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In the Buddhist tradition, the practice of metta, or loving kindness, plays an important role. The ability to view other people and beings with benevolence is a strong value of this belief system. But in a world with so much violence, so many differing opinions, so...
Silent meditation, which you can experience in our weekly meditation class, is a way to quiet the mind and open the heart to the possibilities of the moment. Silence is a powerful tool that helps us turn inward and listen to the quieter voice that comes with insight....
By Margit Bannon If you play tennis it’s not such a stretch (pardon the pun) to say that you might enjoy the practice of yoga, and if you practice yoga that you might enjoy tennis. Let’s consider the parallels between these two disciplines. As yogis we often...
One reason that yoga appeals to so many people is because, in addition to the great physical and mental benefits, its added spiritual/philosophical dimension can be integrated into a wide range of belief systems. When you hear the phrase, “Yoga is for all,” you may...
Summertime brings with it warm days and a slower pace. Often, our yoga practice falls prey to the sloth of summer. You For example, you may not practice while on vacation and then, two weeks after you return, you find that you still haven’t gotten back on your mat....
Athleticism requires a certain drive—mentally, physically, and emotionally. The dedication of an athlete is admirable—the many hours spent training, week after week, and the moment of glory when an athlete is making a play or finishing that last mile—it’s no wonder so...
Here are some of the great entries from our Yoga Creative Writing Contest. Thank you all for sharing with us how yoga has changed your life! Amy P. "Yoga has improved my health, wellness and spirit. I cannot thank my teachers and friends for sharing their practices...
Some days it seems as though you have an endless list of reasons to not practice yoga. You’re too tired, you have too much to do, you can practice later/tomorrow, you just don’t feel like it, etc., etc. Your mind will come up with an impressive and convincing range of...
Although most people come to the practice of yoga with some sort of goal, it usually becomes clear that there is so much more to the practice than any one particular goal can encompass. But it can still be easy to fall into a pattern of striving to achieve a certain...
Kapha dosha is the mind-body constitution made up of the elements earth and water. People with a dominant kapha dosha tend to have qualities associated with these elements: stability, groundedness, and fluidity. Typically, kapha types are peaceful, calm, and consistent.
As we get more and more familiar with the physical practice of yoga, we find that we can more easily move into and out of the postures without having to think about them so much, or without having to look around at what the postures should look like. We begin to...
Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution composed of the fire and water elements. These elements give Pitta individuals qualities such as intensity, sharpness, and responsiveness. People with a dominant Pitta dosha are often sociable, knowledgeable, and highly driven.
Vata dosha is the mind-body constitution composed of the air and space elements. These elements give Vata individuals qualities such as lightness, movement, and creativity. People with a dominant Vata dosha are energetic, talkative, and always seeking new experiences. Known for their optimism and curiosity, Vatas are natural idea generators.
The doshas are the three primary mind-body constitutions in Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old sister science to yoga. Ayurveda teaches that everything in the universe is composed of five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and space (also called ether). These elements combine in different ways to form the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha.
Airplane flight sure takes its toll. Between waiting in line, security checks, and overbooked flights, the stress and discomfort of flying begins long before the plane ever takes off. The flight itself, however, is where the real discomfort sets in. Small seats,...
In yoga, you will inevitably encounter challenging postures and movements that might even cause you to avoid them altogether. For example, you may find that Utthita Hasta Padangustasana (Extended Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) is extremely challenging—and you wouldn’t...
On a day-to-day basis, you may not notice all of the changes that are occurring in your yoga practice and that occur as a result of your yoga practice. Over longer periods of time your memory of your original practice begins to fade and you may forget altogether where...
By Jennifer French In the Yoga Sutras, one of yoga’s most sacred and oft referenced texts, Patanjali tells us that our “practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and in all earnestness.*” When I think on firmly grounded, I...
The hardest part of yoga is getting on your mat on a regular basis to practice. It can seem as though there are 30 different reasons for NOT showing up to practice on some days. And often, a lapse in practice can snowball into quite a lengthy period of time. In order...
Quite possibly, you have felt a wave of emotion come over you during yoga class. It may have been sadness, joy, or even a negative sentiment that took you by surprise as you moved through your practice or held a certain pose. Crying...