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Dear Om Sweet Om family,
"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen"~Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection
Sometimes a word sticks in my head. Not sure where it came from, but it leaves it's mark. I often think nothing happens without a reason, and so I tend to pay attention when words start cropping up on a regular basis. Authenticity is the word of late. It's been coming up a lot. I think it's the times we are living in that really bring this forth. Recently as many of you know we had a big accident happen in our town where a little girl was injured sledding. This experience has brought the town together in such a beautiful way. People are praying for her who don't even know her. What they do know is the raw, painful experience of being a person who cares about another human being, and has no control over the outcome of the situation. The feeling of being vulnerable is so very authentic. So we are all reduced to praying, whether you believe in god or a higher power, or just believe in the collective energy of people's intentions...What came across so clearly to me, was the authentic nature of everyone's caring. It was truly a beautiful thing to experience. This is what we need in our lives. To take that authenticity in to everything we do. When we come from that place, the outcome of whatever our actions may be will always be pure. I find this helpful both on my mat and off. On my mat it reminds me to make decisions that are from a place of integrity, so that I don't injure myself for the sake of the pose. Off the mat, it reminds me to do the same, so that the relationships I am in, feed my soul.
I only wish to share this knowledge with you, for as you know I like to share what I know to be true.
"People heal from their pain when they have an authentic connection with another human being."~Marshall Rosenberg
We look forward to seeing you soon at Om Sweet Om.
With love and respect,
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Asanas/Posture of the month:
Parighasana/Gate pose
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Come into a kneeling position on your mat. Your toes can be curled under for more stability, or you can place the tops of your feet flat on your mat.
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Photo by Michael J. Aronoff
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Extend your left leg out to your side, outwardly rotating at the hip so that your knee cap is facing the sky.
Keep your extended leg in the same plane as the kneeling leg, and keep the hip of your kneeling leg over your knee.
Inhale and reach your right arm overhead, lengthening your side body.
Exhale as you hinge over to the left, allowing the left hand to gently rest on your thigh, shin, ankle or foot.
Keeping your right hip stacked over your right knee, reach the right arm overhed, beside your ear, keeping your shoulder blade moving down your back.
Turn and gaze up towards the sky, keeping the back of your neck long.
Breathe comfortably as you hold.
To exit, energertically draw your inner thighs towards each other, draw in the lower belly and then inhale as your lift up to vertical.
Exhale as you gently slide the extended leg back to kneeling and then switch sides.
You may cushion your knee by folding over your mat or placing a blanket under your knee cap.
You may also do this pose at the wall, with your extended leg foot up the wall to give you stability and reaching your top arm towards the wall possibly touching for even more support.
Physical benefits:
This pose stretches your side body (torso) muscles. It opens your chest and shoulders, it also stretches your hamstrings, your adductor muscles and your calf muscles. Because this pose requires balance it also helps to strengthen your core.
Spiritual benefits: This is an uplifting posture, one that because of it's opening nature makes you feel more open. Because this pose requires a sense of balance it also helps you to find your inner balance and once you do you can open up even more!
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| Satsang with Jenny | 
Be Blissful Now!
Each moment we spend in this life is an opportunity to be blissful! Yes! I invite you to dip your toe into my rich and delicious experience of Tantric Yoga.
Can you think of a moment when you were filled with bliss? Maybe a summer night under a blanket of stars, or the moment you fell in love with your partner or child, or seeing a friend again after a long absence. You can remember in your body that surge from the heart center when for that moment your whole being became joy. Every moment of our lives is a Tantric meditation, an opportunity to taste the nectar of bliss that is already present in your life. The next time you prepare a beautiful meal for loved ones, or take a walk in nature, be quiet and experience the joy of what you're doing. The happiness you seek is already there. Staying up late into the night with a circle of friends you can open up and feel the embrace of love and peace - let THAT be your meditation. Do you love your Yoga practice? Then LOVE it! Savor how delicious your Downward Dog or pigeon feels! Let your mind be overcome by the joy that is in your heart. Because the not-so-secret-secret of Yoga is that Samadhi, overwhelming all-encompassing bliss in this lifetime, is not only possible but is the natural state of our beings. All we have to do is get out of the way. So love the people in your life, savor the taste of the food you eat and the wine you drink, and relish in the sweetness of your practice. This bliss is who you are, and your heart is where you belong.
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Last Stop
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Did you know we have family yoga back on the schedule?
Join us Saturdays 12:30-1:15 pm.
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YogaKids Training
April 2-17 2013
Held over 6 weekdays (Tues & Wed)
9:00-2:30
Register here
Yoga Journal Conference
It's that time of year again! Yoga Journal
is bringing us some wonderful teachers to
NYC April 4-8. Register using this
code NY14
and receive an additional $50 off the Main Conference pricing! Namaste.
Summer Teacher Training
Do you wish to extend the benefits of your yoga practice deeper into your life? Are you looking to create lasting change in your life for the better? Have you often imagined yourself learning more about yoga and /or becoming a teacher but the idea of traveling to and from the city on top of every thing else in life seemed insurmountable? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then here is the opportunity that you have been waiting for! Whether you are interested in teaching or simply deepening your practice Om Sweet Om Yoga is offering the most comprehensive and complete 200 hour vinyasa yoga teacher training right here in your own backyard. Summer 2012 Dates: 200- hour Yoga Alliance Certification Summer Intensive July 8th-August 2nd Weekdays (Mon-Thurs, one Friday (Aug 3rd 12pm-4pm) (schedule varies, Monday 9:00 - 6pm, Tuesday 9- 6pm Wednesday 9:30-
6:00 pm, Thursday 9:30 -6pm. Early bird pricing available until June 8th, save $300!. Train to be a teacher with us at Om Sweet Om Yoga and empower yourself to become the best and brightest you that you can be.
Register here for early bird pricing
Friday May 31st, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Do you have cranky hips? Stiff hips, tight legs and lower back pain often go together. The hip sockets frame the pelvic floor muscles and can often hold a lot of tension. The proximity of the hips to the lower back can sometimes make for a challenging relationship! Opening the hips and legs in a slow and methodical way and finding space in the hip socket with subtlety and skill can successfully alleviate hip and lower back pain. This workshop will address how to use yoga to increase strength and flexibility in the hip sockets, hamstrings and quadriceps focusing on the relationship between the legs and the pelvis.
Saturday and Sunday June 1st and 2nd
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Proper strengthening and stabilizing of the pelvic floor helps to create the correct foundation of each movement in the body. This is the true meaning of "core work." Whether you experience any of these conditions (or are just plain curious about this region of the body) this workshop is for you: pelvic pain leak when laughing or sneezing lower back, hip or groin problems have to go the bathroom too often discomfort during sex or while using tampons prolapsed organs skin irritation pregnancy and birth Before change is possible, you must be able to visualize, find and access the muscles of the pelvic floor. In this workshop designed especially for women, we will locate, assess, soften, stretch, strengthen and exercise the various muscle groups of the pelvic floor, discuss what mula bandha is (and is not), abdominal health and how to utilize the pelvic floor in asana. The workshop will begin with anatomy, lecture and discussion, followed by subtle experiential movements to awaken your understanding of this often ignored area. Then we will begin with a series of specific exercises and asanas for the pelvic floor. We will conclude with some asana that spotlights the pelvis and hip joints. Handouts are provided to help you retain what you have learned. Bring your friends, sisters, mothers and daughters. Although helpful, no previous yoga experience is required. This workshop qualifies for continuing education credits with Yoga Alliance. Leslie Howard is a San Francisco-based yoga teacher, specializing in all things pelvic. She leads workshops and trainings nationally and is co-writing a book about awakening the female pelvis. Her own struggles with healing her pelvis led her to intense study of the anatomy, physiology, cultural messaging, history and energetics of this rich place. Her teaching is informed by over 3000 hours of yoga study with senior Iyengar yoga teachers, notably Manouso Manos. She considers Ramanand Patel her most important influence and mentor. She has taught at several of the Yoga Journal conferences and is featured in the yoga documentary, Yoga Woman.
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Ahamkara/Ego
अहंकार
Ahamkara or Ahankara- literally the "I-doing" meaning the
"ego" breaks down into two words: "aham" meaning "I" and
"kara" meaning "doing" from the verbal root "k¸ - to do or to
make." It is the ahamkara that creates the false belief or sense
that one is separate from the Universe and tricks one into feeling
incomplete. In order for one to achieve true yoga or "union" with
the soul, one must learn to let go of ahamkara.
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Recipe of the month:
from Fresh Food Fast by Peter Berley
Spicy Coconut Sweet
Potato Soup with Collard Greens
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cups diced onion (about 2 medium)
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or kosher salt, plus additional to taste
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 4 cups)
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper with seeds, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and ground, or 1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 small bunch collard greens, tough stems removed, and leaves cut in half along the rib, and then crosswise into ¼-inch-wide strips
1 lime, cut into wedges
½ cup roughly chopped cilantro, for garnish
1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, and sauté until softened, for 3 to 4 minutes.
2. Add the sweet potato, garlic, jalapeno, ginger, coriander, and turmeric, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of water, the coconut milk, and 2 teaspoons of salt, raise the heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
3. Add the collard greens to the soup and simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add a bit of water if the soup is too thick.
4. Ladle the soup into 4 wide soup plates, squeeze lime over and sprinkle with cilantro.
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