|
 |
Namaste!
Jill's journey in India continues until her return next week -- you'll see her back on the online class schedule very soon! While she continues her travels through the birthplace of yoga, we'd like to share a reflection on the soul of yoga from poet Danna Faulds. Her book Go In and In is a favorite among teachers at the blue.
The Soul of Yoga
What is the soul of yoga?
Follow your heart into the
center of the pose and find
in the midst of detail and
precision, in breath, alignment,
balance, bliss, fear and sadness --
at the very core of all of this
is love. Touch upon your
truest nature even once and
the experience of what you
really are sears the psyche
like the surface of the sun.
The soul of yoga, the gift
within the pose is the
moment of communion,
resting in pure essence,
the awakening as if from
sleep to the face of
unmistakable divinity;
the ineffable wonder and
living reality of spirit -- oh,
yes -- the soul of yoga is love.
~Danna Faulds, Go In and In
learning from the sutras |
the four locks and their keys
In Yoga Sutra I:33, Patanjali states, By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.
In Yoga Sutra I:17, Patanjali introduces the practice of samadhi, or contemplation. Samadhi, he explains, is only possible after a person has achieved perfection in concentration and meditation. Subsequent sutras go on to expound on the kinds of samadhi (distinguished and undistinguished), the obstacles we encounter when attempting to practice concentration and meditation, and then how to prevent obstacles to those practices. Yoga Sutra I:33 falls into the latter.
 Sri Swami Satchidananda says if we are interested in reaching samadhi or plan to ignore yoga entirely, this is the one sutra he would advise his readers to remember. In his translation of the sutras, he writes: “There are only four kinds of locks in this world . . . suka, duhkha, punya and apunya -- the happy people, unhappy people, the virtuous and the wicked.”
Throughout time, there have always been people who were not happy at seeing other people happy. If we approach the happy with jealously, the sutra teaches, we only disturb our own serenity. We should be glad for their happiness. By treating the unhappy with compassion and by helping others and being merciful, we retain peace of mind. Of the virtuous we should not be envious but rather appreciative, trying to cultivate such qualities in our own lives. And to the wicked, we should practice indifference. Judging or trying to advise the wicked may insult them and only disturbs our own peace.
Patanjali groups all individuals into these four categories: the happy, the unhappy, the virtuous and the wicked. On our journey for a peaceful mind, our four respective attitudes or keys should be friendliness, compassion, gladness and indifference. Remembering that our goal is to keep a serene mind, this sutra can be a great help toward that end.
To explore the sutras on your own, check out The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda. Copies are available in the Boo-tique at the blue lotus studio.
|
our yoga peeps |
meet carrie hoffman
 Favorite Asana: Salamba Sarvangasana (supported shoulderstand) and Mandukasana (frog)
Little Known Fact About Me: I'm left handed.
Words That Describe Me: Vivacious, jovial
Who Inspires Me: Mother Nature. I was very inspired during our beautiful Spring this year.
Favorite yoga music artist: Gabrielle Roth
Favorite yoga book: The Heart of Yoga by T. K. V. Desikachar
Favorite Poem: The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
The best thing about being a yoga peep: Getting to know all of our lovely members and getting a sneak peek at next month's schedule!
Why I love blue lotus: I always get what I need there.
I knew I loved yoga when: I felt the connection between my practice and my everyday life.
When I'll be greeting you: 8:00 o'clock Saturday mornings at Yvonne's Vinyasa Open class
Carrie is a long-time peep who, in her words, is "honored to be a member of the blue community and very excited to start the Yoga Immersion and Teacher Training Program, 9 months of transformation, this September."
|
ask the teacher |
your questions about yoga
What does it mean when we chant? Why do we do it? What if I don't want to chant?
 We chant in the language of Sanskrit because it is the language of yoga. You can also think of chanting as the yoga of sound. Regardless of what language it is done in, chanting has the effect of raising the level of vibration of the individual practicing the chant. It can also help the practitioner to be filled with peace, and feel calm and centered. Chanting can help the body and mind to relax, which helps us physically, mentally and emotionally in countless ways.
While chanting may seem unusual in our culture today, that was not always the case. For as long as we have walked the earth, people have gathered and sang or chanted together as a way of building community and connection.
That said, yoga students who are taking a class in which the instructor leads a chant can choose to participate or not, with no pressure whatsoever. Students with questions about a chant should always feel free to ask the instructor about their concerns or if they are unsure of the chant’s meaning.
One chant you may hear most frequently in a yoga class is OM. OM is the universal sound -- the sound from which every other sound originates. In a yoga class, you might think of OM as a kind of tuning fork that unifies the class and brings together the group practice, group breath and group vibration. It reminds us of our deep and abiding connection to our fellow human beings when it is done in unison.
OM, shanti, shanti, shanti
(Om, peace, peace, peace)
|
tornado disaster relief support |
responding to the need
 On Saturday, April 16, 2011, a series of devastating tornadoes hit many areas of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The following day, blue lotus conducted the Vinyasa Level 2 class by donation to benefit those impacted by the storms. Those efforts raised more than $700, and many thanks go out to everyone who participated.
Our funds were donated to the N.C. Baptist Men Disaster Relief Fund, which puts 100 percent of donations toward disaster relief efforts. N.C. Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers began doing assessment and disaster recovery as soon as the storms passed, and their work continues today.
|
july happenings |
check out the backbend and inversion workshops!
Enjoy all of your favorite special classes, like Moon Sequence, Juicy Flow Yoga, Deep Stretch, Hip Hop Flow, Flow & Create, Vinyasa Level 2/3, Kriya Practice, Stretch & Flex and more. Be sure to check the full schedule with class details online!
Do Less! Vinyasa with Yvonne
12:30-2:00 pm, Saturday, July 2
 Yoga & Art for Kids (ages 4-6) with Jen
1:00-3:00 pm,
Friday, July 8
Restorative Yoga with Julee
12:30-2:30 pm, Saturday, July 9
 Partner Stretch with Yvonne and Suzanne
3:00-5:00 pm,
Saturday, July 9
Mom or Dad & Me Yoga with Jen
11:30 am-12:30 pm, Wednesday, July 13
Backbends: Freedom & Power with Kris
12:30-2:30 pm, Saturday, July 16
Handstands, Inversions and Beyond with Kris
12:30-2:30 pm, Saturday July 30
In the coming months . . .
August: Kids Summer Yoga & Art Camp (ages 6-9),
1:30-4:30 pm, August 8-12
September: Yoga Foundations Six-Week Series,
6:00-7:30 pm, Sundays, starting September 11
October: Retreat in the N.C. Mountains, October 14-16
Visit the online schedule for details and to register for classes and workshops!
|
|
