| Yoga Study Books | |
In February, we began our study of the original yoga knowledge, and building a bridge to our JudeoChristian traditions. The 196 yoga sutras, or little lessons, were compiled some 500-800 years before Christ. You can find many translations and interpretations on the Internet for free if you'd like to follow along. Sanskrit is hard to translate into English. However, I enjoy these two translations as the commentators often set the lessons in a Christian context. Here are my picks for the best two:
How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali
by Swami Prabhavananda by Vedanta Press & Bookshop
Paperback 
List Price: $10.95
Our Price: New and used from $6.25 Buy Now
Below is a brand new translation/commentary--the one above was written in the 1930s I believe. The cover is a bit scary for Westerners, but the commentary makes the sutras, well--rather enlightening!
The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra
by Ravi Ravindra by Morning Light Press
Hardcover
List Price: $14.95
Our Price: $11.21 Buy Now |
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| Announcements! | |
PLEASE NOTE: Your Yoga Coach will be on vacation from May 15-June 1. The last yoga class will be Thursday, May 13 and resume June 2.
CONGRATULATIONS to my Thursday night Beginner Class! They officially graduated to Intermediate status this week with picture-perfect Ploughs, masterful Ubhaya Padagunthasanas (pose from last Friday's column), and fearless Walk-Up-The-Wall Handstands!
Starting in June, we have room for more beginners on Saturday morning. Plus, we'll be able to practice outside when weather allows on our Treetop Yoga Deck starting mid-June. Call me at 469-236-0017 if you are interested.
I usually like to post my column when I'm on vacation, but this time I will be in Germany and away from the Internet. I'm really looking forward to walking in the path of Hildegard von Bingen, the great Christian writer, leader, abbess, playwright, poet, composer and all-around AWESOME woman who lived from 1098-1179. Her music is still performed today. You can hear some if you sign in to Pandora and ask for Hildegard von Bingen. Free! We are staying our first three nights in Bingen am Rhein and I look forward to visiting the museum dedicated to her. Still brushing up on my German as there are no subtitles there! To give you some vicarious thrills, here's a photo of Bingen where we'll be next weekend:
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Spiritual Formation |
Yoga Sutra I.27 OM is the perfect expression of God.
I must confess I have a problem with this one. OM (pronounced more like oww--ooh--mmm) is a Sanskrit word for God, specifically in God's role as sustainer of life. In a Hindu-based yoga class, you'll spend a number of minutes chanting OM on every exhale. I'm comfortable with other names for God from other religious traditions, yet I balk at this. Even though I understand the physics of it! Chanting OM on the exhale sets up lovely vibrations in the head, which helps to relax muscles in the face, head and neck. It can put your mind in a very ethereal place. My husband accuses me of being a random "hummer" as I'm always humming something when I move around the house and am completely unaware. During graduate school, I spent time studying and writing about String Theory, that emerging body of particle physics which posits that the building block of the universe is a vibrating, humming string. OK, it's way more complicated than that. But I am always delighted to think about what could be the true "music of the spheres." Everything boils down to a cosmic hum.
The true value in this lesson I believe does have a parallel in our Christian tradition. Many scripture references describe the power of calling upon the name of our Lord as a source of comfort and strength. I know many people who enter into prayer using the traditional Eastern Orthodox Jesus Prayer as an entry into Holy Ground. They simply repeat this over and over, and something wonderful happens. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."
Key Bible passage: Proverbs 18:10
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
This chapter of Proverbs is typical Solomon stream-of-consciousness, simply listing several good rules for living that aren't necessarily related. So, for ONE DAY ONLY, I'll give you a pass and excuse you from reading the rest of it. But this Verse 10 certainly is worth contemplating.
TODAY'S CONTEMPLATION
If you've not tried the Jesus Prayer as a entry point into prayer and meditation, why not give that a go today? Of course, you could try the OM thing. Let me know how that goes for you.
(Inhale) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
(Exhale) have mercy upon me, a sinner. |
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| Why I'm Leaving You | |
This may fall under the category of "gimmick headlines" as I'll only be gone on vacation two weeks. And the real reason I'm going has nothing to do with health or stress. I'm just looking forward to spending time with my family--we have so much fun on our adventures.
However, as your unofficial health consultant, I need to ask this--have you taken a complete and restorative vacation lately? Check out this research from the State University of New York/Oswego:
In their recent survey of more than 12,000 men ages 35 to 57, results suggest that men who take vacations every year reduce their overall risk of death by about 20 percent, and their risk of death from heart disease by as much as 30 percent. Researchers discovered that some of the men hadn't taken ANY vacation time during the five-year survey period. Instead of being rewarded for their dedication to the job, they suffered the highest overall death rate and a much higher incidence of heart disease.
"We concluded that skipping vacations could actually be dangerous to your health," said Brooks Gump, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Oswego and one of the study's co-authors. "Vacations have a protective effect because they help you reduce your load of stress, or at least allow you to take a break from the everyday stressors of the workplace."
So, if you haven't had a great vacation lately, start planning! It will never happen unless you devote some time to it. You don't want to be on your deathbed regretting you never made that dream trip to Des Moines, for example. For our family with three grown kids, we can no longer cram into one family suite at the Holiday Inn. So, for the past few years I've been booking lots of cool places through www.homeaway.com. They have private apartments in most cities and vacation spots around the world. I've found them to be completely reliable and easy to work with. For us, staying in a swanky villa on the Rhine or completely remodeled 3-bedroom flat in a 15th Century coachhouse on castle grounds in Ireland is cheaper than five people in average hotel rooms or even bed & breakfast-style accomodations.
If you need a five-minute vacation, check out this listing from Homeaway. It's amazing what you can get in private accomodations! Here's a Bavarian estate close to Munich for a little over $330 per night. Nine bedrooms, so that would be about $36 per night per couple with a castle backdrop. If you book it, let me know if there's an extra room available. I am NOT on commission, but this is a good company. I'll let you know if we had good luck with them when we get back. |
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Wide Legged Forward Bend | |
We are starting to enjoy this pose in Intermediate Classes. The inner thigh muscles are very tender, so do overdo this one! It's also fun to put elbows on the floor in this stance as well.
For instructions on this pose, click here (photo and instructions courtesy of Yoga Journal.)
If you'd like a more structured way to practice yoga, try the new Redeeming Yoga Workbook and Journal, now available for sale on-line. It contains an 8-week program of meditations, health tips, Bible study, plus room for journaling. Click here to order now! |
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Thank you so much for spending time here today. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to E-mail me at sarah@redeemingyoga.com. I'm obligated to say that none of the information contained in this E-letter should be construed as medical advice. Before you modify your diet or fitness regimen, please check with your doctor.
Sincerely,
Sarah Riehm
Redeeming Yoga |
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