transformation

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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


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Yoga and Art

February 8, 2010 in Yoga, creativity, video | 1 comment

Namaste. 

For me, Yoga itself is an art form, the multi-dimensional sculpting of a whole-life.  I also have the great pleasure to know many artists who call Yoga their muse.

One of our fellow students is currently preparing a study on Yoga and Art, how Yoga practice can expand creativity and expression. I'd love for some our very-own artists and Yoga students to participate! let me know if you'd like to hear more about her vision.

Here's an example of living Yoga:

Aaron L. Jones, a local artist, musician, and very-humble yogi, has been painting and drawing since he was a child. His passion has been to imbue his images with the subtle nature of ethereal energy, and his latest paintings express this vibe. I've just got to share this video with you. He's painting Virabhadra, Warrior I pose with his music playing in the backround. Enjoy!

We're bringing Aaron's work to Lumina, where they will be on display, and for sale as well.  He accepts selective commissions for custom pieces, and does Yoga portraits too! Now that's one great way to check your alignment huh?  

Contact Tara at OmRachel@hotmail.com for more information about Aaron's work.  Or talk with Aaron as he headlines our Open Mic Kirtan on Sat Feb 20th.  6:30 at Yoga and Nia for Life in West Concord.  I'll ask him to bring the painting!   By request, I'll be telling a few stories of my India travels. 

Om Shanti,

John

P.S.  The next few weeks are busy, with a special Valentines Day Heart Opening Yoga class on the 14th, and I'm teaching the next few Saturday 8am classes at Yoga and Nia for Life in W. Concord.  Kirtan on the 20'th, Global 5:45pm on the 26th, and Restorative Yoga returns on the 28th.  The Events page has the scoop.  

Don't miss posts like this, you can subscribe in the upper left hand corner.  -j

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Covered

February 2, 2010 in Yoga, abundance, jnanna, writing | 2 comments

Amachi Om Tapestry

The Om tapestry that covers my television

Last Fall, on one of those amazing warmish days, I had all my windows open, and had a great practice going.  When it was time to wind down I settled in for a nice shavasana.  As I lay there checking in, realized it was a bit chilly.  
 
My body voted for rest – my mind clinged to comfort. "Move, and get a blanket was the predominant thought."  My body won.  Just as I surrendered to the chill – to contentment,  a strong wind blew the Om tapestry off my TV.  It landed perfectly, covering my feet.
 
 I'm grateful, but not surprised anymore when I get just what I need, right when I need it.
 

While traveling India I found myself in a few precarious situations. Things turned out okay… not always the best outcome, but okay. 

This one time, I was on the back of a motorcycle, hurtling through impossible-traffic in Gaya.  The term 'holding on for dear life' must be indian in origin, and the only thing scarier was the thought of the return trip.  My hands went numb.  Taking a few deep breaths of the thick air, my grip loosened.
 
"Worry is a prayer for what we don't want."  -Sharon Gannon
 
A smile came over me, inside and out.  I seemed to realize It'll be okay… or not… but the fierce grip wouldn't help either way.  It's a level of trust, that I could handle whatever is coming my way.  My illusion of control dissolved.
  
"You can't always get what you want – you get what you need."   -Mick Jagger
 
An aspiring meditator who I work with individually, was walking in the woods when she came across a railroad crew working with power tools on the track. They were loud and she resented their presence.  They were 'ruining' her peaceful walk.  Her practice kicked in, trying to find peace, she created thoughts of how the crew was protecting life, making the trains safe etc…  
 
Alas, she walked a bit further than usual and actually got lost.  When she got still and tried to get her bearings… off in the distance she heard the workers, and their sounds guided her home to safety.  
 
When what is 'bad' becomes 'good'  what really changes?

Don't hold on so tight, and we'll get what we need… We're covered. 
 
I've got a great interview in the works from a Yoga student who is a master at manifesting.  She's going to share some of her stories with us.  If you've got a story about being covered, please, Click on the comments link, and share it with us.
 
Om Shanti, I'll see you in class.
 
John
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Downward Facing Dogmatic

October 23, 2009 in Yoga, jnanna | 4 comments

You've forsaken all other activities, and taken the time to get to class.  You unroll your mat, setup your space and: 

a: Go through the motions, muscle on through, and hope some of the Yoga sticks to you.

b: Focus, Flow, and seek to understand how the teachings relate to you, and how you relate to the teachings.

Taken at surface level, some of these teachings can seem superficial, trite, or yes, even dogmatic.   "Open your heart, Draw energy up the back of your leg,  Set a clear intention."  What does it all mean?  Better put, what does it all mean to you? 

One of the beauties of Yoga is it's pure potential to be what you need it to be. Need to stretch, strengthen, de-stress? Then yes, Yoga practices can help.  

But when practiced that way, it's like applying a band-aid.  The benefits are fleeting. Feel bad – get to Yoga – feel good for a while, then feel bad again.  

A small intention will get you just that, and that's all your Yoga may ever be.

When we approach our Yoga practice like we do everything else, we become more of who we already are.  I think the world has had enough of us all doing that.

We've got to dig deeper, scratch below the surface and get to the roots of our issues.  The bad feeling is there to show us a change is needed.  dare to look.

Shift your perspective

Yoga asks us to set aside what we think we know, and to vary our perception. We hone the ability to zoom our awareness in on a particular sensation, or zoom out and gain perspective on the whole of our lives.  In each moment, would the micro, or the macro view be best?  

The question becomes: How can this posture, this very breath, help me to become a better person, neighbor, parent, friend, partner, or spouse? 

Spice it up

When we practice this way, our efforts are concentrated, It's like a strong spice, say Saffron, it's sacred, and a little goes a long way towards the color and flavor of how we experience what's in front of us.

Unmake your mind

The teachings are a map, left by the anicents, a map to our freedom.  Each pose, each breath, is potentially a step closer.  In class we create a model of how we could live,  and after class shows how we could feel all the time.

We need to remember why we fell in love with Yoga in the first place, and be sure our Yoga is about, what our Yoga is about.

Om Shanti.  I'll see you in class.

John

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Want Change? Make Changes.

August 27, 2009 in Yoga | 7 comments

"Want Change?  Make Changes."  is an old saying from back in my engineering days.  Don’t get me started about stagnation in the corporate world.

Not just a big-biz phenomenon, We all form patterns of behavior, some serve us well, and some are in the way of who we’re becoming.

Yoga asks us to look at things differently, through a lens that is continually cleansed and changed by our practice.

Yoga asks us not to get lulled into the trap of complacency.

change through the heat of Tapas

Doing just one thing different can change everything.  Take a different route home today.  Buy that strange looking vegetable at the farmers market. Skip Netflix this week and go to the big screen, go to the drive in.  Walk don’t drive.  Wash the dishes by hand.  Need some new and very-loyal friends? Buy a bird feeder.  Go to that other coffee shop with a good book.  If you always read, just sit and sip. Try a new Yoga class out.  (hint… visit LuLu Lemon and pickup a bunch of first-class-free coupons to the area studios.)   Yeah, I’ll miss you in class, but, it may be really good for you.  

What do you avoid, shy away from?  Why?  Shake things up:  Roll out your mat.  Do your nemesis posture 10 times, with a smile.  imagine it was your favorite.  If you’ve been practicing for years, take a beginners class.  Next time you’re feeling resistance to something, step right into it.  Cook it with the heat of your Tapas.  The resistance becomes dust in your path.  Yes, you’re a step closer to who you’re becoming.

Sidestepping our normal patterns tells ourselves at many levels that we are open to change, really, and that we are making room for it.

Anyone can want change, anyone can set an intention, but a Yogi follows through with the effort required, and that Tapas creates lasting change.  

"If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always got."   -Hanumanji at Ananda Ashram

So I put it out there, Make a change, click on the ‘add your comment link’ and inspire us all with how it goes. 

Om Shanti,  I’ll see you in Class  -j

 

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Mantra Yoga

May 20, 2008 in Yoga | 2 comments

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

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