Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i YOGA Magazine

Dear YOGA Magazine Readers, Greetings and Blessings! Welcome to the February 2025 edition of Yoga Magazine—a space where we explore the profound connections between inner growth, personal transformation, and holistic well-being. As the energy of the new year continues to unfold, we are reminded of the timeless wisdom that yoga offers in navigating life’s challenges and celebrating our moments of clarity and renewal. In this issue, we delve into stories of healing and resilience, highlighting the transformative power of yoga in both personal and communal settings. Through shared experiences, we uncover how ancient practices remain relevant in today’s world, offering tools for emotional balance, mental clarity, and spiritual awakening. One feature explores how yoga becomes a guiding light during difficult times, aiding emotional healing and supporting reintegration. Another reflects on…

I am a yogini with over 50 years of yoga experience and two decades of teaching. Yoga has been my guiding light, blending an inward journey with the outward adventure of travel. With roots in India’s spiritual heritage and years of teaching in Spain and India, I craft retreats that inspire connection, growth, and inner peace. Yoga has always been an inward journey for me, a practice that helps me reconnect with the deepest parts of myself. Travel, on the other hand, is an outward journey, full of opportunities to connect with new people, places, and cultures. Combining yoga and travel has created a balance between inner and outer exploration for me. Yoga grounds me, while travel expands me. This union has been more than a lifestyle—it’s become my calling,…

Introduction Mantra and chanting are ancient practices that have been an integral part of various cultures and spiritual traditions for centuries. It is well known in spiritual traditions, and more recently proved by scientific studies, that sound holds transformative power. Harnessing the power of sound and vibration, using the voice, an instrument that all humans have, can create profound effects on the mind, body and spirit. Having first discovered Kirtan and devotional mantra chanting back in 2016, Claire and Allan who make up Beautiful Bhakti, have both been chanting as part of the regular practice for personal growth, healing, and spiritual connection ever since, which has led them to lead sessions for groups and retreats across Sussex. The history of mantra and chanting Mantra chanting can be traced back thousands…

This month, we celebrate Valentine’s Day which was a day that became associated with romantic love in the 14th & 15th centuries when courtly love was at the forefront. In honour of authentic love, I felt guided to share about the truth of Soul Relationships. Have you ever met someone for the first time and felt like you have known them for lifetimes or were destined to meet? What about walking into a room and having instantaneous eye contact with another person across the room and feel as if time is standing still? Or, how about when you randomly help a “stranger” with an act of kindness, feel like you know them and never see that person again? These are wonderful examples of souls who know one another interacting here…

In 1922 a guru instructed his young devotee to take Vedic teachings to the English speaking West. Four decades later, in 1965, that devotee arrived in New York city. He had traveled for more than a month via freighter, arriving with less than twenty dollars, with nowhere to go, and with no community available to support him. Confident in the wisdom of his guru and trusting in divine guidance, he began to offer Vedic teachings based upon God Consciousness. The man who responded to his guru’s invitation was A. C. Bhaktivedanta. He was nearly 69 years of age when he embarked on his mission and, over the next dozen years founded and became spiritual head of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), wrote 60 books, and established more than…

ARIES (MESHA) MARCH 21– APRIL 20 In February, Venus enhances your focus on self-expression and creativity. This alignment fuels your passion projects, making this month ideal for those seeking artistic outlets or entrepreneurial ventures. Your charisma will soar promising abundant inspiration, especially in creative fields and in matters of the heart. If you have been longing to start a new project or dive into a romantic endeavour, now is the time. With Venus influencing your natural charm, you will find that people are drawn to your enthusiasm and ideas. Use this energy to connect deeply with your intentions and attract meaningful relationships and opportunities into your life. The month closes with a balanced energy, ideal for meditation or practices that align your heart and mind. TAURUS (VRISHABHA) APRIL 21 –…

At age 18, Richard, who had grown up in care, was put out on the streets. Without support, crime became his means of survival and, he admits: “There were a lot of victims and I’ll always regret that from the bottom of my heart.” Now in his 50s, that life is in the past, and Richard says it’s thanks to the yoga and meditation he learnt in prison, that he eventually turned his life around. It was during a night-time move to a new prison, crammed into a van with six prison officers, blue lights flashing, that Richard realised something had to change. “I was looking around me thinking, how have I got into this situation? This is a battle I’m losing. I realised I needed to change the plan…

Yoga is often celebrated for its physical benefits – flexibility, strength, balance – but at its heart, Yoga is a complete philosophy for living a fulfilling and ethical life. The ethical foundation of Yoga encapsulated in the Yamas (moral restraints) and Niyamas (positive observances) offers timeless wisdom to help us navigate life’s complexities. These principles, laid out in Patañjali’s ‘Yogasūtras’, are more than abstract ideas; they are practical tools for cultivating balance, integrity, and kindness in our daily lives. Applying these principles in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world can provide much-needed grounding and a better quality of living. Let’s explore each Yama and Niyama and see how they can enrich our lives. I will also offer some reflective journaling exercises to help you integrate these ethics into your routine. The Yamas:…

This November, award-winning children’s publisher Sweet Cherry Publishing was delighted to welcome acclaimed New York author, actress and yoga instructor Lauren Hoffmeier to the UK for an exciting tour with her popular Mula and Friends picture book series. Known for blending mindfulness and storytelling in ways that engage and delight young readers, Hoffmeier was thrilled to bring her beloved characters to life for UK children for the first time ever. During this mini-UK tour, Hoffmeier visited schools in Birmingham, Chorley, Leicester and other cities, where children had the opportunity to experience her books in an interactive, hands-on format. Her school visits included live readings, yoga demonstrations and mindfulness exercises inspired by her books, designed to empower children with tools for focus, confidence and well-being. Q: What inspired you to incorporate…

Ellie Firth is a Yoga Teacher with specific training in yoga for adults with special needs and a researcher in autism and related conditions with a PhD in cognitive science. She founded Umbrella Yoga to join the dots between research and practice and enjoys bringing yoga to those who might not usually find themselves in a studio. Join Ellie and her team for a 30h further training course in teaching yoga to those with learning difficulties accredited by Yoga Professionals Alliance in West Yorkshire in June and July 2025. Early bird discount available until 7 February. Learn more: www.umbrellayoga.co.uk/yogamag Visit the website www.umbrellayoga.co.uk or connect on Instagram or Facebook @umbrella.yoga.uk. The mental and physical benefits of yoga are no secret—celebrities, influencers, and lifestyle gurus alike rave about its transformative power.…

Vish Chatterji is an east-meets-west Executive Coach and Vedic Wisdom Teacher. He helps people find light through the wisdom of his ancestors, leveraging Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Vedic Philosophy and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology). His coaching practice, Head & Heart Insights serves clients across the globe, and he serves as a Faculty Coach and Educator for the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute at UC Berkeley. Vish holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, an MBA from the University of Michigan and an executive coaching certificate from UC Berkeley. Vish has studied in traditional Himalayan ashrams and at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. Vish is the author of The Business Casual Yogi: Take Charge of Your Body, Mind, and Career, and the newly released Astrology Decoded: The Secret Science of India's Sages…

“Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.” Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching Since the 1970s yoga and the Alexander Technique have been deeply intertwined though very few people understand or even know about this connection. Both disciplines aim to enhance awareness of breathing, movement and presence fostering a sense of mind-body unity in many areas of life. Some of the earliest yoga teachers in the UK went on to also train as Alexander teachers during the 1970s to improve their practice which also enhanced the quality of their yoga teaching. The goals of yoga and the Alexander technique are remarkably similar and when used together they create a powerful synergy. Over the years many…

Yoga wasn’t something I initially envisioned as part of my life, let alone something that would shape the very core of my relationship. But yoga has a way of weaving its transformative magic, connecting the mind, body, and soul. For Patrick and me, it also connected two hearts on a journey of growth, resilience, and mutual inspiration. This is a story of individual self-discovery and shared exploration, culminating in a partnership that thrives on the mat and beyond. Discovering Yoga: A Tale of Two Paths My journey to yoga was serendipitous. As a semi-professional swimmer with a background in taekwondo, I initially viewed yoga as something graceful and unattainable, akin to the fleeting dance classes I tried between martial arts and swimming sessions. But when a friend invited me to…

I marvelled at the intricate way that the temple was built. Yogi Ji continued laying a handful of flower petals he had brought with him outside the door that led into the temple. He then sprinkled some coconut water. He paused in silence and then took a deep breath and started chanting. “Om Namah Shivaya,” Yogi Ji chanted over and over again. This is a mantra that is used to invoke Lord Shiva and in remembrance of his auspiciousness. Yogi Ji started off quietly. But as the time progressed, he became louder and louder. I joined in. Yogi Ji was overcome with the sound. His whole body pulsated as if an electric current had awoken within. He stopped suddenly. H then closed his eyes and stood without flinching and said,…

Kundalinī is the evolutionary impulse of Pure-Consciousness within the human form. A term originating from the Indian subcontinent and found within ancient texts. It’s the arising of an innately intelligent, purifying, and radically restructuring energy. The awakening to an inward spiraling path to the Heart of Reality. Historic women’s firsthand written accounts of the full arc of this divine grace are scarce while there are a handful of helpful books from male Gurus and a few others. Female first-person memoirs about lived experiences of this liberating and enlivening energy within classical Hatha Yoga and the nondual Tantra Shaivism traditions are sparse to non-existent, I came to find out when seeking to learn from women’s stories of these wisdom streams after an unexpected receiving of such grace in 2011. “Where are…

Yogi Maharaj Dr. Malik our Editor (since 2003) is a recognised international expert and an authority on the subject of Yoga. He started his training under the guidance of Yogis from the Himalayan region at the age of six and also received instructions from Sufis, Lamas and Sadhus. He is an accredited Yoga teacher specialising in Kundalini, Hatha and Laya Yoga. Founder and pioneer of Yogology, a spiritual technology which combines ancient traditions and principles of Laya, Hatha, Kundalini and meditative practices, Yogi Malik began teaching this over 20 years ago. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to researching, teaching and sharing his knowledge on yoga. He is also a practitioner of related alternative therapies, including Shamanism. Q: February is often associated with love. How can yoga help me deepen…

My first experience learning from plants came during the depths of depression in my early twenties. I fluctuated between short ‘highs’ and far longer ‘lows’. I started taking St. John’s Wort, not really expecting much, but with a reluctance to go down a pharmaceutical route I thought it worth a try. Around two months later I noticed a subtle shift: instead of experiencing life in powerful fluctuations from high to low, I started to sense that there was, perhaps, a middle. This surprising realisation of emotional equanimity was profound, a doorway opening into worlds unknown to me. I realised that the plant was not just affecting my entire being, but also teaching it. It also became clear that my response to this new experience mattered; I could choose to cultivate…

Wild Enchantments: Let Plants Be Our Teachers Nathaniel Hughes and Fiona Owen This beautifully crafted book and card deck intertwines Nathaniel Hughes’ profound knowledge of herbalism with Fiona Owen’s spellbinding illustrations. Presenting 33 plants, it explores their healing properties, rituals, and symbolic invitations, offering readers a unique perspective on herbalism as a tool for self-awareness and connection with nature. The teachings are experiential, derived from personal and client stories, encouraging readers to embrace sensitivity as a gift. Fiona’s intricate, gold-leafed illustrations evoke the magic of each plant, enhancing the immersive experience. Beyond remedies, the book invites a deeper, reciprocal relationship with the natural world, fostering community and care. This inspiring work is a call to reconnect with ancient wisdom, making it a must-read for anyone seeking harmony between self and…