Free Ice Skating in Bryant Park
Bryant Park has a wonderful ice skating rink where you can skate for FREE ! They have skates you can rent. $10
42nd Street and 6th Ave.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
On being a yogini ....
I am so thankful for all my yoga teachers.
Everytime I talk to one of my yoga teacher friends, I am left with new pearls of wisdom spinning around my head.
Each time I go to yoga class, my teacher reminds me of what I am and what I am not.
Everytime I listen to a teacher reading the scriptures, they reinforce the teachings for me in a different way-- even though I thought I knew that already.
Whenever I learn something new about yoga, or asana, I am amazed at how limitless this learning is in every way.
I am thankful for all my yoga students.
I am so thankful to be a yoga teacher and an eternal student of yoga.
I am so thankful for all my yoga teachers.
Everytime I talk to one of my yoga teacher friends, I am left with new pearls of wisdom spinning around my head.
Each time I go to yoga class, my teacher reminds me of what I am and what I am not.
Everytime I listen to a teacher reading the scriptures, they reinforce the teachings for me in a different way-- even though I thought I knew that already.
Whenever I learn something new about yoga, or asana, I am amazed at how limitless this learning is in every way.
I am thankful for all my yoga students.
I am so thankful to be a yoga teacher and an eternal student of yoga.
Adopt a Turkey for Thanksgiving !
Instead of eating a turkey, why not save a turkey from the slaughterhouse and set an example of kindness for your friends and children?
Farm Sanctuary is an organization dedicated to changing the way society views and treats farm animals. Farm Sanctuary works through public awareness programs and legislative action.
http://www.adoptaturkey.org/
PS: you can do this for Christmas too !!
Instead of eating a turkey, why not save a turkey from the slaughterhouse and set an example of kindness for your friends and children?
Farm Sanctuary is an organization dedicated to changing the way society views and treats farm animals. Farm Sanctuary works through public awareness programs and legislative action.
http://www.adoptaturkey.org/
PS: you can do this for Christmas too !!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Laws of yoga
In yoga, we have our own version of the 10 commandments. Generally referred to as yama and niyama. These are laws that you are supposed to take with you out into your daily life -- a yogic attitude to living.
Ashtanga Yoga means eight step or eight "limb" yoga. These are described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
The eight steps are divided into two parts - the first five are called external limbs, they are: Yama (suggestions for social behaviour: non-aggression, truthfulness, non-theft, appropriate sexual behaviour and non-greed), Niyama (suggestions for personal disciplines: self purification, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and surrender to the ideal of yoga), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises) and Pratyahara (sense withdrawal).
The eight steps are divided into two parts - the first five are called external limbs, they are: Yama (suggestions for social behaviour: non-aggression, truthfulness, non-theft, appropriate sexual behaviour and non-greed), Niyama (suggestions for personal disciplines: self purification, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and surrender to the ideal of yoga), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises) and Pratyahara (sense withdrawal).
I have written about Ahimsa many times on this blog. But I thought I would list the Yamas and Niyamas for you as food for thought :
Niyamas:
Sauca - Cleanliness. Not only a means of keeping our bodies clean and healthy, but a practice of keeping a clear mind.
Samtosa - Happiness and modesty. To be happy with what you have, instead of being unhappy over what you dont have.
Tapas - Keeping the body fit and healthy through healthful eating, exercise (asana) and kriyas.
Svadhyaya - Meditation and self awareness. This can be done through the repetition (japa) of mantra or the reading of the scriptures.
Isvarapranidhana - knowing that you have done your best and that you offer your actions to the Universe.
Yamas:
Ahimsa - Non violence. Do not kill. Do not do anyone any injury by action, word or thought. Do not show cruelty to any sentient being. Do not cause injury by your spoken word -- do not gossip, do not lie, do not insult.
Satya - Truthfulness
Asteya - Non stealing. It not only refers to stealing material things. It means do not steal somebody's time, do not steal somebody's trust, do not steal somebody's heart.
Brahmacharya - Sense control/ restraint. Most typically, this refers to sexual abstinence. However, it means do not lose your path -- act responsibly towards moving towards your Truth. Do not allow sensual attractions (e.g. over-indulging in eating, smoking, drinking, shopping) to distract you.
Aparigraha - Do not hoard. Do not take more than is necessary. Do not exploit others for your gain. Do not grasp onto money -- grasping blocks the natural flow of energy. Give away what you dont need or use. Clear out your closets.
OM
OM is actually pronounced A-U-M but is considered to have 4 syllables.
1. A =manifestation, birth, awakening of consciousness.
2. U =growth of manifestation
3. M =dissolution
4. Silence(ardha Maatra) = ending, invisible vibration, awareness of the Absolute.
it is the vibration of the sound of OM that is essential to life -- the vibration of the life force energy(Prana). We are living in an ocean of vibration. Life is non-existant without energy and everything is energy. As you observe your breath, you are observing the energy of the Universe breathing you. The Bible says that God breathed Life into Adam --and Adam's soul came in on God's breath. Your breath is the exchange of your own vibrational energy with the energy of the Universe. Can you exist without breath ? You cannot exist without the constant exchange and flow of energy.
Our bodies are only containers of our breath (soul) and it is our breath that makes a body animated. A person is said to "die" when their life force energy - the last breath -- leaves the body. Our constantly changing bodies make us visible in this life -- when the prana leaves, the eternal spirit is no longer visible but still exists and has merged back into the unchanging Universe.
Which brings you back to an awareness of the Absolute - the very essence of you.
Which is OM.
Friday, November 09, 2007
The Sacred Language of Yoga
Sanskrit is the sacred classic language of India. Just as Latin, Hebrew or Arabic are for other cultures. Sanskrit was the language of royalty and the elite. It was , and still is, a highly regarded cultural refinement.
Sanskrit is not just a language. It was designed to hit the many chakras (energy centers) in your throat, mouth and tongue. It is a way of awakening the body, mind, and spirit to a higher state of consciousness by opening these chakras and nadis with sacred sound vibration (nadam).
You have over 250 chakras (not just the seven you usually see on charts) and over 72,000 nadis all over your body. When these subtle energy channels of the body are opened, you experience Yoga through the effects of prana and pure sound.
This is why chanting sanskrit mantra is so effective for opening your heart and the upper chakras. For this reason, I tell my students to pay attention to the physical vibration they feel in their bodies during opening slokas.
Yoga is a very subtle practice. It affects you on so many levels. Yoga allows us to shed the layers of misunderstanding, illusion, pain and ignorance that cover our hearts. Opening your heart is more important than opening your body -- and is one of the goals of yoga practice.
I dedicate today's blog to my friend Chris. One day soon, he will tire of my nagging and actually attend a yoga class. ॐ
Just Do Yoga.
Sanskrit is the sacred classic language of India. Just as Latin, Hebrew or Arabic are for other cultures. Sanskrit was the language of royalty and the elite. It was , and still is, a highly regarded cultural refinement.
Sanskrit is not just a language. It was designed to hit the many chakras (energy centers) in your throat, mouth and tongue. It is a way of awakening the body, mind, and spirit to a higher state of consciousness by opening these chakras and nadis with sacred sound vibration (nadam).
You have over 250 chakras (not just the seven you usually see on charts) and over 72,000 nadis all over your body. When these subtle energy channels of the body are opened, you experience Yoga through the effects of prana and pure sound.
This is why chanting sanskrit mantra is so effective for opening your heart and the upper chakras. For this reason, I tell my students to pay attention to the physical vibration they feel in their bodies during opening slokas.
Yoga is a very subtle practice. It affects you on so many levels. Yoga allows us to shed the layers of misunderstanding, illusion, pain and ignorance that cover our hearts. Opening your heart is more important than opening your body -- and is one of the goals of yoga practice.
I dedicate today's blog to my friend Chris. One day soon, he will tire of my nagging and actually attend a yoga class. ॐ
Just Do Yoga.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
Help fight against child sex trade
Somaly Mam was sold into the sex trade when she was about 8 years old by a man posing as her Grandfather. Now she fights the sex trade industry everyday, saving little girls from brothels, giving them safe shelters and the opportunity to have a normal life.
She is being honored this week at the United Nations. Here is the link to her web site.
If you are interested, you can send them a contribution so that Somaly can continue her work to abolish a brutal industry that takes advantage of the helplessness of children.
http://www.somaly.org/index.php
On Nov 9th, a movie called "Holly" about the South East Asian sex slave trade will open .
Somaly Mam was sold into the sex trade when she was about 8 years old by a man posing as her Grandfather. Now she fights the sex trade industry everyday, saving little girls from brothels, giving them safe shelters and the opportunity to have a normal life.
She is being honored this week at the United Nations. Here is the link to her web site.
If you are interested, you can send them a contribution so that Somaly can continue her work to abolish a brutal industry that takes advantage of the helplessness of children.
http://www.somaly.org/index.php
On Nov 9th, a movie called "Holly" about the South East Asian sex slave trade will open .
Friday, November 02, 2007
How to clean your yoga mat ....
Mix one part water with one part laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. spray the mat, and wipe it down with a damp cloth or paper towels. Rinse in the shower and hang to air dry.
For serious cleaning, fill your bathtub with warm water and add a little laundry detergent. Allow to soak for a while, and rub with a sponge. Rinse thoroughly. Place the mat on a towel, and roll up to squeeze out excess water then hang to air dry.
Or the lazy way --- just throw the mat in the washing machine, warm water, add a small amount of detergent (no bleach) and let the machine do the work. Hang to air dry.
Dont use super hot water to wash the mat -- you could lose some of the stickiness. You dont need all those fancy "mat cleansers" -- laundry detergent works fine. I use dish washing detergent half the time. It works for me.
Mix one part water with one part laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. spray the mat, and wipe it down with a damp cloth or paper towels. Rinse in the shower and hang to air dry.
For serious cleaning, fill your bathtub with warm water and add a little laundry detergent. Allow to soak for a while, and rub with a sponge. Rinse thoroughly. Place the mat on a towel, and roll up to squeeze out excess water then hang to air dry.
Or the lazy way --- just throw the mat in the washing machine, warm water, add a small amount of detergent (no bleach) and let the machine do the work. Hang to air dry.
Dont use super hot water to wash the mat -- you could lose some of the stickiness. You dont need all those fancy "mat cleansers" -- laundry detergent works fine. I use dish washing detergent half the time. It works for me.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Stock Market Education Online
There are lots of simulated Stock Market games online -- and here is just one of them that you can play around with. This one focuses a little more on educating you about the stock market.
It's all a game so feel free to invest your pretend "money" and learn about the energy flow of money ! If you join, these games hook you into real time stock info -- so you can really see how the markets move.
I just want to let you know that this educational stuff exists.... We yogis need money too (to pay for yoga class) !
http://library.thinkquest.org/3088/
There are lots of simulated Stock Market games online -- and here is just one of them that you can play around with. This one focuses a little more on educating you about the stock market.
It's all a game so feel free to invest your pretend "money" and learn about the energy flow of money ! If you join, these games hook you into real time stock info -- so you can really see how the markets move.
I just want to let you know that this educational stuff exists.... We yogis need money too (to pay for yoga class) !
http://library.thinkquest.org/3088/
A mild Winter predicted .... ?
While at the ashram, I spotted this amaaaazing striped super furry bug ! It's called a wooly bear caterpillar (Katie told me) --- so of course, I had to google it and guess what ? Apparently, the little critters appear in the Fall and are used to predict the severity of Winter according to their colored stripes ! Mine had a wide brown stripe in the middle and according to legend, that means the upcoming Winter season will be mild ! I like that !
.... so much for a city girl to learn ....
While at the ashram, I spotted this amaaaazing striped super furry bug ! It's called a wooly bear caterpillar (Katie told me) --- so of course, I had to google it and guess what ? Apparently, the little critters appear in the Fall and are used to predict the severity of Winter according to their colored stripes ! Mine had a wide brown stripe in the middle and according to legend, that means the upcoming Winter season will be mild ! I like that !
.... so much for a city girl to learn ....
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