International Yoga Day
Article by Delight Yoga
June 2017
Come and celebrate International Yoga Day with us on June 21st. During International Yoga Day we celebrate yoga and that it embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action.
The essence of Immortality: A Sacred practice by Ven Maritika Rinpoche
Article by Katiza Satya
May 2017
Ohm ॐ, We are honored to have received the teachings and blessings of Maratika Rinpoche at Delight Yoga on May 15th and 18th. We are very grateful to share one of his teachings transmitted in Amsterdam on May 18th, 2017 through this blog. Besides the texts, we hereby share the pictures for visualization of HRIH and Buddha Amitayus with you also. Long Life Mediation on Amitayus A brief gathering about the essence of Immortality. Taking Refuge (three times) Ohm ॐ, Ah Hung To the kind assembly deities of immortality, and all mandala deities, until we receive the long life Vidyadhara (wisdom) we respectfully take refuge in you. Generate Bodhicitta (three times) Hrih, I and all sentient beings, to receive the body of immortality, by practicing the assembly deities of long life, through the activity of appropriate training, may we generate bodhicita to liberate all sentient beings. Main Visualization Hrih, The self-realized Hri syllable radiates clouds of light rays. All ten directions are encompassed by the vajra (indestructible) tent, in the center of that is the wisdom palace, in the center of the wisdom palace is an enchanting throne of lotus and sun. There the Hrih syllable transforms itself as Buddha Amitayus, red-colored with hands i the mudra of meditation and holding the long life vase, adorned with robes and ornaments of the Sambhogakaya and seated in vajra (indestructible) posture, possessing all the major and minor marks and emanating brilliant light, his three sacred places (forehead, throat and heart) are marked by the three syllables, from these three syllables light rays radiate and dissolve into himself VAJRA SA MA DZA ,DZA HUNG BAM HO In the heart is a lotus and a moon, on that the concentration is the syllable Hrih, surrounding the syllable is known as the red mantra, light rays emanate form by making offerings and then absorb back all the attainments, all beings achieve the body of immortality, the power of all indestructable and immovable phenomena, dissolve into the concentration which is Hrih, all the bodies are filled with the blessings of immortality, like an indestructible vajra, and the immortal become the great bliss. OM AH HUNG VJRA GYANA AYU KHE HUNG DRUM NIR DZA SAR WA SIDDHI PHALA HUNG AH (recite this as much as possible with concentration and divine pride silently. Sometimes do Vajra breathing and mix these two practices) Dissolving Yoga At then end of the session the contents and container melt into rays, and dissolve into the pure heart syllable Hrih, that becomes beyond vision and inexpressible, relax in the nature of immortality. once again instantly arise in the form of the deity, just like water welling up in water. Dedication By the merit of this virtues, accomplishing the Buddha of longevity (Amitayus), may all beings without exception, be established on that level Notice for the support of practice: If you really want to commit to this practice, try to meet up with the group by contacting Annelied Mock at: anneliedmock@gmail.com Find more information on the website: http://www.maratikafoundation.com/ http://maratikamonastery.org/
June: Saucha - purity, cleanliness and clearness
Monthly Theme by Wessel Paternotte
May 2017
When I first heard about the niyamas as being the rules of yoga, I was not a fan. I never liked rules and I had a slight tendency of breaking them. Luckily, over the years my perception changed, and I began to understand that the niyamas are not meant as rules that you simply must follow to be a good person. I began to appreciate them as spiritual, mystical and yet very practical guidelines for a happy life. And I love being happy. And it is my great pleasure to discuss the niyamas with you for the next couple of months. I believe they help us focus our mind on the eternal source of all being, and bring magic to our life. By practicing the niyamas, we make space for divine consciousness to flow through us. Ultimately, we become a vessel to transmit light. This is – in my eyes - the purpose of practicing yoga. The first niyama is Saucha, which means purity, cleanliness and clearness. And what do we want to make pure, clean and clear? Our inner & outer world. Our body & our mind. Our conscious & subconscious mind. Basically, we want everything to be as Saucha as we can possibly get it. Why? First of all, because it feels good. There is nothing like coming out of the shower all fresh, washed, clean, scrubbed, brushed and smelling like a rose. Saucha! And don’t forget the inner body: Fasting every now and then to allow our body to rest, drinking water to clean the body internally, doing practices that heal and purify the body, it all makes us feel great and shiny and fully present in our body. Saucha! And how about our environment? My mother always used to say: when your room is a mess, your head is a mess. Wise words. I discovered how organizing and cleaning my house had a direct effect on my state of mind. Perhaps cleaning out our closet, doing the dishes, washing the windows or taking out the trash is not always our favorite way to spend the afternoon, but how great is that feeling once you are done and you look around? You feel great. That’s Saucha! But the practice of Saucha is not just about feeling good. I discovered Saucha helps us become a pure vehicle for spiritual awakening. When we keep our environment clean and organized, and take good care of everything around us, something shifts in our attitude towards life. It creates a mentality of attentiveness. When we make our personal space open and clear, and attend to our environment with subtlety and awareness, we make space for the magic to appear. That is why we like to keep everything so nice and tidy at Delight. Saucha! And last but not least: beyond the physical world is the psychic realm, and cultivating a pure mind is where the real work lies. How do we purify the mind? The mind can be purified by doing Brahma Sadhana, meditation upon the divine, and by maintaining pure thoughts. When we see the divine in everything and look on the bright side of life, our attitude towards ourselves changes. So even when things look bleak, I try to find the joy in that I call the delight of being. I try to remember that life is not happening to me, but for me. Divine consciousness, the beauty of life, is available every moment when you open up for it. When you make space for it. Our pure mind becomes absorbed with sweet, careful and loving thoughts. We treat all objects and all beings around us with kindness and love. And we become the person we always knew we were deep down inside. That is the power and beauty of practicing Saucha! May Saucha be with you this month, and may your soul shine bright like a diamond. All my love, Wessel Paternotte Founder Delight Yoga
May: Aparigraha - Non-attachment
Monthly Theme by Maarten van Huijstee
April 2017
In the Theme of the Month of May I will reflect on the fifth and last Yama: Aparigraha. The Yamas, “the don’ts”, are considered the natural laws of Yoga and thus Aparigraha is one of the five essential restraints. The word Aparigraha stems from the word parigrah which means ‘to crave’, ‘to seek’ and 'to seize’ possessions. It not only means the action but also includes the intent; the attitude of craving and possessiveness. The prefix “a” means “non” so often Aparigraha is translated to no-greed or non-attachment. On a physical or material level we can easily come to understand Aparigraha; don’t attach yourself to the stuff you have or seemingly want to have. I’m not saying it’s easy to do, because most of our economy and big parts of our society are aimed at stimulating the craving of material possessions, I’m just saying it's easy to understand. It gets interesting if you start contemplating your attachment to relationships, thoughts and emotions. Aren't we really attached to the thought or identity built around these possesions? Isn't it only a collective idea that with more possessions, we gain more status and relationships? When I started contemplating on this, one of my favourite songs, “Society” by Eddie Vedder, came to mind. This is a soundtrack of Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild”, a movie directed at showing us the insanity of our society. When reading the following lyrics please imagine the Soul or Mother Nature singing these profound words. It's a mystery to me We have agreed With which we have agreed You think you have to want More than you need Until you have it all you won't be free Society, you're a crazy breed I hope you're not lonely without me When you want more than you have You think you need And when you think more than you want Your thoughts begin to bleed Please also take a few minutes to listen to this beautiful song, because you can actually feel the Soul shining through the vibrations of Eddie's voice. Or maybe that's just my imagination. Or both. Lots of Love, Maarten van Huijstee Co- Founder Delight Yoga
April: Brahmacharya - Follow the Universal self inside
Monthly Theme by Maarten van Huijstee
March 2017
Brahmacharya In this Theme of the Month I will reflect on the fourth Yama “Brahmacharya”. The Yamas are an integral part of the path of Yoga and are seen as the natural laws of life which are guiding our action, words and thoughts.
March: Asteya - Non-stealing
Monthly Theme by Maarten van Huijstee
February 2017
Asteya In the Theme of the Month of March I'll be continuing my exploration of the Yamas, which are seen as the natural laws of Yoga and apply to all aspects of life, including restraints in one's actions, words and thoughts. This month we will reflect on the third Yamas, "Asteya", which translates to "non-stealing".
On the schedule: meditation courses
Article by Delight Yoga
February 2017
When you practice meditation on a regular basis, you can experience beautiful benefits. From better concentration to less stress. But it needs practice! That's why we are offering four of our weekly meditation classes in a course format. You can follow them in sequence as a three/four month-course or take each separately—depending on your preference and wishes.
February: Satya - Truthfulness
Monthly Theme by Maarten van Huijstee
February 2017
Satya As mentioned in the January, I’ll be writing the Theme of the Months in 2017 about the five Yamas, an integral part of the eightfold path of Yoga. The Yamas are seen as the natural laws of Yoga which apply broadly in life and include self-restraints in one's action, words and thoughts. In February we’ll be having a closer look at the second Yama “Satya” which translates to “Truthfulness”
Open Days 11+12 February: free yoga at Weteringschans!
Article by Delight Yoga
January 2017
Open days 11 and 12 February at Weteringschans 53! Don't we all have this friend, family member, neighbour or colleague who says he/she will try yoga one day but never does? In the weekend of 11 and 12 February Delight Yoga offers an open day weekend: Free yoga all weekend - so no more excuses! If they're still hesitating, tell them there will also be free clearings and massages, that will do the job :)
January: Ahimsa - non violence, non harming
Monthly Theme by Maarten van Huijstee
December 2016
Ahimsa Several weeks ago, my teacher, Katiza Satya asked me to write the Theme of the Month for the first months of 2017. I was asked to write about the five "Yamas", one of the limbs of the eightfold path of Yoga. The Yamas are seen as the natural laws of Yoga which apply broadly in life and include self-restraints in one's action, words and thoughts. In January we start with "Ahimsa" which literally means "do not harm".
The Delight of Being
Article by Juno Burger
November 2016
The Delight of Being A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.
December: Just being is enough
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
November 2016
Maybe you have this experience that you are thinking to much. We are always planning, worrying, solving some problem, judging what we see as good or bad, liking or disliking. Is there ever a time when we are just being? Simply experiencing life as it is in whatever colour, sound, taste and touch is unfolding NOW by NOW, is a rare event.
November: The importance of self practice
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
October 2016
Do you have a practice of yoga that you do regularly at home by yourself? If the answer is yes then you may have understood what is the real meaning of yoga practice: to dive deeply into yourself and find what is truth.
October: Hatha Yoga Part 4 of 4
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
September 2016
Hatha Yoga Part 4 Mudra, Bandha and Kundalini Energy udghāṭayetkapāṭaṃ tu yathā kuṃchikayā haṭhāt | kuṇḍalinyā tathā yoghī mokṣhadvāraṃ vibhedayet || 105 || As a door is opened with a key, so the Yogî opens the door of mukti by opening Kuṇḍalinî by means of Haṭha Yoga.
Why do you want to meditate?
Article by Dana Marshall
September 2016
Why do you want to meditate? At ten years old, sitting in front of meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, I was asked “ Why do you want to meditate?”
Practicing from the inside: Vijnana Yoga
Article by Shirley Woods
August 2016
Practicing from the inside: Vijnana Yoga We asked expert Shirley Woods to explain a bit more about the principles of vijnana yoga. What is it exactly, how does practicing from the inside work?
September: Hatha Yoga Part 3 of 4
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
August 2016
Hatha Yoga part 3 Part 3. Pranayama practice according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika: athāsane dṝdhe yoghī vaśī hita-mitāśanaḥ | ghurūpadiṣhṭa-mārgheṇa prāṇāyāmānsamabhyaset || 1 ||
Breathing in Ecstasy!
Article by Arno Nistal Ten Veen
August 2016
Breathing in Ecstasy! In this article Arno gives you some insights in how the way you breathe is directly related to how you feel, and how you exchange energy with life itself with all of your life…
Erica Jago Back at Delight Yoga!
Article by Delight Yoga
August 2016
Erica Jago will be back at Delight Yoga and will be guiding workshops, special classes and some regular classes:
August: Hatha Yoga Part 2 of 4
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
July 2016
Hatha Yoga part 2 Part 2. Asana practice according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika: The second chapter of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika explains asana as the foundation of the Hatha Yoga training.
Finding Sanity in an Insane World
Article by Kimberly Poppe
July 2016
Finding Sanity in an Insane World Each morning when I wake up and look at the news, it feels like the world has gone insane and that we are in some apocalyptic horror movie with a script so badly written that no one would believe it is actually real.
July: Hatha Yoga Part 1 of 4
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
July 2016
The purpose of Yoga according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika Hatha Yoga is the system of yoga we follow when we practice yoga asanas, pranayamas, bandhas etc. Any practice that involves these aspects is Hatha Yoga, every "style" of yoga you are practicing it is directly related to Hatha Yoga.
May: Bhakti Yoga Part 2 of 2
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
June 2016
The way of the heart, devotion and sacred space. This month's theme from the Bhagavad Gita is a continuation of last months theme: the path of "Bhakti " yoga, the yoga of opening the heart in devotion.
Opening Weekend Prinseneiland
Article by Delight Yoga
May 2016
Yes! As you might know, we're opening up our fourth yoga school in Amsterdam on Prinseneiland. We're really excited that we're heading towards the Opening weekend! In the weekend of 14/15 May everybody is welcome to join us for some free(!) yoga classes, meditation, pranayama, massages, healings, clearings, music and satsang.
Delightful Meditation Classes
Article by Delight Yoga
May 2016
Meditation classes at Delight Yoga We've created a new set up for the Delight Meditation classes. We've identified five styles of meditation, that are now taught at our Delight Yoga schools. You can find the following one hour classes on our regular schedule of both Amsterdam and Den Haag.
June: Jñana Yoga, or the Yoga of Knowledge
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
April 2016
Theme of the month May 2016 jñāna yoga, or the yoga of knowledge This month's theme from the Bhagavad Gita is the path of jñāna yoga, or the yoga of knowledge. jñāna is not knowledge in the same way we normally understand the word. jñāna is like a fire that burns away that which is not true.
Product of the month - April
Article by Delight Yoga
April 2016
Yogandha oils Boost your wellbeing naturally with aroma therapy ‘Gandha’ is sanskrit for fragrance and the fragrant substances made from woods, herbs, plants and resins: sandalwood, myrrh, cedarwood, jasmine, etc.
April: Bhakti Yoga Part 1 of 2
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
March 2016
Bhakti Yoga This month we continue with the paths of yoga as described by the Bhagavad-gītā. The path of Bhakti Yoga is described in the Gita as the quickest and most powerful of the paths of Yoga. The whole of the Bhagavad-gītā is a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna.
The Path of Krishnamacharya
Article by Adela Serrano
March 2016
Tirumali Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) is also known as “The Father of Modern Yoga”. He was born in the south of India, in a Brahmin family and was trained in the study of the Vedas by his father, the Vedas are the basis of what is known as Hinduism.
Product of the month - March
Article by Delight Yoga
March 2016
Pukka's Wholistic Trikatu - recommended by Victoria Hyndman (Ayurvedic Expert) As we are nearing the end of winter and the beginning of spring, this is the time of year when we start to get colds.
March: Karma Yoga
Monthly Theme by Kevin Sahaj
March 2016
Theme of the month March 2016 We will start this month with the first of the Yogas from the Bhagavad Gītā: Karma Yoga. Karma Yoga is the path to realization by acting selflessly in the world with the knowledge of our inherent interdependence with all things.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Quote by Delight Yoga
February 2016
"Every artist was first an amateur." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Buddha
Quote by Delight Yoga
February 2016
"Do not dwell on the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -- Buddha
Thich Nhat Hahn
Quote by Delight Yoga
February 2016
"Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive". -- Thich Nhat Hahn
Pleasure by Buddha
Poem by Delight Yoga
February 2016
Whoever gives oneself to distractions and does not give oneself to meditation, forgetting true purpose and grasping at pleasure, will eventually envy the one who practices meditation.
Loosen your grip
Poem by Deborah Quibell
February 2016
Loosen your grip. Give yourself permission to be imperfect. Don't seek what others are seeking, unless it echoes in your bones. Spit out whatever you have ingested about not being enough. Your realness is delicious. And you don't need to obsess any longer about finding your path. Start simple. Tie a string from your heart to your feet And only walk in the direction that makes you tick. By Deborah Anne Quibell
Prune & poppy porridge
Recipe by Kyra de Vreeze
February 2016
Porridge is a typical winter breakfast but can be enjoyed year round. Winter invited you to choose rootsy and dense ingredients and warming and comforting flavours. Spring allows you to work with light and cleansing produce and a refreshing and uplifting palate. You can give shape and character to your porridge and make it totally season appropriate.
Amaranth, fig and sage cookies
Recipe by Kyra de Vreeze
February 2016
I have been totally obsessing over Sage off late. Its taste, its colour, the velvety texture of its leaves, the healing properties it holds. I love everything about it, and it loves me back. Cooking with Sage is not part of my culinary upbringing.
Find your sacred space with Tijn Touber
Article by Michel Fijn
February 2016
Once upon a time there was a man; a virtuoso of the guitar and member of one of Hollands most beloved and famous bands in the eighties, Lois Lane. He seemed to have it all – the most desired woman in Holland and a band who caught even the curious eye of superstar Prince, who would later take the whole ensemble on a world tour – all of them except for this man.
Find your sacred space with Katiza Satya & Kevin Sahaj
Article by Michel Fijn
February 2016
To set foot inside the sacred space of Katiza Satya and Kevin Sahaj is to feel submerged in the very essence of their being. The smell of sandalwood incense, the simple tones of dark wood, earthly colours and matted white walls, the many statues and tokens of those who represent the divine, holding the space that is their home now;
The mind, meditation and creativity
Article by Deborah Quibell
February 2016
Every creative knows that our most valuable resource is not our mac, our Leica camera, new oil paints, or the latest high-tech software. It is our mind. Creativity erupts from ideas. And ideas erupt from the mind. But what is the mind, really?
The power of listening
Article by Deborah Quibell
February 2016
I walked in a bit early for the interview. I had been thinking about it for many days, and felt simultaneously excited and immensely settled. I had known the work of Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche for some time, but had never had the pleasure to meet him in person.