Cheryl Thomas, RYT
www.cherylthomas.com
yoga@cherylthomas.com
415-308-3377
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So Many Lists
The Ten Commandments, Four
Noble Truths, Five Pillars of Islam, Eight Limbs of Yoga and the Eight Fold
Path, etc., etc. The lists of lists go on and on. Why so many?
Before ancient teachings were written down, the teachings were handed
down orally. To ensure that the messages were being passed accurately,
the teachings were categorized into lists and memorized by serious students and
teachers. The Bible itself has 27 books; 260 chapters; 7959 verses. Want to see the abundance of Buddhist lists? Click here.
In the study of yoga a couple
of lists present themselves: One, the Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga) with
its lists (Yamas and Niyamas) and, two, the 195 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The Eight Limbs of Yoga are included in and are the core of Patanjali's Sutras,
but are often studies separately. So, what can these Eight Limbs and
Sutras do for me? Will they bring me a bendier backbend? A hardier
handstand. An awesomer Astavakrasana?
First, it's helpful to look at
the word "yoga." We (us in the West) think of "yoga"
as a physical practice, usually with a mat, a teacher, breathing in/out,
HardTail top, Dude Girl bottoms. But, the classic definition of yoga is
"union." It refers to the "uniting of the embodied soul
with universal consciousness . . . happen[ing] through control of the thought
waves in the mind (Sutra 2), which is brought about by persistent practice and
dispassion (Sutra 12)." (1) Uh, notice there is no mention of loose
hamstrings, tucked tailbones, or soft jaw and the like in the Yoga
Sutras. You will, however, find a lot of controlling the mind to find
peace and stillness, persistent practice and discipline, and cultivating
feelings of love, compassion, delight and indifference. The sutras can be
thought of as an "ethical blueprint" for living a (more) moral life
by incorporating the science of yoga into your life. Patanjali, through
his Sutras, give us this guide.
There are many, many
interpretations of the Yoga Sutras, some are more accessible than others. Some seem obscure to me and some brilliant and relevant. Like 1:33.(2). I presently own The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Baba Hari Dass and
How to Know God translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher
Isherwood. Much loved is The Secret Power Of Yoga: A Woman's Guide To The
Heart And Spirit Of The Yoga Sutras by Nischala Joy Devi.
Over the next few months, I'd
like to share a few of the sutras I find relevant and hope you might find
applicable to your lives. When we get right down to it, our dedication to
practicing "whatever" (yoga, prayer, meditation) should, if nothing
else, make our lives more wonderful. It's hard to be of service to others
when you're miserable, right? So, if these Yoga Sutras can help us live a
happier, healthier, more compassionate existence then maybe this is one list we
might pay attention to.
(1) The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, A Study
Guid for Book I, Samadhi Pada, Translation by Baba Hari Dass, Preface.
(2) The mind
becomes serene by the cultivation of feelings of love for the happy, compassion
for the suffering, delight for the virtuous, and indifference for the
non-virtuous (Sutra 1:33)
Want to read some of my past emails? Just click
here and you'll be taken to my newsletter archive page. Enjoy
and as always, please let me know your thoughts!
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Week of July 11, 2010
TuesdayNoon - 1:00 Yoga on Center, Healdsburg Slow Flow - All Levels 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. (Private) UCSF Women's Research Center Restorative Yoga for Metabolic Syndrome
Wednesday5:30 - 6:55 p.m. Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol Vinyasa Flow + Restorative - All Levels Thursday 9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class + Graton's Yoga Class) Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol All Levels 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. (Mirka Kraftstow's Class) Westside Yoga Studio Gentle Yoga - All Levels 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. (Mirka Kraftstow's Class) Westside Yoga Studio Gentle Yoga - All Levels Friday9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class) Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol Intermediate
Week of July 18, 2010
Monday
9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class)
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Intermediate
9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class)
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
All Levels
Tuesday
9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class)
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Beginning
Noon - 1:00 Yoga on Center, Healdsburg Slow Flow - All Levels
Wednesday9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class)
Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol
Intermediate
5:30 - 6:55 p.m. Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol Vinyasa Flow + Restorative - All Levels Thursday 9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class + Graton's Yoga Class) Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol All Levels 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Yoga on Center, Healdsburg Slow Flow Friday9:15 - 10:45 (Ann Austin's Class) Yoga Studio Ganesha, Sebastopol Intermediate
STUDIO WEBSITESYoga on Center: www.yogaoncenter.comYoga Studio Ganesha: www.yogastudioganesha.comWestside Yoga Studio: http://www.westsideyogastudio.net |
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Hope to see you soon!
Namaste,
Cheryl
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Bulletin Board
Honored, I Am
It's a pleasure to be able to sub for Ann Austin while her and her family are on vacation. I will be teaching her classes for the next 3 week at Ganesha Yoga Studio. Come and join us! You can use your passes!!
Website Calendar
My teaching schedule is always changing. Now you can see an updated calendar on my website www.cheryl thomas.com. Click on the classes link and there will be a spiffy new Google Calendar. It should always be up-to-date.
Got a Rental?
A couple of yogi friends are looking for a rental homes in Sebastopol and Graton. Not too much, not too little. Just right. Let me know if you have something and I'll pass on the info.
Graton Yogis
For four weeks (7/15, 22, 29 and 8/5) our Thursday class will meet at Ganesha Yoga in Downtown Sebastopol from 9:15 to 10:45. If one hour is best for you, you're welcome to leave at 10:15. Class will still be $12 and your passes are good.
We're Looking for You. Are you a Mature or Beginning Level Yogis Do you want a class that pays a bit more attention to your needs and wants, yet offers movement that helps with your flexibility, strength and balance? I have a few yoginis who are looking for others to join with in the afternoon hours. If you, or someone you know, is interested, let me know.
$7 Yoga. Where?
Yoga on Center's Noon class on Tuesday, taught by ME, is only seven bucks.
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