Take Your Next Ayurvedic Step
The yamas and niyamas of yoga are the first two disciplines of Ashtanga yoga. To understand the yamas and niyamas, we need to understand Ashtanga yoga and its origins. Ashtanga yoga is described as the 8 (astha) limbs (anga) of yoga. Ashtanga yoga is derived from the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’. Ayurveda and yogic culture […]
Mantras are a relatively newer addition to instructions provided during your yoga practice. More and more instructors are asking students to set an intention at the start of their session. However, mantras are not intentions. An intention is used to set the tone of the rest of your meditation practice, while using a mantra during […]
Vata, pitta, and kapha are the 3 doshas that make up who we are. In Ayurveda, everything is explained in terms of these doshas and their current state. If you are in a balanced doshic state, your doshas are ‘in balance’ according to your Prakruti/original blueprint or constitution. If they are not in balance, you […]
The term and concept of ojas comes from the Vedic traditions of India. Simply put, ojas is the essence of life. However, it cannot be fully understood without explaining where it comes from, why it is needed, and how we can increase it in our bodies and minds. Ojas is one of the 3 subtle […]
Trataka or candle gazing is a term and practice that is very common to those studying and practicing the true forms of yoga. Trataka is a tool used by those who want to still the mind and clear up any thoughts or emotions during meditation. However, this is not the only reason. This practice is […]
Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice that originates in India. Mostly documented in Sankhya philosophy which is one of the oldest philosophies of Sanathana Dharma (or in laymen’s terms, Hinduism). Yoga Nidra or yogic sleep is also mentioned in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and in Advaita Vedanta, among other books and philosophies. What is Yoga […]
Mala beads have a spiritual purpose in ancient East Asians religions. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism all use mala beads for the purpose of enhancing the meditative practice. In India, the use of mala beads goes as far back as the 8th century BCE. The word “mala” simply put means garland in Sanskrit. However, they are […]
Anulom vilom pranayama or anuloma viloma is the practice of conscious breathing through alternate nostril breathing. Ayurveda and Yoga both emphasize the practice of pranayama – the discipline of breath. Another way to describe pranayama is the control you have over how you are breathing in life force energy – prana. And how that energy […]
Abhyanga self-massages have only recently started making the rounds in our modern world. And that includes India too, where this concept originated deep in the hills of the Indus Valley. Now, some may argue that self-massages are not an Indian concept – and I agree with that. What we are talking about here is the […]
What are chakras and why should we care about them? Most people in the modern world would probably have come across the concept of chakras. At the very least, they would have heard the word and thought it was another new age frou-frou that they didn’t care about. However, what is fascinating is that the […]