patanjali

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Signs of Life

March 14, 2010 in Yoga | Add Your Comment

Namaste.

Since way-back we have used seasonal changes to mark the passage of time. Creating rituals to honor what has passed, and welcome what's to come.

Spring Equinox Yoga Class

Long ago, I adopted the Spring Equinox to welcome change in my life, in a way it's my 're-birthday.' (I see a new line of hallmark cards…)

I take time to notice the past year, and welcome the new one. Not like a resolution, but more in the way of where am I coming from, and what am I doing with this gift of life?

Making space for ritual brings texture and depth to our lives. For me, the best rituals are simple, like taking a pause to notice and appreciate my connection to nature.

It's no accident that our Yoga postures are named for what the ancients saw daily in their lives. It's actually the first of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. YS 1.1: Atha Yoga Nushasanam. "Here is Yoga as I have observed it in the natural world."

We 'do' the tree pose to awaken the qualities of tree in ourselves. Strength and suppleness, our ability to reach high, from a very grounded place… Our ability to selflessly provide food and shelter for others.

If you're blessed with trees in your yard, go to a window, stand on one leg and reach out. Better yet, give your neighbors something to talk about. Go outside and get up close and personal with your tree.

If the police drive by really slowly, it's just a test of your focus.

On Saturday the 20'th we'll gather for our annual Spring Equinox Yoga class and outdoor – silent walk to the sacred circle. There we give thanks, and offer something old to the puja fire, making room for new growth:

This daylily sprout is the essence of Surya Namaskar. We can do this. Ground down, and reach high, through your obstacles, and come into the light.

Hope you can join us for Spring Equinox at Yoga and Nia for Life in West Concord, Saturday March 20th, 12:30 to 2:30pm. You can find out more on the 'events' page, or Click here to email an RSVP to john

Om Shanti,

-j

Patience Is Golden

March 4, 2010 in Yoga, writing | Add Your Comment

We tend to see our Yoga practice as the part that we do well, our favorite postures, that one that feels just right, the one that looks cool.

Our higher practice is actually the postures that challenge us the most, our least favorite, We've all got one that feels like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree:

tree pose, vrikshasana - don't try this at home...

Now this, is a tree that we can work with…

These are the places where we can learn ourselves, if we dare to look. Who do we become when our feathers are ruffled?

I was filling my Kleen Canteen at the Yoga studio today and found myself getting irritated, willing the water to move quicker. There it is, in that moment, noticing how I was being, The water bubble became my teacher. Guru Sakshat, What's happening right now – in this moment, becomes our teacher.

I was able to come around pretty quickly, and used the time to practice my Mantra, and gratitude for my access to unlimited clean water. These bits of mindfulness bring richness to our lives, and all we have to do is pay attention.

Of course, Many times our challenges have much bigger impact, and are much more challenging to see in this way. Practicing with the little ones, will help us deal with the big ones.

I've also found that the depth of the teaching is proportional to the depth of my inconvenience. I'm sure that I'm not alone in my experience of major letdowns turning out to be a huge favors with passing time.

Much of our suffering is avoidable.

There's a Yoga Sutra for this. Here's some homework: Lookup Patanjali's Yoga Sutra II.16. Google: Heyam Dukham Anagatam

Buddhist teacher Tich Nhat Hanh, never hurries, for anything. This irks his entourage at times, cause they miss many planes, He says "Why hurry, We'll have more time for meditation." I'm not saying we should all aspire to this level of patience, but a little goes a long way to reduce the stress in our lives.

Practice patience, make way for ducklings

What's your least favorite Yoga posture, What's your pet peeve?, Who irritates you the most? These are gold nuggets of opportunity. They are your teacher, they are your Guru Sakshat. If you slow down, and allow them to be.

All Day Yoga

Next time you're frustrated, or your Sun Salutation feels like a rusty-hinge, let your discomfort become the meditation chime. Ask, "what can I learn?" This is the Yoga you can do all day. This is the Yoga that will bring depth to your experience of this life.

I got another chance to practice at the supermarket. Molasses moves faster than this cashier! This time, I was ready for her. Cool as the cucumbers I was buying, I thanked her, and meant it. Slow down…

Om Shanti, I'll see you in class… and let me know what you find out about that Sutra II.16

-j

P.S. Yes, Joy can be a great teacher as well, next post…

Yoga, Inc.

August 8, 2009 in Yoga, video, yoga films | Add Your Comment

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?

Live your Yamas and Niyamas:

Yamas: Ahimsa – Satya – Asteya – Bramachyra – Aparigraha

Niyamas: Saucha – Santosha – Tapas – Swadyaya – IshvaraPranidad

I’m doing my best to live in Yoga, I’ve come a long way, and have a long way to go.

In gratitude for this path.

John

p.s. Many thanks for all the inspiring emails and stories for the "reflections" page. I love to hear how Yoga has been showing up in your lives.