Yoga Insights: our monthly blog
Living in Surrender
ISHVARAPRANIWHAT? Patañjali's eight limbs of Yoga make up a philosophy that includes yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances, the "don’t restrains"). These are interconnected and help us to enjoy virtuous, purposeful, happy, and balanced lives. Ishvarapranidhana...
Pranayama
In this month’s yoga insight, we will be sharing with you an article on pranayama, covering it in context of the Hatha Yoga tradition, how it works, and why it’s fascinating. The Sanskrit term pranayama means prana = life force, yama = retaining. Pranayama techniques...
Yoga and Personal Development
Yoga & Personal Development People are overall greatly interested in personal growth. It is one of the keywords that gets searched often on the Internet, and there are many different approaches which have been created and developed to fulfil that need. Personal...
Ahimsa
Ahimsa stands for “non-violence” or “absence of injury” in Sanskrit. It is the first of the yamas (self-restraints) in Yoga from Patanjali’s Sutras, in which you find the foundations of yoga (made up by the eight limbs of yoga). With it being the very first yama, it...
Embracing the Seasons Series – Summer Joy
There is something special about June 21st. This day marks the Summer solstice and is thereby the year’s longest day in Northern countries of the world. From a yogic point of view, the Summer solstice denotes the transition to dakshinayana (a Sanskrit term for the...
Yin Yoga
YIN YOGA There are many types of Yoga. The four main ones are: Jnana, Karma, Bhakti & Hatha Yoga. Many forms of yoga fall under the umbrella of Hatha Yoga. Yin Yoga is one of them, and this blog entry is dedicated to it. WHAT IS YIN YOGA? To understand, first of...
Tapas
Tapas is Sanskrit for austerity or discipline, and it is the third of Patanjali's Niyamas. The niyamas are moral codes that encourage positive behavior. Tapas is all about perseverance, and burning enthousiasm. When we look at the etymology of this Sanskrit term, it...
Shakti – Same Essence, Different Forms
Spiritual practice is a continuous discovery, a journey, a yearning for the Divine. This blog post is in the honour of Shakti who represents the Manifestation of Divine Perfection, there where Shiva represents Divine Consciousness. The woman and her mystery is a theme...
Embracing the Seasons Series – Spring: Welcoming Change
Dear Yoga Family, We have now transitioned through this year’s spring equinox, Spring is here! As nature yet again begins the cycle of renewal, growth and expansion, by the universal law of resonance, the energy within our very...
SUMMER SOLSTICE
LET THE SUN SHINE IN The longest day of the year is coming up for us here on the Northern Hemisphere this Friday 21 June, at exactly 17:54 in the Netherlands to be exact. This day, known as summer solstice or midsummer, happens twice (one per hemisphere - Northern...
SATYAM – TRUTHFULNESS
Satyam is the second of the yamas in Yoga from Patanjali’s Sutras, and it stands for truthfulness in Sanskrit. This same principle is also found in other religious texts such as the Old Testament (from the Bible), Jewish Scriptures, and the Holy Quran. In the justice system, such as for example in court or when bearing witness to authorities like the police, it is considered a crime to falsify testimony, or simply said, lie.
When we break down the Sanskrit word satyam, we get sat = what is, true, real; and yam = restrain, or ya= “ness” or “coming from”
Sauca – Purity
If you think of people in your life who you perceive as pure, what qualities do they have that make you see them in this way? Isn’t it usually the case that you consider someone pure when you feel they are transparent, having no hidden agenda, healthy, and genuinely well-intentioned? Perhaps you came up with some different things. Like being clean, for instance. Sauca, which means purity in Sanskrit, is an essential part of Yoga practice, and ultimately of life.
YOGA & ASTROLOGY – THE CONNECTION
While Yoga & Astrology are both different subjects of study and practice, yet they have many similarities as they work on common principles of elements, chakras and energy. Astrology is like the sister discipline of yoga They are both useful tools in daily life, which are also very ancient and have stood the test of time as are still very relevant up to this day and age.
SEE YOURSELF WITH RENEWED UNDERSTANDING
SEE YOURSELF WITH RENEWED UNDERSTANDING 7 Days Retreat and Yoga Foundation Training Sat 22 Feb – Sun 1 March Seeing yourself with renewed understanding EXPLORING YOURSELF IN PRESENT… AND CREATE A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELF! Join this 7-day retreat with Savitri...
Kids Yoga
The parents and children yoga series with Ananda Bogers in our yoga studio :, the benefits and why we love it! Let’s start.