Air represents freedom and vital energy in both our bodies and the natural world. In Sanskrit, “Vayu” is one of the five elements in yogic philosophy, symbolizing lightness, expansiveness, and prana, the life force sustaining all living beings. Yoga: Yoga: Moving with the breath fosters freedom and openness, especially with backbends like Camel Pose. Practicing…
The element of fire symbolizes transformation, energy, and the vibrant essence that fire provides both within our bodies and the natural world. Fire, or “Agni” in Sanskrit, represents the qualities of heat, power, and dynamic change in yogic philosophy. Yoga: Practicing the Sun Salutations, Boat Pose and Twists focus on building heat and reflecting fire’s…
The element of Water emphasizing fluidity, adaptability, and the nurturing essence that water provides both within our bodies and the natural world. Water, or “Apas ” in Sanskrit, is one of the five great elements in yogic philosophy, representing qualities of movement, change, and emotional depth. Yoga: The Vinyasa Yoga integrates breath and movement seamlessly. Poses…
The element of Earth emphasizes stability, grounding, and the nurturing essence that it provides both within our bodies and the natural world. Earth, or “Prithvi” in Sanskrit, is an element in yogic philosophy, which represents the qualities of strength, stability, and nourishment. Yoga: Practicing poses that focus on grounding and stability, like Mountain Pose, Tree…
Dear Yogis, Welcome to our upcoming yoga series: “Elemental Yoga Journey” Over the coming weeks, we will dedicate our practice to the five essential elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Aether. This week, we embark on our journey with clarity and simplicity. We’ll briefly explore all five elements before delving deeper into each in the…
A day when people worldwide unite to celebrate yoga. This year’s theme, “humanity,” encourages us to forge deeper connections with ourselves and others. Building connections starts with being connected within yourself. Take a break and recharge your energy—better than a cappuccino. The following 10-minute breathing meditation allows you to concentrate on your breath, reflect, and…
In this last class of Yoga Basics, we reflect on what we’ve learned. By understanding the alignment of asana gives you the power of selfceare during your practice. Within this essence you can tap into its transformative power to cultivate balance, peace, and well-being in your live. Even yoga teachers like me are still students…
I invite you to a unique yoga experience. This coming Thursday, during my regular yoga class time, we will connect breathing techniques and asanas in resonance with the sounds of singing bowls and gongs. In this class, I will guide you through a sequence of gentle yoga poses and breathing exercises. My dear friend Patrizia…
After exploring the basic principles of alignment in various asanas and breath work, today, in this 10th lesson, we focus on the Yoga Philosophy, specifically the eight limbs the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali, often regarded as the father of yoga, documented this ancient wisdom in 195 aphorisms. These profound principles are just the tip of the…
In yoga, an inversion is any pose where your heart is higher than your head. This includes challenging poses like Handstand and Dolphin Pose (Ardha Pincha Mayurasana), as well as relaxing poses like Child’s Pose (Balasana) and Legs Up the Wall Pose (Viparita Karani). Turning the world upside down, children love to do it in…
One of the primary benefits of backbends is their ability to strengthen the muscles of the back and help you become more flexible at the same time. In backbend postures such as cobra or locust, you train the muscles along your spine, enhancing their endurance and resilience. Backbends have a remarkable energizing effect on your…
These gentle movements carry a profound calming effect on the nervous system, inviting you to surrender and cultivate humility with each breath. The essence of forward bends lies in their ability to gently stretch the entire back of the body, while also providing a subtle massage to your internal organs. As you fold forward gracefully,…
Twists offer you a rejuvenating effects and a range of physical and mental benefits. Particularly effective after sequences involving forward or backward bends, twists serve as balancing asanas. During your practice, it is necessary to maintain spine length, and initiating rotation from the core is the key to their effectiveness. Incorporating twists into your practice…
The center is the abdominal muscles, which promote connection to your core. This isn’t about getting a six-pack like in fitness training, but rather about deep anchoring within yourself. Networking this profound musculature is essential on a physical level for stabilizing the lumbar spine. Building these deep abdominal muscles prevents lower back pain. Additionally, here…
Standing asanas, or poses, form an integral part of the yogic journey, spanning from foundational Mountain Pose to the dynamic Warriors, Pyramids, and Triangle. Within these postures lies a delicate balance between strength and ease, inviting practitioners to harmonize their entire body from head to toe. The Alignment and Stability commences with rooted feet. It’s…