One of our beloved yogafusioners, Karina Natt, has been brave enough to share her experiences of becoming a student of hot yoga with us. Karina has been coming to the studio since 3 December 2013 and has never looked back!
Image via PopSugar
Letting go
I began with yogafusion during a personally and professionally emotional time and I was also suffering physically with a painful hip issue, so it was an interesting way to begin. Continue reading
Niyamas are the second limb of Pantajali’s yoga, following on from the yamas. The 
purpose of both the yamas and the niyamas is a redirecting of energies, helping us to reduce karma and always move towards clarity. They can all be practised at a psychological level as well as physical. They also provide a solid foundation to move through the rest of the yogic limbs.
The niyamas keep us on a path to self realisation through discipline and are action steps rather than the restraints that are the yamas.
‘The niyamas [are] effective weapons to destroy the citadel of the senses’, Sri Swami Chidananda.
The niyamas are:
Saucha (purity and cleanliness)
Through the purity of cleansing ourselves of our ego self, we are given permission to shine brightly from within, liberating our true nature. Saucha includes bathing to rid the physical being of muck but perhaps more importantly, utilises asana and pranayama for internal cleansing; asana removes toxins and impurities caused by overindulgence (food and drink, negative thinking, pollution, chemicals etc) whilst pranayama helps to purify our nervous system.
Impurities – both in the physical and abstruse – can harm our state of mind and being and block us from accessing that deep spiritual and inner wisdom which can lead us to a space of self actualisation. These impurities can show up as emotions such as hatred, lust, greed, delusion or pride and also as impure or damning thoughts.
Saucha can include practises such as fasting, silence and purging.*
Santosha (contentment)
On an elementary level, this niyama asks that we be happy and grateful with what we have and where we are in any given moment.
The mind can often yearn for things it believes we need in order to be happy but practising Santosha, helps us to unlearn this patterning to find a deeper happiness within that arises when we clear away all the excess “things” and discover what is hiding behind all that wanting.
Rather than being sought after, santosha needs to be cultivated which helps to negate the exhausting grasping we have at life.
‘There is contentment and tranquility when the flame of the spirit does not waver in the wind of desire,’ Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar, page 38.
Tapas (austerity)
‘By tapas the yogi develops strength in body, mind and character. He gains courage and wisdom, integrity, straightforwardness and simplicity,’ Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar, page 38.
Tapas can be analogous to fire. The fire of tapas has cleansing properties but this intense element can also take the form of heat, burning effort, a strong mental attitude or an internal fire. All the things that hot yoga can bring you! (quick, book in your next class here)
‘Life without tapas is like a heart without love’, Light on Yoga, BKS Iyengar, page 38.
NB: (I’m not making this up when I tell you that Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire came on the radio whilst writing this)
‘Tapas is a determined counter-attack against the habitual propensity of the senses to achieve satisfaction, to taste satisfaction.’ The Philosophy, Psychology and Practice of Yoga by Sri Swami Chidananda, page 32
Svadhyaya (self study)
This niyama is about you getting to know yourself and the inner workings of your being and soul, as well as your needs and behaviours. It’s a process to acknowledge the inner darkness as well as the inner light and provide you with the ability to see your true Divine nature that exists within everyone.
The process of turning inwards and practising an education of the self, helps us to become accountable and responsible for our behaviours and actions. The education comes from external forms of study of resources and illuminating ideas, study of the scriptures and japa, as well as an internalising, a listening to yourself and knowing yourself as best as you can (despite this ever evolving process).
‘Life presents an endless opportunity to learn about ourselves; our flaws and weaknesses give us the opportunity to grow and our mistakes allow us to learn. Examining our actions becomes a mirror to see our conscious and unconscious motives, thoughts, and desires more clearly,’ Yoga Basics.
Ishvara pranidhana (surrender to the Divine)
This encourages a complete opening of the heart to the Divine, which is said to lead to Samadhi (which is the last limb of yoga and a higher state of consciousness). This is a surrendering to God (whatever that form takes for you), a letting go and a folding of the ego self. It is more of a softening in to the Universal flow; a relaxing, a releasing of sorts, with which comes an unforced opening and an allowing of the ego to dissolve.
A dedication and devotion to something greater can accompany the surrendering or just a gentle knowing and accepting that the Universe is a complete source of power.
The purpose of both the yamas and the niyamas is a redirecting of energies, helping us to reduce karma and always move towards clarity. They can all be practiced at a psychological level as well as physical. They also provide a solid foundation to move through the rest of the limbs.
‘Whereas Yama puts a stop to your flow in the downward gross direction,in the animal direction, Niyama has the effect of diverting the flow in the opposite higher direction towards the Spirit. That is the rationale behind Niyama’ Sri Swami Chidananda.
Initial exposure to the yamas and niyamas can be daunting and overwhelming, to say the least, so remember to take them gently, with compassion. Although Pantanjali may have had the intention for them to be followed in a set order, Swami Sri Kripalvanandaji reminds us ‘When you pick one petal from the garland of yamas and niyamas, the entire garland will follow.’
Click here to read our post on the yamas.
*please seek the advice of an experience yoga instructor before undertaking these practices. Not recommend for beginners.
Chakra may now be a common term to you and you may even have an understanding of 
its meaning.
The chakras (meaning wheel or cycle) are culmination points for nadis (channels) of prana sacral chakra(energy or lifeforce). A useful analogy when considering chakras is to envision nadis as highways, filled with cars (prana) and the chakras are the intersections and roundabouts where these highways meet.
The chakras reside on the sushumna nadi, which is the central channel of energy that is aligned with the spinal column.
Let’s look closely at the crown chakra:
Sahasrara means infinite or thousand and is represented by a thousand petalled lotus and is the place of ultimate illumination and self realisation. Here, you’ll find the pure consciousness, the source of light and the bridge to the Universal energy that connects us to the bigger picture.
It is here where we discover detachment from illusion – that illusion that is often created by our ego self – that we’re not enough, that we need certain things to survive and all those pesky fears that keep us from seeing the bigger picture.
It governs our ability to learn and gain knowledge and connect with a higher or spiritual realm. The crown chakra helps us to answer the bigger “why” questions and helps us discover where we fit into this Universe and it expands with every experience and new knowledge gained.
Sahasrara is the seat of where all parts that comprise “you” come together; a complete integration of all parts and all chakras and should Kundalini reach this chakra it is believed that you will achieve the ultimate state of bliss.
‘The energy of all Nādīs flows together here, just as the water of a thousand rivers comes together in the sea.’ Read more here.
This enigmatic chakra grants us new perspective and offers us a way of seeing things in a new way, unites us to our highest potential and provides us with inner direction. Our relationship with this chakra dictates our relationship with a higher being or the higher self.
Its yantra is depicted by a full moon which symbolises the full bloom of consciousness, accompanied by an akatha triangle which sits the abode of Shiva (in the subtle and infinite form). It is associated with a pure white light or some people visualise this chakra as a strong purple colour. It is said to hold no seed sound but that of a vibration of silence.
As the lotus is rooted in the murkiness of mud and extends towards the light to blossom into something magical and beautiful, so too, do we. 
Here are some ways to rejuvenate your crown chakra:
Asanas that increase the prana in your crown chakra:
‘In the Sahasrara Chakra exists an important power – Medha Shakti. Medha Shakti is a hormone that influences brain functions such as memory, concentration and intelligence. Yoga exercises can activate and strengthen Medha Shakti,’ Yoga in Daily Life.
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