The Navratri (nine nights) is a Hindu celebration that takes place every autumn and spring and honors the Shakti feminine energy, the Divine Mother, and is an opportunity for the Indians for spiritual cleansing, guidance, and enlightenment. This year is celebrated from 6 to 14 April. The celebration lasts nine nights and ten days. Each night is one of the …
According to Puranas, at the beginning of Creation the gods Brahma and Vishnu began to disagree about who is the most prolific. God Brahma said: “I created the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) and all living beings with their endless differences in form and sound. That is why I am the ultimate God! “God Vishnu said:” The …
We spend a lot of time in our car, indoors, on asphalted roads and paved sidewalks. It is very important from time to time to be in contact with our mother, the Earth. You will also hear it often as earthing ή grounding. Earth with the literal meaning of the term, soil and grass holds us, supports us and nourishes …
In sutra 1.29 it is said that the repetition of mantras prevents all the obstacles(antarayas). Chanting is a beautiful tool and practice that activates the Vagus Nerve which is connected with the parasympathetic system, the vagus nerve branches out to smaller nerves located in the brain, the tongue, the heart, the lunges, and the stomach. In moments of stress or discomfort …
Myths are beyond our logic and speak in a unique way in our hearts using symbols and archetypes that are the same in every tradition and culture. They invite us to find the connection between the ancient epics and the everyday life of our lives and shed light on the questions and the dilemmas of mankind. The eternal battle between …
The fourth in the series of yamas (moral limitations) and perhaps one of the most misunderstood and much debated in our times … Can I, ask many yoga practitioners, to apply this quality to my life in the modern world? The common misconception that Brahmacharya only refers to celibacy means that it is often overlooked or regarded as irrelevant to …
Let’s admit it: The moment that we have finished the dynamic part of our practice and we prepare for the restorative asanas is our best. These relieving and well-supported poses are offering us the opportunity to relax and enjoy the sweet side of life. Of course, ideally, and according to Patanjali, all the asanas must feel as the restorative asanas: …
There are many forms of breath-work in yoga (called pranayama). Some are very active and stimulating, and there are times when these pranayamas are beneficial. But to turn on the parasympathetic nervous system, which is our rest-and-digest system, we need the slow, deep pranayama known as ujjayi. Jaya means victory. Ujjayi means victorious or conquering. It is so-called because the …
I was always moved by human relationships. In the yoga path, the most important relationship is the one we build with ourselves, and it is absolutely true that whatever happens, at many situations that we deal with in our life we are on our own, as much support as we have from our partner, our family, our friends in a …
This an amazing text for breath or Prana. I found it in the book The Art of Vinyasa of Richard Freeman and Mary Tailor. It is a “must-read” for all the ashtanga practitioners and for the vinyasa practitioners in general. It is a journey at the breathing function on the physical and energetic level, and amazing analysis of the ujjayi …