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Purna Yoga teaches the mind, the body and the emotions how to be at home with the spirit. |
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| Dear Students and Friends,
Dear friends,
A student came up to us recently and said that she was going through a very difficult time, having family and financial problems. She said that she had to give up something to make her life more peaceful. She chose to give up her yoga classes at Yoga Centers to save money and time. The reason she was telling us this was because she started to feel worse and worse. Then she decided that her body, mind and Spirit needed to be nurtured more than anything else, and only that would give her peace. This is why she was back in class, and grateful for the lesson that we must take care of ourselves first, for only then can we be of value to anyone else. See you in class.
With joy and peace,
Mirra and Aadil
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| Asana |
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Three Ways to Speak about Backbends
Physically speaking, backbends move the spine into the body, creating strength in the back of the body and length through the groins, abdominal cavity, rib cage, throat, and frontal shoulders. Backbends charge the kidneys by drawing them into the body, rejuvenating the adrenals and drawing the life force given by the kidneys back into the body. Backbends generally open up three major areas of the body - the pelvis, heart and throat. Therefore, they can open the hips, free the chest from congestion, and bring back a healthy curve to the neck. Most of our daily habits (sitting, driving, working at a desk) cause a collapse in the front of our bodies and push the spine backwards. This is why you will often feel bony lumps on the spine of older people. Backbends bring healthy alignment and mobility back into the spine, moving the vertebrae forwards.
Psychologically speaking, backbends move us toward our future and away from our past, since the back of the body represents the past and the front of our body represents our future. Backbends quieten the hyper-analytical activity of the front brain, and because of the extension produced, trigger a feeling of openness in the limbic system (the emotional center of the brain). In contrast, when we are in a state of fear or anger, we curl up and go into a position of flexion (protection). Thus, psychologically speaking, backbends move us from fear to power.
Energetically speaking, backbends move the spine toward the Pillar of Light in the body. They open up congested and stagnant pelvic energy. This allows the energy to move upward in an expression of aspiration for growth, where it can be transformed by the wisdom of the Heart Chakra. Backbends open up the Heart Chakra, expanding the feeling of love and joy. They also open the throat, allowing the Heart Chakra to express words of beauty and love. This opening also allows the mental energy to move more easily down to the Heart Chakra.
However, a caveat: All the above happens in backbends only if there is the intention for this to happen as you practice. Otherwise you will simply become more flexible!
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| Meditation |
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| The Three Parts of the Heart Chakra
The Heart Chakra has three main openings. In Purna Yoga we focus on the Heart Chakra that is in the center of the chest. Imagine a horizontal line connecting your frontal armpits. The center of this line is the Heart Chakra. An inch above this region is the opening in the Heart Chakra that stimulates the thymus gland, the master gland of the immune system. About 2 inches below this horizontal line is the portion of the Heart Chakra that begins to unite with the solar plexus chakra. The solar plexus chakra houses human emotions (all emotions other than pure love) and is the heart of the ego, the shadow. The reason why we, in Purna Yoga, focus on the Heart  Chakra on the horizontal line is because this is the doorway to the soul in the physical form. It is from this place that light flows into the body (where matter and Spirit unite), enters the organic heart, brings the heartbeat to the human form and activates the breath. Often, when people touch this place, they feel tightness, emotional numbness, hate, anger or tears. This is just the thin veneer that our ego has placed over the Heart Chakra, blocking our awareness of the spirit living in our body. When we do the Purna Yoga Meditation tapping and flowering techniques, we gently help lift these ego layers, so that the true feeling that our Heart Chakra holds, love, begins to flow. Our aim in Purna Yoga is to go approximately three inches deeper into the chest where we contact the ray or thread of light which is our Soul, that entered the physical form in our third month as a fetus.
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| Philosophy |
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| Confrontations
When we have confrontations with someone, it means the problem is also within us. When we heal the problem in ourselves, we also heal the problem in others. As The Mother said, "When two persons quarrel, always both are in the wrong." The problem is that both are so adamant about being right! |
| The White Shadow |
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| An Excerpt from Fire of Love,
by Aadil Palkhivala
The term "shadow" is often used to describe the dark parts within us that we do not wish to see - anger, resentment, envy, and other qualities that diminish us. Yet to live with integrity, we must also be constantly aware of what my wife, Mirra, calls "the white shadow." A white shadow is created whenever we mask something "bad" in ourselves by maintaining an outward appearance of "goodness." A white shadow, then, is not only the repression of our shadowy dark side but also the creation of a bright veneer to hide it. Anytime we don't look at our darkness by insisting that we are light, we are creating a white shadow. 
White shadows live whenever and wherever integrity is lacking. We may or may not be conscious of our pretense, but it is there, gnawing at our peace, waiting to be exposed someday. The creation of a white shadow is a way of compensating, a way of avoiding reality, a way of denying that we need to grow. To live with integrity means being willing to admit that we are creating white shadows, being willing to peer into our darkness and acknowledge that we are pretending to be light. If trying to be good only keeps us from recognizing our shadows, what good is trying to be good?
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| News From Yoga Centers |
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| Welcoming the Light, Intensive With Mirra, November 7-9,2009
New Date Added By Popular Demand!
The heart chakra is the key to all of life. Without it, we feel lost, alone and unsettled whatever we do. With the heart's presence guiding our life, we feel strong, balanced and fulfilled.
In this weekend intensive, Mirra will cover the foundations of Purna Yoga Meditation, including: explanations about the importance of the heart chakra, opening the heart chakra, understanding the Pillar of Light, the evolution of humanity, Sri Aurobindo's philosophy, and simple, daily meditation snacks to reclaim your health and bring peace and love into your life. Mirra invokes a divine healing presence during class, which receptive students will be able to use for their own upliftment and healing. Mirra will be doing intense prayer and healing work on all her students throughout the weekend. After the workshop, she will continue prayer and healing work on those who are truly committed to the light. Come prepared with a deep aspiration to change so that you can move from your past into your present and thereby prepare for your future.
"I have discovered that meditation is extremely logical and practical: -- instead of taking me away from life, it has taught me how to truly live it." Mirra
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| News from Eastern Essence |
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Healthy Foods, Happy Bodies
"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are." - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin It is with deep respect and gratitude for life that we wish  to share Eastern Essence organic Indian foods with you, our friends and students. Because we use the finest organic raw materials including freshly ground organic herbs and spices, mechanically cold-pressed, organic oils, and triple-purified water, you can rest assured that when you eat Eastern Essence, you are supported in becoming the best that you can be. Our family enjoys these foods regularly, and we hope you will join us, too. Your body will thank you for it! To order Eastern Essence, please visit www.easternessence.com/order.html
May we all live long and vibrantly! Bon appétit!  |
| News From the Purna Yoga Community |
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| A 200 Hr Purna Yoga Teacher Training? How About Hawaii!
Learn the information, learn more about your Self and  treat your senses to the beauty and delight of Hawaii. If this sounds irresistible, please see www.hiloyoga.com for more information. Instructor Jennifer Weinert, CPYI may be contacted at jennifer@hiloyoga.com and 808-895-0154. | |
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