Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Moon Days
As you many know there is no mysore practice on the days where there is a new or a full moon. This friday August 1st is a new moon so if you are doing the mysore program you have the day off!
The following is borrowed without permission from Tim Miller's website -
Both full and new moon days are observed as yoga holidays in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition. What is the reasoning behind this?
Like all things of a watery nature (human beings are about 70% water), we are affected by the phases of the moon. The phases of the moon are determined by the moon’s relative position to the sun. Full moons occur when they are in opposition and new moons when they are in conjunction. Both sun and moon exert a gravitational pull on the earth. Their relative positions create different energetic experiences that can be compared to the breath cycle. The full moon energy corresponds to the end of inhalation when the force of prana is greatest. This is an expansive, upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded. The Upanishads state that the main prana lives in the head. During the full moon we tend to be more headstrong.
The new moon energy corresponds to the end of exhalation when the force of apana is greatest. Apana is a contracting, downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but dense and disinclined towards physical exertion.
The Farmers Almanac recommends planting seeds at the new moon when the rooting force is strongest and transplanting at the full moon when the flowering force is strongest.
Practicing Ashtanga Yoga over time makes us more attuned to natural cycles. Observing moon days is one way to recognize and honor the rhythms of nature so we can live in greater harmony with it.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Yoga School this weekend...
This weekend students did their presentations of the systems of the body and we went over sarvangasana (shoulder stand) and sirsasana (headstand).
Friday, July 18, 2008
Happy Birthday Guruji!
Happy 93rd Birthday, Guruji! Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois was born on the full moon day of July 1915 (Guru Purnima day). This year, that day falls on July 18. To learn more about Guruji's amazing life and his more than 70 years of teaching Ashtanga yoga, see www.ayri.org/biography.html.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Closing of Ashtanga Yoga School
We know that change is a part of life, and we knew that change was coming at AYS, and it has. David and Satya have closed the Ashtanga Yoga School in Seattle. I saw on Ashtanga.com that it was for sale - so who knows maybe another authorized or certified teacher will take over - but for the time being their students are moving either over to Troy Lucero's studio, or at 8 Limbs where some of the former senior AYS students will be teaching mysore style classes. For us though we will be seeing David as we normally do - this fall he'll be here the weekend of October 17th - 19th.
Thank you so much David and Satya and the students at AYS who have always inspired me, and helped me stay true to this path toward truth, and love. Below are some of the beautiful quotes from reactions to the closing.
- Blessing to you all for all that you have done, you have been our inspiration in so many ways. What a ride! It has been wonderful, and we look forward to seeing you soon. "All is coming..."
- "We live in a rainbow of chaos"
Paul Cezanne - Let us send good thoughts to each other and to our teachers, wherever they may be. I often repeat the little prayer David taught us at Breitenbush one year "May you dwell in your heart, May you be free from suffering, May you be healed and whole, May you be at peace."
