Yoga Articles

Yoga Citta Vritti Nirodhah: reaching an inner peace

Yoga citta vritti nirodhah means to reach an inner peace in the mind and to stabilize thoughts and disturbing emotions. Given that yoga is a combination of physical movements which at the same time combine controlled breathing, practicing yoga citta vritti nirodhah allows a syncronized flow to occur during the movements. It provides a

The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga: Yamas or Restraints (Number 3)

The first limb of Raja yoga is a set of Yamas or restraints. These can be seen as a form of guidance to the student to help them live a more focused and fruitful life. The third Yama is called Asteya, which is a guide to restrain from acts of theft or

Yoga. A technique of Self-awareness

Anyone can practice yoga. You just need a small amount of space and a strong desire for a healthier, more fulfilled life. When I first began my practice, I was drawn to yoga as a way to keep my body supple and fit. However through the years, I had gained

Tapas, discipline & committment… how did I get it so wrong??

When you are devoted to exercise and your  food intake are you following the path of the niyama, ‘Tapas’? Tapas is described as, self-discipline, commitment and focus, keeping the body in good condition. That is what I was doing wasn’t it? When I began yoga I thought I was committed to my body

Yoga sutra I.12 abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah

“Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of consciousness” To practice yoga is to still the movements of our consciousness. When we practice asana we focus the eyes on a dristi point specific for a pose.  Our mind follows our eyes, or the parts of the body

The Bee and The Spider

One of the stories i read : One seeker came to a Master and asked: What is the way? Master gazed at the nearby mountain and said: The mountain is so beautiful. Seems absurd? because he is asking what is the way and Master is talking about the mountain. Frustrated,

Honesty in intention

Bruce Lee once said, “the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential”. My understanding of these words have changed over the course of the few years i’ve had while interpreting it, and has changed once again after learning more about

Birth and rebirth

When we throw water out it will evaporate, enter the atmosphere, reach the clouds and then it will become water again. Similarly when consciousness is this body it may be impure and it may be ignorant, but when this body is gone it becomes pure consciousness. It is not only

The law of karma

Karma is the law of ‘moral causation’. The belief of karma was prevalent in India before the advent of Buddha, however it was Buddha who explained and formulated the doctrine in the manor in which we know it today. According to the law of karma nothing happens to a person

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is the eight-folded path of yoga. It is a specific yoga tradition, but at the same time Ashtanga Yoga can be seen as covering all aspects of yoga within any yoga tradition. Ashtanga Yoga is often called Patanjali Yoga, referring to Maharishi Patanjali, the ancient author of the

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