Aparigraha, the last of the yamas as defined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, is a subtle and incredibly freeing concept, especially (at least for me) when we look at it through the lens of Anusara® yoga’s Shiva Shakti Tantrik philosophy.

We’ll explore aparigraha (non-clinging) as the act of Living Simply.

This isn’t a practice of renunciation, although some express it as such. Instead, to me, it is a conscious way of living finely, simply, without grasping…

It is living in the natural flow of abundance with great respect in relationship with what you have and that which is around you.

“When established in aparigraha you gain knowledge of the nature of the world (why and how). Don’t take more than you need. Live simply – this can be living finely, with sensitivity to the whole. When you are sensitive in resources and relationships you gain knowledge of how and why things are the way they are.” –John Friend, founder of Anusara yoga, interpreting Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 2.39

Sitting next to my teacher at dinner last week, he gestured to his shirt and said, “You have nice things, but you need to be ready to give them away at any moment.”

Aparigraha encourages us to let go of the grasping, possessive, neediness that is at the root source of greed. It tells us that we are far more free when we don’t accumulate things beyond what is necessary.

When we live simply, even if that is living finely in luxury, we choose to practice the freedom of non-attachment.

Why? Well, let’s give this example: Read more…

There is a Live Oak in New Orleans called the Tree of Life.

Locals love it, and all who discover this massive and beautiful tree on their visits return to be in awe of it’s incredible canopy, roots, body and presence.

This tree, and truly all of Nature, has so much to teach us.

The video below speaks to this, and includes a meditation that will help you connect and shift into a state of remembrance and desire to contribute to the beauty of the world.

I hope you enjoy this video, which weaves my own personal perspective with that of the trees, sharing teachings from Anusara® yoga that go straight to the heart.

Anusara yoga in New Orleans

To me, New Orleans is home Read more…

Brahmacharya, for me, is the yama that has changed the most in my understanding over the years.

It went from being a concept that felt harsh and limiting into something that now inspires a deep sense of awe for me.

Why so, you ask?

Well, first let me introduce the concept of uttanita. You know it already, even if you don’t recognize it by this Sanskrit word.

Uttanita is about shifting your perspective.

It means wide open; an expanded view. I know it as the way we can turn something we know around and see it in a completely different light.

And when this happened to me with brahmacharya I was delighted. Read more…

“When one is established in asteya, wealth is abundant,” said John Friend, founder of Anusara® yoga, as he translated sutra 2.37 from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

This was in a training in Encinitas, California, in May of 2008.

Before this training, a deep and revealing dive into the famous Sutras of Patanjali which have influenced so much of modern day yoga, I really wasn’t a big fan of the sutras.

They just seemed so unfriendly; so harsh and unapproachable….

Okay, so maybe great teachings don’t need to be friendly to be worthwhile, but if they’re not inviting or delivered in a loving tone, I’d really rather study something else.

How un-yogic of me, eh?

But through the loving, life-affirming lens of Shiva-Shakti Tantra, the sutras opened up and proved worthy of both study and practice without the stern tone I’d heard in them before. Read more…

Courage and Inner Knowing: two heart qualities inspired by Satya.

Satya, or truthfulness, invites you to be genuine and authentic to your inner nature with integrity and whole, complete honesty. This is the second of the yamas.

A large part of satya is being truthful with yourself. When you are authentically you, it is naturally beautiful; it feels good.

It might not always be comfortable at first to genuinely express who you are, because we are brought up conditioned to ‘fit in’ and go with some outside definition of normal… Whatever that is.

But when you are around someone who is so complete in living their truth with integrity, knowing who they are, their confidence is palpable, their inner beauty radiant, and the natural feeling of being with them often evokes delight.

When you live your truth you stop fighting the flow of life because you are honouring your true nature as a unique expression of divine life.

On the other hand, pretending to be who you are not can be rather difficult and bring suffering to you and those around you.

It’s one thing to try on a costume and play with a role to see what parts of it speak to you and fit your needs, but to deny yourself, to hide your genuine self… It’s like taking a masterpiece of art, a Picasso, say, and shrouding it in a dusty corner of a broom closet. Read more…

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…

Shine fearlessly as who you are. Truth is yours to experience and live.

Okay, Kamloops yoga enthusiasts, I have some WONDERFUL news for you!

But first…

Are you getting my yoga newsletter? If not, be sure to subscribe below so you’re up to date with class and event offerings in Kamloops!

Thursday Night Yoga and Celebrating the Equinox

Thursday Evening Class Starts This Week!

I’m excited to finally be offering an evening yoga class again, and in such a beautiful place! Please join me for the Grand Opening this Thursday night!

Thursday Anusara® Yoga with Katrina from 5:30-6:45pm at St. Andrews (159 Seymour St on the corner of 2nd and Seymour)

-Bring your own mat, blanket, and blocks if you need them
-Bring your friends! Beginners most welcome.

Special Grand Opening Discount for 10 Class Cards: $120 plus HST ($134.40 total, regularly $145.60. Cash or cheque only please.)

Autumn Equinox Celebration: Mantra and Meditation Night

This tree is massive! The trunk is about 8 feet wide.

Wow! Get ready for an incredible night in the truly magnificent acoustics of St. Andrews. Read more…

I just spent a week by the ocean in Tulum, Mexico. To me, the ocean is such an incredibly healing presence. It invites a mindful return to the vast, beautiful truth of who you are.

Though I did try to shoot a full yoga practice video for you, it didn’t turn out. However, I have this lovely little meditation for you instead.

The video below guides you through a meditation that calls to your essence, inviting you to attune to nature. Enjoy the waves of your breath as you take a few minutes to meditate.

This meditation calls upon the resonance of the ocean to bring a pure, clear quality of being. With each breath you can become more and more connected to your natural self.

Open to receive each breath as a gift, and you will feel the pure clarity of beauty in every aspect of your being.

Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed this!

Brightest blessings to you.

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…