Understanding The Three Gunas: Tamas, Rajas & Sattva

The three gunas represent the fine balance in our everyday energy and how we live out our lives.  Tamas, rajas, and sattva make up the gunas and are stability, activity and consciousness. They are the underlying tendencies of all of our experiences.  They also contribute to how we respond to different situations and how we feel. The … Read more

The Yogini: An Enlightened Woman, Woman Yogi, Or Witch?

Powerful, sensual, untamed, bold, and fearless. These are just a few characteristics of the yogini. Yoginis are more than just devoted female yoga practitioners, as the word might suggest. They are a fluid embodiment of the scared, divine feminine. Because of their wisdom, yoginis are deeply revered figures in many different lineages. In fact, they … Read more

Understanding Sthira and Sukha: Finding Balance Through The Interplay Of Ease And Effort

Sthira and Sukha are two concepts found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a collection of 196 Sutras (aphorisms) on the theory and practice of yoga.  It mainly refers to the concepts of ease (sukha) and effort (sthira), and how together, they forge the highly sought-after concept of balance. In this article we will explore: … Read more

What Is Kaivalya?

कैवल्य Kaivalya Definition Kaivalya = independence, freedom, emancipation, solitude, isolation, aloneness, separateness. Kaivalya Deep Dive Iyengar in his book “Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” calls kaivalya the “absolute state of aloneness or eternal emancipation.” Kaivalya which is derived from the word ‘Kevala’ (which means alone), is the state of total awareness detached from … Read more

What Is Sadhana?

साधन Sadhana Definition Originating in the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions, sadhana is most commonly understood as daily spiritual practice, or the means of realizing. It is made from the Sanskrit root word “sadh,” meaning a tool or practice to achieve a goal, or going directly to the goal. Some sources claim the word also … Read more