Clarity or Stubborness | What do we stand for?

/
Clarity or Stubborness | What do we stand for?

“I am not stubborn, I am just standing up for my rights” said a young woman who came to me for Yoga Therapy classes. I wondered if this was indeed true. The woman had separated from her husband three years ago, and she would not let her son, who is twelve years old, to visit the father freely, nor visit the grandparents, nor let the son have a vacation with the father for even one or two days in a year. She also poisons the son to not visit the home where he was born, as there is now a “new-wife” living with his father

Read More

STILLNESS OR STAGNATION?

/
STILLNESS OR STAGNATION?

Recently I was asked to comment on my feelings towards the school bombings in Oregon that occurred on the 01st of October 2015. I said I was very sad about this incident and felt great grief for those who suffered from it, directly or indirectly. To this one of the students retorted back “As Yogis, should we be moved by such things and not be still?” 

This grieved me even further. 

As Yogi-s we search stillness. But very often the result is stagnation. 

Read More

Understanding Viniyoga

/
Understanding Viniyoga

Viniyoga is an ancient word that has its origin probably in the Veda-s, and maybe even prior to that. The word appears in many of the most ancient meditation practices that are believed to be far more ancient than yoga itself. Considered the most ancient meditative practice, the Sandhyavandanam, was used as the way of honoring and being grateful to the Sun. In this practice, there is more than one occasion where the word viniyoga is used. The context of the meaning is one of application, use or employment. The third meaning from the dictionary meanings.

Read More

Reflections on the Seven Cakras

/
Reflections on the Seven Cakras

The Yogis understood the human body in a very different way, compared to how modern science looks at it. One among this approach is the concept of Cakras. The viewed the Cakras as vital energy centers located at different places in the body, which controlled important functions of the body. Each of the Cakras are located along the spine and each has a specific role in our health and wellbeing, as well as in the expansion of our full potential. 

Although there are some variations found in the classical texts about how many Cakras there are, it is widely acknowledged that there are seven major ones. The appropriate functioning of these seven energy centers was seen as an important focus for most Yogis. So they designed very specific practices including Asana, Pranayama, Mantra and Mudra to engage with these vital centers so as to improve overall quality of life.

Read More

Beginning with the Breath

/
Beginning with the Breath

Everyone knows that the breath is the most fundamental component of a yoga practice. It is this commonality of mankind that allows everyone to practice yoga, no matter how old or young, flexible or inflexible, sick or healthy they are. Yet very few of us actually know how to work with our own breath, let alone know our breath at all.

Read More

Nine Reasons to Love Mantra-s

/
Nine Reasons to Love Mantra-s

Among all of the tools that Yoga has to offer, one of the most intriguing among them is Mantra-s. Through the history of the Vedic culture and the Yogic tradition, Mantra-s have always played a very significant role in the path of personal transformation and spiritual liberation. Hence an aura of reverence and dignity always surrounds it, even to the present day. 

Yet, in its journey from antiquity to modernity, for various reasons known and unknown, it has become limited in its scope and hence in practice. However, in recent times there seems to a renaissance in the openness people have towards its practice, prompting many to seek ways to begin their own personal journey with Mantra-s. 

Read More

Jñana, Karma & Bhakti | The river of Yoga

/
Jñana, Karma & Bhakti | The river of Yoga

The spiritual journey of Yoga can be compared to that of a river. A river gets born in a little spring and slowly separates itself from its source. Then it winds its way meandering through mountains, valleys, cities, towns and caves, finally merging into one big gigantic ocean.

The evolution of Yoga, not just as a philosophical system, but a more in a metaphysical notion mirrors the journey of such a river. The concept of Yoga took a wonderful journey through the history of time. All the great seers of the past saw this clearly and categorised it into three different kinds - Jñana-yoga, Karma-yoga and Bhakti-yoga.

Read More

The Purge of Yajnavalkya

/
The Purge of Yajnavalkya

Sage Yajnavalkya of Mithila is a legendary sage of the Vedic tradition and is credited with many important contributions to the Vedic culture. These include the Satapatha Brahmana, which includes the gigantic Brhadaranyaka Upanisad, and also the Yoga Yajnavalkya and the Yajnavalkya Smrti. He is also featured in some of the major Upanisads as a key personality. 

Read More

Does Bad Karma cause Disease?

/
Does Bad Karma cause Disease?

'Why me? My family and I have done so much good for so many people. Is it my bad karma?' a lot of people ask me.

When oneself or a loved one of the family is confronted with severe illness, this question often comes up. Disease has its own persuasive way of creeping into the psyche of even the most positive citizens and cause doubt, fear and much negativity.

Read More

Holistic Manifestation | Yoga for Pre-conception

/
Holistic Manifestation | Yoga for Pre-conception

Pregnancy is for many future parents a very special period in their lives and often couples invest much time and energy to prepare themselves accordingly.

The ancient yogis also treated pregnancy with utmost importance, but their perspective on what it actually meant had a much wider scope than what many people think of it today.


Read More

Darkness to Light | Yoga & Depression

/
Darkness to Light | Yoga & Depression

Depression, like all other sicknesses, works on various layers of our existence.  We might experience symptoms on a physiological level, such as digestive problems, constant exhaustion, fatigue or headaches. We might also cope with psychological effects and suffer from feelings like worthlessness, diverse anxieties or total numbness. On a spiritual level we experience a disconnection from others, the divine and our Self.

Read More

Gratitude is an Attitude | Yoga on Stress

/
Gratitude is an Attitude | Yoga on Stress

Stress is a buzz word today. Everyone from executives and factory workers to housekeepers and even children deal with stress in their daily lives. Even yoga teachers are not free from the effects of stress. We wouldn’t have to worry about stress too much if it didn’t have such insidious effects. While a certain amount of stress is normal and healthy, too much stress can lead to burnout and inefficiency at work, troubled relationships, and nagging feelings of anger and anxiety. Since stress, when unmanaged, can drain the joy from our lives, we need not only to pay attention to it, but also take steps to deal with it.

Read More