Sahaja Yoga Mats - Interview with JUDES YANG

TIY sat down with the incredible Judes Yang, founder of Sahaja Yoga Mats. Judes has dedicated her business towards supporting others and has an inspiring business goal of lighting up 108 Million Lives! With every yoga mat Sahaja sells, they give a solar light to families who have no access to electricity in Mozambique. You can literally change someones life with just one purchase! Read on for what lights Judes up and how she came to launch this remarkable business.

Can you tell us a little bit about Sahaja Yoga Mats and how the concept came about?

It was my way to give back to others. I wanted to light up lives, like mine was when I experienced some of the darkest days and trauma of my life.  I was given so much love and support and this is my way to forward that love and support on to others.

What did you take into consideration when designing the Sahaja Yoga Mat? As a yogi, what is most important for you in a mat?

I wanted a mat that encompassed the following features:

• Won’t move around on the ground when I practice

• A towel built in for when I sweat

• Strong grip so that I feel sturdy

• Enough cushioning for when I kneel

So I decided to make Sahaja Yoga Mats longer than the normal standard yoga mats, as well as thicker and wider. Our standard yoga mat is 1.83cm long - 10cm longer than the regular mats currently available, that are similar to ours. Our resident yoga mats are also 4.5mm thick, 1mm thicker than similar mats out there. Of course our travel mats are lightweight and thinner than our resident mat. We also have an extra wide range of yoga mats, which are 66cm wide. Our standard width is 61cm wide.

Your designs are beautiful, where does the inspiration come from? 

All the designs are original artwork, you won’t find our designs on adobe market place or anywhere that you can find artwork etc.  Each of our designs are created from the heart, through the inspiration of life, sacred texts and our experiences of living in the flow of life. See here to read more on our designs.

What sets Sahaja Yoga Mats apart?   

Firstly, our mats are created by a yoga teacher and yogi, for others.  We’re also a certified B corporation (read more)! 

Our designs are all unique and original artwork that were specially created for Sahaja Yoga Mats, they are also all limited editions. The designs themselves are created with alignment cues in mind.  You aren't told where you “should” place your feet or hands, the cues are organic, as every time you step into a warrior or are in downward dog, your hand and feet placement will be different.  The unique and intelligent alignment designs are perfect for those who self practice on their own without a physical teacher there. So staying in the flow, you can look at the mat and the designs will guide you. 

Everyone loves this aspect of our mats.So not only are the mats beautiful and give back, they are also functional with a purpose and a deeper meaning.

Are the mats easy to care for?   

Super easy! You can wash it down with a hose, or even leave it in the rain to clean. Hang it in the shade to dry and it dries super quick. Our mats can even be thrown in the washing machine whenever they get too dirty, without soap and with cold water. 

Where can people buy your mats?  

Through our website or our stockist, such as This is Yoga :)

Do you sell any other accessories?   

Yes we also have yoga straps, awesome eco cork blocks, tanks and we are working on adding to our range with towels, bags, bolsters and meditation cushions. 

Is there anything else you would like to tell us more about?  

We’re more than a yoga mat, we’re about community and lighting up people’s lives.  We call everyone who owns a Sahaja Yoga Mat a light giver, as they get to physically give a solar light with each yoga mat sale. The process of giving lights up the life of the person receiving, literally, but also the giver’s life lights up from doing something good. It’s not about buying a yoga mat, it’s about contributing to the betterment of another person's life, we become agents of change and the only thing we had to do was buy a yoga mat. 

How long have you been practicing yoga?   

Since I was 23 and I have been teaching yoga since I was 26, I am 43 now. 

What is your favourite pose(s)?  

Poses? They’re all beautiful, unique and serve a purpose in their own way.  I do prefer Kriyas and breathwork these days

Read more about Jude’s inspirational and heart touching story here .

To inquire about Sahaja Yoga Mats sold at This is Yoga, contact us at [email protected] or (02) 8958 8710

Author: This is Yoga

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The Benefits of Yin Yoga and Surrendering to Your Mat

Many people are drawn to the strong, flowing nature of a vinyasa class. Some poses may be held for a longer period of time but even still, the class remains relatively fluid. This type of class is beneficial for both strengthening and stretching and it also demands a lot of focus in order to follow the alignment and transition cues as you flow through. That being said, many of us lovers of a flow can neglect yin – a practice with longer, more passive holds. So should we make an effort to complement our stronger asana practice with a yin class from time to time? Below, Jade Lizzie explains some of the benefits a yin yoga class can add to your current routine, not just physically but mentally and emotionally.

In yoga, I hear a lot of talk about surrender and letting go. However, having been brought up to believe that happiness comes as a reward for ambition, striving and hard work, surrender can be a foreign concept. So in a goal-orientated, success-obsessed culture, how can I learn to surrender and, frankly, why should I bother? 

Overcoming Discomfort

Contrary to popular belief, yin yoga is not the same as restorative yoga. One of the first things many people notice about yin yoga is how uncomfortable it can be. Yet, despite the discomfort of some of the postures, the intention is still that you surrender and relax into the sensations. There is a life lesson there. It’s tempting to get trapped into patterns of thinking where you believe, “I’ll relax when…” or “I’ll be happy once…”. There will always be difficult times, unexpected discomfort and challenging situations. Learning to surrender to the postures on the mat can help teach you to let go of all that may be holding you back off the mat as well.

When you practice yin yoga, you learn to sit with discomfort and accept it without resistance. Although yin should not be painful, it’s a good place to explore the saying that "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."

Releasing Expectations

So much of what we do is because we want to reach a certain level, status or position. Even in yoga, there can  be a temptation to strive for a certain yoga posture or level of flexibility. With yin yoga, there are no “fancy” or deep poses, the focus is very much so on on how it feels.

As Bernie Clark puts it when referring to Yin yoga, “We don’t use our body to get into a pose; we use the pose to get into our body.” Each day you do yin yoga, your body will feel different, so learning to let go of the expectation that you should be anywhere is essential.

Gaining presence of mind

How much of your life do you actually spend being present? Not thinking about yesterday, or tomorrow or next month, but actually being present with what is?

Yin yoga is a powerful mindfulness practice. The reason for this is that the physical sensations you experience help to anchor the mind and keep you focused. Instead of distracting yourself with what has been and what could be, you surrender to what actually is right now.

When you surrender, and allow yourself to experience what the present moment has to offer, you find what is called ‘sukha’, the deep happiness and pleasure that already exists without you having to strive for something.

Relaxing your body

On a physical level, the surrendering of yin yoga lets the nervous system relax and believe it is safe to let the muscles release, thus permitting your body to open up and move deeper into the postures. Paradoxically, when it comes to increasing flexibility, you can find that by striving less, you may actually achieve more.

The same applies for anything you want to manifest. When you want something, there is a temptation to chase it and pursue it. In return, this dissatisfied state of wanting becomes your norm and more often than not, your goal seems to get further away. Even if you do reach it, you may immediately fixate on something else. So….

Let go

Yes, it is good to know what you want, but it is also good to surrender to it. Maybe by letting go you’ll find that it comes to you, or maybe you’ll discover that it wasn’t quite right for you anyway. In the words of Sonia Ricotti:

Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.

As with yoga in general, there is a lot more to the practice of yin than meets the eye. It may just be worth substituting one of your other asana practices for a yin and sticking with it for a while, to see what it brings not only to your practice but your life.

Check out our Timetables to see when and where you can get your Yin practice in at TIY!

The Importance of Intelligent Yoga Sequencing

You attend a yoga class with the intention to move your body and to squeeze some exercise in to your busy week. You then, unexpectedly, walk out feeling ethereal! Your body feels equal parts stretched but strengthened, you were intensely focused and challenged yet you feel a wave of calm, you were pushed to your limits yet you felt safe and trusting in the process, you may not have spoken a word to anyone yet you feel a warm sense of community and support amidst the silence.  We often don’t spare a thought as to why we feel this way. Commonly this will be put down to simply just…yoga. However, creating these sensations and emotions in people requires a very carefully curated sequence. Below, Arian Levanael explains why it is so important to fully understand yoga sequencing..

Did you finish yoga teacher training with more questions than you started with? Or are you thinking of diving deeper into your practice and don’t know where to start? Do you feel that you know how to sequence effectively?

For students and teachers on their journey this can be a real problem and not all teacher trainings address the importance of class planning and sequencing. So, what you may be left with is a set sequences (which can be very helpful for the first stages of teaching), but no clear idea how to develop your sequencing skills from there.

With the huge popularity of yoga and literally millions of people practicing yoga all over the world, there is a great need for further education of teachers. With this in mind, why is it that resources that provide information on class sequencing are quite rare?

So here it is, a course that many students have asked me to create, because they resonate with the way I teach and/or the story I tell through their bodies. Perhaps they feel the yoga is working and their body is well looked after through my sequences.

Hopefully.

 As a teacher that mentors new teachers, sequencing is the area I tend to work with them on the most, and one that I thoroughly enjoy.

As an aerial acrobat and performer for over 20 years, my job is to sequence not only my performances, but also often choreograph for other artists. I think this is where my passion for yoga sequencing has come from. I just love attention to details and being able to choreograph a movement journey with a whole class in synchronicity is something beautiful to do. To take the students on this intelligent creative journey is a challenge I rise to every day. I am always learning, ever evolving and expanding in my understanding of yoga and its many facets. Not only sequencing, but also the key elements of asana, pranayama, meditation and all the tools that yoga has to offer.

I have practiced and studied various styles over almost 30 years on my journey into yoga. As a 17 year old that just wanted to learn sun salutations as a way to touch my toes (then get my hands flat on the floor), with no understanding of the deeper layers of the practice, to now a ‘much older’ than 17 year old teaching yoga full time internationally.

I still feel like I’m only just scratching the surface of a deep journey of remembering. I need no answers to questions, simply feeling and experiencing freedom and the mystery of all this practice unfolds is a blessing.

My goal for this training is to offer both experienced insight and practical tips on how to work skilfully with sequencing your classes. This will eliminate the challenges you might face as a yoga teacher or one that is keen to start teaching, enabling your students to remember their true potential through your class and for you to remember your authentic voice.

There are so many ways to sequence a yoga class, so many options and it’s difficult to know how the story will unfold. Making the right choices of what to put in your class is important for your student’s journey, safety and the overall experience of their practice. As teachers we literally have our student’s bodies in our hands and it is our responsibility to ensure everybody is warmed up for often challenging asana and transitions between asana.

For an effective yoga sequence, it is not enough to mechanically follow a series of set postures that together make no sense. We must tell a story to the body and take it on a patient journey of awakening and an adventure of transformation through the sequence of our design. Our teaching can inspire the same flexibility that we are trying to develop in our bodies. Being open to new ways of moving and exploration is where the magic happens.

The yoga sequence you offer may leave your students feeling energised, deeply relaxed or spiritually connected. Hopefully some amazing combination of all three and more! But one thing I do know is that each person has their own unique experience. Just remember that no two classes are ever the same, even if the sequence never varies. The experience on your mat will be unique every single time because no two moments are exactly the same. Yesterday’s practice is not today’s practice, and today’s practice is not tomorrow’s practice. Allow each experience in the asana to be unique and unfold in the present.

Through this fun and informative training we will learn how to adapt asana sequences relative to the level of students, their overall health, life-style and environment. We will dive deep into asana practice and understand the layers of the pose. There are a lot of things to consider even before you decide on the type of journey that you want to take your students on, but do not be overwhelmed, this art can be honed, and it can be very enjoyable.

Teaching yoga is a passion and joy for me to share with others. It is from this devotion to this beautiful art that I humbly share my experience.

We can take yoga sequencing for granted. We often don’t appreciate the skill, heart and time that has been devoted to those sequences that have quite literally helped to change our life in one way or another.

Original author: Arian Levanael
First published: January 21, 2021
Link to article: https://arianlevanael.com/2021/01/21/why-yoga-sequencing-is-so-important-to-understand/

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How to Approach A Healthy Diet: Setting the Foundations

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant”

— Robert Louis Stevenson

A ‘healthy diet’ can mean many different things to each person. What works for one person may not be suitable for the next. This is one of the reasons we should be cautious about the dietary information we are faced with day to day, and whether it is worth our investment. A healthy diet is a long-term investment in our health and wellbeing, making the best choices we can right now will support our health well into the future.

Broadly speaking, a healthy diet incorporates the following:

Balance and variety 

As with most things in life, too much of anything is not a good thing! Even nourishing foods should be balanced, focusing too heavily on one area will displace other important foods and nutrients. Additionally, each individual food has its own unique nutrient profile and health benefits (even between the different colour pigments within the same variety of fruit/ vegetables e.g. red capsicum vs yellow capsicum) so when it comes to diet, variety really is the spice of life.

Choose wholefoods as often as possible

The less processed, the better. Both your body and the environment will thank you for this one! This is an easy way to ensure you are minimising unnecessary additives such as excess sugars, fats, salt and artificial colours/ flavours/ preservatives. Sometimes even seemingly healthful packaged foods can be deceptively potent in the aforementioned ingredients. In saying that, most people will require packaged foods from time to time and there is nothing wrong with that. Life gets busy, we have to budget – whatever the reason. However, it can be good to be aware of what to look for and perhaps do a quick comparison of similar products' ingredient lists/ nutrient information panels.

Takeaway, fast food and indulgent foods high in sugars, fats and sodium should be enjoyed but limited. These foods put stress on our bodies and can lead to negative health implications in the long term, when eaten in excess. They can also be detrimental to the functioning of our bodies and mental wellbeing in the short term!!

Eat plenty of plant foods

Our bodies LOVE vegetables, fruits and legumes. There are too many benefits to delve in to for this article but they can have profound effects on our general and mental health and will support not only our health in the present but in the longer term. To get all of the goodness you can out of them, leave the skins and peels on where possible and wash them well.

Keep hydrated and limit alcohol

Fluid requirements can vary greatly from person to person based on; build, gender, activity levels, the amount you sweat, the amount of fibre you eat, the temperature (and so on). Generally speaking, most people don’t drink enough water – especially if you are a hot yoga yogi! Some of the effects of dehydration can include dry skin, headaches/ poor concentration, fatigue, low blood pressure and concentrated urine/ sluggish digestion. Perhaps take a look at your fluid intake and consider whether it needs increasing. In regards to alcohol, try to mostly keep it to social occasions and in moderation!

A Note on Blue Zones

Blue Zones are areas in the world where the populations live the longest, healthiest and fullest lives in comparison to other locations. This includes Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Ikaria (Greece), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica) and the Seventh Day Adventist community in Loma Linda (California)1. What do these populations have in common?

• They mostly eat plant foods

• Those that do eat meat, eat only minimal amounts

• Seasonal vegetables, beans and wholegrains make up the basis of their diets

• Nuts are common in their diets

• There is a strong emphasis on community and social engagement around food

• They are physically active in their day to day lives
  

Other helpful tips in your approach to nutrition:

• Respect other people’s choices. What influences the dietary choices someone makes can be a deeply personal thing and can stem from experiences we aren’t aware of. Be mindful of this, each to their own!

• Set realistic expectations of what you can achieve and don’t beat yourself up when you don’t meet a “perfect” standard, or if you have an off day/ week etc. Be kind to yourself.

• Try not to have an ‘all or nothing’ approach.

• Take the time to plan and prepare. Think of it as an investment in your health and wellbeing (because it is!). 

• Do not demonise any foods or nutrients.

• Avoid fads and overly restrictive diets, unless there is reason. Don’t make things harder for yourself than they need to be.

• Be fluid and flexible with your approach. Requirements change throughout the life time, as well as day to day.

• Eat mindfully, avoid distractions. 

• Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the food you eat and the people you share it with!

References:

[1] Crowe, T 2013, ‘What We Can Learn From The World’s Long-Lived People’, accessed 14 February 2021.

Author: Belinda Elwin

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Where it All Began - The Yoga story

So where to start? Lets start at the beginning.

अथ योगानुशासनम्

atha yoga anuśāsanam

With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga.

~ Yoga Sutra 1.1

atha - now, auspiciousness, a prayer, a good omen

yoga - joining, union, junction, application, deep meditation, contemplation of the Supreme Spirit

anuśāsanam - advice, direction, guidance given in a procedural form

Whether you have just landed for the first time in the realm of yoga, on this page or been dedicated or dabbling for years, there is something about just landing on the mat as we are, where we are as an accumulation of all our experiences that we can relate to. 

Yoga is an ancient practice, steeped in wisdom from sages and rishis in India who began to open up the exploration of us as individuals as a part of a much grander and intelligent system. The word itself, yoga means ‘union’ or ‘to yoke’ and offers us a philosophy for living, a state of mind and a discipline that allows us in this modern world to open up to that universal connection.

The first written recordings of yoga philosophy came about some 2500 years ago from the renowned sage, Patanjali. These recordings known as The Yoga Sūtras, a collection of aphorisms, outline the eight limbs of yoga as a serious of ‘threads’ of wisdom, or ‘seed’ teachings offering potent tools and steps to living a meaningful and purposeful life.

The sage Patanjali outlined for us in these sutras the Eight Limbed Path (more on that to come), steps toward an enlightened blissful state that apply now as the yogis code for living and moving through the world with a higher awareness.

Though there is not necessarily one such text that the philosophy and practise of yoga is based on, the Yoga Sutras do provide the most succinct guide that we can look into, practise with and meditate on. We can use these threads to guide us through our steps into fulfilling our potential, landing on our most true path and discovering the most meaningful life we can live. The first sutra (above) can be with us in any given moment to bring us into the present moment.

As we land on our mats - yes of course, however more importantly in those moments of frustration in a queue, when we want to be present with our kids, friends or partner, when we need to apply our focus or make an important decision - we can remember that feeling from the mat of ‘now’. 

That in this moment, atha, my life has given me preparation and practice to allow me to be here now, present and awake.

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Eight Steps to Freedom

Like many eastern timeless philosophies for living, pathways were developed by the ancients to map the way for seekers heading for the answers to their biggest questions.

A pathway toward ‘enlightenment’ was the most revered course a person could take in their life and these days these maps are as relevant in a modern world as they were then.

In a busy, stimulated world where we are getting more and more separated from nature, where convenience and technology can have us sleepwalking through our day, it is easy to become separated from our hearts and Yoga is like the map keeping us close to our true nature.

Its a map we can use when we look more deeply into the effects of our yoga practise… is it reducing our stress? Is it opening our minds and allowing us to become more aware of our actions? Is it helping us to understand our emotions such as jealousy, anger, fear and hatred?

There are four traditional schools of Yoga. Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga. They describe various approaches to the practise of yoga and while a yogi or yogini may focus more on one path at different times, they are like four threads that form the larger tapestry of a balanced yoga practise.

The path of practise we are most familiar with here in the west is the path of Raja Yoga, also known as Astanga Yoga (not the modern set series developed by Sri K Pattabhi Jois), the Eight Steps of Yoga. 

It is the path of self-discipline and practice and is often referred to as “classical yoga” as it emphasises meditation, while encompassing the whole of Yoga. 

The steps directly deal with encountering and transcending thoughts of the mind to a clearer, free and awakened state.

The Yoga Sutras, a collection of texts written by a Patanjali drawn from philosophers of centuries of study and practice of yoga, outlines an eight-limbed, step-by-step path for purifying the body and mind. 

Its eventual desired result is to help practitioners cultivate a steady mind, leading to calm bliss. Our most pure and natural state of being.

The Eight Steps or Eight Limbs are known as:

1. Yama - Self-control

2. Niyama - Discipline

3. Asana - Postures and exercises that firmly root the body to the earth

4. Pranayama - Control of life force through the awareness of breathing

5. Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the senses from the external world

6. Dharana - Holding of awareness in concentration

7. Dhyana - Moving into quietness, meditation

8. Samadhi - Absorption into higher realms of consciousness, bliss.

These steps are what we move through everytime you practise, perhaps not in that order but you go through the stages as you land on your mat, move your body with your breath and begin to quieten down from the busyness of life.

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