Wisdom from Yoga ..for Life

I had the opportunity to attend Alex Atherton’s classes when he was a guest teacher at Yoga Zone. I find him to be very passionate about his teaching and I always hope that I would be able to attend his classes again. 

So it was wonderful to know that he is one of the teachers featured in the book "Wisdom from yoga…for life"by Andrea Klein.

Below is the preview of the book and I am sure you will find the teachers featured as inspiring as I have.

Wisdom from yoga...for life By Andrea Klein by Andrea Klein | Make Your Own Book

Below is one of the many inspiring quotes from the book.

"Ask yourself "Where am I in the pose? How do I approach the pose?"

The parts you grip, and the parts of yourself you hold tight: you will keep practicing that way until told otherwise.

So question and notice all your movements and transitions.

As soon as you question, then you are aware, and that's when you transform!"

- Christine Price Clark 

What is Yoga?

Yoga is not about the pose.

It’s not the alignment of toes or hips or shoulders.

It’s not about the form.

Yoga is an invitation to explore, not a command performance.

 It speaks the language of the soul.

In the flow of breath and motion,

yoga coaxes us from the confines of the known,

across the silent  threshold into vastness.

Yoga is the union of prayer and movement, guided from inside. 

It is healing and the joy of saying yes to life.

Breathe, relax and feel the body receive its own truth.

The seed of freedom flowers within each of us whenever

we are open to what’s real.           

(Poem taken from Go In and In: Poems from the Heart of Yoga by Danna Faulds)

Symptoms of Inner Peace

~ Saskia Davis 

An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

A loss of interest in judging other people.

A loss of interest in judging self.

A loss of interest in conflict.

A loss of the ability to worry.

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

Frequent bouts of smiling.

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Just For Now

Just for Now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness.

Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of the sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to meet it.

Just for now, allow a wave of breath to enliven your experience. Breathe out whatever blocks you from the truth.

Just for now,be boundless, free, with awakened energy tingling in your hands and feet.

Drink in the possibility of being who and what you really are – so fully alive that the world looks different, newly born and vibrant, just for now. ~ Danna Faulds

Ashtanga Yoga Opening and Closing Chants

The Opening chant is a blessing of gratitude offered to the lineage of teachers and their students who have enabled this ancient practice to survive through thousands of years so that we can experience its benefits today. The recitation of this mantra cleanses the energy of the space we have chosen to practice yoga, as well as preparing the mind, body and emotions for the forthcoming Ashtanga sequence.

Om
Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde
Sandarshita Svatma Sukava Bodhe
Nih Sreyase Jangalikayamane
Samsara Halahala Mohashantyai
Abahu Purushakaram
Shankhacakrsi Dharinam
Sahasra Sirasam Svetam
Pranamami Patanjalim
Om

Translation

om
I bow to the lotus feet of the Supreme Guru
which awaken insight into the happiness of pure Being,
which are the refuge, the jungle physician,
which eliminate the delusion caused by the poisonous herb of Samsara (conditioned existence).
I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads (as the divine serpent, Ananta)
and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man
holding a conch shell (divine sound), a wheel (discus of light or infinite time) and a sword (discrimination).
om

Closing Chant

The Closing chant brings the practice to a peaceful end; sealing in the work done and offering the efforts of our practice to improve the state of the world.

Om
Svasthi Praja Bhyaha Pari Pala Yantam
Nya Yena Margena Mahim Mahishaha
Go Brahmanebhyaha Shubamastu Nityam
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Translation

May the rulers of the earth keep to the path of virtue
For protecting the welfare of all generations.
May the religious, and all peoples be forever blessed,
May all beings everywhere be happy and free
Om peace, peace, perfect peace

Why Do You Practice?

Have you ever ask yourself "WHY DO YOU PRACTICE?"   What was your intention when you first started doing yoga and has it changed?  Do you ask yourself why you are not able to come up to a certain pose after you have been  practicing for a long time?

Azmi has written a post on Why Do You Practice? UTMOST IMPORTANCE! at his blog.  He wrote that people move away from their original intention of doing yoga which  may be to alleviate back pain, relieve from stress or become flexible and instead of searching in their own bodies and understanding its capacity, end up injuring themselves as they push, fight and force their way to be who they are not. 

Last Saturday, I attended Azmi's Ashtanga Led class and there were quite a few beginners in the class.  During the sun salutation sequence, Azmi was instructing them to do knees chest and chin pose but I could still see some of them struggling to do chaturanga instead.   Often, instructions from the teacher are being ignored although it is given for their benefit.

 

T.K.V. Desikachar had written in his book "The Heart of Yoga - Developing A Personal Practice" that "Yoga means acting in such a way that all our attention is directed towards the activity in which we are currently engaged.   The advantage of attentiveness is that we practice each task better and at the same time are conscious of our actions.   When we are attentive to our action we are not prisoners to our habits.  There is a possibility of considering our actions fresh and so avoiding thoughtless repetition".

So the next time you practice, set your intention and be aware and attentive whether your actions are in line with your intention. 

Azmi is doing a workshop on "Finding Your Peace In Your Practice" at My Yoga Sanctuary this Saturday, 25 June 2011 from 2.00 pm till 4.30 pm.  This Anchors and Foundation Workshop will benefit you tremendously in terms of your techniques, breathing, postures and etc.  It also intends to especially help beginners who are earnest in pursuing their yoga practice by learning a great deal about grounding foundations, the feet, which by far the most important entity in coming to a posture and also finding anchors so to allow you to move deeper in a posture. 

You can check out more details about the workshop at My Yoga Sanctuary website and call My Yoga Sanctuary at tel no. 018-355 3676 to book  a place for the workshop.

Inspiring Yoga Teacher

"When I look at life I see two options. Either to participate in my own inner development, through awareness and practice, and allow grace to take over or to just get up and go on with the day, where the subtle law of gravity takes over. Go away for a year and leave your car in your driveway. No care or attention given to it. Come back and examine its state. It will have deteriorated no matter what. But if someone is to start the engine every few days and polish it it will work pretty similar to the level at when you left. It, however, is a mechanical device and can't be changed in its current state. We on the other hand are conscious organic beings. When we work on ourselves we not only keep ourselves fresh but we grow." - Paul Dallaghan from his article "Why Do I Practice?" at Centred Yoga website.