Historical Yoga Room newsletter — originally prepared in January 2014 and restored from the Yoga Room archive. References to classes, retreats, prices and events below are retained as part of the historical record and are no longer current Yoga Room offerings.
Happy New Year!
May you rediscover your strengths and rejoice in the simple pleasures life offers, and may nothing stop you from championing a cause that is close to your heart.
In this newsletter
- Asana of the Month — Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
- Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the Month
- Quote of the Month
- From the 2014 Events Archive
Asana of the Month — Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, or Upward-Facing Dog Pose, takes its name from the Sanskrit words for upward-facing (urdhva mukha) and dog (svana). The pose resembles a dog stretching with its head raised.
Although it can appear simple, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana requires precision and careful organisation throughout the whole body.
The pose is practised lying face down before lifting the chest and trunk, straightening the arms and extending strongly through the legs. The knees remain lifted from the floor while the chest moves forward and upward.
The original January 2014 newsletter referred to B.K.S. Iyengar’s detailed description of the pose in Light on Yoga. Iyengar describes the pose as working strongly through the spine, legs, chest and arms and emphasises its effect on mobility and extension through the back of the body.
Reference: B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga, p. 80.
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the Month
Chapter 2, Sutra 33
vitarkabadhane pratipaksabhavanam
The original newsletter explored this sutra through B.K.S. Iyengar’s interpretation of pratipaksabhavana: when thoughts or principles arise that run contrary to the ethical foundations of yoga, they may be countered through discrimination and the cultivation of an opposing attitude.
I chose this sutra because the idea of pratipaksabhavana gives us a useful reference point for distinguishing between constructive and destructive patterns of thought.
In a world where choice can sometimes provide excuses to move away from difficult decisions, it can be useful to have an anchor — something that helps orient us when confusion arises.
In this interpretation, that anchor is found in the Yamas and Niyamas.
The Yamas include principles such as:
- non-violence
- truthfulness
- non-stealing
- moderation
- non-possessiveness
The Niyamas include:
- purity
- contentment
- self-discipline
- self-study
- surrender
A constructive thought supports these principles. A destructive thought pulls us away from them.
This gives pratipaksabhavana more depth than simply trying to replace a negative thought with a positive one. It asks us to consider the direction in which our thoughts, attitudes and actions are taking us.
Reference: B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, p. 137.
Quote of the Month
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
Attributed in the original January 2014 newsletter to Lao Tzu.
From the 2014 Events Archive
The following activities appeared in the original January 2014 Yoga Room newsletter. They are retained here for historical interest only.
Autumn Intensive
With: Maurice McCann
Location: Yoga Room, James Street, Burleigh Heads
Morning sessions: 6:00–7:30am
Price recorded in the original newsletter: $190
The intensive was described as an opportunity to focus on vitality and optimism during autumn, strengthen the body after summer and develop practice progressively over a series of morning classes.
The surviving January 2014 source contains an inconsistent date line for this intensive, so the exact dates have not been reproduced here.
2014 Tuscany Yoga Retreat
With: Maurice McCann and Daniela Casotti
Dates: 2–9 June 2014
Location: Valdinievole, Tuscany, Italy
The retreat was planned at a 15th-century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, approximately 15 km from Lucca and 30 km from Florence.
The original programme described seven nights’ accommodation, six full days of yoga with approximately five hours of practice each day, and meals included as part of the retreat.
2014 Bali Yoga Retreat
With: Maurice McCann
Dates: 16–27 June 2014
Locations: Ubud and Munduk, Bali
At the time this January newsletter was prepared, further details for the Bali retreat were still to be announced.
From the Yoga Room archive.
Daniela Casotti and Maurice McCann
Yoga Room, Burleigh Heads