Short articles on the philosophy, the breath and the language you'll hear in class.
The 8 limbs of yoga are the eight steps of the yoga path set out by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras: Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Put simply, they are a guide to moral living and self reflection that still applies to modern life, and they are the root of Ashtanga yoga.
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Ujjayi breath is the steady "ocean" breath used in Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. You breathe in and out through the nose for an equal count, about four each way, while gently narrowing the back of the throat so each breath makes a soft, even sound. The sound gives your mind something to focus on and links your breath to your movement.
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We chant three mantras at The Yoga Loft: Om Sahana Vavatu, a peace mantra before class; the Ashtanga opening mantra, which gives thanks to the lineage of teachers and the sage Patanjali; and the Ashtanga closing mantra, which offers the practice to the wellbeing of all. The words and translations of all three are below.
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A plain-English guide to the yoga words you'll hear in class, from asana (a pose) and drishti (where you look) to savasana (the rest at the end of class) and Ujjayi breath. You don't need to know any of them to start.
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