Uncategorized – Ripple Yoga

Prana – The Driving Force of Life

Prashna Upanishad – The Driving Force of Life Written by: Kim Wohlen The study of Upanishads provides one with a foundational understanding of Hindu philosophy and culture. The sincere seeker gains a greater understanding of the meaning of life, relevant thousands of years ago to present time. It addresses concepts of human existence such as karma, bondage, the ultimate self, liberation, bliss, God and the Universe. Some souls seem to seek answers to burning questions […]

The Spinal Column

Anatomy and Function of The Spinal Column As we evolved as a species from four-legged creatures to two, our spinal columns adapted to support the weight of our heads. We developed a series of curvatures in the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine and sacral spine. You can think of these series of curvatures as alternating C shapes that come together in perfect harmony to support weight distribution. In our Yoga practices, it is essential to […]

Obstacles On The Yogic Path

Sarvesh and I have a common phrase in our household. It goes something like this: “your Antarayas are showing again!” It often appears through self-justification or avoiding something that would benefit our highest self and make us feel truly uplifted. Some examples are: Foregoing exercise or yoga practice, isolating, blaming, procrastination, etc.. This is self-sabotage behavior. We all exhibit it from time to time. Can you relate? What are Antarayas? According to Maharishi Patanjali, codifier of the Yoga […]

My First Yoga Class

Whether you think you’re inflexible, have a racing mind or have never tried it, know that Yoga is for everyone! At Ripple Yoga we teach to the wholly integrated experience that goes beyond just the physical practice. Yoga means union and a return to oneness with our true self. The teachings and practices create the framework to allow us to experience this. Sarvesh explains it here, in the video titledYes, You Can Do Yoga! Sarvesh […]

Yoga Lingo

Learn the basic definitions of common yoga terms YOGA ~ To yoke together ~ Unity ~ Conscious Evolution ~ A way of life YOGA SUTRAS ~ A string of thoughts compiled together on the theory & practice of yoga MAHARISHI PATANJALI ~ Indian sage who codified the Yoga Sutras EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA ~ The eight-fold path to enlightenment YAMA & NIYAMA ~ The first 2 limbs of Yoga, defined as moral restraints & ethical […]

Best Practices & FAQs

Tips & Best Practices for Navigating Your Courses Create your yoga routine by choosing a specified time each day for your practice such as some practice in the morning, afternoon and evening. You will have access to all of the content for 30 days. We recommend reviewing it all in order but you have the option to skip around Equipment such as a yoga mat, bolster, strap, towel, and blocks may be purchased at your […]

These Four Walls

(Written February of 2020 after closing the physical space of Ripple Yoga) We are closing a chapter to make space for new tales to come to life. Our little yoga studio has been a place for thousands of students to retreat the chaos of the city, step on their mat and be present for the self. It hasn’t awarded us riches in the material sense but an abundance of grace and ability to touch the […]

Expansion and the Lost Art of Pranayama

(Originally Published 2016) “You are a shallow breather; in fact, you are all shallow breathers.” Our teacher said this to us during our first week at the ashram in her thick Eastern European accent. I didn’t really know what to make of this statement. Am I a shallow breather physically? Physiologically? It turned out both. It was explained to us that through our social conditioning and basic physiological functioning of the body, we as a […]

It’s a Lab!

(Originally published 2016) I think that we as human beings like to experiment and think that a lab is fun place. On a macro level, I have often thought that the Earth was a lab experiment for human beings, and as a microcosm always remember hoping in high school chemistry that I would be the one who blew up a small part of the lab by mixing the wrong chemicals! That fun seems to take […]

I Sat on the Floor

(Originally Published 2016) Sit on the floor. This simple request back in October seemed mundane enough. So I sat, and realized within about 30 minutes that this benign request was going to become my yogic challenge for the course. I was unaware of both the length and consistency of floor sitting required not only in practice where we utilize Vajrasana and the seated variations (Padmasana, Sukhasana) but the class time spent in this position. During […]