This forth niyama is called Swadyaya, which is self study. This niyama meant to study the Divine through scriptures and reciting mantras. Mantras are a repetitive phrase that can turn scattered attention into focused clarity. But times have changed a bit, and we can do self study through reading,... Read More »

The second niyama is called santosha, which is contentment. This is not about adapting an "it's all good" mentality in the type of way where you are trying to avoid discomfort or pain so just put on some optimism to not feel that which is confronting. This might be a fake it til you make it appro... Read More »

The next five posts will be on the niyamas, which are like the "to-do's" as opposed to the yamas which are like the "to-don'ts". They are also called observances of self, and our inner duties. This first niyama; Saucha, has to do with purification, cleanliness, and simplicity. Simplicity reveals... Read More »

The 3rd niyama is tapas, which is discipline. Some other words to describe the type of discipline intended are diligence, passion, commitment, persistence, practice, effort, zeal, willpower, and service. Discipline might have a "punishment" type of feel to it that many of us humans know as this s... Read More »

The third yama is called Asteya, which translates as non-stealing. Maybe we can also consider this to be generosity or availability. An obvious example is to not steal what doesn't belong to you or not taking what is not needed, which we are probably all guilty of in our culture of consumerism a... Read More »

Brahmacharya is the 4th yama and is translated as celibacy. Most of us in the modern world who are not devoted to a monastery are not celibate. So this one can also be considered to be self-control. With a moderate and balanced lifestyle, prana (life force, breath, energy) becomes boundless. Pran... Read More »

Aparigraha is the last yama, and is translated as non-greedy or non-coveting. When a person is not greedy of any possessions or needing worldly aspirations, then they can be happy and satisfied. This reminds me of a movie we just put on this evening called "The God's must be Crazy". It is a film ... Read More »

The second of the yamas is Satya, which is non-lying. When we are dedicated to truth, our thoughts and words manifest effortlessly. The ego doesn't need to make up stories up because truth is casual and authentic. Truth is whole-hearted. Not lying and being honest is an obvious standard to live b... Read More »

The first five blog posts of the series I will do about the 8 limbs of yoga will be about the Yamas, which are moral behaviours and attitudes, or sometimes called the "to-don'ts". In contrast, the next 5 afterwards are the Niyamas, which are more like the "to-do's". It has a ten commandment feel ... Read More »

My first yoga class was about 15 or 16 years ago (at the time of writing this). It is a bit hard to remember it all, but I do remember being bored. I was a mega gym junkie at the time and in the Beginning or denial phase of my eating disorder. I was all about having control over my body and my di... Read More »

This hour long video here is one of many(ish) videos up on my youtube channel that I filmed for the COVID lockdown situation. I quite enjoy doing these videos. This one is nice and basic and just gets you moving around in your body. I hope to do more filming soon. Its been a few weeks now! Someti... Read More »