We often speak of Tapas as the heat we generate during Mysore class—the sweat dripping onto the mat, the steady Ujjayi breath, and the determination required to catch a heel or hold a challenging posture. Yet, in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Tapas is far more than...
In the heat of a daily practice, as we navigate the familiar rhythms of the Primary or Intermediate series, it is easy to get caught up in the physical structure of the postures. We focus on the bind, the jump-back, or the flexibility required to deep-fold. This...
In Ashtanga Yoga, the breath is the thread and movement is the bead. Without the thread, the postures of the primary, intermediate and advanced series are simply scattered shapes. When bound together through the Yogic breath, they become a mala of moving meditation —...
You know that moment—deep in a challenging pose, muscles trembling, when you realize you’re trying far harder than necessary? This is where Vairagya enters, not as defeat, but as wisdom. Vairagya—non-attachment—paired with Abhyasa (steady practice) creates the...
In the Yoga Sutras, self-observation is known as Svadhyaya. In our Ashtanga community, the mat acts as a mirror; we don’t just study the sequence, we study the person performing it. At its core, Svadhyaya is the practice of observing your ego, habits, and reactions...
As we embrace November, our practice turns toward the energetic bridge between the heart (anahata) and throat (vishuddha) chakras. This is a month of opening, softening, and courage — an invitation to express ourselves with clarity while remaining rooted in...
