WELCOME YOGIS!

Here is your replay compilation page for our 10 weeks together!

Thank you so much for being part of the Virtual Yoga 10 Series. I am so excited about the next many weeks with you –– practicing together, elevating our energy together and sharing some of my favorite yoga philosophy with you.

My intention is to add some valuable tools and self-study to our lives to build our resiliency, strength and vitality so that we are able to show up for those we love and our hurting world more fully!

On this page (updated weekly) you will find each yoga practice in chronological order to access and practice at your leisure.

Our themes: The yamas and Niyamas:

The Yamas and the Niyamas are the first 2 of the 8 limbs of yoga. These tenets are considered to be jewels of wisdom to give direction to a well-lived and joyful life.

I have immersed myself into these teachings over the years and I am excited to dive in with you!

I hope you enjoy our 10-week exploration of the Yamas and Niyamas both on your mat and in your life.

Session 1: AHIMSA YOGA

Ahimsa is the very first Yama of the 10 Yamas and Niyamas. The literal translation is “do no harm”.

Ahimsa is about creating harmony in our bodies, minds and lives. When we start with ourselves (turning Ahimsa inward), we are able to show up with fuller hearts and greater compassion for the those in our world.

I hope you enjoy this weeks exploration.

Session 2: Satya Yoga

Today we practiced with the theme of SATYA. Satya means living with truth. Real truth comes from our center and our unique essence and speaks to the moment.

Truth is bold, truth is deep. Consider practicing this with yourself, your authenticity, freeing yourself from the layers of denial that keep you stuck and the stories that you play in your mind that may be holding you back.

How much are you willing to risk for the victories of truth?

“To one established in truthfulness, actions and their results become subservient”

SESSION 3: Asteya Yoga

Today we practiced with the theme ASTEYA. Asteya means non-stealing. While this can surely apply to the actual act of taking an item that does not belong to us, this yama can also mean so much more.

How do we show up in our relationships? Can we listen to others share and practice active listening as to not “steal” the show.

How can we take care of our bodies and our health? Can we ensure we are not “stealing” from ourselves leaving us feeling depleted and burnt out.

Asteya starts with listening to our body intelligence, bringing mindfulness to our relationships and how we move through life.

I hope you enjoy today’s practice.

session 4: Bramacharya Yoga

Today we practiced with the theme BRAMACHARYA. In my opinion, this yama is a very powerful place for self-inquiry. The translation means non-excess (or literal: Walking with God).

Our culture is one of excess and often we take a pure and beautiful pleasure of sorts (food, action, indulgence, consumerism) and turn it more towards an excessive experience, an addiction, and “to much of a good thing”.

Where do you do this in your life? Drop a comment below or send me a quick email or text!

I hope this weeks teaching helps you remember that you can savor the experiences in your days (even the mundane ones) and make everything you do more sacred, intentional and purposeful.

Let’s make the ordinary extraordinary together!

SESSION 5: APARIGRAHA

In today’s practice we explored the last of the YAMAS called APRIGRAHA. This yama is all about letting our grip soften within our thoughts, expectations, belief systems, and stories that may have been running our lives or directing our actions for years.

The pandemic has been such a great time to work with this yama, as we have been forced to let go of plans, change the way we do things, and watch how we respond to life in general with more uncertainty than most of us know.

I hope you enjoy this practice. Feel free to reach out with questions or any insights you have!!

“Let you concern be with action alone, and not the fruits of your action.”

SESSION 6: SAUCA YOGA

Sauca can be interpreted in a few different ways, but for the sake of todays practice we are going to focus on how we can use this Niyama to experience ourselves at a higher resolution or vibration through purification of body, mind and environment.

The practice of Sauca is designed to offer a life of more vitality, more potency and more clarity of intention through cleansing our minds and hearts.

A clean palate tastes the foods we eat more thoroughly with heightened senses.  A clean and pure environment lends itself to more serenity, inner peace and spaciousness to feel and be present, and of course a cleansed mind is one in which we can find our center, appreciate the beauty of our surroundings, and find gratitude for all the abundance and love we DO attract into our lives.

Enjoy this practice!

Session 7: Santosha Yoga

Santosha translates into contentment. This Niyama requires a certain perspective of our thinking to look to acceptance –– even in the case of strife.

How can we argue less with reality and embrace more of what is occurring in the moment as a teacher?

This is not complacency, this is a realization that the present moment is what it is, and how we find the contentment is via a deep acceptance through patience, understanding and aligned action.

I hope you enjoy this practice!

session 8: Tapas Yoga

Tapas translates into inner fire. While we do want to build heat in our bodies during our practice, we also can apply this niyama in many areas of our life.

Tapas can be interpreted as personal will, diligence, passion, austerity or commitment to what we want.

I love to practice with tapas as an opportunity to “burn away” that which stands in our way.

How do you respond when life gets uncomfortable, challenging or asks you to “sit in the fire”?

Sit with this question this week and let me know what transpires!

I hope you enjoy this practice.

session 9: svadhyaya Yoga

Svadhyaya translates into self-study. Becoming the witness in our lives and in our bodies is a wonderful gift that comes with the consistent practice of yoga.

First we must unravel and reveal the many layers of the self, the obstacles in the form of conditioning, negative or outdated belief systems, stories we run in our minds wear we get stuck in projection and blame.

As we journey through the layers of the self we can tap into our truest nature, the bliss body and the most divine parts of ourselves.

The koshas are considered the 5 layers of the self:

1. Annamaya kosha—Physical Layer: The first layer of consciousness consists of the physical (or “food”) body. It includes the muscles, bones, connective tissue, organs, fat, and skin.

2. Pranamaya kosha—Energetic Layer: The second layer of experience consists of subtle body energy, or the elements that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Breath and prana (life force energy) are part of this layer.

3. Manomaya kosha—Mental/Emotional Layer: Thoughts and emotions make up the third layer of being. Most people only consciously operate in these first three layers.

4. Vijnanamaya kosha—Intuitive/Wisdom Layer: The fourth layer is comprised of intuition and wisdom. In it lies the ability to connect to higher knowing, to follow intuitive impulses, and see the bigger picture beyond logic.

5. Anandamaya kosha—Bliss Layer: Finally, the fifth layer is the quiet place of peace, love, and joy that has no opposite—right at the center of your being. When operating from the anandamaya kosha, you experience a sense of presence and oneness among all beings.

(From Chopra.com)

Today’s quote for those who want it:

Know yourself so well that you will grow into your wholeness and greatness.

I hope you enjoy today’s practice.

Session 10: ishvara pranidana yoga

This Niyama is about devotion, living life as a ritual, and celebrating the divine in all things. There are many ways to interpret and live this tenet. From how you set your dinner table, to how you create the ritual around your practice, I invite you to bring the devotion and ritual to many aspects of your daily life. Some would say this is making the ordinary extraordinary.

I hope you enjoy this final Niyama and practice of our 10 series.

I hope I see you soon for our BONUS YIN class. Keep your eye on your inbox for all the details!

Much Love

Sue