Why Little Springs Yoga?

Little Springs Yoga - Together we nourish the wider flow of consciousness

The name Little Springs Yoga arises from a deep recognition shared across spiritual traditions: that each individual, through dedicated practice, can become a clear and living channel for a greater flow of consciousness—like a spring emerging from the earth, fresh and pure, nourishing all it touches.

In Yoga philosophy, this universal consciousness is known as Purusha, a singular, eternal awareness that flows through the human nervous system as Satva, or serenity. This flow is often disrupted by residual impressions left from past experiences—Karma—which manifest as distortions or Vrittis, the fluctuations of the mind shaped by the three Gunas: Rajas (agitation), Tamas (inertia), and Satva (clarity). Yoga is the ancient science of purifying the central nervous system to remove these distortions, allowing Satva to flow freely and fully. This purification leads ultimately to Samadhi—a state of inner stillness, unity, and boundless awareness.

This process is often compared to a stream encountering obstacles—rocks, branches, turbulence—until it clears and merges into greater bodies of water. Each practitioner, through consistent and sincere practice, becomes like a little spring—a source of peace and clarity that, in time, feeds a wider current. Scientific studies even support this idea: when just one percent of a population practiced Transcendental Meditation, overall crime rates dropped significantly. The calm within one individual can ripple outward to affect the whole.

This principle is not unique to Yoga. Buddhism, rooted in early yogic practices, teaches a similar path through mindfulness meditation. Here, practitioners observe thoughts and emotions without judgment, allowing the energy—or Karma—we might normally invest in those thoughts to dissipate. This de-charging of mental patterns loosens the grip of old habits and reactive cycles, gradually revealing an inner spaciousness akin to Nirvana. As Alan Watts described, Nirvana is “the blowing out of the flame” or “the cessation of the whirlings (Vrittis) of the mind”—a concept mirroring Samadhi.

In China, as Buddhism met Taoism, this idea deepened. Taoism teaches that when the blockages to Chi (life force) are removed, we become not just vessels but conduits for the flow of the Tao, the harmonizing force of the universe. Whether through Tai Chi, meditation, or more esoteric disciplines like those practiced by the Kuan Shu—Taoist adepts said to "breathe life into clay"—the theme is the same: when we clear the obstructions within, the natural current of life can move through us, for the benefit of all.

Lao Tzu wrote:

“Compare those of the Way To rivers and streams Flowing home to the sea.”

These streams—these little springs—are us.

At Little Springs Yoga, we honor this lineage. We draw from these teachings to create a practice that supports the gentle, persistent clearing of the nervous system, the calming of the mind, and the cultivation of a more balanced and compassionate life. Each of us, no matter how small, can be a source of clarity and peace.

Together, we nourish the wider flow.