In which we talk about yoga vs. exercise

By Patricia Yonchek Pranakriya 500-RYT   Being trained as Pranakriya teachers, most of us intuitively weave the characteristics of a Pranakriya...

“Whoever relies on the breath has obtained a key to yoga and has taken a good path.” – Swami Kripalu

Today is my youngest child’s 19th birthday and I am called to reflect on breath as life-giving. How awesome an experience it is to give birth and watch a child take her first breath in the world. There is an expectation in the delivery room amongst the doctors and family members, before the child enters the world and makes a sound. Collectively,

“Serve with a full heart. By making others happy, you make yourself happy.” - Swami Kripalu  Wow, what a fitting quote to be asked to reflect upon...

Am I the only yoga teacher who questions my worthiness to lead others in the beautiful practices of yoga? Do others ever wonder if their dedication...

I wondered how often in my life am I exerting effort to make something happen when it’s not actually needed? I can easily go into auto pilot and think I need to keep doing, doing, doing in order to make things happen in my life. I most certainly will exhaust myself with all my efforts but the fact of the matter is that there are situations that don’t require it.

Sometimes even a little bit of something sweet can add up to more than we really need or want.

We all know what it is like to be in a class and the teacher says the perfect thing for us in that moment or maybe it was just the right asana, pranayama or meditation practice. I’m sure as teachers you have been told you’ve done this by your own students. Sometimes it might be planned and other times it might just happen spontaneously and you don’t even consider what it was or how it happened.