Intention - Sankalpa Another year, another resolution. Each year the most common resolution ends up being about health - a desire to initiate change through exercise and nutrition. Any type of change is born as an intention and morphs into a resolution. They say intention to monitor change at the level of thought process is where change …
Category: Practice
Preparation for Pranayama
Although first day of spring left us buried in snow this year, the only thing we can be sure of is that Mother Nature will prevail. She will arrive in all her colorful grandeur bringing with her a basket full of allergies for those privileged few. If you are one of those (un)fortunate people, this blog is …
asana – seat or pose
"Why can't you sit still?" I remember admonishing my daughter when she was little. Picture a 6 year old with two pigtails sitting on the stool ready to practice piano. Her legs hanging half way up and swinging. One hand disappearing from the keys every few minutes to brush her hair away from the face …
shishya -disciple
If you seek enlightenment from those (Gurus) who have realized the Truth, prostrate before them, question them, and serve them. Only then are you open to receive the teachings of this sacred knowledge. - The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4:34 Are you 'ready' to be a student-seeker ? I have asked myself the same question many times. …
surya namaskar abhyasa
surya namaskar abhyasa Sunrise is one of the most beautiful sights of Mother Nature. Writers and poets near and far have sung its praises. Seeing the rising sun illuminate mountains and roof tops, places of work and worship is breathtaking. My best memory is a glorious ball of fire rising on a faraway shore as if …
lessons in yoga-abhyasa
"We are what we repeatedly do; Excellence then is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle Ready, Mat, Go Asana as just an exercise is called Vyayama. This is where we all begin. So where is your yoga mat? Is it tucked away under your bed or in the corner of your hallway closet? Are you hitting the snooze button every …
nadi shodana – alternate nostril breath
Nādi Śhodana - alternate nostril breath Nadi Shodhana, नाडी शोधन प्राणायाम, is also known as Anuloma Viloma Prāṇāyāma, अनुलोम विलोम प्राणायाम. Simply referred as Alternate Nostril Breathing, it is a powerful breathing practice. Nadi, नाडी, is a Sanskrit word for ‘channel’ or ‘flow’ and shodhana, शोधन means ‘purification.’ The Nadis, channels that connect the chakras, energy centers are the psychic pathways within the human system. This pranayama technique …
kapalabhati – skull shining breath
Kapalabhati - skull shining breath Pranayama techniques may be categorized as: those that are heating (energizing or vitalizing) and those that are cooling (tranquilizing) those which are safe to learn from a book or a website And those that must be learned over an extended period of time from a qualified teacher. Kapalabhathi, कपाल भाति , belongs to this kind. Although …
Ujjāyī Prānāyāma- victory breath
Ujjāyī (उज्जायी), means "one who is victorious". Ujjāyī breath means "victorious breath. Also referred to as the psychic breath because of its positive effects on the mind. You might know it as ocean breath as the sound this breath makes is like the water gently lapping against the ocean shores. Seat This breath can be performed …
3 – part breath: dirgha pranayama
Dīrgha (दीर्घ ) Prāṇāyāma (प्राणायाम ) Dīrgha Prāṇāyāma, a cooling breath, is the process of elongating the breath using specific techniques. Dhirgha breath is often referred to as Dhirgha Shvāsam, Deep Yogic Breath. This is often the first breathing technique taught to new yoga practitioners. Dīrgha (दीर्घ ) has several meanings - “slow,” “deep,” “long,” and “complete.” Shvāsam is the breath. Prāṇāyāma (प्राणायाम ) …
yogajivan 