Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i YOGA Magazine

Dear YOGA Magazine Readers, Greetings and Blessings! January is often described as a beginning, yet in yogic understanding it is also a threshold — a quiet, liminal space between what has been and what is still becoming. It is a time that invites reflection as much as intention, listening as much as action. In this spirit, the January issue of YOGA Magazine explores yoga not merely as practice, but as a living pathway of remembrance, renewal and service. We begin with a deeply moving reflection on transformation in Sadhviji’s account of her journey from Hollywood to the Himalayas. What begins as an accidental pilgrimage becomes a profound awakening to yoga as union. It sets a tone for this issue: yoga as a lived path of awakening. In the first part…

Many people come to Yoga seeking greater flexibility or a moment of calm in a busy world. Over time, it often becomes clear that Yoga offers much more—not just physical benefits, but also mental clarity, inner calm, and a sense of wellbeing that feels different from a typical workout. At the heart of the practice is mindfulness, a concept that has moved from its Buddhist roots into mainstream mental health care. Jon Kabat-Zinn, considered the father of Western mindfulness, describes it as ‘the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally’. Scientific evidence is beginning to show what many Yogis have felt for centuries: a mindful Yoga practice can shape not only how we feel, but how the brain itself responds to stress and…

For as long as she can remember, Louise Sealy associated her life with movement — energising, liberating, joy-filled movement. Whether skiing down the French Alps with her husband and children or rowing along her local stretch of river, she thrived in the rhythm of outdoor sports. But ten years ago, an unexpected fall on a family ski trip brought her world to a sudden halt. A serious accident left her immobilised, facing the terrifying possibility that the active life she treasured might be gone forever. “I couldn’t walk at all at first,” she recalls. “Everything felt uncertain. When I eventually managed with one crutch, I was still terrified of anything that could knock me off balance.” On top of physical injury, the emotional toll of menopause was beginning to surface,…

Yogi Maharaj Dr. Malik our Editor (since 2003) is a recognised international expert and an authority on the subject of Yoga. He started his training under the guidance of Yogis from the Himalayan region at the age of six and also received instructions from Sufis, Lamas and Sadhus. He is an accredited Yoga teacher specialising in Kundalini, Hatha and Laya Yoga. Founder and pioneer of Yogology, a spiritual technology which combines ancient traditions and principles of Laya, Hatha, Kundalini and meditative practices, Yogi Malik began teaching this over 20 years ago. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to researching, teaching and sharing his knowledge on yoga. He is also a practitioner of related alternative therapies, including Shamanism. Q – I want to set meaningful New Year resolutions with my partner…

I’m on Zoom again. My screen is populated with faces of men from all over the world who I am meeting for the first time. We’re here to do “the work”. The old saying goes, “To know a man, you must work with him,” meaning true character is best revealed through shared work. We’re convened here under the guidance of the American company Thirteen Pines—described as “a movement dedicated to a life of integrity and sacred masculine leadership.” Modern “men’s work” as a conscious practice emerged in the late 1960s alongside second-wave feminism, civil rights, and other liberation movements, when small groups of men began gathering to question traditional male roles and explore their emotional lives. Out of this milieu grew several strands: pro-feminist and anti-sexist groups focused on ending…

Winter is the great pause, a time of stillness, darkness, and deep rooting. Nature draws her energy inward, conserving and restoring beneath the frost-bitten earth. The bare trees stretch their arms to the pale sky, and the sap sleeps in the roots. In yoga, the quiet winter season resonates with the qualities of tamasic energy, slow, heavy, introspective, inviting us to rest and turn within. Yet in modern life, we often resist this natural rhythm, pushing forward under artificial light, fuelled by caffeine and central heating. The result? We feel dull, cold, tired, and disconnected from the living cycles that sustain us. Our immune systems suffer under the extremes of hot dry air into the cool damp. Herbs, our green teachers, remind us of our deep kinship with the…

January 2026 arrives as a month of renewal, inviting a return to inner stillness alongside a clearer sense of outer purpose. In yogic terms, it is a time of Sankalpa—setting intentions that arise from inner truth rather than external pressure. The early part of the month encourages pratyahara, the gentle turning inward, allowing space to release distractions and the residue of the past year. Through reflection, meditation, journaling, and breath awareness, energy gathers quietly, restoring prana and reconnecting us with inner wisdom before movement begins. As January unfolds, the emphasis shifts towards tapas—disciplined effort aligned with conscious action. With clarity established, there is momentum to commit steadily to one’s dharma and translate intention into meaningful progress. Relationships benefit from honesty and renewed commitment, while personal practice thrives through consistent, grounding…

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati serves as International Director of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and Director of International Yoga Festival, taking place from March 9-15, 2026. Her bestselling memoir "Hollywood to the Himalayas" and new release "Come Home to Yourself " are available worldwide. She is also President of Diving Shakti Foundation and Secretary-General, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and a recipient of US President Biden’s Lifetime Award for Volunteer Service. Learn more at www.sadhviji.org THE UNLIKELY PILGRIM Sometimes the Universe leads us to our destiny through the most mundane doorways. For me, that doorway was vegetarian food. Not a vision, not a calling, not even a conscious spiritual seeking, just a Stanford-educated scientist looking for good vegetarian meals who ended up on a plane to India at 25 years old. For the…

“This is crazy, I never thought I’d be doing yoga in prison!” That’s a phrase I often hear while teaching yoga in a Young Offender Institution (YOI). For many of the young people I work with, finding themselves serving a custodial sentence is one thing, but finding themselves on a yoga mat, moving, breathing and learning to soften is quite another. Yoga is rarely something they’ve tried before or ever imagined themselves doing. Most know it only from glimpses in the video game, Grand Theft Auto, or on social media. One of the biggest barriers young people face – both in prison and beyond – is the misconception that yoga is an exclusive pursuit reserved for thin, wealthy, lycra-clad women who can bend themselves into impossible shapes. Breaking down this…

From rural Wales to the halls of leading UK hospitals—and far beyond the boundaries of orthodox medicine—Dr Anona Blackwell’s life has been shaped by an extraordinary interplay of science, intuition, and the unseen. A Lancet-published physician whose research transformed clinical practice, she has also spent a lifetime quietly navigating psychic phenomena, premonitions, near-death experiences and profound encounters “beyond the veil”. Her memoir, From Medic to Mystic, unfolds this remarkable dual path with candour, wit, and unflinching honesty. Here, she reflects on the moments that shaped her—from childhood sensitivities and spirit encounters to telepathy, faith healing and guidance from Archangel Michael—inviting both readers and sceptics alike to reconsider the mysteries of consciousness. Q: HOW DID YOU RECONCILE YOUR ORTHODOX MEDICAL CAREER WITH THE MYSTICAL AND PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES YOU WERE HAVING? Looking…

The moon rose over Shanklin Bay like a silver lantern set adrift in a bowl of deepening blue. Clouds drifted past in slow, contemplative swells, as though even the sky was taking its time. Far below, the sea pressed itself against the cliffs in long breaths — exhale, inhale, exhale — smoothing the black water with ribbons of pale light. Each wave curved like a whispered promise and slid away again into the darkness. The cliffs stood as they had for centuries: chalk-white in places, moss-softened in others, carved with gullies where rain and wind had shared their arguments. Gnarled roots clung to exposed ledges, twitching slightly when the breeze travelled through them, and every fold of rock felt as though it remembered old storms and older stories. From the…

Continued from the previous issue of YOGA Magazine… As the golden hues of autumn descended upon the Himalayan peaks, Muni returned to Yoga Bhavan, his heart brimming with newfound wisdom from his pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. The cave, nestled deep within the mountains, welcomed him with its familiar embrace. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of incense and the soft murmur of chants. Snowie, the snow leopard, greeted him with a gentle nudge. He has changed into a female leopard. Her fur gleaming under the dim light. "Welcome back, Muni," she purred. "The winds have whispered of your journey." Muni smiled, his eyes reflecting the serenity he had found. "The mountain has shown me the interconnectedness of all things," he replied, settling beside her. Yoga Ji entered, his…

It was a heartbreaking email to read. “Eco-anxiety can be such an overwhelming feeling of dread and doom,” it read, “and sitting with that is a lot, it's painful and it's hard to process.” The email’s author was Francesca Neale, a young woman from the Cotswolds, and it was not the first time we had received such an email from a Veganuary participant. Eco-anxiety is an increasingly common phenomenon especially, but not exclusively, among children and young people. A 2021 survey of 10,000 16-25 year-olds across 10 countries paints a deeply worrying picture. Almost 60 per cent said they are very or extremely worried about environmental problems and almost half say it is affecting their day-to-day functioning, including their eating, sleeping and ability to concentrate. The vast majority believe that…

January is a month of new beginnings for many of us. As one year closes and another unfolds, we find ourselves reflecting on the past and making plans for the future. Gyms are packed, diet plans are launched, and personal growth goals are set with great determination. We aim high, striving to break old habits and reinvent ourselves. Yet, more often than not, the biggest obstacle to our progress is not outside of us—it resides within: our inner critic. The inner critic, subtle yet persistent, constantly reminds us of our shortcomings, lateness, or perceived failures. At first glance, it may seem motivating, pushing us to do more. But over time, this internal voice drains our energy, erodes our confidence, and disconnects us from our true potential. So how can we…

This article marks the beginning of a twelve-part series dedicated to the life, work, and legacy of TKV Desikachar, one of the most influential yet quietly transformative figures in the history of Yoga. Writing these articles as his son, student, and as someone carrying his teachings around the world is both a responsibility and a privilege. My education under his auspices did not take place solely in classrooms or through formal instruction. It unfolded through daily observation, lived experience, shared inquiry, silence, correction, encouragement, and the subtle transmission that occurs when one lives close to a teacher whose life itself is the teaching. I feel extremely grateful to be the only student of my father who received such a long and profound mentorship spanning many decades. When I reflect on…

Today few events like the Mahā Kumbhaḥ Mēlā have the power to bring millions of people together in pursuit of something greater than themselves. It’s been a year since the once-in-a-lifetime occurrence of the largest gathering of yogins and spiritual aspirants on the planet unfolded. And, I recall the moment when I learned of this historic confluence, a singular silence took over, the beeping and honking of tuk-tuks fading away on the busy New Delhi street. As I stood before a tea cart, wafts of sweet milk-chai rising from the boiling pot, dancing, as I processed the information. It felt like a boon. That I would be in India during this time. The celebration’s commencement beginning on January 13, 2025 on the Pauṣa Pūrṇimā, the full moon, marking the initiation…

A powerful shift is taking place all over the world. Despite chaos, war and instability, something is unfolding. The masculine, martial, fire energy of the Solar Plexus is slowly being dismantled, giving way to, a collective awakening of the Divine Feminine. We are entering the Loving, nurturing energy of the heart. More and more people are being called to restore truth, harmony, balance, compassion and love. We are heralding in a new paradigm. A quiet revolution is taking place. An emergence of heart centred ways of living, are on the rise. Maat the winged Ancient Egyptian Goddess, is the principle of Balance, Harmony, Order, Justice, Reciprocity, Truth and Love. She resides in the heart chakra; embodying the compassionate qualities our world needs right now. Maat is Love. And Shekem Maat,…

After 28 years travelling the world, Marie Kirkwood returns home to open Bakewell’s first dedicated yoga studio. For nearly three decades, yoga teacher Marie Kirkwood lived her life in the sky — criss-crossing continents as a Flight Service Manager with Virgin Atlantic. Amid the jet lag, shifting time zones and constant movement, she found one grounding force: yoga. What began as a way to balance the physical and emotional demands of long-haul flying soon became her compass, her medicine, and eventually her calling. Seven years ago, while still working full-time in aviation, Marie quietly planted the seeds of what would become Peak District Yoga — offering outdoor classes against sweeping moorland views, bespoke 1:1 sessions, yoga hikes and soulful retreats. Her approach was shaped by her own lived experience: accessible,…

The Yoga Lover’s Card Deck 80 Asana Cards and Booklet to Inspire Your Practice by Summersdale Publishers Designed to bring creativity and structure to personal practice, this Card Deck is a practical and visually appealing companion for yogis of all levels. Featuring 80 asanas with clear illustrations and step-by-step cues, the deck makes sequencing intuitive and enjoyable. Poses are colour-coded into Balance, Strength, Stretch, Twist and Inversion, allowing practitioners to create varied and well-rounded routines with ease. Whether you are new to yoga or looking to refresh your home practice, the simple act of drawing cards encourages spontaneity while maintaining mindful intention. The accompanying booklet offers helpful guidance on beginning and ending sessions, reinforcing safety and flow. Functional yet inspiring, this deck gently supports consistency, embodiment and connection to the…