BambooMoves Yoga

In Isvara Pranidhana, we practice devotion and surrender ourselves into Love with the divine nature of the universe. We give our body, mind and spirit to the path of love by surrendering every act to love and sharing.  This is the 5th and final Niyama set forth in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which outline virtuous activities we are to observe for healthy living towards spiritual enlightenment.   As we learn to practice all of the other ethical observances set forth, we are bolstered to surrender to the divine order of the universe.

If we are to examine the phrase, Isvara Pranidhana,  it may be translated to our personal devotion to the divine.  This concept of the divine is purposefully left to be interpreted.  For some it may be god-like in one’s religious path or it may be our own personal connection to the universe. 

 To some, the idea of surrendering to the order of the nature or the universe may initially feel lazy, complacent, and even ignorant of complexities in life.  In order to observe this ethical practice, we individually cultivate our concept and connection to the divine through virtuous activities.  We must take time to transcend ourselves, our ego, and circumstance and practice connection to the divine that flows within each of us.  To each this practice is different.  This ritual might look like meditation, art, cooking, time in nature, hobby, work, and so on.    This ritual may simply be time to contemplate the divine, to observe the beauty even the simplest items in the universe and cultivate our connection to this divine order. 

 We familiarize, experience, live, breathe and immerse ourselves in the connection of the universe and find appreciation, awe and love.   In Isvara Pranidhana, we devote our practices to a higher power without expectation. With devoted practice, we cultivate awareness, intuition and oneness with the universal energy that flows through us.   With devoted practice, we build our personal connection to this life force such that the act of surrendering is not complacency, but trust.  Surrendering and devoting our actions to this higher power.

by: Erin Loscalzo 

“Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.”     ~Buddha

 How many times do you find yourself grabbing food for you and your kids and eating it on the go or eating while trying to multitask. Maybe it’s while you are watching tv, doing work, or even while you are driving.  For some of us we practice gratitude for one meal a day, maybe once a year at the Thanksgiving dinner table, or maybe even not at all. But what if we practiced gratitude at every meal? What if every time you sat you down for a meal you took a few moments in silence to think about how the food on your plate got there? A moment of gratitude for the workers at the market, a moment for those who transported your food from the farm where it came from, the farm workers, the tiny seed where it began, the earth, the sun, the rain? How would our relationship with food change? When I began to eat mindfully, I began to really consider the food I was putting into my body. I began to think about the energy it took to get to my plate, and I thought about all the lives that were a part of my meal. It made me not only question how fruit and vegetables got to my plate, but also animal products and processed foods.  I thought about the lives animals lived before they made it to my plate, and if I was contributing to the happiness of all beings. My thoughts led me to choosing to eat a plant based diet. Not only did I consider the compassion for these animals, but I also thought about the impact of eating animals that it was making on our environment, the land we use, the gases we emit, and the amount of natural resources that contributes to this choice. I began to wonder just how many stages my food had to go through before it reached my plate. For me it was trying to reduce a few of those unknown steps and start preparing my own food more. I began to take responsibility for the food choices I was making, knowing that from the time it was in my presence it was treated with love, and filled with compassion.

 Try Mindful Eating for every meal for a month and see how it affects you.

- Start by cultivating gratitude for the food that is on your plate. Acknowledging that you were able to afford a healthy and nutritious meal. Thanking all the people that helped you receive this meal, and thanking the Earth and Mother Nature for creating it.

 -Take time to appreciate your food. Use all of your senses while eating it, notice what it looks like, did you take time plate your food to look nice? How does it smell, Notice how it all tastes. Experience all the flavors and tastes that your food has to offer. Take a few small bites to make sure that you can chew your food before swallowing it.

 -Be fully present while eating your food, trying to eat while you’re angry, sad, or worried, but while you are happy and grateful. Notice how the food provides nutrition for your body. Eat foods that nourish the body, not just provide convenience to eating something.

 -Eat your food without judgements. Try to not to feel guilty while eating certain foods, but ask yourself if it serves your body and if it nourishes your body. Practice moderation and discernment with your food choices.

Bamboomoves Yoga Englewood Focus of the Month

SVADHYAYA

By: Rose Sapiashvili,  Yoga teacher

 It happens to everyone. Sometimes a casual glance in the mirror is all it takes to make us wonder who is that?  Yes, we know our reflections, but who are we deep down?  The yoga practice of Svadhyaya, or Self-study, is about understanding our true divine essence.  In Yogic tradition, Self is a term often used to refer to Brahman, God, and indicates the intrinsic connection of the individual self with the Universal Self.  Simply translated, the word Sva means self, or the human soul. Adhyaya means lesson or reading connected to spiritual writing or scriptures. The Bhagavad Gita says that yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the Self—in other words, each individual’s progress toward the divine. 

The practice of the Eight Limbs of Yoga guides the yogi towards a deeper, more complete understanding of his/her true Self, which is divine. For example, Ahimsa the principle of non-violence, applies to self-study as well.  We should avoid harsh criticism of ourselves though it is necessary to be honest and not ignore problems, bad habits, and other states of mind that keep us from growing.  Every time we hold back from any form of violence we grow closer to the Self.  Ancient wisdom of many faiths offer relevant insights about our true nature, as might a thoughtful story or essay appearing online or in today’s newspaper. When the mind is open and receptive, and when we are present in the moment, Self awareness can happen in the most unexpected places.

 In a literal and metaphorical sense, growing requires stretching beyond our everyday routines, developing flexibility where we are too rigid, and being mindful—through self-study—of mental and emotional blocks that have become barricades.  Holding a pose until we skirt the edge of our comfort zone helps to break through limitations we impose upon ourselves.

 The best way to make progress in Svadhyaya? There is no one way that’s right for all. For some, the ideal may be a mantra meditation in whatever variant of Lotus Pose that our imperfect knees will allow. With dedication, many a patient soul has mastered the discipline it takes to think only about the divine self—and not the drycleaning that needs to be picked up.  The physical practice of Yoga, which requires us to focus on the present moment or we will never get out of that Pigeon Pose alive!, brings deeper insight without the practitioners necessarily being aware of it. It’s after the last namaste, when class is over, when we “see” ourselves from the inside out. The glow of yoga is more than re-energized blood or the release of muscular tension. Think of it as illumination from within.

FOCUS OF THE MONTH: SAUCHA by Jeni Pepper

Saucha, translates to ‘purity.’ It is the first of the five niyamas, self disciplines, that, according to Patanjali, a yogi must practice to achieve Yoga – unity of Mind, Body and Soul.  Purification is cleansing, paring down, streamlining and simplifying.  It is letting go of that which weighs us down or no longer serves us.  It is a ritual that is essential to all nature and life forms.  

 September as the first month of fall is when nature begins to purify itself to get ready for the hard months of winter ahead.  The leaves of the trees, having worked hard all summer to purify our air and green our environment, and generating energy for the tree to grow bigger and stronger, now are just burdening that tree. With the diminishing sun rays in the fall, there is not enough energy for both the leaves and the tree.  If they stayed around, not only would they die, but the tree’s health would suffer, fighting to sustain them.  The leaves would also trap more snow on their wide surfaces, causing the branches to break under the heavy weight.  Heavy with toxins by this time of year, the tree just knows to let them fall and drift away. If the tree had a mind like ours, it may have formed an attachment to its leaves.  Letting them go would be painful.  But for trees, transformation comes naturally. It just follows the nature’s laws.  And if you are not a tree, you can see the beauty of this mini death vividly – dazzling you in all colors of the rainbow.

 Just as the trees purge themselves from their leaves come fall, the practice of saucha purifies the yogis’ body and mind.  When we simplify our lives and shed that which no longer serves us, we prepare ourselves to gracefully weather the winters of our lives.  Cleansing and purifying the body and mind also aligns them more naturally with our inner spirit, so that our internal fire, our passion for life, glows more brightly, and our thoughts, words and actions, set us on our dharmic path.  With the body, mind and spirit so aligned, actions feel effortless and produce the greatest beneficial results.  We are ready to blossom and serve our community best, just like the trees do come spring and summer.

 So what are some of the regular Saucha practices we, as yogis, can maintain and develop?  You are probably already taking pretty good care of your body, but take some time to clean and declutter your surroundings – your home, your garden, your workspace and yoga practice area.  Put away things when you are done using them and dispose of them (by donating, recycling and if necessary, discarding) any items that no longer serve you or bring you joy.  Notice the food you are eating – eating food that is nourishing and sattvic – food that brings you to a peaceful, blissful state.  Sustainably farmed, organic or low-pesticide produce, superfoods that get rid of toxins and, if you need to eat animal products, those sourced from humanely raised animals. 

 In your asana practice, pay particular attention to your twists, forward folds and malasana (yogic squat).  These poses massage the belly organs, stimulating digestion and elimination.  Practice your mula and uddhiyana bandhas.  Engaging mula bandha is something you should be doing in all active yoga poses. Practice pranayama – cleansing the body with each out-breath.  Kapalabati  (the skull shining breath) breath is a great cleansing practice bringing more energy and focus, as you cleanse the impurities of both body and mind with rapid rhythmic exhilations. Chant the Dharma mantra for purification (you can find it on the internet, but technically no one is allowed to put it in writing – so just follow along when your teacher leads you into it in class).  Practice meditation and mindfulness – disabling the effects of random thoughts and occurrences on us and developing a one-pointed mind.

 Finally, bring it all together in savasana, corpse pose.  A mini death of the body and mind, letting the body fall heavy onto the floor, letting all the binds release, all the tensions, all the stresses drift away with the out-breath, letting any thoughts and sounds have no impact on your mind.  That quality of just being an observer is what seeing through the eye of our soul feels like.  Discarding the impurities of our individual self, our body, our mind, our ego, we reveal our true Self.  We experience the state of pure bliss that is our nature.  That is why just a few moments of stillness in savasana allow us to reemerge feeling cleansed, renewed, revitalized and blessed. 

Whether you practice yoga with or without your partner, the ancient teachings of yoga can greatly support and help sustain a healthy, positive and dynamic intimate relationship. 

The use of aromatherapy blends while practicing yoga can enhance the practitioner's experience and benefits from both therapeutic areas.

 Not only are the senses enthralled by the beautiful aromas during your practice, but the focus and effects of your practice are intensified by the use of carefully chosen essential oil blends. 

The practitioner can use specially chosen aromatherapy blends to enhance a particular aspects of their practice, whether it's physical, spiritual or mental.

 Since the digestive system is important to your well-being, Bikram yoga included several postures aimed at massaging and stimulating the digestive tract while simultaneously exercising the mind and spirit. 

1. Cobra Pose

In addition to strengthening the spine, this asana is thought to help digestion and increase appetite, as well as nurture the productivity of the liver and spleen. 

2. Bow Pose (Dhanusrasana)

This pose is thought to relieve constipation and aid in digestion.

3. Head to Knee Pose 

This is the first asana of a two-part sequence, the second being Stretching pose. The combination of these two poses is aimed at improving the circulation of the digestive system. 

1. Show humility.

1. Salutation Seal

This simple breathing exercise is a great way to start your practice. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, bring your hands into prayer position. Try to quiet your mind, focusing instead on inhaling and exhaling deeply while keeping your spine nice and straight. Salutation seal really helps bring focus to the rest of your practice….it’s so centering!

Just 20 minutes of yoga could help your brain function better, according to a small new study.

Researchers found that people did better -- both speed-wise and accuracy-wise -- on brain functioning tests after just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga, compared with aerobic exercise.

What is Santosha?

Santosha literally means "contentment, satisfaction". 

It is also an ethical concept in Indian philosophy, particularly Yoga, where it is included as one of the Niyamas by Patanjali.

Teacher of the month, Patti Lewis, is soon to be taking over our Master Class at BambooMoves Yoga

What have you overcome?I used to suffer from stage fright, through breath and focus I have conquered it!

Why did you become a yoga teacher? I have been an artist and dancer for most of my life. I was drawn to yoga for its sense of creativity and peace. It brightens my life. Teaching yoga allows me to share that experience. When you have a passion for something it is exciting to teach others about it!

What are your inspirations?Both of my children and their joy for life! 

Do you remember your first yoga class that you taught or took? First class taken, the acute realization that I would need to slow down for any kind of balance. Teaching myself patience. 

Advice for students. Make it a PRACTICE, not a race. Let it unfold. There is so much satisfaction and beauty in the balance of your inner spirit shining with the build of strength over time! 

Patti Lewis