Zephyr Yoga Podcast

The fifth limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of yoga, is Pratyahara. Pratyahara is an important bridge between the external focus of the previous limbs of yoga, such as  asana  (postures) and  pranayama (breath exercises) to the more advanced practices of  dharana (concentration) and  dhyana  (meditation). Pratyahara literally means withdrawing from the senses, to gai...

We are working our way through the 8 limbs of Yoga. These are suggested steps to practice Yoga to attain the state of Yoga, according to Patanjali who wrote the Yoga Sutras. The first limb is the  Yamas , 5 ethical guidelines to have more intimate relationships with the world around you and others. The second limb is the  Niyamas , 5 observances to have more of an intimate relationship t...

Asana is the third limb to the eight limb path of Yoga according to the Yoga Sutras. Asana is associated with ascetic austerities that are practiced to result in the state of mind being stilled and awakened. In Yoga Sutra 2.46 it states, to practice Asana you just need two things, Sthira – Steadiness and Sukham – Comfort. Patanjali’s purpose of asana was to be steady and comfortable in the po...

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5th Niyama is Isvara Pranidhana complete surrender to the God head of your understanding. To have complete faith in the guiding and protective power of absolute reality behind all life and manifestation. Whatever is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. Yoga is not a religion, however a ‘Spiritual’ practice. The teachings suggests we surrender our fruits of our actions, give all of our self...

This practice we will focus on the 4th Niyama,  Svadhyaya : Self-study, self- inquiry, it is to observe the self, understand it and self-reflect on it. It is the study by and of oneself, along side of the study of spiritual scripture and teachings. Reading, listening and reciting mantras. Through repetition we learn, deepening the knowledge and opening to true wisdom. Sva means own or self. D...

This practice is focusing on the 3rd Niyama;  Tapas  – Yogic Austerity. Tapas means heat of positive change. This is said to be the earliest term for the ‘austerity of Yoga’ and the endeavours of the practitioners. Tap means to burn or glow, it includes the element of fire ( Agni ) that is also said to be the essential element to create life, to heal, to inspire and to transform.&nb...

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here .  To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last session we worked with  Sauca  which ‘cleans’ the physical, energetic and mental bodies in practice and shines a brighter clearer light to a deeper tranquil state of being. All of this is the pursuit to the state of Yoga. In this session we are working on the second Niyama, Santosa, which points you to have a more intimate and honest relationship with the whole of you, so you can pr...

Niyamas are the basis for a healthy relationship with ourselves. In yoga, we place ourselves in a relationship to something, focusing our mind and body to the art of ‘purification’ through Yoga practice in order to produce a positive effect the pursuit of the state of Yoga.  The Hatha Yoga Pradipika text warns the student, “Graha Niyama” to not take these Niyamas to extremes as it reinforces...

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here .  To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aparigraha  is Sanskrit for non-clinging, not-coveting or desiring after outward possessions. It is the concept of non-possessiveness, non-greediness and non-attachment. The opposite is  Parigraha , which means “the focus on material gain.” So  Aparigraha  in Sanskrit breaks downs as – A means “non or against”; pari, means “on all sides”; and graha, means “to take,” “to grab” o...

Brahmacharya  literally means ‘walking’ or having ethical conduct like God.  Brahma  means one’s own Self, ultimate unchanging reality, absolute consciousness, Divinity. Whatever is the God of your understanding.  Charya  – means walking, engaging, proceeding, behaving, conducting, moving or going after. So it roughly means “to stay true to one’s Self or ones own Atman” or...

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here .  To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are working with understanding more about Satya – Truthfulness, the second Yama.  This is the ability to be truthful, honest and transparent in words, thoughts and actions. Satya is a self-restraint in taking responsibility and accountability of our humanity and determining what is motivating how and what we communicate. Sometimes what is motivating us to share words with one another is th...

Yamas are the essential moral principles to practice Yoga. In our western world, we might call these restraints or rules. Asteya  is Non-Stealing. It is the third ethical restraint.  Steya  means unlawfully taking things that you are not entitled to or that don’t belong to you.  Asteya  is abstaining from stealing. This refers to possessions, money, materials that are not...

Yoga is skill in action with loving awareness that awakens our embodiment to an intention set in every practice. An Intention is an aspiration or energy that draws us to love, truth and creativity. What matters to you most? An intention whether it is a New Years intention or a daily intention you set as a commitment to your care in every gesture, grace of movement, sensation, emotion and thought.&...

This practice is inspired by the first Yama, Ahimsa, Non-Violence.  Over the past few sessions we have focused on clearing the Malas to know, see and act in this world knowing the truth of who and what we are, that there is impermanence to all life and finally being responsible for what is motivating us (Kleshas) which causes suffering. To live is to create Karma and that all activities creat...

“The simple act of kindness is by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer” Mahatma Gandhi I was inspired to teach about  Maitri  as a reaction to current events and the layers of what humanity face all over the world.   Maitri’s  Bhavana is to cultivate, produce, develop the feeling is one of friendliness, benevolence, affection, kindness, good-will, it is...

Action in Sanskrit is Karma . Karma carries the notion the fruit of your actions, comes back to you, you can’t escape the consequence of your actions. There is always a cause and effect, for every action has a reaction, for every choice has a consequence. The cause behind your current situation is your past Karma. This way of practice is seeing that life is not just happening to you, it is ha...

Karmamala is connected to the body and how the ego identifies itself as “I am what I do”, my behaviour, my actions. This is the investment in the doership of life. This Mala is the stain over the lens of perceiving that we are the limitation to our actions as our self-worth tied to what you do and what we are not doing. This distorted view point gives rise to an inability to trust, connect an...

Malas are stains and impurities over our hearts, minds and bodies that limit our lives to being defined by our feelings, thoughts and actions.  Anavamala  is the stain over our heart that keeps us defined by “I am my feelings”  Mayiyamala  – Connected to the Mind. “I know”, thoughts, mind. Like the saying “I think, therefore I am” however who are you when you’re not thinki...

Malas are stains and impurities over our hearts, minds and bodies that limit our lives to being defined by our feelings, thoughts and actions.  Anavamala  is the stain over our heart that keeps us defined by “I am my feelings”  Mayiyamala  – Connected to the Mind. “I know”, thoughts, mind. Like the saying “I think, therefore I am” however who are you when you’re not thinki...

Malas are stains or impurities on the lens of our perception of our heart, mind and body. They are a form of ignorance that ties us to our limited-self, insinuating that to overcome them, we become un-limited. This was described by  Abinavagupta , 950-1016 CE Mystic, Poet, Philosopher wrote the Tantraloka about Kashmir Shivaism. Anavamala  – Connected to the Heart, the ego identifies by...

Malas are stains or impurities on the lens of our perception of our heart, mind and body. They are a form of ignorance that ties us to our limited-self, insinuating that to overcome them, we become un-limited. Anavamala  – Connected to the Heart, the ego identifies by relating to “I Feel” Mayiyamala  – Connected to the Mind, the dog identifies by relating to “I Know” Karmamala  – Co...