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?'