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Yoga Bits
Morsels of yogic wisdom and information
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Oct. 22 - 28, 2012
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Why did you change the class schedule!?!
Don't sweat it, just
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Become a fan of Budgie Bhajan! Click here to like his page
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Mirror, Mirror
I know you are but what am I?
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -- Mother Teresa The other day someone really got on my nerves. I didn't like her behavior. I mean I really didn't like it. I found her rude, selfish and domineering. Nope. I didn't like it at all. Regular readers know I candidly share such feelings. I may be a yoga teacher but I'm human like everyone else -- which means I have all  kinds of emotions, including anger and fear. Yoga hasn't eliminated these feelings (thank God), but it has allowed me to manage them gracefully (also, thank God). To that end, instead of giving this woman a piece of my mind (that's Kentucky-ese for "telling someone off"), I thought about the first of Five Sutras for the Aquarian Age, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, which is, "Recognize that the other person is you." Yogi Bhajan didn't invent this concept. I believe it's a staple of Judeo-Christian tradition (Love thy neighbor as thyself), Buddhism (We are all one), and many other spiritual and ethical perspectives. And for you skeptics out there, even science is in agreement with this one. Physicists will tell you that thanks to the Big Bang, humans are essentially anywhere from 40 to 100 percent stardust. Listen to a poetic description of this phenomenon from Neil deGrasse Tyson. |
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Why are so many seekers, scientists and seers always telling us that we're all in this together?
At this point, I would say it's actually a matter of survival. Without considering this prospect our thinking defaults into a better than/less than duality. Every day the arrogance of a belief in superiority threatens and costs human life -- not to mention dignity. Everything from disrespect for elders to domestic violence to religious wars are provoked by this incredibly archaic approach to humankind.
 | The multicultural, multi-faith Shani Choir comprises Arab, Israeli, Jewish, Christian and Muslim teenagers. They have adopted
John Lennon's "Imagine" as their signature song. |
If, instead, we understand that no living being is more or less valuable than another, we are compelled to move through the world with more innocence. We slow down. We think. We listen. We become aware of our own judgments. We see that we, too, are capable of equally distasteful behaviors. We open our minds and our hearts. We have compassion where before we only felt intolerance.
And just when we're feeling confident and relaxed in our acceptance of the world and the people in it, someone sneers at a belief we deeply value, or gets into the 15 items or less lane with 18 items, or seriously harms someone we love...and we have to start all over again. As painful as it may be, perhaps it's better to be flexible enough to at least consider our common ground with the "other" person. Depending on the gravity of the offense, we may find the process daunting at best. But choosing to stew in our own resentment is not a reliable recipe for happiness or, in many cases, self-preservation. Consider the extraordinary precedent overcome by the Shani Choir, which brings together Jewish, Christian and Muslim teen girls from the most conflicted areas in the Middle East. "Through music we learn to know one another, to open our hearts and be true friends," said Roni Rotem, a former member of the choir. These girls are admirable and inspiring. Now, are we really going to leave this heavy lifting primarily in the hands of our children? I hope not. Recognize that the other person is you. |
Regular Kundalini, Hatha and Restorative classes at my home studio in North Hollywood are now $25 each and can be scheduled upon request. Private sessions are $75 and consist of a 30- to 60-minute consultation, a custom recipe for a personal practice based on your individual needs, and 30 minutes of follow-up instruction by phone or in person.
Why? WHY? WHY?????
Upset by the changes to the home schedule?
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The techniques and suggestions presented in Yoga Bits are not intended as medical claims or to substitute for proper medical advice. Consult your physician before beginning any new exercise program. If you are elderly or have any chronic or recurring conditions such as high blood pressure, neck or back pain, arthritis, heart disease, and so on, seek your physician's advice before practicing.
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