PAC 156, Yoga and the Chakras

I'm honored to be a guest in your Yoga class today to introduce an asana practice which focuses on the pranamayakosha.

It is adapted from the "Yoga of Lady Niguma" which was taught to me directly by Geshe Michael Roach.  Through postures and meditation, we will concentrate on the movement of prana through the nadis and chakras.

According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, there are 72 000 channels in the body through which life energy flows.  They intersect at hubs referred to as chakras, meaning "wheels".  These chakras are knots which prevent the rising of Kundalini.

Tibetan Buddhist practitioners of Yoga have their own unique interpretation of this system of subtle channels which you can read about here, here and here.

Geshe Michael describes the history of this series and the life of Lady Niguma here.

And teaches the first series in full here.

I hope you learn something today which is of help to you in your studies and in your daily life.

I look forward to seeing you next month for an Introduction to the Language and Literature of Yoga.

Secrets from the Wheel of Life

Watch the live streaming of the teachings tonight!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-wheel-of-life-with-geshe-michael-roach

Karma and Emptiness in the Yoga Sutra

Geshe Michael Roach.  Blurry Photo Credit: Me :)

Hey, Yoga Sutra Geeks! (You know I call you that with the utmost reverence and affection...) Check it out! 

Asian Classics Institute has more than 400 pages of transcribed teachings on this topic alone!

Karma and Emptiness in the Yoga Sutra, Part One, Geshe Michael Roach

Karma and Emptiness in the Yoga Sutra, Part Two, Geshe Michael Roach

Essential Yoga Sutra: Ancient Wisdom for Your Yoga

Wow!  Have I got a great new Yoga Sutras link to share with you today!

The Essential Yoga Sutra by Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNally is now available here for free in PDF form! 

This translation is one of my personal favorites! 

It features the transliterated Sanskrit for each sutra plus translations and commentary on this classic text from the perspective of Tibetan Buddhism.

For those of you in my Intermediate Hatha Yoga classes at Yoga for Today in the past week, I especially recommend you check out page 32 for Sutra 1.20 which we were chanting together so beautifully!

Thank you to all who have helped make this sacred text available to us!  Your generosity is an inspiration and a blessing!

Prayers for Diamond Mountain

It is with deep dismay that I share this open letter from Geshe Michael Roach.

Please click here to go to the Diamond Mountain University website.

I offer these prayers for Ian and his family, Lama Christie, Geshe Michael, Diamond Mountain's Three Year Retreatants, Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, students, sponsors, and the worldwide Sangha.

May all beings be happy.  May all beings be peaceful.  May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Trayambakam x 108

Tara Chants the Invocation to Patanjali - Free Audio!



Swami Swaroopananda


Blessed Selves,

I have something special to share with you! 

My dear friend Shyaama just emailed me an audio recording I forgot even existed. 

It's me chanting the Invocation to Patanjali with translation while we were studying the Yoga Sutras at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram with our beloved Teachers Swami Swaroopananda, Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally.

Thank you, Shyaama Devi!

I learned the melody from Swami Swaroopananda, and to this day, I always hear it in my heart in his beautiful voice. 

Please be aware that any mistakes are mine, and mine alone.

Limited time offer - free download:  

Tara Woltjen chanting the Invocation to Patanjali! 

Note* This file is available for one week only!  You must download it by April 23, 2012!

You are most welcome to listen to it, to save it, and even to share it with others! 

I have just two requests:

1. Please watch these short videos by my hero, Nina Paley first. 
2. Leave me a comment below to let me know you've downloaded it. 

With love and gratitude to you all, Tara

Copying is Not Theft - Nina Paley

Credit is Due (The Attribution Song) - Nina Paley

All Creative Work is Derivative - Nina Paley

Watch for Nina's masterpiece this weekend on Kali's Kitchen Sattvic Movie Saturday!

And here's the link to my rendition of the Invocation to Patanjali:  https://www.yousendit.com/download/M3Bua3ZITmFwcFdGa2RVag

Remember, you need to download it by April 23rd, 2012!  Then chant to your heart's content!

Patanjali Maharishi Ki - Jai!

Swami Swaroopananda Ki - Jai!

Om Tat Sat

Mercy Songs

If you've been coming to my Yoga of Lady Niguma classes on Sunday mornings, you've heard Mercy Songs by Mercedes Bahleda. 

Mercedes is one of my dharma sisters, a fellow student of Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally.  She is currently part of the hard-working entourage assisting Geshe Michael with his Diamond Cutter Institute tour, workshops and classes.

Many of you have asked me how you can get your own copy, so here's the link! 

"Mercy Songs" by Mercedes Bahleda is available through White Swan Music.

Mercedes has posted several of her beautiful songs on YouTube, including the video below featuring the Mantra of Chenrizig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Om Mani Padme Hum. 

"The Book"

Photo courtesy of one love origami.

Thank you to all of you in the Tibetan Heart Yoga class this morning, what a nice way to start the weekend!

And thanks to Jocelyn for mentioning Geshe Michael Roach's priceless little publication known as "The Book". 

Here is the link: The Book, by Geshe Michael Roach.

You can learn more about Geshe Michael and study teachings on Yoga and Tibetan Buddhism for free through the Asian Classics Institute's Formal Study Courses, Daily Practices and more!

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum (image borrowed from Wikipedia)

Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus 

New!  I am delighted to be offering Tibetan Heart Yoga (Tong-len or "Taking and Giving" as taught by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally) on Saturday mornings at Yoga for Today!

In this class we sing the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum", the mantra of Chenrizig, The Bodhisattva of Compassion.

You can click here to read more on Wikipedia about this beautiful mantra. 

Find out which negative emotions it purifies while developing The Six Perfections! 

How Yoga Really Works

The Three Main Nadis and Seven Major Chakras

A Great Big Thank You to everyone at Yoga for Today who gathered for the first Yoga Teachers' Professional Development Weekend! 

It was such a joy to study with you again, I'm already looking forward to the next time!  Thank you all for your kindness and your ongoing enthusiasm!

Here is the free pamphlet I mentioned by Geshe Michael Roach.  It is a condensed version of two of his books, The Diamond Cutter and Karmic Management: 

Fearless Success in Work and Life by Geshe Michael Roach 

You can learn more about the Tong-len asana series we practiced on Saturday (Tibetan Heart Yoga, Series One) in The Tibetan Book of Yoga or you can register for my new Saturday morning Tibetan Heart Yoga class starting in January at Yoga for Today.

As you may already have guessed, at the very very top of my recommended reading list for yoga teachers is How Yoga Works.  It is a beautiful story by Geshe Michael and Lama Christie McNally that presents the philosophy of yoga and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in a way that is authentic, engaging and easy to relate to. 

For information about Geshe Michael Roach and a few of the organizations he has founded so far, check out the links on my Guru Parampara page.

And hey - congratulations!  You just earned five more hours toward an attendance certificate in Hatha or Raja Yoga in my Yoga Apprenticeship Program! 

It's easy to sign up and it's free!  I hope to hear from you soon!

Jai!