An important aspect of Yoga is living your Dharma. In the Yogic tradition, Dharma is defined as your path. It's what brings you great passion and serves others. The neat part is that what brings you great inner and lasting joy, also, serves others. Your Yoga practice helps you to find and live your Dharma. This means to "do your duty," but not in a negative way.
I believe that when you are in the flow of life--living your Dharma--that the result is great inner peace and happiness.
Similar to the Buddhist Dharma, which means protection by following the Buddhist Dharma.
Either way, you're living in a way that brings you great happiness. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krisha tells Arjun to follow his Dharma. The key, he says, is to then release all attachment to the outcome.
In our classes this week, we'll work with forward bends, such as Janu Sirsasana for beginners and Paschimottanasana for continuing students. Aligning in a forward bend is to align with surrender. That is how you flow with Dharma. You align and surrender to your path. Notice, surrender is not a negative here! It feels GREAT to know and live your life's purpose.
To finding and flowing with your Dharma :-)
Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
www.TotalHealthYoga.Blogspot.com
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Attitude and Backbends
This is a new start of an 8 week period for some and the end of 8 weeks for others. Perhaps a theme on beginnings and endings would have been in order. Alas, it is not what I chose. This week we're talking about the 3 A's of Anusara Yoga, which are Attitude, Alignment, and Action. The focus will be on Attitude.
A person with a positive attitude or outlook on life can be referred to as an optimist. In Dr. Weil's writings on managing stress, he suggests that optimists have healthier and happier lives.
In class, we'll follow our breath and work with backbends in order to find more openness in our hearts and fullness in our breath. Both of these qualities help in feeling more contentment and joy inside. Beginners may check out Setu Bandhasana or Bridge. Continuing students might like to work with Urdhva Mukha Svanasana or Up Dog. Bring special awareness to keeping the spine long, heart lifted, and tailbone scooped.
See you all in class :-)
Kris
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Listening
This week in Yoga we'll work with the alignment of inner thighs back & wide, while lengthening the tailbone down and gently scooping it forward. This works very well in backbends, as it prevents one from crunching the low back. Use this idea when standing anywhere. It's a great way to align the hips and spine. One way to experience it with a stronger mula banhda (root lock) is to lay on your back (supine) and roll the inner thighs down and slightly apart. Keep that as you direct the tailbone towards the heels. As a result of this, the low belly will tone and the pelvic floor will engage. Be sure to still feel the inhale reach to the pelvic floor. On exhales, you may draw upwards even more with the pelvic floor.
We, also, talked about Pratyahara--the 5th of 8 limbs in the Yoga Sutras. As we become aware and select what impressions to absorb from what our senses provide, we learn to listen more clearly.
“Tranquillity comes through listening. It is impossible to truly listen while doing something else at the same time.” – David Baird’s A Thousand Paths to Tranquillity
Happy practicing!
Kris
www.TotalHealthYoga.com
http://TotalHealthYoga.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
