Thanks to all who Joined us for the full-house Yoga of Sound workshop on Saturday.  I’m getting lots of great feedback along with requsts for more Kirtan and Movie nights.  Your presence makes these events possible.

The Namesake is one of my favorite films and the soundtrack is just stunning, it was a pleasure to watch it again with all of you.

Our next event is a Free Yoga Class with three teachers at Yoga and Nia for Life, December 6′th 12-2pm.  Bring a donation of food for the Food Pantry and get a great Yoga class!  

I’ll be warming us up with breathwork and gentle twists.  Kate will take over for a nice flow.  Natalie will then lead us through an amazing restorative series of postures, and ease us all into a nice long Shavasana.  Join us in helping to feed people.  You’ll be doing good, and feeling great.  find out more at the Yoga Events page  

We’ll end just in time for the Polar Bear Plunge at Walden Pond.  Yes, they go swimming to encourage education about global warming.  There’s a video of last years plunge on the page.

I wish you all a healthy, happy and compassionate holiday, I’ll be in retreat at the Ashram for the next five days, Susan Chorman is sub-teaching our classes on Monday.

Om Shanti,

-john

p.s. Here’s the link for everyone who asked about the amazing soundtrack for The  Namesake    Amazon is promising great savings at their black friday sale . Hopefully that includes that yoga book or music you’ve been wanting to get.

p.p.s. 

Ani and will be back on December 21’st for the Annual Winter Solstice class, Let me know if you want me to hold a spot for you.

I’m planning the Second Annual Work Off the Fruitcake class the day after Christmas, and we’re looking at a New Years Day class as well.  details up on the web soon.   

Click to see the Newsreel video of B.K.S. Iyengar 1938 Yoga Asana demonstration:

 Garudasana (the eagle pose)

Before I had a name

I existed in the world as breath, as the wind, as a star.

For a moment, if I could be the breath

& the wind & the nameless star.

I’d meet the sky that holds them

as it holds me  & I’d say Joyfully,

Namaste

-Leza Lowitz Yoga poetry - Lines to unfold by   a nice book to read and re-read.

This Bhagavan Das video will stir your soul, He’s been practicing Yoga and Meditation longer than I’ve been alive!  Her he shares his journey of awakening, Alan Watts, Travelling to India, Neem Karoli Baba, and Ram Das.  Be sure to watch till the end.  

Jai Ma!

Join us for the Yoga and Meditation Workshop  this weekend, and Free movie night!

Benjaman Zander will change how you experience classical music in this must-see TED video.  More than well-worth the 20 minutes.  How many eyes have you made shine today?

 Be sure to check out the Yoga Workshops page to see what’s happening this fall.

Breath is life.

In class we’ve been experimenting with breath, and how different patterns of Pranayama affect the nervous system.  Here’s a nice chart that summarizes the effects of a focused Pranayama practice. 

If you’re looking to raise your energy, start with the  first exercise, sit comfortably, draw a smooth breath in through your nose to the silent count of 6.  Hold the breath in for 4, gently release the breath out through your nose to the count of 6, hold the breath out for a count of 1.  Repeat 8-10 times, be still and notice the effect.  Nice…

Start out slow if this is new to you.  If you feel lightheaded, ease up on the holding of the breath in or out.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

-john

P.S.  Yoga with John was just listed as one of the top 100 Yoga sites

Happy Halloween!  Only By Popular demand…

I’m posting the Zombie Yoga video.   I sent it to a few Yogis, and now everyone wants to see it.  To publicize a new book, an invite to "Dress like a zombie and bring a Yoga mat to Central park in NY."  was sent out.  A bunch of NYC Zombies showed up.  They filmed the zombie practice and posted it on Utube.  Might be a bit squeamish for some, think Michael Jackson Thriller video gone bad…   

P.S.  There’s some room left in the November Yoga workshop on the 22′nd in W. Concord.  There’s live Kirtan music starting at 2:30.

Maria is hosting a potluck dinner afterwards, and then I’ll be screening a movie 6′ish.  I’m zeroing in on just the right film, and this will kick off movie nights at YNFL. Send in suggetsions for films you’d like to see!

P.S.S  Yes, I think it was a new record at Lumina on Tuesday night!

Namaste!

Just posted this must-see youtube video to the blog. Stunning  footage of our home planet, with a nice Ommmm… soundtrack.   Tread lightly, John

P.S.  Still a few spaces left in the November Yoga workshop on the 22′nd in W. Concord.  We’ll have live Kirtan Music, a potluck, and movie night afterwards.

 The Etiquette of Yoga Class

Namaste!

If you’ve got some extra time, well, alot of extra time, there’s a pretty amazing post at the Cloud 9 blog that lists 100 free online Yoga videos.  Some are better than others, but there’s surely something here for everyone:  100 free online yoga videos 

And for the poltical jesters, there’s a yoga practice created just for Sarah Palin on youtube.  If you a fan of Sarah, you may not like it too much…

I’ll see you in class!

john

p.s.  Just posted the Fall workshop on the 22nd of November, Join us for The Yoga of Sound.  We’ll have live kirtan music! 

We’ve decided that Nov 22′nd will be a potluck dinner and movie night at Yoga and Nia for life as well.  Details to follow.