(1. 14) SA TU DIRGHA KALA NAIRANTARYA SATKARASEVITO DRDHABHUMIH

.:study, teach, learn, practice, practice, study, teach, teach, practice, learn:.

Primary Series with Scott York

Primary Series with Scott York

Primary Series with Scott York

About the Opening Mantra

Scott referenced this link in his closing discussion about the opening Ashtanga Mantra. The Pineapple Yoga site includes a recording of Guruji chanting the Mantra along with breakdown of discussion of the opening and closing chants. Enjoy!

Om   Vande Gurunam charanaravinde Sandarshita svatmasukavabodhe Nishreyase jangalikayamane Samsara halahala mohashantyai  Abahu purushakaram Shankhacakrsi dharinam Sahasra sirasam svetam Pranamami patanjalim  Om

Passage Meditation

When I finally chose to read the Bhagavad Gita, I chose a translation by Eknath Easwaran. I have been happy with my choice, as Easwarn's style speaks to me. I researched more on Easwaran and learned that he is known for helping establish Passage Meditation. Pick an inspirational passage, memorize it. Say it over and over when you need guidance the most...it's a concentrated effort to find peace. It's a form of dharana, focus with concentration. I like to find my passage meditation in lyrics to songs. One of my favorites is Love Rescue Me by U2/Bob Dylan.

100 things...

1. wake up
2. seated meditation
3. brush my teeth
4. floss my teeth
5. chant in the shower
6. chant in the car
7. take a nap
8. fall asleep
9. eat food
10. drink tea
11. clean the counters
12. sweep the floor
13. make the bed
14. fold laundry
15. check e-mail
16. talk on the phone
17. walking meditation
18. shower
19. wash my face
20. put on lotion
21. comb my hair
22. comunicate with others
23. pray
24. contemplate
25. listen
26. visit my family
27. take care of myself
28. listen to music
29. dance
30. pranayama
31. lead asana
32. assist asana
33. practice asana
34. clean the car
35. journal
36. self - study
37. observe
38. love
39. be grateful
40. walks
41. making food
42. read
43. study
44. write
45. wash the dishes
46. driving
47. hydrating
48. patience
49. pick up trash
50. painting
51. sketching
52. daily vitamin
53. kisses
54. hugs
55. looking for inspiration
56. looking for beauty in nature/others
57. singing
58. forgiveness
59. supporting friends and family
60. smiling
61. taking out garbage
62. water plants
63. organizing
64. eliminating
65. mopping the floor
66. vacuuming
67. lighting candles
68. silence
69. being
70. exploring
71. experimenting
72. accepting
73. faith
74. ahimsa
75. spending time with my sister
76. listening to my body
77. trying new things
78. making cookies
79. juicing
80. going to the movies
81. going out to eat
82. staying in touch
83. learning
84. experiencing
85. non-attachment
86. bundling up
87. laughing
88. happiness
89. headstands
90. growing
91. walking slower
92. eating slower
93. listening more closely
94. talking less
95. trying new things
96. letting go of fear
97. splits
98. family time
99. alone time
100. sweets

etc. etc. etc.
- ashley -

100 Personal Yogas

walk dog

fall asleep

wake up

snap out of it

wash dishes

pick up legos

asana with class

pranayama with class

assist class

lead class

wash dog

clean bathroom

make bed

fold laundry

walk silently

run a bit

laugh

talk to myself

play video game

use will to find good parking spot

bite off chocolate

eat rice

drink tea

drink water

read book out loud

read silently

climb tree

climb ladder

watch fish swim

cut fingernails for my child

hold still in a breeze

watch squirrels

ride horse

brush horse

take photos

view photos

kayak

swim

jump on the trampoline

lay in the sun

watch insects walk around the patio

sharpen pencil

plant garlic

tend tomato plants

tend flowers

sweep out truck

sweep house

sweep studio

dust all of the above

use windex on anything

serve tea

sit on Mt. Shasta

listen to ocean

walk in cave

walk in desert

play with kids

puja

asana

pranayama

meditation

play in creek

look down while flying

navigate while traveling

meet people

be in new landscapes

be in the studio

be in our home

play tennis

bake bread

cut vegies

put butter on hot bread

tie shoes for kids

draw with chalk on the road

sled down a steep hill

walk in a blizzard

shovel the yard like art

light incense

catch a frog

feed a calf

tube down a river

plant a tree

sort sort sort

watch someone be themselves

make love

listen to my child sing

listen to chickadees

watch crows gather

sit in a boat on Lake Champlain

do math in my head

the entire process of sugaring

practice svadyaya

watch live theatre

watch children perform

put a puzzle together

listen to my honey chant

ice skate

tend a fire

watch a fire

chant

mantra

Sthamba

Sthamba: the pause between breaths.

Sthamba is also a pillar or column that connects heaven and earth; connecting the material to the spiritual.

A grounding discovery

Anuloma Pranayama: with the grain; in the natural order.

In doing a little research on Ayurveda I came across Anuloma Pranayama, and had to look it up. (It's recommended as a way to ground people with an imbalance of vata). Anyway, here's a (semi) brief description of how it works...

The right hand is in Vishnu Mudra, the index and middle finger folded in towards the palm (same mudra that's used in Nadi Shodhana).
When exhaling one nostril will be completely closed and the other side will be partially closed, to slow down the exhale.

Here's how it goes:

Inhale through both nostrils.
Hold the breath in with bandhas on.
Close the left nostril with ring finger, and use the thumb to partially close the right nostril.
Exhale through the partially closed right nostril.
Completely empty the lungs, then lower the hand.
Inhale through both nostrils.
Hold the breath in with the bandhas on.
Close the right nostril with the thumb, and use the ring finger to partially close the left nostril.
Exhale through the partially closed left nostril.

That's one complete round.
Repeat.

Message In A Button

Yooooo! Happy Sunday!

So I was at a store awhile ago and they had all of these pin on buttons that said different things...Mom's Rock (I got one for my sister), a bunch of other ones, and then I saw this button that said "Being nice to people is a really good idea". I thought hey, that is a good idea! I could totally pin this on my bag and wouldn't that be a great message to spread to other people, maybe they would read it and try to be nicer. I wasn't thinking like Barbie nice where your face hurts from smiling and you give everything away to anybody because they ask for it ( like both of your kidneys for example, which would be waaaay nice, but potentially life threatening and excessive). I was thinking consideration...tolerance for other people's human-ness... and possible bad days, etc...So I pinned my bag and felt like Ms. America walking around spreading my message of "Nice-ness".

Well, one morning I was walking down Church Street and this big lumbering guy who had this big scruffy yellow/gray beard and an eye patch was talking and yelling out loud. I couldn't really decipher what he was saying, so as I pass by him he starts yelling louder "Hey mmdfds sdmfdf, kind of sounds like what he said, then he says it again. So I speed-pass by him (we are only a few feet from the bank, which was where I was headed) he's mumbling shouting more and I walk/hop the last foot and make a bee line into the bank (did I mention he had a crutch also?) SO, I am finished at the bank and am heading for the door, when I practically ram into THE GUY FROM THE STREET!!!!!

........erggggggg..... suddenly I realize what the guy had been shouting... he had been asking me to hold the g-darn door for him!!!! I was so weirded out that I panicked and blew right by the guy with the crutch AND the eye patch, didn't hold the door, all the while sporting a "being nice to people is a really good idea!" button, I think I must have turned 5 bazillion shades of red....

So...that is when I realized that the button on my bag was not a message for other folks, but a reminder for me....kind of like my very own version of a yogic Emily Post(but less up-tight). Blast! I chucked my lip-gloss,tiara, and crest super white smile sportin' Miss. America vision of bettering the world and decided it was better to better myself!

the end

no offense to Miss America or those aspiring or tiaras or super bright smiles or Emily Post

Off the mat

I've been wondering if teaching yoga makes a difference in my students' lives. Before my last class I heard a conversation that makes me think it is worth more than most people let you know. Surprisingly these people weren't talking about how great their backbends are or how flexible their hamstrings ...

One of my newest students made a comment about the class being difficult. Another replied that yes it is hard, but now when she drops something at work she doesn't look around for someone else to pick it up for her. Another person started talking about how much easier it is to get out of bed in the morning. And another about how practicing helps to keep her calm. The benefits discussion went on for a few minutes and the reasons they practice are varied.

These are from people I've been teaching for years and I had no idea. I had been thinking about how to convince them to practice yoga even when they aren't on their mats. Now I know that they have each found their own way to use yoga in their lives. It isn't something I need to teach them like assigning homework.
It just happens,
and it's wonderful to be a part of.

Danny Morris Anusara Yoga

Danny Morris Anusara Yoga

Danny Morris Anusara Yoga