|
Namaste,
Though the caliginous Mayan predictions about 2012 have not manifested and the earth remains--turning on its axis, this year has begun profoundly, and with fearsome potency. My family and my career have been both blessed and challenged by massive growth. Anusara Yoga has encountered a time of crisis, breakage, evolution, and emergence. My path is exploding in so many new directions. There's a lot to cover in this newsletter.
In my typical newsletter, I structure things so  that the teachings come first and the business comes later. So many of you are so eager to know about the direction of my yoga, so I have reversed the usual order of this newsletter. So expect the full family report a little further below.
FIRST: I am t hrilled to announce that Tracy and I have taken a huge leap, and today we signed a lease for our new office and yoga space in the heart of Los Angeles, at 152 1/2 N. LaBrea Avenue. Hold on, hold on! We are not opening a yoga studio! Here, Tracy will have space to work and grow our business (trying to get much work done at home, with a 3.5 year old and 6 month old...well, many of you know how that is). And, I will have my own studio!!! We are scheduling some special programs for the fall. I am hoping to offer programming around then with Sianna Sherman and perhaps another program with Douglas Brooks-- to initiate our beautiful space. But MOSTLY, this space will serve as the Los Angeles home of Shravana School of Yoga! Shravana is the school of yoga that I am collaboratively birthing with my dear friends, co-YogaGlo faculty members, and co-founding members, Darren Rhodes and Christina Sell.
 
Shravana is the training arm of our respective businesses. Our initial emphasis as a hatha yoga school is in exploring the alchemy of form, flow, focus and function. We are currently immersed in the process of Shravana's creation and evolution, but already we have originated a  promising and personal yoga. Our group is neck deep in the actualization of our unique curriculum and programming. And I am honored and ecstatic to be sharing this endeavor with two of the most skillful and creative yoga teachers in the world.
Hatha Yoga in Shravana Shool of Yoga is an integrated philosophy that addresses the body, emotions, intellect and spirit through precise asana, traditional mantras, pranayama practice, contemplation, and meditation techniques. Our classes offer practical ways to access these different aspects of the self and to bring them to dynamic, balanced expression through ongoing daily practice. Many of you have been asking me about Shravana School of Yoga and how you can get involved.
Of course, the first and most obvious answer is enroll in one of our programs to get a first hand taste of what we are cooking up! On that note, Christina and I have a 4 part Webinar scheduled May 8-11. You can participate in this from anywhere in the world. The subject matter is to introduce you to Shravana, if you would like to Learn more/ Enroll. Additionally we will be offering our Intermediate Intensive from May 10-13. There are only a small number of spaces left, so please join us!
Short of participation, I think the most important thing for everyone to know about Shravana, is that we are creating a school with a teaching faculty; not a "system of yoga" that will certify teachers in a style or a defined brand of yoga. Our first goal is to seed the garden of our particular mission, as three founding members.
Together, this team will clearly establish who we are, what we offer, and what you can expect from us. We feel it is  essential not to overextend or grow too quickly during our precious and precarious beginning. Shravana will grow organically and radically, once deep roots have taken hold. Over time, we expect our faculty and offerings will grow, and over time, we will surely coordinate and collaborate with other teachers --particularly those whom we have trained, those with whom we have established relationships, and those with whom we feel a particular resonance. But for now, you get us. And we are bursting with excitement.
We expect to launch a beautiful Website and resource for our students sometime this spring (watch for an announcement in May). Our new Website will house information about everything from our schedules to our programming. There, we will sell resources designed to assist our students, and you'll be able to enroll in our programming, if you so desire. For now, we have programming plans for 200hour RYT, "plus 300" RYT and 500hour RYT. Our programs will all be announced soon, but expect to see us in Sydney, Singapore, Maryland, Los Altos CA, San Marcos, Texas, Tucson and Los Angeles in coming months.
The possibilities are endless, and we intend for Shravana to bring a truly unique flavor to the world of yoga.
Now a story, and all the fun family news you have been eagerly awaiting:
Shiva, in the form of a beggar (Bhikshatana), and Vishnu, in the form of a woman (Mohini), intrude upon the lives of the Pine Forest Sages, a successful community of devoted, monogamous families. The Pine Forest Sages are committed to their yoga. They abide by the teachings, perform the rituals and manifest lives of prosperity. They raise children, "work hard to pay the mortga ge," are ethically and morally upstanding, and are "successful" by their standards (and notably the seeming standards of today's world--insert equivalent of the "American Dream"). Bhikshatana, handsome and seductive, enters their village. The Sages' wives spy Bhikshatana, abandon their work, and forget themselves. Mohini, irresistible and beautiful, enters the forest. Likewise, the Pine Forest Sages forget themselves and abandon their rituals. The status quo turns upside down. Threatened by these intruders and endangered by the uncomfortable emotions arising inside of each of them, the community of Sages attempts to expel, refuse and ignore Bhikshatana and Mohini; but all attempts are to no avail. Like humans, the Sages are not (nor can they become) masters of the Universe. They were not born to harness such power.
As with all parables and fables, we are meant to see ourselves in this story. The flaw of the Pine Forest Sage is the peril of any intimate relationship. The fire of creativity, which once burned bright has cooled, and the Pine Forest Sages have not noticed. Their behavior (despite the fact that they intend to live lives of integrity and go to measures to do so) represents complacency, security, the value of the status quo; they take each other for granted and they suffer from a fundamental lack of generative energy. They cannot see that that they could be making more of their lives--endeavoring to more growth.
Eventually, the Pine Forest Sages come to understand that although they cannot beat the system, their true nature is freedom, and accordingly, each Sage has a choice. The Pine Forest Sages then choose to turn back to each other with newfound agitation and urgency. Ahh passion!! Together they re-create and revel in their own intimacy. As they turn back to each other, adding a newness to what was once (and still is) very familiar, Bhikshatana dances.
 In this most famous of moments, the image that we yogis call "Nataraja" is born. Shiva dances victoriously and ecstatically on top of "forgetfulness," affirming passion's place in the balance of all beings. And yet, our Dancing Shiva is not without a strong foundation. The Sages' foundation was not lost; but their forgotten passion was found.
And so, you might ask, what do I mean to tell you by going on and on about these Pine Forest Sages? We, each of us, work so hard to make ends meet every month, to achieve "success." We fall hard into the patterns of daily life and routine, even while keeping integrity in the forefront of our minds. We go through the motions in our lives. In marriage, we inadvertently take each other for granted. In life, we inadvertently forget ourselves on the path to achievement.
The Pine Forest Sages remind us that to live yoga is to aspire to more than just success. To live yoga you must aspire to growth and greatness. Yoga binds us to a life of creativity, conscience and curiosity. We balance this with our foundation, and we do not get stuck. Otherwise, sooner or later, Bhikshatana and Mohini will be coming to rock our world. And rock it they do (and have and will).
As for my immediate family, we are healthy and enjoying a playful  and beautiful adventure. We are also overwhelmed and stretched in every direction. Madeleine is a thriving 3.5 year old, intrigued in school and interested in many of the fun activities American children participate in (music, dance, yoga, ice skating). Oliver is an unbelievably happy and sweet 6 month old. He spends most of his days smiling and laughing. He has such a charismatic and charming disposition.  
Our babies remind and demand that Tracy and I laugh and play every day. They constitute our true blessings and wealth. They are the true measure of our success. 
Tracy is busier than ever, forming new businesses, getting ready to launch our new Website, leasing office space, working with the Shravana team, attending to our domestic fires, and generally persisting and prevailing as my biggest hero and most enduring love. Together, we have been re-vamping my calendar, evolving our individual and collective vision(s) and performing the daily rituals required to pay the bills and bring more yoga to more people throughout the world.
The crisis of Anusara Yoga has been well played out on the internet at this point, and I have no interest in getting into it here. My personal statement, if you have not read it, is available Here. Obviously, this has been an extremely difficult time for myself and for many of my friends and colleagues. I do not mean to dismiss or diminish that. I am ever grateful to John Friend, and I feel confident that we will collectively look back at this time, when our lives and teaching careers became interrupted, and see that this was the very moment and opportunity for our kula to become more creative, more generative, more accountable and more responsible for our actions and words.  Some sage words from my friend, Emma Magenta, in hopes that we will all rise further toward greatness this Spring. "Yoga is getting in touch. Getting in touch with everything. The point for me is not to transform everything into bliss. The point is to experience everything fully and remain grounded while doing so. That means bliss and misery both." Many of my newsletters have explored this proposition. Yoga is all of the rasas, all of the time. That we can honor the yoga and honor each other in the midst of it all is crucial.
In this time of evolution and transition, I am continuing to teach and honor my Anusara Yoga program commitments.  I will be offering immersion modules in Los Angeles (part 3; May 30-June 3), and part 2 and 3 in Japan (June/July and December). I am offering 50 hour teacher training modules this summer in Flagstaff, AZ (June 18-24) and in New Zealand (August 13-19). I have also added a more advanced 45 hour TT to my schedule, which will take place in our new Los Angeles studio this fall. Finally, I will be offering some advanced teacher training in Pennsylvania with Naime Jezzeny and Sue Elkind in November of this year.
For now, any A nusara program you participate in with me will continue to count toward your Anusara accreditation.
At the same time, if you request it, study with me also will count towards credit with Shravana School of Yoga. It's an awkward time, but most of my students are still craving growth. In this way, I will attempt to offer the best of all worlds.
In this way, it's not about a particular brand and yoga can prevail.
My wish for each of you this Spring is that you find the yoga of creativity and passion; find the yoga that extends beyond the foundation, ritual and complacency.
Do the yoga of greatness and aspire to the yoga of growth.
With an overflowing heart, Noah
  |
|
Teacher Trainings in 2012:
Flagstaff, AZ
June 18 - 24, 2012
50 Hour Teacher Training*Credit will apply toward Anusara and toward
Shravana School of Yoga (200RYT) The Yoga ExperienceLos Angeles, CA
October 2-7, 2012
Level II, 45 Hour Teacher Training
*Credit will apply toward Anusara and toward
Shravana School of Yoga (200RYT) Suggested Prerequisite is 50 hour TT with Noah
August 13 - 19, 2012 Teacher Training
Lambertville, NJ
November 5 - 11, 2012
Teacher Training II
|
|
Excellent Resources for Continuing Education:
For the Love of Yoga: with Christina Sell
Yoga of the Inner Voice: with Douglas Brooks Yoga of Krama: with Darren Rhodes
Therapeutics: with Naime Jezzeny Yoga of Celebration: with Sianna Sherman
Love is Stronger Than Fear: with Desiree Rumbaugh 
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012 SCHEDULE: April 11-15 100 Hour Immersion Part II Los Angeles, CA YogaCo April 20-22 Mixed LevelSt Louis, MO Southtown Yoga April 27-29 Mixed Level Bermuda Todd Crews
May 4-6
Mixed Level Minneapolis, MN Ali Certain May 10-13
Immersion San Marcos, TX
School of Yoga
May 18-20
Mixed Level
Montreal, Canada
Shri Yoga
May 25-27 Mixed Level Toronto, CA My Kula May 30-June 3 Immersion III Los Angeles, CA YogaCo
June 8-10
Mixed Level
@ Hanuman Festival
Boulder, CO
Hanuman Festival
June 15-17 Mixed Level Des Moines, IA Shakti Yoga Shop June 18-24
50 hour Teacher Training Flagstaff, AZ Yoga Experience
June 27- July 1
Immersion II
Tokyo, Japan
Spanda Yoga
JULY & AUGUST ASIA AND AUSTRALIA TOUR--DATES TBA August 13-19
Teacher Training
Christchurch, New Zealand
KatieLane
August 23 Intensive Banff Yoga Festival Banff, Canada YoginiSabrina August 24-26
Mixed Level Banff Yoga Festival Banff, Canada September 12-16 Teacher Training Good to Great Los Angeles, CA Noah Mazé Yoga September 21-23 Mixed Level In Pursuit of Bliss Chicago, IL
Moksha Yoga October 12-14
Mixed Level
Johannesburg, South Africa
IlanaFintz
October 19-21 Mixed Level Cape Town, South Africa IlanaFintz October 25-28 Mixed Level @ Ojai Yoga Crib Ojai, CA Ojai Yoga Crib
November 5-11Teacher Training II Lambertville, NJ Dig Yoga November 9-11 Mixed Level Oklahoma City, OK Spirit House Yoga November 28-December 2 Immersion III Tokyo, Japan Spanda Yoga December 7-12 Shravana School of Yoga RYT200 Teacher Training Singapore Noah Mazé Yoga December 28-January 1 New Years Eve Retreat Tucson, AZ Yoga Oasis  
|
|
|
