"When you become aware of the three gunas, you can rise above their influence and act from your highest Self." — The Bhagavad Gita
Hey lovely, look at me go, with yet another Yogi Note so soon, not that anyone is receiving them :( But I persevere nonetheless, in hope that my email deliverability woes will soon be over... fingers and toes crossed!
In the last Yogi Note, I talked to you about the doshas. On a somewhat similar vein, the Tri Gunas are also important energies within our bodies, so let's explore...
Have you ever noticed how some days you feel clear and calm, while others you’re buzzing with urgency or stuck in a heavy fog? You’re not alone. According to yoga philosophy, we’re all constantly dancing with three subtle energies that shape our moods, thoughts, and actions. These are the Tri Gunas: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.
Think of them like the energetic undertones of your inner world. They’re not good or bad, they just are, and understanding them can help us live with more awareness and ease.
A Quick Feel Into the Gunas
- Sattva is the energy of clarity, harmony, and light. When you’re feeling peaceful, loving, inspired or balanced, Sattva is at play.
- Rajas is the energy of action, movement, and passion. It’s that driven, fiery momentum that helps us get things done, but can tip into agitation or restlessness.
- Tamas is the energy of inertia and heaviness. It shows up in rest, stillness, or when we feel lethargic, stuck, or unmotivated.
We experience all three every day... sometimes within a single hour!
What Does This Mean For Your Yoga Practice?
The mat is a beautiful mirror for noticing which guna is strongest in us at any given time.
A Sattvic practice might be a gentle sunrise flow or a long savasana where you feel deeply at peace.
A Rajasic practice could be a strong vinyasa class or that buzzy, can’t-sit-still energy that sometimes rushes us to the next pose (or the next thing on our to-do list).
A Tamasic state might show up when we drag ourselves to class and spend the first ten minutes resisting every movement (been there!).
But here’s the beauty: our practice can help us shift. It’s not about judging ourselves, it’s about becoming aware.
- Feeling scattered? A grounding practice can soften the Rajas. Think Monday night or Friday night classes at The Yoga Pantry. Or even Yin with Cami.
- Feeling heavy? Some movement and breath can lift the fog of Tamas. Think Rhythm Flow with Tash or Ebb and Flow with Karryn, or even our Embodied Movement session on Sundays with Ele.
- Wanting to feel more at ease? Meditation and pranayama can cultivate Sattva. Perfect for the Yoga Nidra class with Francesca or our Saturday morning meditations.
We begin to work with the energies, not against them.
Yoga Off the Mat
The Gunas aren’t just for the mat; they shape our conversations, food choices, media intake, and even our sleep habits. Too much Netflix and junk food? Hello Tamas. Too much caffeine and social scrolling? Rajas, loud and clear.
Sattva is nurtured when we eat fresh, sleep well, breathe deeply, and engage in things that uplift us.
So this week, see if you can tune in. Ask yourself: Which Guna is leading me right now? And what small shift could invite more harmony?
We’re never trying to erase the others, just gently steer toward balance. And that awareness?
That’s yoga, too. ;)
What's happening in The Pantry? 🧘♀️
The very last beginner yoga course for 2025 is starting soon, if you've got a friend who is currently procrastinating on their health and wellbeing, now is your chance to turn them into yoga converts :)
The last course starts on Thursday 9 October with Karryn. That's next week!!!
Book Here Now Before it's too late.
Beginner Plus
Our last Beginner Plus course of the year starts Monday 13 October so get your name on the list and join me on a Monday evening for some excellent pranayama, asana, mudras and bandhas along with some deeper yogic philosophies thrown in the mix.
We only run this course twice a year, so the next one won't come around until about June next year.
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Restorative Yoga Yay!
Oh yes, you read that right, we have one last restorative yoga session before the year is out!
And we are bookending November with 1 restorative session and 1 Sound Bath! yeaaaaaaaaaah!
Check out our website for all the juicy details and BOOK YOUR SPOT TODAY!
Sound Bath woop woop!
We are finishing the year with a lovely Rainforest extravaganza. Join Tash on a restful Soundbath at the end of November.
BOOK IT NOW and secure your spot in the class today.
Head here to book all your regular yoga classes
Remember you can join us online from anywhere in the world, live or at a time that suits you with our instant 14-day on-demand Zoom recording!
Don't forget you can also join us for a FREE meditation session every Saturday morning, and even if you can't you can book in via Zoom and do the meditation later in the day :)
Your YouTube class of the week
We've been using the ball in class lately for our feet. Here's a little something extra.
Enjoy.
As always, sharing is caring, so please share these videos with someone you think will benefit.
With love, light, and all three gunas
Tash x
P.P.S Don’t forget to share your Yoga insights on social media with the hashtag #TheYogaPantryLife #Yogaislife
Let’s spread the yoga love far and wide!
I see you, and I appreciate you, you are awesome x
