I trust this note finds you in good health and enjoying the holiday cheer, in whatever way you may be celebrating. This is a great time to reflect, rejoice, remember our goal(s), and take aim for a spectacular entry into 2012!!
Here is a bit about what I have been up to and how this week will unfold.
Mom came into town from NC last Thursday and attended our Friday morning class in Dunkirk. She enjoyed seeing the many familiar faces in class. Then of course we held classes on Saturday, Dec 24, as well.
The last few days have been full of conversation, visiting, cooking, eating (though Saturday was a fasting day as someone did inquire), long walks, and all kinds of joyous activities.
Today, mom and I are headed up to NY for our annual sojourn and shall return Wednesday evening. So there will not be classes today, tomorrow or Wednesday.
Our public classes resume Friday morning, Dec 30, in Dunkirk at 9am for our Yoga Flow class and our normal Saturday schedule will be in full swing on Dec 31. All are welcome to join us in any or all of these classes. Come on now, don’t you think Dec 31 is an ideal time to embark on our Abs class!!!
Starting Monday, January 2, we will be back into our regular class schedule and we look forward to starting the new year with all of you and rolling out more new programs and offerings in 2012!!
Namaskar,
Satyam
Tell us your tales and how you have been passing the holidays…(comment below)
Here are two thoughts or tales to keep in mind as you move through your day…
Smiles per Hour
Speed is calculated as “Miles per hour”;
but life is calculated as “Smiles per hour”.
So live in such a way as to increase your smiles,
and get extra mileage in life.
Comment: Indeed the yogis speak of how the attainment of sukha (happiness) and a’nandam (bliss) are the key aims in life, not anything else. With that one achieves everything. Whereas all other so-called attainments (wealth, status, power etc) are mere side-shows in the hope of becoming happy and being ensconced in bliss. We should always be true to ourselves and follow our most innate desire: Achieving happiness and experiencing bliss.
What Have You Gained
Someone once asked Buddha, “What have you gained from your years of meditation and mental training?”
Buddha answered, “Nothing at all. However, I will tell you what I have lost through my years of meditation and mental training: Anger, depression, insecurity, burden of old age, and fear of death.”
Comment: Through meditation and focusing the mind on a high ideal, then naturally those less desirable qualities (fear, shyness, greed, anger etc) fall by the wayside. The goal is never to overcome fear or anger, yet by meditating on a sublime ideal then those degrading attributes automatically loosen their grip on the mind until they are gone from your personae entirely.
Preparation:
1. Mix marinade;
2. Drain, press, cube tofu;
3. Place tofu in shallow pan, pour marinade on top; place in fridge for a few hours or overnight.
Thanks to all who came out today for the Enhance and Advance workshop. You brought a lot of experience and inquiry to our space and made it very successful.
And for those who could not be there, here is a recap of the workshop.
After a brief welcome and overview, we took some time to introduce ourselves and share what we hoped to gain from the day. Meditation and breathing techniques were high on the list. So we spent the first 45 minute segment talking about and practicing particular techniques. Moreover we investigated practical ways to include contemplative endeavors – meditation and half-meditation – into our daily (and very busy) lives.
We then transitioned into a gentle warm-up of asanas, breath and use of mantra. Just a slow sequence to get us going and bring balance.
Thereafter delved into balances poses and some more challenging standing sequences: From Gail’s request for 2 pointed downward dog to soaring into Warrior III and half moon.
More than that, the poses & our session became a platform for talking and sharing about our practice and what our poses are for. We discussed how it was not about looking a particular way – as every body is different – and how a single person is not meant to do ALL the poses, just those with suit them. And so much more came up: personal queries and philosophical review.
In spontaneous fashion, we entered into small exploration groups to go over particular poses. Michelle (shown here), Frannie & others tackled chaturaunga dandasana, and we discussed how chatur means four, aunga means limb, dand means staff or spine, and asana means posture. Then we practiced how the alignment fits together.
Meanwhile Sharon, Annie and Co. broke down the nuances of pigeon, making it look all too easy, and still others were working on back bends. All in all it was a time for sharing, learning and experimenting.
We summed up day by reviewing how the conception of an idea leads to its verbal expression and ultimately its physical manifestation. With that some shared goals that they had and how they were making and taking steps to achieve them.
All in all a wonderful year-end seminar and I wholeheartedly thank all for coming out!!
Each and every being is attracted toward a more subtle vibration. This brings feelings of joy, peace and contentment. This is a universal attraction for all – to find a more refined flow in life.
While no doubt we can get caught up in more crude endeavors and general busyness, it is when we return to and seek out the subtle that we feel better.
This applies to animals as well. They also want to find joy and peace in this world.
Of the 5 sense experiences – shabda (sound) – is the most subtle. That is why at the highest state of realization, the aspirant will only hear the eternal sound: Omn.
Here below is a sweet reminder how all have an appreciation for the more subtle expressions of life…
Noted below is one man’s story how he avoided major, major back surgery by taking up the practice of yoga.
While there is certainly a time and place for traditional medical intervention, many are finding that yoga helps relieve and even cure them of both minor and major health concerns.
Here we would like to invite you to share your experiences: How has yoga acted as a remedy in your life?
As we all know, yoga can help in so many ways, on so many levels: Physical, mental, social, emotional, existential, spiritual, and more. And there is no gimmick aspect to it. When you bring yourself – your constitution – into balance and alignment, naturally you will feel better, and verily be better.
So in a phrase, a word, or a series of sentences, do tell us, “How have you experienced yoga as a cure or remedy?”
Was it back pain relief (as I regularly experience)? headaches gone? inner connection made? How has yoga brought the phrases “pain-free” & “feeling good” back into your life.
Looking forward to hearing your tales and stories…
Read this well-written account of how yoga helped keep one man off the operating table, cure him of a serious back condition, and welcome so many other health benefits:
Today we welcome Sarah as our latest student spotlight…
…Sarah is a long-time participant in our Monday night Yoga for Strength & Fitness class at NECC and she and her mom have attended some of our Live Sitar and Yoga seminars as well.
In addition, Sarah is a nurse with experience at the Dept of Health and she and her husband are the proud parents of Caroline (b. June 24, 2010), with another one coming soon (!), as Sarah is now 6 months pregnant.
Here is a video of Sarah’s practice and below that is a sit-down talk we had with Sarah about yoga, life, pregnancy, and more – so please do listen to her audio file as well.
This is quite the reminder of what magnificence exists beyond human sight. This video reminds us of what things we see but don’t see in this most natural and remarkable process of pollination. Hint: Watch in Full Screen Mode…
We all want a long life – longevity, but not just that. We desire a high-quality of life as well.
Here are some yogic guidelines for a long, productive life:
1. Exercise regularly: Along with daily yoga postures, a fast-paced, 30 min walk in the open air each day, or a comparable form of exercise that is not taxing on the body is extremely beneficial. Walking is generally recommended as it is accessible to most people living in most areas of the world.
2. Eating as soon as one feels hungry: This is actually more difficult than it sounds as it also means not eating when one is not hungry. When true hunger comes then the digestive acid is released into the stomach, if food is not eaten at that time, the acid itself remains undigested and leads to acidity. On the other hand, if one eats when not hungry, when no digestive acid has been released into the stomach, then that food will not be assimilated properly by the body and leads to acidity, bloating, and a host of health problems.
3. Going to sleep as soon as one feels sleepy: We should be aware of our natural sleep cycle and not stress the body by staying awake when really the body needs sleep.
4. Regularity in contemplative practices; Daily meditation, reflection, contemplation, and deep relaxation contribute greatly to our mental well-being, which helps create a healthy physical body.
5. Fasting at intervals: Fasting, half-fasting, juice fasting, and water fasting all enable the bodily organs to rest and rejuvenate. Every engine, every machine, every process needs to experience a state of pause or rest. The same is the case with the human digestive system. In this case rest (not eating) brings renewal.
6. Washing and Bathing: In addition to a daily shower / bath, preferably with not very hot water, it is also recommended to wash the limbs, face, and nasal passages before each meal, meditation, and sleep.
7. Curd (yogurt) and raw foods: Each and every day it is advisable to eat a moderate amount of curd (ideally not processed) and / or raw foods. This practice combined with a vegetarian diet is itself a medicine or therapy for the body.
8. Getting out of bed at daybreak: Just as one should go to sleep at the proper time, it is important to rise a with the start of the day. This helps increase one’s vitality and tune one’s body to the natural cycle of life.
So those are some of the practices recommended by yogis for living a long, happy, and productive life.
Here are links to related aspects of this topic:
1. Here is a past discussion we had on “blue zones” and living a long life.
2. Discussion on Aging: This radio show aired this past week on NPR and discusses some of the scientific research related with aging.
4. And indeed there is an abundant amount of good information out there. I often find that the best articles and blogs speak to very similar points and recommendations. Share some of the info that you come across.
Question: What can work in thousands of directions, but do only two things?
Answer: The mind.
While we have all experienced how the mind can contemplate countless points and be pulled in seemingly innumerable directions, ultimately the mind can do only two things.
The mind can think and it can remember. Thus thinking and remembering are the only two functionalities of mind.
Even then, even though the mind is limited to 2 basic functions, it is not easy to perfect them. How often do we think in a misguided manner and or fail to remember something.
That is why the yogis claim that the refinement and perfection of mind is an ongoing endeavor. And the way to achieve this is through meditation or sadhana. Through repeated efforts to calm and steady the mind, it will think more clearly and remember more precisely. The more emphasis we place on refining the mind, the more beautifully it will function.
And ultimately that brings peace.
When we think in a benevolent manner and remember that which should be remembered (i.e. our human dharma), then naturally we will develop into joyous beings who are at peace with ourselves and the world around us.
Here is the recipe for the vegan Raw Pumpkin Parfait with Cranberries and Ginger Whipped “Cream” that we all enjoyed at last week’s Eating for Healing and Health seminar.
(Note: The picture to the left is not this recipe, but it does slightly resemble what we are making.)
Basically, our raw pumpkin parfait has four layers: pumpkin puree, ginger whipped cream, cranberry, and pecan. Just prepare each layer and then assemble as noted below:
Pumpkin Puree: 1/2 medium pumpkin, peeled, seeded and cut in chunks (you need to use a sugar pumpkin); 1/4 – 1/2 cup water; 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice); 2 tablespoons raw agave or sweetener of choice; 1/3 to 1/2 cup of white chia seeds.
Place pumpkin, cinnamon and agave in a food processor or high-speed blender. Pulse until pureed, adding water as needed. You will have to scrape the sides of the food processor while mixing.
Ginger Whipped “Cream”: 1/2 cup of cashews; soaked overnight, rinsed and drained; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup of coconut oil, melted; 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated; 2 tablespoons raw agave nectar.
Place cashews and water in high-speed blender, blend until smooth. Add melted coconut oil, fresh ginger, and raw agave. Process until well-blended. Transfer to container and chill until set.
Cranberry Layer: 1 cup of frozen cranberries, thawed; 1/4 cup raw agave nectar.
Place in food processor and process until puree is achieved. Some like this layer to be a little chunky.
Pecan Layer: 1 cup pecans; 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Place pecans and cinnamon in food processor. Pulse until chopped.
MASTER ASSEMBLY: In a parfait glass, place a layer of the pecans, topped with a layer of the pumpkin puree, then a layer of cranberries, and then a layer of ginger whipped “cream”. Repeat topping with more pecans.
Well, Bethanne & Kenny did it again! Today we held our 4th ever Eating Healthy seminar and it was a smashing, sumptuous success. We had a full house (18) for the event – a mix of Renaissance Yoga yoginis and Bethanne groupies.
The seminar was smooth & seamless throughout with plenty of tasty dishes for all to try, savor, and take home. We started off with “breakfast” and enjoyed donut holes (vegan of course!) that were tasty, sweet & moist. And there was much more such as energy bars, and other treats to give your morning a GO.
Lunch featured great salads including “fall slaw” with maple tahini dressing (shown here), a colorful herb and kale tabouli / tabbouleh, Marrakesh red lenil soup over fresh organic chard, and more.
Of course the great thing with Bethanne is that along the way you learn all about the properties of the foods, their healing qualities, where to get them, how to prepare the dish, and how to enjoy it. So each dish becomes a whole presentation & experience unto itself – and the entire time Kenny is quietly plugging away as the sous-chef par extraordinaire making sure everything is ready and on track.
After a great “lunch” we had a few snacks – what else!?! How about 2 kinds of popcorn that was really cauliflower: One style raw and seasoned to perfection and another dehydrated. Everyone got to pick their favorite.
So after breakfast, lunch, and snacks (of which there were multiple of everything), we had dinner.
Here is a wonderful asian noodle dish with kelp noodles and I believe this is also the dish where we used the spiralizer with a wonderful daikon radish. And of course the sesame-everything sauce was out of this world.
Here is what it looked like when it was completed – a perfect presentation as always!
Then we had a stuffed butternut squash casserole which was baked magnificently – and tasted even better!
Here you have to understand that the array of ingredients, the meticulous preparation and the tasting experience is unparalleled. Top of all we learned the secret to making this at home – and it is easier than you think.
Finally, after breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner we had – dessert. And there was a great selection!!
We had desserts like superfood brownie bites, chocolate chip cherry bites, cookies, and an incredible raw pumpkin parfait with cranberries and ginger “whipped cream” made from soaked cashews, coconut oil and more. The parfait was built in layers and everyone made their own. It was truly a work of art and tasted even better!
But to be honest, no matter what I write and how many pictures I post – you really had to be there to experience it. And it was that – AN EXPERIENCE!!!
Last but not least, we had such a great community of people present who shared, learned, and took delight in the whole program. Special thanks also to Frannie for running such a tidy ship.
Everyone left with a recipe book, plenty of food for tomorrow, and a warm feeling inside. All in all a great experience – see you at the next one!!! It is not to be missed…
During the Thanksgiving holiday, we will be offering all of our regularly scheduled classes except for on Thanksgiving day itself.
Thanksgiving Week
Wed Nov 23: YES, Classes as Scheduled
Thur Nov 24: No Class
Fri Nov 25: YES, Classes as Scheduled
Sat Nov 26: YES, Classes as Scheduled
So come on in for yoga during this great time of year.
In addition here is a special that we are offering:
Holiday Season Special for 18 – 30 Year Olds
1/2 price yoga for all persons aged 18 – 30 from Nov 25 – Dec 25. This applies to single classes and 5-week sessions. Does not include monthly passes or seminars.
Many of you have been asking about Eliza - i.e. the Eliza Jane “featured” in our documentary of Ashleigh practicing yoga while pregnant. Well here is an update…
In the below video, taken this past Sat (Nov 5) at our Free Yoga Day, Eliza Jane is 6 1/2 months old.
Great seeing you Eliza & thanks for bringing your parents!
What Have You Gained
That eternal question, “What to do with tofu?”
Thanks to all who came out today for the Enhance and Advance workshop. You brought a lot of experience and inquiry to our space and made it very successful.
In spontaneous fashion, we entered into small exploration groups to go over particular poses. Michelle (shown here), Frannie & others tackled chaturaunga dandasana, and we discussed how chatur means four, aunga means limb, dand means staff or spine, and asana means posture. Then we practiced how the alignment fits together.
Noted below is one man’s story how he avoided major, major back surgery by taking up the practice of yoga.
This year we have all kinds of gifts for you to share with friends a family…Let us know how we can help you!!
We all want a long life – longevity, but not just that. We desire a high-quality of life as well.
Question: What can work in thousands of directions, but do only two things?
Here is the recipe for the vegan 
Well, Bethanne & Kenny did it again! Today we held our 4th ever Eating Healthy seminar and it was a smashing, sumptuous success. We had a full house (18) for the event – a mix of Renaissance Yoga yoginis and Bethanne groupies.
Lunch featured great salads including “fall slaw” with maple tahini dressing (shown here), a colorful herb and kale tabouli / tabbouleh, Marrakesh red lenil soup over fresh organic chard, and more.
So after breakfast, lunch, and snacks (of which there were multiple of everything), we had dinner.
Here is what it looked like when it was completed – a perfect presentation as always!
We had desserts like superfood brownie bites, chocolate chip cherry bites, cookies, and an incredible raw pumpkin parfait with cranberries and ginger “whipped cream” made from soaked cashews, coconut oil and more. The parfait was built in layers and everyone made their own. It was truly a work of art and tasted even better!
During the Thanksgiving holiday, we will be offering all of our regularly scheduled classes except for on Thanksgiving day itself.
