More Reasons to Practice Yoga     

I can hear you saying, "well of course you're promoting yoga, that's what you do."  You're right.  But, see if this list of yoga's unique characteristics matches those at your gym, tennis court, ski slope or your 30-mile bike ride, masters swim class or 10-K fun run.  Here is is:

1. Yoga is non-toxic -  Since it's not a medication, there are no negative side effects.  No written prescription, trip to Rite Aide or plastic bottle to recycle.  No health care plan or insurance coverage needed.  

2. It's Free -Hah! Have you seen the price of the super comfy, organic cotton Clarey Sage yoga pants?  But still, yoga can be done anywhere in anything with or without the CD, $22 drop-in fee or Manduka mat.  Once you've learned tadasana (mountain pose) and savasana (corpse pose) you're good to go.

3. It's Portable - Anywhere. You can take your tennis racket on vacation, but those tennis courts are hard to find in Kathmandu.  Nuff said.

4. Lots of Choices - Like your yoga to be between just you and the rhythm of your breath?  No problem.  Like it hot and sweaty.  Easy. Want to share it with 120 people with lots of rockin' tunes, some chanting and heavy breathing--there's Rusty Wells at Urban Flow in SF.

5. Spiritual but not Religious - Jump in past the gazillion postures of yoga and you find the bulk of the yoga practice. This includes philosophy, meditation, breath control and lifestyle practice all for the betterment of the practitioner and ultimately for humankind.

6. Promotes Independence - Unlike other disciplines where you are told what to do, you do yoga to yourself.  You decide what you want to do with the perfect amount of effort and for long.  "The yogic attitude expects little from others and a lot from oneself."(1)

So, there you have it.  Besides the yoga butt and the cache of looking cool while carrying around your non-toxic, organic mat in the faux Indian fabric bag, you now have more reasons to make yoga a part of your life.  

(1) Fishman, Loren, M.D. et al., Yoga for Osteoporosis. 

I love the response of students to their first or second or hundredth restorative yoga experience.  It's the moment when their nervous system shifts from "yikes!" to "ahhhhhh."  They leave with relaxed shoulders and brightened attitude.  

It's easy to forget that the body knows exactly what to do.  The relaxation response is a built in function of our amazing central nervous system.  We just have to let relaxation happen.  I know, it seems impossible sometimes. Thus, the popularity of restorative yoga where we learn to put the body in positions and let it do it's thing.     

In this workshop you will be allowed to relax and let go while your body is supported with bolsters and blankets and lots more.  We will do a bit of movement, chat about stress and the relaxation response and then spend 90 minutes in positions that we will hold for 15 to 20 minutes.  This practice is for everyone.  

So, come and join us at BodyWorks in Petaluma on the third Sunday of each month from 3:30 - 5:45.  Go ahead and put the dates on your calendar now so you won't forget.  And, while you're at it, invite a friend.  The next one is Sunday, August 21.  I hope you'll come. Want more info, go here.

I love the IDProject started by Ethan Nictern in New York.  I had the opportunity join his community a few years ago while living in New York.  Its about Buddhism, art, activism, thinking, and being.  

Here's a video by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche addressing the first of the "four reality checks, the four things things that ground the mind."  This video is on the first of the four, commonly translated as "The Preciousness of Human Life".

What's a class card you ask?  Many of my students have found it most economical and convenient to purchase a 10 or 5 class pass with me ($100 and $55, respectively).  That's $10 a class.  Can't beat that.  Expiration date:  never (well, almost).

Get Your Dharma Here

I subscribe to Tricycle's Daily Dharma.  I know, I know, the last thing you need is more in your inbox.  But, I find these little daily missives helpful.  You can subscribe to them here   You could spend hours that you don't have just exploring their website. Here's one I thought you'd enjoy.

August 3, 2011 

Anger and Patience

As a destructive force there is nothing as strong as anger. An instant of anger can destroy all the positive action accumulated over thousands of kalpas through generosity, making offerings to the buddhas, keeping discipline, and so on. So we can say that there is no fault as serious as anger.

Patience, on the other hand, as a discipline which neutralizes anger, which prevents us from succumbing to it, and which appeases the suffering we endure from the heat of the negative emotions, is quite unrivaled. It is therefore of the utmost importance that we resolve to practice patience, and a lot of inspiration can be gained by reflecting on what is wrong with anger and on the advantages of patience.

-The Dalai Lama, "Enduring the Fires" 

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