Nirodhaḥ Yoga Blog
What brought you to your yoga practice?
I was looking for a new way to incorporate some movement and de-stress from my work, and after doing some searching I found 5KY on meetup and decided to give it a try. What benefits did you notice once you started practicing consistently? After my first session I noticed how relaxed my muscles felt, especially in my back and shoulders, and how much tension I had been holding there for who knows how long. It brought a lot of relief especially during a stressful work week. What would you now tell yourself before you started practicing yoga? I would tell my pre-yoga self that it’s important that your mind and body be in tune with one another, and many times the key to feeling better mentally is to take care of yourself physically. Even on days when you’re not feeling up to it, sometimes movement is enough to make you feel a lot better both physically and mentally.
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![]() Photo by Omkar Jadhav on Unsplash Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing yourself is enlightenment. - Lao Tzu This blog post is part of our Yoga Sutras series. Want to start at the beginning? Yoga Sutra 3.3 तदेवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः tadevārthamātranirbhāsaṃ svarūpaśūnyamiva samādhiḥ Enlightenment (or Samadhi) is when through meditation the essence of the object shines forth in its own essence, without form. Now Patanjali reaches the final and eighth limb of Raja Yoga, which is Samadhi or the state of enlightenment. As difficult as meditation is to describe in words, enlightenment is even harder. Patanjali tries to explain it here so practitioners will have an idea of what it is like to experience enlightenment and understand when they have reached that goal.
![]() Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash The mind that is alone is not only innocent but young...only such a mind can see that which is truth and that which is not measurable by words. - Jiddu Krishnamurti This blog post is part of our Yoga Sutras series. Want to start at the beginning? Yoga Sutra 3.2 तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam Built upon the foundation of concentration, meditation is the uninterrupted flow of attention toward the object of concentration. Patanjali distinguishes between concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana) within the eight limbs of Raja Yoga he lists. This is a key distinction for practitioners because while we often describe what we are doing as “meditating,” in fact the only action we can actually take is to concentrate.
What brought you to your yoga practice?
I was looking for physical activity that would also support my emotional life. What benefits did you notice once you started practicing consistently? My mind is quieter and I have the ability to focus on one part of my body at a time while I am practicing. I feel stronger and I can access breath work and yoga poses in my daily life not just in the studio. What would you now tell yourself before you started practicing yoga? The routine of practicing three days a week at Five Keys has had a profound impact on my well being. It’s a welcoming supportive community that I am happy to be a part of. Concentration is the key that opens up to the child the latent treasures within him. - Maria Montessori This blog post is part of our Yoga Sutras series. Want to start at the beginning? Yoga Sutra 3.1 देशबन्धश्चित्तस्य धारणा deśabandhaścittasya dhāraṇā Concentration is fixing the mind to one point. If we followed just this one sutra, we would learn to meditate and eventually reach enlightenment. How often I hear some variation of “I can’t meditate, my mind is too busy!” But this is exactly what the practice is designed to do: reduce the busyness of the mind.
Join us to usher in the wisdom, transformation, calmness and creativity that may come from the Year of the Snake! Lay back and relax as you are enveloped in the sounds and frequencies created by crystal singing bowls, gong, chimes, and other instruments.
Sound baths may help reduce pain, anxiety, muscle tension, blood pressure and heart rate, among other benefits. It is the perfect wellness complement to your yoga practice, and a wonderful opportunity to bring your intentions for 2025 back into focus after the hectic first weeks of January. No previous experience is required to attend. But space at this popular event often sells out. So make sure to reserve your spot early. Once purchased, your ticket is non-refundable. 5KY all-access members (including intro offer passes) get $15 off! ![]() Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash Great things are done when men and mountains meet. - William Blake This blog post is part of our Yoga Sutras series. Want to start at the beginning? Yoga Sutras Book Three: Vibhuti Pada Now we come to Book Three of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. From hereon, Patanjali tries to explain both the process and fulfillment of meditation, which he calls samyama (the three-step process of concentration, meditation and enlightenment that BKS Iyengar describes as “the art of integration” (175)) and the benefits that one achieves through the eight-limbed path of Raja Yoga and specifically, the culminating three steps of that path.
However, because the last steps in Raja Yoga go beyond the mind, it is difficult for anyone (even a yoga master) to describe what happens in words. January 5th-11th It's that time of year again. Big resolutions and not so much follow through. Every year, the same desire to feel healthier, calmer, and happier. And every year, those desires go unfulfilled. Instead of trying the same old tricks that have let you down in the past, what if you committed to yourself for just one week? No resolutions, no disappointment, just one week to reset yourself and redirect yourself toward your own best path. We promise you will see a difference in just seven days. A daily yoga practice anchors us and frees us from habits that served us in the past but are no longer needed in our lives now. By setting a new healthy habit, letting go of habits that aren’t as healthy will happen gradually and naturally - feeling better the longer you practice. Connect with our supportive community that will keep you inspired and motivated throughout the year, ensuring you start and end 2025 with mindfulness and balance To kick start your journey to (or back to) yoga this year, we are pleased to offer folks new to 5KY a weeklong trial of our all-access pass for just $15.
Our all-access passes offer unlimited classes in the studio, live streaming and on-demand, so a daily practice is within reach! Pass is only available for students brand new to 5KY. ![]() Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash Silence is a true friend that never betrays. - Confucius This blog post is part of our Yoga Sutras series. Want to start at the beginning? Yoga Sutra 2.55 ततः परमा वश्यतेन्द्रियाणाम् tataḥ paramā vaśyatendriyāṇām Then one achieves perfect mastery over the senses. One of the main reasons people start practicing yoga is to learn how to become calmer. With all that is going on outside ourselves, it can be really difficult to learn how to be calm.
That is why yoga’s process is one of involution, or one of leading the practitioner within and un-layering the conditioning that leads a person to feel stress, overwhelm and fear. What brought you to yoga?
My quest for healing and self-discovery shaped my journey to yoga. After enduring years of chronic anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and physical pain from conditions like spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and a pinched ulnar nerve, I found myself stuck and dissatisfied with my life. Although I practiced yoga, it wasn’t until I was overwhelmed by persistent negative thoughts that I fully embraced it as a means of mental focus and healing. Yoga became my sanctuary, helping me calm my mind, alleviate anxiety, and relieve physical pain. Through this practice, I developed self-love, built strength, and shifted my nervous system from stress to relaxation. What is your approach to teaching? As a yoga and wellness practitioner, my approach is grounded in mindfulness. My goal is to help students learn how to connect with and honor their bodies for where it is at now, not where they think they need to be. I encourage students to tap in and listen more closely to their intuition and learn how to trust their heart-mind and grow in their yoga practice without judgment or self-criticism so that the experience of yoga feels safe and approachable. Why did you choose to teach at 5KY? I chose 5 keys because their philosophy and values align very closely with my own. Plus, I like the cozy intimate setting, which is helpful for those who prefer a smaller class size. What makes your soul sing? I am an amateur singer. In a literal way, singing makes my soul sing. Haha! Singing and performing have always been a part of my life. It makes me so happy to belt out the big soaring notes and just let my heart feel free. |
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FIVE KEYS YOGA
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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAYFive Keys is fantastic! The studio is lovely and soothing, and the teachers are very caring and attentive. |
I've ... probably been to 25 different yoga studios. This is one of the most welcoming, calming spaces with very talented instructors. |
I love this yoga studio. It's a great balance of a good workout and relaxation and feels like a real community. |
An ideal studio for someone new to yoga. |