Lakshmi | Lakṣmī | लक्ष्मी

Lakshmi_goddess of wealth

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, love, fortune, and is considered the embodiment of beauty. She is the wife of Vishnu and carries his active energy. Her fours arms represent purusartha, or the four primary aims of human life: Dharma, Kama, Artha, and Moksha and representations of her can be found in many … Read more

Purusartha | पुरुषार्थ

Baghavad Gita Battle

The Goals of Life Purusha and Artha are two very complex Sanskrit words that represent a Hindu ideal of life’s purpose [Purusha (पुरुष) and Artha (अर्थ)]. Together, the words mean purpose of being, the objective of human pursuit, or the meaning of life. Purusha means human being, soul, or the universal principle and soul of the … Read more

Ahimsa | अहिंसा

Yama #1 Ahimsa is the Yogic concept of non-violence, or non-harm to other beings. Himsa means to strike, injure, or harm and adding an ‘a’ before a word in Sanskrit makes the meaning opposite; in this case meaning non-injuring, non-harm. This is especially important in the yoga practice that occurs in the studio, but plays … Read more

The Origin of Yoga

Yoga is old. Really old. The word itself is a marvel to etymology, because of its origins in Vedic Sanskrit, the mother language of Sanskrit. In this context, yoga means union, joining, or adding, more particularly in the use yoking oxen and horses. In epic Sanskrit, the word evolves into a combination, connection, application, or … Read more