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

Sattvic Movie Saturday - Yogis of Tibet

Another April snow storm is keeping me indoors tonight.  Ah, Alberta...

But it's inspired me to launch a new series of posts called Sattvic Movie Saturday!

I'd wish you could come over tonight.  We could watch a movie and eat popcorn and raw chocolate and drink chai, but here's the next best thing!

Staff Meeting, Sivananda Ashram, Bahamas
(Me, Upper Right)

Kind of reminds me of "staff night" in the Bahamas at the Sivananda Ashram which happens only ever so rarely. 

The staff (all karma yogis/volunteers) almost never take a day or a night or even a moment off.

As Swami Brahmananda says when someone asks for one, "Does your karma take a day off?" 

"No, Swamiji... sigh...", is always the answer. :-D

But once in a while in low season, someone takes the guests for evening satsang on the beach and the staff indulge like sixth graders at a sleepover, with chai and lemonade and chips and popcorn and whatever sweet treat someone can concoct in the kitchen in addition to their "real" karma yoga. 

Sometimes... oh dare I say it... we even have ice creammmmmmmm....  and hang out all together and giggle and eat, enjoy a movie and a well deserved change of pace. 

Some of my favorites:  The Princess Bride, Kung Fu Panda, Lord of the Rings and Baraka. 

Less favorite films but great memories:  Oh, God! (my favorite part being Swami Brahmananda's boyish guffaws), Brother Sun, Sister Moon (it seems Brahmachari Shankar knows every song and line as well as he knows The Princess Bride) and Avatar (which I would have just walked out of, but the tahini cookies Mahadevi made were sooooooo good...)

There we're immersed in yoga 25/7.  Here, yoga movies are the only ones I make time for. 

So starting tonight, watch for Sattvic Movie Saturday posts and we can discuss or review the films here. 

In honor of the Tibetan Heart Yoga class this morning, let's begin with Yogis of Tibet (Click here to watch full screen on YouTube).

I've got my Veggie Quesadillas ready!  Go grab your snacks and a drink.  Curl up and enjoy!

Let me know what you think in the comments section below! 

Or email your movie suggestions to:  tarawoltjen@yahoo.ca

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! 

New Classes for 2012!

Sri Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles

The new session at Yoga for Today begins Monday, January 9th. 

Click here to register for classes online.

I'm excited to be teaching four classes a week:

• NEW TIME!  Meditation and Yoga Philosophy, Level One on Tuesday Mornings.
• NEW CLASS!  Meditation and Yoga Philosophy, Level Two on Wednesday Evenings. 
• NEW CLASS!  Tibetan Heart Yoga on Saturday Mornings.
• AND BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  Intermediate Hatha Yoga continues on Sunday Mornings.

Click here to see Yoga For Today's full schedule.

Special Event: 

Sunday, January 8, 2012 is the last day of Yoga for Food Week!

Please join me for Intermediate Hatha Yoga on Sunday, January 8th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in exchange for a donation to the Food Bank.

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!