My Aunty used to say to me, “When you’re young you want time to go faster, and when you get older, you want time to slow down”. The older I get the more I realise my aunt’s very wise words. This year has flown! Perhaps you’ll get a new perspective of yoga and time when you read this month’s Article and Question. Enjoy
Contents:
Asanas of the Month – Iyengar 1977 yoga demonstration
Article of the Month – Yoga, A Different Perspective
Question of the Month – Where do I find the time to do yoga?
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the month
Quote of the Month
Upcoming Events:
Gold Coast Yoga Lifestyle Retreat,
Tuscany Retreat 2015,
Bali Yoga Retreat 2015,
Previous newsletters
Asana of the month
This is a video of BKS Iyengar doing an innovative series of Yoga Asana with ease and grace. It demonstrates incredible body control and razor sharp focus. It was shot in 1977… He was a couple of months away from turning 60! Click here to see this amazing demonstration on YouTube.
Article of the Month – Yoga, A Different Perspective
Daniela Casotti
Literally, yoga means union, but what does that actually mean? A common interpretation is that yoga unites body, mind and Spirit. But have you ever considered what is involved in bringing together the complexity of the body, the duality of the mind, and the mystery of the spirit?
The mind is dualistic in nature. It is influenced by opposite forces. Concepts like right and wrong, positive and negative, valuable and invaluable, are ever present. They are necessary when dealing with other people, places and things. But kept unchecked, opposites can disconnect us from experiencing deeper levels of our mind, rule the way we use our body, and taint our experience of Spirit. It is the forces of opposites that yoga initially sets out to unite.
Hatha Yoga, one of the most popular types of yoga in the West, is based on merging opposites. ‘Ha”, relating to physical energy, and ‘Tha’ relating to mental energy are harmonized through the usage of Asana and Pranayama. The Iyengar Yoga method takes it one step further, and adds the concept of alignment. It uses precise actions coupled with intelligence, involving both body and mind, and bringing about conscious unity.
However, before uniting opposites is possible, it’s important to realise that opposites are a partnership. They are both an interconnected whole, and their relationship with one another is rarely static. What may bring a united result in one scenario, may bring a conflicting result in another. Unity can never be restored unless both sides are given equal importance. One side cannot be viewed as better than the other without sending the partnership plummeting into conflict and disharmony. Unity can only be achieved when opposites integrate, and can only be sustained through collaboration. Unity is never stagnant!
Yoga asana give us the opportunity to observe and comprehend the interplay of opposites. Through consciously moving, and watching the effects of every action- harmony can be experienced once alignment is perfected. An alert, yet effortless stillness prevails- a perfect environment to spot fluctuations in equilibrium. We begin to understand how much tension and relaxation is required in different scenarios (postures) to balance the opposite effects of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Physical and mental wellbeing is restored, and we come to realise that going beyond the interplay of opposites bring peace of mind.
However, yoga is more than uniting body and mind. It seeks to unite body, mind and Spirit. Yoga is not a religion, and therefore doesn’t give a meaning to Spirit. Paradoxically, it says that if you try to intellectualise Spirit, you will be missing the point.
Looking at yoga from a different perspective may provide some insight into this mystery. Consider the mind and body as tools. The mind is a tool for thinking, and the body a tool for acting. Yoga sharpens the tools and shows us where the power points are. Plug them in, connect with the operator and master the job of living.
Question of the Month – Where do I find the time to do yoga?
Daniela Casotti
How many times have you caught yourself saying, “I don’t have time to do yoga”? Once I asked my teacher ‘how much time should we spend doing yoga each day?’ He laughingly said ‘15 minutes, unless you’re busy. Then do 30 minutes!”
Yoga quietens the mind, and you see things clearer after you’ve done it.
According to yoga, the mind has three main layers- consciousness (chitta), Intellegence (buddhi), and the sense mind (manas).
- Manas is the layer that spends all its time dealing with external information. Media, work stress, computers, shopping and dealing with the general public etc, consumes all of its attention. There’s so much external information all day every day, and most of it’s irrelevant. Kept unchecked, manas snowballs out of control, obscuring us from what’s important. We end up chasing our own tail and trying to keep up with what’s in front of us. Without ‘time out’, information accumulates, distractions pile up, and life becomes chaotic. It’s usually at this point that we find ourselves saying ‘I don’t have enough time’.
- Chitta is influenced by past impressions and future expectations. Things that we’ve learnt, conversations that we’ve had, are all stored in chitta. It also stores our hopes and dreams. Kept unchecked it forms habits, influences the way that manas comprehends the external information, and restricts us from moving forward. Unless we are mindfully aware of what chitta is up to, we can be swayed by unproductive emotions that blind us from the reality of the present moment.
- Buddhi situated between manas and citta is like the director, it tells us which way to orient our focus. Buddhi decides how much information we need from manas and how much we need from chitta, to comprehend continuously changing scenarios. Our actions rely on this assessment. From buddhi shines the light of awareness. But kept unchecked, buddhi gets overwhelmed by external information and circums to habitual responses. As a result, the ‘light’ of awareness becomes dim, and clarity eludes us.
Yoga practice strengthens Buddhi. Without a well-developed buddhi, the mind is a double edge sword. It spins around without a focus. Productivity slows down, while time flies. Efficiency is the result of a well-toned Buddhi. A robust buddhi gives us the courage to orient ourselves towards what serves our higher purpose. It gives us the power to rise above both manas and citta, and choose what percentage of each is needed to get the job done efficiently, effectively and for the good of all. The more finely honed buddhi is, the less time is wasted.
So next time you catch yourself saying ‘I don’t have time to do yoga’, slow down. This may be the time you need it the most.
Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the month
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Chapter 2 Verse 41
sattva?uddhisaumanasyaik?gryendriyajay?tmadar?anayogyatv?ni ca||41||
“When the body is cleansed, the mind purified and the senses controlled, joyful awareness needed to realise the inner self, also comes.”
BKS Iyengar. Light on the yoga sutras of Patanjali Pg 146.
Quote of the month
“Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary … it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent ”
Yehudi Menuhin
Upcoming events
Mini Yoga Retreat
Maurice McCann
When: Mini Retreat 22nd to 24th October, 2014
Where: Yoga Room, Burleigh Heads
Price: $245 Mini Retreat
Five hours of yoga a day, for three days at The Yoga Room – just a stone’s throw from beautiful Burleigh Beach. They’ll be plenty of time in between to bask in the sun, surf, swim, walk through the national park and sit in cafes soaking up the carefree vibes.
This a gem of an opportunity to take some time out, top up your yoga practice, and refresh your outlook.
Book now! Call 0438 837 244, or email
2015 Tuscany Yoga Retreat
Maurice McCann and Daniela Casotti
When: 31st May to 12th June, 2015
Where: Montecatini, Tuscany, Italy
Price: Share € 2,490, Single € 2,790
We have downloaded the amazing photos Laura took on the last Tuscany Yoga Retreat. Click here to see them! As you can see, this spot is nothing short of spectacular.
Now it’s time to get organised. Secure your holiday dates. Put down a deposit of € 250 as soon as possible to reserve your place. Start saving a couple hundred dollars a week. Stay on top of the cheap airfares, and make sure you get there. This yoga retreat is a must!
An early bird discount of € 100 is available for full payments received by 31st December.
Contact the Yoga Room for further information on 0438 837 244 or email.
Click here to see the Brochure
2015 Bali Yoga Retreat
Maurice McCann & Daniela Casotti
When: 15th – 27th June 2015
Where: Nusa Lembongan & Sideman, Bali
What makes this yoga retreat really special is that it will be held in non-touristy spots, and there is an early bird price if you book before 31st December; $1990 for Shared and $2250 for single!
The yoga retreat starts off at mushroom bay, which is surrounded by magnificent beaches. It gets visitors during the day, but most of them hop on a boat in the afternoon and go back to the main land. The locals who run the place where we hold the yoga retreat are like family to us, and really look forward to meeting our students.
On the second half of this yoga retreat, we’ll be going to an even more remote spot. Sideman is in the mountains. Because it’s off the beaten track, it’s rarely visited by tourists. It’s layback, peaceful, and true to the Bali way of life. Here are some photos to give you an idea of Bali’s beauty. If you want to experience the real Bali, complete with its’ peaceful environment and big-heart generosity, this is a yoga retreat that will inspire you!
For more information click here.
Daniela and Maurice
Yoga Room Burleigh Heads
www.yogaroom.com.au
info@yogaroom.com.au
+61 438 837 244