A must-see video of our favorite Mantra preformed by a middle school choir:
They are singing Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu… The beautiful mantra I share with you at the end of each Yoga Class. It means:
"May all beings – in all places – be happy and free."
The melody comes from Girish's latest ablum, which I'm honored to have helped produced. You've been hearing sneak-peeks and early edits from 'Diamonds' in class.
Great news! looks like Danielle is coming up from Jivamukti Yoga NYC to assist our Sunday morning 9:00 4'th of July Yoga class in West Concord.
It's a joy to teach on all the holidays. Most studios close, and the mix of people coming from all over makes for a very nice class. We get our practice in early and have the rest of the day to savor it.
There's just a few spots open for the local Fall retreats… all the details on the Yoga Events Page.
Watch this video of a 91 year old Yoga teacher who tangos in her spare time. Her philosophy is as inspiring as her youthfulness. A life lived in service of others. If you can't see the video in your email, got to my website and visit the blog.
Forward this post to a friend who could use some inspiration to get to Yoga:
You all asked, and we listened!
Danielle is coming out from New York City this weekend, she'll be assisting our 9am Yoga class this coming Sunday, and the Monday 4pm class.
Danielle is gifted at helping people find just the right depth of a posture. If you've not experienced her co-teaching, you're in for a real treat. Come just a bit early if you can, so we can get started right on time.
Looking ahead slightly, Our Open Mic Kirtan on Sat. the 24'th, a free event.. If you like Yoga music, come on down! That Sunday, the 25'th is Restorative Yoga, 12:30. might be the last of the season, unless I hear differently from you. Get the scoop at the events page.
Thanks again for all your kind emails and feedback, and of course, for coming to class! This Friday night I'm at Global in Stow, 5:45.
Om-Shanti, I'll see you in class,
-John
p.s. Two more interviews coming soon, Our Airbus pilot fellow Yogi, and David, the surgeon who just went back to Haiti to serve another tour in the camps. phew, wait till you read that one. subscribe to not miss anything, upper left hand corner. -j
Subtitled Four Steps to a Joy filled life, Jacqueline lays out a very-approachable map to happiness and vibrant health. The book is a quick read, though you'll find yourself marking pages to return to, I did some of the written exercises and found them thought provoking. there are insightful quotes, plenty of recommendations for good books to follow along with, and it's apparent that she's writing from her own experience, Jacqueline lives, and teaches this. Thanks J. I enjoyed reading your book.
Our own Elisa Davy Pearmain gave me a copy of her book almost a year ago. Why has it taken this long to review? Well, Elisa's beautiful book has 52 chapters, and she encourages you to read it slowly, taking time to absorb the stories. In our speeding culture, this is refreshing advice. Elisa draws from a vast array of traditions to convey wisdom of the ages, peace, and connection with nature, divinity, and each other. I took my time with this one, a story for each week. you will want to as well. Thanks E, It's been nice seeing you in class.
Edited by Deborah Bernstein and Bob Weisenberg. Deb and Bob sent out the question "What is yoga?" to a community of teachers, 300 responses were edited down to 46 that are published in this substantial volume. the spectrum of yoga represented is wide, and I appreciate the different writing styles. this is another book that can be read over time, taking time to soak up what's been said. Deborah lives in Boston, and does much work to comfort the families of fallen firefighters and disabled veterans. Check out her Yoga blog, and beautiful retreat center, Florian Yoga – St. John, US Virgin Islands.
I'm still working on Karen Dawn's fresh look at Animal Rights. I met Karen back in 2000 at the national Animal Rights Conference, but had recognized her from conferences in the past. She's been actively publishing the E-newsletter 'DawnWatch' for many years, alerting us to how animals are represented or more often misrepresented in the media.
This is a comprehensive, yet inviting book, intermixed with glossy photos, cartoons and a mix of philosophies. Chosen by the Washington Post as one of the Best Books of the year, Thanking the Monkey is full of insight from the well known, and the rank and file. Karen, thanks for all you do for the Voiceless animals. I appreciate your efforts, and will revisit your book when I return from Asia. Thanks for the tee shirt too !
Lastly, a film. I just received the film Dalai Lama Renaissance, I was able to watch one volume chronicling the conference between His Holiness and 40 of the worlds current intellectuals. Quantum physicists, talk show hosts, film makers and social scientists gather to discus the worlds problems and what can be done about them. The scenery is amazing, but what struck me most about this documentary is the incredible patience the Dalai Lama has when dealing with this collection of mostly-Western minds.
Renaissance has won 14 awards and is an official selection in at least 40 international film festivals. I'll let you know about the other volume when I return. Khashyar, thanks so much for sending me a review copy, I'll be showing it to my friend Ani-hla, a student of His Holiness this afternoon.
At some recent point, the word Asana, (postures) became synonomous with Yoga.
Asana is a powerful vehicle for transformation, but without the framework of Yoga, it’s exercise, and the benefits are fleeting.
Asana is third on the eight limbed path of Yoga. It comes after the ethical and purifying principles of the Yamas and Niyamas. Ways for a society to live together in harmony.
You see, Yoga is much much more than the postures. It’s a path, a way of life handed down from the ancients. It’s a carefully mapped out way to end suffering and find liberation in our lives.
John Philp was kind enough to send me a copy of his documentary Yoga, Inc. to review for you all. John’s film addresses the sideshow that our national Yoga scene has become, Yoga (asana) competitions, lawsuits, franchises, infideliity and sexual misconduct. Here’s a short clip:
Major players have pulled Asana from the context of Yoga to stand alone as a way to make tremendous amounts of Money. Many of these major ‘stars’ of Yoga mean very well, but some have lost their way. How can you tell? look at their actions, and how they treat others.
Thanks John, for making the film Yoga Inc.
It has become okay in some circles to abandon principle, call anything Yoga and peddle it as a means to make money.
Last year a heavily promoted, major "yoga" charity events headlining sponsor was a Factory Farm. The factory farms are major polluters, users of energy, and they wreak unmeasurable suffering on all involved. The tagline of the event "Come do Yoga to save Mother Earth!" Huh?
Am I the only one who sees the emperor has no clothes? Do we sidestep the teachings, and the idea of Karma when there’s money involved?
Money is pure potential, what matters is how you got it, and what you do with it. Are these teachers at fault, or are they giving us what we want?
We don’t have to go to these events.
The means do not justify the ends. Each and every dollar you spend is a vote for the world you’d like to live in. Who are your teachers, what do they stand for? How do their students act?
if you are a ‘Yoga’ teacher, what are you teaching? are your actions and words inline? Are your students getting more than buff?
I’m often asked to recommend books, dvd’s, but am most-asked about the music playing in class. I’ve begun to populate the john’s favorite link on the left side of my website with selected items. I’m now working on a way to post the songlists from class. Now that would be very-cool.
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.
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!
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.
