Guided Sun Salutation

This video shows you how to do Sun Salutations according to the Hatha Yoga tradition, specifically from the Sivananda lineage. It is the best way to stretch all parts of the body, and a great tool to warm up the body. Starting your morning with Sun Salutations is an amazing way to get fresh, energised, and ready for the day.

On a spiritual level, it is a beautiful symbolic way to give our thanks and appreciation to the Sun, Surya. Who shines for us every single day, without ever asking back. Who gives life and light to us. We must not take it for granted!

Om

Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat- July 5-11 2014

Join us for a one-week Yoga & Ayurveda retreat at the beautiful Kairali's Ayurvedic Healing Village in Palakkad!

The Ayurvedic Healing Village is set amid 50 acres of lush greenery in Palakkad, Kerala. It has 30 exclusive villas, each conforming to “Vastu Shastra” architecture - the Indian version of feng shui. This means that they each have a distinctive design, blending with the natural setting and surrounded by herbs and trees with immense curative and restorative powers. 

Common Sanskrit Terms in Yoga- Correct Pronunciation

I have made a small tutorial about proper pronunciation in Sanskrit, regarding words which are often used in yoga classes. Nowadays teachers like to bring in some Sanskrit terms in the classes, whether it's the name of the posture, or any other concept they'd like to convey. Unfortunately, many a times the words are not pronounced correctly. Sanskrit language is very profound and proper pronunciation is extremely important, to make sure we convey what we have in mind. Even a small change in the sound can change the meaning of the word.

Therefore I have made this short video of two minutes, presenting ten words and their correct pronunciation.

Secrets from Mother India: Home-made Indian Hair Oil

A ritual which I got used to while living in India, and learned about for the first time in my life was the Oiling of hair. This is something very common in India, and particularly Tamil Nadu, where I lived. Women would apply a small amount of coconut oil to their hair every day, and every week have a proper oil bath. Oil bath actually means oil massage, where they put a particular oil on their head and massage the scalp and hair itself. In fact, the ladies would get together and do it to each other! It's really fun and also feels amazing. They leave the oil on for some time before washing it out.

Success: Objectivity in Life

Coming towards the year-end, many people will be looking back at 2013 and wonder how successful they have been. Success generally comes in terms of work and earning money, achievements, marriage, etc. People may find they have been successful in one area, yet lacking in another. Or they have been successful all the way through, yet still a sense of insecurity or sadness is there.  What is it that binds us to sadness? How come we can't just be happy with what we have and the way we are?

All Natural, Organic Deodorant

Nobody can question the vastness and perfection of nature. Nature works in such a way, that it really takes care of everything. The creation works because if these unwritten laws, and through that, it is sustained.

With our bodies too. When we are cold, our body-hair stands up in order to catch heat and insulate the body. And when we are hot, we sweat. Sweating is like the body's natural air conditioning. It uses water to cool down the body.

Unfortunately, deodorants these days intervene with this system.

Shānti Mantra: Bhadram Karnebhih

This Shānti Mantra belongs to the Atharva Veda, and is chanted before Mundaka Upanishad, Māndukya Upanishad, and Prashna Upanishad. Shānti Mantras are always chanted by both the teacher and the student, praying for shānti in the class, and in one's life. Shānti in terms of learning comes as freedom from any type of obstacles which may stand in between the student and the study of the Upanishad, or between the student and the teacher. Even if the commitment is there, there can be unforeseen obstacles which will make it difficult. Thus, we pray and tap into the grace of Ishwara, asking for our efforts to be utilized well. Success comes through both the student's effort as well as one's grace.

This Shānti Mantra is also a general prayer, and can be chanted by anyone seeking for good health and wellbeing. In this prayer, different devatas are invoked- each devata presiding over a different part of creation. Here, the student addresses Indra, the Sun, Garuda, and Brhaspati, asking for their blessing.

What Makes Women Happy: An International Yogini’s View

I am posting an interview which was conducted by the lovely Danielle from HeartWork.