Upper Valley Yoga Blog
On Being WholeI've had the privilege to be invited to come to tomorrow's Yoga Immersion session on the Subtle Body in Yoga, and talk with Sharon's students about the 5 pranavayus in Yoga. Big topic. Like most "topics" in yoga history and scholarship, it has a multitude of threads that can take you in about a thousand directions. And there is very little chance I will do more than scratch the surface, but it's a topic dear to my heart and it gives me an opportunity to revisit, in various texts and notes, t. . . Read more |
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Forward into 2016I'm pretty sure I'm circulating the same thoughts about New Year's resolutions that I did last year. At first glance, a resolution is a worthy endeavor. But it makes this sneaky transformation into something that smacks of self loathing. a kind of: "do THIS because you're THAT" (I'm sure you can fill in this madlibs-like formula with your own choice words and phrases). And that subtext of discontent seems to be at clear odds with yoga's concept of santosha, or deep contentment and acc. . . Read more |
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Finding Grace in our BodiesWith her permission, I am sharing below a lovely blog post written by Kate Gamble, from Open Door Workshop. Open Door is our neighbor down the street, and Kate, a physical therapist and a dancer, offers a really interesting array of classes and workshops all devoted to increasing health and wellbeing through art and movement modalities. Her blog entry completely captivated and resonated with me; I will often start classes with students on their backs in constructive rest, at least fo. . . Read more |
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Let the Heart Break OpenI recently re-listened to an episode of On Being that aired last year
sometime. Christa Tippett mentioned this poem by Mary Oliver, which
feels relevant and timely, so I've transcribed it here. Bits of that
podcast have stayed with me over the past several days, as the world
reels with the shock of the attacks in Paris. This is how my mind has
turned it over, both the podcast and the events: |
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Fall BackTo "fall back"....it's an interesting phrase and our hint, this time of
year, as to which way we wind the clock: We fell back on Sunday (and
some of us "fell back" to sleep. Divine!). "Fall back" can also mean to
retreat, to recede, to withdraw. Which seques me neatly to pratyahara, or "the withdrawal of the senses." |
