A Sutra a Day: II-31 – Word of Honour

  My stepson married his fiancé two weeks ago and now they are celebrating a rather unusual honeymoon at the ‘art festival’ called Burning Man in the U.S. The couple put together their own vows, which I think all the wedding guests found inspiring to hear. Daniel and I repeat our wedding vows to each other on our anniversary; it’s our way of seeing how we are travelling in our relationship and also to recommit to our promises if we have wavered. I hadn’t thought about the word ‘vow’ for some time until I came across Patanjali’s Sutra II-31. […]

A Sutra a Day: II-30 – A Guide to Good Behaviour

  Sometimes I feel like a bit of a freak in the yoga world and maybe in the world generally. Here are a few reasons why I might be classified as eccentric:I’m not a vegetarian. I love continental cakes. A glass of really good red wine is a special weekend treat. And, I drink 2 cups of coffee a day.I’m on the high side of my sixties and I’ve chosen to live like an ageing hippie with two other couples of my vintage.I love watching great television with brilliant writing. […]

A Sutra a Day: II-29 – 8 Limbs Lead to Freedom

Source: images.google.com via Valerie on Pinterest

 
I’ve been interested in the big picture of yoga for many years. I’m talking about the way the system of yoga thoroughly considers all aspects of a person – you could say, human and even divine.
Tree of yoga is how the structure is described in that it is comprised of eight limbs, listed below.
As a budding yogini, in my twenties, I was only interested in the third limb – asana – the practice of postures. […]

A Sutra a Day: II-28 – Shedding Time

It’s diet time again in our household. If you knew me well, you’d know I don’t need to diet to lose weight, as my husband Daniel and my housemate Rick are attempting to do. However, we have just come through a week-long period of my step-son’s nuptial activities, followed by a week of showing my visiting sister-in-law Sydney-town and Mitchell Island. Food is intrinsic to festivities and socialising. And, often not wholesome food, unfortunately. So, today I got to have my food: fruit for breakfast, steamed vegetables for lunch, and fish, rice and salad for dinner. […]

Puzzling Out Patanjali

Puzzling Out Patanjali

Those of you brave readers who have gone the distance with me as I blog ” A Sutra A Day” have watched me trying to figure out 78 aphorisms to date. Every day I’ve been consulting with seven different translators’ commentaries to arrive at a post that hopefully integrates Patanjali’s pithy wisdom with my life as a country yogini. I’m just a beginning student of the Old Sage, but everyone has to make a start somewhere.
Friends have asked what I’ve been learning in this process.
1. Humility, for one thing. […]

A Sutra a Day: II-27 – Intimacy & Authenticity

  I heard a sad story today about a middle-aged man named David Rakoff who died recently from cancer. Over the years, I enjoyed his comedy contributions to a podcast I listen to regularly called This American Life. What saddened me more than the fact of Rakoff’s death at a relatively young age was that he seemed to have been a tortured soul for much of his life. […]

Puzzling Out Patanjali

A Sutra a Day: II-25 – Golden Wisdom

 

I don’t know how people exist without yoga. Really. I’m assuming you are sympathetic to my view if you have been diligent enough to hang in thus far for a daily dose of Patanjali’s Sutra.
Having just had a week away from bucolic peace on our country property and only one yoga practice session in that time, I admit I really, really missed my routine.
I know that subscribing to too strict a regime can make a person rigid, even overly attached, but I love my daily diet of practice, wholesome meals and fresh air. […]

A Sutra a Day: II-24 – Holiday from Yoga?

A Sutra a Day: II-24 – Holiday from Yoga?

I’m taking a little vacation from blogging this week, after today’s post. My husband and I are travelling to Sydney to be available to my step-son before his wedding which is on Saturday. It’s an exciting time. I remember the day Daniel and I wed as one of the happiest days of my life.
Is it possible to take a vacation from yoga. Nah! Not really. Even though, this morning I skipped my early morning practice session, and it’s likely there will be a few more such hiccoughs through the week because of general busy-ness. […]

A Sutra a Day: II-23 – Teacher Training, It Never Ends

A Sutra a Day: II-23 – Teacher Training, It Never Ends

Source: byronyoga.com via Heather on Pinterest

 
I had breakfast with one of the delightful yoga students whom I’ve met since relocating to the country.
I was afraid that when I left my yoga teaching business of 30 years in Sydney that I wouldn’t develop inspiring relationships in my new locale. By inspiring, I mean that students inspire me as much as the reverse.
This particular lass has been in love with yoga for a long time and is now considering doing teacher training. […]