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Namaste!
Yet
another lesson in the power of expectation...
I love to
cook, and I've spent the past ten years actively honing the art of vegetarian
cooking. I've experimented, created, failed
miserably, re-created; I've fine-tuned my nose and taste buds to make tasty
meatless delights that please even the most finicky eater.
One recent
evening when my mom was in town, I could hear her happily slicing, chopping and
mixing some wonderful concoction for dinner as I was working in the next
room. I wandered in to see what was
cooking, and was informed that she was making a recipe of mine-a vegetarian
"crab" cake.
And so it
was that I took my first bite expecting a crunchy-on-the-outside, moist and
spicy on the inside delight. I paused;
eyebrows drawn together; head slightly cocked. Hmmmmm. Unfamiliar.
I took a few more bites before asking if she had "changed" the recipe at
all, to which she replied that she had not.
At this
point I knew without a doubt this was not something I had ever made. But for the life of me, I could not figure
out what it was-the ingredients, the spices-I was at a complete loss. My mind had been so completely fixed around what flavors
awaited me that I had NO ability to actually experience the meal as it
was. And so I pondered...
How many
times have I, in my often faulty assuredness, missed out on the beauty of the moment because I'd predetermined how it would be, how it would feel, what it would look like? What would it take to (again) strip away some
of my old patterns and modes of habituation to be truly present, open and receptive
in order to fully experience the newness of a meal, a meeting, a
conversation? And how much richer would
those experiences be, when scripted by the natural flow of life rather than my
hard-wired brain?
Food for
thought...
Peace,
Jill
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Niyama: The Second Limb of Yoga
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Practicing self-discipline
Last month we explored the Yamas, which generally comprise the "shall nots" in our dealings
with the external world. Niyama, the second limb of yoga, addresses the
"thou shalts" of our dealings with our inner world -- the way we treat ourselves.
Regularly attending temple or church services,
saying grace before meals, or developing a personal meditation
practice are
all examples of Niyama in practice.
The five Niyamas are:
Sauca or cleanliness or purity. When we practice sauca, we maintain external cleanliness through ordinary ways and internal cleanliness through asana, pranayama, healthy eating and right attitudes.
Santosa or contentment. Living in the present and cultivating a level of peace within the self, regardless of external circumstances.
Tapas or heat; spiritual austerities or zeal. Tapas refers to a student's commitment, diligence and hard work that produces results, which often require self-discipline and
selflessness.
Svadhyaya or self-study. Svadhyaya is the study of sacred texts and also the practice of studying one's own habits, actions, thoughts and motives.
Isvarapranidhana or surrender to God, or devotion to a higher power. Dedicating the fruits of all efforts to something greater than the individual self; to live with an awareness of the Divine.
Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison explore the Niyamas in thoughtful nuggets to ponder each day. Peruse a copy the next time you are at the blue boo-tique!
An excerpt from Day 60: "The yamas are the fundamental renunciation of a life based on fear. They are the change. The niyamas are the fundamental practices that sustain a life based on love. They sustain the change." |
Teacher Training Meet Up and Info Session
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Meet current and future students
 Come to the blue for a Yoga Immersion and Teacher Training info session that covers all the bases. Current students are invited to share their experiences of the previous nine months, while students enrolled for the next session are invited to chime in with questions or thoughts about the program starting in September. If you are considering participation in the blue lotus 9 Months of Transformation Yoga Immersion and Teacher Training starting in September 2009 or 2010, please join us to learn more about the program. You can also visit the FAQ page on our website, or contact us at info@bluelotusnc.com
or 919.831.2583.
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Our Teachers
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Meet Yvonne Cropp
 Favorite
Asana
Sirsasana (headstand) -- I LOVE turning upside down to get a
fresh perspective on things!
Little
Known Facts About Me
I make jewelry, and I enjoy painting my own tootsies
every other week while watching silly movies -- and I eat chocolate EVERY day!
Words
That Describe My Class
playful; moving outside "the box" to
forget the "rules"; meditative
Who Inspires Me
God, Wayne Dyer, Skippy Jon Jones
Favorite
yoga music
Oh Boy! No waaaay to pick just one since I truly
believe that music notes run through my blood...but a few staples are B-Tribe,
Bozoo Bajoo, Donna deLory, Ben Leinbach, Anugama
Favorite
yoga book
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
Favorite Quote
I can't remember who said this, but I know the quote: "Take me into myself...into the deep
recesses of my being, where the seas of passion meet the electric power of
Spirit, where time stops and Ecstacy reveals itself."
Why I love blue lotus
I love the spiritual community (sangha) and the
cultivation of our own "yoga tribe" that makes stepping through this
world together a little more magical!
I knew I loved yoga when . . I walked into my very first yoga class at the YMCA and found the
serenity of a calm mind by rocking my body to Dead Can Dance.
My Classes
Vinyasa Level 2
5:30-6:30 pm, Mondays
Yin Practice
5:30-6:30 pm, Tuesdays
Vinyasa Open
8:00-9:30 am, Saturdays
Juicy Flow!
8:00-10:00 am, one Saturday per month
Deep Stretch
Check schedule
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New Classes & Schedule Changes
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Therapeutic Lunch feeds the body and soul
If you're looking for something new to chew on at lunchtime, join Michele for the new Therapeutic Lunch Hour from 12:00-1:00 pm, Thursdays, August 6, 20 and 27. Enjoy nourishing your body on your mat and relieving stress and
anxieties from daily life. Postures and stretches will move
at a slower pace, incorporating breath and relaxation techniques in this all-levels class. Take
a break and reap the rejuvenating benefits that yoga has to offer!
Trading Places
Yin and Vinyasa Level 1 have traded days, but times remain the same. Starting in August, get your Yin on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 pm, and flow your Vinyasa 1 on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 pm.
As always, check the online schedule for all details! |
August Workshops & Events
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Check the online scheduler for details about these special classes and other being offered in August!
Back Care Yoga with Michele 10:00-11:00 am, Sunday, August 211:30 am-12:30 pm, Sunday, August 23Gentle
and therapeutic by nature, back care classes are a wonderful way to
strengthen the back safely.Yoga for Teen Girls with Yvonne 2:00-3:30 pm Saturday, August 8 Tweens and teens enjoy a playful way to increase fitness,
flexibility and body-awareness. Ages 12 - 17 welcome!
Yin Intensive Workshop with Yvonne 9:30-11:30 am Sunday, August 9 Explore seated postures in longer holds to stimulate and strengthen the connective tissue and the joints
and to clear away blockages along the meridian lines. Vinyasa 2/3 with Carrington 12:30-2:00 pm Saturday, August 22 Find a little more challenge than your Level 2 class in this advanced level Vinyasa offering.Family Yoga by Donation with Julie 1:00-2:00 pm Saturday, August 29 Back-to-School Family Yoga by Donation
for ages 6 and up.
Bring the family and enjoy practicing together!
Your donation supports
Alliance Medical Ministry.
Exploring the Bandhas with Julee 9:00 am-2:00 pm Sunday, August 30 Bandha in yoga means lock or gate. We use the bandhas to contain, build
and release the flow of energy in the body. Learn the
three major yogic bandhas of the throat, the pelvic floor and the diaphragm, and explore movement possibilities integrating the
bandhas into your yoga practice.FREE Community Yoga Classes  These free, 60-minute Community Yoga classes are open to students of all levels. Instructors are currently enrolled in 9 Months of Transformation,
the blue lotus Yoga Immersion & Teacher Training program.
- 12:00-1:00 pm, Wednesday, August 5
- 12:30-1:30 pm, Saturday, August 8
- 12:00-1:00 pm, Sunday, August 9
Space in
these classes is limited, so please register in advance.
Visit the online scheduler in the Classes and Workshops tabs for the complete blue lotus schedule and to register. |
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See you at the blue! |
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