Vamana dhauti is a cleansing technique from India. Many yogis and householders there practice it every morning as a part of their normal routine, just like brushing their teeth. The mucus produced in the gastrointestinal tract is a gift of nature, and it functions in the overall balance and harmony of physiological processes. Sometimes though, […]
Marma is a Sanskrit word meaning hidden , or secret. By definition, a marma point is a juncture on the body where two or more types of tissue meet, such as muscles, veins, ligaments, bones or joints. Yet marma points are much more than a casual connection of tissue and fluids; they are intersections of […]
My diet is pretty healthy because I have been dealing with asthma and food sensitivities for a long time. I stopped drinking alcohol about 3 months before I began the yoga teacher training. I gave up red meat and sugar. My body changed through diet and exercise but I still suffer with asthma and sinus […]
Axis Yoga Teacher Training students’ series of experiments culminates with a “personal” experiment. Taking into account all they have learned, students examine any piece of the yogic puzzle on a personal level. This student came full circle as she realized that what she had been aiming for in the beginning of her experiment came around […]
When I began this personal experiment I was certain that I wanted to do a project revolved around meditation and/or spirituality. Lately, I have been very drawn to Bhakti yoga, and for some reason the name and entity of Shiva has been popping up into my life. It’s been happening so often that I can’t […]
The Inner Life of Asanas is comprised of different yoga poses described by a personal story of the author (or mythological tale she’s heard regarding the pose), physical ways to practice the pose, and reflections on the pose. I found the little stories fun and sometimes beautiful. The physical how-tos on how to practice the […]
When I was thinking about writing this essay I had planned to write and say that my personal experiment was only discovering how asanas can be a direct spiritual practice for me, but something occurred to me. By not being able to find the book I wanted (and so not have the experience I was […]
Before graduating, Axis Yoga Teacher Training students submit a paper describing the experience of completing a personal experiment. In this experiment students have an opportunity to put any of the yogic principles they have been studying to the test. This student found a big lesson by making a small change.
My personal experiment consisted of exercises and explorations crossing the midline. There is a balancing pose in asana practice from the table position that extends the opposing arm and leg outward then draws the extended elbow and knee together under the chest. It sounds very simple at face value, but upon attempted practice I found […]
Eating left handed is something I’ve tried before just for fun and if you have not done this yourself, the first thing I recommend is to wear a bib or something you are not worried about spilling on. Oatmeal is a good breakfast meal to do this with because it is less likely to cause […]