News & Updates
To A New Year…..
2025 starts on a Wednesday. Named after Mercury, Odin, and Athena. Wednesdays afford opportunities to seek wisdom, change circumstances, and improve skills. it is also the day to embrace music, art, poetry, and home in on communication...
Festive Wishes……….Stillness
In music, it is the quiet moments, the pauses that give structure and beauty to the sound. I like to structure my day around silent meditation breaks and in those breaks I remember to be as TS Eliot suggests, " at the still point of the...
Beat the Heat – Sitali Breath
It’s hot out there! Practice Sitali breath to cool you down. Deep in the Himalayas, ancient sages observed and imitated the world around them in the noble attempt to master body, breath, and mind. They noticed the curve of a bird’s lower...
A Sensory Moon Meditation for Emotional Healing…..
“If you’re the moon, it’s not the sun that affirms your light: it’s the darkness that makes you shine.” 1. You can sit, stand, or lie down on the earth for this meditation. Begin by relaxing your body and taking a few deep breaths. 2....
By The Light Of The Moon – Chandra Namaskar / Moon Salutations……..
Most yoga students are familiar with the Sun Salutation, but what about its lesser-known counterpart, the Moon Salutation? Known as Chandra Namaskar in Sanskrit, the Moon Salutation has a cooling, relaxing effect on the body and mind....
Align with Your Sign: Combining Yoga and Astrology for Deeper Wellness………
The connection between our bodies and the universe around us has long been acknowledged in ancient wisdom traditions. Both yoga and astrology are tools that help us tune into the cycles of life, explore the depths of our inner selves, and...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
Yoga and the Koshas – The Layers of Being……
Just as salt dissolved in water becomes one with it, so the union of Self and Mind is called samādhi. When the breath becomes exhausted, and mind becomes still, they merge into union called samādhi. This equality, this oneness of the...
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...
Baddha Konasana – Bound Angle Pose…..
Are you looking to improve your flexibility, strengthen your hips, and find a sense of inner calm? Look no further than Baddha Konasana, also known as the Bound Angle Pose or Butterfly Pose. This iconic yoga posture is not only physically...
Yoga: The Freedom to Be Whole…….
As humans we all experience various forms of suffering. While caught in the midst of our universal patterns of suffering we have a tendency to get stuck in states of mind that decrease our ability to process what is happening. If, however...
Freedom In The Physical Body……
“Freedom in the physical body is more important than material wealth. To feel or be fragile in your bones and joints is to live inside a shaky home. For some, tripping over in the garden would have dire consequences. For others, it can...
What is Therapeutic Yoga?…….
In a world bustling with stress and constant movement, finding solace and balance is essential for our overall well-being. Therapeutic yoga offers a gentle yet powerful practice that embraces yoga’s basis in mindfulness and presence to...
4 Keys to Relieving Back Pain with Therapeutic Yoga…….
If you are a chronic back pain sufferer, you are not alone! It’s a leading cause of disability worldwide. The good news is that in most cases therapeutic yoga can help decrease pain and protect your back from further injury. In general,...
Unfurling the Spine……
Our spinal health is at the core of wellbeing, and it is vital to maintain daily movement through all the vertebrae if we are wanting to maintain a pain free back. Spinal Rolls are an effective yet easy practice to achieve this and are...
A Healthy Spine: Strength Through Curves……
One of the most interesting structures in nature is the human spinal column. When the spine is aligned, the unremitting force of gravity flows easily through it. If the spinal curves are habitually disturbed, gravity becomes the enemy. As...
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...
Shakti Mudra – Gesture of Feminine Power……
Shakti mudra, known as the gesture of power, is a powerful mudra that symbolizes the divine feminine energy, creativity, and inner strength. This mudra is particularly beneficial for calming the mind, enhancing emotional stability, and...
Goddess Pose (Utkata Konasana)
The Goddess Pose is a powerful yoga pose to promote grounding and strengthening of lower body parts. It is a hip-opening pose that will ignite a fire within that area. While it builds your hip, legs, and glutes muscles, it is also a great...
Shiva and Shakti: The Divine Energies Within Us All…….
According to Shaivism, one of the major branches of yogic philosophy, there is a divine masculine energy that takes the form of the Hindu god, Shiva, and a divine feminine energy that takes the form of the goddess, Shakti. Both Shiva and...
Finding Balance with the Breathe….Nadi Sodhana
Nadi Shodhana, or “alternate nostril breathing,” is a simple yet powerful technique that settles the mind, body, and emotions. There are several different styles of Nadi Shodhana, but they all serve the purpose of creating balance and...
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...
Emotions, Back Pain and Yoga: How are they all connected?
Emotions can manifest themselves physically more readily than we realize. But is it just like your brain flipping a switch? Watch this clip as Leslie Kaminoff, founder of the Breathing Project and author of " Yoga Anatomy" explores how it...
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...
Hanumanasana (Monkey Pose)
"It was the greatest leap ever taken. The speed of Hanuman's jump pulled blossoms and flowers into the air after him and they fell like little stars on the waving treetops. The animals on the beach had never seen such a thing; they...
Ustrasana: Camel Pose
THE CAMEL “Caught up in the energy of breath, I release the spring of my being Thighs and spine recline Within this posture, bending me Curved branch of life’s tree Whose blossoms lend fingers to God Who fashioned me” Camel Pose (...
Simon Park:Liquid Flow
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2QKIFZeF8[/youtube]
More Flexibility & strength
[youtube width="400" height="300"]http://youtu.be/IOvmor-h2FE[/youtube] Ok, love the chanting!
Prepping for Eka Pada Galavasana Flying Crow
I love this presentation! Prepping for Eka Pada Galavasana Flying Crow.
A Dance of Opposites
"Yoga is a dance of opposites. suppleness and strength relaxation and vigour, lifting and grounding, darkness and light, humour and seriousness, freedom and discipline" By Stephanie Pappas (Devalila Yoga Teacher)
Inspired exercise
7 good pointers for integrating sadhana into lifestyle.Sustaining self practice or even becoming and staying fit may be a challenge. 1. Be Consistent: dedicate a set time and space for a routine that suits your day. 2. Be inspired,...
10 Tips When Practicing Arm Balances
Arm balances such as crow, side crow, peacock, flying pigeon, and eight angle (just to name a few), are a group of yoga poses that can be challenging, but they can also be fun! Floating or flying up into an arm balance doesn't happen...
Dragon Dance: Golden Seed
Bernie Clark has been teaching yoga and meditation since 1998. He has a bachelor degree in Science from the University of Waterloo Vancouver, CA, and combines his intense interest in yoga with an understanding of the scientific approach....
Hanumanasana
To paraphrase the poet William Blake, you can see the world in a grain of sand. Similarly, you can learn a great deal about all asanas by carefully studying one. We focus on Hanumasana to illustrate pose analysis, agonist/antagonist...
Antidote to anxiety
The practice of yoga offers solutions to all types of stress, including social anxiety.Whilst any yoga program can help ease social anxiety, these three poses are especially helpful. Crocodile Pose: This is a deceptively simple posture...
Inversions
Go upside down to find the inside out! The best kept anti-ageing secret known to man, inverted poses are not only gravity defying, they help oxygenate the blood in the brain and clear space for new ideas in the mind, helping you see life...
Improve your vision
Our eyes need regular exercise in order to keep them healthy, just like any other muscle in the body. We take it for granted that our eyes will deteriorate and that we will eventually need glasses or contact lenses. This doesn’t have to...
Your Own Path…..
"No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life. There may be countless trails and bridges and demigods who would gladly carry you across; but only at the price of pawning and forgoing yourself....
The Gift…..
"The greatest gift we have to offer is our presence: unconditional, loving and affirming what is. In service, we come face-to-face with the Spirit of life and know its astounding capacity to triumph, as well as its delicateness in the...
We are Travellers….
“We are travellers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment....
The Hermitage….
"You should go home to your hermitage; it is inside you. Close the doors, light the fire, and make it cozy again. That is what I call 'taking refuge in the island of self.' If you don't go home to yourself, you continue to lose yourself....
Gratitude…
“Gratitude is a divine attitude in the wisdom traditions. It takes you out from the ego self and takes you into the higher self. That higher state of consciousness initiates self repair, self regulation and healing.” — Deepak Chopra
Patience…..
"I want to beg of you much as I can to be patient toward all that's unsolved in your heart, and learn to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms, or like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not seek the answers,...
Self- Possession…..
"It struck me as odd that it had taken me so long to reach a feeling of sureness that there was something in me that would get on with the job of living without my continual tampering. I suppose I did not really reach it until I had...
Right Thinking…..
“ You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think. The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice. What you do comes from what...
Ubuntu……
"In this interconnected universe, every improvement we make in our private world improves the world at large for everyone. We all float on the collective level of consciousness of mankind so that any increment we add comes back to us. We...
The Four Reliances……….
"First, rely on the spirit and meaning of the teachings, not on the words; Second, rely on the teachings, not on the personality of the teacher; Third, rely on real wisdom, not superficial interpretation; And fourth, rely on the essence...
Setting up your day…..
"By refreshing yourself through silence and nature, you constantly revitalise the inner you. Dawn is your strongest hour. If you can rise in time to meet the day, that effort becomes a discipline that you use for establishing control. Use...
The Dance…..
" The dancer and the dance cannot be separated.So also the creator and his creation." - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
“Madiba”by Wouter Kellerman and Ricky Kej…
For something entirely different and seeing as Freedom Day is just around the corner thought this piece of music entitled Madiba was apt. Taken off the proudly South African, Wouter Kellerman's grammy award winning album, Winds of...
This moment….
"No one else can make us 'high' or 'low'. We are our own masters, the creators or destroyers of our own happiness. Therefore, let us acquire mastery of ourselves. Let us acquire mastery of the present moment to acquire mastery of the...
Seek out the Small Joys in Life…
"There are many other small joys, perhaps the especially delightful one of smelling a flower or a piece of fruit, of listening to one’s own or others’ voices, of hearkening to the prattle of children. And a tune being hummed or whistled...
Love…..
"Love has no desire but to fulfill itself, To melt and be like a running brook That sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart And to give thanks for another day of loving " - Kahil Gibran
Point to the Truth….
" A teacher is never a giver of truth: He is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself" - Bruce Lee
Becoming Whole….
"People often view the spiritual path as a search for the light. In truth, spirituality asks us to bring light and darkness together in wholeness. And in fact, this is the only possible solution. In our world of duality, any effort to...
Stillness…
"It is all too easy to feel caught up by the everyday, linear, personal perception of the world and personality. Stillness beckons with a Call so deep and intimate and immediate: 'Stay with Me.' Familiarity, complacency are subtle traps...
Effortless….
"When effort is needed, effort will appear. When effortlessness becomes essential, it will assert itself. You need not push life about. Just flow with it and give yourself completely to the task of the present moment..." ~ Nisargadatta...
Detachment…
"Your heart must be a sea of love.Your mind must become a river of detachment" - Sri Chinmoy N
Kindness…
"Before you know what kindness really is you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. What you held in your hand, what you counted and carefully saved, all this must go so you know how desolate...
Adaption to change….
"A rigid or narrow minded person has difficulty in getting on with other people and with their own life. On the other hand, a broad-minded, flexible person will fit in anywhere. Being flexible, we will be willing to adapt, to fit together...
The Great Bell Chant (The End Of Suffering)
[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/6518109[/vimeo]
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Sitting In Stillness……
“When we are constantly doing something, we are simultaneously constantly stimulating our nervous systems to the point of exhaustion – and an overexerted, depleted nervous system can most certainly give birth to an array of health...
Rest and Renew…….
Resting is an art. We continually try to relax but don’t really know how to do it. Often, we feel that we should do more important things first, so that we can enjoy a well-deserved rest later. But somehow the time for rest never comes. ...
Children Of Unity Foundation……
Children are bearing the effects of stress more than ever before in any time of history. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks and fear have crept into the minds of our children. The time is now to address this. The world has evolved on many...
Children……
Sound Therapy As A Healing Modality…..
From a very young age, music played a vital role in my life. As my life continued, so did my music journey. I received classical training in the piano from the age of 6 and later the flute when I was about 12. It became my life, and I...
Unlocking the Power of Yoga to Calm the Mind……..
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you struggling to find a moment’s peace and relaxation from the stress of everyday life? Knowing that you aren’t alone probably isn’t enough to make you feel better. But rest assured that because this is...
Bumblebee Breath: The Power of Bhramari Pranayama…..
In a fast-paced world full of digital distraction and endless demands on our time and energy, more and more people are living with chronic stress and anxiety. The causes of mental health issues are varied and complex, but if you feel...
Unfold Your Body Naturally With The Bowspring Method……
The Bowspring method is an enervating postural template that can be applied to any yoga pose, athletic movement or functional posture for optimal performance. It is a relatively new (ten years now) and revolutionary way of consciously...
Your Spine and Yoga…..
We usually don’t talk about the spine much in our yoga classes – you are much more likely to hear something about your hips, hamstrings or arms. Yet the spine is the structural and energetic centre of the body. From the structural...
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...
Cultivate The Art Of Listening To Your Heart….
Cultivate the art of listening to your intuition, your inner voice. This is the guidance of your heart. It’s a voice that speaks differently from the one in your head. The heart whispers softly; the head rambles loudly. The head has an...
Follow Your Heart: Anahata Chakra…….
Our body is a complex structure with layers of physical, astral, and spiritual bodies. The astral or energy body is a complex system governed by energy centres known as chakras. Anahata Chakra, also called Heart Chakra, is the fourth...
Women’s Day……
Today I'm flying low and I'm not saying a word. I'm letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep. The world goes on as it must, the bees in the garden rumbling a little, the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten. And so forth. But I'm taking...
Pranayama and The Human Machine…..
The practice of Yogic breathing affects the human body in very predictable ways. The Sanskrit word, “pranayama” literally means the control of our life energy (prana). Prana is a bright and lively form of energy that is more subtle than...
Take A Breath of Fresh Air……..
With its qualities of lightness, clarity and movement, the air element has been connected to gods, goddesses and deities for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, the four wind gods governed north, south, east and westerly directions,...
Wintering…….
"[Since childhood] we are taught to ignore sadness, to stuff it down into our satchels and pretend it isn’t there. As adults, we often have to learn to hear the clarity of its call. That is wintering. It is the active acceptance of...
Relax and Renew with Restorative Yoga…….
The practice of Restorative Yoga can be defined as a yoga practice in which we support the body to such an extent that we feel safe enough to completely relax the body and mind. The postures are restful and are held for a long time in...
Rest and Renew…..
"Winter is a season of recovery and preparation."– Paul Theroux Resting is an art. We continually try to relax but don’t really know how to do it. Often we feel that we should do more important things first, so that we can enjoy a well...
Sivananda World Peace Foundation and The Yoga Teachers Fellowship of Southern Africa Celebrate The International Day Of Yoga…..
In Praise Of Tumeric ….
While turmeric is mostly praised for its anti-cancer properties, yogis have their own reasons for loving this special root. Here are five reasons why you'll love this special spice, too! Detoxifies One of turmeric’s most amazing actions...
We Practice In The Light That Which We Wish To Remember In The Dark……
Very few humans, if any, escape suffering in their lives. And whilst this is not something to dwell on, it is comforting to know there are ways to help us when darkness descends, in whatever form that may be – physical, mental, emotional...
Move Into The Light……26 Yoga Classes with Susan Sloan
Join Susan Sloan at Studio Kairos in Dunkel West, Johannesburg every Monday afternoon and Saturday morning starting on the 08th May 2023 for 26 classes of Hatha Yoga. You will over this period receive gentle coaching to feel the...
When Spirit Calls: 500 Hr ISHTA and vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training with Sandton Yoga Lounge 09th May 2023 – 04th May 2024
The Sandton Yoga Lounge is offering a 500-hour teacher training course that is unlike any other currently on offer in South Africa. We provide a course that is extremely comprehensive in all aspects, deeply spiritual and which provides...
The Radiance of Your Spirit……
Ang Sang Wahe Guru, “Spirit is within every cell and fiber of my being.” The word Spirit is often described in yoga as the Breath of Life. The Holy Spirit, the breath, is what sustains, fills, strengthens and protects us. So a strong...