Satsang with Lisa

March is full of flux; in like a lion and out like a lamb! On the positive side we experience the transition from winter to spring. As the seasons change we welcome in the miraculous and myriad signs of spring. Like the world around us our senses awaken with the blooming buds, the sweet grass and the songbirds. On the other hand change is not always so welcome as we experience with small things like wrinkled skin or graying hair and in bigger ways with job insecurity or even worse the earthquake in Japan! Clearly change can present challenge as it by definition shakes things up and asks us to move in some way, to meet the shift rather than resist it. 

"The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Change reminds us, sometimes brutally, that we can't control everything, not the weather, not other people, but we can start with ourselves. Truth is that our lives are full of opportunities to consciously and positively respond to, rather than resist, the forces of change. And, as trite as it may sound, we all know that an attitude shift is all it takes to make it better, maybe not all better, but still better.

"That some good can be derived from every event is a better proposition than that everything happens for the best, which it assuredly does not."~James K. Feibleman

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."  ~Winston Churchill

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali there is much wisdom to help us create more ease and harmony in our relationships and our lives, and to ultimately maintain our peace of mind.

The Yoga Sutras is a 200-year-old Sanskrit text written by the sage Patanjali. I like to call it the instruction manual of yoga because it lays out in terse sentences, called sutras, how to go about achieving the state of yoga or union with your higher self. There are around 250 sutras, like the English word sutures, or threads that when woven together create the fabric of yoga and pertain to all aspects of practice ON, but mostly OFF, the mat.

One of my favorites is from chapter 1 sutra 33.

It states:

 maitri karuna mudita upeksanam sukha duhkha punya apunya visayanam bhavanatah cittaprasadanam

  Through the cultivation of friendliness, compassion, joy and indifference/equanimity in the face of happiness, unhappiness, virtue and vice, the consciousness becomes favorably disposed, serene and benevolent.  Development of these qualities keeps the mind in a state of well-being and lays the groundwork for our journey towards Self-Realization.

Swami Satchitinanda calls this sutra the Four Locks and the Four Keys.

The locks are the people/situations we come across and the keys are the attitude that would be most advantageous for our overall well being to adopt.

It is fascinating to think that in two thousand years so much has changed and yet human nature is still pretty much the same.

The instruction to meet a happy person with friendliness is very interesting because though we would like to think we would act friendly all of the time...there are times when we may not. We may be jealous, or feel left out.

And when we come across an unhappy person, we meet them with compassion. A bit easier for us than the former friendliness example, as the old adage suggests, "misery loves company".

The virtuous or righteous person should be met with praise and admiration (not envy). The really good people in our lives, these are the folks that we should attempt to emulate for their goodness, not undermine out of insecurity.

And finally the wicked or mean people, these we should meet with disregard or equanimity. Remembering that that could have been us losing it yesterday. And though often these are the people that are looking for a fight it is best to preserve our peace and not engage.

By consciously choosing the healthier response we grow healthier mentally, more peaceful and yes, happierJ

"He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts."  ~Samuel Johnson

Kneel on the mat and sit back onto your heels. Place both hands palm face down on your knees and sit up tall. Take a deep breath in and upon the exhale stretch your fingers out long and wide like lion claws while simultaneously turning the gaze up to the third eye and opening your mouth up sticking you tongue out toward your chin while making the "ha" sound.  The point of the tongue may curl up.

Benefits

This posture is

Physical benefits: according to this ancient pose it get's rid of bad breath. Destroys disease and facilitates the three major bandhas. Firms and tones the neck.

Spiritual benefits:Takes you right to joy and happiness.

Attention yoga teachers!

Coming up with Gail Grossman & the Yoga School of Business:  

Free Tele-Class ~ April 20, 2:00EST

Learn 3 transformative tips about how to build an abundant Yoga business with Gail! RSVP to info@yogaschoolofbusiness.com - we will ensure you receive all the details you need to join.

Fill Your Classes Now!  

This module begins in May 2011 

Master How to Talk about What You Do  

If when asked "What do you do?", your answer is "I'm a yoga teacher!", you'll find out why this probably isn't the most effective way to grow your practice. Not only learn, but master how to talk about what you do in a way that attracts more ideal students to practice with you. Successful marketing begins with knowing how to effectively communicate who you are and what you do in a way that is engaging for the other person.

Discover Your Niche 

The most foundational piece to growing an abundant practice is knowing how to market yourself in a way that's authentic to who you are. Learn how to talk about what you do so you're not generic or confusing, discover your 'sweet spot', get more referrals, and more.

If you are interested in joining this module, RSVP to info@yogaschoolofbusiness.com - we will ensure you receive all the details you need to join.

 Click here to register for all events at Om Sweet Om

Last Stop 

We at Om Sweet Om Yoga would like to wish our dear friend and acupuncturist Monica Roslow a fond farewell. Monica has taken a job at the Omega Institute. Congratulations Monica. Know that you always have a home at Om Sweet Om. Monica's friend and colleague Lucretia Brenner will be joining the Om Sweet Om health and wellness team.

We would also like to welcome the arrival of Michael Aronoff under the Om Sweet Om umbrella. Michael is a rare and special massage therapist that you don't want to miss out on, specializing in Myofacial Release, John Barnes Method. 

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."~Buddha