Yoga

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!

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.

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.

Namaste!  Everyone wants to know how the retreat went!  Thanks for all the encouraging notes.

From the amazing feedback, I would say that our Fall retreat at SpiritFire was a great success. 

The weather was perfect, each day the foliage turned more vibrant.  Meals were astounding, and the rooms very comfortable.  I really like how every detail was watched over and cared for by the staff.  This allowed us to really focus on the depth of our practice.  Having our morning Yoga practice and meals in total silence (Mauna) added a richness and texture to our presence at SpiritFire.  The hikes were breathtaking, our Mantra practice cathedral-like, and our celebratory fire circle warmed us inside and out.  

The act of spiritual retreat is ancient, and even more applicable in our times, To retreat is to step back and gain perspective, a clearer view of how we’ve been living.  Through practices of awareness we measure that against how we’d like to be living, and resolve to create the appropriate changes.  Leaving behind the old, we reintegrate back into our lives, holding  space for practice, for presence, and to bring the essence of our retreat back home.

We’re already planning next years retreat, same place, same weekend!  And we’re looking at a Spring Retreat to Ananda Ashram, Where I’ve been retreating in mostly silence for the last week.  That will be a treat!   If you’d like advance notice on the retreat plans let me know and I’ll keep you up to date as the details unfold. 

Om Shanti,  I’ll see you in class this week.  

John

 P.S.  Just posted the fall Yoga Workshop

Namaste! 

Thanks so much to all of you who attended the Yoga and Meditation Workshop over the weekend.  Your presence at these events makes them possible.  It was so nice to see Ani Desal so well recieved.  I’ve been getting great feedback and we’re looking forward to the next workshop on November 22′nd at Yoga and Nia for Life, 12:30pm.  Following Meditation and Yoga class will be live music/Kirtan featuring Prajna and guests.   I’m very excited to co teach with these very talented people.

I’m heading out soon to our Fall Retreat, a great group of people getting together for a weekend of practice and renewal.  After retreat, I’ll be spending a few days at Ananda Ashram.  I’ve arranged some excellent substitue teachers to cover my classes next week. 

I’ve heard good things about this film, thanks to Danielle for the pointer:

I’ll see you in class soon, Om Shanti

John

Yesterday over lunch,  I was fretting about a recent loss. 

My friend Ani Desal, a Tibetan Buddhist Nun told me, "In every moment you have a choice, positive or negative, focused, or unfocused, present or not present.  Choose to see this in a positive light."

Simple, and profound.  Yet sometimes difficult to practice.  

Pausing to get clear on our intentions, may be the most important part of Yoga class.  I’m not saying the words "Get very clear on the intentions that lie behind your practice" to fill space.  It’s because setting a crystal clear intention works for me.  It brings me further in my practice, and I share that with you.

You can let this be random, or you can choose a positive and focused presence.  Random is dangerous. Random is like when you arrive at work and don’t remember the drive. Where were you?

Yoga practice is like driving through thick fog, you can just barely see in front of you, you’ve got to slow down and concentrate on what is right in front of you.  (this breath, this posture)  then, you may see the glint of a taillight up ahead.  That is the teacher. Not smarter or better than you. Without supernatural powers, they are just a bit further up the road, so with some trust,  you let go and follow.  Hopefully the teacher has lineage, and is following their teacher, (choose wisely, ask who their teachers are.)

We have to stay present because we don’t know when the veils may fall away, the opportunity for clear vision, for enlightenment is going to happen.  It could be your next class.  Don’t miss it.

Maybe you choose that this will be your most focused class ever. Why not?  Like the proverbial weed growing through the crack in the sidewalk, you rise from the ground up into your warrior pose, full-up with reason. You are grounded, and your outstretched arms are reaching for something.  Your ViraBhadrasana is on purpose.  You’re one posture closer to becoming your intentions.  Live your intentions, radiate them, and become a source for others. 

The fog is clearing.  

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

John

P.S.  This coming Saturday Ani Desal and I are leading a Yoga Workshop , There are a couple spots left.  and We’ve got a great group together for the Fall Foliage Yoga Retreat coming up in just under two weeks.  There may be one spot left, (or we could squeeze a couple in) so if you were thinking about joining us, let me know right away.

Thanks to Valerie, we have a new word:  Blisscombubulated.

That blissed, somewhat confused feeling where you come out of Shavasana after a particularly good Yoga class.  Our lost and found bin is always overflowing with ‘forgotten’ items.  Most of them make it back to their people.

I’ve just posted the invite to the Yoga and Meditation workshop on Sept 27′th.   After a nice Heart Opening class, Ani Desal, a Tibetan Buddhist Nun, ordained by the Dalai Lama, will lead us in a beautiful meditation.  I hope you can join us, this level of meditation instruction is rare in our parts.  

Take care!  I’ll see you in class soon.

john

P.S.   just two spots remain in the fall Yoga Retreat I’ve got about 5 "maybes" for the two spots. Let me know right away if you’d like to join us.  to be fair to all, the first "Yes" gets the spots.

Namaste!  Here’s the press release that was picked up on the newswires and printed in some of the local papers.  My heartfelt thanks to all of you who participated and helped make this benefit a great success.  Because of you all, ten children will smile for the first time.  We’ve got another benfefit coming up soon. 

  Little Gita before surgery      Little Gita with her new smile 

Maynard resident raises $2500 to fund ten Cleft Palate surgeries in India.

dont miss anything, Click here to Subscribe to email updates of Johns blog

Namaste!
 
A busy weekend of Yoga coming up. Take a break from the bbq’s, cool off and join us for a class:
 
I’m sub teaching the 8am Yoga class Lumina class today (Friday)
this is a gentler flow class that I’m teaching for Jyoti.
 
I’m sub teaching the 9am Yoga and Nia for Life class this coming Sunday the 31’st, a nice all-levels Sunday morning class to start the day.
 
Labor Day
 

This coming Monday I’m teaching two Classes:
 
a 9am class at Half Moon Hill in Acton at Email me for directions.
If you like real mellow, with lots of breathing then this class is perfect for you.
 
then, a 4pm flow class at Yoga and Nia for Life in West Concord.
Check out the cool "work off the Veggieburger" flyer for this one.
There’s a dedicated Monday crew of yogis, and this one is appropriate
for all levels. If your new to yoga for Life, this is a good opportunity to check this class out.
 
New Class!
  Read the rest of this entry »

Work off

Street Stretch  This 60-second video, merges complex yoga poses with the scenery of everyday life in India. 108 Yogies were hired to create the film and promote the 15th annual International Yoga Festival in Pondicherry, India.  There were over 300,000 people at the festival.
 

Relax and Renew at the Yoga with John Retreat this Fall in Western Mass

Namaste, Enlighten up! the movie comes to Boston.

A woman takes a New York sceptic and immerses him in the world of Yoga.  The trailer looks interesting, with cameos of Guruji, Iyengar, Dharma Mitra, and a trip to Mysore india to practice Ashtanga with  Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. 

It premieres at the at the MFA  in Boston Sept 12-14, and then plays the Kendal Square cinema in Cambridge the 19′th through the 25′th.  Let me know if you’re intersted in a group forming to go in and see the film together.    Here’s the trailer:    

A few spaces remain in the Yoga With John Fall Retreat  in Western Mass.  I’ll see you in class.

Namaste,

This weekend I’ll be heading out to Woodstock NY to spend time with my teachers David Life and Sharon Gannon.

David and Sharon are longtime yogis and founders of the Jivamukti style of Yoga.  Jiva means soul, and Mukti means liberation.  The Jivamukti yogi practices to become liberated in this lifetime, and to help all beings be free of suffering.  Next time you are in NY city, head up to Union Square and visit their beautiful Yoga studio.

So next week I’ll be having some wonderful substitue teachers cover our classes. Jyoti will be teaching the Monday 4pm Yoga and Nia for life class in Cocnord, the Tuesday 6:30pm Lumina class in Wayland, and the Wednesday Bosse classes in Sudbury.  Linda Seik will be teaching the Thursday 5:30pm Yoga class in West Concord. 

The Monday Half Moon Hill class in Acton, and the Thursday 9am Maynard class will not be held next week.

I’ve got some great workshops planned for the fall, and there are still a few spots open in our Fall Yoga Retreat in western Mass.  I’m looking forward to sharing what I learn when I get back, and hear how nice your classes with Jyoti and Linda were.

Om Shanti,  I’ll see you in class.

john

On August 5′th People around the world will be reciting the Sutra of Golden Light for world peace.  You can join in, got to the IMI website to find out more, or sit in silence for some time that day to participate.  http://www.joinprayersforpeace.org/ 

Save the date!   I look forward to this all summer!  Sunday August 17′th  The India Association of Greater Boston presents: India Day at the Hatch Shell in Boston.  This is a great celebration of music, arts, dance, crafts and food.  Starts at 4pm.   Let me know if you plan on going it would be great to meet up there.

Namaste!

John 

www.YogaWithJohn.com

Namaste!   

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

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. 

Everyone seems to be going green, or talking about it anyway.  Even yoga studios are trying to tread a little lighter on the planet.    As yogis who seek the truth, we need to sift through all these claims and find out whats really happening.  A new term “Greenwashing” has popped up.   When you are beign pitched by a company claiming that they are the ’green’ choice, dig a little deeper.  Often times, things are not what they seem.   

Another area where talk is extremely louder than the walk is the food industry.  My good friends and mentors James Laveck and Jenny Stein have launched a new website dedicated to the truth.   Take a few minutes to ponder the HumaneMyth website.   pass it along.

See you in class, om shanti

-john 

• Saturday july 5′th I’ll be giving a solar cooking lesson at the Maynard Farmers Market.  If you’ve not seen my solar oven in action come down and see what’s cookin.  

• Saturday July 26′th we’ll be having a free outside class at the Maynard Farmers Market.  set your intentions for a nice cool partly cloudy day ! 

The Native American traditions have a daily prayer that acknowledges those new souls who are just arriving on ‘turtle island’  (their name for North America)  they then pray those who this is their last day here.  

Om Shanti

-john

<a href=”http://technorati.com/claim/zf3c2v5pfd” rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a>

Namaste.

In Japa Mala Mantra practice, once you learn the technique and mechanics, the key to results is focus, and practice.

Focus: on the result you wish to see, if it’s change, phrase it in a positive tense, see yourself as already in that new state. Really experience it with all your senses. How does it feel?

Practice: if this is new to you resolve to practice your mantra 4,000 times then, follow through with it.

Sounds like a lot? just 1 round a day for 40 days, a round each in the am and pm for 20 days, or the fast track, 4 times a day for 10 days. You can do this. You’ll be glad you’ve done this.

In the engineering community we had a saying, Want change? Make change.

Change takes action!

Thought is a start, plants the seed.

Thought + intention = the potential for change.

Thought + intention + regular practice = Transformation

This is a science. The science of clearly focusing the mind, (dharana) to make space for meditation(Dhyanna.) If you practice, you will see the results. Remember that it’s just one of many paths.

Don’t rush, fully articulate your mantra, respect the space between the beads, and the sounds. Like the transitions in your breath and your asanas, everything matters…. or nothing matters.

If you’re wearing your mala, it’s the right wrist (sun) for men, the left wrist (Lunar) for women.

I’d be glad to answer any questions, send an email or ask me after class.

Om shanti, peace… I’ll see you in class

john

Namaste!

I was at the computer breathing life into this new website I’m building when my cell phone rang.  It was my mom, (who I’m convinced is the living Buddha.)  As we were catching up, my landline phone rang.  I was trying to focus on the conversation with mom, but found my mind drifting to the message being left.

As that person was talking to my answering machine, I could hear the call-waiting beep of my cell.  I’m trying to ignore this and hear my mom when, this is great… She says: “Oh, I have another call coming in, I’ll talk with you later.”  We hung up.

I find myself laughing, but feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Two messages to check, a boatload of email, and I didn’t get to discuss what I needed to with mom. 

When/how did some unknown caller become more important than the person you are currently with?   I’ve long-ago asked Verizon to shut off my call waiting and they said they cannot.

We’ve become so fast, so adept at multi-tasking, even though many studies have shown that it leads to lower productivity, stress, and overwhelm.  I’m going to develop a workshop for the fall and call it “The Lost Art of Single-tasking.”

When did this become something we need to practice?  Do you wonder how it already got to be mid-May?    Join me in slowing down, we can stretch time, doing  less, enjoying more.

For the record, if you call me, I promise to never put you on hold or hang up on you to get to the next call.  Perhaps I’ll learn to use the three-way calling and just invite the new caller into our conversation.  All one right?

Be well, I’ll see you in class.

John

Namaste! 

This past Sunday, 12 or so of us met up in Ashland for a tour of the Shri Lakshmi Hindu temple.  Arriving early, we walked around the building, admiring the Rangoli, (chalk designs drawn on the pavement.)  Traditionally drawn by women for protection and blessings, they are stunning, temporary art.

Once everyone was gathered, we took off our shoes and headed inside.  Shri Lakshmi is amazing inside and out, there’s always some ceremony happening, and the depth of devotion to their spirituality can be seen in the architecture, and demeanor of everyone present.  It’s not silent like the churches I was brought up visiting on Sunday mornings.  It’s alive,  there are children laughing, cellphones ringing, bells chiming, many different prayers happening at the same time.  This is not to say it’s casual, more like spirituality is not set aside for a certain day, time and ceremony, it is woven into every part of their lives.

We visited with all the deities, Ganesha, Sri Lakshmi, Vishnu, Shiva, Kartikeya, Garuda, and Ayyapa. Sharing stories of the gods, and making our offerings.  Everyone adds a bit of knowledge, and our understanding grows. 

My friend, and Shiva priest Jagadesh welcomed us, and blessed us wtih Arate, the blessed flame offering from Shiva and Ganesha… filling us with blessings and our hands with Prasad, (fruit that has been blessed.)

We said our goodbyes to the gods for today and headed off the The Dosa Palace for a dinner together.  A day of devotion works up the appetite, and our table was soon abundant with delicious South Indian food.  Tara and Arron Blessed our dinner with the traditional Sivananda gratefulness mantra, and we found a nice mix of mild to firey flavors.   I’ve got some great feedback from you all, and we’ll be sure to gather again for another field trip soon.    Keep in touch and I’ll see you in class.  -j

  Welcome to the Yoga with John blog 

Be sure to check out the workshops and events page also!

om Shanti, I’ll see you in class. -j

            dont miss anything, Click here to Subscribe to email updates of Johns blog