Niyama Continued Santosha The second Niyama is contentment. Being content and accepting things the way they are is not being lazy and apathetic. It is accepting fully what is in front of you and moving from there. It working toward our goals with grace and ease not striving. Contentment is avoiding becoming attached to our… Continue reading

Niyamas The Niyamas are the “do’s” to the Yamas “don’ts.” Niyama translates to Non-Control. They are: Saucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapasya (austerity), Swadhyara (self-study), and Iswara Pranidhana (devotion). Saucha Saucha or cleanliness is an attribute that we shouldn’t have to talk about, yet we do.  It is cleanliness in our props, hygiene, dress, manner and… Continue reading

Yamas Continued Bracharcharya Bracharcharya has been translated as non-sensual, self-restraint.. I don’t believe that this means that I have to become a monk or an aesthetic. It is self-containment, bringing our energies inward for greater self control.  The idea of self-containment runs counter to our Western society where appearance and appeal mean so much. Both… Continue reading

Yamas Continued Satya The second Yama is Satya meaning truthfulness or non-lying. When first relating Satya to magic, it appears to be a lost cause. After all, isn’t magic about deception? Doesn’t deception involve lying? This is all true. However aren’t conjurers one of the most honest professions? It is our role to create magical… Continue reading

The Yamas The Sanskrit word, Yama, translates to “control” or simply “the don’ts.”  There are five Yamas.  They are Ahimsa or Non-Violence, Satya or Non-Lying and Truthfulness, Astayna or Non-Stealing, Brahmacharya or Non-Sensuality and Aparigraha or Non-Greed and Non-Attachment. Ahimsa Ahimsa is known to many through the life of Gandhi.  Through living Ahimsa and Satya… Continue reading