yoga poetry

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A Reflection From Jill

December 4, 2011 in creativity, writing, Yoga | 5 comments

Yoga Class West Concord Mass

Sunday Morning Yoga class with John

 

The bending, the hanging,

departure of the clanging,

remember.

 

The mind in a hurry

waiting for the jury,

all that you bury

is going to rise.

 

Tears from your eyes

the bucket of  “my’s”

contempory lies,

no surprise.

 

Open your hands

depart the boarder lands

the body’s strands

relaxing demands.

Remember.

 

Let go of your head,

practice being dead,

make way for surrender,

abandon the pretender.

 

Arrogance and pride

can no longer hide,

wash it from your face,

join the human race.

Remember.

 

The ankles, the wrists, the knees, the pelvis,

what sticks in bending places

likes to swim around.

 

Blossom out your heart

reveal Mozart

commence a new start.

Remember.

 

The teacher’s voice talking

round the room he’s walking

“Wash your body clean.”

What does he mean?

 

The yoga scene.

a kirtan dream.

the tunes unwinding

the twists unbinding.

 

The breathing steady

emptiness is ready

to make the tree pose.

 

Eyes stay closed

the velvet is yours,

forever.

 

Upside down

silence goes to town

finally you’re here.

Omnipresent fear,

“Sold” by the auctioneer.

 

Savor the meal,

this is the deal,

the dealer

is leaving.

 

On your orange mat

spun out flat,

remember the ember,

the membership is free.

Remember.

 

-Jill Goldman-Callahan

 

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The Weaver and the Loom

September 13, 2011 in books, creativity, writing, Yoga | 4 comments

The Weaver and the Loom

Yoga for artists in concord ma

B.W. Yogini and weaver at Emerson Umbrella

Sit here for a bit. Place yourself

outside the frenzied pace of life.

Slow down long enough to

appreciate birds in flight, water

drops like prisms in the grass and

countless shades of green. Step

off the fast track and listen to the

sound of breath and birdsong. Take

a moment to just be, and in the being,

know the whole of this creation,

mystery and madness, passion and

profanity, know it all as one, stunning

tapestry. Sit still and the thin line

between sacred and profane simply

fades away. There is nothing then

to reconcile. All the disparate threads

are woven on the loom of life. Sit here

for a bit and your unique place in the

pattern becomes clear. Take the still

point with you when it’s time to walk

away. Make the choice to see affinity,

to watch the picture taking shape as

thread joins thread. Dare to be the

weaver and the loom, creator and

creation, the sower and the sown.

In a moment of stillness, all that

came before is seen as one.

–From Danna Faulds’ Go In and In: Poems from the Heart of Yoga

(a great book for Yogis and for teachers of Yogis.)  There’s a long line for the beautiful clothing that BW weaves in Concord at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts… One thread at a time. She practices with us in West Concord. Thanks B!

 

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Ananda

June 7, 2011 in creativity, writing, Yoga | Add Your Comment

Upon her return from our group retreat at Ananda Ashram, Bettina sent me this beautiful poem.

Ananda Ashram Yoga retreats with John

Arriving at the gate.
Wondering what lies beyond.
Here, now, later.

A time for inner silence and reflection.
Awakening to the surrounding sounds.
Sharing experiences in community.

Fire ceremonies mark beginnings and endings.
Meditation practice collectively quiets minds.
Yoga deepening and stretching our beings.
Sanskrit teachings, texts and chants.

Tears flowing as emotions are stirred.
Supportive surroundings offering comfort.
Feelings of being closely held and nurtured.
Opening to transforming possibilities.

Seeing what lies ahead.
Recognizing the bliss in just being.
I-AM

-Bettina Messana is a Poet – Yogini –  and gifted professional organizer.  Thanks Bee.

(Click to subscribe to Bettina's daily poems)

This Coming Sunday, Ravi will be playing and singing for our 9am Peaceful Yoga class. Come a bit early, see you there. -j

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Back to Nature

July 17, 2010 in animals, creativity, jnana, writing, Yoga | 8 comments

a wild rabbit

I was sad one day and went for a walk; I sat in a field.
A rabbit noticed my condition and came near.

It often does not take more than that to help
at times– to just be close to creatures who
are so full of knowing, so full of love that they
don't chat, they just gaze with their marvelous
understanding.      -St. John

___________________________________________

We can't get back to nature.  We are nature.  When we can remember that, we tend to make better choices for our environment.

   What we do to nature, we do to ourselves.

Have you ever wondered why so many of the Yoga postures are named for things found in the natural world?  We have cows and cats, Camels and Crescent Moons.  Notice there is no Angry Motorist, Stressed Out Mom, or Corporate Bigwig posture…

The Yogis spent much time observing the natural world, and how we could live more in tune with the way of nature. They saw where the human condition could get us off track.  There's all the usual suspects of greed, fear, pride, stress, and strife, but the main culprit is our lack of awareness.

This is where our practice can really shine.  In slowing down, we can observe ourself in real-time, seeing aspects of ourselves we'd like to strengthen, and parts we would rather see less of.  

Our practice can return us to that simpler time, where we could do one thing at a time, more in harmony with the natural world.

   Our stress levels plummet, and we begin to heal.

Just stand in tree pose.  Go ahead, back away from the monitor. Stand up tall and true on one leg.  Embody the essence of a particular tree that you know.  

Aspire to her strength and suppleness, her grounding and reaching. Unconditionally sheltering and feeding all who come.  Stand in gratitude for your chosen tree.  

    All this time she's been breathing in your exhales,  and providing your inhales.  

Ask what you can learn from her.  If she could speak in our language, I'd imagine she'd say:  "Use less paper and wood.  When you do need to buy paper, seek out recycled… and in solidarity with me, stand in tree pose in the checkout line."

Yes, there is a Rabbit pose:  

Rabbit Yoga pose

 

And the rabbit stealing a cookie pose:

rabbit steals a cookie

Somedays, a carrot just doesn't cut it.  

Om Shanti,  I'll see you in class.

-john

p.s.  Two spots just opened up in our Oct. 2nd. Fall retreat, (The Oct 15th retreat is full up)  Let me know right away if you'd like to join us.

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The Cookie Thief

June 27, 2010 in abundance, jnana, writing | 8 comments

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shops.
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,
That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be.
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between,
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock,
As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I would blacken his eye."

With each cookie she took, he took one too,
When only one was left, she wondered what he would do.
With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other,
She snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother.
This guy has some nerve and he's also rude,
Why he didn't even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate,
Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat,
Then she sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise,
There was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair,
The others were his, and he tried to share.
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,

That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

Please.. share this with someone.   If you like this, you may like:   Yoga Poems: Lines to Unfold By, and Go In and In: Poems From the Heart of Yoga

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Garudasana

November 19, 2008 in books, Uncategorized, Yoga | Add Your Comment

 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.

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