What is Dharma?
What is Dharma? The word dharma has multiple meanings across Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. We’re going to explore one aspect of dharma that comes from Hinduism; the word dharma appears in many sacred Hindu texts like the Rig Vedas and the Upanishads. In this context, dharma...
What are Samskaras?
What are Samskaras? Think about something you do without thinking about it, like making breakfast in the morning or driving to work. You don’t need to think about the individual actions that make up those processes because they are habitual. This is a good thing when...
What are the Gunas?
What are the Gunas? “Gunas” are qualities or properties of life; the word “guna” is often translated as “thread,” as in the different threads that are woven together to make up reality. The three gunas are Sattva, Tamas, and Rajas. The gunas are present in everyone...
Meet the Teacher Training Faculty: Lisa Helm
Meet the Teacher Training Faculty: Lisa Helm What do you teach for the Iam Yoga Teacher Training? I teach the Anatomy and Physiology module, which always kicks off the teacher training. We are big believers in setting up new teachers for success by helping them understand how to keep...
Purusha & Prakriti: Opposing Universal Forces
Purusha & Prakriti: Opposing Universal Forces The concepts of purusha and prakriti come from the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, which believes that the universe is made up of two realities. These two forces are purusha and prakriti, male and female, unchanging and changing, divine and...
Meet the Teacher Training Faculty: Elizabeth Vecchio
Meet the Teacher Training Faculty: Elizabeth Vecchio What do you teach for the Iam Yoga Teacher Training? Within the IAM YTT I teach four units: Hatha and Classic Sequencing, Fitness Sequencing, Creative Sequencing and The Language of a Yoga Instructor (which is kinda like sequencing too, just for your...
What is Jnana Yoga?
What is Jnana Yoga? Patanjali saw four paths for attaining the “union” of yoga. In past posts, we have discussed Karma yoga, or the yoga of service, Bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion, and Raja yoga, or the royal path. Lastly, we have Jnana yoga,...
What is Raja Yoga?
What is Raja Yoga? Patanjali saw four paths for attaining the “union” of yoga. In past posts, we have discussed Karma yoga, or the yoga of service, and Bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion. This path, the one of Raja yoga, is considered the...
Meet the Teacher Training Faculty: Angela Morley
Meet the Teacher Training Faculty: Angela Morley What do you teach for the Iam Yoga Teacher Training? I'll be teaching the kinesthetics of advanced mindful movement. Kinaesthetic learning is done through practice rather than listening to a lecture or watching a demonstration. I will include an anatomical breakdown of...
What is Bhakti Yoga?
“Devotion" is a loaded word, particularly in our secular world. You might associate devotion with a demand for blind faith or particular ideas about God. But Bhakti yoga is not meant to be restrictive or prescriptive. The path of Bhakti Yoga is about dedication, devotion,...
