In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, samadhi describes the final cultivation of consciousness, having been engaged in yogic practices consistently for a long period of time. It’s best to call this a state of freedom within oneself and a kind of liberation from the mind, rather than some of the more lofty descriptions that can make these states seem unattainable. With the right method applied consistently for years, samadhi can certainly be reached with the persevering practitioner holding the key. In this article, I speak about samadhi as an ongoing student of yoga with a passion for understanding this ..read more

Humans are cyclic in nature, which means we are constantly in a state of flux and our needs are ever-changing. Our yoga practice gives us a consistent platform in which to honour this malleability, support our flow of prana (energy, life force) and take the wisdom with us off the mat. The qualities of yin and yang Yoga Sutra 2.46, sthira sukham asanam, roughly translates to “a steady and comfortable seat” or “resolutely abide in a good space”. The meaning of sthira is “to be stable or firm, conscious, present and alert”, which is complementary to the meaning of sukham, “to be soft, at ease, re ..read more

In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, samadhi describes the final cultivation of consciousness, having been engaged in yogic practices consistently for a long period of time. It’s best to call this a state of freedom within oneself and a kind of liberation from the mind, rather than some of the more lofty descriptions that can make these states seem unattainable. With the right method applied consistently for years, samadhi can certainly be reached with the persevering practitioner holding the key. In this article, I speak about samadhi as an ongoing student of yoga with a passion for understanding this ..read more

At a time when stress and anxiety seem to be ever-increasing, it’s helpful to look at what traditional Chinese medicine has to say about the Stomach and Spleen organ-meridian system and how we absorb both food and the world around us. Aside from their poeticism, part of the wonder and beauty of Taoism and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the emphasis on the interplay between our physical form, mind and spirit. At a time when stress and anxiety seem to be ever-increasing, it’s helpful to look at what traditional Chinese medicine has to say about the Stomach and Spleen organ-meridian system ..read more

They say that these days, we’re living in the attention economy. From all angles, it seems, our attention is being courted and fought over by advertising and marketing teams, businesses, streaming services, the 24-hour news cycle and social media. There is music playing while we eat and talk to friends in our favourite cafe; smartphone alerts pinging while we watch an apparently absorbing TV show. The world has become a feast of sensory stimulation (though often not the nourishing kind of feast). With so much information coming in, it can be hard to separate the signal from the noise. Pratyaha ..read more

Toxic positivity is the belief that no matter how negative our feelings or dire our situation, we must maintain a positive mindset. This involves denying feelings like anger, fear, disappointment and any other emotions we consider “bad”. By pushing away and avoiding uncomfortable feelings, we bypass how we process the world. Our emotional reality isn’t validated, and instead we live in a state of denial. It’s not a good place to be. Denial protects the ego Denial from a psychology perspective, is, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “defence mechanism in which confrontation with a p ..read more

What does a rewarding life look like to you? How about this … imagine you’ve found a teacher to look up to, who offers you ongoing support and inspiration. A philosophy that helps guide you through the ups and downs of life. A community which you feel inspired by and at home within. Sounds good, right? A life on purpose, supported by someone motivating and surrounded by like-minded people. This is something that many people find themselves searching for and is one way to interpret the “three jewels” of Buddhism. The philosophy is ancient in its origin and relevant in today’s world. So often we ..read more

This amazing prize is valued at over $15,000! This incredible prize gives the lucky winner the option of joining all of the following Byron Yoga Centre courses and retreats: One 200-hour Level 1 OR one 300-hour Level 2 Teacher Training One choice from the range of 6-day speciality courses: Yin, Remedial Yoga or the Meditation Teacher Training One choice from the range of 4-day speciality courses: Restorative or Trauma-Aware Yoga One 7-day Retreat One 5-day Retreat One 3-day Retreat And (if the winner is female!) a place on one of the Women’s Retreats To enjoy this amazing prize, you don’t n ..read more

Restorative yoga is a deeply relaxing and nurturing practice — a great way to calm the mind and release tension. The tradition involves arranging the body into simple shapes (based on asanas) and supported completely by props such as bolsters, blankets and the earth. With the body supported, muscle tension can begin to release, the breath can start to lengthen and the mind gradually quieten. This is the goal of restorative yoga — to instigate a shift from a state of stress and agitation to a softer, more tranquil space where we can regroup, relax and, of course, restore. Clinical psychologist ..read more

Friendships are just as important as the food we eat or how much exercise we do. Some studies have even shown that friendships can extend your life. But like all things, including food and exercise, friendships can be nourishing and nutritious, or they can be unhealthy and toxic. Fortunately, yoga can offer many tools to help navigate the path of creating lifelong friendships. Friendship for svadhyaya Good friends are like balm for the soul. They act as a mirror, reflecting back our habits, patterns and tendencies. They provide support when we need it, a sounding board to make sense of our tho ..read more