You don't need a lot to practice yoga at home. But how you approach your practice can make all the difference. Whakaritenga- ritual - can help you create a lasting, loving practice that helps you to shine again...

The truth is no fancy clothing or accessories are required, you can practice on your floor, a towel or a mat, with clothing, or with out !

It is up to you.

When we move from 'in studio' to at home classes there may be a few things a studio or teacher provides; a clean clear space, soft lighting or music, cushions, blankets, soothing simple surroundings and so on, that we have taken for granted.

But with a little thought and a bit of prep, we can move into a deeper practice than we ever thought possible at home, by turning our yoga routine into Ritual / Whakaritenga.

This is called your sadhana in yoga, your sadhana is your practice that has deeper meaning to you than practice. A Sadhana is a practice for...

'Iti noa ana, he pito mata'

'From the withered tree a flower blooms'

This whakataukī ( māori proverb ) is the inspiration for this months blog.

The whakataukī reminds me that knowledge and wisdom are passed down through generations from our tūpuna (ancestors), like the tree that passes its energy and nourishment to the flower.

Like te ao māori, the māori world, yoga also has a form of whakapapa…-  a lineage, with knowledge passed from the elders of the tradition down to students - the next generation. 

In past blogs I have talked about the importance of practice, however, one crucial element of your journey is your teacher.

MY JOURNEY: 

I have been blessed to have begun my journey with yoga over two decades ago.

My teachers came out of the yoga brought to the west from India, and most followed a path or lineage with a particular guru.

It was the nineties and yoga wasn't often practiced to...

A home practice will transform your yoga, and maybe even your life....

For many it is the next step in their yoga journey, for some it has been an unwelcome necessity during this pandemic. But either way, you CAN develop a beautiful home practice that will have many benefits for your wellbeing, self-care/ self-aroha.

A yoga practice with intent is called a Sadhana, and it's powerful, personal and may even change your life!  (Your Sadhana is of a spiritual nature and the focus is not only on doing poses to gain physical mastery. It's about what's on the inside as well.) 

But there can be many obstacles along the journey, and initially it can be helpful to have some guidance and to know that although there may be barriers, there are also solutions.

Here's some of what I've heard and may have even said myself sometimes in my 21 years of yoga teaching - 

•  I don't have the time to practice any other time than when I come to the...