"Thank you, M'am"

   I love to engage taxi drivers. They almost always seem to be from somewhere else. The young man who driving the cab I eventually got into was from Pakistan, the Swat Valley. I don't really know much about his country, but I've heard that this is a very beautiful place, and quite a tourist destination. I said how ironic it is that he left a tourist destination to work in a tourist destination. He let me know that he couldn't earn enough at home to support his whole family: wife, 1 child, parents, sister. Women don't work where he is from, and his little girl is only 2. He told me that he works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week driving a cab: 5 pm - 5 am. For this, maybe he gets to go home every 1 1/2 or 2 years, and stay for around 40 days. He said, 'this is no life.' I asked him if he thought his family appreciated his efforts to support them, and the sacrifices he made to do it. His answer was that there was no choice. I offered that most people are willing to go to great lengths to help the people we love, but that feeling appreciated makes it easier. We shared a laugh about that, acknowledging that no-one feels 'too appreciated.' I reflected that it must be strange for him to be living in a place of such great wealth, and his answer surprised me. He said that most of the people didn't seem happy. They have more problems, and so many needs. He did acknowledge that they have an easier time getting their basic needs met, which makes their life a little easier. There is no end to human suffering.
     I told him that I am here teaching yoga teachers. He said, "Oh, yoga, I can't do that. It's so hard!" I agreed that it's 'hard,' but that he could do it, just to whatever extent possible. That yoga isn't really about contorting your body into strange shapes, but ultimately about finding happiness in life, just as it is, regardless of your external circumstances. It made me wonder if this would be possible for this young man.
     Confronting reality can be so painful. As an optimistic person, I'm always looking for the bright side. But seeing his plight, and seeing no way out, how on Earth could I genuinely help this person? Maybe asking him about his life and listening to his answer and feeling some of his burden helps to lighten his load. Maybe smiling and being kind and interested and valuing him as a human being helps. When we got to my apartment he said that this was a very nice neighborhood, very expensive place to live. It is a very lovely neighborhood, quite safe and beautiful. It's not ritzy, but to him, it probably looks like heaven. It made my heart break that there is no way he could even aspire to the level of luxury that I take for granted. How must it be for him to see and feel and know that? How could anyone make sense of this? Who is born where and under what circumstances, and why? How can I take credit for anything I've ever done, when I have the privilege of being born in relative affluence? I grew up rather poor by American standards, but by worldly standards, I am among the richest on Earth. How could I ever complain about anything?
     Getting out of his cab, I offered a 30% tip, saying, "I don't know what might be able to change for you in your life, but I hope you can find some happiness. He said, "thank you, m'am."

Bodhisattva in the taxi queue

     Standing in the queue for a taxi last night was an interesting experience. I came from Balance Center with my hair all pulled back in a pony tail, coated in oil from the spa treatment. There were only 3 groups in front of me, and I didn't think I would be waiting too long. Just behind me were two women: one maybe my age, one quite a bit younger, along with two little ones, maybe ages 2 and 4. The littlest one slept most of the time in a slumped upright position in a stroller, while the other looked was standing up, looking around and engaging her mom. At one point, the older woman turned to the group of teenagers standing just behind us in the parking lot and asked them what they wanted, and why they were staring. She threatened to call the police if the boys didn't stop talking about them. I hadn't been aware of the distress, but admired her for addressing them directly.
     The first cab came right away. It was the first night of the weekend, and traffic was at a standstill. The next empty cab didn't arrive for 20 minutes. As the line moved along, I kept thinking about the Bodhisattva vow: to let everyone "go in front of you." I haven't taken the vow, but I think about it all the time. Essentially, it's an aspiration to help all of humanity, and utilizing your life in service of others. I realized that there would be no end to the line for me, if I kept letting everyone go in front of me. This is part of the point, I think, that there is no end to human suffering. I thought about how I'd gotten to work at 8:30 am, and now it was 8:40 pm, and I was really hungry.
     When I was standing in the front, I kept thinking that when the cab came for me, I would step aside and let the women with the small children go in front of me. Just as I made that decision, a cab pulled up. I was about to tell them, when a man wearing the local dress who hadn't been standing in line walked up to the cab before it got to me, opened the passenger door, and got in. There were two security men observing the situation, and tension began to rise. A young, very skinny boy three or four behind me in the queue walked up to the security guy to complain. I couldn't hear the conversation, but saw the security man gesture toward me, indicating that I was next in line anyway, and so it didn't matter about his complaint. The boy stood by the passenger window making his case, and I believe the local man handed some money over to him. After the security man said something, the man got out of the car in a gesture of aggression and violence and walked toward the security guard, threatening him. The boy stood in front of him, trying to calm him down and prevent a fight. Apparently, once the police are called here someone is always fined. Maybe the security guard threatened to call the police, or in some way challenged the local man's authority to take a taxi without queuing up. It occurred to me that, while I was contemplating my small gesture of  generosity, I got to witness profound arrogance, ignorance and indifference. These are certainly the roots of many people's suffering. So, I didn't get this cab.
     Then a cab pulled in, and just as I turned to the young woman behind me to tell her I would let her go in front of me, another cab pulled directly behind it. She said, "Oh no, no, it's ok." I said, "Well, look, there's another cab immediately following." She was looking at the other woman for approval, when the first cab now dimmed his overhead light and drove off without taking on a new passenger.
     Initially I thought that my gesture of letting them go first would seem and feel insignificant, because how easy it is to give up the cab when I know my 'relief' is directly behind it. After the first cab drove away, I still insisted that they take the next cab. Oddly, this made me feel better about it, like I wasn't being stingy or primarily looking out for myself while ostensibly appearing generous. Another woman toward the back of the queue noticed my gesture, and made her own effort to help these women by trying to get the trunk open, so she could put her stroller and bags there. This other woman, maybe 3 or 4 behind me, also had a stroller. I didn't actually see the baby, but I'm guessing the baby was in her husband's arms. I thought about how long it would take for me to keep letting people go in front of me so that this woman could get a cab. By this point I'd been standing in line for 40 minutes. Deciding that I couldn't help that family today, I hopped in the next cab.
  

"You always look like like you're expecting something good to happen."

     It's interesting what 3 days off in Dubai can do. 

     The mini-vacation started with a meet-up of some of the students from last year's foundational training. We met up at the Belgian Beer Cafe in Madinat Jumeirah for an outdoor table, good food and some wine. Alcohol is not readily available in Dubai, but restaurants that are connected to hotels can serve it. 

     The training last year was so special to me, and connecting with the students was more heart-warming and affirming than I could express. During that training I felt like I let my guard down, perhaps more than usual, and I believe that was met with plenty of genuine authenticity from the students. Plus, we spent so much concentrated time together, through good and bad moods, meal breaks, in the context of the intensely personal practice of yoga. It was a bit like boot camp or surviving something very challenging in a group setting, which creates a special kind of bond. 

  On Monday, Colette picked me bright and early with a picnic in hand, and we spent the morning and early afternoon at a no-frills beach just off the side of the road. The water was lovely, and the conversation fantastic. She and I hadn't spent a lot of time together during the training, but got on like school girls chatting away. I wasn't sure how the day would go, but couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome. When she had to go pick her children up from school, I came back to the apartment where I'm staying and helped myself to a nap by the pool. There is something about falling asleep in the arms of the sun that is just so satisfying! Later Clarie took me to Zen Yoga for a vinyasa class with a lovely teacher named Laura. During the 'set your intention' opportunity, I decided that I would practice to remember the joy of practicing yoga. When your passion becomes your livelihood, the joy can get veiled by every day concerns. It was so nice to be an anonymous student in the class, simply there to practice yoga. I sweated A LOT, and was positively beaming when I met Noura for dinner down at Wagamama. 

     Tuesday turned out to be less joyful. Colette picked me up early, and we headed out to find a new destination for me. We chose Mirdif City Center, which is a mall not too close to the center of town. Malls are very popular here, but they wipe my energy away. I ended up feeling blue, missing my husband, and lamenting the 'time off.' My feelings were that, if I'm away to work, I'd rather work so I can earn more time off with my family. I was quite homesick, at least for a little while, and a bit disillusioned by the fantasy that is Dubai. It is a spectacular show but, as with everything, there is a shadow side. There can be a strong sense of materialism and greed, and of course, despair. It seems that luxury is often built on the backs of the poor and disempowered, and it's not difficult for me to get swept away by the sadness and cruelty that are tied up with humanity. This is a land of extremes, and this is where things can be most stark. 

     Noura and I were planning a cheese fondue in my apartment in the evening. But the weather was so nice, and I would be indoor-bound for the next training. I asked her if, instead of staying in for dinner, if she'd be interested in going to the Dubai Mall to watch the fountain dance. This is such a wondrous, spectacular and amazing experience, I knew I couldn't stay blue. This is the largest water fountain in the world (Dubai likes to the biggest everything), and each evening on the half-hour, starting at 7 pm, they have a show. It reminds me of fireworks, but with water spray rather than a sulfur smell. 

     Here are two links, in case you'd like to check it out. Of course, video doesn't capture the full experience, but it's still worth seeing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMc5HSCOLoo&feature=related (this is to Michael Jackson's Thriller); http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yq84oDpIPc&feature=related (and this is to Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You ... they played this one while I was there, and I will admit that I cried. What can I say, it was an emotional day!) 

     I realize that, having peeked a bit behind the veil to see the despair of Dubai, I wanted to connect with the delight and fantasy of this place. It's so funny to me that I'm here teaching a Yin Yoga training, since Yin is about what's hidden. 

   Anyway, Wednesday I got to spend the day at a beach resort to which Nicole has a membership. Sunbeds, a pool winding through palm trees, and waiter service by the sea. That was so relaxing. I have tan lines even after religiously applying the 85 spf sunscreen! 

     The 2nd Yin TT started today, and I believe we are off to a really good start. Once again, as always here, it is a multi-cultural group. Each student was asked to say, among other things, where they are from. One woman said, "I don't know where I'm from. I grew up in South Africa, my children have New Zealand passports, I've lived here for some years, but I don't know where is home." Modern nomads. I'm excited about this second training. There are some long-time students and teachers in the group, and a couple of Zumba teachers who recognize the need to slow down and nourish their bodies. There is a nice energy in the mood, and I couldn't be more excited to report that there is a local woman, and Emirati, in the class. Yoga is indeed spreading, and may be the force that can unify the whole world. 

     I ended the day with a 2-hour "Chakra Balancing" treatment. It started with a body scrub made of rose petals, was followed by an oil massage accompanied by chakra bija mantras and essential oils, finished with a facial and was topped off by a little hot oil drip on the forehead and a scalp massage. The very sweet Ukrainian woman who treated me told me she was very excited that she got to work on me. I've been coming in there for a week, and previously for a month, and she said that I have such positive energy. While sweeping her arms out to the sides and up toward the sky, in her broken English she said, "You always seem like you are expecting something good to happen." This seems like a really nice way to be regarded and remembered. 

Wrapping up Yin TT #1

It's Sunday in Dubai, and today is the last of the first Yin Yoga TT. 


Our days are from 9 am -6 pm, so I haven't done a whole lot more than teach, eat and sleep. Sadly, the night before last I didn't do enough sleeping, finding myself unalterably awake at 2:30 am.  That's a tough hour to start the day. On top of the sleep deprivation, my tummy felt queasy, I felt a uneasy with a bit of a throaty rasp, none of which contributed to feeling "on" while teaching. Apparently a stomach bug has been going around, with a few of the students just getting over the yuck.  Nicole gave me a tincture from Singapore that one dabs on the soles of the feet and the back of the neck to recover more quickly from sickness. Ava gave me some Ashwaganda herbs. Elise gave me a lovely packet of ginger 'tea' from Thailand, all of which made my soul feel better. During the lunch break I was able to schedule a Shirodhara treatment, which is just about the best thing in the world! It's an Ayurvedic treatment in which you are first rubbed down with oil, and then a continuous stream of warm sesame oil is streamed across your forehead for 45 minutes or so. This soothes the frontal lobe of the brain and induces deep relaxation. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I woke myself up a few times snoring! The hot oil then drips across your face and into your hair, which is very conditioning. The treatment is followed by some time in the steam room so that your pores open and the oil is absorbed into your skin. It's heaven, and definitely helped prepare me to make it through the rest of the day. 


36-hours of training in 4 days is pretty intense. I think the students are coming away with a solid base of understanding that they will be able to integrate, share and then build on. They're very receptive, and seem to be really enjoying the experience. 


Tonight, after the training, there is a small group of last year's Foundational TT meeting at the Belgian Beer Cafe at Madinot Jumeriah for some festivities. I'm excited to see the ones who haven't enrolled in the Yin training, and looking forward to a little socializing. 


As for Dubai itself, the weather that I've been 'outside' for has been lovely. Not too hot, not too dry. Strangely, though, while Ynske drove me home yesterday evening at around 6:30, the sun looked like a full moon. It was really bizarre to see the bright orange sun look like a pearl. Ysnke said it was 'dust,' Noura says it's sand. I'll try to take a photo, but I'm sure a more sophisticated camera would be needed to really do it justice. 


After today I have 3 days off IN A ROW! This rarely happens Stateside, so I'm just so looking forward to it. One of the students has offered me a guest pass to the beach hotel where she has a membership, which includes a pool, maybe some restaurants and a bar? I'm hoping to make it over to the Dubai mall to see the dancing fountain, and also possibly the Dubai aquarium, with a walk through tunnel through the water displaying stingrays and sharks above. The Atlantis Resort is close by, and they do have a day rate which Noura says it's way overpriced for what they offer. I think this is the place with an aquarium so large that hotel rooms are positioned so that the window looks into the aquarium ... for something like $3,000 a night. Um, yeah, obviously, I won't be staying there! 

"Let's Get This Training Started!"

     Day 2 in Dubai was day 1 for the first Yin Yoga Training. The class is full with 20 students, hailing from all over the world. I even learned of a 'new' place ... "Seychelles," apparently near Maldives, which is where one of the students is from. We've also got representatives from Malaysia, Jordan, Beirut, France, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Australia ... I am perpetually awed and inspired by the power of Yoga to cross cultural barriers and unite people in the heart. 
     Most of the participants have only a minor relationship with Yin Yoga, so teaching them is also introducing them. A few have already experienced profound releases of stored emotions, and most of them were absolutely beaming after our first group practice together. I continue to be grateful for the hard work Paul Grilley has done spreading the good Yin Yoga word, as I meet more and more acceptance of the validity of yin yoga and the reality of anatomical difference. For years Paul was like a little salmon swimming upstream, with his ideas continuously rejected by 'conventional wisdom.' In the short 8 years that I've been teaching Yin Yoga, I personally feel so much more acceptance about the practice, that I no longer feel like I need to make each class a 90-minute info-mercial extolling the benefits of passive postures sustained for 5 minute intervals. 
     One of the students is a long-time Iyengar yoga student, and so the 'lazy' approach is very challenging for her to sink into. I admire her willingness to maintain an open and curious mind as she validates her own experience through the laboratory of her own practice. I suspect that, as a mother of two small children, she will find deep respite and replenishment in the practice of yin yoga, which has the power to build energy and smooth out its pathway. 
     Training is from 9-6, so it is literally the entire day. We only take an hour lunch break, with another 15 min break in the afternoon, so it is full on. Noura and I got dinner in the Dubai Marina Mall, sitting out on the deck to enjoy our salads on mini-couches at the table. I was slumped over by the end, with very little to say. She was extremely perceptive and accommodating, getting me home straight away. 
     This morning I'm up at 5 am, sipping on French press coffee after my hot lemon water. My yoga mat is right next to the computer, so after this post I will sink into some Yin Yoga, followed by some vinyasa and meditation. 

     Four of the students from last year's foundational training are in this yin training, and we are trying to gather the rest of the group for a meal and a few beverages, perhaps Sunday night. There is definitely a feeling of cOMing hOMe being here, which brings me such joy. Dubai for me is not about nightlife or shopping, but instead about working hard and sharing yoga which, I must admit, are so fulfilling and rewarding to me. If I'm to be honest, however, I do need to admit that on this trip I do hope to do at least a little shopping, too! 

Dubai in April

     Time is such a funny thing. I left Dubai in December and so much has happened since then, yet it seems like I never left. Or at least like it was just yesterday. 
     The time it takes to get here isn't all that funny. Paul dropped me off at the airport hours early, mostly because the place we were going to get some dinner was closed, and we didn't want to risk getting there too late. I've decided that early is good, as I could take my time moving items from carry on to checked baggage (which was surprisingly underweight!), and didn't have to wait at all to get through security. I was randomly stopped to have my bags searched, which didn't bother me at all. The woman who checked me said there's no such thing as too early at the airport. Being 'alone' at an airport bar is much easier (for me) than being alone at a neighborhood bar; it's easy to strike up conversation, and I'm always so curious about other people's lives, their jobs, etc. Politics, not so much. 
    The flight was drastically undersold, so I got my own little aisle heading to Heathrow, and a window seat next to an empty seat to Dubai. I slept a lot, and am now a huge fan of the 2 1/2 hours to walk around and browse in the shops, rather than direct from Atlanta. 
     It took 40 minutes to get through passport control; they're now digitally photographing everyone. We waited so long that by the time I got to baggage claim, my suitcase was upright and waiting for me. Passing through the duty-free on the way out I picked up a few somethings to sip on in the evening. There are no liquor stores here, so I picked up a bottle of Noura's favorite (Amaretto), and some liquors to enjoy (Cointreau, Ricard, and Patron Coffee). I suspect the bulk of these beverages will be staying in Claire's apartment, which should be a nice parting gift. 
     I'm staying in the neighborhood called The Greens, as before, but in a different apartment. There is a pool and a little gym, and I have a small balcony overlooking a palm-tree lined road. The grocery store is a 10 minute walk, as is a Caribou Coffee, and a Starbucks, among other 'chains.' 
     After lunch with Noura, I practiced Yin Yoga on my little balcony, and then sat for 30 minutes. Not a bad start, although I am seriously 'lagged.' A good night's sleep tonight will top it all off, and the first training begins tomorrow at 9 am. Both Yin Yoga trainings are sold out at 20 students, with at least 3 on a waiting list. I'm very much looking forward to the experience. 
     Heading off for some dinner with Claire and Noura - sushi, ordered in. I'm thankful that they will keep me up for at least another 2 hours, and then hopefully, I'll be on local time. 
     That's it for now. Hopefully I'll have more insightful and informative musings to share as the weeks progress. 
     Shine On!

Your Own Sweet Abode

This week in my classes I've been focusing on Svadhisthana Chakra, the second chakra. The word "Svadhisthana" means 'one's own sweet abode,' your home, where you live. Located between the navel and the pubic bone, this chakra is said to be associated with the color orange, the element water, and the sensory perception taste. According to my teacher, Anodea Judith, this is our biological program for emotions, desire/pleasure and sexuality, all of which can be difficult to understand, confront and/or express. In the context of the path of yoga, these aspects of being human are often suppressed or ignored. This only seems to strengthen the power of these energies, and they find unconscious and often egregious means of expressing themselves. Pretending they don't exist doesn't make them go away.

Water needs to flow. When it gets dammed up, the power becomes unpredictable; when it doesn't move, it becomes stagnant. This is such a lovely metaphor for our emotions: they need to flow. We often welcome 'good' emotions, but deny 'bad' ones. This means that we 'let ourselves feel' generous, happy, kind, but not so much things like jealous, greedy or angry. Since emotions can have a watery feel to them, I've definitely felt like I could drown in that sea and so have pushed down and denied emotions that have felt too dangerous. Thanks to Irene Bojczuk, I've learned a method called "The Sedona Method" which very simply teaches the skill of acknowledging and inviting emotions as they arise. You don't need to express every emotion, and certainly there are times and situations where doing so would be totally inappropriate. But you allow yourself to feel what you feel, which is incredibly liberating. Emotions give meaning and color to life, and often they make you feel alive.

As for pleasure and desire, these terms in our culture often take on a very sexual nature. Pleasure is registered through the senses, but it doesn't have to always be lustful. Taking a walk along the river, preparing and enjoying a good meal, and, for me, watching my new doggie play with other dogs at the dog park, are incredibly pleasurable experiences. Consider if you allow yourself to actually enjoy your food, or if you mostly stuff something in your mouth while driving or sitting at your computer; if you allow yourself to enjoy the beautiful weather we've been experiencing, or if you move robotically through your day, accomplishing your tasks with the efficiency and joy of a machine. The senses are said to awaken consciousness in the body. We live in a vivid, magical, sensational world. Not fully appreciating that is surely a crime.

Desire points you in a direction. Once you know what you want, you then can create a plan of action to manifest that. Wanting to feel happy and healthy, to practice yoga, to fully awaken in this lifetime: these are desires. Can you get clear about what it is you want, allow yourself to want what you want, and then move toward realizing that, without feeling guilty? Guilt, again according to Anodea Judith, is what she calls the 'demon' of the 2nd chakra. We have built into our language the notion of 'guilty pleasures.' I admitted in class this week that months ago, on a weekday afternoon, I went to the Ritz movie theatre in the middle of the day to watch a French movie by myself. When admitting this to my husband, I felt guilty, as though I should have been at work earning or somehow contributing to our life together. Perhaps it's no surprise to you to consider that 'workaholic-ism' is a symptom of a 2nd chakra imbalance.

Of course it's true we can't 'indulge our desires' all the time; what we're looking for here is balance.

As for sexuality, between you and yourself, get clear about how you relate to your own sexuality. Do you regard this as sacred or profane? Do you have any traumas to address? Anyone you need to forgive, including, perhaps, yourself? There is clearly so much sexual abuse in our culture ... maybe all cultures. Clearly seeing what you have to deal with will liberate all the energy you've invested in containing or suppressing it so you can heal. To heal means to make whole. Here you work to remove all of the internal barriers you have erected that create the feeling of separation so you can discover the wholeness that always already is.

Characteristics of a balanced second chakra include the ability to nurture self and others, emotional intelligence, appropriate boundaries and the ability to experience joy. This is certainly worth working toward!

Holy "MA" Phase!

In the continuous, colliding cycle of OM, beginnings, middles and ends are always occurring. As my teacher, Cyndi Lee expressed, life is a series of 'things' arising, abiding and dissolving. There are big beginnings, like weddings, birth, the start of a new school year or the opening of a new business venture. Beginnings often feel exciting and hopeful, ripe with possibility. The 'middle' or 'abiding' part is often where the real energy and effort is invested; it's where we realize success and confront disappointment, and where our mettle is tested and many lessons are learned. The 'middle' can feel tedious or boring, but it's also where we can savor the satisfaction of applying ourselves and making a meaningful contribution to the community and/or the world at large. And, of course, we realize that any 'thing' that has a beginning will eventually have an end. Endings are often sad, and are sometimes quite painful. There might be bitterness, resentment, and even a tendency to look for someone to blame. It has occurred to me, however, that the manner with which we navigate the "MA" phase of the OM cycle, the dissolving/end part, gives us the raw material with which we create the next new beginning. When we attend to the ending with tenderness, compassion and clarity we create the conditions for an inspired, energized and creative new beginning.

Of course, I've been sitting with these thoughts lately following the decision to close Wake Up Yoga West. Many factors have contributed to this ending, and, truthfully, it feels less like a decision and more like the only choice. Even so, those of us who have loved that space and the cOMmUNITY that has been nurtured and growing there for nearly 6 years, feel quite sad that this is the case.

In our efforts to attend to the ending with grace and compassion, we intend to offer classes through the 6 pm class on Tuesday, April 17th. We recognize that many students have invested in class cards specifically because the West studio fit naturally with their daily flow, and that the other Wake Up Yoga studios may be less convenient. If students keep coming, we will keep teaching. If, however, class size drops off dramatically, we may have to close our doors sooner. We hope to go out on a high note, and recognize that any sadness and disappointment that result from this decision only exist because the space has been so special for so many people. Our March schedule is slightly modified, and a few classes toward the end of the month will have to be canceled. I am so grateful to and inspired by the teachers who are committed to continuing to tend to their classes as we ride out this ending. Of course, students who have remaining classes on their class cards are invited to use them at our other two studios. Both Rebecca Hooper and Victoria Ladd will teach a final workshop at Wake Up Yoga West in March and April, which will be beautiful and inspired ways to maximize the positive, life-affirming resource this studio has been.

Manorama, and the Gods & Goddesses, or: what you will be doing February 25 & 26

Greetings, Sweet Yoga Friend,

When I was in Yoga Teacher School, 13 years ago, at OM Yoga Center in NYC, one of our weekends was devoted to the study of Sanskrit. We trudged down to the Lower East Side for a workshop with Manorama ji, who, I believe, was still in graduate school at Columbia at the time. Manorama sat at the front of the class on a cloud of pillows with a shawl wrapped elegantly around her shoulders, and spoke lovingly about her Guru ji, sharing a passion for the language of Sanskrit which sticks with me today. When I chant the Vowel Sounds of Sanskrit, I am drawing directly from the memory of that first workshop; when I chant the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, it is her voice I hear in my head and try to emulate.

Of course, at the time, I thought "Gerji"(spelled how I thought it sounded) was the name of her teacher. Only later did I learn that 'ji' at the end of the name is a term of endearment, and so this was her affectionate and reverent name for her teacher.

Since then I have learned a great deal about devotion and reverence from Manorama ji. Through her way of being she conveys the realization that all of yoga is a teaching, passed down from teacher to student, reinforcing the importance of sending gratitude back toward our teachers, and adopting an attitude of humility as we advance the teaching forward. I have learned to stay open and curious, to not 'stick the landing,' as in, not hold on too tightly to my current perceptions in an effort to solidify the truth. She eloquently described what she refers to as "the OM cycle," and I have pages and pages filled with pearls of wisdom she shares about this quest for truth called yoga.

I am so excited to be hosting Ma for a weekend workshop entitled, "Gods and Goddesses," scheduled for the last weekend of February. In this workshop, Manorama ji will be sharing stories and myths about many of the deities in the Hindu pantheon from the perspective of the Western student. Rather than regarding these icons as literal manifestations of the Divine (as some do, but we are not necessarily required to), this workshop will inspire teachers and devoted students to see them as archetypes representing aspects of our own intrinsic nature. You will learn about your own ability to remove perceived obstacles in your path, understand the power of devotion which makes the impossible possible, recognize the true source of your strength and fortitude, and begin to see yourself as embodying all these qualities yourself. This weekend will affirm your goodness, shine light on areas you may need to bring into harmony, and leave you feeling connected to yourself and your source. Together we'll chant, listen to stories, and begin to see all of life as an opportunity for growth, connection and joy.

If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please call the studio a 215.235.1228, or email Alane. I know many of us like to make decisions at the last minute to keep options open, but we need to ensure we have adequate enrollment by next week. By cOMmitting by Monday, January 23rd, you will help ensure that this workshop happens. To sweeten the deal, we are extending the early registration date to 1/23/12.

Manorama is a magical teacher who spins a web of sweetness, laughter and luminosity. Her voice will echo in your head for years to come.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Sweet Yoga Friend!

The crisp coldness of Pennsylvania's January inspires a cozy, introspective, get-down-to-business feeling that is ripe with possibility and ebullient with excitement. With so many delightful obligations fulfilled, it seems only fair and appropriate to inquire into the nature of what it is that YOU want. What will make you happy? How will you feel fulfilled, actualized and expressed? This, I believe, is the root of our New Year's Resolutions: a personal inquiry into what will bring genuine, authentic happiness.

Yoga practice is teaching so many valuable lessons in the pursuit of living a fulfilling life. The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali advises two complementary disciplines for achieving the goal of yoga; we could even see them as two sides of the same coin. The ultimate goal of yoga is the realization of truth, discovering who you really are. Even if that is not one of your conscious goals right now, Patanjali's advice could be applied to the pursuit of any goal.

The two disciplines, according to Yoga Sutra 1.12 are Practice and Non-Attachment. Practice is defined as the pursuit of the goal: whatever it is you are doing to achieve that. He goes on to say that practice becomes firmly grounded when it is attended to for a long time, without interruption, with reverence.

What is 'a long time?' To a young child, summer is a long time; to an elderly person, 60 years may seem like a long time. Waiting for the kettle to boil, or the bus to come, or the 5-minutes to pass in a deep hip-opening yin yoga pose each may seem like a long time. In the context of reincarnation, 7 lifetimes may be a long time. The point here is that meaningful results could take a while. This seems to indicate that it's important that you actually enjoy the steps on the path that may take you to the goal. If your goal is to complete a marathon, you better enjoy running! Many people profess to want to achieve one thing or another but discover they loathe every step of the way. Choose a goal with a pathway that you will relish traversing.

'Without interruption' requires a steadfast commitment to your goal. This means that you can't pursue one goal today, a different one tomorrow, and change gears again next week. If you want to learn a foreign language, for example, you can't get the Rosetta Stone for Italian and then sign up for a class at the Alliance Francaise, and look for a Spanish tutor, only to enroll in a sculpture class, and then get a personal trainer. In fact, the opportunity cost of pursuing any single goal is all of the things you cannot do as a result. If your goal is to visit China, for example, then all of your vacation time and savings has to be allocated toward realizing that trip. If you are pursuing a Yoga Teacher Training Certificate, 'without interruption' means that you have to forgo all of the other things you might have done with your time and money, at least for the duration of the course. 'Without interruption' requires you to not change your mind, to have no exit strategy.

'With reverence' indicates a recognition that you are not ultimately in control, and so all of your alleged achievements are in some way connected to grace, or at least to something you cannot take credit for. "With reverence' invites humility, wonder and awe. It means that you are not in pursuit of your goals solely for your own benefit. You pursue your dreams and visions because that is what you were born to you, and you see how your own happiness can benefit the whole world. When you are happy and fulfilled, you are probably a lot kinder, more patient, and more willing to extend a hand. When you are happy, you become a source of happiness and inspiration to others. Pursuing your goal 'with reverence' acknowledges that other people are involved in your achievements; there is precious little you could actually 'do' by yourself alone. It invites gratitude and generosity.

Non-Attachment, the other required discipline, is defined as not being pulled away by objects seen or heard about. You don't get distracted. It's also what is required in order to remain committed when challenges arise, or things are not going as hoped. Non-attachment means that you devote yourself fully to the task at hand, but you let go of the need to measure where you are and assess how you are doing. We can all get discouraged by setbacks; Non-Attachment is not giving in to the discouragement.

Fortified by this sage advice from Patanjali, what do you feel inspired to pursue in 2012? What will bring you genuine happiness? How better could you 'spend your life?'