Living Breathing Yoga

A Beginner's Mind

2009-11-22T05:21:00.004+05:30

Last week I took a guided “intro ashtanga” yoga class in the evening. As I was driving home I realized that it had been at least six years since I had taken an evening yoga class!

And what a breath of fresh air! I’ve got to say, the change of time, space, teacher, and class setting infused new life into my practice.

As the class began, whilst sitting with eyes closed focusing on my breath, I became acutely aware of the smell of the musty walls and floor, mixed with the heat and faintest sent of sweat from a previous class.

This aroma sparked memories of my very first experiences learning yoga in the upstairs space of an old heritage building, home to the much loved ‘Yoga In Motion,’ the yoga studio which first introduced me to the practice of “Ashtanga Vinyasa” and “Power Yoga.”

As we began our first sun-salutations I became immersed in the divine sensation of clearing my mind of all distracting thoughts, only breath, movement, and the one guiding voice of the teacher existed for me.

The practice took on a life of its own, and the “I” part of my mind began to dissolve into a perfectly synchronized dance of breath and movement.

There was no place to go, nothing to rush off to, no demands to perfect or perform, no expectations, judgments, or evaluations.

It was like everyone else in the room had faded into some hazy distant background, and I felt both completely alone, and yet somehow intimately connected to every cell, every breath, every being, and everything.

There was a feeling of complete surrender. The atmosphere was soft, warm and safe, allowing me to fully relinquish my sovereignty and let go to the experience.

I realized that finding the time, space and atmosphere to facilitate this complete release was a real luxury, and its presence was an unexpected gift.

It actually came as a surprise, that somehow in this small unassuming class, I would rediscover the heart of my practice, and the reason why I was drawn to this ancient discipline so powerfully from the very beginning.

There it was, that familiar homelike warmth; kind of like wrapping myself inside an old, soft, faded, cashmere sweater liberated from some long forgotten drawer.

That space within was nurturing and calm. For a little over an hour I found myself relaxing more, sinking into it, and drinking from a deep refreshing pool, one I visit often, but frequently only have time to just dip my feet in, before rushing off to the next activity.

This experience reminded me that as we integrate the practice of Yoga into our daily life, it is important that we don’t allow these practices to become so routine that they are simply done mechanically, making them little more than another box to check off on our “to-do” list.

It really is essential that we keep our awareness steady as we practice, and always remember the reasons for our practice. Otherwise, instead of creating more space, more clarity, and more energy, our yoga becomes a chore, another mindless activity added to our already desperately over-scheduled and hectic lives.

It also rekindled the wonder of entering a class with a ‘beginner's mind,’ and a delight in rediscovering all the hidden gems that each posture has to offer, along with the pure joy of sharing and learning with others.

We are all teachers for each other in one way or another, and the more open we are to receiving, and being in relationship, the more we will grow. We can learn something from everyone, if we choose to; but it requires us to set aside our preconceived ideas, and become receptive to other points of view, and knowledge.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) would always repeat that there were no “teacher trainings” only “student trainings,” and he would remind us that he, himself, was still a student.
We would all do well to remember these words.

Some days taking a step back, and starting over from the beginning is more helpful then pushing forward. It may seem at times like we are not “progressing,” but if we are sincere in our efforts we will realize that as long as we remain open to learning, growing and expanding, we are always moving closer to the goal of Yoga.

Every challenge we encounter is an opportunity for us to extend beyond our own perceived limitations, and to soar off into new horizons.

Is Your Love Enough?

2009-11-15T05:13:00.005+05:30

It seems to be everywhere these days, the great debate: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate – that is the question... or is it?
My attention has certainly been aroused lately, but it seems that whatever side of the proverbial 'vaccination fence' we find ourselves sitting on, the real issue is: How much will we allow the collective fear of the world to infiltrate our hearts and minds?

The pull to buy into the hype and fear-mongering propaganda pushes against our psyche more and more. It drives us into darkness. Makes us feel isolated and alone.

On both sides of the issue there is fear. We vaccinate more and more as a way of avoiding pain, sickness, suffering and death; but over the years there has been some correlation between S.I.D.S, autism, and several neurological disorders and the administration of vaccines, and so we see a growing backlash against vaccinating, based on a fear of iatrogenic sickness, pain, suffering, and death.

There are a great many industries that benefit from keeping a large percent of the population in fear. The more fear we have the less able we are to expand beyond ourselves and to make connections with others; the less real connection we have in our lives, the more powerless and alone we may feel. The more powerless and alone we feel, the more insecure we become.

These feelings of insecurity make us more susceptible to the onslaught of images and ideas that bind us to a perpetual cycle of fear and contraction.

We hide our insecurity through consumption, attempting to create an image of confidence, to feel protected and powerful, and as a way of covering up our tireless longing to be desired, loved, and respected.

The more we consume, the more we buy, the more we buy, the more debt we create, the more debt we create, the more trapped we feel. The more trapped we feel the more we feed our feelings of isolation, insecurity, and weakness… and the cycle continues. More and more we feel trapped by a system that is profiting off our enslavement.

We become dependent upon the media to tell us what to think, believe, and feel.

This constant presence of fear prevents us from retreating into that soft silent place of knowing inside ourselves. The fear makes it difficult to really hear that still quiet voice guiding us from within.
Our daily yoga practice is a sacred time that allows us to reconnect to that inner space. We breathe into the silence of our soul, and somewhere in the emptiness that lingers between our thoughts, we begin to listen and respond to the soft voice of our gentle inner guide.

So, in my opinion, the real question is: How do we regain our independence amongst all the fear and pressure to conform on either side of an issue when there is no clear, definite, or undeniably correct answer?

We start by letting go of our need to be right. There are extremely educated people on both sides of this issue, each with good points and opinions, and data to back up their beliefs.

We begin to recognize and trust that being kind is more important then being right. We all know there are many issues we can debate, and the truth may just be that there is no unequivocal "right" answer that can be applied universally, but rather, it is an inner feeling that directs each individual to a conclusion that supports their personal choice.

And still we fear.

So, we might ask: How do we conquer fear?

The answer is so simple to say, and yet so challenging to act upon: Love is the antidote for fear.

We choose to love.

And this requires constant practice and perseverance. We must resist giving into the barrage of fear through love and actions based in love.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out all fear” (1 John 4:18), and the foundation of love is ahimsa – non-harming.

When we learn to love each other, with a sincere love that is true and untainted by our lusts, we empower ourselves to give, to serve, and to support.

Real love does not seek its own gratification, it asks for nothing in return, but only seeks to give of itself fully and completely, without conditions, control, or manipulation. It always acts with the heart of compassion, and non-harming, seeking the highest good and growth for all.

When we begin to love with the explicit intention of giving, caring, and nourishing one another, we find ourselves in true relationship.

When we can create the space to support each other, to listen without judgment, and without always needing to agree or prove our point, we can preserve our mutual freedom, and these authentic bonds of love will begin to transform our own self and our world.

When we start to listen with love, we will sense the heart behind the words.

We will realize that we are not alone. We are intimately connected to each other in ways we cannot see or imagine.

Love will strengthens us; love will keep us healthy and strong.

Love will take care of the sick and weak, and continually offer to help those in need.

So what is the real question we should be asking ourselves?

The singer, songwriter, and poet, Michael Franti, sums it up perfectly when he rightly asks:

“Is your love enough? Or can you love some more?”

Elephants Never Forget a Friend

2009-10-24T23:35:00.001+05:30

A Beautiful Little Story.

The Beauty We Love...

2009-10-06T03:00:00.013+05:30

Let the beauty we love, be what we do.
~ Rumi ~

From the moment I first began this practice of Yoga - I loved it. It has inspired me in countless ways, and continues to do so day after day. I love introducing people to this practice and watching them awaken to themselves, revive their bodies, resuscitate their spirits, and recover a belief in their infinite potential.

Teaching new students always makes me smile, because I get to go back and remember how I felt in the early days of my yoga practice: I felt powerful, and real. It was quite literally like waking up and realizing you are connected to everything on the planet. I remember feeling like I could do anything. A deep-seated passion started clawing its way out of me, and I felt a compelling desire to change the world, or at the very least, make it a better, more beautiful, compassionate place. There was a distinct sense that all the answers I would ever need were hidden within myself, and all I had to do was uncover them.

I stood taller, walked with a new sense of confidence, and breathed deeper. Every breath was rejuvenating and sweet. I can remember feeling like all the toxins (and there was some serious toxic build-up I assure you) were being purged from my body, and I felt clean for the first time since I was a child: pure, simple, and soft. The idea of polluting my body started to become less and less appealing. I began eating healthier, and treating my body better. I felt a growing connection to the inherent life force within, and a deepening sense of self-worth (something I had never really felt before) and it penetrated every area of my life; all of my relationships changed because of this.

My connection to this practice began as a true love affair. I would have ecstatic emotions wash over me after every class, and when I left the room I felt as if I were walking on air.

I experienced so much joy and energy from this practice that I could not find enough people or activities to overflow it to. I wanted to have this experience more and more – I could not get enough. As a result, I practiced more, and immersed myself in every teaching I could find on this ancient philosophy for living, and way of seeing the world.

Alas, as with all brilliant love affairs, after some time, perhaps a few years or less, the “real world” began to creep back into my cloistered little ‘yoga-nirvana.’ Now, I found that many days the practice was challenging or even difficult. It seemed to push all my sensitive spots, pointing out areas of weaknesses, asking me to change certain things about my lifestyle, presenting obstacles to promote patience, strength, and perseverance.

Like every relationship, I was finding that this practice above all else, required consistent dedication, commitment, and daily attention. Some days it felt like more work then I thought I was capable of.

In the early days of Yoga practice I could not wait to get on my yoga mat, now… it required some strong determination, and it was only because of a promise I had made to myself to at least “show up,” that I would often even start to practice.

However, once the initial obstacle of getting on my mat was overcome, I found that I still loved it, challenging or not, and I still felt all the benefits and more afterwards. I would notice how it lifted my spirits, and created a sense of clarity in my thinking, and how much more balanced I felt from it.

The newness of first love had worn off, and the real practice had begun. Even though I did not have that same 'blissed-out,' rapturous sensation that often accompanied my early days of practice, I found that I had something much more substantial and grounded.

At this point I realized it was because of the Yoga that I made it through the day without a major breakdown. I would often find the practice with me periodically, sitting beside me in a stressful situation, whispering to me, “just breathed deeply,” and tenderly showing me how to release tension, before the anxiety could take hold.

The practice was with me in the passenger seat while driving the car, guiding me to be calm, telling me that there was no need to rush, assuring me that all things happen in their own perfect time. I would find it showing up in various situations all throughout my day, and because of it, I never felt alone.

These days, my relationship with this practice feels more like that of an intimate friend. I no longer find it sitting beside, but I carry it in my heart at all times.

My day would be incomplete without it, and I know that something essential would be missing from my life had it not found me.

It continues to bring me back to myself, while still challenging me to keep it real, be honest, let go.

It fully aids in transforming those dark nights into light, and it continually acts as my teacher both on and off the yoga mat.

It goes on gently revealing the many ‘blind spots’ I still have, and encourages more growth in those areas I would rather forget about.

Some days the practice is nurturing and tender, at other times it is strict and demanding; but every time I begin to inhale and lift my hands above my head, I know I have returned home.
Through teaching, I am reminded above all what this practice can be for people. I see the excitement at the start, the fresh joy of new love. I also witness the struggles and discipline that come up along the way, the contentment of coming home to an old friend, and the all the delight interwoven between each new transformation.

I get to witness the everyday commonplace courage that our students demonstrate on a regular basis every time they get on their mat.

I watch the practice be for them a lover, a teacher, a disciplinarian, a healer, a mother, a father, and a friend. I see all the work and effort that each person exerts in order to grow and change on a daily basis.

They become stronger and yet, somehow softer. They develop the willingness to bend, to adjust, to relate more intimately with their own self, and as a result, all their relationships deepen and become more meaningful.

Watching our students gives me hope. I find it tremendously inspiring to be a part of their journey. During those days when I catch myself wondering who is going to answer the many desperate cries from our planet, address issues of war and oppression, help cure hunger and hopelessness, bring friendship to the lonely and suffering, I look up and am reminded - We Are.

We practice for it daily. This practice of yoga not only works on us as individuals - transforming our lives; but it also brings us together.

Through our commitment to it, we begin to dip our feet into the ocean of the infinite, and taste something truly divine within. We recognize that we are all apart of this living, breathing, eternal life force, and that we are interdependent and indispensably connected.

Little by little the presence of this practice spreads into every area of our existence, and because of it we learn to listen.

When we take the time to develop this awareness, we realize that we instinctively know how to help each other, and will uncover our purpose more and more through working together to heal a world in need.

I Met the Walrus

2009-09-30T00:25:00.001+05:30

"In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced him to do an interview.

38 years later, Levitan, director Josh Raskin and illustrator James Braithwaite have collaborated to create an animated short film using the original interview recording as the soundtrack. A spellbinding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit and timeless message.

"I Met the Walrus" was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Animated Short."

Beyond the Business of Yoga

2009-09-19T22:55:00.008+05:30

Today I had to face it. There is a beautiful, glowing, tantalizing, nymph-like Monster called “The Business of Yoga,” and she erotically dances circles around shops, studios, and retreat centers everywhere. If you’re at all interested in learning more about yoga, you will ultimately come face to face with her.

She is obvious, and yet still deceptive. Agitating our minds and seducing our desires, she is invoked whenever Big Business mixes with Yoga.

It seems that in many ways Yoga has become about Marketing: clothes, mats, make-up, the right look, the right book, the right attitude, the right choices, eco-friendly this, and biodegradable that, thinking positive rainbow-colored thoughts, while humming the latest rendition of the Gayatri mantra, and flashing your 200-hour Teacher Training certificate.

Yes, today I woke up with the ‘marketing blues.’

Lately I’ve been bombarded with messages from various sources all saying that as a “yoga teacher” you need to find some angle to market your “unique talents and abilities.” Learn to use the right “catch phrases,” learn to “sell yourself,” and start to “create more buzz.”

Of course everyone has the miracle solution on how to do this, and for “only $9.99” you can download the e-book that will change your life.

To be honest, I really loath the idea of have to market myself like some kind of new and improved running shoe that can be bought or sold at a discounted price.

On top of that, what really dampens my spirit and exhausts my enthusiasm are all the ‘spin-doctors’ who are more then happy to use the popularity of this ancient art for mass commercialization.

I’m sure there are many well-meaning, community oriented, feel-good, warm & fuzzy individuals out there, who have freshly read the newest best-selling self-help – ‘How To Become A Millionaire Entrepreneur In 30 Days While Changing The World’ - books out there; but it disturbs me that the latest fad seems to be taking pretty much any word and combining it with “yoga” to invent a new twist on an old philosophy, and create a tasty pseudo-spiritual item for consumers.

To be frank, the whole thing leaves a nauseatingly Fisher-Price flavor in my mouth, and I’m wondering if there is any real meaning to be salvaged in the word “yoga.”

It seems to me that even if the advertising strategy is smeared in icing sugar, and disguised as a delicious gluten-free vegan cupcake, it still promotes large-scale empty-caloric consumption, which really goes against the inherent wisdom of this bona fide tradition.

It’s not that the products and promotions are altogether sinister or completely off track. For the most part they are honestly trying to promote positive ideas and ideals. It’s just that the image has become so center stage that many have forgotten to look behind the curtain to see what makes the show worth experiencing at all!

I question: is there anyone looking for a way out of this modern-day onslaught of marketing madness?

Or are we so mindlessly dazzled by the glitz and glitter of the latest trend, too busy rushing off to the hottest ‘power-flow-yin-yang-restorative-shiva-shakti-sattva-shanthi yoga class’ that’s offered at the newest hip downtown studio, to notice that we’re hardly practicing Yoga in our lives at all.

I’m hoping that there are still some sincere seekers, questioning, enquiring, and looking for an authentic experience, and not so easily bemused by the wafting fragrance of Nag Champa.

I think it’s time to get back to the root of what Yoga is.

It’s time to dig deep down into the essence, and discover its Source.

The practice of Yoga is not about the clothes or the mat, nor is it about the way we look or even the way we feel. It’s not a hobby, something to do in your spare time, or a class you can “drop-in” or “drop-out” of.

Yoga is a commitment you make to your Self, a daily practice, a way of living in and relating to the world. It is a practice that can only give back to you as much as you are willing to surrender to it.

It’s not limited to what happens on a yoga mat, it extends into how we interact with other people, animals, and the planet itself. It is meant to permeate our entire life, and shine the light of awareness onto our very existence.

It is about being Real and Truthful. Meeting yourself Here and Now, exactly as you are in this moment, day after day, time and again. It will lead you to uncover the boundless inspiration buried in the silence of your soul.

Yoga is a spiritual practice.

It is a way to reconnect with a Spirit that once shone brightly from within, but somehow was forgotten, obscured by years of fear, pain, loss, and inhibition. This path of rediscovery is not necessarily easy. However, if we have the courage to truly begin this journey, it will be both rewarding and transformative.

Yoga is a discipline.

It is a discipline that works on your mind, your body, and your habits.

It can be challenging, and frustrating. Some days you won’t feel like getting out of bed to meet yourself on your mat, or your meditation cushion.

Some days you won’t want to look in the mirror of your life choices, and experience the veracity of how you are feeling, be it good, ugly, sad or bemuddled; yet when we do step up, we feel better for it.

Yoga is an ancient philosophy of living.

It demands both consistent practice, and an attempt to fully surrender.

It requires a desire to release the old and open to the new.

It is meant to weaken the ego, and awaken the Spirit. It entices us to drink drop by drop from the Infinite Ocean within, and experience the sweetness of what we truly are.

It teaches us to recognize authenticity both within and without, to sit with an uncomfortable thought, sensation, or situation and just breath without rebelling or reacting, and to confront our difficult relationships with compassion.

As one of our teachers said: “Yoga is the science of experience, and the art of living.”

And for this – there can be no marketing, only Practice.

A Special Thank You to Barry Silver for the use of his Fabulous Art!
For more information on Barry Silver and the work he does, please see: www.barrysilver.net

Dare To Change

2009-09-06T02:26:00.010+05:30

Change.

We love it, we fear it.
We seek it, we resist it.
We are both thrilled by it, and terrified of it.

Change.

Its promise moves us into the morning.
Its challenge drops us into night’s sleep.
Ever on the horizon, leaving a trail of evidence close behind.

Change.

We adore it, we abhor it.
We need it, we avoid it.
We continually crave it, and combat it at every corner.

Change.

It is ever present; but can never be caught.
It is our healer and destroyer, the great physician, the last mortician.
It breaks our heart, and renews our spirit.

Change.

It is the shadow of Time.
We are imprisoned by it, bound to it, there is no escape.
It holds the key to our freedom.

Change.

We can never step into the same river twice.
A person is never the same from day to day.
We can start over at any time.
We can choose who we want to be in every given moment.
Choose Wisely.

Change.

A Fresh Sea Breeze

2009-08-24T03:31:00.005+05:30

As many of you know, we’ve moved to Victoria BC, on Vancouver Island. It has been officially two weeks since we arrived, and the days have just flown by! We’ve been busying ourselves with tasks such as finding an apartment to rent, purchasing a few essential items like a table, dishes, some chairs, a mattress to sleep on... you get the idea, and most importantly seeking out a space from which we can begin teaching Ashtanga yoga Mysore classes from.

We purchased some plants a couple days ago. This, in my opinion, seems to be the ultimate symbol for ‘putting down roots,’ and beginning to grow in a new place, in a new way; integrating into a new community. The change and ‘newness’ of everything is very exciting for us, and all around we’re seeing so much possibility and potentiality. So, needless to say, we’re enjoying ourselves immensely.

Even in all this though, we’re being conscious to keep living from moment to moment, and doing our best to keep focused on what is immediately present and positive. For if the mind is left unchecked it wanders much too easily over into the territory of worry, and begins to feel the heavy weight of the future closing in. The mind tends to create anxiety, and gravitate towards what is negative, especially during times of transition, or under circumstances where there is a lot of uncertainty. It is especially important then during these times to be even more aware, and vigilant in guiding our thoughts towards inspiration, and lightness.

We’ve received many encouraging emails from so many wonderful people from around the world, and I can’t explain how much we appreciate all of the support from everyone. It has helped to keep our spirits high from day to day, and to feel closely connected to a larger global network of yoga practitioners and friends. These notes are such a blessing to us as we continue our search for the perfect space to transform into a little yoga haven. We know it’s coming…

Do you ever have those moments in your life when you just feel like you’re in exactly the right place at exactly the right time? Well, I’ve been having these moments all the time here. I feel so fortunate to be realizing a dream that I’ve held onto for the past decade. To live in a place that has always held a very special place in my heart, and then to be able to share the teachings of this profound practice with others who are also here. It feels like every experience from the past has been culminating to this very moment in time, and really I feel like I’m merely witnessing the unfolding of it.

Each day I begin to understand more what Krishna means in the Bhagavad-Gita when he says, “all actions take place in time by the interweaving of the forces of Nature; but the man lost in selfish delusion thinks ‘I am the doer’.” (BG 3:27). Now it is just learning to surrender even more, and then be open to receive.

Peace & Love,
Harmony

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

2009-08-05T22:26:00.003+05:30

Here is something I recently read, and felt compelled to share...

"Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife by the millions in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billions and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative - and fatal - health conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year send out cards praying for "Peace on Earth."
- Preface from Old MacDonald's Factory Farm, by C. David Coates

If you want to enjoy a good, fast, and hilarious book filled with many sad truths, check out a great little gem called Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Definitely worth the read, and if this book doesn't motivate you to change a few things, I'm not sure what will!

Musings on The Way of Love

2009-07-27T02:30:00.006+05:30

We arrived in Calgary, Canada, last week, and at the airport to greet us was my sister in-law along with her new three month old baby. This was the first time I had met my niece, as Jeff and I have been traveling and living in India for the past nine months.

It was amazing to observe the amount of love that this beautiful little being could draw out of every person who came into her sphere of influence. It reminded me that at the very core of every human being there is a deep need not only to be loved, but to also give love, and at the heart of every personal relationship there is the promise of possibility for the wellspring of love to open.

When Mother Teresa opened her mission in San Francisco, one of the wealthiest cities in one of the richest countries on the planet, people asked her “why there?” What could the people of San Francisco possibly need from the Sisters of Charity? Her reply was, “there is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness; and this is the great poverty that makes people suffer so much.”
We all need love. It is an essential part of what we are as human beings, and is every bit as necessary to life as nourishment is for the body.

All of the world’s great religions reiterate this message in different ways: love is our real nature. Mechthild of Magdeburg was a medieval mystic and Benedictine nun, who wrote: “The soul is made of love, and must ever strive to return to love. Therefore, it can never find rest nor happiness in other things. It must lose itself in love.” In other words, our hunger for love is a profound yearning to reconnect with our essential Self, which is fundamentally spiritual in nature.

There is a great misconception that a ‘spiritual practice’ will take you out of the world, and that living a spiritual life means turning your back on your family or community, and cloistering your self far away from society.

In actuality, our spiritual practices should enrich our relationships with others, not only with our family and friends, but with strangers as well. As we become more established in the practices of yoga and meditation, our ability to act selflessly expands more and more, and consequently, our ability to love deepens and allows us to embrace all living beings. In the Bhagavad-Gita, this spiritual path is called: The Way of Love.
The Bible states: “God is Love.” Deepening and strengthening our relationships with one another is a sure way to manifest the grace of God in our daily lives. Evidently, as we create more and more love in our relationships and interactions with each other, we will start to uncover our connection to that Divine Reality that is most often called “God.”

Through our yoga practice we can begin to integrate this Reality of Love into our personality, consciousness, and conduct. Yoga is about creating union. True union has love at its core, and only through the cultivation of unconditional love can a genuine transformation occur.

Beloved Guruji - You Reside Forever in Our Hearts.

2009-05-19T17:08:00.007+05:30

Our Beloved Guruji, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois left his body yesterday, May 18, at 2:30 pm (Indian Standard Time).

Our love and condolences are extended to Sharath, Saraswathi, and the rest of his family.

We were deeply saddened to hear this news, although it was not altogether unexpected.
We feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to say goodbye to Guruji in person while we were in Mysore last month. We had a very pleasant exchange with him, as he was in good spirits and feeling some strength the day we came to visit. Jeff and I both felt it would be the last time that we would see him in his bodily form, and so we made sure to tell him how grateful we were to him for his teachings and the practice, and how his influence had forever changed our lives for the better. I knew we were expressing the feelings of countless others as we spoke, and it felt good to be able to say these things to him face to face, and to know that he understood the love and appreciation we held for him in the depth of our beings.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois has touched millions of people both directly and indirectly, and because of his presence and teachings, countless lives have been improved. We feel very close to the global community of Ashtanga Yoga practitioners at this time, as we all share these same feelings of deep gratitude, love, devotion, and reverence for Guruji. We will continue to keep his memory alive through our dedication to the practice, and through our love and support of each other.

Even though my heart is heavy today, I cannot help but smile as I remember him shining so vibrantly in his yoga shala as he would yell "bad lady" from across the room, or adjust me in some posture, or make his 'grunt of approval' as he would walk by, or as he would tilt his head to one side and ask "what news?" when we would come to visit... and I know he continues to shine even more so now.

Guruji's light will forever burn brightly in our hearts and minds, and we will keep his fire and passion alive as we humbly share with others the spark of energy he imprinted upon us.

Many blessings to all those who have been touched by this Mahatma, he truly was a Great Soul, and a Light along our path. If only words could express all the feelings that are flooding my heart at this time...

We love you Guruji.
May your travels be swift and peaceful.

The Spirit of The Practice

2009-02-25T20:41:00.007+05:30

Each day as we get on our yoga mat or meditation cushion, we are making a sincere attempt to direct the mind inwards. This effort is what transforms an asana practice from mere contortionism into a spiritual discipline, or what makes a meditation practice more powerful then simply sitting still and allowing the mind to play with its thought-forms.

Sri Ramana Maharishi advised, “Whatever draws the mind outward is unspiritual, and whatever draws the mind inward is spiritual.” Thus, our yoga practice should be one that works to direct the mind internally, towards Self- realization, and liberation from the cycle of craving and aversion, which stems from our attachments to the external, material world.
However, it is easy for our yoga practice to become some habitual activity that we get up and just fall into each morning instead of a tool for spiritual growth. The question we must ask ourselves is how can we tell if our practice has become some kind of habitual ritualized routine rather then a spiritual discipline, and how do we find the original inspiration for our practice if we feel it has been lost?

The word “habit” typically has a negative connotation, and depicts a regular or repetitive behavior pattern, attitude, tendency, or practice that is somewhat addictive in nature and difficult to give up. On the other hand, “discipline” describes a repeated activity that provides mental or physical training to ensure calm and regulated behavior, and a conscious control over one’s thinking or lifestyle.

Discipline happens when you regularly perform a conscious act, which is beneficial to yourself and aimed toward some higher purpose, even though it would be easier not to make the effort. A habit is something that you would rather not do, but it is very difficult to stop yourself from doing it anyway. Discipline is a conscious choice every time you perform the activity. It takes some volition, dedication, and conviction on the part of the practitioner. Whereas a habit occurs mainly because of our unconscious mind, and the action itself is something performed with very little awareness, or conscious control.

The Yoga Sutras state that we need both practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagya) to assist us in our attainment of yoga: “abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah” (YS 1:12).

These are often likened the wings of a bird, we need them both in equal strength and measure if we are to succeed in taking flight through this discipline of yoga. We need to practice, but we are not to become dependent on our practices. Hence they do not become merely habitual activities, instead of conscious choices performed with full awareness.

We also need to cultivate an attitude of non-attachment towards the objects and activities of the material world. This is necessary if the yoga practices are to work in directing the mind inwards, instead of allowing distractions to pull our senses and thoughts outwards away from the inner light and truth of our Being.

Swami Prabhavanada says “If we try to practice spiritual disciplines [the eight limbs of yoga] without attempting to control the thought-waves of desire, our minds will become violently agitated and perhaps permanently unbalanced. However, if we attempt nothing more then a rigid negative control of the waves of desire, without raising the waves of love, compassion and devotion to oppose them, then the result may be even more tragic.” (How to Know God the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, p.28)

If we pay close attention we can easily observe whether our yoga practice has morphed into merely a mechanical, rigid, habitual activity, or whether it is still filled with a sense of devotion, joy, and gratitude. This does not mean that our practice will always be blissful, but behind each practice we will discover a sense of shraddha or trust in the process, and courage to face whatever arises without fear or doubt, and ultimately, an aspect of transformation.

If we find that our practice has lost its inspiration, and has become somewhat mechanized, then it can be of great benefit to step back a little, and take a break from the rigorousness of the routine. This does not mean to stop practicing altogether, but learn to relax your expectations for yourself and your practice, be more flexible in your approach, and try to find the inherent joy that brought you to yoga in the first place.

Do less with more awareness.

Find the depth of experience in only practicing a few sun-salutations, or in simply sitting and focusing on breathing deeply and fully, and maintaining a steady concentration on the life-force pulsating through your entire structure. Then, after a few days, and only when you feel ready, return to your regular yoga practice with fresh eyes and a new understanding.

It can be good at times to take a short rest from the full intensity of a regular yoga practice, and to reassess whether you are practicing out of devotion or dependency. Yoga should create more independence and greater freedom from our hindering habits, not become a new addiction or form of enslavement.

If we want to practice yoga as a spiritual discipline, then our practice must draw the mind inward, and create greater awareness and union within ourselves. We must develop sincerity, not seriousness; only a practice with this quality can be rightfully called: Yoga.

Entering A New Year

2008-12-30T11:45:00.007+05:30

The transition period from one year to the next always gives us an opportunity to reflect on the years that have gone by. I find that many memories begin to percolate through the filter of my mind as I think about some of the lessons I’ve learned, the friendships I’ve been blessed with, the people I love, and those I’ve lost, and all the various experiences that have brought me to this day, sitting in this present moment.

It is a time of year when we can look back and be grateful for all those people, places, and things that have enriched our lives, and realize that our journey has been exactly the way it needed to be both for our growth and for our pruning. Some days it may seem like a bit of a mystery as to how we end up where we are, and sometimes it feels like we haven’t moved any steps further ahead at all. The end of the year is a good time to look back and see just how far we’ve come, to celebrate our victories and learn from our defeats.

This is also a time of year when I like to refocus my thoughts. To set an intention for the year ahead, reaffirm what is most important to me, and give thanks for what has yet to come. Part of this process is identifying and releasing old ideas and negative patterns of thinking. These are the limiting thoughts that work only to hold us back or put obstacles in our path. If we are to fully embrace what is to come, and be receptive to the new, then we must also be willing to let go of the past, open our hearts to the possibility of something completely unexpected; live and let live.

Swami Vivekananda says, “We are what our thoughts have made us, so take care of what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live, they travel far.”

So as we enter 2009, let us take some time to think and then write down our intentions for the year to come, as well as our goals, hopes, dreams, and wishes... let our thoughts live - let them travel far.

Let’s take a few minutes to concentrate on an image of the kind of person we want to be, and the type of world we want to create and live in. Let’s turn our minds to the positive, be happy for the joyous, and compassionate to the suffering, and most of all, let us love one another truly and deeply, for only then can we begin to experience the Infinite and come to recognize the face God.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!

Looking into the Mirror of the Practice

2008-12-13T15:56:00.008+05:30

This practice of yoga is a process of gradually learning to let go. Not only letting go of those places where we hold tension, fear, or anxiety in our present life, but also learning to release the old hurts and patterns from the past.

There are many instances when we’ve been unable to fully express the sadness, anger or heartache we’ve felt, and instead of experiencing the full intensity of these feelings we’ve learned to stuff and store these emotions within the structure of our physical body. Although at the time this containment permitted us to feel safe and in control, in the end, it creates restrictions and tensions both at a physical and psychological level.

Some days the past comes back to haunt us so strongly that we can feel its presence in the pinching sensation of our low-back, the pressure in our knees, or the heavy weight sitting in our chest. Stored memories and emotions can appear in a myriad of forms and manifestations.

As we move through the Ashtanga series of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, we gently try to coax out our fears or resentments, and unravel our memories from the dark corners of our minds, drawing them out from the fibers of our muscles. As we purify our minds, we begin to experience the removal of these emotions and memories in our physical body. This gives us the opportunity to examine their presence, and then release them from a place of distance, and eventually allow them to completely disappear.

This process requires that we be very real and honest with ourselves. It does not help to create stories or dramas about what is going on. We must focus our minds and stay completely present in the moment. It requires a degree of courage to confront the past, our patterns, and recollections, and to look these old demons straight in the eyes and say, “you will not have power over me any longer.”
It requires some bravery to step forward into the light, out from the shadow of a previous time.

Ashtanga yoga is not for the faint of heart, or for those with a “weak mind.” It encompasses a deep process of self-discovery, and reveals a certain truth about our weaknesses and strengths. This practice does not permit us to linger long in fanciful whims, mere entertainment, or escapism. It acts as a mirror that we must be willing to look into on any given day if we wish to grow and transform. The Ashtanga Yoga practice challenges us not only on a physical level, but also on the mental, emotional, and spiritual planes as well.

As students of this practice we must be open to change. There must be a willingness to let go of everything that no longer feeds our growth, and a readiness to embrace something new. Each practice contains the seed of our creation, death and rebirth. We only need to open ourselves to the experience of this process within, and then integrate the lessons we learn for the transformation to occur.

Finally, we must understand that even with the right attitude and approach, there are moments when the past jumps back into our present day to challenge us, and make us aware that there still are those hidden pieces inside that we have not yet reconciled, and areas where we are still holding onto some lingering impression of our former self.

Whether it is a grudge, a painful memory, an old belief, or an inhibiting pattern, we must be prepared to take a close look at it through the wisdom and reality of the present moment, observe any discomfort that accompanies it, and without identifying ourselves with it, permit its full release.

This ability, like everything else in our life, both on and off the yoga mat, requires practice and non-attachment (abhyasa and vairagya). Some days this process is much easier then others, but the important thing is that we continue to practice and mindfully observe the lessons and transformations as they occur.

Scarcity and Abundance

2008-11-16T15:38:00.012+05:30

“Ever desireless, one can see the Mystery,
Ever desiring, one can see only the Manifestations,
And the Mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.”
Tao Te Ching

Over the pass three months we’ve been traveling all over North America, and then through parts of the Middle East, and finally we have arrived in Goa, India, where we will be teaching several yoga retreats over the next five months. It has been a very interesting transition moving from the “financial crisis” that is consuming the minds of North Americans, to observing the huge amounts of ridiculous wealth in cities like Dubai and Doha, which are drastically contrasted by the obvious poverty of the workers building these metropolises up from the sand. It was a refreshing breath of sea breeze that washed over us as we arrived in Goa, clearing the clutter and commotion of all our traveling over the past few months.

All this moving about has made me think about one of the gifts that this practice of yoga brings. A daily practice creates a space in our lives where we can sit in the silence of a moment and start to perceive ourselves more clearly. We come to the mat each day and create some stability within the chaos that surrounds.

After visiting so many different places, it seems to me that the common problem for people all over the world is that we have been conditioned to believe that scarcity is the cause of all our feelings of despair. There is a general attitude amongst the many that without obtaining some type of external object for gratification they “just won’t get no satisfaction.”

The common thought seems to be: “without this person I’ll never find love or happiness, without this possession I’ll never be contented, without this job I’ll never have security, without this experience I never feel pleasure, without being in this place, I’ll never find fulfillment.” We are stuck in this cycle of feeling excitement over the thought of the possibility of attaining something, anxiety over the idea of loosing it, and we end up angry or in total despair when we realize it has been taken away.

This is the sequence we fall into when we allow craving and aversion, attachment and dependence to rule our lives. We develop varying degrees of attachment to people, places, and things, and we start craving for what we don’t have, and feeling an aversion to what we don’t want, and this pattern produces endless amounts of pain, sorrow and suffering.

The interesting thing is that when we really stop and take a look at our attachments, we begin to realize that they are merely fantasies and stories that we’ve created in our minds, and somehow, in the process of creation, we’ve convinced ourselves that they are real and true. We’ve tricked ourselves into believing our own made up illusions about the world around us, and our role within it.

Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “As long as you identify yourself with the body-mind, you are vulnerable to sorrow and suffering.” The ego believes we are defined by “what we do, what we own, who we are friends with, who we love, who loves us back, and what others think about us.”

The truth is that no-thing can ever really bring us happiness, and no person can ever really make us feel loved, no new experience can provide lasting peace, and no place or job will bring ultimate satisfaction. We have to start to transcend the cage of our ego-mind and move beyond our limited self to experience the ‘Source of Peace,’ which is our Highest Self.

Unhappiness is a condition. It is a pattern of thinking and feeling that we’ve become addicted to, and so we continue to recreate those situations in our lives that will reinforce a subconscious believe that we don’t deserve to be content, and that happiness is something that exists outside of ourselves instead of inside.

We can start to deprogram ourselves by remembering that contentment is a choice and cheerfulness an attitude. They are not dependent upon anything outside our own mind. We can learn to eliminate feelings of despair through cultivating an attitude of non-attachment and gratitude for what we do have.

In our daily yoga practice we need to develop a habit of moving inwards, instead of running outwards to the manifestations of the material world. Chasing after postures is simply another form of craving, and reinforcing that old belief that “we are not good enough.” It is acting from a framework of scarcity again instead of recognizing the abundance that exists within.

India is a beautiful place for reminding us that it is not scarcity that creates despair. So many of the people here live off very little, and yet, they are some of the happiness, most beautiful individuals we’ve ever met. Somehow they’ve learned to see beyond the illusion of the material world, and to act outwardly while remaining firmly established in the center of peace within.

Value is not created by what we add to ourselves, the value is inherently in us, and gets realized when we can honestly see that nothing needs to be added at all, for we already have everything we need.

Self Practice

2008-07-12T18:09:00.003+05:30

At the beginning of the month Sharath had taken a two-week break from teaching at the Yoga Shala here in Mysore. Students were given the option to practice with Saraswathi or on their own at home. During this time Guruji came down to lead a couple of led-primary classes, and to chant the invocation, which was a real treat for all of us practicing in the Shala.

Around this same time, one of our students from Canada had written to us asking: “what do you do when your teacher is away?” and “how do you practice when left on your own?”
It seems that this is a question was on the minds of many people, as it was asked during our last conference with Guruji and Sharath the week before. The answer was simple: You continue to practice as your teacher has taught you.

Yoga is a personal practice that when practiced correctly has positive effects on the whole of humanity. Finding a teacher to guide and instruct is an essential component of the Path, as is being surrounded by a sangha (community) to help motivate and encourage each of us along the way.

However, there will be many times in our lives when we will find ourselves far from any teacher, and without a community of practitioners around us. In fact, it may be the case that most of our lives we will practice alone, without the direct presence of a teacher. This being the case, it is important to figure out some ways to keep our minds focused on our practices and to stay motivated so we can continue to grow.

One thing that will help is to take a close look at the how and why we practice. If we are truly practicing in a correct way, and for the right reasons, we cannot help but experience the positive effects of the practice in our daily lives. The more self-awareness we can develop, the more we will observe the benefits of the practice, and we will find ourselves encouraged to continue making a strong effort in our daily practice.

It can also be helpful to find time once or twice a year to devote a period of time to just practicing and studying yoga. This can be done by going on a specific “yoga retreat,” or by just taking some time off from the demands of your job and the obligations of daily life to focus on your practice and reconnecting with yourself and if possible, your teacher. These periods of intense study and concentrated practice can help to revive your practice, create inspiration, and rekindling your passion for the practice of yoga.

Sometimes students ask: “What should I practice and how can I progress while you are not here?”

Sharath and Guruji have said: “practice what you’ve been taught, as you’ve been taught.” When you practice the postures your teacher has given you with earnest devotion you will certainly “progress.”

In the modern world we tend to associate this notion of “progress” with the idea that “more is better” and we get caught up in the idea that if we are doing more it means we are getting better and “progressing.”

Contrarily, progress along the path of Yoga doesn’t amount to “more.” We don’t progress by doing “more postures” or “more difficult postures” or “more practices” or “longer practices.” Progress on the path of Yoga is determined by the internal condition of our mind and attitude.
When we can be completely satisfied with exactly what we have and who we are at any given moment then we are starting to walk along the path of santosha (contentment) the second niyama, and that is the sign of real progress. We will be happy to practice less with more awareness, instead of more with less satisfaction.

As Sharath reminded us in conference, doing advanced asana doesn’t mean you are a more “advanced practitioner.” It doesn’t guarantee more “self-knowledge” or “enlightenment.” A student practicing primary series can be learning more, and growing more by focusing on the internal form and starting to “still the fluctuations of the mind,” then a student who may be practicing an advanced series but who is still fixated on the external form without developing any kind of control over the mind.

The “inner asana” is what we must strive to perfect. When we can humbly surrender to a practice, and commit ourselves to following one method and one teacher, this “inner asana” the “seat of God within” gets perfected. Gratitude grows when we can accept what we have been given instead of always acting from that deeply ingrained pattern (samskara) of asking and wanting and taking more and more. As Sri O.P Tiwari has reminded us time and time again, we should strive to be a “person of the needs, and not the wants.”

Inner Asteya

2008-05-26T20:14:00.004+05:30

Sharath gave a conference last night and I was reminded of a practice I had last year when out of frustration I choose to quit early.
I was fed up, had had enough, my back was sore, I had no energy, and in my mind I wasn't "progressing."

As I left the shala my teacher looked at me and said, "weak mind". Something sunk in my chest. I was heart broken, angry, and wanted to cry. But honestly, Sharath was right, he had nailed me. Of course this led to a little reflection for me...

The yamas are known in the yoga sutras as the mahavratam (the great vows). These fundamental teachings are the corner stone of yoga. Asteya is the third yama, and is translated as “non-stealing.” For most of us it is obvious we must not steal in order to maintain our practice of ahimsa (non-violence). We know that if we take something from someone else we are harming him or her.

But what about stealing from ourselves?

We all face challenges both on and off the mat. One challenge I have in my practice is urdhva danurasana or back-bends. It's not so surprising that this posture became much easier when I realized I was actually sabotaging myself with my mind. (Ok... that's a picture of Harmony not me)

I had developed a pattern of berating myself, and it needed to be broken. Somehow a resistance towards bending-back had crept in, along with an attachment to what I believed was “ideal progress.” I realized that I needed to release the feeling of fear I was having patiently over time. I needed to stop stealing my ability to see the positive.

This brings up the question: “How do we steal from ourselves both on and off the mat?”
Do we steal time from ourselves? Do we push into and through pain in an unhealthy manner? Are we overly critical of ourselves? Do we mentally beat ourselves up?

We can start to find our own answers by asking ourselves the right questions: Am I being patient with myself? Am I allowing myself enough time to learn the lessons I need to learn before moving forward?

Louise Hay, in her book You Can Heal Your Life, asks her readers to: "Stop for a moment and catch your thought. What are you thinking right now? If it is true that your thoughts shape your life, would you want what you were just thinking right now to be true for you?"

This is a great question to ask your self. Are we thinking supportive thoughts? Or are we playing old tapes in our heads that no longer add value to our present circumstances.

Are our thoughts, and consequently our lives, filled with the mantra: "I can do it!" or are we in subtle ways stealing happiness and contentment from ourselves simply because we have not examined our own patterns of thinking? It is so easy for the mind to simply default into its old self-sabotaging patterns, so we need to make a conscious effort to increase the awareness of our own thoughts.

Ultimately we need to support ourselves in the yoga practice we have chosen. This is vital. We need to give ourselves lots of positive encouragement the way we would encourage others. Learning to love and approve of our actions in every moment is one of the most important practices that we can do.

I leave this week with one more quote from Louise Hay: "If we want a joyous life, we must think joyous thoughts. If we want a prosperous life, we must think prosperous thoughts. If we want a loving life, we must think loving thoughts. Whatever we send out mentally or verbally will come back to us in like form." (You Can Heal Your Life)

If it is true that we only get what we give, then perhaps it’s time to reflect upon what you have given or withheld from yourself lately.

Moving Into Mysore

2008-05-07T16:43:00.003+05:30

After 44 straight hours of travel, sleeping seat-belted in airplanes, muddling through various time zones, enduring indigestion from bad airplane food, and finally surviving a scary Indian car ride, we are back in Mysore!
Mother India always presents a plethora of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes – a real smorgasbord for the senses!
And all I can say is ... Yippee!!
The effort to get here is a small price to pay for the great blessing of being back to study with our teachers.

Thank God for the next three months! While we are here in Mysore, the practice becomes the sole focus of our attention, pretty much of our whole existence, and although three months might seem like a grand amount of time, for us it seems more like a short, but intense, check-in. It is nice to have some time to step away from the demands of “big city living,” to find a quiet space to sink into where we can practice, study, and delved deeper into the inner-Self once again.
The truth is that most of us need to deliberately dedicate some time every now and again to make our yoga practice the focus of our attention. Amidst our busy lives we need to find those moments where we can rededicate ourselves to a consistent practice and review our growth along the path.

As we move through life, a multitude of things can become obstacles to our spiritual growth. The daily demands of “modern living” are just some of the obstacle that can take a toll on our mental, physical and spiritual well-being. With the help of our yoga practice we can begin to recognize a little sooner when we need to take a personal “time-out” to rejuvenate, re-vitalize, and possibly modify our approach to the journey.
Taking time to focus on what we really want, both on and off our mat, and pausing to honestly assess the barriers on the path is a very important process. It is satya (truth) that helps us find the answers to the questions that lie within ourselves.

Sometimes it is only after taking a step back that we can truly assess our choices and correctly decide where to invest our energy and resources. Life is a series of choices, and as Louise Hay would say, "the point of power is always in the present moment."
Breath, Be Present, Choose Well!

Same Same But Different

2008-04-19T06:46:00.003+05:30

Sometimes practice is hard. We would all like it to be easy, but realistically this is not always the case.

We have a student who comes to us intermittently. He is an artist, and a yoga teacher, and has a loving free spirit. After working through some strains and sprains, aches and pains, he asked us if his practice would always be this difficult. He was referring to the many struggles he was having with discomfort in his body: "Isn't yoga supposed to be all about bliss?" he asked. Physical suffering can be hard on us psychologically, and our motivation to keep up with the practice can decrease.

It is a great question though, "Isn't yoga supposed to be all about bliss?"
I guess the simple answer is NO! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out however. We need only to observe the nature and the truth of our existence. Pain comes, and pain goes. Pleasure comes, and pleasure goes. There is an arising and a passing away. Yoga is the ability to keep our mind steady during the rise and fall, the ebb and flow of life, and the successfulness our practice shows up in our ability to deal with the changes, great and small, that manifest within us and around us in every moment.
The most difficult form of satya, or truthfulness, starts with our own self. One good question to ask of ourselves is this: "Am I being serious or sincere?"

Our teacher Tiwariji encourages us to be sincere, as seriousness is an expression of the ego. When I get "serious" about my practice, I push too hard, I tend to move out of a balanced state and into an ego-driven state, and I increase the potential for injury. Yoga practice is difficult enough, without creating more obstacles with our ego. Finding the balance beyond pain and pleasure, and creating steadiness of mind and body to help us move beyond the dualities of existence, is an essential part of our quest. Searching for "bliss" results in a constant disappointment. To crave bliss is really a craving for misery, as all sensations, pleasant or painful, are conditioned by our temporal existence, and so are always impermanent and changing.

I am reminded of what my friend David Swenson says, "If at first you find this practice hard, don't worry, it gets easier! And if at first you find this practice easy, don't worry, it gets harder!" In my opinion, David is one of the great Ashtanga Yogis of our day, and what he said pretty much sums it up: Sometimes practice is hard, sometimes it is easy. What is important is not to crave the easy, energetic, light, enjoyable practices, as this is a recipe for disappointment, but we must strive to keep our equanimity during both the pleasant practices, as well as the difficult ones.

Satya - Bringing Truth to the Mat.

2008-04-06T17:48:00.003+05:30

Satya or the second yama arises out of ahimsa. It is a continuation of the foundational practice of non-harming, as it is the application of truth in our lives. It not only refers to being truthful with others, but it also includes the awareness of being truthful with ourselves, and this means meeting ourselves each day on the mat as we are, as we practice.

We had a new student came to our Mysore class this week to begin learning the wonderful practice of Ashtanga Yoga. His wife practices with us, and so he was familiar with the practice and brought with him many pre-conceived ideas, expectations, and concerns about what a yoga practice should look like, and how long it needed to be. He was worried that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the other students, and that he had to do it for over an hour every day. I think he was pleasantly surprised to find out that this practice "truthfully" can fit into his busy schedule and that it doesn’t have to be a long and laborious activity, and that when practiced with awareness it could add value to his life.

This brings up a few questions though: Are there times when the practice truthfully doesn't fit for us? Are there times when the practice is too much for our day-to-day schedule? Can we approach the demands of life, and the demands on our time in a truthful way and still make the effort to find the middle path between laziness and egoistic ambition? I believe we can.

Finding this middle ground is vital for us. Our yoga practice should be
something that creates more balance in our lives not further imbalance. We must find ways to integrate our practice into our daily living without increasing the stress we already have. Only in this way will the practice be maintained over the long term, and can we hope to find the true benefits of a yoga practice. Patanjali says: "Sa tu dirghakala nairantarya satkarasevito drdhabhumih" – which means: “Only after a long time of continuous practice with sincerity will the benefits of yoga be achieved.”

This then must be our aim. To be truthful with ourselves and our capacity each day not only when starting and integrating yoga into our lives, but also when sustaining the practices we have already established, and in doing so we will gain all he benefits that come from a daily practice of Ashtanga Yoga.

Patience Grasshopper...

2008-03-14T09:07:00.005+05:30

This week one of our students was frustrated with supta kurmasana and was clearly disturbed when we kept stopping her at this difficult posture. She, like so many of us, was restless and itching to move forward in her asana practice; and again like so many of us, she wanted results and had become impatient with her progress.

This reminded me of what our teacher once taught us about impatience. He said that impatience is a subtle form of violence or hostility towards oneself. (Of course then he looked directly at me and said that if a student is impatient they have not understood the the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Busted again!) So, for one more week lets keep with the Yamas and the Ahimsa theme.

You see according to Patanjali only one eighth of this classical yoga path is asana, and in his book he speaks about asana in only 3 of 196 verses. His emphasis makes it clear for all of us that in this practice of yoga there are some other limbs that we must attend to.

Whether it is on or off the mat, if we are "practicing impatience" in our lives we have omitted a first and vital step in our yoga process, and quite possibly our yoga progress. In the Yoga Sutras the chief Yama (the first limb of ashtanga yoga) is Ahimsa. Ahimsa is an action centered attitude of "non-harming" or "non-violence," and it is a vital, but very difficult, practice. It deals with our actions towards others as well as ourselves. We must cultivate this practice in ourselves and radiate it out to others. As always the mat becomes the great mirror, and if we are willing to look, it will reflect back to us our true progress on this path.

Ultimately, this comes back to choice. We must make the conscious choice to practice ahimsa: to be gentle with ourselves, to approve of ourselves, to have patience with ourselves, and after taking action, we must leave the results to God. Of course in this practice if the struggle of this daily existence overwhelms us... you can always do what Sri K. Pattabhi Jois tells us to do: "You breath You!"

Om
Be Blessed! Peace, Out.
J

Snow eh!

2008-02-18T06:02:00.004+05:30

I was excited it was only -8 degrees Celsius! The deep freeze we were living in was unplugged a week ago, and I was looking forward to actually getting on the mat without being frozen; even more so to having a long lingering practice...

Then I looked outside... Now maybe if you are melting in Thailand it looks like a winter wonderland, but dang the extra 15 minutes I thought I had for my practice was just re-assigned to snow removal.

With no one around and a feeble grumble I started sweeping the car clean.
I was reminded of what my teacher would say, "the mind wants to be negative," and in the snow that morning it wasn't hard to watch this mind gravitate towards negativity... (especially when I can remember loving days like this as a kid).

There is no debating that in Canada we have 4 seasons. In the winter season things slow down, even our practices, and so it becomes even more important to remember ahimsa in our interactions. This ahimsa, "non-harming," or "non-violence," applies equally to ourselves as it does to anyone else that we interact with. To practice Ashtanga Yoga, we must bring attention to all the limbs and luckily asana helps us with this.

Of course in the end, seasons come and seasons go, postures come and postures go, stiffness comes and stiffness goes. To dwell in impatience and criticism of ourselves or others, or the situations we are in, is to misunderstand the necessity of practicing ahimsa, and to miss out on a great opportunity to practice yoga more fully in our lives.

But Dang! I'm looking forward to spring!
Until next time... Be Blessed! J

Canadian Winter

2008-02-03T01:32:00.000+05:30

Dang!! It's cold here in Canada!! ... It was 3:00 am and -49 Celsius (-56 Fahrenheit) the last couple days when we were making our way to the shala to practice, now for those of you tuning in from Thailand for the first time, that is like living in your freezer. Public transit wasn't running because the doors were freezing open or closed, if you could start your car the wheels were frozen more square than round and bumped along for the first 10 minutes of your drive, and if you had any uncovered skin exposed it would freeze causing frost bite in under 2 minutes... Even the "momma deer" wanted to bring her baby inside...

Oh, how we were missing India and Thailand...

I guess you can't help but question your life choices when it seems more sensible to hibernate than to crawl out of bed from under piles of warm blankets. Even in the heated room of the yoga shala my body never wanted to get warm and I felt the the mental resistance to doing my asana practice.

Oh, the tricky mind, it wasn't to hard to see that I had formed a strong attachment to the warm climates of India and Thailand, developing a craving for the internal heat that makes me feel so bendy, and the desire to "perform" asana rather than "practice" asana in the moment. Patanjali who gave us the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga tells us to achieve our goal we must practice and be non-attached or non-dependant.

This week it is the Canadian winter that is reminding me to take heed of Patanjali's words, to practice with sincerity and detach from the results. Yoga is so much more than asana, and it's clearly time for me to review the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga.... but more on that in a couple of weeks...

Finding Happy Guy...

2007-10-15T07:42:00.000+05:30

We all go through periods of darkness, where we feel that in every direction we are facing an uphill battle. In these times of inner struggle and conflict it is reassuring to think about something positive... like the true story about finding “Happy Guy.”

Some of you may have heard this story before, but it is one that brings a smile to even the saddest of faces.

Seven years ago, my cousin Nate found a photo in the rubbish bin of a hotel room in Banff, Canada. He kept the picture with him, and returned home to Melbourne, Australia, where he posted the photo on his family's kitchen fridge, and ever since that day "Happy Guy" has been smiling at the family from his spot in the kitchen. Everyone who visited the Sturdy house would always ask about the photograph, inquiring: "Who is that?"
"It's Happy Guy" the family would respond, and then the story of how the picture of a complete stranger ended up on the fridge would follow.

So, why did Nate feel so attracted to this particular picture of a smiling stranger? For no other reason then simply looking at the picture made him feel happy, and how could it not?-!
Earlier this year, Nate and his brother Devin, started a group on Facebook called "Who Is Happy Guy?" The goal of this group was to find and meet the man whom they had formally nicknamed.
They started a "Happy Guy" website (http://www.whoishappyguy.com), and made "Who Is Happy Guy?" tee-shirts, and awarded them to anyone who made an extra special "Happy Guy" effort, and that was the beginning of their Global Search.

The result: Making millions of people happy!

Folks from all over the world started to post Happy Guy's picture up and would take photos of it to show all the different places that Happy Guy's smile had reached, and with each new photo you just couldn't help but smile also, proving the age-old saying that "a smile goes a long long way."
Recently, Happy Guy was found!

Although the search has ‘officially’ come to an end, like all good stories the journey is at least as important as the destination, and the tale about how one man's smile made millions more smile is a message in itself:
When we are happy we spread happiness, and when we are in pain we spread suffering.

So, when you're feeling down on your luck, try to think of Happy Guy, and hopefully that inner smile will start to grow, and light your way home.
For it is only when we are able to let go of our feelings of lack and distress that we can open ourselves to participate in the liberation of all living beings.

Thanks for the inspiration Nate & Dev, and thanks to Happy Guy for sharing his smile with the world!

In The End There Is Always A Beginning.

2007-08-22T17:11:00.000+05:30

We are preparing to leave Mysore, our home for the past eight months. We have one week left in India before returning to Calgary, Canada, where we will begin to reintegrate into North American life after our last three years living abroad. As our time here starts to draw to a close, it seems natural to reflect upon the friendships we've made and the experiences we've had.

It is difficult to put into words all the changes we have been through, the places we've seen, or the people we've met. Each person and place has imprinted their own uniqueness upon our hearts, and dance through our memories in beautiful colors. We will probably only realize how much we have changed and grown once we are placed against the familiar background of the city we left and again return to.

We attended a beautiful concert here in Mysore last Friday performed by Nick Evans and Colin Zak. There was a wonderful feeling in the air. So many students gathered to listen to their friends sing and play together, and enjoy a night of dinner and communion with each other. It was a fabulous evening. The last song they played summed up the general sentiments of all who were present: “The power of love, a force from above… healing our souls.” The presence of love was palpable in the air.

This is one aspect of being in Mysore that we will miss the most as we start our journey back to the West - the bonds of the friendships we’ve made here are strong. They are fortified in the intensity of this practice, and forged through our sweat, tears, struggles, and triumphs every morning. As we strive to create yoga within ourselves, we find that we’ve also established a deeper connection and union with others.

So although we realize you can never really say goodbye to those you love, we will give a big hug, and say, “see you around” to many amazing people as we leave. We will have time for one last chai at our favorite “dirty dog” chai stand, and remind ourselves that every ending is only a porthole that opens into a new beginning.