Yoga is more than movement — it’s a journey inward. One of the most powerful yet often overlooked aspects of that journey is Svadhyaya (self-study), a foundational principle that invites us to deepen awareness, refine intention, and cultivate meaningful growth both on and off the mat. What Is Svadhyaya? Svadhyaya comes from the ancient yogic text, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is one of the Niyamas — the five personal observances that guide our inner discipline and spiritu

Tapas & Self-Determination: Claiming Your Inner Fire Your practice belongs to you. Your breath. Your pace. Your growth. In yoga philosophy, tapas—one of the Niyamas in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali—is often translated as “heat” or “discipline.” But at its heart, tapas is self-determination. It’s the decision to show up for yourself, again and again. Not because someone tells you to. Not because you “should.” But because you choose to. The Power of Choosing Self-determination i

Satya is one of the five yamas in classical yoga philosophy; it’s all about truthfulness—but in a deeper, more nuanced way than just “not lying.” In the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, satya means living in alignment with what is true, in speech, thought, and action. It’s not only about telling the truth to others, but also about being honest with yourself—your intentions, limitations, desires, and fears. A few key layers of satya: Truthful speech: Saying what is true, accurate, an

Ahimsa is the ancient Indian ethical principle of non-violence, non-injury, and harmlessness towards all living beings, deeply rooted in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Meaning "not to cause pain" (derived from a for "not" and himsa for "injury"), it extends beyond physical acts to include compassion in thought and speech.  Key aspects of Ahimsa include: Core Virtue: It is the first of the Yamas (restraints) in the eight limbs of yoga, emphasizing a life of love, peace, and

You may hear the expression "root to rise" in your practices. Here is an overview of the how and why this is a relevant cue. 🌱 Physical Benefits 1. Improves Stability & Balance Grounding through the feet, hands, or sits bones creates a solid base, helping you balance better in poses like Warrior I/II, Tree, or Handstand. 2. Enhances Alignment When you root down, your body naturally organizes itself—joints stack properly, muscles engage correctly, and postural alignment becom

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signalling molecule that plays a critical role in various physiological processes in the body, including:...

Tip toes in this setu bandhasana (Bridge pose) will help increase the stretch through the chest 🧘‍♀️ PHYSICAL HEART OPENING  How:...

Square breathing (also called box breathing) is a simple yet powerful breathing technique that helps calm the nervous system, sharpen...

Why Yoga for Core & Back Strength? Yoga builds functional strength  by combining static holds , dynamic movement , and deep awareness  of...

Pada Bandha (pronounced pah-dah buhn-dah ) is a foundational yoga technique that refers to the "foot lock" or the "activation of the...

🧘‍♀️ Introduction to Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) Today, we’ll explore a deeply centering breath practice known as...

Dharana, the sixth limb of yoga from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, is a compelling practice that emphasizes concentration and focus. In a...

Finding time in the day to stop and take stock of what we are experiencing, can be very difficult. There are always chores to do, tasks...

One-legged standing poses include vrksasana (tree pose) garudasana (eagle pose, shown), ashwathasana (fig tree pose) and natarajasana...

With the impressive full moon last week, it seemed appropriate to theme our practice around the moon. In yoga, some believe that this is...

We began our new term with a focus on new beginnings, Taking the quote from Buddhist nun, Pema Chödrön - ' Just where you are, that's the...

Over the coming weeks, I thought it might be helpful to summarise the further limbs of yoga beyond the asanas and pranayama. The yamas...

Exploring the ancient practice of breath control in yoga. It's all too easy to take our breathing for granted. The Sanskrit term...

This quote, from Pema Chodron (Tibetan Buddhist nun), was written on a wall at Orange Yoga - the transformative place where I was...

Still here - just lining up the next stages. One small step at a time.