2008 July | Yoga With John dot Com

Bhujangasana Cobra pose

July 29, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga, books | No comments

Shedding my skin

skinning my shreds

leaving behind

every failure

every success

every anger

ever expressed

or never expressed.

What’s left behind

stays behind,

it’s ancient

poisonous sting

all but forgotten.

-Leza Lowitz Yoga poetry - Lines to unfold by a very nice book.

Mooseplay

July 26, 2008 in Uncategorized, animals | No comments

I Just had to share this video of twin baby mooses. You can click the share button below to email it to a friend.

Thanks to those who could make it to the outdoor class at the Maynard Farmers Market this am. Hope to see you all at the Smiletrain benefit tonight ! see you in class -john

Be sure to check out the Fall retreat with John !

SmileTrain Update

July 24, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments

We’ve now raised enough to fund six surgeries! thanks for all your help in spreading the word! Here’s how we are helping:

To find out how you can help us, click here: SmileTrain benefit

Where is Matt now?

July 22, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments

Dancing his way around the world:

Prenatal Yoga

July 18, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga | No comments

Namaste!

I substitute taught a basics class the other night. A woman well-along with child came up to me and asked if it was okay that she was there. I made sure she knew how to take care of herself and told her she was more than welcome. Throughout the class I kept an eye on her and she did just fine.

I didn’t get a chance to talk with her after, but she told a friend that

she was asked to leave a recent class because of her ‘condition’, that it

would have been inconvenient for the teacher to have a pregnant

woman in class!

Have you ever heard such a thing? I could understand if it was a

heated class, or a power type class, but I don’t think this was the case.

Yoga is a very introspective and personal practice that is sometimes

practiced in a group setting. I encourage all to work at their own level and to make appropriate adjustments to keep their practice inline with their intentions. Unless your intention is to bring harm, then this resolve will bring only good from your practice.

I wish I could have talked with her afterwards, her presence added to the peacefulness of the class, and she’s welcome at anytime, to all my non-heated classes.

Great news! I’ve arranged for just 12 of us to spend a weekend immersed in practice and relaxation this Fall. The retreat center is gorgeous, and the food is amazing!

Signups are coming in. Be sure to check out the Yoga With John Fall Retreat and resgister right away to get the early bird discount.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

john

P.S. For free prenatal yoga classes, visit Destination Maternity

Waking

July 14, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga, books | No comments

Required reading for anyone who has a body:

Waking: A Memoir

A paraplegic Yoga teacher with much to share. I’ll be re-reading this book next time I feel challenged.

From the web review:

Matthew’s mental awareness–as a result of a spinal cord injury–was literally knocked out of the lower two-thirds of his body. While doctors were able to keep him alive, he was not given the tools to reconnect his mind to his paralyzed body.

Matthew describes how for years after the devastating accident, from the chest down, he experiences a "schism" or "a form of silence" between his mind and his body. During his first months in the hospital and later periods in intensive care units there was so much pain that leaving his body became a survival skill. These experiences alone catapulted Matthew into unknown territory when it comes to understanding the mind and body.

From this understanding Matthew begins to practice, and eventually teach Iyengar Yoga.

Take care, I’ll see you in class.

John

Smiletrain Yoga benefit class

July 10, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga | 4 comments

Smiletrain Cleft Palate

I’m very excited about the Smiletrain benefit at Mystic Fitness on Saturday July 26th 5:30pm !! Smiletrain performs surgeries on children born with cleft palates in developing countries. 100% of income directly funds surgeries.

We’re going to fill the room, and with 100% of this classes proceeds going to

the charity, we’re hoping to raise enough for several surgeries. how about 10 ?

The suggested donation for class is $15 to $20. Please come join us!

Some very generous donations have been coming in from some of you who cannot make it to class, thanks so much for your contribution torwards our goal !! Rememeber, 100% goes directly to the aid of the children.

You can send a tax deductable check for any amount, made out to smiletrain.org and mail it to me:

john calabria, 33 waltham st, maynard, ma 01754.

I’ll mail ‘em all in together and we’ll collectively share in the Karma of

helping these children. check out Shiva’s story

To take our Yoga to the next level, we must make space for it…

we must get out of the way. The best way I’ve found to do this is

to make an offering of the practice, offer your practice up to a person,

place, thing, or idea outside of yourself and see your practice soar.

On this day we can make an immeasurable difference.

Come support us in this noble effort, and please, please, please

pass this invite along ?

Thanks so much to Amy at Mystic Fitness for donating the space !

Namaste.

John

July 2008