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Jill's journey in South Africa continues until her return later this month. In lieu of her beautiful message that usually resides in this space, we'd like to share this poem with you. May you shine as brightly as the sun.
One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence
That has cast my brilliant image!
I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in the darkness,
The Astonishing Light
Of your own Being!
~Hafiz
seva ~ the yoga of service |
what is your authentic purpose?
To regard Yoga primarily as a set of practices for increasing strength and flexibility while calming the nervous system is to mistake the husk for the kernel.
~ Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
Yoga serves a purpose for many as a fitness routine or a respite from the busy-ness of life. However, yoga is also something much more powerful. It is a tool of transformation for those who choose to take the journey.
 Yoga offers among its many gifts, a practice of service to humanity. Yoga helps us show up more fully and completely to others, and to be of service to them. Through seva yoga, or the yoga of service, many impassioned practitioners give of themselves for the betterment of the lives of others.
Off the Mat, Into the World is an organization whose goal is to create a circle of yogis who take action to serve their communities and the world. blue lotus is excited to bring the group’s teachings to a workshop that will explore building community around yoga and service, and collaborating on real change.
Carrington Jackson, an Off the Mat Leader, will lead a weekend workshop to help you awaken your authentic purpose through the process of yoga, develop tools and practices to put purpose into action in a sustainable way, and cultivate long-term community and support to live your purpose and make a difference in the world.
Seva: Yoga in Action, an Off the Mat, Into the World workshop with Carrington
12:00-9:00 pm, Friday, September 14
Learn how to use yoga to ignite personal and social change, and understand the self as a key to helping others
10:00 am-6:00pm, Saturday, September 15
Learn to see and speak clearly and identify your cause, and explore the meaning of purpose
8:00 am-4:00 pm, Sunday, September 16
Further your vision and creation of your service project
Registration is $385; sign up before August 14 for $50 Early Bird discount. One month prior to the weekend, single session drop-in options will open, space permitting.
YTT500/YTT200 CEU - 22 hours; required module for YTT500 certification program
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samskaras ~ more than a habit |
getting out of the rut
These memories, impressions and desires are held together and are dependent upon cause and effect and therein find their shelter. But by transcending memories, impressions, and desires, cause and effect disappears.
~ Yoga Sutra 4:11
Like grooves in a record, our thoughts, words, feelings, behaviors and life experiences create impressions on our consciousness. The Sanskrit word for these groves is samskaras. How our samskaras were created -- either by “good or happy” experiences or by “bad or unhappy” experiences -- can impact us in positive or negative ways.
 Unlike habits, which generally affect our routines and behaviors, samskaras also have an emotional component that impacts how we feel and think about ourselves and others. Samskaras that originate from “positive” experiences can be nurturing in developing a life of harmony. Samskaras that originate from “negative” experiences that were fearful or painful can show themselves in our lives as anxiety, anger, fear, and stress.
We can sometimes connect the dots between our life experiences and how they are manifested in our emotional life. Sometimes that connection is not so easily made. Either way, the energy of our samskaras will continue to arise and disturb us until we have done the work of healing.
All of the elements of our yoga practice -- asana, pranayama, chanting, meditation -- are part of the process of that healing purification. Through our practice, positive samskaras are reinforced and negative samskaras eventually dissolve away. It is your practice, day after day, that holds the key to transcending the cause and effect. In and of itself, your practice can be a process of growth, healing, and purification.
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august happenings |
do your practice
Make the most of what remains of summer! Heck, why not just make the most of every day? Enjoy a yoga practice at the blue, and fill yourself with gratitude for everything your body and breath can do! Check out all of the details for August special events, classes, and workshops at the online WebScheduler.
Classes News  Friday Night Specials
6:30-8:00 pm
New Moon Practice, Aug 17
Yoga Nidra, Aug 24
Full Moon Practice, Aug 31
Check them out!
Community Yoga Classes -- FREE!
9:45-10:45 am, Saturdays, August 4, 11, 25
Classes held at Studio Hargett location, just around the corner.
Workshops and Events Kids Art & Yoga Summer Camp (ages 6-10) with Jen
1:00-4:00 pm, August 6-10
 Community Bodywork with Toni
6:30-8:30 pm, Friday, August 10
Vinyasa Level 2/3 with Carrington
12:30-2:00 pm, Saturday, August 18
Yin Yoga Intensive: The Liver with Yvonne
2:30-4:30 pm, Saturday, August 18
Middle School Yoga and Vision Tile Workshop with Jen
1:00-4:00 pm, Wednesday, August 22
Teaching Restorative Yoga with Jill
2:30-5:30 pm, Saturday, August 25
 Yoga Foundations Six-Week Series with Kathleen
6:00-7:30 pm, Sundays, September 9, 16, 23; October 7, 14, 21 (no class September 28)
Go away to come home ~ blue lotus retreats
Retreat with us! Create space so you can see and hear more clearly the messages for your journey in this life.
Refill Your Cup, September 28-30, 2012, in the North Carolina Mountains
Eco-Adventure Yoga Retreat in Belize, February 23 to March 2, 2013, in a pristine jungle and on a private island.
For a glimpse of this paradise retreat, check out this video!
Advanced Training / YTT500 and RYT200 CEU Seva: Yoga in Action, an Off the Mat, Into the World workshop with Carrington
September 14-16
See related article above.
YTT500/YTT200 CEU - 22 hours; required module for YTT500 certification program.
Advanced Five-Day Practicum: Bootcamp for Teachers with Heather Tiddens
October 24-28
YTT500/YTT200 CEU - 40 hours; required module for YTT500 certification program
Weekend of Reflection: The Power of Silence with Jill
November 16-18
YTT500/YTT200 CEU - 14 hours; required module for YTT500 certification program
Visit the online WebScheduler for details and to register for classes, workshops, and trainings!
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