~Patanjali

The Connection Between Ashtanga Yoga Student and Teacher

I had the fortune of being an Ashtanga Yoga student at Jois Yoga in Greenwich before it closed recently. Two aspects that stood out at Jois were:

• Universal respect for the traditional yoga practice
• High degree of respect/reverence for the teachers

Sarath and Saraswathi Jois at Jois Yoga in Greenwich, CT

Most of the practitioners I befriended seemed to be extremely dedicated and well read. They followed Krishnamacharya/Pattabhi Jois guidelines such as:

• Practice Mysore Style Ashtanga each day (ideally first thing in the AM) with practice beginning at the same time each day
• Practice asana every day except Saturdays
• Follow the eight limbed path, live by the yamas and niyamas
• Teacher Led Ashtanga Primary Series on Fridays
• No asana practice on Full Moon or New Moon Days (click here to find out why)
• Practice mostly with one teacher and form an intimate student/teacher bond

The final bullet point on the list stood out to me the most. One of the students made a gift in the form of a Sanskrit mantra on a slab of wood for her teacher.

The Sanskrit yoga mantra translates to read:

Let us together be protected

Let us together be nourished and blessed

Let us together join our mental forces in strength for the benefit of all

Let our efforts be luminous and joyful

May there be no discord between us

Let there be peace in all realms

This mantra comes from the Jois family and is featured in Sharath Jois’ book (see book review here). This gift from student to teacher speaks volumes to the impact that the teacher has had on her life.

It’s a touching piece that beautifully articulates the importance of a harmonious relationship between the student and the teacher. The mantra also speaks to peace (in the final line) in a broader context, which I think is a beautiful intention. If you identify with this mantra, you’ll probably enjoy this version of the Ashtanga Yoga Opening Mantra.

If there’s been an important yoga teacher that you’ve had in your life, consider reaching out to him or her and express your feelings. A gesture like this can go a long way.

Has there been a specific teacher in your life who has had a profound impact on you? We’d love to hear your story 🙂

Last week, Eric Niller, wrote an interesting piece about yoga and “Why Yoga is Still Dominated by Women Despite the Medical Benefits to some sexes.”

Some excerpts.

“What happens is, a guy who doesn’t know about it, he associates it with things like Pilates or aerobics, and they think of it as a chick workout,” said Hummell, who has been doing yoga for the past three years and now teaches Bikram yoga, a particularly strenuous form of the practice, in Bethesda.

“Hummell and many other yoga practitioners extol its many benefits beyond a pleasant post-class buzz. Several studies have linked a regimen of yoga classes to a reduction in lower back pain and improved back function. Other studies suggest that practicing yoga lowers heart rate and blood pressure; helps relieve anxiety, depression and insomnia; and improves overall physical fitness, strength and flexibility.”

Among those who reject the idea that yoga is just for women is Danny Poole, a Denver teacher and trainer who uses yoga to help athletes; in 2009, his students included about a dozen members of the Denver Broncos. Poole came to the practice reluctantly himself. A basketball player at Grand Valley State University in Michigan four decades ago, he was dragged into a yoga class by his girlfriend. “All I knew is that there were hippies doing it, and I was intimidated because I didn’t know what it was,” Poole said. “Then I got hooked on it because I never felt so good.”

“Athletes with big muscles take a regular yoga class and it kicks their butt,” Poole said. “They tend not to come back.” But Poole said that those who stuck with the yoga program remained injury-free during the football season, which turned the doubters into converts.

To read the full article, click — here. 

Key Lessons from Lao Tzu Poem

Danielle made this card for me over the summer at a time when I was working probably “too hard” on a few projects.

The card features a beautiful poem by Lao Tzu:

Rushing into action, you fail.
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
Forcing a project to completion,
you ruin what was almost ripe.Therefore the Master takes action
by letting things take their course.
He remains as calm at the end
as at the beginning.
He has nothing,
thus has nothing to lose.
What he desires is non-desire;
what he learns is to unlearn.
He simply reminds people
of who they have always been.
He cares about nothing but the Tao.
Thus he can care for all things.

I’ve referred to this poem often over the past few months when I felt myself grasping for control of projects.  Any time you’re feeling stressed with work, with a relationship, or any other situation, read this poem. It brings calmness and helps us surrender.

Earlier this week, I discussed this poem with a few friends I love and respect. Each person provided insights as to how the poem speaks to them. We came up with several key takeaways from this poem:

6 Key Lessons from Lao Tzu Poem

• Trees don’t rush, they still grow. Water doesn’t rush, it still flows. We are like nature, rushing is not needed.
• Help other people see themselves as light and love.
• Relinquish control and surrender to God and/or the Universe. (Thank you for this one, my dear friend, PM)
• Clinging to current and/or future possessions (money, objects, ideas) leads to unneeded suffering.
• Be open minded and humble with what you think you know
• Once you realize there is a larger force at work, you can be at peace.

How does this poem speak to you?

Beautiful Insights from a Meditation Retreat

I’ve never been on a meditation retreat but I’ve heard amazing things. A week in silence. No TV. No cell phone. No computer. No speaking. Just you, your fellow meditators, and your own mind. Ironically, the people who think this sounds like a torturous experience are probably the ones who would benefit the most from learning meditation.

Our Aussie friend Kate at One Small Life Blog recently went on a 4 day meditation retreat and shared her experience on her yoga blog. Recapping her experience, she pointed to seven beautiful insights. I connected most with her insights on Oneness:

When you enter into a silent retreat with a room full of strangers something remarkable happens.There is a sharing of energy that transcends talk and personalities and the stories that we tell each other about ourselves. And beyond these nice-enough superficialities we can connect with each other and ourselves on a deep, human level. There is a true sense of oneness with everyone in the room.  And everyone beyond the room.

I identify with this point as I still feel connected to my fellow practitioners from the yoga retreat that Brian and I participated in. In fact, I vividly remember a conversation with Hedda from Norway where she told me about Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village. A meditation retreat in the South of France? At a place called Plum Village? I told myself I would definitely go someday and reading One Small Life’s post about her positive experience just brought me one step closer to going. Ahh, yes. That is connection and oneness at work.

Curious to the typical schedule for a meditation retreat? Here’s a look at a day’s schedule at Maitripa Contemplation Centre:

6.00am Wake-up Bell
6.30am Meditation- Silent Sitting
7.30am Yoga Asana (or your own practice)
9.00am Vegetarian Breakfast/ Free Time
11.00am Meditation – Sitting & Walking
1.00pm Vegetarian Lunch/ Free Time and Optional Teacher Interviews
3.30pm Meditation – Sitting & Walking
6.00pm Vegetarian Dinner/ Free Time
7.30pm Meditation with Talk, Discussion & Chanting
9:00pm End & Repeat

As we explain in the What is Lucid Practice? portion of our site, we had a transformative experience during our first yoga retreat. Knowing how powerful retreat can be, we encourage our readers to participate in yoga/meditation retreat. We’re living proof that a retreat can change your life 🙂

The platform in Thailand. We practiced here every morning and afternoon.

Have you ever been on a yoga or meditation retreat? Where? How was your experience?

Becoming a Bodhisattva

I’ve always been intrigued by what becoming a Bodhisattva means. A few months back I was at Jois yoga shala, and I had asked the lead teacher there about the word Bodhisattva. I see it in a lot of books, and I am always drawn to learn more about the word with so many meanings. Yes, becoming a Bodhisattva means becoming an enlightened being, but it’s nice to hear a play on words on what others thinks it means to be a Boddhisatva.

Today, I noticed that High Existence wrote about Becoming a Boddhisatva.

I particularly like this sentence:

“Life on Earth is the ultimate example of being in the right place at the right time.”

Clock to enjoy the rest of their words on becoming a Bodhisattva.

What are your thoughts on what the term Bodhisattva?

Image via Google Commons

5 Lessons from a Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh

Coder and yoga practitioner, Claire Byrne writes about how yogis and coders have a lot in common, mainly in the pursuit of understanding how the world works. Here’s an excerpt from an article where Claire talks about how yoga eased the physical ailments (inactive spine, tight joints and muscles) and mental ailments (stress, distorted breathing patterns) caused by life in front of a computer screen.

Last year, I spent a month in a yoga ashram in the North of India. The bell went off every morning at 5 a.m. Half an hour of meditation in the bitter cold was followed by two hours of yoga and then breakfast, which was consumed in silence looking out at the mountains. Yoga students spent six days a week in classes on philosophy, anatomy, and teaching methodology, did homework in the evenings and were asleep by 9:30 p.m. No alcohol, no meat, no caffeine, no screen time, no chairs. I’ve rarely been happier.

Read more about Claire’s adventures in Rishikesh, India and on how coders and travelers can benefit from yoga.

In case you’re curious about the Rishikesh ashram Claire studied at, here’s the link: Anand Praka’s Yoga Ashram.

Photo credit: Gaiam