July; the most summery of months. During July we tend to be outside, with others, enjoying the world around us. Funny thing, that sounds a lot like Yoga to me.
This month, we will be hearing and sharing stories about how Yoga has effected us. In the book "How Yoga Works," there lies an outline of the practice and a story of how it effects others. Stories have been told about how Yoga has helped alcohol and drug abusers recover. Those suffering from depression and insomnia have found solace in the practice. People have found balance in their lives and learned to trust in who they are.
Take some time this month to consider what your practice has done for you. What changes have you allowed, what have you created, discovered, experienced? Share your story here and let it be told to inspire others.
"You don't get what you don't ask for."
"Ask and ye shall receive."
"You can't always get what you want."
We've heard these sayings a million times but, how often do we consider theme when it comes to Yoga? More often than not I find myself either accepting everything my teacher has to share or acting as the skeptic and analyzing every word. Why not just ask? Ask for the poses that you want to work on, the philosophies you would like to know more about, the topics that you are curious about.
Yoga has become a world-wide commercialized activity. People are making millions selling Yoga. Do they really know what they are selling? Do you really know what you are buying? Why not take this month to search your self for knowledge and to dig it out of your teacher? Believe me, I don't have all of the answers. Together, however, we may be able to shed some light into the darkness of our knowledge of Yoga.
Don't ever be afraid to ask your teacher when a question arises during your practice. It's the best way to evaluate if you really are getting "half of what you want and half of what you need" (Amy Pearce-Hayden, E-RYT, The Yoga Scape, NY).
Two Septembers ago I was offered the opportunity to teach Yoga in Tahoe. Well, first at the Bunny Ranch, and then in Tahoe (ask me later and I'll share the whole story). It was serendipity. I was so happy to have the opportunity to share a space and to share the practice.
One September ago we were granted our own space. One that could hold the energy of the practice and that we could call our own. In a year that space has grown not only to be a sacred place to practice but also a community.
Yoga has brought so many people in our small community together. The physical practice has drawn in practitioners from various walks of life. All of us, from young to not so young, have made Svadhyaya Yoga Studio a place of our own.
So this month our dharma focus is on Yoga. The goals, the practice, the reason we are all here. So share your story with the community and tell us why you've brought Yoga into your life.
Although most of Sanskrit can seem like tongue twisters and silliness, as you learn what each word means and how it can be used, things become more interesting.
Throughout my practice as a Yogini and then during my Yoga teacher training, my guru would talk about the balance between practice & effort (Abhyasa) and non-attachment and letting go (Vairagya). Being that my primary interest in Yoga was rooted in the physical benefits, I really didn't care if I was "letting go" of anything, I was more interested in that fancy headstand and holding Caturanga.
As my practice deepened, and as I began teaching, I started to learn that if I didn't let go, then I got nothing. What I mean to say is, the more I held on to the practice and the more my focus was on having large classes and making lots of money, the fewer students I had and the more frustrated I grew.
When I opened Svadhyaya Yoga Studio, I had so many other things on my plate that all I could do when it came time to teach was allow my passion to flow outward to my students. I would have classes of 0, 1 or maybe 2 students. I got to know them well and their dedication to the practice was a reflection of mine.
Now, almost two years down the road, I continue to be driven by the practice and I try my best to let go of the results. It's very difficult, and it's sometimes a challenge to walk the line between what I want and what I need.
Abhyasa and Vairagya are so important because we have to constantly be practicing in order to grow. We have to always be letting go of the old growth so that we can become new. Just as the snake must shed it's skin, so must we be able to let go of the past and move foward.
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