In Print, On Air
|
"Yoga has helped me really listen to my body and what it is saying. When I can hear what my body is saying, then I am open to what others are are sayng to me, too."
~woman at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, in a yoga class offered by Living Yoga.
|
|
|
Happy Hour Yoga |
amrita is excited to announce its revamped Friday evening 5:30 - 7pm class. The new "Happy Hour"
series will feature a different teacher and curriculum each month,
focusing on a different set of asanas, alignment principles, and
philosophy.
|
|
|
|
Dear Community,
Welcome to the inaugural monthly message
from Yogajoy. As the season turns to Autumn, I relish the reflectivity and
creativity that come with the shorter days, falling leaves, and crisp early
mornings on my back deck. I've
been considering writing in this format since my return from India. So it's with joy and enthusiasm that I
embark on this. (I may even be
able to manage a Facebook page some day!)
Note to amrita email newsletter recipients: We've sent you this inaugural issue on a trial basis - you won't receive it again unless you click the "Update Profile/Email Address" link at the very bottom of this newsletter, and sign up to receive "Yogajoy/News about Sarahjoy Marsh."
Blessings,
Sarahjoy
|
Dharma Highlight
dharma: wisdom teachings, duty, wisdom in action
Taking Up the Practice and the Path
I've wondered and wandered for a long time. Years ago, I wrote an article for
Alternatives Magazine titled Yoga and Sky Gazing, which reminisced about
my early life tendencies to contemplate mysteries beyond my intellectual reach
and the resulting sense of awe that surrounded my relationship to God and life
at large. Without foresight, I
practically stumbled onto the paths of meditation and yoga. (Okay, so I was hiking uphill when it
happened, and I didn't actually trip and fall, but stumbled is a word that
would describe my mental relationship to what happened!)
Now twenty years later, I can look back at the sometimes
meandering, sometimes focused path that I have walked. I was not religious about this process,
but I was inexplicably devoted. I
was not methodical, but I was inclined to a compelling spiritual longing that I
describe as magnetically pulling me along.
Today, I greatly value the science within the practices of
meditation and yoga. Perhaps my inner artist has been somewhat satisfied and
science no longer feels too rote, constrained, or mechanical. I muse over how our ancestor yogis
figured all of this out...how did they know (as in really, really know) that
chakras and marma points existed; or that nature's forces made up our
constitutions and that those constitutions would fluctuate on rhythm with the
day, the seasons of a year, the seasons of our lives; or that specific ethical
precepts would carefully guide one's life to greater harmony? I often have a moment of awe about the
fact that those ethical precepts (the yamas and the niyamas) are still relevant
today!
Our ancestor yogis suggested an Eight-limbed path leading
from the precepts through asana, pranayama, stilling of the senses,
concentration, meditation and awakening. Some of us will follow this path strategically, some mechanically,
others in a more winding way. It's
been my experience that the more we expose ourselves to the practices, that is
the more consistently we come to the mat, read inspiring teachings, inquire in
the company of others, observe the outcome of our actions, and so on, the more
likely we will be to find ourselves walking in the footsteps of our
ancestors.
A sweet humility comes
over me as I practice; I consent, willingly and heartily, to being led by a
larger wisdom than my own thoughts, conditioning and reacting. Simultaneously, I bow to the great
wisdom of what has been laid before me on this incredible path and I commit
myself to continuing my contemporary study. I delight in the moments of realization where modern science
and ancient yoga come together!
One of the compelling questions I'd like to explore with
others this month is the apparent tension between committing one's self to a
specific path through the woods or intuiting one's way in this forest of
learning. In my earlier life, I
lived without exposure to or commitment to any religious path (my parents'
decision). As a result of this, I looked at religious paths as mysterious,
complicated, and ritualistic. My
opinion at the time was steeped in cynicism...it seemed to me that people
committed themselves to a religion, belief system, or dogma to soothe their own
anxiety about living in such a huge mystery as the one we're all swimming
in. As an early rebel, I shunned
this in exchange for what I would have called living spontaneously, without a
safety net, willing to be in the not-knowing. I also shunned paths of any kind...I had no career path, no
religion, nor was I on a relationship path to marriage and children. I was young, artistically inclined, and
intrepidly longing to explore what life meant when living nakedly.
In spite of this, as I said earlier, I find myself today in
a relaxed and appreciative relationship to the science of yoga. Being methodical no longer feels
constraining. Nor do I feel pinned down by shoulds and should-nots. Out of consistent exploration and an
ever deepening gratitude for the mysteries of body, heart and mind, my
sensitivity and connection to the vital energies of life are readily accessible
to me. It's to that that I respond
when making choices about diet, schedule, socializing, and contemplative
directions.
For my personal reflections about the path of yoga,
specifically the Eight-Limbed Path of yoga, I'm reading The Inner Tradition by
Michael Stone, The Heart of Yoga by Desikachar, The Guru Papers by Joel Kramer,
and Strength in the Storm by Eknath Easwaran. In this month's Dharma Study Group we'll discuss the traditional path of these limbs while
staying openly engaged as students of our contemporary time. The questions before us: How are these Eight-limbs still relevant
today? What are the benefits to following a specific path or process? What are
the drawbacks? What are the
benefits to walking without a path? And the drawbacks?
I look forward to our time together! Please join us on Tuesday, September 22
at 7 pm. Click here to read more about the ongoing Dharma Study Group at amrita...
|
Muscle of the Month
In line with the Immersion and Teacher Training program
beginning on September 18th, and the Anatomy and Asana session on the 20th, this month's muscle is Tibialis Posterior. One of my favorite foot muscles to talk about, this one acts
as one of the two "stirrup" muscles that make up your medial and lateral arches
in your feet. If you want to
understand how flat feet affect your hips and pelvis, or how weak hip muscles
affect your arches, this muscle is your friend in exploration. We'll discuss it in some of our weekly
classes, but for a real overview, I recommend the Anatomy session. There's more than one muscle in this
choreography!
Tibialis Posterior is critical in your Ankle and Shin Loops,
and as a significant contributor to the flow of your Muscle Energy.
You can google the muscle for pictures (we don't have
illustrations to go with this mention in the newsletter); or pick up a copy of
the Anatomy of Movement at the studio.
|
Poses
of the Month
Based
on the seasonal changes & our evolution as students
This month's focus is on standing poses to awaken the
legs, keep us grounded, and open the pelvis. We'll explore these poses with an eye on stamina as we build
toward headstand in the change of season from pitta to vata. (Please note: headstand itself is
reserved for Level 2+ students, but the preparation for this medicinal pose
will be made accessible to everyone.)
|
Ayurveda
and You and Me...
Last week in class we were talking about the change of
season. As the Summer winds down,
one of my favorite reflections on Summer's dosha, Pitta, deals with how we're
utilizing our Fire. Pitta is the element of Fire, primarily, which I associate
with many aspects of our lives, including digestion, heat, transformation,
creativity, and frustration.
As we're heading into Fall schedules and may find ourselves
feeling overwhelmed, over-busy, and internally pressured to keep pace with a
changing routine while the days get shorter, we may be prone to using pitta's
fire to push through, to burn the candle at both ends, as they say. While pitta can support us in our
effort, discipline, and drive, pitta out of balance creates frustration, anger,
and resistance, each of which will draw our adrenal resources down. I prefer to tap pitta's support in the
form of inspiration, which raises our vitality, rather than draining it.
How do I do this? For each thing on my schedule, I make a conscious choice to remember the
inspiration that motivated me to schedule the activity or appointment. I remind
myself of the deeper needs this activity is meeting and the larger picture to
which it contributes. I am also
careful, however, to protect my evening activities and my bed time. Pitta is highest in the middle of the
day (aren't these afternoons intensely warm, almost uncomfortable?). When the day's heat is receding, I also
retreat from the world of activities that require fire into cooler activities,
like quiet visits with friends, sitting on my back deck watching the light
change, walking Piquito in the woods, or reading a book that inspires me. (Last week I also went to see
Michael Franti in concert, which was quite inspiring, but definitely louder,
later and smokier than I'm used to!)
|
Karma Yoga
A chance to make a contribution to the changes
we wish to see in the world...
This month I want to bring your attention to three
opportunities to be of service to others. These were mentioned in the
Director's letter for the amrita newsletter, so I'll just highlight the information
for your to click on:
Global Mala
Benefiting Living Yoga, join us on Sunday, September 20th, from 2-4pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square as local yoga teachers lead the Portland yoga community through 108 sun salutations. Click here to read more...
Sole Support
Benefiting people whose lives are affected by
Parkinson's disease (join amrita's walking team, 5k!) Click here to read more or to either sign up to walk or to sponsor a walker...
Wine Drive
There is another way to contribute...amrita is hosting a
Wine
Drive for the upcoming Living Yoga Annual Gala, "Invest in the Human
Spirit." In short, we're gathering
bottles of wine to auction off to help offset the cost of the gala and thereby raise more money to support Living Yoga's programs. Donations are tax-deductible (inquire at the Living Yoga office). Click here to read more about the Living Yoga annual gala...
|
International Travel & Yoga
I'm delighted to announce two opportunities in 2010 for
traveling and deepening your yoga as well as your cultural immersion. I'm teaching both of these retreats;
each is led by a friend who has been immersed in the host area for many years.
Thailand Yoga and Meditation Immersion
February 4 - 15, 2010
For more information on this retreat, please join us at our
Thailand Celebration and Open House, hosted at amrita by myself and Michael
Sapiro, our trip leader, comedy relief, and Ayurvedic inspiration. Michael has been deeply committed to
meditation, yoga, ayurveda, and social justice for many years. He also lived in
Thailand monasteries where he studied deep meditation. He will host and guide our trip. You
can reach him at mpsapir@yahoo.com.
(Trip limited to 12. We have 7 spaces left. Register with Michael Sapiro.)
Click here to RSVP for the Open House on Sunday, September 27, from 5:30-7pm at the amrita studio. Learn all about the trip to Thailand, listen to Thai music, and snack on Thai food!
Yelapa, Mexico Yoga and Culture Immersion
March 20 - 28, 2010
Just south of Puerta Vallarta, this little fishing village
is traffic free, hosts a bird sanctuary, and invites us into its culture with
warm hearts. Judith Roth is our
host for this adventure. A long time yoga teacher, she moved to Mexico 5 years
ago and is inviting teachers to bring their travel-hungry students for a
vacation, cultural immersion, opportunity to work with village children, and
more.
(Trip limited to 20; registration opens October 1,
through amrita.)
|
Quotations of the Month
Intended to simply inspire, mildly challenge, or thoughtfully provoke
contemplation!
"All humanity is one undivided and indivisible family, and
each one of us is responsible for the misdeeds of all the others. I cannot detach
myself from the wickedest soul."
- Gandhi
"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have
governed my life: the longing for
love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of
mankind." - Bertrand Russell
Burn yourself,
Strip yourself down
To blind, loving silence.
Then you will see -
that you are gazing at the light
with its own ageless eyes.
-Rumi
|
|
|
|
|
