I recently came across a study (well two actually) by a team of scientists from the University of Louvain in Belgium, who had been investigating the relationship between emotional feelings and respiration. A subject which, as a keen pranayama practitioner, I find particularly interesting. In
I owe to my years of training in ashtanga vinyasa the habit to count my breath in asana practice. Viniyasa in, five breaths, vinyasa out, next posture… This habit has one great benefit: it focuses the mind on the breath. In a way, you could
Hatha yoga cannot succeed without Raja yoga, nor Raja without hatha. Therefore, practice the two to perfection (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 2-76) Finding and maintaining the balance between physical and meditative practices can be challenging at time for anyone on a journey of self development. I realised
In Buddhism, the five hindrances are temporary mental states that impede practice. They can be regarded as obstacles to mindfulness in daily life as well, clouding our Judgement and hindering our ability to respond appropriately to situations. They all rooted in aversion, attachment and ignorance.
As I am teaching on a yoga and horsemanship course in the Netherland with expert horse trainer Karine Vandenborre, the two of us have been discussing at length the many parallels and connections between the two disciplines. . It is interesting to note that both