Last week in various classes I was asking around to see if anyone was familiar with myrobalan. Some had heard of it – most not. So here is that promised blog post.
In India, myrobalan is also called haritaki. Hari means “that which steals” and taki means “that which cleans and enhances the glow of the skin.” That is the etymological breakdown. The basic idea is that haritaki is that fruit which removes all diseases from the body and brings a luster and shine to the skin. A fairly formidable fruit – no doubt.
This fruit is not meant to be eaten like apples, pears or bananas where you might have 2, 3 or even 4 at a time. Rather, just a tiny, small piece on a regular basis after your evening meal is enough. Or it can be soaked in water and then you can drink a small portion of the water each day.
So where to find this incredible fruit or seed? At this point, here in the US it seems to be limited to Indian shops? Of course if you go to India or other tropical places like Hawaii etc, then it is more readily available. In India, in particular, such trees are quite pervasive.
Ok, so you want to know more about this panacea of a fruit. Well, here are but some of the many articles that discuss the benefits of haritaki:
Well this is indeed a special day of the year, and here I wish to share a few reflections. I knew the day was upon us and in the past two weeks I brought the matter up in classes – now and again – just as a heads-up. All along I had every intention of giving a grand mother’s day address “at the right time.”
Then yesterday – the day before mother’s day – in front of a packed class of moms, I told tales about the baby groundhogs under my porch(!) as an expression of spring, and did not offer so much as a hint at mother’s day. Oh my, in the moment I must say that it escaped me. Immediately, after class one or two people said in a friendly way, “I was surprised you did not mention mother’s day” – (usually you do that type of thing). All I could think was how did I manage to miss that one. It had been on my radar.
In yogic communities, the concept and person of mother is truly a grand and most honorable place. Mothers are revered as the caretakers of society who nurture everyone in their formative years. The yogis say, “As the mothers of men, every male is to honor every mother and watch for their well-being.” In fact, even 60 year old males will address a 20 year old female with the respectful title of “mother”, regardless of whether she has had children or not. The role bears that much respect.
The world is a very new and foreign place to every new-born. Infants are not allured by fancy houses, exotic cars, or any material thing. Their driving force is to find love and comfort. And that is what mothers provide. The love offered in those early months and years lasts a lifetime – literally. With that as a base, a person will always feel that they have a place in this world and that they belong. So that maternal love is a key ingredient of a successful life.
Once there was a great yogi who was crying hearing that his mother had passed. A few townspeople inquired, “Why are you crying – you are beyond all worldly attachments.” The yogi replied, “I am not crying because my mother died, I am crying because I just lost the only person on this earth who would tell me when I was wrong and correct me.”
Indeed, mothers have that capacity to always look upon their children as their own – regardless of their age or social status – and help guide them in the proper way. There are not too many other people who can or will fulfill that role. And in the case of that yogi, there was none other.
So those are but a few reflections for this wonderful occasion of mother’s day 2012. Best wishes to all the mom’s of the world! And my sincere apologies to all those in class yesterday morning!
Note: I was telling a friend about my blunder and she reassuringly said, “Well talking about the baby groundhogs is along the theme of mother’s day – it’s related.” Indeed she has a point, but not quite what I had in mind…
We will not be offering classes from Sunday, May 27, thru Friday, June 1. This is a convenient time to break since already the NECC classes are off that week.
Please do note that there will be class on the Saturday (5/26) of Memorial Day weekend and our regularly scheduled classes will resume the following Saturday, June 2.
Monthly pass holders will receive a 1-week extension on their pass.
Have a great week – I will be using the time to catch up on life – and I wish you all success in your home practice.
On the occasion of this full moon, here is a special message shared in the honor of the many great sages that have taken birth on this occasion.
“…You have been blessed with human life. You must make it meaningful by your sadhana (meditation), service, and sacrifice. Engage yourself in such useful pursuits that even your worst enemies have hardly any chance to despise you. Utilize yourself in such a manner so as to satisfy yourself mentally, that you never wasted your time uselessly on this earth.” (Ananda Vanii #33)
Recently Annie, Kirk, Frannie and Chris embarked on this rooftop gardening expedition. Annie told us about it at last week’s herbal seminar and many expressed interest. So here is our report.
This of course is Annie up on her roof – doing her gardening!!! Actually, recently Annie asked me about ways to gain arm-strength. Need anything more be said. I think she has found her answer.
Now Annie tells us in her own words how this project came to be…
The Rooftop Revolution!
After 15 years, we realized that when the label said, “grows in shade” it did not actually mean “in a cave” which is basically the amount of sun our wooded lot receives.
So Kirk, fed up with our ground-level sun deficit, declared that if the sun wouldn’t come to our plants, we would take the plants to the sun, and our rooftop garden plan evolved.
Frannie of course, was thrilled, and immediately ordered enough seeds for all of Anne Arundel County, and seedlings were soon in every inch of our house.
Kirk constructed 3 beds for the roof, a soil-hoisting pulley system, and ladders for each end of the roof…and between Kirk, Frannie, Chris and I, the garden was born: greens, radishes, peas, carrots, brussel sprouts, basil, cilantro, kale, spinach, with tomatoes, squash, and others to come!
We celebrated with our first salad last weekend, and with any luck, will soon have more (unless we’re all squashed in our sleep when the roof comes tumbling down!)
So there you have it, the whole entire history of this pioneering effort. Here is more from this venture…
The elaborate Johnson pulley system, currently under patent with the Library of Congress.
Now tell us about any of your gardening ventures – and yes, strike a pose while you are out there doing your work and showing us your bounty!
This below podcast is the second in our series of free, unscripted meditation podcasts. It begins with the breath, explores scenes of visualization and dives deeper inside giving the seeker opportunity to use their intuition.
Feel free to listen to the podcast now or download it for later. Start your collection of meditation podcasts. Finally, keep in mind that the main ingredient for successful meditation is sincerity and applying oneself to the practice.
Today we had the wonderful opportunity to host our Spring Herbal Workshop led by our resident herbalist, Sharon Brewer.
At first Sharon talked about the seasons and how spring is the time when our bodies awaken, just as the earth livens up in spring. She then transitioned into springtime plants that can help bring balance and energy: Nettle, chickweed, violet, dandelion, red clover, and burrock root. Sharon emphasized how we can find these in the wild – in our own backyards. This is known as wildcrafting. She brought in samples of each plant to see.
Next we got to try these plants – tasting. Sharon first passed around a sample tea which she had made and then shared a great salad which she made exclusively by wildcrafting – save for a touch of her home-grown lettuce.
Sharon also introduced us to tinctures, tonics, and infusions. And much, much more.
Everyone left with a salve to combat “gardner’s hands”, and other skin issues.
Plus Sharon brought in so many different plants – some of which are shown above – and everyone got to depart with 2, 3, 4, or even more plants, like tomato plants, nettle, and a variety of other herbal plants.
Here – directly to the left – is that fateful moment just prior to selecting which plants we might want!
All in all it was a quality afternoon with lots of open discussion and the sharing of information.
Many thanks to all who came out and participated. Happy, happy wildcrafting and herbal gardening to all! May we all grow strong and wise and use the earth’s bounty in conscious ways to cultivate a deeper connection to ourselves, our community, the greater ecosystem and beyond….
Here below is the first in our series of free meditation podcasts. This collection has grown out of ongoing, recorded, one-on-one, private sessions.
Basically we get together, talk, and delve into meditations according to the queries, inspirations and topics that arise.
We decided that others might also be interested in exploring these mediations as well. Already a number have been recorded and we look forward to sharing more as we proceed along this journey.
The recordings vary so be sure to experiment with them as they are released and hopefully you will find some that appeal to you.
This particular meditation aims at serenity, pain-relief, and finding a space of stillness within.
Is this not something that every human being can appreciate? A spring sunrise full of oranges, yellows and the brightness of a new day.
There are certain elements of nature that are just so universal – that touch everyone’s mind and heart.
This great shot comes to us by way of Mark who was standing on the deck of his condo in Ocean City when he captured this scene. Now I know why he heads that way when the opportunity presents itself.
Are you in a place where nature strikes a deep chord within. Capture it and send it our way to share with others. Of course there are times when you just want to be still and watch and not reach for the cell phone / camera. And that is perfectly understandable.
Below is another shot Mark shared with us from that same day:
Join us for this grand gathering of yoga, melodious sounds, gentle movements, and spirituality. This is a time to refine the mind and soothe the soul, as we bend, breathe and ultimately delve deep inside.
As many of you know, Anthony Malatesta is our great sitar player, yet on this occasion he comes to us on his guitar – his home instrument. This will certainly prove to be a dynamic session. We will move our bodies and still our minds; and we will still our bodies and move our minds. All done to the melodious sounds of Anthony’s playing.
This will be an occasion to renew, refresh and be inspired. There will be ample scope for personal journeying as well as collective movement and meditation. Experience how the subtlety of yoga is neatly complemented by the soothing balm, healing touch, and gentle sounds of the world of music.
What to bring: Yoga mat, eye pillow (optional, we will provide), yoga block (optional, we will provide).
Here is a display of balance and counter-balance that is very helpful for anyone on the path of yoga. In particular, key in to the footwork – it is an art form…
Be sure to listen to Janel’s podcast below… Meet Janel and hear about her interesting life transition.
As we know, the field of yoga is vast from conception of mind to physical postures and every aspect of life in between. It all counts in building the human personality – and that is what yoga is about: The development of self.
Janel, a regular in our classes, decided to open up one of those doors of yoga that truly impacts one’s way of daily living. See what she did, how it helped her, and where her journey might lead.
Do listen to her honest and forthcoming interview below as she has lots to share.
Update Saturday Apr 14: This morning in class someone inquired why Janel became a vegan. So I asked her to respond in a few short lines and here is what she said.
Janel’s reply: The starting point for switching to a vegan diet began in class, believing that extra weight was a hindrance to my practice. It really is Satyam’s fault. When your yoga teacher extends that thought that food can change the way you feel in a matter of weeks, I knew I would give it a try! It has made a world of difference.
The east and west certainly did develop differently and this contrast is most stark when comparing India and the US. Now trends and ideas are mixing more freely between the two, but for centuries and centuries the outlook was incredibly different and this applied to the world of music as well.
About the kanjira from Wikipedia:
The kanjira, khanjira or ganjira, a South Indian frame drum, is an instrument of the tambourine family. It is used primarily in concerts of Carnatic music (South Indian classical music) as a supporting instrument for the mridangam. The kanjira have been used since 1880’s, and was added to classical concerts during the 1930s.
Similar to the Western tambourine, it consists of a circular frame made of the wood of the jackfruit tree, between 7 and 9 inches in width and 2 to 4 inches in depth. It is covered on one side with a drumhead made of monitor lizard skin (specifically the Bengal monitor, Varanus bengalensis, now an endangered species in India), while the other side is left open. The frame has a single slit which contain three to four small metal discs—often old coins—that jingle when the kanjira is played.
Come discoverthe subtle energy system known as chakras. What are they? Where are they? How do they function? What effect do they have on the physical body – and the mental body? And the all important query: Are they real?
In this unique seminar, we will explore all these queries and much more. This open forum will feature theoretical review, practical demonstrations, and meditative techniques. The aim will be to gain a greater understanding of the yogi’s view of the human structure – from the inside out.
Here are some pictures from our “growing” Renaissance Yoga community.
Shown here is Lillian Cecile David, or Lilly, about 1 week after she was born.
Lilly was born on March 13 so she is now just over 3 weeks old. Lilly is the 2nd daughter born to Sarah & Buddy.
Sarah is a regular in our Monday night (NECC) class.
Sarah reports to us that she hopes to resume her yoga class in May. As you may recall Sarah was featured in one of our student spotlights while pregnant with Lilly.
Congratulations to Sarah and Buddy on their growing family. It was only a year or two ago that they had their first, Caroline.
Next we have Annie Johnson (left) who took the opportunity of spring break to head down to Florida along with her cousin Lisa for a little R & R on the warm, sunny beaches.
And yes, they squeezed in a bit of yoga as well! Actually they struck a nice pose of a half-lotus twist variation – for lack of a better name.
This next pic features another of our young ones…
We come to a pic from one of our recent events – the Renaissance Yoga vegetarian potluck.
The good looking guy on the left is Evan, born to Sarah and Tim of Shady Side.
Evan and I became glued to each other for a bit during the potluck. During our time together it became quite apparent to me that Evan had taken several rounds or servings of food over the course of the evening – which is what potlucks are all about. So he was right on key.
Even then all those portions did not slow down Evan at all. He was ready to do any and everything at that potluck. There was not a place he did not want to go or a person he did not want to see. And yes I got tired and had to make the pass off to Dad.
So those are but some of the images these days of our able and growing Renaissance Yoga family.
The account of the downfall of one of the most famous asana teachers in the contemporary American yoga movement has gone mainstream. A link to the feature article in the Washington Post is below.
Now that the matter has come in such a grand way to the mainstream press, I feel again it is important to address, or at the very least recognize the article.
Here are just a few thoughts to consider.
As we know, yoga is not just about the pose; yoga is more about being a living example of an ideal – a high ideal. This means polishing the mind: Keeping it pure, honest, straight and truthful through meditation and abiding by all kinds of moral principles (yama and niyama). A great support in this aim is keeping the body healthy. When the body is healthy the mind tends to be more buoyant and positive. Hence, we practice yoga asanas (postures). Asanas when done properly definitely are a mind-body practice.
All this seems to have been totally lost on Mr. Friend and certain elements of his Anusara yoga community. In fact his dealing was so far out there – so outlandish, it is hard to say, or even think, that he was even involved in yoga at all. Whatever may be, when one deviates from the truth, then a fall is bound to occur. That is exactly what happened here.
Last week in various classes I was asking around to see if anyone was familiar with myrobalan. Some had heard of it – most not. So here is that promised blog post.
On the occasion of this full moon, here is a special message shared in the honor of the many great sages that have taken birth on this occasion.
Today we had the wonderful opportunity to host our Spring Herbal Workshop led by our resident herbalist, Sharon Brewer.
Here – directly to the left – is that fateful moment just prior to selecting which plants we might want!
Is this not something that every human being can appreciate? A spring sunrise full of oranges, yellows and the brightness of a new day.
Meet Janel and hear about her interesting life transition.
Next we have Annie Johnson (left) who took the opportunity of spring break to head down to Florida along with her cousin Lisa for a little R & R on the warm, sunny beaches.
The good looking guy on the left is Evan, born to Sarah and Tim of Shady Side.
