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...]
“How’s puku?”: Unlock the wisdom of the belly
by Valerie Love For most transplants to New Zealand, the first words they learn in Maori are "Kia ora” (hello) or “Haere mai” (welcome). But for me, it was “puku", which means belly or abdomen. Although I’m originally from the United States, my partner is from Wellington. And from the very start of our relationship, she's always asked me, “How’s puku?” as a way of checking in on how I’m doing as a whole. And it’s an important question. Because the answer to “How’s puku?” reveals so … [Read more...]
Forrest for the trees – no bullshit, just yoga
by guest author Seka Ojdrovic-Phillips The planted seed of a fruitful vine is a memorable moment. For me, it was hungrily reading through old issues of Yoga Journal on the second floor of the Wellington library. After starting to feel yoga as a lifestyle decision, not just an exercise regime, I wanted to learn everything I could. My body still bore the inflexibility and weakness of someone brand new to the practice, but my soul had expanded immediately. In the haze of too much … [Read more...]
How yoga helped me… enjoy a fulfilling pregnancy
Submitted by Mandy Lawson of Cobano, Costa Rica The day I found out that I am pregnant with my first child was one of the most astounding, emotional and happy days of my life so far. In our minds we can imagine how we will feel and react when something long awaited happens, but this was much more intense that I could have guessed. I doubt that I will ever forget the amazement and disbelief that I encountered upon seeing the two little pink lines on the pregnancy test. I just kept … [Read more...]
Ten reasons to start practicing Yoga today
by Kara-Leah Grant, Musings from the Mat This is a follow-on to my last article, What is this yoga stuff all about? In that article, I put forward the concept that yoga is the realisation of the Self as God. It is the Union of Self with the Divine - understanding of course that when One becomes a Part of something, one IS something. That is - We are a Part of the Divine, one small drop of water in the larger Ocean of God. And you thought you were just going to an exercise … [Read more...]