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The Emotional Brain and Yoga: Connecting Mind and Heart to Spirit

November 25, 2019 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment

If you’ve practiced yoga for a while, you may have begun to notice how yoga affects the emotional brain. By yoga, I don’t mean just the physical postures, but the whole practice. As one my teachers used to say often, we are always practicing yoga. The Emotional Brain and Yoga There are different ways to define yoga, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: connecting mind and heart

Non-Stealing in Yoga: How the Third Yama Fosters Living Without Lack

October 25, 2019 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
non-stealing

Non-stealing, the third yama of Patanjali’s Yoga, is more than not taking somebody else’s stuff. Behind the principle of non-stealing (asteya in Sanskrit) is the notion of abundance, the idea that there is enough for everyone and everything is connected. In an ideal world, we would all share resources. Everyone would contribute to the community, … [Read more…]

Posted in: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: asteya, non-stealing, Patanjali, third yama

Let It Go or Let It Be But Don’t Cling to It: A Yogi’s Guide to Authentic Living

August 8, 2019 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
let it go or let it be

There’s sometimes a misconception in the yoga community that yogis transcend all the messiness of life. Early in our practice, we’re often taught to let it go, as one of my teachers pointed out recently. But she wasn’t pointing that out to encourage it necessarily. She was pointing it out to dispel the myth that … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: authentic living, let it go

The Fifth Yama: The Power of Non-Possessiveness

June 21, 2019 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment

Adhering to the yogic principle of non-possessiveness—the fifth yama—is a challenge. But its power cannot be denied. When I’m able to practice non-possessiveness, my life improves dramatically! How does this work? If you’re familiar with the yamas and niyamas, you know they are guidelines for living. I sometimes think of them as the Ten Commandments … [Read more…]

Posted in: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: niyamas, non-attachment, non-possessiveness

Utkatasana: What We Can Learn From Awkward Yoga Poses

June 1, 2019 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
utkatasana (awkward chair)

In an early-morning yoga class one day, our teacher asked which poses we love to do. This seamlessly led to a discussion of which poses we hate. (For the record, I love warrior poses and twists.) The consensus: among the more dreaded poses was utkatasana, or “awkward chair.” You probably know the pose. (If not, check … [Read more…]

Posted in: Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: utkatasana, yoga poses

Setting Intentions for the New Year: How Will You Live Your Yoga in 2019?

January 3, 2019 by Maria Kuzmiak 2 Comments
setting intentions for the new year

You won’t escape people asking about New Year’s resolutions or intentions for the new year. If you’re like me (I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions in nearly a decade) you may cringe when everyone starts talking about all the ways their lives will be different after January first. You’ve probably noticed most resolutions or intentions … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: non-attachment, setting intentions

Chakra Balancing Yoga to Release Blocked Energy

August 28, 2018 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
chakra yoga

Last week, I went to a chakra balancing yoga workshop to explore how yoga can help open and balance the body’s energy system. It’s not the first chakra yoga workshop I’ve attended, but it was the first time I had more of physical experience than a traditional learning experience. The teacher told us she was … [Read more…]

Posted in: Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: chakra balancing yoga, the seven chakras

Practicing Yoga in Modern Times: Reflections on “East” and “West”

July 25, 2018 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
practicing yoga

A while back, a member of a social media community I’m part of posted about an interesting dilemma. As an Indian native versed in classical yoga, he was wondering how to expose Westerners to a more authentic experience of yoga. It made me think (again) about whether we are truly practicing yoga, and what we’re … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: practicing yoga, yoga practice

Rooting in Yoga: How to Experience More Stability in Your Life

May 15, 2018 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
rooting in yoga

The chakras system—the energy system of the body—is complex. Experts say we need to work with each of the main chakras carefully. We begin at the base of the spine with the root chakra. Rooting in yoga creates a foundation from which we build stability and strength. From there, we can focus on increasing other … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: chakras, first chakra, root chakra, rooting in yoga

The Aquarian Age: Dealing With Cosmic Shifts Without Going Crazy

March 21, 2018 by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
Aquarian Age

If you’ve listened to the tunes from the Broadway musical “Hair,” you’ve heard of the Age of Aquarius. At the time, it probably seemed like an imaginary age and a catchy tune. Turns out, the Aquarian Age is a real thing, and it’s probably happening now. What is the Aquarian Age, you ask? Good question! … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: Aquarian Age
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  • Let It Go or Let It Be But Don’t Cling to It: A Yogi’s Guide to Authentic Living

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