Inner Light Outer Peace Yoga Blog

Have you ever passed someone on the street who was apparently angered and then felt a sudden change in yourself? Have you ever walked into a room occupied by people who are happy and then felt a sense of calm and joy wash over you? I try to explain this phenomenon by using Peanuts character Pigpen as an example. He always has that cloud of dust and dirt around him. When we are in a negative internal state, we walk around like Pigpen, exposing others to our toxic energies.

Beautifully said, Babaji explains the idea of mantra and how we connect energetically to that outside of ourselves. Watch for yourself, it only takes a minute.

Meditation
for people who can’t sit still long enough to meditate.

Meditation Workshop at Harmony Yoga, 48 Union Street, Stamford
Thursday, November 20, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

So you think you can’t meditate because your mind is “chattering too much”? You’re not alone.
Come learn a few simple techniques in both pranayama (breathing) and meditation that can help
you find the soothing calm that exists inside. You’ll amaze yourself, and leave with a newfound
respect for the power of meditation. Ann Russell will lead this enlightening workshop.

Ann Russell is a certified 500-hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher.
She’s been teaching yoga and meditation in Fairfield County
for over eight years, you’ll love her unique energy.

RSVP by contacting Carol Shwidock
962-4672 or carol @ harmonyogastudio . com

Register in advance: $35
Day of workshop: $40

Now I have seen it all.

Today’s Yoga news, tells the story of a Yogi living in flood plains, inventing and perfecting water Yoga. The man says he is happy with the success of becoming famous in his village as people come to spectate his water Yoga performances. He hope to someday be world famous through his Yoga practice. Fans hope one day he will walk on water. Read it here, if you dare.

The West is often criticized for capitalizing on Yoga and turning it into another business machine with chain studios popping up coast to coast, materializing a spiritual practice. Instructors now get quickie certifications and teach asana (postures) as fitness with little regard to the sutras (scriptures) much less breath awareness as a result more students than ever are suffering injuries on their path to not enlightenment but the perfect butt clad in the hottest Lulu Yoga pant. Criticism and concern is valid in this regard.

Meanwhile, some bizarre Yoga news comes out of India more and more frequently. Last year, famed cricket player, Sachin Tendulkar was caught on camera being forced into dangerous positions by his personal ‘guru’ (an ‘expert’ from Thailand) after his team trainings.

Or even Bikram Choudhury, native of India, placing patent on his posture flows and birthing Yoga competitions, awarding prizes for ‘perfection’.

The lesson here? A lesson I learned at Kripalu during teacher training. Practice and maintain discernment. If it is Eastern it is not necessarily ‘authentic’ and if it is Western it is not necessarily driven by capitalism. Take your Yoga with eye’s, heart and mind open on every part of the planet.

p.s. Aqua Yoga has also been developed in the U.S. with the intent to offer therapeutics for various ailments. It should be noted that for some practitioners with respiratory or heart ailments that the added pressure of water on the body makes this a questionable practice.

If the body is our temple, treat is wisely and lovingly, keep your eyes and mind open, do a little research before blindly diving in to any practice.

Yogini Virginia shined some light on NPR for me last week. She mentioned a radio program called “Speaking of Faith” that airs on Sunday mornings 7-8am.

Check out their page to listen to interviews with Matt Sanford and Seane Corn.

Click here to listen to NPR, Speaking of Faith, Yoga with Seane Corn as well as read and watch more in-depth.

Thanks Virginia for sharing this goodie with us!

Meet Les!

In whatever studio or space - indoor and out - Les brings his Yoga communities a ready and warm smile. Sometimes attending class along with sister, Christine, their Yoga can be a beautiful family affair. He usually has interesting stories to share whether focused on family, work or fun adventures fishing or doing Yoga on the beach - one trip he practiced seven days in a row!

All around he adds color and depth to our community and we are glad to have him! He is the Dew Yogi of the month for September. I asked him the usual questions about Yoga…

Q: How long have you been practicing Yoga?

A: I have been practicing yoga for about 8 years.

Q: What fills your time off the mat?

A: Off the mat I am a master carpenter, co-developed, and run the service department for a high end custom builder in Greenwich and Manhattan. Continue reading “Dew Yogi of the Month - Les Melich”

Ann Russell is leading a 3-part Workshop!
Sundays:
October 5, November 2 & December 7, 2008
4:00 - 5:30pm

Ann Russell, RYT-500hr, will lead this series exploring three advanced Yoga practices.

Bandhas – utilizing psychomuscular locks
Pranayama – breath control & retention
Kriyas – cleansing practices including neti

This is a great opportunity over a three month period to learn new skills to use in your weekly practice. A month’s pause is given between classes in order to integrate the experiences before taking them deeper in the next class.

Ann received her 500-hr certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. She has also studied extensively with extraordinary teachers coast to coast.

This workshop is for experienced students. Please call Elysa, Jen or Ann if you have any questions about participation. Cost: $105.00/person. Pre-registration for all 3 classes is required. Sorry, no make-ups will be offered for this very special series. Contact us to reserve your space. Minimum 6 students required. Please bring your own Neti pot to the third class, ask us if you have any question, they are available at Mrs. Greens or CVS for less than $20 and should last a lifetime.

Dew Yoga at Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy, 72 Camp Avenue, Stamford, CT 06907
www.dewyoga.net ~ info@dewyoga.net ~ (203) 524-2919 or (203) 246-6163

Observing the visual beauty of a skunk Mary Oliver wrote and reminds us…

“…for it’s true, isn’t it,
in our world,
that the petals pooled with nectar, and the polished thorns
are a single thing –
that even the purest light, lacking the robe of darkness,
would be without expression –
that love itself, without it’s pain, would be
no more than a shruggable comfort.”

It’s a beautiful poem, you can read the whole thing here.

Meet Sarah, our Yogi of the month of August and there could not be a more fitting human to honor in this month of sunshine, even when it rains Sarah lights up the studio with her radiant open heart. We have known Sarah through Yoga in many different spaces, youth soccer and school. In all arenas she shines.

I asked her the usual questions and here is what she shared.

Q. How long have you been practicing Yoga?

A. I’ve been practicing yoga for about 9 years.

Q. What fills your time off the mat?

A. Off the mat I have been busy for the past 3 years pursuing a masters in school counseling. It’s been a challenge being a full-time student while parenting 2 teenagers, nurturing my marriage, and managing a house and a dog.

Q. How does Yoga affect your life off the mat?

A. Yoga has kept me sane and grounded and it’s something I look forward to every week. It is one of the only times in my week when I “unplug” from my cell phone and email for an hour or two.

Q. What would you like to share with others about Yoga?

A. In the beginning I worried about doing yoga “right”! As I grew in my practice, I came to appreciate how the practice of yoga is a unique experience for every individual, so it is always “right” for me.

In my experience, yoga has never been about the “place” but about the people– the sense of spirit and the community. It’s been such a pleasure to practice with Elysa and Jen and the community they’ve built over the past several years. I’m deeply grateful to everyone with whom I’ve shared a class through the years. You’ve all been part of my “gift” of yoga.

Jen says… And we are grateful to you Sarah for always supporting us with love, wisdom and sunshine! Join us in wishing her well as she begins a new professional adventure this Fall offering support and guidance to High School students.

Kids Yoga
Eight weeks of fun with Elysa DeMartini, RYT
For children age 8 - 12
Tuesdays 4:00 – 5:00pm
September 16 – November 4, 2008

Your little Yogi is sure to enjoy this after school series to stretch, twist, laugh, play and relax. Come join the fun and let your spirits soar exploring who you are!

Elysa DeMartini is a Dew Yoga teacher certified in the Kripalu tradition and certified by Yoga Ed. for children’s Yoga. Her full bio can be seen at www.dewyoga.net

Pre-registration is required. Minimum 8 participants required. Cost: $120.00 for the series. Contact us to reserve your space or with any questions.

Saturday, August 23, 2008, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Absolute Beginner Workshop

If you missed the first one, here is another opportunity to be introduced to the practice of Yoga!

For beginners or those returning to practice after a time away this two hour class will prepare you to drop in on any Open or Basic class. Learn the fundamentals of Pranayama (Breathing), the foundation Asana (Postures) and enjoy a guided meditation.

Workshop led by Elysa. Questions will be welcome at the workshop, if you have any in advance, contact us.

$35.00/person, please pre-register, minimum 6/maximum 12 participants.