Pranayama: the fourth limb of Ashtanga yoga

  ‘Tasmin sati åvâsa-praåvâsayor gati-vicchedaï prâñâyâmaï’ (YS 2.49) ‘The asana having been done, pranayama is the cessation of the movement of inhalation and exhalation” The fourth limb of Ashtanga yoga is pranayama. Georg Feuerstein explains this sutra as following: “When the posture is mastered, the breath control can start. Breath controls is not mere rhythmic … Read more

Svadhyaya

Svadhyaya – written by Sophie Nusselder- By self-observation, union with the desired deity is brought about*. Svadhyaya literally means’ self-study of scriptures. But it also has a broader meaning as ‘self-reflection’. In the former post I wrote Tapas is the key element of a yoga practice: it is the transforming heat that burns away impurities. The purification … Read more

The Power of Inviting Symbols in Your Yoga Practice #2

This series consists of two articles and is written by Azuka Muse: #1 Allow yourself to be guided by the unexpected #2 A practice to invite female transformational energy in your life A practice to invite female transformational energy in your life “In the yoga tradition as a ‘dark goddess’ governing time, death and change. Her fierce form is … Read more