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The Four Goals of Life

6/30/2025

In the classical Indian tradition, the four aims of human life are known as the Purusharthas (“purusha” = soul, “artha” = purpose or aim).

They are:
1. Dharma (Righteous Duty, Living in Alignment)

Meaning: Your true purpose, calling, or moral responsibility — living in a way that honors your values and supports the well-being of the whole.
Why it matters: Dharma guides you to act ethically and fulfill your unique role in the world, whether as a teacher, parent, healer, or artist.
Yoga’s perspective: Living in alignment with Dharma cultivates harmony within and with others.

2. Artha (Prosperity, Resources)

Meaning: The pursuit of material well-being, security, and means to sustain life.
Why it matters: Artha allows us to meet our needs and care for family and community.
Yoga’s perspective: Artha is healthy when balanced with Dharma — it’s not about greed, but about responsible stewardship and abundance that supports your Dharma.

3. Kama (Pleasure, Desire, Joy)

Meaning: Enjoyment of life’s pleasures — love, art, beauty, sensory delight, connection.
Why it matters: Pleasure is a valid and sacred part of being human.
Yoga’s perspective: Kama is balanced when it doesn’t dominate at the expense of Dharma or Artha — when it uplifts rather than entangles.

4. Moksha (Liberation, Freedom)

Meaning: Ultimate freedom — spiritual liberation from suffering, illusion, and the cycle of rebirth (samsara).
Why it matters: Moksha is considered the highest aim because it’s the realization of your true nature — boundless, free, and whole.
Yoga’s perspective: The practices of yoga and meditation are paths that lead you toward Moksha — the ultimate inner freedom.

In a nutshell . . .
The Purusharthas remind us that a meaningful life is beautifully multi-dimensional:

Serve your purpose (Dharma)
Create security and stability (Artha)
Enjoy the gifts of life (Kama)
And ultimately, remember your true freedom (Moksha).

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Moksha

6/30/2025

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Ancient Vedic philosophy introduced the Purusharthas, four goals of a meaningful human life. These goals remind us that a meaningful life is beautifully multi-dimensional:

Serve your purpose (Dharma)
Create security and stability (Artha)
Enjoy the gifts of life (Kama)
And ultimately, remember your true freedom (Moksha).

When balanced, they help us live fully — with our feet on the earth and our spirit reaching for the infinite. Yoga is seen as a path that aligns the Purusharthas in harmony — so that your actions (Karma) are aligned with Dharma, your prosperity supports your purpose, your pleasures are conscious and uplifting, and your heart is free.

When we think of freedom, we often think of the external: breaking free from obligations, limitations, or the roles we feel bound by. But in the yogic tradition, freedom means something deeper and more lasting. Moksha is the liberation of the soul from the patterns and attachments that keep us feeling separate from our true nature.

Moksha is a Sanskrit word meaning “liberation” or “release.” In the philosophy of yoga, it’s the ultimate goal: freedom from suffering and the endless cycle of birth and death (samsara). But on a practical, everyday level, Moksha invites us to recognize the spaciousness that’s always available beneath our thoughts, worries, and stories.

Yoga reminds us that our true nature is already whole. The physical practice (asana) helps us peel away tension and restlessness. Breathwork (pranayama) calms the mind. Meditation invites us into stillness — where we might glimpse that the freedom we seek outside is actually an inner state of being.

In moments when we feel completely present — maybe resting in Savasana, maybe holding Tree Pose under a summer sky — we sense it: I am free right now. This is a taste of Moksha.
You don’t have to renounce daily life or meditate in a cave to move toward Moksha. Yoga teaches us to find freedom in each moment:

Release what you no longer need. Gently notice habits, thoughts, or patterns that feel constricting.
Practice non-attachment (Vairagya). Let go of needing things to be a certain way.
Savor spaciousness. Leave a few quiet minutes at the end of your practice. Listen to what freedom feels like in your body.
Remember your true self. Beneath every label and role, you are already whole.

In our yoga practice, we learn to loosen the knots of tension and rest in what is timeless and free. Moksha is not a destination far away; it’s a truth that arises when we remember who we really are.

This week, let your practice be a journey back to your inner freedom — breath by breath, pose by pose.

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Anandamaya Kosha

6/21/2025

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In the yogic tradition, our human experience is said to be composed of five koshas, or “sheaths,” that surround the soul—layers that range from the most physical to the most subtle aspects of our being. At the deepest level lies Anandamaya Kosha: the bliss body. But what does it really mean to live from a place of bliss?

Ananda means bliss, not in the fleeting sense of momentary pleasure, but as a deep, unshakable joy rooted in connection to our true, "Big S" Self. Anandamaya literally means “made of bliss.” This kosha is not about bypassing difficulty or denying pain—it’s the calm, radiant center that remains untouched by life's ups and downs.

When we touch Anandamaya Kosha in meditation, savasana, or even during stillness in daily life, we often feel a quiet sense of contentment, peace, or unity. It’s the glow that comes when we’re deeply aligned with our purpose, present in the moment, and connected to something greater.

Reaching this deepest sheath doesn’t require striving—it asks for letting go. Yoga gradually peels back the outer layers:

With asana, we move through the physical body (Annamaya).
Through pranayama, we enter the energy body (Pranamaya).
Through mindfulness and concentration, we access the mental and wisdom bodies (Manomaya and Vijnanamaya).
And finally, through meditation, stillness, and self-inquiry, we begin to feel the radiance of Anandamaya.

The bliss body doesn’t need to be created—it’s already present. Yoga simply helps us remember it.

Here are a few ways you can invite awareness of Anandamaya Kosha into your week:

Savor stillness: Spend a few minutes in silence after your practice and simply rest in being.
Notice joy: What small moments bring a natural smile to your face? Pause and feel them fully.
Practice gratitude: Write down three things each day that light you up from the inside.
Rest deeply: Include restorative yoga or yoga nidra in your routine to access deep peace.

Anandamaya Kosha reminds us that bliss isn’t something we chase—it’s what we are at our core. In the quiet between breaths, in the soft edges of savasana, in the moments when we are fully present—we come home to the joy that was never lost.

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Summer Solstice

6/15/2025

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As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the days stretch to their fullest, the summer solstice invites us into a sacred observance of stillness, celebration, and transformation. Occurring around June 20–21 in the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice marks the longest day of the year—an ancient turning point honored across cultures as a symbol of abundance, renewal, and light. For yoga practitioners, it’s a powerful time to align body, breath, and spirit with the rhythms of nature.

When I was a younger, newer yoga teacher, I offered an annual event on the occasion of the Summer Solstice. We’d meet outdoors at dawn. (One such event, at Baltimore Woods, is pictured below.) As the sun rose, we began a “Yoga Mala,” 108 Sun Salutations. When we meditate with a string of 108 beads, that is called mantra japa, and we repeat the mantra 108 times, once for each bead on a string of 108. Those beads create a mala, or garland, as a tool for our practice. When we salute the sun, we use our body to offer 108 repetitions of surya namaskar. If you are not familiar with a sun salutation, each one involves around 10 poses. It took us over 3 hours to practice 108 of them. It was like a yogi’s version of a marathon. It is a challenging, often sweaty endeavor. It’s wise to train before the event, and it’s common to be sore for a few days afterwards.

I fell out of the habit of hosting a summer solstice event because I was away at training for several solstices, and when the next one rolled around, I decided to have a less vigorous observance of the solstice. Then, in 2015, the United Nations adopted the International Day of Yoga, and it’s observed on the day of the summer solstice each year. So now, we have two things to celebrate on that day.

Here are a few possible ways to celebrate the International Day of Yoga and integrate the solstice into your practice:

1. Sun Salutations, of course. Begin your solstice morning with a few (or many) rounds of Surya Namaskar. Move with intention, offering each breath and gesture as a tribute to the sun and a celebration of life. You can find a video class for guidance here.
2. Meditation on Light Sit quietly and visualize a golden sun at the solar plexus, expanding with each breath. This meditation can awaken your inner fire--tapas—and foster a deeper sense of radiance and clarity.
3. Fire Ceremony or Journaling Symbolically burn away limiting beliefs or past burdens. You can write down what you’re ready to release and offer it into a small fire, or simply journal about your personal transformation and intentions for the season ahead.
4. Practice Outdoors Whether it’s asana, pranayama, or meditation, take your practice outside and let the sun warm your skin. Connecting directly with nature heightens awareness and attunes you to the solstice’s energetic frequency.

The summer solstice is a celebration of light—but also a reminder that light and shadow dance together in the cycles of life. After the solstice, the days gradually begin to shorten, hinting at the return of stillness and introspection. Yoga teaches us to embrace both—to honor the fullness of life in all its phases.

This solstice, may your practice help you stand tall in your truth, rooted in the earth and reaching toward the sky. May you awaken your own inner sun and share your light generously with the world.

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Upward-Facing Dog/Urdvha Mukha Svanasana

6/3/2025

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Upward-Facing Dog Pose, often called just "Up Dog," is a powerful and uplifting posture often woven into vinyasa flows and sun salutations.

This pose offers strength, openness, and energy when practiced with awareness and proper alignment. Whether you’re just beginning your yoga journey or deepening your flow, remember to honor your body in its current state.

Practice with curiosity, listen to your body, and don’t hesitate to modify. Over time, your Up Dog will become less about forcing a shape and more about enjoying the spaciousness it can bring.

Benefits of Upward-Facing Dog

Strengthens the upper body: Builds strength in the arms, shoulders, wrists, and upper back.
Opens the chest and lungs: Promotes better posture and counteracts slouching or forward hunching.
Stimulates abdominal organs: Offers a gentle stretch to the belly, supporting digestion.
Improves spinal flexibility: Increases extension through the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Boosts energy: This heart-opening posture can feel energizing, especially in the morning.

Avoid or modify this pose if you have:

Recent or chronic back injuries
Carpal tunnel syndrome or wrist issues
Shoulder injuries
Pregnancy (especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters)
Neck sensitivity (avoid throwing the head back)

Check with your health care provider before beginning any physical practice. If you have high blood pressure, or back, neck or abdominal pain, try Sphinx Pose first.

As always, if a posture causes pain, come out of it immediately. Ask a qualified yoga teacher for assistance.

Preparatory Poses & Warm-Ups
To safely enter Upward-Facing Dog, it’s helpful to first prepare the spine, shoulders, and wrists. Try these warm-ups:

Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) – warms up spinal mobility
Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) – builds foundational backbend strength
Sphinx Pose – strengthens the lower back without pressure on the wrists
Forearm or regular Plank Pose – activates core and shoulder engagement
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) – encourages spinal extension and heart opening

How to Practice

Start lying face down on your mat, legs extended back with the tops of your feet pressing into the floor, hip-width apart.
Place your hands under your shoulders, fingers spread wide. Hug your elbows in close to your ribs.
Press firmly into your palms and tops of your feet as you inhale and lift your chest forward and up. Straighten your arms without locking the elbows.
Lift your thighs and knees off the mat by engaging your quadriceps. Only the hands and tops of the feet should be touching the ground.
Open your chest by drawing the shoulder blades down and together. Keep the neck long; gaze slightly forward or up (without crunching the neck).
Hold for a few breaths, then gently lower back down or transition into Downward-Facing Dog.

Adaptations & Variations

Cobra Pose instead of Up Dog: Ideal for beginners, those with low back or wrist concerns, or anyone looking for a gentler alternative.
Keep thighs on the ground: If lifting the legs causes discomfort, keep them grounded and focus on opening the chest without overextending the spine.

Props for Support

Yoga blocks: Placed under the hands to reduce pressure on wrists and shoulders.
Blanket under thighs or pelvis: Provides cushioning and can decrease lumbar compression.

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The Four Goals of Life

Moksha

Anandamaya Kosha

Summer Solstice

Upward-Facing Dog/Urdvha Mukha Svanasana

Dena D. Beratta

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