BY SUSHANT PANDEY Raja yoga is understood as one of the classical branches of the yoga tradition. Literally, the term ‘Raja Yoga’ connotes, the culmination or highest state of yoga. Raja means royal; it is so named because it enables the yogin to reach the illustrious king within oneself, the supreme self or atman. In…
Read MoreStudying yoga in an Ashram in India: What You Need to Know
BY ANASTASIA I often get approached by people, who ask for recommendations of ashrams in India where they can study yoga. At some point in time, both beginners in yoga and experienced yoga practitioners long to come closer to the source of knowledge. Before suggesting a concrete place to go, I always ask, what is…
Read MoreEssentials of Meditation
BY SUSHANT PANDEY The process of meditation entails centering, mindfulness and internalization of awareness. Traditionally, the process of meditation is seen as a continuous process of an inward journey from the field of sensorial dimension to the innermost state of being. Technically this process begins with the stage of Pratyahara (withdrawal of mind). Pratyahara is…
Read MoreTeaching Authentic Yoga : Rishikesh Yogis Yogshala
BY ADITHI MATHEWS Set in the Yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh Yogis Yogshala has it’s heart set on spreading the message of authentic Yoga. The founders of the shala, Uttam and Sushant met while teaching Yoga at Ananda in the Himalayas. After a few conversations about the lack of authentic Yoga schools in India,…
Read MoreWhat is Yoga Therapy?
BY MEREL MARTENS Since yoga is becoming more and more mainstream, yoga therapy is rising in popularity too. I have studied medicine myself and have been practicing, studying and working with yoga for many years now. It is beautiful to observe that yoga therapy is not only being embraced by so-called ‘alternative people’ and…
Read MoreFundamentals about the 5 branches of Yoga
BY SUSHANT PANDEY Yoga is a path; a philosophy to harmonise the interactions and expressions of consciousness and energies in an individual. There are numerous methods and tools employed to reach a state of inner poise, balance and harmony. These interactions of energies and consciousness express onto different layers of existence; creating various dimensions of…
Read MoreHow to Practice Awareness in Yoga
BY SUSHANT PANDEY The practice of awareness in Yoga is a continuous process. Discipline of yoga is not restricted to the classroom practice of a set of yogic techniques. It is slow, methodical, requires vigilance, effort, and discipline. In fact, it almost seems too difficult a task and too lofty an ideal to follow, especially…
Read MoreConnecting with the divine through Chanting
BY GANGA MA Strong or soft, wild or serene — Wherever breath flows there is song Hear its whisper touching behind the face Singing in the throat, Dancing spirals in the sanctuary of your heart. -Radiance Sutras ~ Lorin Roche Spiritual traditions from all over the world have always known the power that lies in…
Read MoreRemembering Iyengar on his birth anniversary
With much fondness, reverence and gratitude we remember Yogacharya Sri BKS Iyengar on the occasion of his 98th birth anniversary. In fact we found just the perfect jewel from our archives to share on this very special occasion as we reminiscence about the energy of Guruji. While working on our book – Yoga in India: A Journey…
Read MoreWhat are the Bandhas?
BY JESSICA BROOKES Carl G. Jung the eminent Swiss psychologist, described yoga as ‘one of the greatest things the human mind has ever created.’ The Yoga Sutra defines Yoga as: yoga chitta-vritti-nirodah, which may be translated as: “Yoga is the cessation of agitation of the consciousness.” The word yoga is derived from the root yuj, which means to yoke,…
Read MoreT. Krishnamacharya – The Father of Modern Yoga
BY ADITHI MATHEWS “Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God.” – T. Krishnamacharya For the modern practitioner, Yoga translates to purely Asana or the physical limb of the entire 8 steps which, leads to the state of Samadhi.…
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