Yogafly2

measure of success

for a yoga teacher? is how much transformation we help to facilitate. I love to see myself as more of a guide than a teacher preacher proselytizer. Let me point the way. You create the decor along the way. and how do we know how much transformation we help to facilitate? Umm, we don't. So success is simply another grand illusion we can let go of now.

My job is so durn entertaining

Seriously. 

First we did handstands in Eric Schulte's office yesterday.

And then having been instructed on how to use Shamwows (boys like cleaning products!!!), I go out and buy them.

And the funniest thing is the Slapchop:

http://www.fancypipes.biz/2009/04/29/music-pipes-rap-chop/

And the rap that it comes with.

Serious business.

This world of advertising.  I have to make a thousand million back up jpegs on Photoshop today.  Fun in the sun.  Except I'm indoors.  In a cubicle. 

on Yoga Teacher Training at Ananda Ashram

We have this text called the Fundamentals of Yoga by Guruji that everyone must have.  He starts us on Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.  And tells us that we have to let go of any idea that we cannot achieve these.  Seriously, it takes an enlightened being to tell you that these 3 limbs of the 8 limbs of Yoga are the first one must achieve.  And literally, he tells you not to move on to the next chapter until you have attained each one of these.  So I haven't budged from Chapter 1.  Ha ha.  Of course, I like to read everything backwards.  So I've been trying to master the chapter on self-anesthesia.  So that I don't have to get any anesthetics when I get surgery.  That's even funnier.  

And the chapter on the business of Yoga. In this book, Guruji explains that you must make money from Yoga.  Otherwise it becomes simply a hobby.

"gigantic will power" 

Did I write that in our tests last year for the TTs?  Oh yea - I made a test that matched each of Guruji's descriptions of the 8 limbs.  But really, I like the students to describe it in their own words --- even if it's awkward.  Samadhi is like...um...you know...um....

Genius when I fell asleep at night. He elevates me...

Guruji:

On chapter 23 of Atma Bodha:

Perhaps I can just inhale and memorize this book so I don't forget.  Okay, yes, it's why I do this re-typing, typing, can I have it in Devanagari?  Can I etch it on my forehead so I remember when I look in the mirror?  Can I make a cake out of it and eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner?  And Guruji would just tell me to "Drop everything.  No memory of anything." --- I like to always explain to people that Guruji did like ten billion things in one lifetime by not thinking about any of it.  Do I have a lot to learn?  "Drop everything.  No memory of anything." --->

"Self-analysis is not the process of adding something to the body and mind, like adding clothing to the body to protect it from cold and rain.  It is a process of becoming, unfolding, discovering  It implies a necessary change in being to becoming something else.  Many students fail in Self-analysis because they want to obtain Self-knowledge as a foreign addition to Self-consciousness without changing their fundamental behavior and character.  A tree will not come out of of a seed if the seed remains unchanged and unsprouted; likewise, the attainment of Self-knowledge will be impossible unless necessary change, action and motion are produced in the pre-existing being.  In short, no being is Absolute in its present form."

Sutra # 26 - Self Analysis and Self Knowledge by Guruji

based on the Atma Bodha of Shankaracharya

Rajju-sarpavat atmanam jivam jnatva bhayam vachet 

na aham Jivah Paratma iti jnatam cet nirbhayah bhavet

"when human consciousness follows the motion of cittam toward its objects through sensory organs, it comes into contact with the objective world.  This contact produces  mighty wave of desire in driving forces to have that object.  This wave of desire has one of two results:  either it may have that object, or it may not have that object.  In either case, the result will be anger and anxiety.  In having that object, human consciousness will try to possess the object absolutely and permanently.  This is an impossibility in the world of relativity.  On not having that object, human consciousness will feel lack and this will cause anger and anxiety.  Anger and anxiety will cause delusion, folly, and unreasoning emotion, which in turn will cause loss of memory and loss of knowledge.  Loss of memory and knowledge will bring impending ruin to cittam, which will present the threat of annihilation to human consciousness."

And here we go, seriously plain ol' semantics until we get there.  I have glimpses.  I'm relaxing into expanding the glimpses:

"When human consciousness identifies with Pure Existence, Atman, its identification with cittam gradually disappears.  It identifies with Pure Existence, which includes the entire subject -object dichotomy, and transcends all.  It becomes complete in itself in every respect."

It becomes complete in itself in every respect.

It becomes complete in itself in every respect.

I and thou are the same.

chocolate eclairs

Just had one after my ashtanga yoga practice. Sorta felt bad for my teacher. I don't like to follow directions unless it's from an enlightened being. Thank God he gave up. I mean for Guru's sake, I'm in a led class. I do mostly what you tell me and then leave me alone. anywhoo, was just thinking of my father's "healthy" diet, when he told me about his trips to dunkin donuts, his coffee and then ordered a Coke. When I reprimanded him, he laughed and said "good genes!" That's the end of that.

again the Yoga of crazy advertising

Here we go.

Last night, I conducted Vedic Fire Ceremony, with me and Yogi, the dog who is human-sitting me, and the great wonderful NYC Spring Sky - the portable kind that goes anywhere with me (fire ceremony kit, I guess it also works to describe the Sky).  I am always aware of fire alarms.  But it does help to release everything that we create in the blink of an eye - the Vedic Fire Ceremony. 

Om Bhur Svaha.  Agnaye idam na mama.

Om Bhuvah Svaha.  Vayave idam na mama.

Om Svah Svaha.  Suryaya idam na mama.

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah Svaha.  Prajapataye idam na mama.

We are so accustomed to doing 10,000 things at once.  Doing one thing at a time for me is a WORK.  That I enjoy. 

This is why fingerpainting is so important.

I seem to tell a few of my crazed private yoga students (if you manage billions of dollars, especially, you know who you are) to make sure to finger paint. 

the love Yoga co-op

My buddy, soul sistah, Lauran Janes opened the Love Yoga Co-op in Austin, www.loveyogacoop.com. She and I had such a fine time catching up yesterday, makes my heart laugh, this beautiful goddess friend o mine. We inspire each other and all beings to be free. It does take a lot of courage to crack the heart cavity wide open. But don't worry, the bliss you will find far exceeds the suffering that goes hand in hand with such opening.

all is full of LOVE

I'm just swimming in the ecstasy of it all. YAY!

look at it from the perspective of the infinite

Every time, I have an inkling to whine about this existence, I get this message. and I always end up laughing.