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What is your Yoga Footprint?

January 22, 2012 in Reviews by john, Yoga | 7 comments

I saw my first extra wide mat today. A National teacher is earnestly pitching ‘the mat with heart.’ It is six inches wider, encouraging us to spread out…

More is less.

While maybe fine for a home practice, bringing one of these mats to a Yoga class is the equivalent of parking your car sideways and taking up two spots.

Last week in Concord, 66 of us gathered for Sunday morning practice. (Don’t you people read the NY times?, we’re now supposed to be scared of Yoga!) I did the math, If we had all tried to unroll a ‘mat with heart’, 17 of us would have had to turn around and go home. How fair is that?

It’s billed as the mat made with ‘soulful engineering, the mat for everybody,’ Well, everyone except the 17 people who can’t fit in class now. Taking a wider perspective, Innovation like this might put a studio close to the edge out of business.

If you’re thinking “but it’s just a mat john,” you reaffirm your place in the collective consciousness of ‘more’ that has brought our world to the brink. If you pause and look below the surface level of how things appear to be you become part of the solution.

This SUV of Yoga mats requires more materials, more energy to create, more packaging and fuel to ship. Is this really the direction we want to take?

If you require a bigger mat, by all means take care of yourself. As practicing Yogis, we boldly claim our space without apology, nor do we take any more than we need. One parking spot is enough.

Less is the new more.

Last week If we had all had gotten just 1/2 inch closer, one more person could join us for Yoga practice. Aparigraha anyone?

I will walk my talk. Last night I sheared 1/2″ off the width of my mat as a gesture of community, and a shrinking of my Yoga footprint. Care to join me?

how much space do you really need?

I appreciate innovation, and the need for businesses to be profitable, but like all products, they can only sell it if we buy it. Remember that every dollar you spend is a vote for the world you want to live in. Your choices matter, your actions ripple far and wide. Our new mantra could be: ‘Less is More.’ Please share this with a friend

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

P.S. Mosabee sent me a gorgeous new chocolate brown eco friendly Yoga mat to check out and tell you about. (Yes, it’s regular size, and has a great feel) Instead of trying it, (I’m kind of liking my skinny mat) it will go to the lucky winner of the monthly class raffle. Remember to fill out your slip after class. Good Luck! -j

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Karnamrita Dasi

October 18, 2011 in calling, events, mantra, music, Yoga | 12 comments

Karnamrita Dasi Live Music Yoga Class

I have the best news to share with you! This coming Sunday, October 23rd. Karnamrita Dasi will be singing for our 9am morning Yoga class.

Inspired by her life story and beautiful music, I’ve been playing Karnamitra’s songs in class for years. You see, her mom’s dying wish was that she sing, and boy does she sing… in honor and memory of her mom.

Last weekend, her first time in Boston, I sat in on one of her gatherings. When she offered the first line of the first song, her soaring vocals enveloped the silence, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the full room.

So true to her name which means ‘Nectar for the ears.’

Whoah. Intending to just stay an hour… I ended up staying for the whole event and over an hour afterward to get a chance to talk with her.

I asked Karnamrita to come and sing for our Sunday morning Yoga class. Right away she said “Yes,” but then added, “I don’t have a way to get there from Boston.”

While I pondered that, a man offered to drive her to the studio. Nice, thank you Shunyam.

“Wow,” She then explained: “Okay, but I need to be in New York City by 3pm, can you get me to a bus or train?” As I started to ponder that tight a schedule, a woman stepped in and offered to drive her to NY after class. Thank you Madhuri.

Just then, a man handed the volunteer driver a roll of bills to pay for the gasoline. I’m sorry that I don’t know his name.

So many things came together for Karnamrita to join us this Sunday, She’s very happy to be coming, and I’m feeling very fortunate to be able to share her singing with you all.

I hope you can join us, Sunday morning, October 23rd, 9am for our all levels peaceful Yoga class at Yoga and Nia for Life in West Concord. An easy ride, just off Rt. 2, plenty of parking.

Please come early! Class will be mellow – peaceful Yoga, regular coupon rates apply, and beginners are surely welcome. Click to hear Karnamrita

You can read some of the glowing reviews of her music by clicking on her album below:

See you there!

-john

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9 ideas to spark up your practice

May 17, 2011 in creativity, Yoga | 3 comments

praying mantis expressing the joy of Yoga

As the spring weather draws us outside, one thing that can slide is our Yoga practice.

The Sanskrit word for a steady and regular practice is Abhyasa. The ancients ask that we keep our tools of awareness honed and at the ready for what life will bring us next.

 

Like Steven Pressfield says about writing, Yoga doesn't give, it gives back. What you put in you get out, and 10 minutes every few days is more effective than one hour of practice once a week.

 

Here's 9 fresh ideas that could help keep your practice steady, or spark up a stale practice.

 

1. Positive peer pressure: Yoga is a solitary practice, but we don't have to go it alone. Find a Yoga buddy. take the time to say hello to the people you in your favorite classes. Exchange emails and encourage each other. Your next best friend could be right next to you! Form a posse and head out to some classes.

 

2. Focus on the outcome:  Remember how good you feel afterwards, and how your practice helps you to be there for others.

 

3. Upgrade your equipment. The Yoga world is overhyped with merchandise, but… if your mat is Circa 1949, recent advances in mat materials could really make a difference in your practice. 

 

One of my favorites is the Jade Yoga Mat. No more slipping around, this mat will grab you. If you're into the power Yoga, a favorite is the Yogi Toes Yoga Towel. no more sliding, Not usually one to follow the herd, but these are really great products. 

 

4. Blocking off time: Make a commitment. Mark a month's worth of Yoga classes in your calendar, start realistically, a number that you can follow through on. Treat them like an important appointment with your self. 

 

5. Use technology:  With My Free Email Reminders, it’s easy to have an encouraging note emailed or texted to you on the days/times you wish to practice.

 

I use this service to remind myself to backup my computer and other tasks that can fall behind.

 

6. Is there a workshop coming up that calls to you? a new studio or teacher you've been meaning to check out? Could you combine your vacation with your practice and join a Yoga retreat?

 

7. Make a space in your home for your practice. A refuge you can slide into for a few minutes of meditation a day, form a personal altar with art and icons that inspire you.

 

8. Would some new music spark up your personal practice? I've added some new recommendations to the Favorite music link. (left hand column)

 

9. All this being said, some days it's just nice to break routine, skip a practice and just be. 

 

Spend some creative time with your art form, or try something new. Borrow a book on drawing for beginners from the library and see if it's for you. Take the time to put together a really nice meal, invite someone over to share it. Take a walk in the woods. notice how alive, how aware you are. Taking time to notice the effects your Yoga practice has on your life can keep you coming back to the mat.

 

Overall, we're looking to create a practice so sweet that we gravitate towards it, that it becomes something we look forward to, not just another thing on our busy to-do list.

 

Click on the comments link and share with us what keeps you coming back to the mat.  (you can fake the email address it asks you for)

 

Om shanti, I’ll see you in class.

 

-john

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Motivation

February 24, 2010 in creativity, Yoga | Add Your Comment

Making time for practice

Whatever it takes to get us to the mat…

The busier life gets, the more important Yoga becomes, and while crib notes may work for politicians, there are better ways to get your Om on.  

Sri Brahmananda Saraswati would say "Practice 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the evening, how hard is that?" When a reluctant student said "I don't have 10 minutes in the morning!"  he replied "oh, then you need an hour!"  

1. Make it a priority.  Remember how good you feel after your Yoga.  Plant the seeds for a daily practice.

2. Mark the classes you plan to attend on your calendar.   Go ahead, turn ahead to next month and write those classes in too!

3. Some people like to have a Yoga buddy.  Take turns driving to class, and now they're counting on you.

4. Technology can help,  Nowadays it's very-easy to send yourself a class reminder. Set it once and it will remind you every week.  Check out one of these free email and text message reminder services:

ReSnooze:  - Quick and easy to setup. The simplest of the bunch.

Time Cave:   –  Many more options,  precision timing.

My Email Reminders:  -   Highly configurable.

5. If you can't make the time for a full practice, 10-15 minutes of Yoga can really help keep the peace.  

If that's a challenge, Individual sessions really shine here, where we work together to develop a personalized home-practice.  

Hope this helps, I'd love to hear your ideas on making time to practice, just click on comment link and let us know how you get to the mat.

Om Shanti, I'll see you in class.

John

P.S.  check out the First Day of Spring countdown timer!, scroll down the left hand side of my website.  We'll be gathering for our special spring equinox class.  email me your rsvp.  -j   

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The Journey and the Destination

February 18, 2010 in Yoga | 1 comment

Yoga doesn't care about where we are from.  Yoga cares about where we are going.

And how we get there matters…

Yoga is a journey and a destination

The teachings are clear, and very simple.  We tend to become what we do all the time.  Whether that is good news or bad, depends on how we practice. How much of life are we really present for?

Skim the surface, and the benefits of class are fading before we even reach the parking lot.  Dig a bit deeper. and we experience lasting benefits, benefits that we can share with others… That's the Yoga that counts.

The recipe is simple.  Set a clear intention, then follow through with a steady and focused effort.  Don't succumb to the tyranny of  a superficial practice.  

No, you don't have to become a sadhu, Just focus. One thing at a time.  It's that easy, and that difficult.  Therein lies the practice, the returning to – right now.  Slow down, live deep. Practice.

Change that old saying.  Say no to the either-or.  We can have both, The Journey, and the Destination.  

You're closer than you think, Keep going.  

I'll see you in class,  we'll keep it simple, we'll focus, and we'll keep it real.

Om Shanti.

-John

P.S.   A great post on Snow Shoveling Backache Yoga from Diane at the Everything Yoga Blog.  Great job Diane, thanks!

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Yoga Retreat

October 6, 2009 in abundance, Yoga | 1 comment

 I’ve got a great guest-commentary about Vinyasa yoga coming from my friend Daniel, a NYC Yoga Teacher and writer.  I’m in the midst of formatting it, and will share as soon as I can. 

Just back from our annual Fall retreat.  Many thanks to those who could join us.  Sprit Fire is amazing. Not an austere event by any means!  in between focused classes and workshops we feasted on gourmet vegetarian food, Much of it organically grown on site. Yes, there’s coffee in the morning, and decadent snacks in between classes.  It was a joy to teach, we had a great group.  A full house, sorry for those on the waiting list, but as-promised, you’re first in line for our retreat in May, There’s been a tremendous response to the pre-invite and I’m doing my best to arrange for a second spring weekend to accommodate us all.  

I’ll get that Vinyasa article up very soon.

In humble gratitude, it’s so great to see you all in class.

John

 

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Solar cooking

June 6, 2008 in Yoga | 1 comment

  • 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.  

 

solar oven

 

  • 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 ! 

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