WHAT ON EARTH IS A MOON DAY? April 2022 was unusual for having three “moon days”. if you’re new to Astanga Yoga this might be an unfamiliar phrase to you. ‘Moon day’ refers to the dates of full and new moons. The moon orbits the earth...
A friend and I were once joking about how easy it can be to get addicted to ‘prep – poses’. In case you are wondering what on earth a ‘prep – pose’ might be, it’s a nickname for any number of warm ups which a...
You may remember from a previous article that in Astanga Yoga the first things we learn are often the most important. If I told you that Virabadrasana was one of the first postures you ever learned you might think I was mistaken. But that’s because...
Practicing during a cold snap There is no doubt about it: sticking to a regular practice through the winter is not easy. The dark mornings make it all the more tempting to hit the ‘snooze’ button. The festive season throws us off our routine. But if...
Asana Focus part one: Janu Sirsasana Please note: this article contains references to the literary output of K Pattabhi Jois. If the inclusion of these references raises any questions please Contact Me. Following on from last month’s article about the finishing sequence, I wanted to write about...
The Elusive Closing Chant The Astanga Yoga Closing Prayer is a bit of an enigma. Because of the nature of Mysore rooms, it’s possible to attend one for many months or years before becoming aware of its existence. This is a pity because the chant is...
Lotus feet and serpent heads… A look at the opening chant “Let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start” I suppose I could have taken this advice several weeks ago when I began writing about Mantras. Not that beginning at ‘the beginning’ works...
Lock to unlock…The mysterious Bandhas The application of Bandha to our Asana practice brings us to a place where our modern understanding of anatomy rubs shoulders with a very ancient one. As a result many people view the Bandhas as a means to gain or enhance...
Three is the magic number...
While we tough out the social distancing required at this time we have to make do with home practice. If you are new to this it can seem a little daunting. Here are some tips which might come in handy. The most important qualities of a home...