Breathe,
you can relax now... |
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| January 6,
2007 |
Message from Karen
Dear friends,
Resolution, resolve, intention. The new year is usually a time when
people take stock of their lives, look at what's working and what isn't,
and then resolve to change something - usually for the better. During the
last few weeks of 2006, we practiced yoga nidra at least once during each
class. An integral part of the yoga nidra process is the resolve - the
seed that we plant in our subconscious mind, that germinates and grows
until it becomes a reality.
The process of yoga nidra invites us to become relaxed in the body so
that the mind can manifest our deepest desire. And our deepest desire is
sometimes so intimate that we feel vulnerable.
Here's what Richard Miller, researcher and long time yoga nidra
practitioner says, "Typically, when we try to change ourselves, resistance
and reactions arise. Yoga nidra teaches us how to welcome everything we're
experiencing - sensations, emotions, thoughts, images, even our reactions
and resistance, even awareness itself. Yoga nidra helps us disidentify
from our changing states, introduces us to ourselves as non-changing
awareness, and reveals the secret of how true transformation can, and
does, unfold spontaneously. Yoga nidra is not simply a technique for deep
relaxation, but a tool for psychospiritual healing as well as a profound
meditative inquiry that ultimately reveals and awakens us to our true
nature - the ultimate goal of yoga."
The ultimate goal of yoga is to awaken to our true nature.
So, it's not about the body. The body is the doorway that gets us on
the mat where we can begin to practice awareness - of sensations, the
breath, our thoughts, feelings. Sometimes we touch joy and sometimes we
touch sadness. And other emotions, other memories. When we are too busy
doing what too busy people do, we lose touch with ourselves.
So, my resolution, resolve, intention is the same as always. To pay
attention. To be present. To not let life slip away without my noticing.
And to forgive myself when I transgress.
Wishing you peace, good health, and present moment awareness, now and
always,
Karen
» Read Richard's article "Your Brain on Yoga Nidra" |
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Thought for the Day - January 3,
2007
Familiar acts are beautiful through love.
– Percy Bysshe Shelley
By giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to
direct attention where we choose. Simple, yet essential to the practice of
love! Being one-pointed means we can give the person we are with our
complete attention, even if she is contradicting our opinion on tax reform
or explaining the peculiarities of French grammar. Once we can do this,
boredom disappears from our relationships. People are not boring; we get
bored because our attention wanders. When we can give someone our full
attention, our attitude says clearly, "You matter to me. You have my
respect."
» Read more Thoughts for the Day |
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Yoga Heals Us Website
My website has a new look. Check it out!
You can now download Yoga Heals Us News from my website. Eventually,
(as soon as I get to it!) you'll be able to download past issues of this
newsletter that contain news, information, inspirational quotes, students
news, and more. I hope to have the current issue loaded onto the website
within a week of sending it out to you. Past issues will take a little
longer but a few are already there.
» Yoga Heals Us Newsletters |
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Winter Classes Start January
6th
We'll be doing yoga inside as usual but I thought
this was a fun photo to share! Yogis Gillian and Jan last winter.
Some of the Ledyard classes are already full and have waiting lists.
Please don't be discouraged! Get onto a waiting list. We will try to get
you in but it may take a few weeks.
Another option is to sign up for classes in Preston. It costs a
little more but the classes are smaller so I'm able to give you more
individual attention if that is important to you.
Breathe...
» Winter 2007 Yoga Classes |
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Symposium on Yoga Therapy and
Research
On January 18 - 21 I will attending the first
IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapist) conference in Los
Angeles. I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to participate.
Here are some of the topics that I signed up for:
Science, Spirituality and Yoga: Yoga for People with Cancer,
Structural Yoga Therapy,
Yoga for People with Multiple Sclerosis,
Balance and Surrender in Yoga.
Main sessions include:
What is Yoga Therapy?
Current Research
Yoga as an Emerging Complementary and Alternative Medicine Profession
Yoga Therapy: Structural Challenges
Yoga Therapy: Emotional Aspects
Yoga Therapy: Physiological Challenges
Keeping the Yoga in Yoga Therapy
This conference has been sold out for months! I'll be coming back
brimming with ideas and information to share with you.
» Read more about Yoga Therapy and IAYT |
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Inspirational Quotes
"I don't know Who—or What—put the question, I
don't know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some
moment I did answer Yes to Someone—or Something—and from that hour I was
certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life, in
self-surrender, had a goal."
—Dag Hammarskjöld
The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its way with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings.
– The Buddha
We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with an impure mind
and trouble will follow you
As the wheel follows the ox that draws the cart...
Speak or act with a pure mind
And happiness will follow you
As your shadow, unshakable.
– The Buddha
Because Of Our Wisdom
In many parts of this world water is
Scarce and precious.
People sometimes have to walk
A great distance
Then carry heavy jugs upon their
Heads.
Because of our wisdom, we will travel
Far for love.
All movement is a sign of
Thirst.
Most speaking really says,
''I am hungry to know you.''
Every desire of your body is holy;
Every desire of your body is
Holy.
Dear one,
Why wait until you are dying
To discover that divine
Truth?
- Hafiz
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Yoga Blocks
A limited supply of blocks is still available in
blue and in purple. The cost is $15.90 (tax included) for the pair. Once
these are gone, I can order more but the price went up as of 12/31.
You can also purchase blocks locally at Puritan & Genesta, Dick's
Sporting Goods, and possibly Walmart.
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| Yoga Heals Us |
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