Practicing Peace
March 8, 2022
Last week, we introduced Samadhi — the eighth and final limb of yoga. In the traditional sense, this state is only achieved after achieving the two limbs before it, Dhyana and Dharana.
Ultimate Bliss
March 1, 2022
Samadhi is the eighth limb of yoga and it means “bliss” or “pure bliss” sometimes “nirvana” or “enlightenment.” It’s not as unattainable, high, or as pious as it may sound.
An exploration in obsession
February 22, 2022
Last week, we learned about Dhyana — sustained focus. The difference between Dhayana (the seventh limb) and Dharana (the sixth limb) can be hard to explain, let alone experience.
7th Limb of Yoga – Dhyana
February 15, 2022
Over the last two weeks, we covered the sixth limb Dharana, which must be achieved before we move into the seventh limb Dhayana. Dhyana is often referred to as “absorption.”
Let’s Concentrate!
February 8, 2022
Last week we introduced the sixth limb of yoga — Dharana — focus. Concentration seems simple on the surface but as yoga goes it’s more about letting everything else fall away.
The 6th Limb – Dharana
February 1, 2022
The sixth limb of yoga takes us away from a physical practice and into an internalized practice. The last two weeks we used Pratyahara (the fifth limb) to enhance some senses and reduce the distraction of others. Dharana, the sixth limb, is pointed focus or concentration. This is the start of meditation.
How to Practice Pratyahara
January 25, 2022
Pratyahara is mostly still a physical practice. You could simply remove/bind the sense or allow it to slowly float into disappearance. Some of the senses are harder to “bind” but you can feel the enhancement, or the diminishing effects, by binding another sense instead. Here are a few practices for each of the senses you can try to incorporate into your daily life.
The 5th Limb of Yoga — Pratyahara
January 19, 2022
The fifth limb of yoga, Pratyahara — the withdrawal of the senses, is about starting to turn your focus inward. When you can explore your sensed perception at a deeper level, you can more deeply discern what you really feel, want, and need.
How to use Pranayama
January 11, 2022
Last week we went over what Pranayama is, this week we’ll go over how to bring it into your life.
The 4th Limb of Yoga – Pranayama
January 5, 2022
How do you breathe? Do you think about it? Do you ever pause to notice what happens when the breath comes in? And then what happens when it goes out? The 4th limb is arguably the “easiest” of the 8-limbed path - Pranayama - aka breathing. Typically we neglect the breath until it feels strained or absent. We all breathe automatically, it’s autonomic. We don’t have to think to breathe, but there are ways of breathing that are better than others for us physiologically.