Ahimsa, (non harm-doing) is the first of the yamas, or the ethical rules of yogic practice. Ahimsa is the foundation upon which the rest of the yamas and niyamas are positioned, as well as being the underlying “goal” of practice in general. To do no harm is practically impossible as every action creates affect or [...]

Interview with Michelle Sarchiapone, owner of The People’s Yoga 6/9/10 RS: Something I’ve been thinking about a lot is the accessibility of yoga. It’s become an industry and pastime that has an image attached to it that tends to appeal mostly to certain demographics, yet at its heart it’s a practice that could be beneficial [...]

Mmmm… Those of you that live in Portland might be aware of the gastronomical delight that is Prasad Cafe. If you don’t know, now you know… Make it a must-do on your next trip through the Rose City! Prasad owner Karen Pride shares her recipe for a chilled Jamaican Avocado Soup. Yum! Avocados are a [...]

Dear Readers, I’m so pleased to introduce Kathryn Bruni- Young, Toronto yoga teacher, nutritionist and new columnist for Feed The Yogi. Kathryn has a lovely understanding of yoga (she’s been practicing since age 16!), as well as nutrition. I hope you enjoy her column as much as I have, and Kathryn I hope you keep [...]

Community yoga is booming! Free, by-donation and cheap classes are making the way into the schedules of most yoga studios, if not making up the entire schedule of many studios. There’s a lot of bad news these days that we are collectively trying to come to terms with and figure out how to live with [...]

At some point in a yoga class you may have heard the teacher say, “Savasana is the most important pose“. Depending on your reason for practicing yoga you may have found this statement confusing. Why would sava (corpse), sometimes called mrti (death), asana (pose) be more important than dynamic standing poses like warrior one, or [...]

Yoga happening started happening in Toronto, and is now happening in Vancouver, New York City and Portland, OR. Yogahappening creates yoga events in public spaces: in the park, at a gallery, in the mountains, by the sea, the forest, the lake. Yogahappening asks you to pause in your yoga routine and consider the spontaneity of [...]

Free Rice is an online game that helps you brush up on your vocabulary. For every word you guess correctly the World Food Programme donates 10 grains of rice to a country in need. It might not sound like a lot, but the game is quite addictive. An hour spent here instead of facebook and [...]

I love coffee so much. I love how it smells and how it tastes and all the different ways to prepare it… Sad for me that drinking it gives me horrible stomach aches, so I avoid it (mostly), while enjoying the smell wherever and whenever I can. At the end of this post you’ll find [...]

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of Pattahbi Jois, (Guruji), the founder of the school of Ashtanga Yoga. With love, respect and deep gratitude we offer thanks and remembrance to a great teacher, student, scholar, and leader. AUM PURNAMADAH PURNAMIDAM PURNAT PURNAMUDACHYATE PURNASYA PURNAMADAYA PURNAMEVA VASHISHYATE. AUM THAT IS THE WHOLE. THIS IS [...]

(my-yer-ahs-anna) mayura = peacock One of the best detoxifying poses is Mayurasana. This pose is one of the first 15 asanas ever to be written down. The first Yogis practicing asana understood its tremendous health benefits. Here’s what Svatmarama wrote about mayurasana in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika: “Mayurasana quickly alleviates all diseases like enlargement of [...]

“Lower the shoulders. Revolve the stomach left and right with the speed of a strong whirlpool. This is called Nauli by the masters. This Nauli is the crown of Hatha practices. It kindles a weak gastric fire, restores the digestion, always brings happiness, and dries up all defects and diseases.” – From The Hatha Yoga [...]

This article is a must read please. For people who eat food. Whether you eat animal proteins or not, this article has some essential information on preparing vegetable foods and how to get the most out of what you’re eating.

In traditional Chinese medicine springtime is the season of the Liver. Dark and bitter leafy greens aid in detoxifying and toning the liver. This pressed salad is a deeply satisfying bowl of goodness. Make it with whatever dark leafy greens are abundant in your area. Dandelions are commonly considered a weed, but in fact they [...]

My godmother Clarissa is a fantastic chef. She is also one my best friends and mentors. Clarissa is an acupuncturist and herbalist (Chinese herbs) here in Portland and the owner of Jade Acupuncture in NW Portland (the best place in PDX for acupuncture and massage… Not that I’m biased). It’s Clarissa that I double-check all [...]

The following is taken from NPR’s story “The Great Oom: Yoga’s Wild Ride to Respectability” You can listen to the complete story here on NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ “Yoga, that mystical art that’s become a regimen for 15 million Americans, came to this country from the East. Eastern Nebraska, to be precise. That’s where, back [...]

Ever wonder why sprouts are so expensive at the health food store? Me too. They’re so easy to “make”. All you need are some organic raw seeds, water, cheesecloth, a jar, sunlight, and you are good to go! Sprouts are a perfect addition to your springtime menu. They are packed with vitamins and nutrients, protein-rich [...]

Tao Porchon-Lynch has been a student of yoga for over 60 years and has studied with Indra Devi and B.K.S. Iyengar. At 91 years old she’s been teaching yoga for 4 decades and is still going strong as a living inspiration. Thanks Tao for setting a wonderful example! “The creator of life is inside of [...]

I’m not sure I agree with all the rules, or the generalization of what ‘Yoga Goddesses’ want,  but the Guide to Dating a Yoga Goddess is a good start for potential suitors, or at least a good read. All the yoga goddesses and their would-be lovers will have to let me know what you think, [...]

Well… I did say that I would update this blog while I was traveling, and I did alright for the first week, but then I seriously fell off the wagon. Oh well, I enjoyed the computer-free time!And now I’m back in sometimes sunny/ mostly rainy Portland and getting back to work. One of the places [...]