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…]
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…]
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…]
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali warns us of the pitfalls of attachment. Non-attachment, we learn, is a powerful spiritual practice. Human beings tend to hold tight to what we believe is ours: possessions, identity, the attention we believe we deserve. We may even cling to honoring our yoga teachers. Patanjali tells us we must let … [Read more…]
The Yoga Sutras are packed with wisdom. The goal is Self-realization, but along the way, we can use the wisdom of the sutras in everyday life. While we’d love to be enlightened beings all the time, we’re human. One way the sutras help us with our humanness is by teaching us how to deal with … [Read more…]
What if the things you dislike most about yourself are your greatest strengths? Crazy idea, isn’t it? Yet this is an idea my yoga teacher put out to us one morning. She was reading a book about embracing our shadow side. The idea that we think of greatest strengths as weaknesses is something the author … [Read more…]
A friend of mine recently shared his thoughts about making sense of suffering. “I want to believe there’s a reason for suffering,” he said. “But what if there’s not? What if people suffer for no reason?” This friend is a Christian. Christians believe God rewards his children with eternal life. We are taught to bear … [Read more…]
Do you ever feel less than? We’ve all felt that way at some point or another. But is it a transient feeling or a belief deeply ingrained in your psyche? In other words, do you really need self-love? Why We Need Self-Love A big reason you may need self-love could be that somewhere along the … [Read more…]
Since I started practicing yoga decades ago, I’ve had lots of discussions with folks brought up in the Christian faith who are curious but skeptical about the practice. For me there’s no reason to question if or why Christians should practice yoga, but I understand some of the hesitation I’ve encountered. For whatever reason, some … [Read more…]
Of all the yogic principles, the fifth yama — aparigraha (non-possessiveness)—is often the most challenging for me. It’s also the most powerful; when I’m able to practice it, my life improves dramatically! If you’re familiar with the yamas and niyamas, you know they are guidelines for yogic living. I sometimes think of them as the … [Read more…]