Living the teachings
More than a Physical Practice
Have you ever wondered what makes yoga more than just a physical practice? Asanas are important, there is no doubt about that. But, it’s important to remember…
Hanuman’s Leap of Faith
Most of us are aware of the Splits Pose also known as Hanumanasana, and sometimes called Monkey Pose. Many do not know the story of this pose…
Pranayama Lost in Translation
Like for many of us, when I first came to yoga, pranayama was of secondary importance to asana. We were taught breathing techniques like the ‘complete yogic…
Class Planning Secrets
As a yoga teacher for the past 13 years, I’ve planned and taught thousands of yoga classes, and one thing I know to be true is that…
Understanding Ashtanga Yoga
After 10 years of immersing myself in Ashtanga yoga, I have come to realise that this ancient practice, though potent and transformative, is often misunderstood in the…
The gunas of nature*
Insight into the functioning of our mind and the significance of rajas. By Swami Durgananda Reading time: 2-3 minutes Rajas (restlessness, desire, greediness, red). Rajasic activity can…
Living The Teachings: Savasana
SAVASANA: THE CORPSE POSEÂ Reading time: 4 minutes As 2023 comes to an end, it seems like a good time to consider savasana, one of the key…
Living The Teachings: Drishti
Understand Yoga’s Everyday Spiritual Meanings Reading time: 4 minutes As we draw ever closer towards the end of 2023 and look ahead to 2024, it seems like…
Understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings
Namaste: Why do we say it? What does it mean? Reading time: 4 minutes I always wondered why most yoga classes end with a ‘Namaste’ and since…
Living the teachings – the four noble truths
Understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings. This month: the four noble truths. By Sue Pugh Although yoga is not a religion in itself, it is connected to religion,…
Living the teachings – set your sankalpa
Understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings. By Sue Pugh As we welcome in 2023, ask yourself: What is my longterm vision? Or: What would it actually feel like…
Living the teachings – Samskara
Understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings. By Sue Pugh Why is it that despite our best intentions of heartfelt sankalpas we often self-sabotage and fail to achieve what…
Living the teachings – DHARMA
Ayurvedic author Sahara Rose said: “When you change your world, you change the world”. This is a very powerful sentence to reflect upon and as 2022 draws…
Living the teachings – THE KOSHAS
Living the teachings – understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings Understanding a little about yoga philosophy will deepen your overall experience. Ancient yoga began several thousand years ago…
Living the teachings – October 2022
Living the teaching understand yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings Ishvara Pranidhana (SELF-SURRENDER) The niyamas are the second limb of the eight limbs of yoga. They specifically remind us…
Living the teachings — SVADHYAYA
Living the teachings – understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings SVADHYAYA (self-contemplation, self-study) The Niyamas are the second limb of the eight limbs of yoga. They specifically remind…
Living the teachings — TAPAS (SELF-DISCIPLINE)
Living the teachings understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings TAPAS (SELF-DISCIPLINE) There are ‘eight limbs’ of yoga…the postures (asanas) make up just one limb. When we really ‘get’…
Living the teachings — understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings
Living the teachings – understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings SANTOSHA: COMPLETE CONTENTMENT There are ‘eight limbs’ of yoga…the postures (asanas) make up just one limb. When we…
Living the teachings – June 2022
Understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings. THE FIRST NIYAMA: SAUCHA (PURITY) There are eight ‘limbs’ of yoga…the postures (asanas) make up just one limb. When we really ‘get’…
Living the teachings – APARIGRAHA: NON-POSSESSIVENESS
understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings APARIGRAHA: NON-POSSESSIVENESS By Sue Pugh There are ‘eight limbs’ of yoga… the postures (asanas) make up just one limb. When we really…
Living the teachings — understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings
understanding yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings BRAHMACHARYA: NON-EXCESS By Sue Pugh In the ‘eight limbs’ of yoga, the postures (asanas) make up just one limb. When we really…
Living the teachings — yoga’s everyday spiritual meanings – ASTEYA
ASTEYA: THE PRACTICE OF NON-STEALING. By Sue Pugh The yamas and niyamas provide a simple set of practical, ethical guidelines when following the yogic path. By considering…
Living the teachings — understanding yoga’s everyday meanings
SATYA: THE PRACTICE OF HONESTY. By Sue Pugh The yamas and niyamas provide a simple set of practical, ethical guidelines when following the yogic path. The second…
Living the teachings — understanding yoga’s everyday meanings
AHIMSA: the practice of kindness The yamas and niyamas provide a simple set of practical, ethical guidelines when following the yogic path. The first yama, ‘ahimsa’, broadly…