Yogafly2

My son in India - Edjani Golam

I sponsor a child in India - Edjani Golam - through www.childreninternational.org - whose picture I have on my bookshelf (not pictured here.) He starts each letter he writes to me "first, please accept my love." Holy God. What a profound little way of starting a letter. "First, accept my love." Accepted. Signed. Sealed. Delivered. I am so excited to know that I am helping someone gain a little bit more freedom, education and support that I encourage all of you to do the same. It's so inexpensive to sponsor one child through Children International. And getting that sweet letter every few months just thrills me to my core.

"First, please accept my love."
If we could only live by these words every second of the day. Before every meeting, before every exchange, before every communication.

First, please accept my love.

The Joy of Jivamukti Yoga with Ruth and Rima at Ananda Ashram

Truly, Ananda Ashram is a microcosm of the macrocosm.  Just as in New York City, there are so many activities going on in the 85 acre place, that it is only now, after years of going to Ananda Ashram, that I have been able to take class there with Ruth Lauer-Manenti (pictured).  I have taken her class at Jivamukti in the city, but I was blessed enough to be able to take her class - co-taught with Rima - at Ananda Ashram on Monday morning.  I am still super sore today, but totally blissed.

Both Rima and Ruth gave such wonderful teachings.  Rima started the class with one of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras that talks about the effects of "smriti" - memory on our everyday lives.  She related the teaching to having grown up in war-torn Lebanon.  And there I was in tears - so much suffering in the world.

Ruth gave such a profound story at the end of class that I must share on LOVE.  She said that on Saturday some of her students missed her Friday night talk and asked her to repeat what she said.  They sat around her at one of Ananda Ashram's picnic tables and as she told the story, they silently listened with rapt attention.  At the table next to theirs was an older woman, sitting by herself and listening.

Later on, the same older woman came up to Ruth and asked her who she was, as all of those people were so involved in her words.  And Ruth said, "I'm their yoga teacher."  And the woman said, "You're their yoga teacher?"  and looked her up and down and said, "You don't look like a yoga teacher.  You have bad posture.  You slouch."  And Ruth said, "Yes, I am aware of this.  Yes, I slouch."  And the woman said, "well, all of your students are young, so maybe they don't notice that you slouch."  And Ruth said, "Well, yes, they notice, but they don't mind because they love me."

And the woman said, "Oh yes, it's very important to love your yoga teachers.  Because you know, there are those yoga teachers, you know...Yes, I have many yoga teachers that I love."  And then went on to ask,  "So what were you talking about that had all of their attention focused on you?"

And Ruth said, "Well, I was talking about some things my Guru taught me."

And the woman said, "Oh, you have a Guru.  That's why you had everyone's attention.  It's important to have a Guru."

And Ruth went on to explain that everything we have - is handed to us as yoga teachers - from our Gurus - from Joan Suval, Bharati, MaBha, Manorama and all of the teachers at Ananda Ashram, from our Guru - Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati.  And her Guru, Shri Pattabhi Jois. 

Ruth then explained that in that room filled with yogis overflowing with boundless love - it was easy to give the love.  But it's important to give this love to those who have a harder time expressing this great love within.  She said, never make a face at something you don't like in another person, it might become permanent :-)

Wonderful words of encouragement.  I don't care how many times I need to hear it - again and again and again.  Love and forgive.  Forgive and love.  Endlessly.

Joan Says

This past weekend, I was having a lot of trouble - vrittis all over the place.  So I did what I usually do when the mind and the ego are getting the better of me, I sit with Joan Suval at Ananda Ashram's Cosmic Temple at 3:00 pm on Saturdays.  And I am never disappointed, almost always surprised, and always feel so much better after having sat with her.

It's too much to explain what she said on Saturday that made everything fall into place so beautifully and made me feel Guruji (Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati) giving me a very profound and tough lesson on love and forgiveness.  Suffice it to say, I may have to blog about what she shared in many blog posts to even help myself comprehend the depth of the love - God, Guruji and the universe has for each of of us in this vast world.  My gratitude for Joan's loving, kind attention to my questions is boundless and infinite.  Om shantih, shantih, shantih.

Unitedyogis.com

I'll be inviting many of my darling yogi friends to join me on Unitedyogis.com. I just got an invitation to join from Marina today - what a great site! I'm impressed that they list jobs for yogis and it features successful Yogathons in Toronto, for example, to raise money for schizophrenia. Cool.

I like their layout and graphics too. And it's really important for all yogis across the world to unite and take over. I mean it. I don't mean it in a controlling, we need POWER over people's minds kind of way, unlike most people in so-called "POWER." I mean that we need to raise consciousness so much globally that we realize that a) we are not alone b) that the Guru's grace lies in all of our hearts c) that "Ananda," or bliss is our very nature d) that the greatest healing lies within e) that we are abodes of boundless grace f) that we can be of service to ourselves and the entire universe at the same time.

etcetera.
with divine love.
Go to www.unitedyogis.com and become a member and link to me.
with divine love.

The Wisdom of Not Knowing

"Know what you know.  And know what you don't know."  Easier said than done, yet simple, when we sit down and look at it.  I know that I can do a handstand in the middle of the room when I am totally in the NOW.  I know that I am capable of doing many things.  I also know that I don't necessarily want to do everything that I am "talented" enough to do.  The wisdom of not knowing is that we can relax and surrender into the "unknown."

It's interesting, I've figured out that the people who are most hell-bent on "control," are the ones who are most insecure with the "cloud of unknowing."  The ones who can't simply trust the divine and God to take care of things.  Yesterday, I met with my accountant who was baffled by me - most accountants are baffled by me because I wear a few different hats and each hat makes money (not lots of money, but you know it's like if I want to put a hat in front of me and tap dance in the subways, I'd probably make some money).  So I told him that I planned on doing some things that cost quite a bit of money and he asked where the money came from.  And I said God.  And he laughed like it was the most preposterous thing to say.

I honestly looked at him so quizzically.  These poor people who live, thinking that God isn't just the ruler of every breath they take.  C'mon.  He/She could just pull the life breath out of ya any second.  So chill.  What's a house, a med school degree, a few kids and worldwide travel to God?  Nothing.  Like dust.  Stardust.  Moondust.  A flick of God's almighty fingers and we OUT.  So chill out.  :-)

And then I work with some people who like to really act like they know everything.  And honestly, I say, yes, you do know everything and I know nothing.  I know nothing because that means I can go home and leave work early.  You can do all the work because I know nothing.  This is the great pretense.  Yet - it is absolutely true.  Most of the time, it's not really about "knowing," how to do something, it's really about giving a damn.  And most of the time, people are so caught up in the trivial and in the mundane, I can't help but not give a damn.  Yet - I know what I do care about.  And that is everyone's innate well-being, peace and happiness.

So while everyone goes a 'blah - blah - blahing' about how someone looked at them funny during a meeting or stepped on their big ego, I sit and I bring in the divine mother in my heart and I hum....
"Ananda mayi ma...Ananda mayi ma...Ananda mayi ma..."

Cantando a Noite

We are singing tonight. The title says that in Portuguese. "To sing, you must first open your mouth. This, is therefore, a song. I am singing..." - Henry Miller began one of his Tropics of either Capricorn or Cancer books this way. I love Henry Miller - he was unapologetic. At the same time, I despise Henry Miller for being so unapologetic. You have to admire human beings who aren't afraid to express every aspect of their being. We all tend to want to hide our dark sides, even from ourselves, be so damn ashamed of our dark sides that when, oops, it shows, we cower in the dark and pretend like we don't know ourselves.

Ode to not cowering. Even when I want to. This is why I sing in public. Who likes to expose one's self to lots of people? No one. I mean, really, right now, I'm sick. But I'm going to sing tonight anyway. Because it will make me feel better to sing. Sing. Sing. Sing. To sing, you must first open your mouth. This, is therefore, a song. I am singing.

Ananda Ashram in Kosmic Life online Magazine

The article is sweet.  Find it online here:  http://kosmicamusic.com/wp/2008/04/25/ananda-ashram-yoga-society-of-new-york-fire-ceremony-and-hatha-yoga/

One hour northwest of New York, nestled in the Catskill mountain foothills, is the Ananda Ashram. This gorgeous retreat center is dedicated to teaching the universal principles of yoga and Vedanta, and to the exchange of culture between east and west. Open all year, it welcomes visitors of all faiths, origins, and cultures.

Ananda Ashram was founded in 1964 by Shri Bhramananda Saraswati, who was then known as Ramamurti S. Mishra, MD. At the time it was to be the country center for the Yoga Society of New York, Inc, which Dr. Mishra had started six years earlier. The Ananda Ashram has since become the permanent headquarters for the Yoga Society. Their practice is based in silent meditation and study of non-dualist philosophy. To aid in this they also practice Hatha yoga and engage in study of the Sanskrit language, as well as devotional activities such as the fire ceremony.

The Grounds

The ashram is centered around the guest. Day guests are always welcome, but Ananda also makes accommodations available for overnight and long-term guests. Between April and September guests can also camp. In addition to housing facilities for guests and residents, the center has abundant facilities…just right to fill the needs of the vacationing spiritualist. They include the main temple, classs, meditation rooms, and a somewhat unexpected performance hall. There is also a natural healing center and even a seasonal swimming pool! And don’t worry about what to eat. There is a vegetarian kitchen as well.

This ashram is surrounded by quiet and meditative natural environment. On the grounds are woods and meadows, along with a lake, which includes an island. When you have a moment between the whirlwind of activities during your visit to the Ananda Ashram you are invited to find a nice mellow spot somewhere on the grounds to sit in meditation or otherwise quietly relax.

Daily Activities

Ananda offers many different programs every day. Each program has an individual cost, or you can purchase a day pass which grants you entry into all the day programs — like an unlimited ride pass at an amusement park. Admission to the regular programs is also included in the cost for overnight stays.

The daily schedule includes a morning program which starts with a meditation and a fire ceremony. After the fire ceremony are some Vedantic or other non-dualist scripture studies. When he’s available, this study will include commentary by the founder, Shri Bhramananda Saraswati. In the evening is another meditation and fire ceremony. This is also followed by chanting and readings from Shri Bhramananda’s writings or other sources.

At various times each day are regular hatha yoga classes. The center’s hatha instruction is on a weekly schedule. Each week there are beginning, intermediate, and advanced classes. There are also special-focus classes such as Gentle Yoga and Restorative Yoga.

Most mornings you will be able to attend an ongoing lesson in the Sanskrit language and its original texts, like the Rig Veda, which is widely accepted as the oldest of human written records. Every Tuesday, guests have the opportunity to learn traditional Kathak dance in an ongoing class. Kathak is the dynamic classic dance style of northern India.

Events, Workshops, Special Programs

In addition to the daily programs, several extra programs happen every weekend. Among the additions is a guided meditation, which includes a question and answer period. Friday and Saturday evenings have extra lectures or readings and on Sunday mornings, the staff teaches selected mantras and offers commentary on them.

Not to be restricted by their regular calendar, on weekends they also offer frequent special programs. These can range from spiritual instruction to cultural entertainment. One such program recently offered was “Yoga, Forgiveness & Enlightenment with Prem Prakash.” Another featured a kirtan (group singing of mantras) lead by popular new age recording star Krishna Das. Special programs are often presented by a guest teacher or performer, although many are presented by the ashram teachers. Please note: The cost of the special programs is not included in either the day pass or the overnight accommodation price.

A special feature of the ashram is the Ayervedic healing center. It offers a wide variety of massage and other therapies from a wide range of traditions, including aromatherapy, Shiatsu, relaxation training, and much more!

Reservations & Location

Simple to find near Monroe, New York, the Ananda Ashram is easily accessible by car, bus, or train, with taxi service for the last couple of miles. If you are wanting to stay overnight, or even longer, you are requested to call ahead for reservations. The phone number is 845-782-5575.

Yoga Society of New York, Inc.
Ananda Ashram
13 Sapphire Road
Monroe NY 10950

Phone: 845-782-5575
Fax: 845.774.7368

The Bliss of Ramana Maharshi

All living beings desire to be happy always, without any misery.  In everyone there is observed supreme love for oneself.  And happiness alone is the cause of love.  In order therefore, to gain happiness which is one's nature and which is experienced in the state of deep sleep, where there is no mind, one should know oneself.  To achieve this, the Path of Knowledge, the enquiry in the form of "Who am I?", is the principle means.

1.  Who am I?
The gross body which is composed of the seven humours (dhatus), I am not;  the five cognitive sense organs, viz., the senses of hearing, touch, sight, taste, and smell, which apprehend their respective objects, viz. sound, touch, colour, taste and odour, I am not;  the five vital airs, prana, etc., which perform respectively the five functions of in-breathing, etc., I am not

Playing in Time and Space

I wonder if this is how we look like to Gurus and other multi-dimensional beings. I know when I meditate with Gehlek Rimpoche he says to look at the molecular structure of things rather than the solid "thing" that we are seeing. And then I hear Ramakrishna saying that we should see everything through the eyes of a jaundice patient - put on our yellow colored glasses when we look at the world so that we can focus inward and see the beauty within. I'm lovin my new little MacBook - it's really quite a joy to have around. I must thank Michael Lowenstern for giving me some software and Rawle Curtis for pointing out some of its tricks and my beau for helping me figure out how to use all these free things that comes with this little genius of a computer. ooh la la. Yummy.

AnandaMayi Ma

Darshan: 
AnandaMayi Ma Ma
AnandaMayi Ma Ma
Ananda Mayi Ma Ma
Ananda Mayi Ma Ma
BhajaManaMa Ma Ma Ma Ma
BhajaManaMa Ma Ma Ma Ma

More here:
http://www.anandamayi.org

Yoga 2009 Calendar by Jennifer Cohen

The lovely Hillary Rubin, Anusara Yoga teacher in Los Angeles, connected me to Jennifer Cohen, the creator of the Yoga 2009 Desk Calendar. I met Jennifer and was quite impressed by her love and growth through the practice of yoga. Here's the invitation to participate:

From Jennifer Cohen:

"After almost a decade in production at ABC News in New York, I founded a multi-media company to fuse my journalism experience with yoga. Having achieved great success with an office between Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters, something I believed would make me happy, I discovered that I was miserable. During my days at ABC News, yoga found me and showed me true joy. I learn something from every yoga practice, so my goal is to offer the wisdom, inspiration, essence, and yoga from 365 yoga teachers so all students can learn and feel inspired from a teacher every day from all over the world. I believe everyone can learn from every yoga instructor.

Please see the specifics on Yoga 2009 below.

* Yoga 2009 is a daily desk calendar featuring the wisdom, inspiration, and essence of 365 yoga teachers from around the world.
* Full color photos of teachers
* Two sided (less paper)
* Printed on paper from a sustainable forest with soy based ink.
* Measurements: 4-3/8 x 5-1/4
* Easel Stand
* Wire O bound
* Attached is a photo sample from the printer – Yoga 2009 is a bit smaller in size.
* Retail: $14.95

* 50,000 copies to be distributed to the majors (Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon), over 500 yoga studios, boutiques and spas. I am in the process of procuring an international distributor.

* Yoga 2009 will go on sale July 2008.

* Yoga teachers are invited to sponsor a day for $250. It is tax deductible as an advertising expense.
* There is a business opportunity for teachers to offer the calendar to their students for a share in the profits.
* Teachers will collaborate with me to create their page. I am very open to learning their visions.
* Sponsorship includes instructor's website on their page and Yoga 2009 website.
* This is a product that the consumer will have in his/her home for the year.

* Sponsorship deadline: Thursday, April 10, 2008. Photo shoots: begin Friday, April 11, 2008 in California, New York, and Florida.

www.yoga2009.com is a work in progress. Check it often for updates!

I'm very excited to learn your thoughts, and I look forward to the possibility of featuring you in Yoga 2009!

Warm regards,

Jennifer

Jennifer Cohen
Yoga 2009
11870 Santa Monica Boulevard, #106-104
Los Angeles, CA 90025
p: 954.922.1111
e: jen@yoga2009.com
www.yoga2009.com

St. Joseph of Cupertino

This weekend I'm in Glastonbury, Connecticut, studying, filling out my medical school applications and visiting my beau - multi-tasking in action.  So I call my parents constantly for moral support because I realize it is not my will nor theirs that I even pursue medical school - I believe it is the will of an almighty karma/ dharma I can't seem to shift even though I meditate and sing most of the time I am supposedly studying.  But my parents are very supportive, nonetheless and listen to me gripe, laugh, tell them how awful it all is and then find myself asking questions about how many glands are there really in the prostate?

My mom always answers with things like, "You know how many glands there are in the prostate.  The glands are responsible for secreting seminal fluid..." and having me draw the conclusion.  :-)  This makes me laugh.  She's very good that way, my mom, she really knows how to set me off on a search for an answer.  And I'm such a sucka, really.  I am.  The correct answer is "many."

And well, admittedly, there is something so beautiful about studying the dehydration of alcohol and I realize that I do love seeing halogenation in action.  And what about electrophiles?  Electrophiles are cool - in my notes, I have "I heart electrons" next to my definition of electrophiles.  Delectable.  We don't heart free radicals, nay, we heart electrons, me and the electrophiles. 

Anywhoooo, my mom, the encyclopedia of all things Catholic and Pathology, told me today as I hinted that perhaps the $1800 I paid for my MCAT review was ahem, high, and could there be a, well, a donation for all this money.  Of course I didn't really ask my mom for money, that would be beneath me at the ripe old age of 34, I'm just making her aware that I am indeed, spending money so that she can have a running balance somewhere in the infinite annals of her ever-expanding mind.  And of course, my very knowledgeable mom tells me that I shouldn't ask her - really, I know I shouldn't - my mom is 60 and has endless amounts of energy when she feels like having energy - but she needs to move towards having not me to spend money on and just herself and my Daddy-o.  My mom, because she is brilliant, says I should really ask God for everything.

Which is really why my parents are so brilliant for all of my very mythical/mystical family's similar lack of knowledge on anything practical in the world, "how do I keep track of my keys?"   They are brilliant because when all is at a loss for answers, like who the heck is paying for medical school?  They tell me to go to God.

And more precisely, my mom told me as I simultaneously whined to her, made fun of and felt totally terrified in the face of the almighty MCAT, that I should pray to St. Joseph of Cupertino, the patron saint of passing examinations. 

I have loved St. Joseph of Cupertino ever since my mom and sis came back from their wild month-long foray into Catholic pilgrimage landia and I got to absorb everything they saw vicariously.  And both of them, I could tell, got a lot from visiting St. Joseph of Cupertino's church in Italy.  I love St. Joseph because he was so ecstatic, he levitated.  I'm a sucka for levitating saints who will help me pass my examination...well, being a sort of "type a" personality, of course, I don't want to merely "pass," I'd like to have amazing scores. 

Svaha. 

Click here for St. Joseph prayers:
http://www.nagpur.itgo.com/ajay/cupertino.htm

And I've just published this in my newspapers-blog.  So I've fulfilled my end o' the bargain, St. Joseph, :-)  Catholics always love the equal exchange for prayers.  "Okay, darlin, I'll help you pass your exam if you tell people about me.  How 'bout it?"

I think St. Joe is a little beyond this kind of bargain...but hey, why not try to fulfill it as best I can anyway.

My lovely co-worker handed me a Yogi Tea

Diana Darshan just gave me a Yogi Tea that says "Our intuition lies in our innocence."

Love it.

Profound Contentment

It arises. This wonderful supreme contentment - santosha - with everything and anything, arises. I watch everything rise and fall - big bursts of wonderful emotion and the deepest states of stillness. Being a passionate, artistic person is so much fun, but the emotions are overwhelming at times. This is why I love science and logic - to balance everything out. Quite fun, because I think people think that if they meditate, they become benign. Actually, this is not true at all. Meditation helps people stop being malignant - but it doesn't make one benign. I had a wonderful breakfast with my friend Sue the other day and Sue and I talked about both the pitfalls along with the boundless expansiveness one gets when one becomes "one" with all beings. We become equally at "one" with everyone's suffering and everyone's most profound contentment. And the Witness rises above it all like a compassionate, wildly blissful spectator, never becoming victim to anything.

From Gurumayi Chidvilasananda's collection of talks, Courage and Contentment:
p. 38 "Baba (Muktananda) always talked about the tremendous benefits of meditation. He would say, "You should understand that I am a miser."
And we would say, "Really?"
"Yes!" he would repeat. "I am a great miser. You see, I would not have spent my time following the spiritual path, I would not have stayed with my Guru, I would not have meditated if I didn't think this would bring benefits. Because these things yield wonderful benefits, I spent my time on them, I stuck with them." He would say, "Meditation makes a doctor a better doctor. It makes an engineer a better engineer. It makes a secretary a better secretary. Meditation makes a mother a better mother."

He would say this with such a glow on his face. Not only had he experienced the benefits of meditation for himself, he had seen its blessings in many, many people's lives. For meditation to yield such great benefits, you have to understand what the practice really is.

Why do some people not want to understand meditation? What keeps them away? In the end, it is always some kind of fear.

You would be amazed how many people on the spiritual path are secretly afraid of meditating. But then if you look a little closer, you see that basically they are afraid of everything. Whenever I thought I was afraid of Baba, it was because I had other fears as well. Whenever I thought I was afraid to do something, it wasn't simply one particular thing that scared me, I was afraid of many other things as well. It isn't that people are afraid of meditation only; they are afraid of many other things too, so they constantly manufacture drama in their lives. It's as if all the drama will somehow mask their insecurity; it will hide their fears, and other people won't be able to see what is really going on with them. They may practice this deception knowingly or unknowingly; it doesn't really matter. From whom are they hiding this fear? Most of all, from themselves.

If this description rings a bell for you, take a moment and think about it. You may be afraid of your own innate goodness. If this is the case, isn't it because you are afraid of many other things in your life as well, many people, many projects, and many places? Fear so often holds people back and cuts them off - and not just spiritually.

Where do these fears come from? How are such terrible fears created? Basically, from your own thoughts. You think of something bad, and you are filled with fear. Many of your fearful thoughts are simply habitual, even instinctual...(skip skip, buy the book from Siddha Yoga Foundation)...

p.40
"The mind conjures up its own fears, makes them a reality, and then suffers because of these fears. If only you would realize that you are much bigger than your fears. Baba once said:

Thoughts are neither as pure nor as powerful as you are. What can a person who is helplessly robbed by his thoughts hope to achieve in life? Does someone deserve to be called a human being when he allows himself to be plundered by trivial, insignificant, useless, and silly thoughts? Shouldn't a person have self-respect? Shouldn't he be aware of his worth? Shouldn't he have the ability to throw away paltry thoughts and set his mind on the path of God?"

SadGurunath Maharaj ki Jai!

The Multi-Talented Tommy Be - Kick'n Rhythms

I have the delightful pleasure of singing with Tommy Be, Kamaniya, Terrence Pompey and Damaru when we have our big kirtan love fests - next one on Friday, May 23, Memorial Day Weekend, LIVE at Ananda Ashram.  And I was even more delighted when Kamaniya passed on the link to Tommy Be's entry in Ikea's Kitchen Rhythms Contest:  http://www.youtube.com/user/Ikea

They say the winner will be announced tomorrow - Friday, but a little birdy told me that our very own Tommy Be is the Grand Prize winner.  He totally rocks out in the kitchen - in true percussion is an art fashion.  He filmed and created all of this himself.  I passed it around ye old advertising agency - where we become a bit snobby about what we think of as good advertising/marketing strategies from the big brand names with multimillion dollar budgets, and everyone was impressed.   And voted for him.  And I agree with one of our brand strategists here who thought it was a great marketing strategy from Ikea's standpoint because they feature everything that they sell in the "ad." 

But I love it because it ROCKS the universe - check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xnh2TG5wAc

The lovely enlightened people who come to Ananda Ashram

I shared many tears and laughter with a yogini so opened up by being at Ananda Ashram this past weekend that she couldn't quite understand what was going on. And another yoga student, Michelle Garcia, told me that an an article she wrote about finding peace and clarity in El Salvador would be coming up in June's Yoga Journal, and lo and behold, I opened the magazine to find it just now. "Salavadoran Sanctuary," starts with Michelle explaining her desire to release "the lump" of muscle that had "hardened into a series of knots, like rosary beads" in her left shoulder. This led her into an exploration into her own body and asking herself why she was pushing herself so hard. Get June's issue of the magazine to read more. It's really a wonderful story of healing through yoga in a country ravaged by a 12-year civil war.

I love the magical yogis and yoginis who come to Ananda Ashram - fabulous beings of light who are searching so deep within themselves to find bliss. It's intriguing because I have the supremely funny task of putting together marketing materials to bring people to the Ashram (and to get information disseminated about the sweet darling place), many, many reasons for marketing and its potency. But I was laughing with Yehnemsah about having my target demographic as the yogis meditating in caves in the Himalayas or Tirunvamalai. Come to Ananda Ashram, my darling meditative friends all over the world tucked away in your little caves :-) Would they respond to a postcard?

Probably not, but yoginis and yogis who read Yoga Journal just might. It's nice to know that those who write for the magazine certainly do come and find a breath of fresh, blissful air just an hour outside of NYC at the meditative sanctuary I call home. And it's nice to know that many of them have "EMOTIONS and FEEEEEEELings" they express in many delightful ways.

Michelle Dawson - Henna Artist Love

Michelle is a superheroine of mine and one of the yoga teachers we trained at Ananda Ashram. She is a cosmic cowgirl who lives it as she says it - unlike many who just say it - wax philosophical, but never act on their words. Here's her Web site: http://www.hennabodyartbymichelle.com/images.htm

And here are photos of the Henna she created on co-teacher-trainees Jennifer Schmid and Nikki BenDavid - looks good on my West Elm rug and against the backdrop of my Target organic cotton sheets :-)  Actually,  Michelle is such an artist that her henna looks good everywhere. I showed some men and their shoe shiners on Grand Central these pictures and they were so impressed, I could feel they wanted to fling their shoes off and morph into wild women that could get henna expressed all over their skin. Of course, I also have an super active imagination - so much so that I'm not really sure what you look like, the animals, colors, swirls of energy I see or the human being you like to portray yourself as?

Hmmmm. Cinema Fantastique.

Listen to the Heart

And hearts everywhere. Sometimes I wonder how God puts up with us, puts up with me :-) I see that my 6th chakra, thinking mind, is so much on OVERdrive, HYPERdrive that my little heart has to contract so much and tense up to get my brain's attention. Thankfully, I can feel that contraction in the heart when she says to the mind - "that's all very well and good, Ms. Analyzer, but soften into the heart and feel."

Fabulous really, when I do this, what's often the first thing that happens? Tears, like a torrential downpour of tears so much sometimes that a WAILING starts happening and a sobbing and seriously, after sometimes, a couple of hours, I do start laughing and laughing and laughing. What a funny phenomenon. Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati has a booklet called the "Crying and the Laughing" or something like this. I'm not quite one for memorizing exact names of books, movies, songs, etcetera. Never have been. My mind seems to like to reject this. I tend to describe things like - you know that movie about Vietnam where they play Russian roulette, and someone inevitably says "Deerhunter." Disturbing flick. I watched it while praying to God for some succor for our people on this planet - a long time ago.

So those of you who know the booklet know what I'm talking about - and if you really want to buy it - it's an excellent source material for helping me feel not like a MANIAC when I have these fits of sobbing and laughing all at once - you can go to Ananda Ashram and ask for it and they'll know what you're talking about.

Guruji says to run into the woods and cry by one's self - then it's genuine. It's true, when I cry to people - and of course, it's absolutely wonderful to cry to people like my parents - who listen, laugh and pray with me or scoff off my tears and tell me to go to God - but when I cry to people who can't handle "om my God, there's such a thing as EMOTIONS and FEEEEELINGS? Who invented EMOTIONS and FEEEEEELINGS?" then they usually want you to, "for God's sake, please stop crying, it's embarrassing and weird..." So then you become disingenuous about your crying.

My parents always let my brother cry too - growing up. They never stopped him - and that's why my big bro (well he's younger but bigger than me) is such a sweetheart. Totally sensitive and strong at the same time - and absolutely doesn't really need to talk to people much, but when he's around we have sweetness. I love my baby bro and his lovely wife. I've learned a lot from my brother about not being so caught up in people's dramas or weirdness and just looking at it all from afar.

So how to listen to the heart? Meditation. The only answer.

And how to take care of the heart?
Well, last week, I had a pretty stressful tense time at work - as everyone who had an ear heard this weekend at the Ashram - and I didn't like the tension that stayed in my chest. So on Saturday evening, gorgeous dusk, I went running. And as I ran, the weight on my heart lifted and lifted and took off on angel's wings.

Then I sat on the phone and talked to my best friend since sixth grade, Valerie Montez, for about 2 hours and we sent each other so much love, compassion, understanding and advice. Fabulous.

The picture of the heart is one I took yesterday - it was created in gum, stepped on by thousands of New Yorkers and is a reminder that a heart an grow anywhere.

Much love,
Sumukhi
Betty
Yogafly
Rivera
Natasha
Lanuza

Join Michelle Barge, Yoga Teacher at the Sing for Hope Benefit on Monday, May 19

Michelle Barge, yoga teacher, big hearted soul, sent the following very awesome invitation to a super auspicious event.  From her e-mail:

"As many of you know I have 2 charities that I'm really involved in AND super passionate about -- and one of them I work for: http://www.bentonlearning.org.

Bent on Learning brings yoga and meditation to the NYC Public School System.  We service the boroughs with a posse of teacher who go school to school daily - and yours truly is one of them. 

I teach high schoolers three times a week and it's a joy, but a challenge.  A lot of these kids don't have regular PE and haven't throughout their years in school, so many of them are not as fit as kids their age should be.  Yoga has given them discipline, strength, flexibility, focus and a "cool factor" you would not believe.  But this organization is non-profit and funds come through DOE contracts that the founders negotiate school-to-school and donations.  So we need your help to keep these programs going and growing! 

Please join me in this great event, Monday May 19th at the gorgeous Rubin Museum of Art.  If you can't attend, consider making a donation.  If you can do neither, I will have another fundraiser in June for Concrete Safaris."

- Michelle Barge

Dr. Christiane Northrup at Trimurti/Attune Yoga Studio on Monday, May 12

Double score on Monday.  Justine Renson, yogini, sent me the following invitation that I think many ladies will surely benefit from.   Attune/ Trimurti Yoga, formerly Yoga Mandali, in Soho is not only owned by the beautiful and delightful Carmela but has my favorite yoga teachers and co-teachers as part of their staff.   Click here for their Web site:  http://www.yogamandali.com/about.html

And then Christiane Northrup, M.D., one of my superheroine doctors to boot!  RSVP to Justine as space is limited.  Here is the e-mail she sent out:

Hi Beautiful Wellness-Conscious Women,

I am totally going to this event as I so admire Christiane and am now
starting to benefit from USANA products and recommend them to my
clients.  Do you want to join me?  Its about business, but even deeper
its about our thriving wellness on all levels.  Here's the invite I
received which I'm extending to you...

Dr. Northrup is back in town! Dr. Christiane Northrup will be speaking
next Monday evening, May 12, on creating health and prosperity in our
lives. Dr. Northrup, one of the foremost authorities on women's
health and wellness and a founding member of Team Northrup, will talk
about how physical and financial health are inextricably linked and
discuss how to capitalize on this connection via Team Northrup and
Usana Health Sciences. Not only is this a rare (and free!) chance to
hear Dr. Northrup in person in an intimate venue (hard to come by
these days), it's also a great home business opportunity.

Cost: FREE!
When: Monday, May 12
Registration: 7:30pm
Presentation: 8pm
Location: Prince & Broadway in Soho
R to Prince

RSVP is essential—seating is limited! RSVP to justinerenson@tmail.com
so I can
reserve a space for you.

Note: this is a business presentation.

What is Team Northrup? Team Northrup is a league of entrepreneurial
women and men who are philosophically aligned with the work of
women's wellness pioneer, world renowned author and one of the most
respected authorities on women's health—Dr. Christiane Northrup.
Recognizing the vital link between health and personal finances, this
unique team has joined together to build a lucrative global health
and wellness home business, while also helping others around the
world to improve their health.

"One of my personal dreams is to create a global movement to help
women [and the men who love them] create a heavenly life—abundant in
health and wealth, right here on Earth."

—Dr. Christiane Northup, author of New York Times
bestsellers "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom", "The Wisdom of
Menopause", and "Mother-Daughter Wisdom".

Hope to see you there!

Yours in radiant wellness, fun & pleasure,

Justine

Justine Renson
Lean & Serene
Wellness Coaching with a
MindBodyTwist

This Little Light O' Mine

  On Saturday night, we sang one of my favorite sing-a-along songs - "This Little Light O' Mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."  And I sang words such as..."when I'm feeling blue, I'm gonna let it shine...when I'm feeling poor, I'm gonna let it shine...when I'm in the subway...I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine..."

And on the subway on Monday, I was a little worried about something - even though I could hear Padre Pio saying over and over again, "Pray and don't worry."   And so many of his words saying that worry is the way of darkness and prayer is the way of light.  "Non avere paura.  Tutto andra bene," he said to people asking his help.    "Don't worry, all will be well."

And as the worries surmounted, and the people got more and more crowded on the subway platform, I could feel myself getting hot, temperamental and a little miserable.  And then, like a choir of angels, I heard 3 beautiful male voices harmonizing with a powerful female voice one subway floor above singing,  "This little light o' mine, I'm gonna let it shine...This little light o' mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

So like a call from God, I followed the voices upstairs, listened to them finish the song that I needed to hear, felt the grace of Guruji, gave them some money and decided to walk the 20 blocks to Whole Foods.  And as I told my beau, who sang the song back to me a wee bit on Tuesday night, we've got to remember that not much is really up to us.   All is divinely ordered beyond what we can comprehend.

Spend some time with Guruji - Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati

You can do this NOW.

So many of my friends think Guruji is in his body because of my relationship to him :-) 

I don't have many relationships with people who are not in their bodies, but Guruji, well, he's very helpful to me.   

I spent some time at Ananda Ashram's Cosmic Temple this morning with him and Baba Bhagavan Das.  I feel much better now.

Click on the link below to be with Guruji now.  This was filmed a few months before he left his body.  So much life - he doesn't need a body to express his grace.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-second-night-with-guruji-5293-sri-brahmananda-sarasvati-part-1/667803623

A. Fashionista's advice for a Stylin Yogini's Love for Shoes

Of course A. Fashionista never fails to deliver and delight.  Here are pics of her lovely red tootsies from her blog - http://diaryofalabellover.typepad.com.  I'll have to say the wedge heel looks super comfortable.  But I won't know until I try them for myself.    The pinky toe might be squished in them.  And how I love to move my pinky toe!

I think about the human drama of never being quite comfortable enough in these bodies we carry.  Yet - we try anyways.  In Gurumayi Chidvilasananda's book Courage & Contentment, I am reminded to practice "santosha" - deep contentment even in the midst of my divine discontent.  So shoes may never be a source of contentment for this yogini, and as I continue the fruitless, hungry ghost search outward for the perfect heeled shoe, I may just have to put up with a little pinching here, a little blister there and lots of reflexology to ease the suffering.

Yoga Everywhere

En route from Ananda Ashram on NJ Transit on Monday, I noticed that one of the ladies sitting next to me had a "Yoga Synthesis" brochure from Raji Thron - a great yoga teacher based out of New Jersey who has brought students to the Ashram in the past.  And I look up at the "Life Made Simple" ads for NJ Transit, and there's a picture of yogini on a mat in Warrior 2. 

It's nice to see that because of our high speed lives on public transportation where we are packed like sardines meditating - to be reminded that we can feel freedom in the body mind by doing some Hatha Yoga.  There's another ad with a man in full upward facing dog - and he looks utterly delighted. 

Good to see Yoga everywhere...

Rockin the Blue Sky with the Devis and Dalien

Saturday night, May3, Sumukhi Yogafly, Lalita Devi (Katie Lower), Jennifer Schmid (gorgeous ladies) and Dalien (www.13hands.com) rocked Ananda Ashram's Blue Sky Center with the most super fabulous group of yogis in one sweet lovin' spot. 

Sue Kaufer - one of the dancing babes (pictured)- sent me the following in an e-mail:

"You and your kirtan crew were amazing on Saturday night! So much love and sweetness in the Blue Sky Center ! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti"

David Hollander of Yoga Sutra (there he is in forearm stand during the dance party)- and his yoga group's shaktih in the room, with Kamaniya Devi, Roopji's Nada Yoga music group and this room of the brightest most energetic spirits lit up the night in full splendor.  

Here I am with the flowers Joan Suval and Kamaniya (hula-hooping) gave after the rollicking first hour - I was ecstatic.

Barefoot Maidens, Lightfoot Lads

I love being barefoot.  I'm barefoot now, in my office at the ad agency sitting on top of a Gaiam.com exercise ball to tone my abs as I type away.  I'll post pictures in one moment once my camera battery re-charges. 

No, those are not a picture of my feet - but great toe action, eh?

At the Ashram, I've learned the art of leaving shoes in the vestibule of each house before I enter. All over the Ashram are lovely barefoot maidens and lightfoot lads springing into handstands and full lotus.  Okay no, well, yes, mostly on weekends, when the big hatha yoga groups come.   In front of the room I house this body in at the Ashram is a litter of shoes - that I keep meaning to organize.  Here in the office, I always have quite a few pairs underneath my desk.

Being an advertising producer, yogini, singer who likes to go out to different functions after work, I need many shoes to match my many hats.  In 1998, for my birthday at the first PR firm where I worked they told me I was "every woman" - and played the song for me.  Plus, I'm from the Philippines, where our crowned queen had an unbeatable shoe fetish. 

But honestly, it's much better to be barefoot - your toes - can dance when you are barefoot.  Hatha yoga is much easier.  Energy pulses from each toe into your major internal organs when you don't squish your tootsies in boots. 

But we live in the big city where we can't really walk around barefoot as we can on the beach.  And even at the Ashram - where barefoot is the highest of fashion dictates - we have cold, freezing winters to contend with.  So what's the solution?

Reflexology?  Yes.  Soaking the feet?  Yes.  Legs up the wall pose.  Absolutely.

But I think proper shoes are in order as well.  Some of my favorite brands are Merrells - they need smaller sizes!  And I'm a tiny little yoga person as my friend calls me (ever-expandingly huge spirit, small body) and I do like to wear my heels - especially when I'm wearing a fancy dress or like today, when I'm wearing a long skirt.  And it's incredibly difficult to find comfortable heels - but once in a while, I'll find a delightful pair.  Kenneth Cole makes super comfortable heeled shoes.

Perhaps A. Fashionista has some recommendations.

Diggin the Wall Street Journal

I'm either getting old or the Wall Street Journal is getting better writers, or both.  The other day en route home on the subway, I was trying hard not to read it over the shoulder of the man sitting next to me as there were headlines such as Beijing to Reopen Tibet for Tourists After Unrest that peaked my interest.   Gotta go catch my opera...will write more soon.  Okay - that was a long opera - it was beautiful, meditative and repetitive.  When I closed my eyes, I tend, as in most operas I've gone to, to bob my head around in a beautiful attempt to stay awake.  But the voices are so peaceful, so wonderfully sonorous, so soothing.  I do know that Satyagraha made a powerful and lasting statement to this psyche - and that is why I pay to sleep, er, meditate, er sleep? in elaborate performance halls.  And why I like to sing people to sleep m'self...

On to the Wall Street Journal...The wonderful man sitting next to me, saw my interest and after I told him that I would pick one up on my way home, gladly handed me his WSJ.  SCORE.  Thank you to kind strangers who love to share information.  I was very impressed by an article in its Health Journal by Melinda Beck titled "If at First You Don't Succeed, You're in Excellent Company."  In the article Ms. Beck talked about how some of the most successful people in the world have what was first described by Stanford University psychologist as "self-efficacy."  She said, "self-efficacy differs from self-esteem in that it's a judgment of specific capabilities rather than a general feeling of self-worth."  She goes on to explain that people with high self-efficacy "succeed because they believe that persistent effort will let them beat the odds."

I understand this because persistent effort is the only thing that helps me beat the odds.  Ms. Beck cites examples from Thomas Edison who said about inventing the light bulb: "I didn't fail 1,000 times.  The light bulb was an invention in 1,000 steps."

I like to see myself the way Edison saw the light bulb, as an invention, in infinite steps.  I've already achieved what I thought unimaginable.  Yet, I am still alive.  That's freedom. 

Satyagraha at the Met

"Satyagraha" in Sanskrit means "firmness in truth," or "steadfastness in truth," and is the philosophy that motivated Gandhi throughout his nonviolent campaigns to end British colonization of India.  Jennifer (from Ananda Ashram), and I will watch composer Philip Glass's opera based on text from The Bhagavad Gita and Gandhi's mission at the Metropolitan Opera tonight.  Friends who have seen the opera have loved it - and another has said that the not-so-good-pronunciation of Sanskrit may be difficult to stomach in some parts.     Pictured is a scene from the opera - taken from the Metropolitan Opera's Web site.  It is a work of wonder to fuse the worlds of Western and Eastern music, philosophy and culture.  I admire Philip Glass for taking on such a monumental task and succeeding.  Peaceful co-existence of two art forms - one distinctly South Asian, the other completely European - Sanskrit and opera - on stage is a remarkable feat.  I also love Philip Glass because I often see him in Gehlek Rimpoche's meditation classes at Jewel Heart Center off West Broadway near Chinatown.  If you haven't noticed, I'm a little partial to people who meditate.  Here's to an artist who creates from the vast reservoir of a mind in service to the heart:  http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/season/production.aspx?id=9251