यम Yama (restraint) Yamas Definition Translated as “restraints,” “forbearances,” or “reigning in,” the Yamas are the first of the Eight Limbs of Yoga found in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is sometimes said that the Yamas are the “don’ts”, while the second of the eight limbs, the Niyamas, are the “dos.” The Five Yamas Are: Yama … Read more
गुण Gunas Definition In Hindu and yogic philosophy, the gunas refer to the 3 qualities of matter inherent in everyone and everything. They are sattva, rajas, and tamas, and every being has all three to some degree. The literal translation of the word is “rope,” or “thread,” as in the threads woven together to make … Read more
What religion is yoga? If you’re looking for a one-word answer, you’ll be hard-pushed to find one. Ultimately this is a philosophical question that goes beyond “what religion is yoga?” and forces us to ask, what is yoga? And what is religion? To look more deeply at the categorization of yoga in this article, we’ll … Read more
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned yogi, you’ve likely heard of the bandhas mentioned during class and might be curious to learn more about them, how they work and how to apply them to your daily yoga practice. After all, your yoga teacher sure seems to get a twinkle in their eyes when … Read more
How old is yoga? We know that yoga is an ancient practice, however, its exact date and origins are difficult to pin down. It’s common to hear the tradition dated at 5000 years old, yet research has identified postural yoga as we know it to be more recent than perhaps we had once believed. For … Read more