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Namaste!
I met a
very wise woman yesterday and she told me a story of the rabbit and the
eagle.
Rabbit was
going through his life in his rabbity ways:
watchful, cautious, fearful. Each
day he would wander out of his warren into the meadow and while munching on
fresh grass he would look furtively to the sky and say, "Eagle, I know you're
up there! Don't you swoop down on me,
Eagle. I'm just small Rabbit, munching
greens and minding my own way. Stay away, Eagle. Stay away!"
And each
day was the same.
One
morning Rabbit hopped out into the sunshine, and nibbled the dew-covered
grass. He looked up and saw Eagle flying
straight down toward him. Eagle caught
him in her talons and lifted Rabbit off the earth.
"Why??!!! Why!!????
I'm not doing any harm!" cried
Rabbit. "Leave me alone!!"
"But,
Rabbit," replied Eagle ever so gently, "Every day I hear you calling my name!"
This story
calls to mind the aphorism "be careful what you wish for" or just the notion of
self-fulfilling prophecy or manifestation.
But what a great reminder it is.
I love
that story.
Peace,
Jill
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Asana: The Third Limb of Yoga
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Postures Practiced in Yoga
Yoga is a steady, comfortable posture. ~ Patanjali, Yoga Sutra II:46
The third limb of yoga, Asana, is likely the one with which most people are familiar, and how they "define" yoga. Asana is the postures practiced on your mat in yoga. But yoga, as we've seen with the exploration of the first two limbs already, is much more broad than the practice of physical postures. However, Asana is an important part of the whole.
Like the other limbs of yoga that weave one into the other, Asana is woven into the Niyama of Tapas, which is the heat or zeal that requires self-discipline to produce results. Asana also helps us to develop the ability to concentrate, which is necessary for meditation, or Dhyana, the seventh limb. And the Yamas and Niyamas can always be applied on the mat.
In the
yogic view, the body is a temple and caring for it is important to our
physical health and spiritual growth. Asana is one of the ways in which we honor the temple that is our body and use it as a tool on our practice journey.
You can learn more about Asana by reading Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann, or explore how Asana weaves into the whole of the yogic journey with Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi. Check them out at the blue
boo-tique!
"In asana practice we learn to cherish each breath, to cherish every cell in our bodies. The time we spend on the mat is love in action." ~ Rolf Gates, Meditations from the Mat
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Our Teachers
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Meet Julee Snyder
Favorite
Asanas: Supta Baddha Konasana (reclined bound angle) and Urdhva Prasarita Padasana against the wall (legs up the wall)
Little
Known Facts About Me: My partner calls me "bok choy"
Words
That Describe My Class: Luscious, organic, slow flow
Who Inspires Me: My students
Favorite
yoga music: Silence
Favorite
yoga book: All About Love by Bell Hooks. My
yoga definition is broad. When I was exploring the fourth kosha, I began
to ask questions about the discriminating mind, and determined the thing
that allows me to discriminate -- the basis of which can sometimes appear so
random -- was to make choices that move me towards love. I found
this book helpful and inspiring.
Favorite Quote: "There is no passion to be found
playing small -- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are
capable of living." - Nelson Mandela
Why I love blue lotus: I love blue lotus because of the community and the
willingness of some students to let me go on and on about anatomy and actually
be fascinated. What a treat!
I knew I loved yoga:
... after
taking a daily class for two weeks, I began to do new things spontaneously: buy
vitamins, boldly assert my opinions, and burst out into joyous cackling in
random and unknown times.
My Classes:
Vinyasa
1
5:30-6:30
pm, Wednesdays
Yoga
Foundations I Six-Week Series
Check
schedule
Yoga
Foundations II Series
Check
schedule Yoga
Anatomy Workshops
Check
schedule
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Global Mala Weekend: It's Yoga Month!
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Celebrate Raleigh Global Mala at Three Area Studios
blue lotus is teaming up with Evolve Yoga and Gateway Yoga to celebrate yoga month and the Global Mala, September 18 - 20.
Join us for a host of events, including a potluck, drumming, 108 backbends, Mandala Namaskar, Trance Dance, Meditation, Yoga Mala and more!
For details and a full schedule, visit Raleigh Global Mala or visit the blue lotus online schedule.
All classes are by donation and benefit the Piedmont Wildlife Center. |
Bhakti Vinyasa Project
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Live Music & Yoga Experience
The past four years, husband and wife musical duo Kristin Luna Ray and
Joshua Canter have been experimenting with the blending of live music and yoga. Through this musical yoga journey they have found the
results to be incredibly deep and powerful. With a blend of instrumental
music, mantras, and Luna's original songs, the live musical influence
has taken the yoga experience to a whole new level.
The Bhakti Vinyasa Project comes to blue lotus September 26 and 27, as Kristin and Joshua lead Kirtan on Saturday from 7:00-9:00 pm and perform during an open level Vinyasa flow class Sunday from 9:30-11:30 am.
This collaboration is unique to other Live Musical Yoga
experiences, as specific practices have been choreographed to blend the
asana, the music and the teachings
together in a class like no other.
To register and for details, visit the Workshops tab at the online schedule. |
September Workshops & Events
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We have a lot going on in September! Be sure to check the online scheduler for details about these special classes and others this month.
Yin Intensive with Yvonne
12:30-2:30 pm, Saturday, September 5 Yin yoga helps to stimulate and strengthen the connective tissue of the joints with more passive, longer holds in yoga poses. It's a great balance to a more active "yang" lifestyle but also great for all levels.
Yoga Anatomy: Establishing Roots with Julee 10:30 am-Noon, starts Sunday September 20 This series explores the anatomy of the lower
extremities. Study the bones and other important anatomical
features, exploring movement potential and integrate your
findings into asana.
Take the classes you choose or all four in the series.
September 20: Foot and Foreleg
October 18: The Pelvis and Pelvic Floor
November 8: Hips and Knees
December 6: Integrating Foot to Pelvis
Yoga Foundations with Julee 10:30 am-Noon, Saturdays September 19 - October 31 (no class October 10) If you are new to yoga, this is the perfect place to start! The six-week series is designed for beginners seeking a strong foundation of the basic poses in Level 1/ Open Vinyasa (flow) classes. You also receive a discount on retail items, a yoga book and $20 off a 10-pass card.
Yoga Foundations II with Julee
12:30-2:00 pm, Sundays September 20 & 27, October 18 & 25 This four-part series is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about yoga basics. Foundations II is for you -- if you have completed Yoga Foundations and would like to explore postures further, if you have been away from yoga for a while, or if you've tried Level 1 and Open classes and need just a little better understanding of alignment and breath. Join us to explore your practice!FREE Community Yoga Classes These free classes are open to students of all levels. Instructors have completed 9 Months of Transformation,
the blue lotus Yoga Immersion & Teacher Training program.
- 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Sunday, September 6
- 12:00-1:00 pm, Wednesday, September 9
- 12:00-1:00 pm, Wednesday, September 16
- 12:30-1:30 pm, Saturday, September 19
- 12:00-1:00 pm, Monday, September 28
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. |
See you at the blue! |
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