Tag Archives: yama and niyama

Dhanurasana, Bow Pose

In Sanskrit, dhanur is an archer’s bow. The most famous and well-beloved archer in the yoga stories is Arjuna, friend of Krishna.

Posted in Class extras, Yoga stories | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ocean is symbolic of santosha

Observing the ocean is a rare treat and I took advantage last week while traveling with our HS band. There’s probably a symbolic message from the ocean to illustrate every yama and niyama but the first one that came to … Continue reading

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

Vulnerability in the heart center

The heart is physically the most vulnerable spot in the body, and emotionally we relate to the heart as being the seat of emotions like grief, vulnerability, insecurity, shame, sadness, betrayal and heartbreak. So to practice Ishvara Pranidhana, we must … Continue reading

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Whose driving and navigating?

One of the reason’s I don’t like traveling much is I don’t like reading maps and navigating in new places I wonder about busy streets and highways that can take me far off place I want to go. I don’t … Continue reading

Posted in Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

Ishvara Pranidhana

In English these words of the 5th and last niyama Ishvara Pranidhana mean to surrender up to God. We are familiar with this niyama when we remember the Biblical exhortation: Thy will not mine be done and Be still and … Continue reading

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | 1 Comment

The fourth niyama: Svadhyaya

Svadhyaya means self-education, education of the self, study of the self, observe our self, self inquiry. Sva means self and adhyaya means education. Understanding our self is a very large topic. Understanding our self, means understanding this universe.

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

Tapas: Burn away the obstacles

All of the yamas and niyamas are meant to be practiced at the same time and this can seem daunting and overwhelming so this is a good time to introduce the observance or niyama called Tapas. It’s another way of … Continue reading

Posted in Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

Santosha is a dance of paradox

Santosha, or contentment is a dance of paradox. We have all been doing this paradoxical dance all of our lives, but maybe this is the first time it has been brought to our conscious attention.

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

2nd Niyama: Santosha, contentment

Santosha is contentment with what is; awareness of what is happening and being grateful for whatever that reality might be. I like this story as an illustration of Santosha: In a Chinese story, a man has both a son and … Continue reading

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment

Yoga as a Spiritual Practice

I liked this whole article that discusses the 5 Niyamas, so I am reposting here. Spiritual Practice article link Yoga as a Spiritual Practice “Although yoga has existed in India from times before the memory of humanity…the need for its … Continue reading

Posted in Class extras, Yama Niyama - The Moral Code of yoga | Tagged | Leave a comment