News & Updates

To Juice or To Blend? – Ros Hinchcliffe of Sandton Yoga Lounge shares her knowledge of this subject with us….

So, what is a good way of getting more fruit and vegetables – and the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they contain – into your diet? Juicing and blending can both be useful ways of doing this.  While neither should be seen as a replacement for a varied,...

Navaratri Celebrations at The South African School of Yoga

For those unfamiliar with the Hindu festival of Navaratri it is associated with a prominent battle that took place between the Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. It symbolizes the victory of the higher divine forces over the lower, negative qualities, which find...

Surya Bhedana Pranayama (The Sun-Piercing Breath)…….

Surya Bhedana Pranayama (the sun-piercing breath) has its origins in the ancient scriptures of yoga - the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Being so ancient, there is much to say on it and many variations on how to practice. Within Hindu mythology, Surya, the Sun God, represents...
Vitalising Meditation on the Sun……

Vitalising Meditation on the Sun……

Centre the mind on the Sun. Every piece of stone, every drop of water, and every bit of oxygen around you is filled with light, nothing but dazzling white light. Suppose every grain of sand became conscious, every rock could speak, every...

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Wake Up and Salute the Sun…..

Wake Up and Salute the Sun…..

No sun outlasts its sunset but will rise again and bring the dawn.” ~ Maya Angelou Sunrise is a magical time. Every morning as the sun sneaks above the horizon casting warm rays of golden light across the world, it marks the beginning of...

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Yogic Breathing for Hay Fever…….

Yogic Breathing for Hay Fever…….

Hay fever can be a nightmare, especially this time of year.  Also known as ‘allergic rhinitis’, symptoms include runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, fatigue, and a stuffy nose due to congestion.  If you prefer not to take the conventional...

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Ayurvedic Springtime Routines…….

Ayurvedic Springtime Routines…….

"I am the Soul in the body, the Mind in the senses, the Eagle among birds, the Lion among animals. Among all the trees I am the sacred Bodhi tree, and of the seasons, I am Spring”. - Bhagavad Gita, Krishna  Ayurveda, or ‘life knowledge’...

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Be Like a Lotus…….

Be Like a Lotus…….

" Be like a lotus. Let the beauty of your heart speak. Be grateful to the mud, water, air and the light: - Amrit Ray From the murky depths of muddy waters, a pristine and beautiful flower emerges, untouched by the dirt from which it...

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The Unfolding of Life…….

The Unfolding of Life…….

"Wrapped within young leaves: the sound of water." ~ Soseki Wrapped within young leaves is the sound of water that will nourish them once they have opened. It’s already there prompting them to unfold and grow. To believe that this is...

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A Lakota Prayer To Awaken Your Spirit…..

A Lakota Prayer To Awaken Your Spirit…..

Great Mystery, teach me how to trust my heart, my mind, my intuition, my inner knowing, the senses of my body, the blessings of my spirit. Teach me to trust these things so that I may enter my Sacred Space and love beyond my fear, and...

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Mind Games……

Mind Games……

"To let go implies to let go of something.  The something that we are holding onto may simply be a creation of our mind, an illusory perception of something and not the reality of the thing itself.  Everything is an object of our mind and...

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Everything Is Made of Mind….

Everything Is Made of Mind….

"Mind is like this. It is deep, pure, and silent. But when the winds of delusion blow, its surface stirs and what we call suffering results. But the waves of my suffering are nothing more or less than mind. And even as I rage, the depths...

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Who Are You?……..

Who Are You?……..

“I am not seen but am the seer. I am not heard but am the hearer. I am not thought of but am the thinker,  never known but the knower. I am your Self, your inner director, your immortal one. I am always and never all the time.” What is...

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Meeting Yourself………

Meeting Yourself………

When you are so graced, there is a refraining from the habit of distraction and a turning inside. Instead of being reactive to what is arising in the play, you turn inside to feel into the internal response. It is always old; it is always...

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Father…..

Father…..

We honour our father and celebrate the gift of life we received from him, the strength, courage, love and support of his presence, or the opportunities for growth by his absence. We are grateful for all our forefathers, those who played...

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Trataka: Candle Gazing Meditation……

Trataka: Candle Gazing Meditation……

Trataka is a meditation technique that uses the sense of sight to still the mind. Although you can practice Trataka by looking at a dot on the wall, the tip of your nose, or a star in the sky, it is traditionally—and most effectively, in...

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Benefits of Practicing Phalakasana….

Benefits of Practicing Phalakasana….

Requiring strength and steadiness, plank pose, or phalakasana (fal-ack-AHS-anna), is an essential posture for a strong yoga practice. Helping you develop the strength needed to access more advanced arm balancing postures, holding plank...

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Extension and Expansion…..

Extension and Expansion…..

"The goal of all asana practice is doing them from the core of your being and extending out dynamically through to the periphery of your body. As you stretch, in turn the periphery takes messages back to the core. From head to heels, you...

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From The Heart…..

From The Heart…..

"Begin your practice from the heart, doing it because of Oneness – raising your Consciousness raises all Consciousness, pouring healing out into the Cosmos. Our inner eye knows that we do not need anything so we do not need to grasp at...

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How To Create A Home Yoga Practice…..

How To Create A Home Yoga Practice…..

Yoga is an incredibly powerful practice that anyone can pick up in their home and experience the benefits. With practice you really learn to move at your own pace, listen to your body, and develop a stronger mind/body connection. Start...

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Pasasana……

Pasasana……

Pasasana is an asana in which the body is twisted and the arms are bound around the squatting legs. The name comes from the Sanskrit pasa, meaning “noose,” “tie” or “snare,” and asana, which means "pose" or “posture." It is so called...

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Healing Headaches with Yoga….

Healing Headaches with Yoga….

  There are many causes of headaches, tension being the most common as it causes constant contraction of the head and neck muscles.  By including the following postures in your regular yoga practice you can help prevent headaches...

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Mastering Padmasana….

Mastering Padmasana….

All our yoga asanas are in preparation for the physical stillness, the anchored balance and grounded mindful awareness that padmasana, full lotus sitting posture, affords.

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Open your Heart…..

Open your Heart…..

For many, "opening your heart" implies receptivity to love and intimacy in a romantic relationship — bring on the candy and flowers. Back bends, also known as heart openers, focus on the heart chakra.  Consider the slumped shoulders of...

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Viparati Karani (Modified Shoulder Stand)

Viparati Karani (Modified Shoulder Stand)

“Invest 1 percent of each day’s time in you and the other 99 percent will benefit” Prof .Colin Turner This translates into 12 minutes of your waking hours which is exactly how much time you need for this asana The Practice: Place a folded...

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Salamba Sarvangasana ( Shoulder Stand)

Salamba Sarvangasana ( Shoulder Stand)

Shoulder Stand is a favourite asana for many people and may be included in one’s daily practice as a “reward” for all the hard work done earlier in the vinyasa… In this asana, the body is inverted and supported by the shoulders and arms....

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Gyan Mudra….

Gyan Mudra….

Gyan Mudra is one of the most familiar hasta mudras (hand gestures). Many of the great spiritual masters are depicted sitting in meditation with their hands in Gyan Mudra with the thumb and index finger brought together in gentle contact....

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Warm and Rooted  with Virasana

Warm and Rooted with Virasana

Practicing yoga asana is one way to keep ourselves nimble, and not just in our daily movements through space. Many of yoga’s asanas also benefit the vital internal systems that operate 24/7 to keep us alive. Virasana (Hero’s Pose) resides...

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Yoga Asanas to help with Insomnia

Yoga Asanas to help with Insomnia

Insomnia is a serious medical and psychiatric condition, characterized primarily by sleeplessness. Sleep is a basic necessity of human bodies. It is a restorative state in which the human body rejuvenates itself. But, for people dealing...

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Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana

This asana gives a lovely lateral torso stretch and works into the tiny muscles between the side ribs. The hamstrings and inner thigh muscles are lengthened, the hips and shoulder sockets are loosened and blood circulation is increased to...

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Find Your Balance in Vrkasana

Find Your Balance in Vrkasana

"The tree of wisdom has fibres of forebearance, deep roots of steadfastness, flowers of virtue and branches of awareness"- Buddhist Proverb When practicing Vrkasana (vrksa=tree; asana=pose) balancing can be very difficult at first, so...

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Paschimottonasana (Seated forward bend)

Paschimottonasana (Seated forward bend)

A man who as a physical being is always turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him; finally he turns inward and discovers that the source is within him." ~ Soren Kierkegaard Benefits: Stretches the hamstrings...

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International Day of Yoga……

International Day of Yoga……

International Yoga Day - 21 June - is celebrated each year to create awareness that regular yoga practice increases the level of overall well-being. 21 June was declared as the ‘International Yoga Day’ by the United Nations General...

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The Natural Order of Things……

The Natural Order of Things……

"There are no random events, nor are there things that exist by and for themselves, in isolation. The atoms that make up your body were once forged inside stars, and the causes of even the smallest event are virtually infinite and...

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Love Is In All …..

Love Is In All …..

Love is the spirit of the moonlight, the desire of the sunlight: holds all the mysteries of the night and intention of the Stars. Love directs the four winds, is the eye of the storm and the fragrance of the flower. Love is the song of...

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An image reflected in a mirror…

An image reflected in a mirror…

"An image reflected in a mirror, a rainbow in the sky and a painted scene make their impressions on the mind, but in essence are other than what they seem. Look deeply at the world and see an illusion" "a magician's dream." - The 7th...

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A Clear Way Forward….

A Clear Way Forward….

We spend much of our lives seeking the approval of others, not even realising that we are doing so.  When we reach the stage when we are more interested in our own motivations, then we can be objective in our approach to being a witness...

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A Life of One’s Own….

A Life of One’s Own….

"I had at least begun to guess that my greatest need might be to let go and be free from the drive after achievement — if only I dared. I had also guessed that perhaps when I had let these go, then I might be free to become aware of some...

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Namaste Dedication on Human Rights Day …

Namaste Dedication on Human Rights Day …

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness. May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering. May all beings never be parted from freedom's true joy. May all beings dwell in equanimity, free from attachment...

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Concentration

Concentration

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer... The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's...

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The Box……

Stig Pryds is a Danish record holding freediver. He was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2008, which disabled him so much that he lost his business. After 5 years of intense pain and increasing dependency on drugs, he decided to quit...

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Right Speech….

Right Speech….

" Sometimes we speak clumsily and create internal knots in others. Then we say, “I was just telling the truth.” It may be the truth, but if our way of speaking causes unnecessary suffering, it is not Right Speech. The truth must be...

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Being Whole…..

Being Whole…..

“You are all things. Denying, rejecting, judging or hiding from any aspect of your total being creates pain and results in a lack of wholeness.”  - Joy Page

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Just For Now…..

Just For Now…..

"Just for now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your...

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Let It Go……

Let It Go……

"Let go of the ways you thought life would unfold: the holding of plans or dreams or expectations - let it all go. Save your strength to swim with the tide.  The choice to fight what is here before you now will only result in struggle,...

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Not Minding what Happens……

Not Minding what Happens……

J. Krishnamurti, the great Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher, spoke and travelled almost continuously all over the world for more than fifty years attempting to convey through words - which are content - that which is beyond words,...

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Surrender….

Surrender….

" Surrender to what is.  Say yes to life - and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you" - Eckhart Tolle, The Power Of Now 

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Truth…..

Truth…..

"Truth is not something to be achieved. Truth comes into being when your mind and heart are purged of all sense of striving and you are no longer trying to become somebody; it is there when the mind is very quiet, listening timelessly to...

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The Unfolding of Life….

The Unfolding of Life….

Wrapped within young leaves: the sound of water. ~ Soseki Wrapped within young leaves is the sound of water that will nourish them once they have opened. It's already there prompting them to unfold and grow. To believe that this is...

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The River Of Life…..

The River Of Life…..

" Make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life. An individual human existence should be like a river — small at...

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Love In Action….

Love In Action….

" And now all of us simply give thanks that they are free. As the world fragments, here good people have got it together. The boys will still need much help. I know that trauma does not evaporate with news coverage. But what we have seen...

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Inspiration…….

Inspiration…….

" When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds.  Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and...

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The Architect…..

The Architect…..

"When a human being learns to seek religion not in gods, but in his own potentials, then he will know that he is great and that within his greatness lies his happiness. When he rapidly unfolds the chapters of life’s manuscript, of which...

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Freedom…….

Freedom…….

" I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer your friendship. I see your beauty. I see your need.  I feel your feelings.   My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love." -...

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See the Beauty…..

See the Beauty…..

"Why gaze down the sewers when there is loveliness all around us? One may find fault in even the greatest masterpieces of art, music and literature. But isn't it better to enjoy their charm and glory? Life has a bright side and a dark...

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Amazing Space……..

Amazing Space……..

Moving from the stability of earth, through the flow of water, the passion of fire, and lightness of air, we reach the element that makes everything else possible: ether or ‘space’. Ether is both nothing and everything at the same time....

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Creating Space in the Body…..

Our minds and bodies are interconnected, and the condition of one affects the condition of the other. This is why meditation is such a powerful tool for healing the body, as powerful as physical therapies. When our minds are cluttered...

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Happy Diwali….

“Diwali is a reminder of our inner light. When your mind is calm, your heart is open and you will feel that light, you will feel that love.” Sri Swami Vishwananda.  The YTF wishes all our Hindu members a Diwali filled with peace, health...

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Returning To The Body……

"Go within.  Use the inner body as a starting point for going deeper and taking your attention away from where it is usually lodged, in the thinking mind.”  –            Eckhart Tolle How do we re-learn to be fully inside our body… to be...

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Lightness of Being….

“When an asana (pose) is done correctly, the body movements are smooth, and there is lighhtness in the body and freedom in the mind. When an asana is felt as being heavy, it is wrong. You must try to impart a feeling of lightness...

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Your Whole Being…..

Your Whole Being…..

" You are a multidimensional creature. Your awareness manifests on many different planes. Yoga introduces you to yourself and trains you to live fully and gracefully at every level of your being. From the Hatha postures that strengthen...

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The Unfolding Of Life…..

"Wrapped within young leaves: the sound of water.”  ~ Soseki Wrapped within young leaves is the sound of water that will nourish them once they have opened. It’s already there prompting them to unfold and grow. To believe that this is...

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Yin and Yang…..

Yin and Yang…..

Patterns define our lives. Look around you right now; look carefully and you will notice the patterns surrounding you. Look up; you will see things that are high. Look down; you will see things that are low. Listen; you will hear things...

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Ishnaan (Cold Water Therapy)……

Cold showers are almost universally loathed – but what if they could be used as a tool for healing and well-being? It might make you cringe, but many yogis and other wellness experts say they can. Ishnaan, or cold- water therapy, is...

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Stability Leads To Freedom…….

The Sanskrit word ‘tapas’ is most often translated as ‘discipline’, which for most people, is not a very attractive word. We tend to feel that discipline is something that that binds us and keeps us from going with the flow. However, if...

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