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The First Limb of Yoga: Yama and the Five Ethical Practices for Living

The First Limb of Yoga: Yama and the Five Ethical Practices for Living

The Eight Limbs of Yoga, as outlined by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, offer a comprehensive path toward spiritual awakening. The first two limbs, the yamas and niyamas, serve as ethical guidelines for living in harmony with the world and ourselves. The yamas, in particular, focus on our outward behavior and how we interact with others, offering five key restraints that cultivate peaceful and compassionate relationships. These practices are not just rules to follow but are invitations to transform our actions and thoughts. The first yama, ahimsa, is a perfect place to begin, as it sets the foundation for the other restraints.

The Yoga Sanctuary Story: Our First 15 Years

The Yoga Sanctuary Story: Our First 15 Years

In May 2007, Bonnie Yonker, yoga teacher and founder of The Yoga Sanctuary, opened the studio doors in the Swiss Connection Building at 403 Sullivan Street with just eleven classes on the schedule. Read more to learn the story of The Yoga Sanctuary…

Tadasana: The Mountain Pose—The First Pose You’ll Ever Learn

Tadasana: The Mountain Pose—The First Pose You’ll Ever Learn

Rich in symbolism, tadasana comes from the Sanskrit words tada (mountain) and asana (posture, or seat). Mountain Pose is the essence of stability and foundation, and as such, contains the building blocks for every other posture in yoga. Yoga videos exploring Mountain Pose can be found here!

The Path of Yoga: Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Eight Limbs

The Path of Yoga: Exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Eight Limbs

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, compiled by the sage Patanjali over 1,700 years ago, are considered one of the most authoritative texts on the practice and philosophy of yoga. Comprising 196 aphorisms—short, concise statements—the Yoga Sutras outline the Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga), a systematic guide for living a yogic life and achieving spiritual liberation. This text is foundational in the Raja Yoga tradition, which emphasizes self-discipline, meditation, and mental mastery as essential tools for attaining inner peace and enlightenment.

Virasana: The Hero’s Pose—Great for Your Knees (unless it’s not)

Virasana: The Hero’s Pose—Great for Your Knees (unless it’s not)

Virasana, or the Hero’s Pose, is a commonly used sitting or meditation posture. Those that have difficulty taking a cross-legged position often find the pose to be more accessible and comfortable. Vira, the root word for virasana, translates to hero. You may wonder how a simple and humble kneeling position came to be known as such… Practice videos included here!!

The Third Limb of Yoga: Asana

The Third Limb of Yoga: Asana

Asana, often associated with the physical postures of yoga, is a fundamental practice that contributes to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It serves as the groundwork for the deeper practices of yoga, creating a solid foundation for personal growth and transformation. While most people are familiar with asana as the body postures performed in a yoga class, its significance stretches far beyond the physical.

The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri mantra, the most ancient of the mantras found in the Rig Veda, is considered to be the mother of the Vedas. The sound “gai” in Sanskrit means sing and “trai” means protect. Gayatri therefore translates to “she who protects the singer.” The practice of the Gayatri mantra allowed the Rishis, or seers, to receive the revelation of all other mantras.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

The practice of the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra sends forth vibrations from body to mind to soul. It awakens the internal healing forces and Nature’s healing forces together so that we may receive the full nourishment of any discipline undertaken for well-being. Strengthening the powers of will, knowledge and action, it unblocks the flow of courage and determination.

Navrati: The Nine Nights of the Goddesses

October 9th - 18th, 2018 by Gwen Burdick Navratri, a nine night-long celebration of the Divine Feminine, occurs every year on the New Moon in the Vedic month of Ashwin (usually our September, but not always) near the autumnal equinox. Worship of the Goddesses Durga,...

The Vedic World View

"It is quite possible that India is the real world, and that the white man lives in a madhouse of abstractions." Carl Jung (after a visit to India in 1938) As our study and practice of the Yogic sciences and philosophies deepen, it becomes increasingly important to...

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 2.29

Exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Sutra 2.29

Yoga sutra 2.29 states, Yama niyamasana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhi astau angani: The eight limbs of yoga are: yama (self-regulation), niyama (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Savasana

At the end of a yoga asana practice comes what many find to be the best part of the practice—Savasana, or Corpse Pose. Often, Savasana is referred to as Final Resting Pose or Final Relaxation Pose, but at its essence, Savasana is about surrendering deeply to an energy...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Siddhasana

Siddhasana, or Accomplished Pose, does not look like much from the outside, but the ability to hold this pose for long periods of time is known to be a marker of meditative excellence. In a sitting position, with the left heel placed against the groin, or perineum,...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Balasana

Balasana, or Child’s Pose, is one of the most-loved yoga postures for the simple reason that it feels so good. The fact that it’s often taken after a difficult pose may even increase its appeal. Balasana is like a refuge. A breath of fresh air. A release. It’s where...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Vasisthasana

Vasisthasana, or Side Plank Pose, is named after the great Indian sage Vasistha. The story begins with King Ram, who was an incarnation of Vishnu, one of three main Hindu gods responsible for the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the universe. Vishnu is...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Hanumanasana

Hanumanasana, or Monkey Pose, in its full expression, is the forward splits, a challenging pose that represents the pose Hanuman took as he leapt from the southern tip of India to Sri Lanka to rescue his good friend Ram’s wife, Sita, who had been kidnapped by the evil...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Bhujangasana

Bhujangasana, or Cobra Pose, represents our ability overcome fear. While the cobra is generally considered to be a creature that evokes fear, our ability to look past this initial instinct and view fear from a new perspective is key to helping us move past it. As...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Natarajasana

Natarajasana, or King Dancer Pose, is the embodiment of King Nataraja, a depiction of Shiva, the god of destruction. Shiva represents change. With birth must come death; with destruction must come rebuilding. Nataraja represents Shiva as the ever-present change in the...

DIWALI: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Diwali, which means "row of lights" in Sanskrit, is a celebration in India and around the world to honor the inextinguishable Light within all of us. It occurs in late October or early November every year on the New Moon when the two great luminaries of our solar...

Exploring the Myths of Asana—Trikonasana

Trikonasana, or Triangle Pose, is a symbol of trinity. Sacred trinities exist in so many forms in yoga. From the practical mind, body, and spirit or birth, life, and death to the more esoteric main energy channels (nadis) of ida, pingala, and sushumna or the three...

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