You often hear that the term ‘Yoga’ is so much more than the poses we see on magazine covers. Truth is that the poses you learn in a class today are part of the third of eight limbs that yoga traditionally teaches. We skip ahead to the 3rd limb because we hope to experience immediate physical benefits, but let’s back track to that first limb and see what it’s all about!

The first of 8 limbs of Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras describes for us the ways in which we interact and relate to the external world. The five Yamas are the steps we take towards carrying our yoga off the mat, out of the studio and into this world. Learning these concepts and applying them to a daily practice allows for growth by drawing the focus to a positive and joyful life within and with others.

Each day, we will explore one of these ethical guidelines through a meditation or mantra, vinyasa based asana practice and discussion on how to apply these to modern day life.

The 5 Yamas are:

Ahimsa – non-violence
Satya – truth in word and thought
Asteya – non-stealing
Brahmacharya – non-excess
Aparigraha – non-possessiveness
Practice suitable for all levels. Maximum 25 students.
For 200 hour Yoga Alliance certified teachers the credits of the course can be applied towards the 500 hour certification, and is eligible for 10 hours CEU with Yoga Alliance. Continuing Education Units are required to maintain your status as a Registered Yoga Teacher.


ABOUT JAZZ BRADEN

Born and raised in Yellowknife, NWT Jazz grew up with a massive appreciation for the wild outdoors. Every day, her family would bundle up and brave any arctic temperature and go play outside. Trudging through the snow, canoeing on the lake, climbing on the rocks or skiing through the trees was the cure to any and all problems. Movement was always a big part of her life, but it wasn’t until she stumbled onto a yoga mat that she understood why her mother rushed her out of the door at -40 degrees in the dead of winter. At the most basic and primal level, we all crave one thing: Connection. We want to feel connected to something greater then ourselves. The truest and simplest ways (I have found) to feel connected is by being in nature and by practicing yoga.

Yoga is the practice of self love and self discovery. These shapes we bend, stretch, bind, jump and twist our bodies into exist purely to show us our true nature as magnificent beings. The clumsy athlete I was 6 years ago would have just rolled her eyes at that statement. Yoga found me in my last year of varsity basketball when my body was at its wits end. It was the first time I ever felt graceful and beautiful in my body. And it was the first time I was moving just to feel good rather then to improve my stats. This practice has opened my eyes and heart repeatedly to my pure potential beyond what I ever thought possible. Every time we come to the mat, we are given a chance to fall in love with ourselves over and over again. What a gift that is! No matter how scattered or torn in all directions we may feel, that connection to self is what pieces us all back together, it brings us home.