Saucha – Purity
Saucha or purity is the 1st of 5 Niyamas and is really about cleanliness, inside and out. While most of us have good habits in taking care of the outside of our body, yoga also has several tools to help clean the inside of the body to support the removal of toxins and waste. (more…)
Aparigraha – The Art of Letting Go
Aparigraha is the last of the 5 Yamas and can be understood as non-grasping, non-hoarding, or non-greed. Now if you asked my husband how I rated in this he would probably tell you that I have this Yama pretty much down pat – since I seem to always be decluttering and giving things away that he isn’t quite ready to part with. (more…)
Everywhere we look, we see the results of living in excess. In a society that glorifies more and more, it becomes challenging to listen to the voice of intuition urging us towards moderation and balance. This Yama, Brahmacharya, can be particularly difficult to work on, and some may even question its importance. Let’s take the example of eating too much – when we overindulge, we feel sluggish and uncomfortable, lacking the motivation to do anything else, except maybe watching television. The same can be said for overdrinking, oversleeping, overworking, and overexerting in any aspect of life – it drains our vital life force, our prana. (more…)
Asteya – Non-stealing
The 3rd Yama is simple, don’t steal. In its simplest form, Asteya asks that we not take what does not belong to us. While most of us wouldn’t be categorized as a thief, this yogic principle draws our attention to more subtle ways in which we rob not only others but ourselves, on and off the yoga mat. (more…)
Satya is the 2nd of the five Yamas, or observances, in the yogic path to awareness. Satya means Truthfulness. Living a path of truthfulness seems easy enough yet can be complicated. Why I say complicated is because Satya calls for us to dive deeper than the surface layer of truth that we show outwardly and explore what is really our truth and essence. (more…)