We’re really excited because the Tuscany and the Bali yoga retreats are happening next month! We’ve been busily finalising details, and they look amazing! Retreat practice gives us the space to connect with our innermost purpose, revalidate our goals, and put our regular routine into perspective. The locations are incredible!
While we’re away, the Yoga Room will still be opened. We’ll be operating on a temporary timetable – you’ll find details in this newsletter and on our website.
To add to the excitement, Peter Scott’s weekend workshop is at the end of the month. This workshop is full!
Contents:
Asanas of the Month – Ustrasana, by Peter Scott
Article of the Month – Yoga and Meditation. Learning From The Koshas
Question of the Month – What is the Anatomy of the Mind?
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the month
Quote of the Month
Upcoming Events: Peter Scott Workshop, Tuscany Retreat, Bali Yoga Retreat, Gold Coast Yoga Lifestyle Retreat.
June 2014 Timetable
Asana of the month – Ustrasana
We featured Ustrasana in the February issue of our newsletter. We are featuring the same asana, this time as explained in an article by Peter Scott published in Australian Yoga Life.
Ustrasana (Camel pose) – is named due to the hump-like appearance of the chest. Like the camel that carries its
constant reservoir of sustenance, your energy reserves will be bolstered by the inclusion of Ustrasana into your yoga practice.
For an in-depth explination of Ustrasana click here.
Article of the Month – Article of the Month – Yoga and Meditation. Learning From The Koshas
Daniela Casotti
The way we interact with the outside world is often dependent on our 5 senses- what we see, hear, smell, taste and feel. This information, combined with our memory, motivates our reactions. The gradual shift away from the senses, and the imbalances caused by the grip our memories, is meditation. There is a way to monitor this gradual shift, and that is by understanding the Koshas.
The word Kosha literally means ‘veil’. 3000 years ago, the wisdom of the yogis revealed 5 ‘veils’ (Koshas) that limit our perception of reality.
Each Kosha is seen in terms of a body with it’s own anatomy. Not only does the physical body have an anatomy, our energy system, mind and beyond also has an anatomy. Each body is interrelated and indivisible. An example of their interconnectedness can be seen when we are stressed out. The breath becomes shallow and erratic, the mind becomes agitated, the body tenses up, and confusion reigns. In this state of disarray, we can reach out to any one of the Koshas to give us a point of reference, from which we can orient ourselves again. Realigning our physical body in an asana, goes deeper than just aligning the spine with the head, shoulders, hips etc. It also works on re-aligning the physical body with the energy body, mental body, wisdom body and bliss body.
Anamaya Kosha
This Kosha is the easiest to perceive. Experiencing the state of our physical body as a collection of bones, muscles, organs and cells is the first step in bringing balance. As we deepen our awareness of Annamaya Kosha, we recognise imbalances before they manifest. We can then make wiser choices.
Pranamaya Kosha
Prana is the life force that animates all five bodies. Awareness of the breath is the first step in harmonizing this Kosha. As we stabilize the intake of oxygen, and output of carbon dioxide, the anatomy of the Pranic body begins to reveal itself to us. Complex in structure, it is easier to understand when related to our physical body.
Udana harmonises and activates our four limbs, their related muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints. It controls the area above the neck, and activates our five senses. Our thoughts and awareness of the outside world depends on the health of udana.
Prana (as related to the physical body) is the force that draws the breath into the body. It manages the region between the larynx and the top of the diaphragm. It activates muscles related to respiration and speech.
Samana Located between heart and navel, activates and controls digestion, the liver, the heart and the circulatory system. It is responsible for how nutrients are absorbed and circulated.
Apana is the force that expels the breath from the body. Located between the navel and perineum, it energises large intestines, kidneys, and the genitals. It’s health influences the expulsion of wastes from the body.
Vyana pervades the whole body. It organises and stabilises all the 5 Koshas.
Manomaya Kosha
This Kosha is the storehouse of feelings and emotions. When it gets stimulated, it reacts with a conditioned response dependent upon deposits of memories. Awareness of our thoughts is the first step in harmonizing this Kosha. By observing how long it takes from the moment we notice that our mind is busy, to the moment our mind feels peaceful again will give you many insights into how this body works.
Vigyanamaya Kosha
We access vigyanamaya kosha when, unexpectedly, we see something clearly, and all the haziness of past judgement disappears.
Anandamaya Kosha
This Kosha is beyond what the mind can process. It is the essence of our being. When connected to this body there is a spontaneous giving up of what we are not and a being of what we are.
Question of the Month – What is the Anatomy of the Mind?
Daniela Casotti
According to the theory of the Koshas, we are comprised of 5 bodies, each of which has its own anatomy. The anatomy of the Physical body is tangible, the anatomy of the Mental Body is illusive. To make any progress on this subject, first it is necessary to make a distinction between Cit and Citta
Cit
(pronounced Chit). This is the ‘vantage point’ from which the workings of the mind can be seen. Sometimes called the Seer, or the Witness. It is pure, untainted awareness, beyond the content of the mind.
Citta
(pronounced Chitta). This is the content of the mind, the reservoir of impressions that has tainted our outlook. It houses all our, memories emotions, etc
If Cit is the ‘seer’, Citta is the ‘seen’. Cit can know Citta, but it is impossible for Citta to know Cit. What makes the anatomy of the mind so illusive is that if we view it’s anatomy from Citta, the results are inconsistent, and constantly changing, depending on how we feel and what’s going on around us. If we view the anatomy of the mind from the pure untainted awareness of Cit, it can-not be labelled, otherwise we taint it with a meaning, thrusting us back into Citta… Get the dilemma?
With this in mind… the anatomy of the mind is said to be:
Buddhi The perceptive, intuitive part of the mind. The ‘higher’, ‘clearer’ mind
Citta The part of the mind where everything that has ever made an impression on us is stored. It includes, desires, attractions, aversions, and memories
Ahamkara The part of the mind that recognises ‘me’ as opposed to ‘you’. The sense of ‘I’ ness. Ego.
Manas The part of our mind that collects all the information coming in through our 5 cognitive senses (hearing, touching, seeing, tasting, smelling). It then interprets it with the help of Buddhi, Citta, and ahamkara, and then responds through the 5 senses of action (speaking, grasping, moving, reproducing and eliminating).
Above is the anatomy of the mind that can be verbalised. The rest will reveal itself to you in the process of meditation.
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the month
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Chapter 1 verse 2
yoga?cittav?ttinirodha?||2||
“Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness ”
BKS Iyengar. Light on the yoga sutras of Patanjali Pg 46.
In his exposition of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (Pg 3) Swami Venkatesananda interprets this sutra as,
“Yoga happens when there is stilling (in the sense of continued and vigilant watchfulness) of the movements of thought – without expression or suppression – in the indivisible intelligence in which there is no movement.”
The answer of the question of the month, gives us an idea as to why this sutra is so important. Most of us mistakenly identify with Citta, and all its content. However, this is possibly the most harmful and detrimental mistake we as humans can make. It is the source of all our pain and suffering.
Quote of the month
“Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation. Even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind. ”
Leonardo da Vinci
Upcoming events
The Peter Scott workshop is now full (we are taking names for a waiting list) and there are limited spaces available for the the Tuscany Retreat. Contact us immediately if you wish to attend either one of these events.
“Deepen your Practice” Workshop
Peter Scott – Senior Iyengar Teacher
When: 23rd to 25th May, 2014
Where: Yoga Room, Burleigh Heads
Price: Single $280
Take your yoga practice to a deeper level and take home skills and practices which can be integrated into your daily life.
The workshop is full, to place your name on a waiting list please call us on 0438 837 244, or email
2014 2014 Tuscany Yoga Retreat
Maurice McCann and Daniela Casotti
When: 2nd to 9th June, 2014
Where: Valdinievole, Tuscany, Italy
Price: Single €1,790
Double € 1,590
Join us on our yoga retreat in Tuscany. We will be staying in a 15th Century farmhouse just 15km from the medieval city of Lucca and 30 km from Florence. This incredible oasis lies amidst open expanses of vineyards and olive trees. 7 nights’ accommodation, 6 full days of yoga- five hours a day, and 3 meals a day are just a few things that are included in the price of this retreat. Limited spaces are available. Book now! Call 0438 837 244, or email
Check out our brochure for more information.
2014 Bali Yoga Retreat
Maurice McCann
The Bali Retreat has been shortened to seven nights in Ubud. Looking forward to an amazing retreat in Bali again this year.
When: 15th – 22nd June 2014
Where: Ubud, Bali
Price: $1,195 Single, $1,030 Shared
For more information click here.
2014 Gold Coast Yoga Retreat
Maurice McCann
When: 22nd – 31st October 2014
Where: Yoga Room, James St., Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast
Price:
Mini Retreat: $245
(full payment by 10th October)
Full Retreat: $525 early bird
(full payment by 12th September)
$590 non-early bird (full payment by 10th October)
For more information click here.
June 2014 Timetable
Due to the Tuscany and Bali Yoga Retreats we have had to modify the Yoga Room Timetable.
The following three classes are temporarily suspended from 29th May to 29th June 2014:
Monday 9:30 Beginner/General class
Friday 5:15 pm Restorative class
Saturday 6:00 am Experiencd class
We apologise for any inconvenience.
| Monday | ||
|---|---|---|
| 6.00 – 7.30 PM | General | Nicky |
| Tuesday | ||
| 6.00 – 7.30 AM | Beg./General | Kate/Hilary |
| 6.00 – 7.30 PM | General | Nicky |
| Wednesday | ||
| 9.30 – 11.00 AM | Beg./General | Nicky |
| 6.00 – 7.30 PM | General | Nicky/Kate |
| Thursday | ||
| 6.00 – 7.30 AM | Beg./General | Kate/Hilary |
| 6.00 – 7.30 PM | General | Nicky/Kate |
| Friday | ||
| 9.30 – 11.00 AM | Beg./General | Narayana |
| Saturday | ||
| 9.30 – 11.00 AM | Beg./General | Nicky |
| Sunday | ||
| 9.30 – 11.00 AM | General | Narayana |
Please note: there are no classes on Public Holidays
Daniela and Maurice
Yoga Room Burleigh Heads
www.yogaroom.com.au
info@yogaroom.com.au
+61 438 837 244