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Building Resilience with Yoga and Meditation

October 22, 2020 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

By Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat What is Resilience? No matter who we are, the state of the bank balance, or which country we live in; the twists and turns of life, deaths, jobs, relationship stresses, natural disasters, and trauma can affect us all. Change influences each of us differently, altering our biochemistry, thoughts, and emotions. Resilience is our ability to come back to our centre, to rebound from adversity, and to respond to a challenge in a creative … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Deepening • The Yoga of Life, Meditation Practices Tagged With: meditation, resilience, stress management, swami karma karuna, yoga, yoga nidra

How to Harness the Power of Connection & Positivity with Satsang

May 14, 2020 by Guest Author 1 Comment

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...]

Filed Under: Yoga & Relationships Tagged With: community, satsang, swami karma karuna

Mastering Your Mind With Raja Yoga & Pratyahara

April 2, 2020 by Guest Author 3 Comments

by Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat The depth of yoga that is understood and shared in our modern times is primarily touching the tip of the iceberg.  In a goal-oriented, pleasure-mad world, the dynamic postures of Hatha Yoga have captured many and become synonymous with the word 'yoga'. While postures are an important base, often the greater expanse of yoga remains like hidden gems in the ocean of wisdom. As yoga teachers and practitioners living in times of incredible … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Practices Tagged With: meditation, pratyahara, Raja Yoga, swami karma karuna

Vedanta: Why This Ancient Yogic Philosophy is Relevant in Modern Times

March 5, 2020 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

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...]

Filed Under: Living Your Yoga Tagged With: philosophy, swami karma karuna, Vedanta

Has Modern Yoga Been Dominated By The Masculine?

September 28, 2017 by Lucinda Staniland 1 Comment

Sandi Murphy Nadi Yoga

by Lucinda StanilandIt's interesting what happens when you ask a difficult question.You'll note that there is only one man featured in this edition of The Community Speaks, our roundup of perspectives from influential people in the NZ and Australia yoga communities.This is not for lack of trying on our part—at least 11 men were invited to be part of this, but the majority of them didn't reply to emails. Perhaps it's an indication of how uncomfortable and challenging this question can be, or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Process of Kundalini Tagged With: Divine Feminine, Dominant masculine, Neal Ghoshal, Sandi Murphy, Sarsha Hope, swami karma karuna

Sacred Feminine and Yoga: Practical Tools. Part 4

June 20, 2013 by Devangi Leave a Comment

by guest author Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat There are more practical tools than can be described belonging to tantra and yoga that are beneficial for a woman’s body, mind and support the connection to the inner sacred space. The practices all work in different ways with the ultimate goal of helping one to reconnect with their higher self or the inner Shakti, which in fact is the sacred feminine. Shakti is the life force. When it is blocked or out of balance, physical and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Foundations Tagged With: anahata yoga retreat, balance, meditation, nurturing, overcoming stress, relaxation, sacred feminine, stress, swami karma karuna, women, yoga, yoga nidra

Sacred Feminine and Yoga: Honouring the forces within. Part 3

June 1, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

by guest author, Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat All cultures of the ancient world worshipped the principles of the Mother, Shakti or Devi. Although it may have been called by different names, the concept of a force which bestows life, nourishes, loves, comforts, supports and transforms has always been present. In Christianity, we know her as Mother Mary. In Japan, she was Amaterasu, the sun-goddess; in Greece, she is Demeter, the corn-goddess, Aphrodite, the goddess of passion and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Foundations Tagged With: Anahata, ceremony, feminine, honour, meditation, sacred, shakti, swami karma karuna, yoga

Sacred Feminine and Yoga: It’s all about balance. Part 2

May 15, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

by guest author Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Yoga Retreat The Tantric view of creation is that there are two forces called Shiva and Shakti representing the male and female aspects of creation, which exist within each and every person. Shiva, also called Purusha, is the masculine force and is pure ‘consciousness'. Shakti or Prakriti is the feminine force that is pure ‘energy’. One cannot exist without the other and both are within each of us. This duality is also described in the word 'Ha' 'Tha' … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Foundations Tagged With: Anahata, balance, feminine, hatha yoga, relaxation, sacred chanting, sacred feminine, swami karma karuna, women, yoga

I am exactly where I am meant to be

April 16, 2013 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

by guest author Swami Karma Karuna, Anahata Retreat Centre Twenty years ago a friend mentioned to me Arunachala, a sacred mountain of Shiva, (a representation of high consciousness in yoga or to devoted Hindus one of the many forms of God). Many know it due to the great Saint Ramana Maharishi who has and still inspires millions in the quest to discover; “Who am I?…not Peter or Jane or this body or this mind, but who am I really?" For some reason, this mountain of Shiva became lodged in my mind … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How Yoga Helped Me Tagged With: arunachala, devotion, India, perfect, pilgrammage, present, shiva, swami karma karuna

How a Non-certified Yoga Teacher With No Guru Ended Up Teaching (And Should She Be?)

June 11, 2010 by Kara-Leah Grant 35 Comments

by Kara-Leah, This is a question I have contemplated many times since teaching was first thrust upon me. And it's also one this website has explored extensively in recent weeks. After reading all of the responses from other teachers, I began to wonder... how on earth can I call myself a yoga teacher? I have no qualifications. I've never attended a teacher training of any real length. I've never studied under a guru, nor a teacher for any length of time. I'm a long way from mastering … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Musings from the Mat, Teaching Insights Tagged With: guru, kundalini awakening, prana, Prana Flow, swami karma karuna, Yoga certification, yoga teacher training

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