Health, Happiness, Rejuvenation through Yoga
        
December 2012
12
12/21/12
 

Solstice Greetings
We're entering into the longest night and shortest day of 2012.  From this moment forward into the next 6 months our days get longer and brighter, and the dark of night begins to shrink a little bit with each passing evening.  For some, this particular day marks the end of a 26,000 year cycle - an end to life as we have known it, and the beginning of a brand new era filled with the promise of universal love, happiness and prosperity.  To some, this day begins the entry into a time where the individual begins to think, feel, and act from the heart more than the intellectual mind.  For some, this day is truly the beginning of the Age of Aquarius, but to others - it is just another day. 

Winter Solstice is a time to pull in, get quiet and still, and listen.  Before we begin to anticipate the sunny aspects and uplifting potentials of the seasons ahead.... take the time to go deep into the cool, dark quietude of the Solstice.  Create time to quietly, solemnly explore the depths of your inner self.  What's down in the basement?  Maybe it's time to purge old patterns and release those things that may be holding you back, limiting you, keeping you stuck in some way.  It's a perfect time to sit or lie quietly, and take a beautiful journey into the center of your being... weeding out unwanted or outdated thoughts, feelings and beliefs along the way. 

But, here's the caveat... the process is not always easy and pleasurable when we truly take an honest journey to look and feel deeply inside ourselves.  We may experience sadness, pain, heartache, or hurt.... so why bother?  If this truly is a new era dawning, perhaps the Solstice is a perfect, divinely orchestrated time to shed some of the density - the baggage you've been carrying.  Lighten the load, and only take with you what will truly serve you, and all of us, into this new season.  Often, the greatest rewards come after a great effort.  Your path back out into the brighter days ahead will be rewarded immensely without any gnarly old stuff to trip you up in the new year to come!

 
I always find it lovely and reassuring that our celebrations this time of year - Chanukkah, Christmas, New Year, celebrate the emergence of light.  We decorate with holiday lights, menorahs, the illuminated ball dropping from Times Square!  Enjoy this season, take care of one another, and share the lightness and brightness of friendship, unity, and eternal love.

Thank you again for being here!  I am wishing you the lightest and brightest illuminations in this season of unlimited possibilities.   
 

The following article was written by Dr. Vasant Lad.  He is one of my most restpected and influential teachers.  Dr. Lad is known and loved throughout the world for his vast knowledge of Ayurveda and Vedic Philosophy, but it is his pure heart and devotion to serving others that shines through all that he touches.

 
Abundance
On Abundance...Gratitude makes the Abundance even Bigger.

In reality, our daily life is full, complete, total and abundant. It is really a gift. We should express our great gratitude to that life-giver who gives us life. That life-giver is God. But, if we look around people are not happy; they are always thinking in terms of should be, could be, would be. They cannot face "what is."

"What is" is what you are. So, fear is "what is." Anger is "what is." Love is "what is." Compassion is "what is." "What is" is not permanent. It is just for the time being. However, that "what is" is coming to guide us. The moment "what is" comes up to the surface of consciousness, we have a name for it, a term for it, we label it. By naming, terming, and labeling, "what is" is distorted. Each time fear is new. Anger is new. But, we have previous experience of anger and fear.

When this anger comes to the surface of consciousness, our memory comes up immediately and says, "Oh, this is a fear, anger, or hurt." Then "what is" is distorted, colored, and painted by the old colors of memory. We are stuck with it.

Look at "what is" with great awareness and give complete freedom to "what is," not calling it anger, fear, frustration, or insult. Just let it flower. In that flowering of "what is," there is an ending of "what is." Then "what is" resolves into abundance. Then you will appreciate and express the gratitude towards anger, sorrow, and grief. This "what is" comes to you to transform you.

No one else can transform you, only "what is" can do this. Transformation of "what is" is the transformation of man.
The real guru is "what is;" your guru is within you. Surrender to the grief, the anger, frustration, hurt, insult, and flattery. In that surrender there is an ending of what is. The ending of "what is" a transformation of man into abundance. This is the innermost journey of "what is." What should be, could be, would be is an idea, an illusion, and we always pursue this illusion.

So, the real gratitude, the real fulfillment, the real abundance is within the heart of "what is."

--Vasant Lad, MASc

 





Sesame Ginger Wafers
These aren't your average holiday gingersnaps!  Not very sweet, great tasting, and excellent for increasing digestive agni.  You can make them in the food dehydrator for a raw version, or pop them into a slow oven for a more traditional crispy cookie. 

1 1/4 c sesame seeds (no hull)
1/2 c golden figs
1/4 c raisins
2 1/2" fresh ginger chopped
1 1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 1/4 tsp cardamom
1 1/4 tsp cumin
1 T agave nectar
pinch sea salt

Process all in a food processor.  Shape into balls and flatten into wafers. Roll lightly in sesame seeds to coat.  Bake at 300 for 15 minutes or Dehydrate 4 to 6 hours.  

 

 

 


 


  Very Cool New Yoga Studio!!!
PREMA YOGA

 My dear, sweet friend, Hillary Ryan, just opened a new studio in Scottsdale.  Prema is a sanskrit word meaning the highest form of love possible.  I am honored and very excited to begin teaching at Prema Yoga beginning next week, December 27.  Check Facebook for the schedule, or contact me.  I will teach yoga breathing, flow, and Kundalini Yoga... Yay!!!!

all classes are by donation

10636 N 71st Way Suite 14, Scottsdale 

 

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deb new pic
About Deborah 

I am passionately committed to help people look and feel radiantly healthy and vibrant through authentic yoga practices.

 

Deborah has been teaching yoga for over 13 years.  She is a certified Registered Yoga Alliance RYT E-500 teacher specializing in Yogic Breathing and Yoga for Rejuvenation. She teaches in a fun, fluid style based in the classic traditions of yoga. Her classes incorporate breath (pranayama), alignment, fluid sequencing (krama vinyasa), meditation and energy movement (pranic flow). She encourages students to discover their highest sense of self-awareness, peace, and radiance from profound inner-knowing. Deborah's path in yoga, ayurveda and tantra has led her to many contemporary Master Teachers.  She has studied extensively with, and is eternally grateful to Shiva Rea, and to Swami Shankardev Saraswati of the Bihar School of Yoga (Satyananda Yoga).  Her teaching style and methods are also influenced by Erich Schiffman, Bhavani Maki, Gurmukh Khalsa, Hari Jap, Dr. Vasant Lad, and Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri). When she is not studying or teaching yoga and ayurveda, Deborah is enjoying her two children, creating wood fired ceramics, gardening, hiking, traveling, and simply breathing.

 

"These are the days of miracle and wonder..."
~Paul Simon