Yoga Inspiration

For many, the allure of yoga is wrapped in ideals of achievement – perfect poses, precise counts, and the polished image of a seasoned yogi. Yet, the heart of the practice invites us to embrace something far deeper. Being a student means showing up with an open mind, being willing to stumble, and finding peace in not knowing the big answers. It means recognizing that every teacher - no matter how...

Self study offers a bridge between practice and self-understanding, yet in a world where achievement is often measured by what we know or what we can do, Swadhyaya gently redirects us toward a more introspective path. Here, memorization becomes an act of devotion - a way to internalize the teachings, grounding our practice in respect and humility. But humility in yoga isn't about diminishing ourse...

Life has a way of challenging us - pushing us to the edge of our comfort zones - and it's in those moments that we often find our true strength. Ashtanga yoga practice mirrors this perfectly, presenting us with both physical and emotional hurdles that test our discipline and resolve.  It's time to delve into the heart of what it means to engage with tapas and accept that it's not about forcing our...

From the first step onto the mat to the deeper journey inward, Ashtanga offers more than just physical transformation. It introduces us to the yamas, the ethical principles that lay the foundation for a truly holistic practice. These yamas - non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, ethical conduct, and non-attachment - invite us to reflect on our actions, thoughts, and interactions both on and of...

How often do we consider the profound impact of consistency in our yoga practice? Because it's in moments of resistance and wavering minds that we can witness the full loving force of yoga. It is here where we receive an invitation. And every time we RSVP "yes", we open up our capacity for growth… We start to see that Ashtanga invites us to move beyond the physical into a journey with spiritual es...

Walk far enough down the yogic path and it will soon become clear that the guidance of a teacher and the support of our communities is invaluable. On Guru Purnima Day, we pause to reflect on the profound impact of our gurus and mentors who illuminate our journey.  Yet, while this path is often illuminated by such wisdom, it is not without its challenges. Personal struggles—whether physical, emotio...

The truth is, we each have a library's worth of past experiences and conditioning that can cloud our vision, trapping us in looping thoughts. And while that sounds uncomfortable, this is the instinctive reality of the human mind. Every day we face the urge to judge.  Meanwhile, discernment (or Viveka) offers a different path. One of turning inward, reflecting deeply, and distinguishing between wha...

​​Meditation holds the promise of transformation, but its path is not always straightforward. For some, it is a retreat from the chaos of daily life–a space to recharge. For others, it is a crucible, challenging the mind and revealing its deepest patterns.  No matter what experience we affix onto the practice, meditation invites us to sit with ourselves, observe the mind's incessant chatter, and c...

Many come to the mat believing yoga will erase all suffering, bringing perpetual bliss and prosperity. Yet, the true essence of yoga offers something more profound and enduring. It's time to explore the ancient wisdom that yoga imparts, teaching us to embrace the inevitable changes and hardships with grace, wisdom, and compassion. Because it's not about achieving a flawless practice or a pain-free...

Sadhana allows the waters of spiritual practice to simmer within us, gradually revealing the light within. It teaches us the value of patience and perseverance, emphasizing that the journey of yoga is a lifelong pursuit.  Because truly, yoga is not something that can be mastered in a weekend, a month, or even a year. While a year of practice can establish a solid foundation, true understanding and...

As we delve deeper into this yogic path, we appreciate the practice not just for physical prowess, but for emotional and spiritual resilience too. Whether we're striving to show up daily despite life's demands or digging deep to overcome generational trauma, commitment is key to our growth. But what about once we're on the mat? How easily do our thoughts wander with our curious senses? By explorin...

As life progresses—with its inevitable busyness, ageing, or delving into the role of teacher—finding time for personal practice becomes even more crucial. We must continually adapt, acknowledging that our physical abilities might change and accepting these shifts not as setbacks but as opportunities to deepen our understanding of yoga's true essence. It's about evolving our practice to fit our cha...

The first time we step onto a yoga mat is the first step on an unexpected journey towards transformation. As we immerse ourselves deeper, repeating movements and dedicating our energy, we witness a shift in our lives but more notably, we encounter the humanness of frustration, shame and blame. Yet, it is in these moments where yoga reveals its subtler spiritual layers offering us tools not just to...

Without a doubt, yoga is an invitation for introspection and growth. It holds a mirror to who we truly are and generously serves as our unwavering support throughout the trials of life. But as we move through this journey, how often do we consider our contribution to the yoga community? Much like the unwavering support of our own practices guiding us through arduous human experiences, community pa...

Yoga does change your life if you tend to the practice every day. But is it compassionate enough to show up on the mat when your body is begging you for a break?  You get to choose: you could show up to your Ashtanga practice once a week giving your everything or you could show up every day with just 50% - even 10% - of what you've got. With this decision, you get the invitation to reflect upon wh...

The belief that one metaphorical door closing is the chance for another one to open couldn't speak to Katy Scherer's story more. When pregnancy placed a sudden limitation on her running career, a redirection emerged that she never expected; she traded laces for bare feet and the gravel beneath them for a yoga mat. But this isn't a conversation about life's surprises, this is in fact an exploration...

From summer camp serendipity to university days solace, yoga can meet us in the most unsuspecting times. It plants tiny seeds of inspiration into our awareness so that our yogic journeys can fully bloom when the time is right. And it's in these moments - where many of us find yoga's healing qualities as a soothing balm to insomnia or back pain - that we meet the real essence of yoga. The deeper di...

Limitlessness and opportunity – the inertia of pacy modern life can serve as fuel for realising our purpose in this lifetime. But much like this two-month immersion in Mysore that serves as a grounding balance to our proactive compulsions, finding the right teacher will surely keep us all on the right track. At the very least, it will help us avoid complete burnout. Yet while living in a world of...

If we expect somehow to only show up for our practice when things are feeling good and do a good job from the external standards, then we'll lack the kind of spiritual fortitude that's really required. And, in this modern age, it's all too easy to lose our grip of patience when immediacy permiates our every chance to make a decision. We may be fortunate to live in a world of advancements that bett...

As we journey on the spiritual path, we seek answers for our ever questioning minds. What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose? Can I really be bothered to do primary series today? Healthy questioning offers us meaningful personal growth but it is indeed part of the practice to remain the observer of thoughts. Once we step into the rabbit hole questioning ourselves, our yogi paths, and even...

What brought you to yoga? For many, the instant access to other people's lives online fuels them to chase aspirational goals. But where does a path lit up by comparison lead? For instance, to be excitedly motivated by the idea of mastering a headstand or flexibility draws in so many people to yoga - this would be fine if our self-perception didn't become so easily warped in the pursuit of perfecti...

Openly, vulnerably and courageously, Dina Ghandour shares her experience as a Palestinian Yogi throughout this conversation. Her journey began with practising asanas with a VHS tape in her bedroom at 15 to now, a Jivamukti Yoga certified yoga teacher and bodyworker based in Duba leading community classes and worldwide retreats. Tapping into her belief that yoga is a practice of liberation and that...

No matter how much passion we have for our yoga practice, it's our relationship to discipline that profoundly shapes our experience. And, even if two people had the same passion for yoga yet one was regimented and the other was averse to consistency, neither one of them will have a perfectly smooth journey. But isn't finding balance the point? Isn't an opportunity to dive deeper into our being the...

Whether it is morally correct to pursue wealth, business, or even simply charging for services has perhaps been a question on many wellness practitioners mind. It's this question weaves its way throughout this episode as we explore both the philosophical and the practical side to running a spiritual business. It's improtant to acknowledge that this inner conflict is deeply rooted yet we must remem...

At the heart of our yoga practice, we engage mindfully with asanas to awaken the whispers of our subconscious and dive into layers unseen. Yet what is central to the symphony of ashtanga is the tristana method – a trilogy of asana, breath, and gaze. While it may be a simple structure for the mind to understand, truly how many years does mastery take? Along with Tim, in this episode we explore how...