​Around 5,000 years ago, the ancient yogis began to lose their capacity to memorize the scriptures by word of mouth, and there became a need to write things down for future generations.  The sage, Sri Patanjali, began the process of articulating the basic ideas about yoga in what has become known as the Yoga Sutras.  Sutra has  a similar meaning as suture, stitch.  Patanjali threaded together the meerest inkling of the profound concepts on self-realization.  A short work of four books with 196 sutras​ or aphorisms, the Sutras are the guidebook on how to control the mind and attain moksha, or liberation.

​In previous blogs I spoke about Asana and Pranayama as being "pillars", or building blocks of a Big Yoga practice.  I started with these more common concepts to begin this discussion of what makes up  Big Yoga .  But essential to any yoga practice are the ethical rules--yamas, and the good habits or observances--niyamas.  The very first of the yamas is Ahimsa, ​or non-

  Prana--the life force of the universe.  In the far east, they say "chi".  Hawaiians call it "ki".  And, Yoda calls it "The Force".  

We are all born with a finite supply of chi which gets depleted over time through aging, overexertion, bad habits.  But there is an infinite supply of chi in the universe that we can bring into the body to boost our energy, focus the mind, and have more fun in life.  Pranayama is the practice of breathwork that allows us to boost our chi.  If you do nothing else, you'll love the effect 

What is it about Big Yoga® that makes it different from other yoga styles?  How did I come up with the name?  How long have I been teaching Big Yoga?  

I thought you might be interested in these questions.  

Big Yoga is a spin off of Integral Yoga®, a yoga school started by Sri Swami Satchidananda.  He came to us during the 60's from India, where he had studied