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Understanding the Flow of Prana (Life-Force Energy)
The foundation of all life, of the whole universe, is the subtle life force energy that yogis call prana. You can't see it, or touch it or taste it, but most yogis have had an experience of prana, the...
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Focusing on a Drishti (Definition, Purpose and Use)
We have all been distracted or unfocused during moments of our yoga practice and have felt our eyes wandering around the room. While it is not harmful to allow your attention and eyes to wander, it...
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Yoga For Improving Memory and Concentration
Intelligence, memory, and concentration are human traits that are highly valued and sought after. There are various yogic techniques that stimulate the brain and nervous system to improve memory and...
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The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
What has commonly considered Yoga in the West is in actuality just one of the many paths of Yoga, and is technically called Hatha Yoga. The oldest and most widely used ancient text on the physical...
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How Yoga Heals
One of the top reasons people begin practicing yoga is for better health. The other main reason for taking up yoga is to reduce stress. These two main benefits of yoga are linked and are the main...
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Yoga for a Perfect Posture
Due to sedentary lifestyles and poor habits in daily activities, many Americans tend to have poor posture, exhibiting the traits of kyphosis, an excessively rounded upper spine, and lordosis, an...
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The Five Niyamas of Yoga: Definition & Practice Tips
The second limb of Patanjali's eight-limbed yoga system contains the five internal practices of Niyama (observance). These practices extend the ethical codes of conduct provided in his first limb, the...
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Ashtanga Yoga: Definition, Principles, Practices & History
Since the late 1990s, Ashtanga has been considered one of the most popular forms of yoga in the Western world. Ashtanga centers on a vigorous physical practice that includes a series of poses linked...
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Mantra 101: Definition, Types, Benefits and Powers
We typically think yoga is a physical practice that involves various poses and breathing techniques. Did you know that the mindful repetition of a word or sound is also a type of yoga? Mantra yoga, or...
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The Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita, or "Song of the Lord", is an ancient Sanskrit text that contains some of the most powerful teachings in the practice of yoga. It is a spiritual text that offers timeless teachings...
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Pancha Bhutas: Yoga’s 5 Elements of Nature
From traditional Chinese medicine to Feng Shui, almost every ancient culture described the nature of natural phenomena composed of several basic elements. In yoga, Ayurveda and Indian philosophy, the...
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Yoga and the 5 Koshas: An Inward Journey of Awareness
The ancient yogis have drawn a map to explore the deepest levels of our being and to facilitate the inward journey of yoga. This map describes five different layers or veils of consciousness within us....
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What is Yoga?
Yoga has become a global phenomenon over the last several decades. What started out thousands of years ago in the East as a meditative practice has now evolved into a modern lifestyle craze that...
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Ahamkara: Definition, Qualities, and Ways to Subdue
Yoga philosophy teaches that the mind has four parts or functions: ahamkara, which is the ego mind; buddhi, which is our intellect and wisdom; manas, which is our sensory and perceiving mind; and...
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Kundalini Yoga: Definition, History, and Cautions
Kundalini yoga was coined, created and popularized in 1968 by Yogi Bhajan. He described the intent of his teaching to be a "healthy, happy, holy" (3HO) way of life. He taught his American students how...
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Moksha: Definition, Stages, and Yoga Practices
Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, and yoga philosophy all share common beliefs around the concept of self-realization and enlightenment. The possibility of freedom, liberation, and emancipation...
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Samsara: Definition, Meaning and Origin
Finding salvation from the suffering inherent in human life has been at the core of the spiritual quest of yoga. Whether it is freeing ourselves from negative emotions, physical pain, and mental...
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Raja Yoga: Definition, Benefits and How to Practice
In the yoga tradition, there are many different paths and philosophies, but they all lead toward the same goal—attaining moksha or liberation. Raja yoga is viewed as the supreme or “royal path” to...
View ArticleThe Power and Purpose of Tapas in Yoga
Tapas is a powerful and ancient yoga tool that can help us achieve personal transformation by pushing ourselves beyond our perceived limitations. This fiery disciplined practice enables us to tap into...
View ArticleJnana Bhumikas: The Seven Stages of Wisdom
A map is incredibly helpful when navigating unfamiliar terrain. Just as it is in physical exploration, having a spiritual map can greatly expedite the journey of spiritual awakening from ignorance to...
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