Regardless of what level your practice is at–beginner, intermediate, exploratory or advanced–the eight limbs of yoga (ashtanga) are vitally important stops along the way to the ultimate goal of transformation.
My last post focused on sustainability, and living a simpler, more beautiful life.
To continue along that thread, I wanted to talk a little bit about purity, or saucha, one of the observances belonging to the second limb.
Saucha is purity that operates on many levels. And it’s this purity of thought and action that can lead us to a more sustainable, contented lifestyle.
On a daily basis, we aspire to cleanliness for our bodies by washing ourselves, …read more

There’s no doubt, most of us are feeling the tough economic times in one way or another.  We’re cutting back on extras, and finding ways just to afford the bare essentials.
But the last thing that should go is our own standard of self-care.  Yoga really should be on the short list of things to hang onto, and here’s why.
Scraping money together for that extra gallon of gas, groceries, all of the basic necessities can be stressful. Worrying about your family’s future can be stressful. Figuring out how you are going to make it until your next paycheck can be very stressful. 
Yoga reduces stress.  And you don’t …read more

With the daily stresses of work and relationships of all kinds, I had to take a moment today and ask myself–what am I really trying to accomplish?  And it came to me–ultimately, I am trying to find happiness.
Wonderful yet elusive, happiness is what we are all hoping to find, isn’t it?  Whether it’s finding the right job, the best friends or a loving partner, what is at the end of the pursuit of each of these is happiness.
Some of us characterize happiness as nirvana–the golden achievement of peace and contentment we all long and strive for with every action we take.  What many of …read more

Yes, indeed.  This is where yoga and our chakras ultimately connect for the big payoff.  Chakra Seven,  Sahasrara, is located at the top or crown of our heads, and means “thousandfold.”  The element it represents is thought, and it is said to produce bliss and true knowledge.  The color associated with this chakra is a radiant, pure white, and as we are supposed to meditate in silence to elevate this chakra, there are no sounds linked to it.
The yoga posture used to stimulate this chakra is the simple headstand.  If you are unable to do a headstand, the traditional seated yoga position, the …read more