At its heart, Yoga begins with a profound question:
who am I, beyond what I think I am?
Yoga originated thousands of years ago in ancient India as a path to self-knowledge and harmony between body, mind, and spirit. From the Sanskrit word yuj, Yoga means union — the union of the human being with their deepest nature, and with the greater whole.
According to one of the many stories of Hindu mythology, Yoga was born from the silence and compassion of Shiva, the great Yogi. It is said that he sat in meditation by the ocean while his consort, Parvati, watched him with admiration.
Wishing to understand the origin of that serenity, she asked him to reveal the secret of inner union. Shiva then taught her the practices of Yoga — postures, breathing, meditation, mantras — explaining that the body and breath are bridges to the infinite.
It is said that, while he was speaking, a fish (matsya) deep beneath the ocean heard the teaching and, awakened by its sacred resonance, became enlightened. Emerging from the waters transformed, it became Matsyendra, the first human master of Yoga, who would later pass this knowledge on to humanity.
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When we say “Yoga,” for many of you it probably means impossible physical postures. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. Yoga simply means being in perfect harmony. When we are in Yoga, the body, mind, energy, and existence itself are in perfect harmony.
— Sadhguru
The Art of Balance: Yoga
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Durga
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Durgā means “she who is difficult to cross or overcome”, “the invincible one”. The Great Mother carries within her a…
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Brahma
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In the Hindu tradition, Brahmā is the creative principle of the Universe, part of the Trimūrti, alongside Viṣṇu (“Vishnu”) and…
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Hanuman
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Another gem from Hindu mythology, one of those stories that transcends time, bringing both smiles and reflection. They are myths,…
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Living Yoga
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Sometimes we wake up with the intention to practise, but all it takes is a step into the kitchen for…
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Yoga in Motion
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As part of this animation project, Inês (@incalma) and I decided to create a series of small visual stories exploring how Yoga…
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Shiva
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Once upon a time, there was a being so ancient and wise that everyone knew him as Shiva, the originator…
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Mudra
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Mudra is a Sanskrit word meaning gesture, seal, attitude, or symbolic expression. Our hands have always been a natural extension…
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Puja
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Puja is a practice of devotion and reverence. The word comes from Sanskrit and is commonly translated as offering or honour.…
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Yamas & Niyamas
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The Yamas and Niyamas are considered the ethical and spiritual foundation of Yoga. If we imagine a tree, the Yamas…
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Pranayama
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I recently read a poem by the Portuguese writer Egito Gonçalves that inspired me to write these words: … but…
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Krishna
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Krishna is considered one of the incarnations of the god Vishnu, one of the principal deities of the Hindu trinity,…
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Ganesha
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Legend has it that while Shiva was away for many years, meditating in the mountains, Parvati, his wife, wished to…
YOGA BEYOND THE MAT
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