The fourth niyama, Svadhyaya, is an aspect of yoga that has taken a hold of me in a way that feels truly holistic. I have begun to form a palpable link within between the body, mind, and spirit through daily study and development of a devotional routine - actions that lead to knowledge of the Self. And, strangely, these actions are not bound by goals or a narrow view of achievement.
Patanjali's Sutra 2.44 states: Svadhyayad ista-devata-samprayogah.
According to the interpretation of this sutra...
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Satya, truth.
The next Yama to consider, to bring into my consciousness as I begin my day, my practice, my interactions with myself and others.
How hard will that be? I think of myself as honest, aware, full of good intentions. Open to admitting when I'm wrong.
But as I consider these things I know that there are many layers, many shadowy areas deep beneath (and maybe not so far beneath) that are kept veiled – out of habit, out of fear, or merely for convenience.
Even so, truth has a way of mak...
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Breathing by the Pond

One

Raindrops fall

Creating textured circles

Floating outward

Two

The sounds of trees

Inhaling stillness

Three

The water’s surface

Waits for wind’s caresses

Four

And wears them softly

Like a silken scarf

Five

Drawing in, letting go

Rain and trees and wind are

One

Raindrops fall

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In my first week of classes in the Yoga Teacher Training program at Langara College we discussed the concept and practice of ahimsaa - Sanskrit for harmlessness or non-violence.
During our exchange we quickly realized that the first course of harm we take is usually toward ourselves. And when we harm ourselves we harm others as well, and the entire world around us.
One of the ways that we do this most commonly is by comparing ourselves to depictions of what advertisers tell us is ideal beauty -...
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