Giving back.
Some photos from the April 28 session with Project Pink support group survivors. We had another session last June 30.
These scars are laced with love.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Gregor Maehle in Manila
Beautiful week. Truly.
We often speak of compassion in practice but few elicit such compassion. We speak of strength but lean into softness. We speak of softness but obsess over form... Sometimes we go around in circles...
Gregor Maehle was not in Manila long enough this round to cover the content of his books but it was enough to get a glimpse into our practice. He is watchful, observant, objective but also compassionate.
On the progress of asana practice:
"When you raise a child, you have to be very very patient..."
"Think in large and long time frames - think that you will practice for the rest of your life, extending it as you are doing so... put the work in, prepare the soil... the harvest comes later on, and many times when you least expect it."
*Read up on the story of Trailanga Swami.... :)
MAKE THE MIND STEADY. BRING HAPPINESS AND DIVINE LOVE.
USE THE YOGA TO POWER YOUR FAITH.
THE POWER OF SAMADHI IS ATTAINED THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD.
I am so grateful. For teachers. For students. For friends. For this family. For my family.
For the yoga.
Notes from the AG and Indra Mohan Workshop (June 1 to 3, 2012)
Yes this is another belated post. Manila has been blessed and brimming with love from the global yoga community. Last June, I was able to attend a workshop by A.G. Mohan and his lovely wife, Indra. A.G. Mohan is a direct student of Sri Krishnamacharya, teacher of beloved Ashtanga yoga guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
Here are some of my notes from the workshop (that were not illustrative...). The asana practice was light, the philosophy, strong.... :)
- Yoga means to make to mind steady, how to work the body to steady the mind. We need to know how to mind the mind.
- We all suffer from compulsive thinking. We need to make a cognizant personal effort by choice to create new cycles...it is the effort made by choice, WITH AWARENESS TO BE FREE from influence of actions based on past latent impressions
- We need to oppose past actions through present efforts.
- FREEDOM IS IN OUR HANDS.
- We must practice yoga... if we don't do it, we become more bound.
- No one can walk the yoga path for you - you will need good knowledge and guidance but no can do this for you.
- We need determination and a level of detachment
- Yoga is a rewarding process, not a punishing process.
- On anger. This is the most difficult to overcome. Sometimes, speech causes trouble, making another latent expression more strong.
- Peace is the highest happiness...through happiness to peace. It is the receding of desire that produces happiness. (Because if it were the object, you would always be happy...)
- LET GO CONSCIOUSLY. LET GO OF EXPECTATIONS. HAPPINESS IS LETTING GO. Letting go is at a MENTAL LEVEL. This does not mean disowning responsibility.
- Do your best, leave the rest.
- Internal thinking IS behavior. Yoga is not about externals and etiquette. It starts with the thought. Always watch the mind. ACTION IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR MIND.
- Purity of the mind is not just external purity. Notice the mind's tendency to look at an object again and again - as in FEAR and DESIRE. The mind becomes a slave to the senses.
- IF WE DO NOT WATCH OUR THINKING, WE BECOME A SLAVE TO OUR THOUGHTS.
- The moment we give more energy to particular thoughts, latent impressions are strengthened. We need to replace these with STRONGER, OPPOSITE latent impressions.
- Yamas are there to prevent the cycle. Niyamas to promote the positive and replace latent impressions.
- REMEMBER:
- Nothing is wrong with me.
- I will reform my mind and senses (develop and change patterns).
- It is in my hands.
- Attempt the possible. Stay focused on the desired goal. Remember the Ultimate. DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH YOUR WELLNESS/PEACE CHANNEL
- Namaha. न म ह Not mine, let go.
- Break conditioned thinking. Yoga is the steadiness of the mind, by choice.
- Hatha हाथ - unification of the divided mind
- Sthairya (steadiness). Arogyam (good health). Angalaghavam (lightness of limbs).
- Bring about SATTVA through extraordinary awareness of body and mind.
- FOOD has an effect on the mind... food itself is not for the body - it is for the mind...
On Asana
- Contain the movement within the breath. Exhale long - let go...Namaha
- The practice of asana should never become mechanical
- Bring awareness. THE MOMENT THE ATTENTION IS NOT ON THE BREATH, THE MIND HAS WANDERED.
- The final form alone is NOT THE GOAL
- Breath is the YELLOW SIGNAL in asana practice. When the breath is short, stop. When the breath is 'normal,' start.
- Asana is not a fight with the body. Pranayama is not a fight with the breath. Meditation is not a fight with the mind.
DECIDE BEFOREHAND:
I will GIVE UP the fruits of my action. I will not be disturbed by the result of my action.
The results are not up to us.
DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE:
If you want to live a life of balance, give up the things of the world.
LOOK INTO YOUR OWN MIND. YOU KNOW.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR MIND?
Know when you are putting up a show
Use intelligence. It is your time, energy, health...you decide. It is important to step back, to know what we are doing with our lives. WHAT IS THE PRICE - to our mind, senses, health? Why do you chase so many things...What do you do when you catch them?
THE PRACTICE SHOULD FEEL GOOD AND LEAD TO TRANSFORMATION.
FREEDOM IS HERE and NOW. PEACE IS IN EVERY THOUGHT.
Om Shanti.
Photo credit: Stillpoint Manila
Description from the Facebook Event Page by Stillpoint Manila
Workshops with A. G. Mohan & Indra Mohan
Makati, Philippines, June 1 to 3, 2012
The greatest influence on yoga in modern times was undoubtedly the legendary 20th century yogi, Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya was a renowned Indian yoga master, ayurvedic healer, and scholar who modernized yoga practice and whose students — including B. K. S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, K. Pattabhi Jois, and T. K. V. Desikachar — dramatically popularized yoga in the West.
A. G. Mohan was a personal student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya for 18 years. Indra Mohan is one of the few people who received a post-graduate diploma in yoga from Krishnamacharya. The Mohans offer their teachings under the banner of Svastha Yoga & Ayurveda. The word Svastha in Sanskrit refers to the state of complete health and balance.
The goal of yoga is freedom and peace. The means are by reprogramming our mind and retraining/reforming our body, breath, and senses. During this weekend workshop, A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan will present how this goal can be achieved through the practice of the eight limbs of yoga.
Friday, June 1 – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Workshops with A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan
Introductory Evening: The Path to Happiness
The ultimate goal of yoga is to attain freedom and peace. The path is through happiness. This may be achieved by reprogramming our mind and transforming our body, breath, and mind. During this introductory evening, A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan will present an overview of the path through the practice of classical yoga.
A. G. Mohan was a longtime disciple of “the father of modern yoga” Sri T. Krishnamacharya. He is the author of Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind, Yoga Therapy, and Krishnamacharya: His Life and Teachings. Indra Mohan is a yoga therapist known for her serene demeanor, and is a source of support and wisdom for her many students over the years.
Saturday, June 2
Session 1: 9:00am to 12:00pm
MIND…Your Inner Television
Ancient texts on Yoga declare – Our mind is the root cause for bondage or freedom. Our life experiences are all based on our mind. Gaining control over our mind is a means to re-write our destiny. Our mind is now like a television whose remote control is lost! Channels of pain, pleasure, fear, excitement are switching constantly….out of our control. Learn how to develop and switch on your “peace channel”. Ancient Yoga texts say – Happiness is …. letting go. Understand what is happiness and how to achieve it through the practices of Asana and Pranayama in our daily lives.
Session 2: 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Hatha Yoga is Pranayama
The Hathayogapradipika talks about the unity between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. The true purpose of Yoga is to bring about Clarity of thought, Freewill in action and Peace of mind. How do we achieve the true goal of an asana and Pranayama practice? Learn practical techniques on how to achieve “lightness in body” and “brightness in mind” with Asana and Pranayama practices, how to bring in Satva into all aspects of thought, speech and action.
This session will include a 90-minute group asana and pranayama practice.
Sunday, June 3
Session 1: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Developing a Personal Practice-The Role of Asana in the Path of Yoga
Asana is the most popular face of yoga today. Its physical nature makes it easy for people to practice it. For the best benefits from a yoga practice, it must be personalized for you, your needs and your goals. An outstanding feature of Sri Krishnamacharya’s teaching was how yoga could be practiced in a manner best suited to each individual. This practice session will focus on developing the following: strength, flexibility, structural alignment, proper functioning of various body systems, and mental steadiness.
Sound as Meditation
There is a wealth of detailed material in ancient texts on phonetics and yoga explaining the use of sound for mental and physical wellness. Sound is a powerful tool to bring tranquility to the mind. This session will explain how you can use sound in various ways as an aid to meditation, a part of meditation or as meditation by itself—the use of sound to quiet the mind.
Session 2: 1:30pm to 5:00pm
Thinking is Behavior: The Role of Yamas and Niyamas
The Yamas and Niyamas constitute essential disciplines that are indispensable in practicing yoga. Why should we practice them? Should we practice all of them? How are they relevant to our lives in the modern world? How can we apply them in our lives today?
Pranayama as Meditation: Retraining Our Breath
The importance of Pranayama in the path of yoga cannot be overstated. It plays a vital role as it influences both bodily health and mental well-being. In this workshop, we will see why Pranayama is considered one of the most powerful aids to meditation in classical yoga.
Makati, Philippines, June 1 to 3, 2012
The greatest influence on yoga in modern times was undoubtedly the legendary 20th century yogi, Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya was a renowned Indian yoga master, ayurvedic healer, and scholar who modernized yoga practice and whose students — including B. K. S. Iyengar, Indra Devi, K. Pattabhi Jois, and T. K. V. Desikachar — dramatically popularized yoga in the West.
A. G. Mohan was a personal student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya for 18 years. Indra Mohan is one of the few people who received a post-graduate diploma in yoga from Krishnamacharya. The Mohans offer their teachings under the banner of Svastha Yoga & Ayurveda. The word Svastha in Sanskrit refers to the state of complete health and balance.
The goal of yoga is freedom and peace. The means are by reprogramming our mind and retraining/reforming our body, breath, and senses. During this weekend workshop, A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan will present how this goal can be achieved through the practice of the eight limbs of yoga.
Friday, June 1 – 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Workshops with A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan
Introductory Evening: The Path to Happiness
The ultimate goal of yoga is to attain freedom and peace. The path is through happiness. This may be achieved by reprogramming our mind and transforming our body, breath, and mind. During this introductory evening, A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan will present an overview of the path through the practice of classical yoga.
A. G. Mohan was a longtime disciple of “the father of modern yoga” Sri T. Krishnamacharya. He is the author of Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind, Yoga Therapy, and Krishnamacharya: His Life and Teachings. Indra Mohan is a yoga therapist known for her serene demeanor, and is a source of support and wisdom for her many students over the years.
Saturday, June 2
Session 1: 9:00am to 12:00pm
MIND…Your Inner Television
Ancient texts on Yoga declare – Our mind is the root cause for bondage or freedom. Our life experiences are all based on our mind. Gaining control over our mind is a means to re-write our destiny. Our mind is now like a television whose remote control is lost! Channels of pain, pleasure, fear, excitement are switching constantly….out of our control. Learn how to develop and switch on your “peace channel”. Ancient Yoga texts say – Happiness is …. letting go. Understand what is happiness and how to achieve it through the practices of Asana and Pranayama in our daily lives.
Session 2: 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Hatha Yoga is Pranayama
The Hathayogapradipika talks about the unity between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. The true purpose of Yoga is to bring about Clarity of thought, Freewill in action and Peace of mind. How do we achieve the true goal of an asana and Pranayama practice? Learn practical techniques on how to achieve “lightness in body” and “brightness in mind” with Asana and Pranayama practices, how to bring in Satva into all aspects of thought, speech and action.
This session will include a 90-minute group asana and pranayama practice.
Sunday, June 3
Session 1: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Developing a Personal Practice-The Role of Asana in the Path of Yoga
Asana is the most popular face of yoga today. Its physical nature makes it easy for people to practice it. For the best benefits from a yoga practice, it must be personalized for you, your needs and your goals. An outstanding feature of Sri Krishnamacharya’s teaching was how yoga could be practiced in a manner best suited to each individual. This practice session will focus on developing the following: strength, flexibility, structural alignment, proper functioning of various body systems, and mental steadiness.
Sound as Meditation
There is a wealth of detailed material in ancient texts on phonetics and yoga explaining the use of sound for mental and physical wellness. Sound is a powerful tool to bring tranquility to the mind. This session will explain how you can use sound in various ways as an aid to meditation, a part of meditation or as meditation by itself—the use of sound to quiet the mind.
Session 2: 1:30pm to 5:00pm
Thinking is Behavior: The Role of Yamas and Niyamas
The Yamas and Niyamas constitute essential disciplines that are indispensable in practicing yoga. Why should we practice them? Should we practice all of them? How are they relevant to our lives in the modern world? How can we apply them in our lives today?
Pranayama as Meditation: Retraining Our Breath
The importance of Pranayama in the path of yoga cannot be overstated. It plays a vital role as it influences both bodily health and mental well-being. In this workshop, we will see why Pranayama is considered one of the most powerful aids to meditation in classical yoga.