Philosophy Links
These links will be a dynamic and evolving list of links that influence my teaching and my practice. These are by no means exhaustive, at least not yet :)
My hope is to create a window into what has shaped my understanding of yoga and to give students a place to come and decipher for themselves what these texts may bring to them and their evolving practice.
My hope is to create a window into what has shaped my understanding of yoga and to give students a place to come and decipher for themselves what these texts may bring to them and their evolving practice.
Yoga Sutra Links
Patanjali's yoga sutras should be read before going further with others' interpretations of the sutras.
I feel that the following links position the sutras, the 8 limbs, in particular the yamas and niyamas in a way that makes one contemplate the relevance of the text in contemporary society.
Wikipedia provides a nice and brief overview of the sutras.
Also, Yoga 2.0 has heavily influenced my more recent contemplations on the sutras, especially in positioning yoga in a modern context. Another text that has also had me questioning "inside the box" Asana against "outside the box" practices has been the book Yoga Body, by Mark Singleton.
Yamas
Niyamas
Asana: This is the limb that covers the posture practice. Often perceived in today's western culture as "Yoga". There are a great many resources on Asana. But none, I feel, so important as the modern history of the posture practice: Yoga Body, by Mark Singleton. I hope to write a piece on how this text has influenced me and helped me be more at peace with the way that I teach and to believe in the authenticity which flows through me.
Pranayama: materials to come.
Pratyahara: withdrawal of senses from their external objects. materials to come.
Dharana: materials to come.
Dhyana: steadfast meditation. materials to come.
Samadhi: oneness with the object of meditation. materials to come.
I feel that the following links position the sutras, the 8 limbs, in particular the yamas and niyamas in a way that makes one contemplate the relevance of the text in contemporary society.
Wikipedia provides a nice and brief overview of the sutras.
Also, Yoga 2.0 has heavily influenced my more recent contemplations on the sutras, especially in positioning yoga in a modern context. Another text that has also had me questioning "inside the box" Asana against "outside the box" practices has been the book Yoga Body, by Mark Singleton.
Yamas
- Ahimsa: there are a number of interesting contemplations that I would recommend for this one. The first one would be traditional contemplation, click here. But I would also like you to challenge this view. Please click here and here.
- Satya: truth in word and thought. Yoga 2.0's take.
- Asteya: Yoga 2.0's take.
- Brahmacharya: I should mention how much I really enjoyed this one.
- Aparigraha: Yoga 2.0's take on this made me reconsider my interpretation of the Gita.
Niyamas
- Shaucha: cleanliness of body and mind. Yoga 2.0's take. The more traditional take here.
- Santosha: satisfaction; satisfied with what one has. materials to come.
- Tapas: materials to come.
- Svadhyaya: materials to come.
- Ishvarapranidhana: materials to come.
Asana: This is the limb that covers the posture practice. Often perceived in today's western culture as "Yoga". There are a great many resources on Asana. But none, I feel, so important as the modern history of the posture practice: Yoga Body, by Mark Singleton. I hope to write a piece on how this text has influenced me and helped me be more at peace with the way that I teach and to believe in the authenticity which flows through me.
Pranayama: materials to come.
Pratyahara: withdrawal of senses from their external objects. materials to come.
Dharana: materials to come.
Dhyana: steadfast meditation. materials to come.
Samadhi: oneness with the object of meditation. materials to come.
