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Motivation

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

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

The Journey and the Destination

February 18, 2010 in Yoga | Add Your 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!

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

Happy New Year

December 30, 2009 in Yoga | Add Your Comment

Namaste.

I'm taking rest in Chennai, after visiting the southern peninsula of Rameshwar, and the temple towns of Thanjavur, Madurai, Chidambaram, Trichy, and Arunachala. I was able to visit the ashram of Ramana Maharishi, who's teachings of reverence for all life, even the simple blade of grass, I resonate with.

Internet and phone have been very scarce, which can be a very good thing, thanks for all your messages and well-wishes. I send all these blessings back to you all.

I've been challenged in my travels, there are so many lessons and opportunities to practice equanimity and letting go…. but my hardships are nothing compared to what the majority of beings who live here face every day. Life is difficult, yet, joy abounds. When I can put myself in their place for just a moment, I can realize how abundant I am. Empathy is our awareness expanding to include all.

Sending you all the best for the new year. I've got a few more places to cover, and have a pending appointment to see Sri Desikachar at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandir here in Chennai.

I look forward to seeing you all very soon.

john

Enough is Enough

November 26, 2009 in Yoga, abundance, ahimsa | 1 comment

Thanks to all who came out for Thanksgiving Yoga practice this morning.

Our theme was Enough, the prequel to Gratitude. Our vehicle was flow, or Vinyasa.

Smoothing out, and honoring the transitions between postures tells ourselves at many levels, that in-between is a valid way to be. We don't have to know everything. We don't have to do everything. Flowing into postures can helps us get to where things seem to fit.

Our life is like a jigsaw puzzle, but we never get to see the picture on the box. Keep going, slide the pieces in where they fit, and trust in the process. If a piece doesn't fit, let it go. It must be for another puzzle. Trust that the bigger picture will become clearer in time, and resistance slips away.

When our mind drifts during practice, it's an expression of more, when we can focus our mind in practice, it's an expression of enough. Continually returning our focus to right now strengthens our ability to remain there for longer periods of time.

The door to meditation will swing open on easy hinges.

We start out with just a glimmer of enough, an ember of content. Each breath fans the flame. Contentment, (Santosha) is like a big 'ol warm sweater on a cold day. When we embrace enough. We can turn down the thermostat of more…

look around you, find two things. Experience the space between them. Carry that practice into all your actions and you'll need less to make you happy, guaranteed.

I am blessed with so many caring and earnest students. You make it possible for me to teach and share, and I take your blessings with me to Asia.

I resolve to see enough, and to soak up enough teachings to share on my returning.

Happy Thanksgiving. Om Shanti, to all beings.

John

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

Vinyasa Yoga Defined

October 8, 2009 in Yoga, jnanna | 1 comment

What is Vinyasa, anyway?

by Daniel Dale

Many experienced yoga practitioners who have studied in other Hatha Yoga traditions, have shared with me that on the whole their experiences taking classes labeled “Vinyasa” have been very frustrating.

These are folks who approached me after taking a class I taught, and told me that they loved how we moved at a pace that allowed them to breathe. Some have literally reported that in all the “Vinyasa” Yoga classes they had taken previously, the pace was so frantic that they hardly had time to take a breath.

It seems there is a widespread conception of Vinyasa Yoga as being fast and aerobic. And that is how it is often presented. One might ask, is it appropriate to refer to aerobics, even aerobics that is done as a sequence of classical Yogasanas, as “Yinyasa Yoga?”

We can infer that there is disagreement over what constitutes Vinyasa Yoga, since such a wide range of approaches are given this common label. America’s most popular Yoga magazine said of Vinyasa Yoga, “This American innovation is more freeform than its progenitor, Ashtanga Yoga.” (Yoga Journal, Feb. 2008. p.75).

I disagree with 3 assumptions that are embedded in this definition, so I ask you to question:

€ Is it “freeform?” How freeform can a genre be without it being impossible to define?

€ Is vinyasa yoga an American, and not an Indian, innovation?

€ Is it, as Yoga Journal has called it, “derivative of Ashtanga Yoga?”

A good deal of the sequencing found in many vinyasa yoga teachers’ repertoires, does draw heavily on the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series that was taught by the late K. Pattabhi Jois, who was a student of T. Krishnamacharya. And in many Vinyasa Yoga classes, one encounters a tendency toward relatively high speed that seems to have the same inspiration.

(Of course, not all Ashtangis are speed demons on the mat, but as a whole they tend to move faster than most yogis.)

On the other hand, it is said by Srivatsa Ramaswami, author of The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, that Vinyasas are to be executed with a maximum breath rate of 6 per minute, possibly as slow as 2 breaths per minute for advanced practitioners.

Ramaswami studied for 33 years under T. Krishnamacharya, and says that as he learned it from the master, vinyasa yoga was “the antithesis of aerobic exercise.” He has also taken a stance on what parameters exist that limit what one might call Vinyasa Yoga.

I have made an attempt to address these elusive matters coherently in the article Vinyasa: about this form of Yoga, I’ve posted to my website, the Om Again Yoga Pages.

Much love to all of you who frequent Yoga With John — an excellent port of call for yogis sailing the seas of the blogosphere— and many thanks to John Calabria for inviting me to share this with you. -Daniel

Yoga teacher / somatic educator Daniel Dale is a student of yoga in the tradition of T. Krishnamacharya. He offers yoga workshops internationally, offers private yoga lessons and teaches weekly Yoga classes in New York City.

Yoga Retreat

October 6, 2009 in Yoga, abundance | 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

Yoga Books

September 21, 2009 in Yoga, abundance, books | Add Your Comment

I’m often asked "What Yoga books would you recommend?" I have more than a few favorites, but first a caveat.

Jnanna Yoga is the pursuit of knowledge. However it can be a trap. When we approach our Yoga studies like the rest of our modern lives we ‘collect’ Yoga knowledge. We stuff ourselves with the facts and figures and leave no room for clear understanding. Our culture is about more. Yoga is about less.

There are acres of ancient texts available, ancient maps to liberation, We’re fortunate that the modern masters have translated them for us. As usual in our culture, we can drown in our abundance.

Paramahansa Yogananda taught that once we integrate a single sentence into our lives, only then should we move on to the next line. A book would last a while huh?

When we approach our practice from the point of less is more, then we can appreciate the subtle. No need to run after every workshop, or fill your schedule with classes. Honor the space between things. This practice of space shows up in our lives, doing less, needing less, making some space for the unfolding. Pour a cup of something. Sit and sip. That’s enough.

I was brought to this most amazing Puja, (fire worship) for Chamundi, a form of the Mother. Very complex. All sorts of Mudras, Mantras, songs, and offerings to the fire. It took 4+ hours to conclude. At the end my teacher handed me a mala, and whispered a mantra in my ear. "Condensed" he said. The entire 4 hour ceremony contained in 7 words. Yes, the rituals are sacred and important, but balance is key.

You’ll never learn all the mantras. No need to, they are all contained in our sacred sound ‘Om.’ Can you really feel Om? It’s no surprise that we need to approach our Yoga Studies in a Yogic mindset of balance. Can we practice that most ancient Mantra of ‘enough?" Okay. here’s the short list:

I have a well used, and often referred to copy of the Jivamukti book:

Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul

and you’ll need a copy of the Sutras:

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda

and perhaps a translation of the Bhagavad Gita:

The Bhagavad Gita : A Walkthrough for Westerners

Start there. Savor them, a page a day. Let me know what you think. The teachings are vast, give up the idea of absorbing them all this time around.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

Fruit Fly Mukti

September 13, 2009 in Yoga, animals | 2 comments

When we chant Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu it means May *All* Beings Be Free of Suffering.

We vow to do our best. So you’ve got fruit flies?

Here’s a pic of my nifty fruit fly catch and release system:

how to deal with fruit flies

I’ve found that a copy of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali works very well as the base, I think they come for knowledge as well as the tasty bit of over-ripe banana. Leave this setup for a few hours.

While you’re waiting, go practice all the Yoga postures named after bugs. Scorpion anyone? I’m drawing a blank on the others, Perhaps we could list them in the comments. Let’s hear what you’ve got?

After your Shavasana, sneak up and swiftly pull the cork out, cause they are fast! (when you’re little you have to be.) Bring them outside and open up over another piece of nice fruit for them to take refuge on.

Make it organic, say Mantra for them and I can almost guarantee that you will never come back as a fruit fly.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class, and we’ll be sure to do ’Live-Bug’ pose.

John

P.S. Hope you can join us for Sunday’s Equinox Workshop, and the following week is our Open Mic Kirtan, and restorative class. See the events page for details.

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

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.

Kirtan

July 24, 2009 in Yoga, music | 2 comments

I’ve been asked several times this week, "What is Kirtan?"

The experience of Kirtan is beyond words, But I’ll give it a try. Technically, Kirtan is a method of learning via call and response. Back before teachings were written down, they were passed in an oral tradition. Students would learn the acres of scripture by repetition and rhythm.

In the Vaishnava tradition, Kirtan is the only way to self-realization that works in our current times. Way back in the Sat-Yuga, (age of truth) people lived to be 100,000 years old, and that is the last time that Yoga really worked. In our current age, Kali-Yug, the age of darkness, we don’t have enough time, and must recite the name of divinity to realize our own divine nature.

If we lived to be 100,000 years old, our IRA’s might have enough time to recover huh?

In our culture, Kirtan has come to mean songs of devotion, called out in Sanskrit by a leader; responded to in chorus along with some instruments. You hear some of these songs in Yoga class. The voices unite, and you feel really good after. You can ‘hide’ in the chorus until you find your range, and join in…. Everyone can sing kirtan. Really.

My personal experience of Kirtan is that the whole of Yoga is contained within it.

The songs are sweet, or Ahimsic in nature. They are devotional: Ishvara Pranidad. We sit still, in Asana. These Mantras takes all our breath, a focused Pranayama.

Once The rhythm is established, we slide into Pratyahara, a withdrawal from the external senses. This brings about a single point of focus: Dharana, the gateway to Meditation: Dhyana. In this meditation we are cleansed of negative thoughts and emotions: Kriya.

When the music stops, In that viscous-stillness we look within: Swadyaya, and get a glimpse of Samadhi, our blissful true nature.

That’s a sliver of how Kirtan has unfolded for me. To find your truth about Kirtan, come try. I host at least once a month, and maintain the Boston Kirtan Facebook group where you can find out about all the local offerings.

Namaste.

-j

Seva

July 18, 2009 in Yoga | 6 comments

happiness is yoga

Psychology Studies have shown that happiness is contagious. By choosing to be happy, you are helping others to be happy.

Yoga tells us that happiness comes from contentment, non-grasping, and service to others. The Sanskrit word for selfless service is Seva.

It’s a very simple formula, Find what you serve, your calling, Do that.

Not sure what you serve? here’s a hint, we don’t choose our calling, it chooses us. Meditate on it… at some level you know what moves you. When we serve our calling, there’ s unlimited energy, and our sense of time slips away.

Still elusive? Try some volunteer work. There are countless opportunities to serve people, animals, and the environment. Coach a kids team, clean a river, help at the food pantry, walk the dogs over at Buddy dog… Let me know if I can help you find a gig.

I’ve been on the volunteer staff at the Pat Brody Shelter for Cats for over 15 years. Tomorrow morning I’ll be there, cleaning, grooming, feeding, and offering my care to the homeless animals. Maybe not for everyone, but for me, the work is pure Ananda, or bliss.

There’s a time for sadness and grief, surely they are healing emotions. I’m sure there’s times when anxiety helps protect us. but the way back to feeling good again is to:

Do what you love, for people who love what you do.

Om Shanti,

-j

p.s. let us know what you serve, post a comment, perhaps you’ll help someone else find their way.

Guru Purnima

July 7, 2009 in Yoga | 3 comments

On this Day, the full moon between July and August. We are asked to remember our teachers, and honor the scriptures and textbooks that bring us knowledge and light the way on our path.

GURU BRAHMA,
GURU VISHNU,
GURU DEVO MAHESHWARAH
GURU SAKSHAT PARA-BRAHMA,
TASMAI SHRI GURUVE NAMAH.

Guru is creator

Guru is Sustainer

Guru is Transformer

Reverence for all my teachers.

Guru Sakshat is the phrase that is most predominant in our Physical Yoga practice. this is the current teacher, in this moment what can you learn about yourself, and your world-view.

Create the posture, you are Brahma.

Sustain the posture you are Vishnu.

Watch for what is revealed in this moment. The fragile space between doing. This is the essence of Guru Sakshat. Learning what we can from our current predicament.

Whether the quiet space of child’s posture, or becoming the eye of the storm in your most challenging posture. This is it, this is where the Yoga comes. don’t miss it.

Release the posture back to where it came from,

you are Maheshwarah, or Shiva. Transformation.

We have to release what is, to make room for what we are becoming.

See all as your Guru, especially your biggest challenges.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

John

Just Ducky

June 19, 2009 in Yoga | 1 comment

Joy no matter what

Namaste!

I’ve been hearing lots of grumbling about our current weather pattern. Don’t join in. Come practice with us and be one of ’those’ people who smile in the rain!

With steady practice we can become as happy as

those people who rent the big tents.

Looking ahead

I’m sub-teaching Erin’s YNFL classes , 6/27-28,
and again on the 4th and 5′th of July. Saturday class is 8am, and

Sunday’s in at 9am, Yoga and Nia for Life in West Concord.

A treat

Sundari will be coming out from Jivamukti Yoga in NYC to assist our independence weekend classes on the 4′th and 5′th!

It’s been great to see you all in class, I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach.

Om Shanti.

-john

Swadyaya

June 7, 2009 in Yoga | 2 comments

Recently, I read where a seasoned Yoga teacher, with ‘impressive’ credentials was asked "What does Yoga mean to you?. Her answer surprised me…

One of the main foundations of Yoga is Swadyaya, often translated to study of scripture, but can also mean study of the self, in relation to the teachings.

It’s important to listen very-carefully in class. As your practice becomes seasoned, fine-tune your Viveka, or discernment as well.

What you’re hearing in class is one persons view, or suggestion of what might be good for your practice. You must weigh that with skillful Swadyaya, self study, to make the practice your own.

Too-early this morning I was sub-teaching a class, got distracted by my ipod, and told the class to rise into Setu Bhandasan, the bridge pose. Thing is, they were all lying flat on their bellies. There was a visceral pause, then I realized what I had said.

The Vinyasa-logjam was good for a laugh, and was a perfect teaching for us all. I talked a bit about Swadyaya, and how teachers are fallible, and how me must take responsibility for our Yoga, for our experience in class.

Don’t ‘audit’ the class. Dig deep. Yoga from the inside out.

Know when to color outside the lines. If your back is sore and you hear "Bow pose" perhaps a low-Cobra is more-appropriate. Be careful not to over-indulge in softening the practice., we still need to challenge ourselves, and steep our Yoga in Tapas.

So, the teacher I mentioned earlier, answered the question:

"What does Yoga mean to you…"

with a quote from a famous Yoga teacher. Huh?

Yes, quotes can be powerful teachers,

but it’s what someone else said!

So, as a teacher committed to helping people find their own truth, I ask. "What does Yoga mean to you?"

Please, take a moment to sit in Swadyaya, and type in a comment, your perspective could be just what someone else needs to hear.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

-john

Making Time for Practice

June 4, 2009 in Yoga | 2 comments

Namaste!

Just when I had thought I’d heard all the reasons not to practice, A regular and committed student told me: "My Dog ate my mala." Didn’t we all try that in grade school with our homework?

For those new to Yoga, a Mala is a string of beads we use to keep track in our mantra, or Japa Mala practice. The beads help focus our mind, and keep our commitment to the practice.

There are countless distractions to our regular practice, and without a firm commitment, our practice can become peripheral, or slip away completely.

There’s a great story from my teacher’s teacher Sri Brahmananda Saraswati. A student asked how to make time for his meditation practice, and he replied, "No problem, 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the evening." The student replied, "But I don’t have 10 minutes." "Oh, Then you need an hour" was the teachers response.

With regular practice, lasting benefits come, 10 minutes a day in between the days you take a class really help your practice to stay fresh, your mind, and body to stay supple. Where can we slow down, and make space for stillness, and a concentrated practice?

What works best for me is getting some early morning practice in, then finding opportunities throughout the day to practice Asana and Mantra; I plant and tend a garden at a friends house, and the walk there is a beautiful opportunity for spontaneous meditation practice.

Sometimes it’s Japa Mala, a song, or silent appreciation is what’s needed. What serves me best is getting out of my own way, and letting my practice out. Slow down. Breathe. A glass of iced tea can be a meditation. Weave practice into your day and your day will become practice.

As the ‘nice’ weather rewards us for the Tapas of New England Winter, it’s been traditional over the years for the studios to empty out. Not so these last few years, especially at Yoga and Nia For Life. (Sometimes we take refuge in turning on the air conditioning)

A bunch of us are meeting up for the special 108 minute Summer Solstice class on Sunday June 21, 12:30. Hope you can join us!

For the record, L. and M’s dog really did eat their Mala. I made sure to get them another, and they are practicing regularly. If you’d like to learn Japa meditation, (it’s great beach-walking practice) let me know, we often practice this in our workshops and focus classes.

Please share where you fit in practice, click on the ‘add your comment’ link in the upper left hand corner. We can all learn from each other.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

-john

P.S. Our Fall retreat is fully booked up, I’m forming a short wait-list, and if there’s enough people interested in coming we can explore adding a second weekend. There’s also been many requests for a Spring retreat. Let me know if that interests you, and I’ll see if we can set something up.

Want Less

May 27, 2009 in Yoga | 1 comment

Aparigraha and Santosha

The very next time you find yourself wanting, sit with the desire. This is the practice of Aparigraha, or non-grasping, one of the five Yamas, or restraints that are the foundation of Yoga.

As our practice evolves, what is important to us may change, but our mind may still be stuck in the old ways. Installing that pause to reflect helps us to discover what really matters. To more clearly discern wants from needs.

You’ve probably heard the phrase "The Yoga posture begins once we desire to be out of it." As Yogis, we stay and observe our mind preferring things to be different than they are. We breathe and make peace with the desire.

Practicing this in the controlled environment of a Yoga class can help us to be steadier when we cannot control what is unfolding in our lives.

Over time this practice will create space in your mind, in your life, and your closets.

Take care, and be sure to check the Events page. We’ll have special classes for the Summer Solstice on June 21, and an independence practice on the 4′th of July.

Catch and Release

April 30, 2009 in Yoga | Add Your Comment

In Asana class the other day we talked about balancing strive with acceptance and humility. Our physical practice can invoke our striving nature, our need to compete, to improve, or ‘collect’ postures, especially the ones we see as advanced. This can distract us from our path, and can lead to frustration and injury. Depth in our practice must be balanced with humility and acceptance.

I recalled as a boy fishing with my father, We practiced ‘catch and release’ fishing. When hooked, we’d haul the fish in, unhook her, and set her free.

I thought about how that could be a metaphor for how we can aspire to live. With a loose grip on things and experiences, we can flow with what is, that dance between grasping and contentment, The sanskrit terms are: Graha and Santosha.

Everything is on loan, including the breath you just took. (stop reading, sit up straight, close your eyes and take three long, smooth, borrowed breaths)

I was always horrified to catch a fish, it is such an act of violence. Don’t tell dad, but towards the end of my fishing hobby I realized that if I didn’t bait the hook, I wouldn’t catch anything. Dad would be hauling them in, calling over to me , "Any bites?" nope, none at all Dad.

Vinyasa Yoga is to flow with breath and intention. Why limit this to Yoga class?

Live in Vinyasa, loosen your grip on things, thoughts, and experiences… Breathe. Catch and release. Step into your flow.

Om Shanti, Peace to the fishes. I’ll see you in class.

-j

p.s. did you do the three breaths? Couple spots still open for the Invoking Shiva class this weekend, and our Fall Retreat is 3/4’s full, or would that be 1/4 empty ? Let me know right away if you’d like to join us. Details on the Yoga Events page.

Buddha Sees His Shadow

March 1, 2009 in Yoga, events, recipes | 2 comments

Spring Is Coming!

Buddha Statue in the snow, spring cleaning class

Not known to be a skier, he’s up to his eyes with this snow…

Thanks so much to the Yoga and Cooking class attendees this past weekend! Great food, lots of fun, and many requests to have another. Isn’t it the perfect place and huge kitchen for a class like that? It’s a joy to teach there every Monday morning.

Thanks to Amy for her kitchen skills. I’ll be sure to post the pictures and recipes up here very soon. Send in your recipe/theme requests for the next class. A series would be excellent.

I just opened the registration for our annual Spring Equinox Yoga class. Saturday, March 21’st 12:30 to 2:30pm at Yoga and Nia for Life. we already have a few sign-ups for this spring-cleaning class, let me know right away if you can join us. This will be an opportunity to honor the changing of the seasons, clear out old ways of thinking, dismiss lingering tensions and anxieties in our body/mind. Say Yes to spring.

Also check out the Restorative class that Natalie Engler and I are hosting at Yoga and Nia for Life on March 29′th. 12:20-2pm. Natalie is a master at restorative Yoga and this special class is limited to just 20 participants.

Yeah, another storm, but spring seems right around the corner! The Pic above is the Buddha who greets me as I leave my house each day.

I’ve been talking with Maria about Monday’s classes, we’ll make the call around noontime if the roads look safe or not. Please call the studio/check the studio website before you come out for Yoga class in West Concord.

Check the events page, or subscribe to the blog updates to be sure not to miss any announcements.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

-j

Pranayama

November 4, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga | Add Your Comment

Breath Ratios for Pranayama
Inhale	hold	exhale	hold	result
6	4	6	1	energizing
6	6	6	1	energizing
6	2	6	2	balancing
8	1	8	1	balancing
6	1	8	4	relaxing
6	1	10	1	relaxing
4	1	12	1	relaxing
4	1	8	4	relaxing

Breath is life.

In class we've been experimenting with breath, and how different patterns of Pranayama affect the nervous system. Here's a nice chart that summarizes the effects of a focused Pranayama practice.

If you're looking to raise your energy, start with the first exercise, sit comfortably, draw a smooth breath in through your nose to the silent count of 6. Hold the breath in for 4, gently release the breath out through your nose to the count of 6, hold the breath out for a count of 1. Repeat 8-10 times, be still and notice the effect. Nice…

Start out slow if this is new to you. If you feel lightheaded, ease up on the holding of the breath in or out.

Om Shanti, I'll see you in class.

-john

P.S. Yoga with John was just listed as one of the top 100 Yoga sites

Zombie Yoga

October 28, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga, video, yoga films | 1 comment

Happy Halloween! Only By Popular demand…

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!

Your best class ever

September 23, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga | Add Your Comment

Yesterday over lunch, I was fretting about a recent loss.

My friend Ani Desal, a Tibetan Buddhist Nun told me, "In every moment you have a choice, positive or negative, focused, or unfocused, present or not present. Choose to see this in a positive light."

Simple, and profound. Yet sometimes difficult to practice.

Pausing to get clear on our intentions, may be the most important part of Yoga class. I’m not saying the words "Get very clear on the intentions that lie behind your practice" to fill space. It’s because setting a crystal clear intention works for me. It brings me further in my practice, and I share that with you.

You can let this be random, or you can choose a positive and focused presence. Random is dangerous. Random is like when you arrive at work and don’t remember the drive. Where were you?

Fog on golden gate bridge

Yoga practice is like driving through thick fog, you can just barely see in front of you, you’ve got to slow down and concentrate on what is right in front of you. (this breath, this posture) then, you may see the glint of a taillight up ahead. That is the teacher. Not smarter or better than you. Without supernatural powers, they are just a bit further up the road, so with some trust, you let go and follow. Hopefully the teacher has lineage, and is following their teacher, (choose wisely, ask who their teachers are.)

We have to stay present because we don’t know when the veils may fall away, the opportunity for clear vision, for enlightenment is going to happen. It could be your next class. Don’t miss it.

Maybe you choose that this will be your most focused class ever. Why not? Like the proverbial weed growing through the crack in the sidewalk, you rise from the ground up into your warrior pose, full-up with reason. You are grounded, and your outstretched arms are reaching for something. Your ViraBhadrasana is on purpose. You’re one posture closer to becoming your intentions. Live your intentions, radiate them, and become a source for others.

The fog is clearing.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

John

P.S. This coming Saturday Ani Desal and I are leading a Yoga Workshop , There are a couple spots left. and We’ve got a great group together for the Fall Foliage Yoga Retreat coming up in just under two weeks. There may be one spot left, (or we could squeeze a couple in) so if you were thinking about joining us, let me know right away.

Prayers for World Peace

August 1, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga, events, music | Add Your Comment

Prayers for World Peace

On August 5′th People around the world will be reciting the Sutra of Golden Light for world peace. You can join in, got to the IMI website to find out more, or sit in silence for some time that day to participate. http://www.joinprayersforpeace.org/

Save the date! I look forward to this all summer! Sunday August 17′th The India Association of Greater Boston presents: India Day at the Hatch Shell in Boston. This is a great celebration of music, arts, dance, crafts and food. Starts at 4pm. Let me know if you plan on going it would be great to meet up there.

Namaste!

John

www.YogaWithJohn.com

Prenatal Yoga

July 18, 2008 in Uncategorized, Yoga | Add Your Comment

Namaste!

I substitute taught a basics class the other night. A woman well-along with child came up to me and asked if it was okay that she was there. I made sure she knew how to take care of herself and told her she was more than welcome. Throughout the class I kept an eye on her and she did just fine.

I didn’t get a chance to talk with her after, but she told a friend that

she was asked to leave a recent class because of her ‘condition’, that it

would have been inconvenient for the teacher to have a pregnant

woman in class!

Have you ever heard such a thing? I could understand if it was a

heated class, or a power type class, but I don’t think this was the case.

Yoga is a very introspective and personal practice that is sometimes

practiced in a group setting. I encourage all to work at their own level and to make appropriate adjustments to keep their practice inline with their intentions. Unless your intention is to bring harm, then this resolve will bring only good from your practice.

I wish I could have talked with her afterwards, her presence added to the peacefulness of the class, and she’s welcome at anytime, to all my non-heated classes.

Great news! I’ve arranged for just 12 of us to spend a weekend immersed in practice and relaxation this Fall. The retreat center is gorgeous, and the food is amazing!

Signups are coming in. Be sure to check out the Yoga With John Fall Retreat and resgister right away to get the early bird discount.

Om Shanti, I’ll see you in class.

john

P.S. For free prenatal yoga classes, visit Destination Maternity

Happy Memorial Day

May 26, 2008 in Yoga | Add Your Comment

The Native American traditions have a daily prayer that acknowledges those new souls who are just arriving on ‘turtle island’ (their name for North America) they then pray those who this is their last day here.

Om Shanti

-john

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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

Welcome

March 29, 2008 in Yoga | 5 comments

Welcome to the Yoga with John blog

Be sure to check out the workshops and events page also!

om Shanti, I’ll see you in class. -j

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