The yamas are five ethical principles in yoga that guide practitioners towards moral, social and spiritual growth. The yamas are traditionally considered the first step in Patanjali's eight-limbed path of yoga.

Pranayama refers to the regulation and control of breathing techniques in yoga. There are various types of pranayama techniques that help increase our lung capacity, calm our mind, and boost our overall well-being. Here are some of the most common pranayama breaths types in yoga:

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. The name "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which means to yoke or unite. It is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that aim to bring harmony to the body and mind.

Yoga postures, or asanas, have been given numerous names over centuries of practice. These names are often rooted in spiritual and cultural traditions. Here are some of the stories behind the names of yoga poses:

Sound meditation is a form of meditation that uses sound as the main focus to help relax the mind and body. Various instruments are often used to provide the sounds for this practice. Here are some of the most common instruments used in sound meditation:

Yoga has been around for thousands of years, but it is in the past few decades that it has become immensely popular. The practice of yoga involves physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, which can provide numerous benefits to individuals.

Vinyasa yoga is a style of yoga that emphasizes the flow of movement with breath. Vinyasa means "to place in a special way," and in this practice, each movement is synchronized with the inhale or exhale of breath. This creates a continuous flow of movement that can be dynamic and challenging.

What are the benefits of sound meditation? Sound meditation is a powerful mindfulness practice that relies on sound vibrations to help relax the mind and body. Rather than using traditional meditation techniques such as chanting or focusing on breath, sound meditation relies on the use of specific sounds or frequencies to bring peace, calm, and balance to the mind and body.

If you are looking for a convenient and personalized yoga experience right at your doorstep in Phoenix or Scottsdale, AZ (and surrounding cities), then Yoga by Larissa mobile yoga services are your answer. With mobile yoga services, you get to have a one-on-one session with Larissa, certified yoga teacher who comes to you, bringing all the necessary equipment with them. This means you do not have to travel to a studio or a gym, saving you time and effort.

What is Sound Meditation? Sound meditation is the use of ancient sounds that are traditionally passed down from teacher to teacher. During a sound meditation, the students will sit down, lie down, or perhaps lie in a pool or silk hammock. Prior to the sound meditation, the teacher might offer some stretching, movement, or guided meditation. As the sound meditation practitioner plays these sacred sounds, the student will find a deep state of relaxation. During sound meditations, I incorporate a variety of sounds including gong, buffalo drum, ocean wave drum, crystal singing bowls, chimes, and more. If you are in the Phoenix, AZ area, please inquire to set up a sound meditation session.

According to the Bhagavad-gītā, there are four different paths of yoga, with one of the strongest paths being bhakti yoga. These four paths include:

Karma Yoga – The Yoga of Action

Karma yoga is the extent to which we serve and help our communities without expecting anything in return.

Bhakti Yoga – The Yoga of Devotion

Yoga is beautiful because we all come from different beliefs and religions. Bhakti yoga allows us to develop greater love for God or consciousness. We develop love for all.

Raja Yoga - “royal path”; “raja” – king or royal The Yoga of Meditation or The Yoga of Energy – following the 8 limb path

Jñāna Yoga – Yoga of Knowledge or Wisdom

“Jnana Yoga, or the science of the Self, is not a subject that can be understood and realized through mere intellectual study, reasoning, discussion, or arguments. It is the most difficult of all sciences.” – Swami Sivananda

One-Footed Pose dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I (also referred to as Straight Leg Side Crow Pose)

King Suddhodana and Queen Maya had a baby boy named Siddhartha, and as was common practice at the time, they had sages and wise people come visit the court to make predictions about the boy’s future. Sage Koundinya predicted that baby Siddhartha would grow up to renounce the court, leave the kingdom, and go on his own path to find enlightenment and truth. Siddhartha’s goal was to relieve the world of suffering and he found the concept of the middle path or the four noble truths. These noble truths are as follows:

1. There is suffering in the world. We all suffer.

2. The root of that suffering is desire.

3. We can stop suffering.

4. To do so, we follow the noble path which includes good moral conduct, meditation and mental development, and wisdom or insight.

Through this pose named after Koundinya we recognize that the only kingdom that can be ruled is that within our own heart and soul.

Some intentions that we can practice in relation to Sage Koundinya include:

1. “I consistently practice good moral conduct, meditation, mental development, and wisdom in order to achieve enlightenment.”

2. “I am the ruler of my own kingdom, which is that of my heart and my soul.” ~ Larissa

A key take away is that through our connection to the self we can let go of any suffering.