The first of the yamas in yoga is ahimsa, and we’ll look at it through the lens of Anusara® yoga’s Shiva-Shakti Tantric philosophy, as well as its ties into Buddhism, the life of Mahatma Gandhi, and its influence on my own life experience.

Though ahimsa is generally translated as non-harming or non-violence, the scope of what it can offer you is vast and potent.

Why? Because what ahimsa is really doing is inviting you to live from the perspective and experience of loving kindness, compassion, and the ability to flow with the current and goodness of Nature.

“Ahimsa is what is life enhancing – whatever will assist in knowing the goodness of your heart.” John Friend during a training on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras

Not being violent or harmful towards others is common sense; obvious. But it’s the more subtle areas that take practice and can bring such personal transformation.

Ahimsa and Self-Harm: Turning the tide of love towards yourself.

Sometimes the hardest practice is having a loving, kind relationship with yourself. Harsh self-talk, seeing yourself in a negative light, and addictions are all examples of self-harming habits. Though these can be a challenge to change, ahimsa offers the wisdom and yoga brings the tools necessary to do so.

Personally, I’ve had more experience with this than I’d like to admit. I was an angry youth with a Read more…

The yamas and niyamas are, in a nutshell, the ethical foundation of yoga.

Now, that might not sound very exciting, but let me tell you why it can rock your world in the best possible way.

First of all, I’ve never been a big fan of rules.

Growing up I pretty much rebelled against anyone telling me what to do if I didn’t want to do it. That didn’t make me a particularly respectful student or daughter sometimes, but that’s how I was.

These days, I’m still not a fan of arbitrary rules and laws. I understand why we have them, but if everyone simply lived lives of integrity and allowed themselves to be guided by ancient wisdom, such as the yamas and niyamas, we could effectively govern ourselves in many ways.

But this isn’t a discourse on politics and legal procedures. And that’s actually WHY I think you’ll find this an enlightening exploration into how you interpret the yamas and niyamas.

Classical Yoga vs. The Philosophy of Tantra

First of all, lets talk about perspective, since your relationship with the world is based on your point of view.

When I first started studying yoga, I found many Read more…

Contemplating the journey...

I have described getting certified as an Anusara yoga instructor being like doing a Doctorate in yoga. However, it’s probably more accurately akin to entering into a Mastery Program.

There are many honourable and rich paths to the heart of yoga; truly, there are limtless ways to practice, study and teach yoga, so long as intent is pure and skill is cultivated.

I chose Anusara yoga because it completely aligns with my own truth and has helped me inspire others to live authentically, be happy, and feel good.

It is with bubbling excitement and humble gratitude that I can now call myself a certified Anusara yoga instructor. It has been a journey of many years and incredible growth, and so I offer you this story…

My First Taste Of Anusara Yoga: Finding My Teacher

My first Anusara yoga class was a weekend workshop with the founder, John Friend. I had no idea what the Universal Principles of Alignment™ were, or what order the 3 A’s are arranged in, because I didn’t know the concepts existed. I had been teaching for all of 6 months and a friend told me, from obvious joy and heart, that I absolutely had to try it.

John Friend teaching. Courtesy of Anusara.

So I drove 5 hours down to Seattle to get my first hit of Anusara yoga from the source. I had no idea what to expect, but I went and put my mat front and center.

That weekend I found my way; that elusive focus of what I wanted to do with my life and how I wanted to live.

John Friend spoke to my heart, in that first class and in so many others I have had the privilege of attending. He used many of the same concepts and poetic threads that had already Read more…

When your intention is to embody light, the world around you grows more beautiful and bright!

In Anusara® yoga there’s a term called “Inner Body Bright.” We’ll get into the specifics of that in a moment, but first I want to invite you to think of it in a way that has far reaching impact…

Consider this: The more you light up yourself, the more you light up the world.

You might be thinking, “Well, that’s obvious.” Or you may be thinking something along the lines of, “Huh?”

Either way, let me expand that a bit.

First of all, ‘light’ is sort of a vague term that’s used a lot when trying to describe things most of us can’t really see. However, if you consider that everything is made up of energy, and that high frequency energy is light, that helps to define it a bit more.

It’s also helpful, for me at least, to remember that there are plenty of people who actually see energetically. I have several friends who can tell you the colour of your aura, which I think is pretty cool, but haven’t yet figured out how to do myself.

At the same time, even if you aren’t able to ‘see’ these energetic plays of light, you can feel them.

Getting back to my main point… Read more…

Spicing Up Your Yoga Practice

My all time favourite hot sauces made by my friend Ashif!

Yesterday morning in Yoga Boot Camp a friend of mine, Susy, taught us a blend of Latin Dance, Hip Hop, and fitness. It was a blast, with laughter and smiles all around, bodies moving to irresistible beats. I brought Susy in to spice up the camp, adding another dynamic element into an already outstanding program where every day is different.

Because it’s always fun to do something playful and different.

The same goes for your yoga practice. The variations and variety of possible poses and themes means you can taste a new flavour of yoga each time you come to your mat. Being willing to explore and expand helps you grow at whatever level your practice is at now.

This exploration, getting creative with your practice, brings immense enjoyment and wonder.

It doesn’t have to be through advanced poses either. There are playful and profound ways to Read more…

Breath is life, and it connects us to all that lives around us. This is why one of the main focuses of yoga is the breath, including the practice of pranayama.

Can you recall the feeling of your breath really opening up in a yoga pose? Or the shifting of your mind and emotions into a state of peace when you pause and just turn your focus to your breath?

So much of yoga is about the breath, for breath is infused with prana, which is literally the energy of life. Here’s what my teacher, John Friend, has to say about prana in the Anusara® yoga Teacher’s Manual:

“Prana is the vital force in our bodies. It interpenetrates and pulsates within every cell – giving life to our body… Every particle of the physical body, every molecule of DNA, every cell, every organ, and every gland pulsates with prana.”

One of the practices of yoga is pranayama, which is often referred to as ‘breath control’, however I much prefer to consider it a ‘co-created dance’ with your breath.

To me, the concept of control calls in the hardened attitude of domination and separation with one being in control over another.

But we’re speaking of Nature in one of her most essential forms; the movement of life! For pranayama to bring joy and equanimity, doesn’t it make sense to deeply honour the relationship between yourself and your breath? And, when you think about it, where does the breath end and you begin? Read more…

Why is it that Anusara® yoga has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, including myself?

Because it shows you how to radically change the way you look at life.

One of the most powerful aspects of Anusara yoga, and its first principle, is choosing to look for the beauty in every moment. Even in the most difficult and painful times we can find a way to turn towards the light.

It’s being open to the purest essence of life that guides this ability; knowing that intrinsic goodness lives in your heart. This fundamental knowing that you and everything around you is interconnected, and that the choices you make to be kind to yourself and others ripple out to make a big difference.

This looking for the good in life might not come naturally at first, but it’s something you can learn, and it can shift your life in the most empowering way! Read more…

Today I changed my name. Legally.

Well, okay, it’s not totally official yet, but that’s just a matter of the paperwork getting processed. It’s in motion and happening.

What’s my new name?

Katrina Hokule’a Ariel.

Hokule’a means ‘Star of Gladness’. It’s Hawaiian, and this feels like a rebirth. I’m really and truly living my dreams…

I’m so inspired and feel so ‘right’ on my path, that I sang out loud on my walk home. Om Namah Shivaya to the trees, birds, and some surprised people. Did I mention that Hokule’a is the essence of my heart song?

When people need inspiration, I hope to be a part of the light that reminds them who they truly are. I hope I’ve been able to do this for you at some point. It’s very likely you have inspired me…. I’ll get back to this in a minute.

What does this all have to do with Wanderlust?

Well, it’s really all Divine Timing. You know, when things line up so perfectly you couldn’t have planned it better? Read more…

The wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita has guided practitioners of yoga through the ages. From Gandhi to the humblest student of yoga and life, this text has been cherished as a way to gain insight on how to live skillfully and connect with Supreme Spirit.

When I was last pouring myself into this particular study, I decided to go into the Akashic Records of the Bhagavad Gita for a more direct connection. Wow! Talk about pure Ananda (highest bliss)!

The Akashic Records allow access to energy and information that has been incredibly helpful, healing, and transformational for myself and thousands of others who do this work. To learn more about the Akashic Records, get a reading, or learn how to access them yourself, visit my dear friend Juliette Looye’s Akashic Records page on her website.

A Message from the Bhagavad Gita

Below is a portion of what I received in the Akashic Records of the Bhagavad Gita. You can think of it as a message from the Heart of the living wisdom it contains. Read more…

Desirée Rumbaugh, a humble yet wildly wonderful Anusara® yoga instructor, is coming back to Vancouver September 10-12.

She is internationally celebrated as one of the most skilled and authentic instructors; a woman who can not only enter some of the most advanced postures herself, but who can safely guide others to do the same.

The last time she was in town was very special for me, partially because Des helped me to expand my own practice, and also because I was honoured to assist her for one of the sessions.

If you’re in BC, I highly recommend attending her workshop. Really I can’t say enough good things about her teaching.

For more info on the workshop, check out the YogaPod website: Desirée Rumbaugh Vancouver Workshop