Yoga News 96 - 01/2016

Be fully present
I Am Here in My Body: How to truly feel your own body and why it’s so important to develop a good relationship with it. By Angelika Doerne.

Asana: Backbends with Liz & Roland
Part 1 – Urdhva Dhanurasana: Finding a deep expression with a stable foundation, a supple spine, and an open heart. By Liz Huntly & Roland Jensch.

Moving through the space
With Ajapa-Japa meditation, you don’t just stand in the doorway—you walk through the door and begin to discover new things about yourself. On the beginnings of Kriya Yoga. By Hamsananda.

Preparing for Pranayama
How to specifically prepare for pranayama practice: Why warm-ups, learning the bandhas, and purifying breathing techniques are important—explanations and exercises. By Gitta Kistenmacher.

Fascia Yoga
Part 1: Introduction – Basic Exercises for the Fascia: Theory and Practice. By LuNa Schmidt.

The Art of Meditative Reading
If we truly want to understand spiritual texts, we need more than just a sharp mind. Often, the ancient scriptures reveal their true depth and poetic beauty only on another level of our consciousness. By Bernhard Spirkl.

Asana: Spirit Yoga – the formula
The elements of earth, water, fire, and air represent complementary aspects that come together in harmonious synergy in our new workshop series. In Part 1 of the series, Patricia Thielemann-Kapell introduces the basic principles. By Patricia Thielemann.

The Journey to Your Own Strength
Discovering the Power of Resilience: How yoga paves the way to greater agency, instills confidence in life, and strengthens our resilience. By Timo Wahl.

Yoga as a response to stress
The reconfiguration of the mind as a path out of suffering and toward an authentic and self-determined life: encouraging guidance on mental restructuring with the help of yoga concepts. By Anna Trökes.

Post-traumatic growth
Many of us suffer from the effects of various types of trauma. But healing is possible: How yoga can help you move forward with renewed courage after a traumatic experience. By Doris Iding.

Spiritual discernment
Why polarity and duality are not the same thing – a nuanced look at duality. By Armin Risi.

You’re not alone
Liliana Lakshmi is a yoga teacher and co-creator of the “Bhakti Yoga Summer Festival.” In YOGA AKTUELL, she talks about the positive power of a loving community and the essential importance of regular contact with nature. Interview: Nina Haisken.

Meeting Shiva
Forbidden Love in the Himalayas: Tiziana Stupia fell in love with a swami, of all people. In this interview, she recounts how this hopeless love story ultimately became a path to self-liberation. Interview: Doris Iding.

Reminder of the essence
A.G. and Indra Mohan are among the few people still alive who were personally taught by Sri T. Krishnamacharya for many years. During a workshop in Graz, we had the opportunity to ask them a few questions. Interview: Melanie Müller.

Smile instead of gritting your teeth
More and more people are under constant stress. Many react to this with tension in the jaw area and nighttime teeth grinding. Yoga teacher and author Inka Jochum knows how simple exercises can help. By Irene Dalichow.

Save lunch!
From an Ayurvedic perspective, we should eat our largest meal of the day at lunchtime. Nutrition expert Daniela Wolff knows how to make this work. By Daniela Wolff.

Lotus: The highly prized plant
For centuries, the lotus has been regarded as a symbol of human spiritual growth. We have tried to explore why so many cultures and religions feel inspired by this plant. By Irene Dalichow.

Ayurveda Tips: Healthy Bones and Joints
Nutrition is a crucial factor for the health of the musculoskeletal system. An in-depth examination from an Ayurvedic perspective offers many important insights. By Kerstin Rosenberg.

Yoga instructor
How do I find the perfect teacher training program?
The range of yoga teacher training programs is vast and diverse. Find out here which criteria can help you make a decision. By Dirk Bennewitz & Andrea Kubasch.

Shakti
The Power of the Feminine in Yoga
“There is no yoga, nor has there ever been or will there ever be one, comparable to the divine woman.” By Ela Thole.

Shamanism
The snake as a power animal, healer, and creator
The snake has always held a special fascination for humans and, with its unique power, teaches us many valuable lessons. What the snake conveys to us and what role it plays in ancient myths. By Doris Iding.

Yoga World
Dates, trends, and news
News from the world of yoga. By Nina Haisken.

Music
Ashtanga meets Raga
How classic Indian scales, with their unique characteristics, can effectively support yoga practice, and what fascinating tradition lies behind them. By Stephanie Schönberger.

Yoga off the mat
Yoga where it’s really needed
The Homeless University in Berlin is a mobile educational institution run by and for homeless people. In March 2015, yoga instructors Janine Schneider and Dania Schumann launched a yoga class there, which they teach on a volunteer basis. By Julia Johannsen.

Travel
Yoga and winter sports
Skiers, cross-country skiers, snowboarders, and backcountry skiers are currently getting their money’s worth. Find out here how you can use yoga to prepare for skiing and discover hotels that combine both activities. By Doris Iding.

Yoga philosophy
Yoga revisited
Provocative answers to fundamental questions about yoga that are asked far too rarely. By Dr. Ronald Steiner.

Zoom
YOGA-AKTUELL readers worldwide
Yoga to the Sound of the Waves: Aneta Gäb sent us a snapshot from Ko Samui

Brief Profile
This time: Neem Karoli Baba. By Doris Iding.