January 3, 2008

Happy New Year !!

How did it all of a sudden become 2008 !?  I'm really blown away by this, time just keeps slippin', slippin', slippin'...  What can I do about this?  I can't change time, but I can change what I do with it.  I look back on the past few years and the intentions / resolutions / desires / hopes and dreams I had for them.  I look back and see which ones came to fruition, which ones I just forgot about and which ones that I am no longer in alignment with.  It's pretty powerful stuff.

It is important to look back at the reasons we've chosen to persue something we love because it's easy to get caught up in the everyday routine of Life and forget what the purpose for our actions are.  As I look back on the years, I remember why I decided to commit myself to a yoga practice as well as why I chose to teach yoga.  It really brings back some amazing and magical memories.  It feels really good to be reminded of what it is all about for me.  This year I have decided to renew my yoga 'vows'.  That's why this is such a great time of year.  Each new year starts out with January (co-incidence? LOL).  However, it's cold out.  It's dark most of the time.  It's a good time to come inside.  We spend more time in doors, we drawn in for light and heat.  It's a good time to drawn into our own Selves, the warmth and light of own Hearts.  A perfect time and a perfect way to re-ignite our passion for Life and set an intention or resolution for the new year.

I've decided to apply the practice of yoga to the evolution of my Life.  The practice of yoga is powerful and Life changing when applied consistently. 

If you are interested in making this the very best year of your Life, try this little practice.  I apply this in my own asana practice as well as in the classes I teach, for it is the very foundation for improvement: 

Pause, breathe and feel what is happening in this moment.  Then ask yourself:  Is this thought or action contributing to the bigger picture?  Is what I'm doing in this moment contributing to the evolution of my intention, of my dreams?  If not, why am I doing it?  Certainly we all have things we need to do, but it wouldn't hurt to ask ourselves "why?"  "What for?"  Try it out and see what you come up with.

Who do you want to be this year?  What in this moment is contributing to that victory?

Happy New Year, be well and shoot for the stars.

God bless

3`~ Namah Shivaya

In Joy,

John

May 20, 2008

Well this year is zipping right by, isn't it?  Well, it's time to look back and review your intentions for the "new" year.  I guess this year is about middle-aged?  Getting there.

I feel pretty good and I'm looking forward to it getting better.  I've been focusing on some things that I want and wanted to materialize and things are happening !!

I just completed by debut workshop in NYC at CoSM.  It couldn't have gone any better I must say.  To be in such an amazing space with so many amazing people that have been there before and the amazing people that will visit CoSM and most especially the people that showed up to my yoga celebration.

I can't say enough how great a place CoSM is.  It is a place for the seeker, the curious and most especially the open minded.  I believe we're at a time in history that we need to wake up or, well, don't and then it doesn't look to good.  To quote Ekchart Tolle: "Evolve or die".  That's right to the point isn't it?  CoSM is a great place to induce awakening.  I suggest you check out www.CoSM.org to learn more.  I'll let you figure the rest out.

Why did I want to do a workshop, or uh, yoga celebration at CoSM?  I'm glad you asked.  CoSM stands for Chapel of Sacred Mirrors which are the vision of Alex and Allison Grey and supported by many artists as well.  The Sacred Mirrors are simply this; a place where anyone and everyone could (and should) go in order to see themselves as a unique reflection of the Divine.  A place to see the beauty of diversity coming from the singular, formless essence that manifests everywhere, but first we must see the reflection in ourselves and in others in order to notice it.

This is the same perspective or "philosophy" that Anusara Yoga is based upon: The One becomes the many, as me, as you, as those around you, simply for the delight of it.  The formless essence, the one without a second, the unlimited source can not know itself unless it limits itself in form.  We are that form and when we remember that we are all that form, we may harmonize and love and live in Joy.  Think about this; you can never see what your own face looks like unless you see it in a reflection, a mirror, a sacred mirror.  Is the mirror real?  Is the face in it real?  Ooh, getting deep now...

It was truly an honor and a triumph to hold the seat of teacher in such an amazing place.  I am so glad that I was able to come in and offer what I know.  To be in such a place is amazing, so much acceptance, so much diversity, so much to contemplate and to be fortunate enough to offer back was of the highest honor.

I intend to do it again, soon, stay tuned...

Blessings,

John