The fifth Niyama – one of the eight limbs of yoga that guides one on self-care and personal practice – is isvara pranidhana, which can be seen as faith in a higher power. Now that is a big topic, and I wasn’t even sure how to write about it. And…
It happens. Days go by – maybe even weeks – and we haven’t been to class. Maybe it starts with vacation – or just a trip away – and then there is post-vacation catch up. Because maybe it’s not just the days gone on vacation, but the days leading up…
We can all get lost sometimes inside our own heads – our own thoughts – but how often do we use that time spent with our thoughts as an opportunity for self-reflection? Svadhyaya, another one of the five Niyamas, is the study of one’s self. The Niyamas are the second…
A community can be based on a physical place like a neighborhood community, but it can also people you choose to be around, people who share similar interests and values. And as one might spend more and more time at a particular yoga studio – or even taking classes around…
I hear it often in the beginning of class. It’s usually said in those first few minutes as we sit or lie with eyes closed and shift into the space from our days: take a moment and, if you wish, set an intention for the practice. Sometimes it’s only there…
Each month I look forward to the theme The Mat yoga studio chooses in its monthly newsletter and why a teacher may have chosen that particular theme. I also look forward over the weeks to see how different teachers may incorporate that theme in their classes. The theme for December was finding…