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by Jennifer FrenchHmmm, it feels like something's wrong. It’s hard to put a finger on what. Some vague feeling of losing track of ourselves. Worn down by our daily routines and obligations, an undetected general fatigue builds up gradually over time…Or, maybe life...
Proper breathing is what makes yoga, well, yoga. Paying attention to our breath is what transforms mere exercises into a dynamic practice that helps us to understand our true nature. Our breath is the gauge that we use to know if we've gone to far and the...
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…
If you are brand new to yoga, there are a few things that you will want to know to prepare you for class. Yoga can seem like an intimidating practice, but it doesn’t have to be. When you know a few basics about what to expect, you’ll feel more ready for class. Whether you are brand new to yoga or you are coming back to the practice after a very long hiatus, the following tips will help you ease into the practice.
By Jennifer French I often reflect on how fortunate I am to be on this yogic path. It has provided me with tools and skills that help keep me afloat when the day to day challenges of life get even more challenging. It’s a blessing to have mentors to go to, teachers...
By Gwen Burdick Vastu, which means “science of space” in Sanskrit, is a sister science to Yoga, Jyotish and Ayurveda, and is the precursor to Feng Shui. The ancient Shastras are the books of rules of the Vedic sciences and the Vastu Shatra is the text that explains...
by Gwen Burdick Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah Tat savitur varenyam Bhargo devasya dhimahi Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat Translation: With loving reverence we bow to the inner Light, the supreme wisdom in all the world. May this Divine Light guide and illuminate our...
by Gwen Burdick Om Triyambakam yajamahe Sugandhim pushti vardhanam Urvarukamiva bandhanan Mrityor mukshiya mamritat Translation: I meditate on, and surrender myself to, the Divine Being who embodies the power of will, the power of knowledge and the power of action. ...
by Jennifer French People often wonder what the difference between yoga and meditation is, believing that they are two separate practices. In truth, yoga has a long tradition that is thousands of years old and, originally, its main purpose in practice was to hone and...
The Yoga Sanctuary: Tell us a little about yourself. Anita Weisglass: I was born in Greece in 1937, which means that I am a survivor of the Holocaust. My family name is Castro, a Spanish name, and that means that my ancestors came to Greece in 1492 when they were...
By Gwen Burdick In Yogic philosophy, when the intention of the heart and intention of the mind merge with resolve and determination in search of Truth, we have what is called Sankalpa in Sanskrit, or solemn vow. “Kalpa” means vow and “san” means truth. It refers to...
The palms gracing Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Florida pull the eye to the unseen horizon where the beach meets the Gulf of Mexico. The horizon becomes visible at the pristine beach at the end of the road. From the first hint at the vastness of that place, I knew...
"Oh, Aspirant, learn to practice until the last breath of your life." Patanjali The word Sadhana in Sanskrit means spiritual exertion towards an intended goal or the means of accomplishing something. According to Vedic teachings, that something is to live in a state...
If you have been to a yoga class, chances are you have been invited to chant ‘om.’ Whether at the beginning of class as a way to set the space or at the end of class to close the practice, chanting om is a wonderful way to tune back into the present moment and connect...
From an outward perspective, the practice of yoga seems very physical. An often continual progression of movements, yoga is rightly considered to be a physical exercise. But there is one element of the practice that sets it apart from other exercises—the breath. In...
As we get more and more familiar with the physical practice of yoga, we find that we can more easily move into and out of the postures without having to think about them so much, or without having to look around at what the postures should look like. We begin to...
Pitta dosha is the mind-body constitution that is made up of the two elements fire and water. People who have a dominant pitta dosha tend to be intense, responsive, sociable, and knowledgeable.
The Yoga Sanctuary—this is the place that I can just be. This is the place I can find silence. This is the place I make intentions. This is the place I'm learning to meditate. This is the place I'm allowed to have “spicy” spots. (Thanks Ms. Jennifer.) This is the...
Many of us are familiar with the phrase “yin and yang.” We recognize at once the black and white symbol, which seemingly represents polar opposites. As I look at my yoga practice, I see the yin and the yang. I love Ashtanga and our Monday Level 2 class for the...
I moved to Miami from Alabama in 1969 to work for an airline for ten years, and then bounced around the state of Florida, finally landing in Port Charlotte in 1983 in time for my two daughters to start school. My girls now live in Nashville and Jacksonville with their...