Happy Buddha Pūrṇimā
Hello friends!
Happy Buddha Pūrṇimā ! I’m excited to have this year’s Buddha fall on my birthday (the full moon started at 4:30pm on May 11 here in Cape Town.)
I was very fortunate around the time of my 30th birthday to traveling in North India where I sat my first Vipassana meditation retreat and learned the technique of Ānāpānasati , breath-awareness meditation. I’ve recorded a short 10-minute meditation for you – ideal if you are wanting to get started with a meditation practice.
Don’t miss the details for the Rishikesh Retreat. Happy reading!
With Love
Nea Ferrier
nea@neaferrieryoga.com
neaferrieryoga.com
Utthita Pārśvakonāsana A,B extended side angle pose
Utthita Pārśvakonāsana
If we are talking higher teachings of yoga philosophy, we could say yoga is the path of equanimity, transcending the duality of “raga” and “dvesha”, likes and dislikes. But along the way we definitely still have our favourites.
Pārśvakoṇāsana is my absolute favourite standing posture! Here are some highlights;
1. It’s a “moola” root posture for so many asanas to come, from Jānuśīrṣāsana and Baddhakoṇāsana and Viśvamitrāsana, in Advanced A (see the photo below).
2. Don’t take for granted the strength needed in the core and spine to hold the torso with integrity on this angle.
3. It’s one of few postures in primary series that accesses the fascial “lateral line” of the body (as per the Anatomy Trains methodology. Read more on this below.
4. Backbending isn’t all about the front and back. Working into this lateral line, creating space in the side body is integral to smooth backbending.
5. It’s a wonderful posture to explore the concept of “rooting”, grounding down with the feet and legs, and “rising” lengthening up through the spine.
Myofascial Lateral Line
The Lateral Line is one of the myofascial meridians described in Thomas Myers’ Anatomy Trains.
It runs along the side of the body, from the lower leg muscles and outer edge of the foot, up through the Iliotibial (IT) band and tensor fasciae latae (TFL), into the gluteus medius and minimus (lateral hip stabilizers), then the external and internal obliques (lateral abdominal wall muscles), the intercostals (muscles between the ribs, contributing to lateral ribcage expansion), ending at the scalenes and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) (neck muscles assisting with lateral flexion and rotation).
Pārśvakonāsana is a wonderful posture to experience the lateral line!
Practice tips
1. Actively ground the heels and lift up through the arches of the feet. This will prevent you from collapsing into the inner knee of the straight leg, and help you externally rotate thigh and work into the hip mobility of the bent leg.
2. Firmly ground the out edge of the straight leg foot, reach through the fingers of the extended arm.. Visualize the lateral line running up the side of the body as you do this and you will feel it lengthening.
3. Focus on equally distributing your weight between the two legs. It’s very easy to collapse into the bent leg – use a block underneath the hand reading the floor if needed. Firmly ground the staight leg, as you slowly bend the knee. Keep the majority of the awareness in the back straight leg, keeping it very energized.
4. Rotate the chest, like the heart will look at the ceiling. Direct the breath into the sides the chest, using the breath to create space in the intercostal muscles. Learning to breath into your side body will be of great use for back bending.
5. Finally, after making all these micro-adjustments, let go of the effort, enjoy being suspended between the sensation of grounding down and lengthening up. Finding equanimity within a pair of opposites. Read more on this below.
2.48 TATO DVANDVĀNABHIGHĀTAḤ TATAḤ DVANDVA-ANABHIGHĀTAḤ
FROM THEN ON, THE SĀDHAKA IS UNDISTURBED BY DUALITIES.
However, when applied to yoga asana, I like to contemplate on the pairs of opposites found within the posture, such as two directions of movement, rooting and rising, applying effort, yet also letting go. It is in between these “opposites” we can experience an inner peace and steadiness.
LEARN THE VINYASA COUNT FOR THESE POSTURES – LISTEN BELOW
Nea Ferrier Yoga
Utthita Pārśvakonāsana A & B
Stream Audio on SounCloud
Buddha Pūrṇimā
Today is Buddha Pūrṇimā , a festival celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. We often associate the Buddha with South East Asia where his iconography is most commonly found, however the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal, he was enlightened in the Indian state of Bihar, and gave his first sermon in Sarnath, just 30 mins outside of Varanasi. This is a photo I took when we visited Sarnath, last November as part of the Varanasi retreat. It was a serenely peaceful and uplifting place.
Indeed, there are a number of similarities between the teachings of the Buddha at this time and what we find in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. It seems this area of north India was a hotbed for spiritual inquiry, with many yogis exploring meditative and yogic practices as a means to gain liberation.
There is one particular sutra which I find very interesting in its connection to Buddhist teachings.
maitrī-karuṇā-mudita-upekṣāṇāṃ sukha-duḥkha-puṇya-apuṇya-viṣayāṇāṃ
The mind becomes clarified by cultivating attitudes of friendliness, compassion, gladness and indifference respectively towards happiness, misery, virtue and vice.
maitrī– loving-kindness or friendliness to those who are happy
karuṇā-compassion to those who are suffering
mudita– joy in the success and virtue of others
upekṣāṇāṃ – equanimity towards those who do harm of behave badly
This Sanskrit words are almost the same as the Pali words (the language of the original discourses by the Buddha) – Metta, Kuruna, Mudita and Upekkha. In Buddhism these are know as the four Brahmaviharas or sublime states – attitudes to be cultivated in meditation and in daily life.
Like all sutras, this short handful of words is an incredible powerful teaching, that I find useful to continue to return to again and again.
ENJOY THIS 10-MINUTE GUIDED BREATH-AWARENESS MEDITATION
Nea Ferrier Yoga
Ānāpānasati (Breath Awareness Meditation)
Stream Audio on SounCloud
STILLNESS & MOVEMENT
SHIVA-SHAKTI ASHTANGA YOGA & MEDITATION RETREAT
RISHIKESH OCTOBER 7 – 12, 2025
Join me for a 7-day/5-night yoga retreat, to India’s yoga heartland, Rishikesh. We’ll be staying at a boutique hotel nestled right on the banks of the Ganges river, surrounded by the serene Himalayan foothills. The retreat will include daily yoga, meditation and philosophy talks by the majestic Ganga, along with excursions to nearby temples and spiritual sites, expertly curated for the perfect balance of stillness and movement.
Retreat Highlights
- Daily yoga, meditation & chanting
- Daily talks and satsangs
- Visits to nearby Shiva & Devi temples, ashrams and spiritual landmarks
- VIP experience of the famous Ganga Aarti
- Shopping and exploring in Laxman & Ram Jhula
- Gentle hiking and time in nature
Package Includes
- Five-nights’ accommodation in boutique hotel
- All yoga classes
- All meals
- All day trips and entrance fees
- Local expert guide
- Airport transfers and transport in comfortable vehicles
*Airfares and visa costs are additional
Pricing
Sharing Room (two people ) – AED 6500 per person
Single Room – AED 8950
BookingsFor bookings email sophia@sugarcaneelephants.com. As this is a small boutique hotel spaces are limited. Bookings will close by September 15.
BOOK CORNER
I read this book right when I first started practising Ashtanga Yoga and thought it was a perfect description of the practice.
“Flow,” is a highly focused mental state conducive to productivity and deep enjoyment. Flow occurs when we engage in activities that balance challenge and skill, leading to a sense of timelessness, intrinsic motivation, and complete absorption in the task. And according to the author, it’s the psychology behind happiness.
- – Flow occurs when challenges are high and skills are equally high.
- – If the challenge exceeds your skill, it can lead to anxiety.
- – If your skill exceeds the challenge, it may cause boredom or apathy.
- – Flow sits in the “sweet spot” where both are in harmony.
What do you think? Sound familiar to you?
ASHTANGA YOGA ANUṢṬHĀNA
60-HR ASHTANGA YOGA PRACTICE & PHILOSOPHY IMMERSION (YACEP)
OCTOBER 2025 – APRIL 2026
Programme Overview
- Six-month programme including in-person and online workshops
- Three in-person weekends (Oct 4/5, Jan 17/18, April 18/19) at Nilaya House, Dubai
- 12 online lectures (twice per month, Thursdays 7:00-8:30pm DXB time)
Application Process
Please email nea@ashtangayogadubai.com to receive the application form. Spaces are limited.