Ahimsa — the first of the Yamas — is the heart of yoga’s ethical path. Often translated as non-violence or non-harming, it’s more than simply refraining from physical harm. It’s an active choice to live with compassion, empathy, and a deep respect for the interconnectedness of all life.

Sattva is one of the three Gunas—alongside Rajas and Tamas—that shape the qualities of nature and the mind. Sattva embodies clarity, peace, purity, and ease. It is the most refined of the Gunas and is often seen as the state most supportive of spiritual growth. Yet, it’s important to remember that even Sattva is not the final goal—it is a stepping stone toward transcendence.

This week, we turn our attention to Rajas—the Guna of movement, energy, and transformation. Rajas is dynamic and driven; it is the force that fuels action, ambition, and change. It can elevate us toward Sattva, the state of clarity and equilibrium, or pull us down into Tamas, the realm of inertia and confusion.

Tamas, in particular, is the force of inertia, obscurity, and resistance. It is the energy that stabilises, grounds, and contains. In nature, Tamas is what allows seeds to rest beneath the soil, the sun to set, and the body to sleep. It is the stillness before action, the pause between breaths, and the descent that follows a peak. Without Tamas, there would be no form, no structure—only chaos.

The Crown Chakra, or Sahasrara, is the seventh and highest of the primary chakras within the human energy system. Situated at the top of the head, it represents our connection to the divine, higher consciousness, and spiritual awakening. Often symbolised by a thousand-petaled lotus or a radiant white or violet light, it is the gateway to transcendence.

The Ajna Chakra, or third eye chakra, is located at the centre of the forehead, just above the space between the eyebrows. “Ajna” translates to “command” or “perception,” pointing to this chakra’s role in intuition, insight, and higher knowing. Represented by a deep indigo two-petaled lotus, it is considered the gateway to higher consciousness and spiritual vision.

Vishuddhi Chakra — the fifth energy center — is located in the throat region, extending from the base of the neck to the Adam’s apple. Often referred to as the throat chakra, it governs communication, self-expression, and the power of authenticity.

The Anahata Chakra, or heart centre, is located in the middle of the chest and is symbolised by a green lotus with twelve petals. Governed by the element of air, it relates to the lungs, heart, and circulatory system—and is the energetic seat of love, compassion, and empathy.

Located in the abdomen, the Manipura Chakra governs digestion—not only of food but of life experience. It represents our solar energy, the radiant internal sun that ancient Yogis considered a major centre of power, perception, and energetic distribution in the body.

The second chakra, known as the sacral chakra or Swadhisthana, is located in the lower abdomen—between the pubic bone and the top of the sacrum. Representing the water element, it governs the energy of cohesion and connection, binding emotional, sexual, and creative forces into a unified current of life.

The Root Chakra, known as Muladhara, is the first of the seven main chakras and lies at the base of the spine. Deeply connected to the earth element and represented by the colour red, this chakra governs our sense of stability, grounding, and survival. It forms the energetic foundation for all aspects of life.

Resolution marks the completion of a cycle—an ending that naturally gives rise to a new beginning. Life unfolds in cycles, both subtle and profound. Some span days or seasons, others stretch across years or entire phases of our growth. Each one carries us through experiences that shape who we are and who we are becoming.

When we incarnate into this life, we forget who we truly are. And in the early stages of our lives, we begin to accumulate even more content — thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours shaped by our upbringing, our environment, and the world around us. These influences take root in the unconscious mind, forming layers of conditioning and patterns that steer us away from our true nature.

Yoga is far more than the shapes we create on the mat. When we shift our focus from the appearance of postures to their deeper function, we begin to experience yoga as a transformative practice—one that can shift our energy, reframe our perspective, and help us see ourselves and the world more clearly.

In Tantra philosophy, much of human suffering stems from identification with the three lower chakras. These energy centers are linked to the primitive brain and store deep-rooted patterns of fear, survival instincts, attachments, and the drive for control or status. While essential to human experience, they can keep us bound in cycles of reactivity and limitation.

Sushumna, meaning “sacred stream,” refers not to a physical structure but to a subtle, transcendental channel within the human energetic system. In Sri Vidya, it is described as a “state of consciousness” and is revered as the most vital and powerful pathway for spiritual awakening.

At Bhav, yoga is more than movement—it’s a spiritual practice rooted in cultivating subtlety and self-awareness. The bhav, or inner attitude, we encourage is one of inquiry, refinement, and devotion. As we grow more subtle in body, breath, and mind, we begin to operate from a higher vibration—where clarity, presence, and insight arise naturally.

As we become more sensitive to energy, we also become more skilled at building, shaping, and directing it—and just as importantly, learning how and where not to leak it. This takes great intention and the use of subtle inner techniques, which help develop our energetic awareness. Over time, we also gain the ability to refine and purify the quality of our Prana.

In the sacred journey of yoga, as our practice deepens, we begin to perceive subtle layers of energy that shape our inner and outer experience. At Bhav Yoga Studio, our current teacher training is immersing us in the transformative wisdom of Prana, especially its radiant solar aspect and deep connection to the heart center.

It’s essential that we learn to calm and stabilise the mind first before stepping into the Sun. The Sun represents Prana—life force energy. Just as the Sun shines indiscriminately on all things, Prana does the same, bringing to life whatever it touches and ideally we do not want to amplify our unconscious, negative tendencies.