Beyond the asanas, yoga can be viewed as a science where we can observe our bodies and minds to create and test hypotheses and develop theories based on our findings.  The full system of the science of yoga is the 8 fold path or the eight limbs of yoga, of which the asanas are just one of the limbs. The eightfold path was codified in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.  The Yoga sutras are considered the fundamental text on the practice of yoga.  Of the 196 lines of text (Sutras) there are only 3 that discuss the postures of the body: Sutra 2.46 specifies that for meditation the individual should be seated and remain steady, stable, and motionless, as well as being comfortable and at ease. Sutra 2.47 that the practitioners should loosen all tension and effort in their seated posture and that their attention become focused on the infinite. Sutra 2.48 summarizes that the attainment of this perfect posture enables a loosening of effort and the ability to focus on the infinite. It wasn’t until the Sages began writing commentary on the Sutras that the postures that we know today began to integrate themselves into the practice of yoga […]

With so many different styles and schools of yoga out there, it can be difficult to choose between them if you aren’t sure what to expect.  This week’s blog will focus on breaking through the mystery of yoga types. For clarification, it is important to know that yoga is a scientific system with 8 components or limbs.  The postures that we are familiar with are only one of those components: asana. The second thing you need to know is that all of the yoga that is offered out there is Hatha yoga.  Iyengar, Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa are all Hatha Yoga, the difference between them is what they focus on, what the masters who created the system found true within themselves and then, through their knowledge, established a system for their students to follow. All types of yoga have their benefits, but not all may be right for you.  Hopefully the following information can help demystify the core schools that are available and give you some guidance as to what will work best for you.  The following is just the tip of the iceberg of what constitutes each of these styles of yoga.  There are volumes of texts written about each […]

We hope that you have been following the web site updates throughout 2011 and that the improvements have made finding information easier and that the information itself is more timely and appropriate. We welcome any feedback and suggestions. It was always our intention to add a blog to the site, and we are happy to announce that we are taking the plunge and making the commitment. It is our intention that this blog be an open forum where everyone, from any level or school of yoga, can comment and actively participate in the conversation. As we are volunteer driven, we ask for your patience and kindness as we get the blog up and running and work out any kinks as we make our way through the learning curve of this process. The posts will be written by teachers from our local studio. The focus will be on the many different aspects that go into living a healthy yoga lifestyle. We hope that you will enjoy the articles and return each week to check out our new posts. Thank you for your interest and support in our studio. Namaste.