras of Patanjali. The sutras form the basis of all yoga teaching. This seminar will include inspiring discussions and presentations of the chapter three of the yoga sutras of Patanjali, as well as asana, pranayama, chanting, and meditation … [Read more...]
January 14 & 15: Christchurch, Mark Whitwell Weekend Workshop
DVD Review: 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 DVD case on … [Read more...]
DVD Review: Bhakti – The Path of Love
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 Swami … [Read more...]