by Mike Berghan | Mar 23, 2016 | Mike's Blog
The first limb of Ashtanga Yoga is Yama. This consists of 5 parts; ahimsa; satya; asteya; brahmacharya; and aparigraha. The first of these is ahimsa or nonviolence. As Guruji says in his “Yoga Mala” this means “not causing injury to anyone, including animals, in any...
by Mike Berghan | Feb 12, 2016 | Mike's Blog, News
We are now well into the new year and enjoying the warmth of Summer. Often at this time of the year I find myself taking stock a little. For a while now I have had an idea to use this blog as a way of giving my view of what Ashtanga is. As I have said in the past, I...
by Mike Berghan | Dec 14, 2015 | Mike's Blog
With Christmas just around the corner I have found myself reflecting a little on the year that is almost finished. It has been a great year in the studio. I feel incredibly blessed to have the privilege of being part of the beautiful Ashtanga Yoga community in...
by Mike Berghan | Aug 31, 2015 | Mike's Blog
With the proliferation of different styles of yoga these days I wonder if an essential aspect is being down played. This is the concept of “paramparā” or a succession of teachers in a traditional lineage. Intrinsic to this concept is the one of “Guru” (teacher) and...
by Mike Berghan | Jun 17, 2015 | Mike's Blog
I attended my very first yoga class at the Wainui Beach Tennis club rooms in 1992. I cannot credit that it was that long ago, because my practice still feels fresh to me. It still feels raw, with lots of rough edges. The beauty of this is that it still excites me. I...
by Mike Berghan | May 11, 2015 | Mike's Blog
Years ago in the Shala in Lakshmipurram one of the students asked Guruji which God they should worship. Guruji replied “Pick a God, any God, it doesn’t matter”. Of course as a Brahman Indian, Guruji meant any god in the Hindu pantheon, but he went on to say that...
