Stuff

One of the foundational practices of yoga is Aparigraha, or non-hording.

This is a challenging time of year to practice, with all the sales and pretty papers and bows.  It may also be the most rewarding.

Note: I didn't say perfect... let's just recognize the fine line between "want" and "need".

Here's a video that hits the nail on the head.  Its an oldy but a goody about our aquisitive habits and their results:

Caution:  There's a bit of foul language but plenty of good chuckles:  George Carlin "Stuff"

All The World's a Stage...

Coriolanus, by Soma Orlai Petrich,1869

Free for some outdoor live theatre this evening?

Join Raja Yoga Summer Camp tonight at 8 pm in Hawrelak Park for a "Pay-What-You-Will" preview of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival's presentation of Coriolanus!

So... what does a Shakespearean tragedy have to do with yoga?

Umm... haha... good question...

Maybe not much at first glance, but with themes of power and pride, class and character, virtue and action, pride and privilege, past vs. progress and friends vs. enemies, this play brings to my mind the Bhagavad Gita, and practically begs discussion on the Yamas and Niyamas!

Besides, it's going to be a beautiful, warm summer night, perfect for Shakespeare in the park.  Hope to see you there!

P.S. The famous (and very yogic!) quote in this post's title is not from Coriolanus.  But it is from As You Like It, this year's Freewill Shakespeare Festival comedy!

Natural Cleaning: Have You Tried Soapnuts?

Dried Soapnuts/Soapberries/Reetha

Spring cleaning can feel like a chore, or a breath of fresh air, it all depends on how you approach it.

Yogis think of housekeeping as an opportunity to practise saucha, or holistic cleanliness, and using earth-friendly, all-natural cleaning products is one way to practice ahimsa, or non-violence.

Practicing the yamas and niyamas, or virtuous restraints and habits, enhances physical health, encourages mental clarity and enlightens the spirit.

There are so many natural and earth-friendly ways to make all that scrubbing and sweeping easier and more pleasant.

Last year on Earth Day I tried soapnuts for the first time and I've been loving them ever since.  If you haven't tried them yet, it's time!

Soapnuts aren't actually nuts at all.  They are the dried fruit of a tree native to India and Nepal.  The berries aren't good for eating as they contain natural saponin, making them bitter-tasting, but a very effective natural cleanser.

For thousands of years they've been used for washing dishes, laundry and as an ayurvedic hair and body wash.  They are considered to be a safe, natural insecticide and even have mild contraceptive qualities!

How to use soapnuts:  

I like to put five of the dried berries in a small muslin cotton bag and throw it in the washer with my dirty clothes.  When I transfer the clothes to the dryer, the little bag goes with them.

The clothes come out clean, soft and unscented, and the towels are extra fluffy and absorbent!

The best part is, those same five soapnuts can be reused up to ten times!

Usually after 6 or 7 washes, I transfer the little bag to a pot of water on my stove and boil it to make a liquid all-purpose cleaner with the "tea".  I use it to wash dishes and windows, counters and surfaces.

Just remember to use the soapnut liquid up within a week as it has no preservatives and will spoil eventually.  No worries if it does, just dump it down the sink or in your garden, its totally biodegradable!

I get my soapnuts from Asian grocers, where they go by their Indian names of Reetha/Ritha/Aritha or from Eco Nuts or better yet, in bulk at Earth's General Store.

Give them a try and let me know what you think!

Yoga Teachers Training this Saturday at Yoga Within

Krishna and Arjuna, in The Bhagavad Gita

Workshop this weekend:  Yoga and the Bhagavad Gita

This is a continuation of the Yoga Philosophy section of the Yoga Teachers Training Program at Yoga Within, Edmonton.

When: Saturday, February 8, 2014 from noon - 6pm

Students, please feel free to bring your own copy of the Gita so that we can compare translations, and be prepared to discuss the Yamas and Niyamas assignment from our last session.

Considering taking Hatha Yoga Teacher Training?  Find out more about Yoga Within's 200 and 500 hour programs here.



Yoga for Today, Teacher Training Assignment

Practicing the

Yamas and Niyamas

It was great seeing you all this morning at Yoga for Today. 

Thank you for your warm enthusiasm on this snowy day!

Here's your assignment.  Please come to our next meeting with a copy of your summary to discuss.

And for those of you who asked, here is a link to my Navaratri post which gives a little more information about the marigolds.

From the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, please choose one of the Yamas:

1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा): non-violence.
2. Satya (सत्य): truth in word and thought, absence of falsehood or giving someone the wrong impression.
3. Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing.
4. Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy in case of unmarried people and faithfulness in action, words and thoughts in the case of married people.
5. Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): absence of avarice, not coveting or hoarding.

OR one of the Niyamas:

1. Shaucha: cleanliness of body and mind; purity.
2. Santosha: satisfaction with what one has; contentment.
3. Tapas: austerity.
4. Svādhyāya: study of the Vedic scriptures and the Self, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.
5. Ishvarapranidhana: surrender to, or worship of Ishwara (God).

Spend 24 hours consciously practicing your chosen Yama or Niyama or some aspect of it. 
For example:

• Practice ahimsa by not eating meat for the day. 
• Practice santosha by not complaining about work, your husband, or the weather.
• Practice satya by not exaggerating. ("I'm starving!"  or "I hit a million red lights on the way here!")
• Practice asteya by not making personal calls, surfing the net or texting on business time.
• Practice tapas by going on a one day "media fast", turning off the tv, radio, and internet gossip.
• Practice saucha and aparigraha at the same time by finally cleaning out the basement or the back closet and donating the clothes you're not wearing to someone else who can!

Get it?  It's challenging, but really fun!

If you find it helpful, jot notes down during the day about how it's going.  Maybe make a note every few hours about whether or not you were able to keep your committment to yourself during that time. 

Don't get discouraged - keep going! 

At the end of the 24 hours write approximately 1/2 to 1 page summary of the experience. 

Please bring a copy to class with you and be prepared for a group discussion. 

Your best bet is to choose one and begin right now! 

Otherwise, the tendency is to "forget" indefinitely, or to make some small transgression of your committment and give up or start over with the illusion that getting it "right" and doing it "perfectly" is what will make your experiment and your Yoga "successful".

Please recall that this is a practice and each "mistake" helps us to grow in awareness.  In that sense, there is no such thing as a mistake.  Each lapse in awareness allows us to see ourselves more clearly.

Be warned:  Sometimes in the process of cleaning the mind we "kick up some dirt", but it's well worth the effort!

Have fun! 

Yoga Within, Teacher Training Assignment

Practicing the
Yamas and Niyamas

It was wonderful to see you all on Saturday and voyage through the chakras together!

If you would like the words for the "Sun Salutation Prayer" my Mom and I wrote and shared, you can click here.

And you can find Mahatma Gandhi's "Namaste" by clicking here.

In our short time together, we explored the chakras in terms of location, associated elements, emotions, senses, bija mantras, and the colors of the rainbow. 

For the traditional colors and other details of each chakra, visit the Sanatan Society website.

You can also check out a great index of articles on prana, the nadis, and awakening kundalini on swamij.com.

When we meet again on November 25th we will complete our study of the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and discuss the Yamas and Niyamas homework assignment. 

Here is your assignment again:

From the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, please choose one of the Yamas:

1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा): non-violence.
2. Satya (सत्य): truth in word and thought, absence of falsehood or giving someone the wrong impression.
3. Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing.
4. Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy in case of unmarried people and faithfulness in action, words and thoughts in the case of married people.
5. Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): absence of avarice, not coveting or hoarding.

OR one of the Niyamas:

1. Shaucha: cleanliness of body and mind; purity.
2. Santosha: satisfaction with what one has; contentment.
3. Tapas: austerity.
4. Svādhyāya: study of the Vedic scriptures and the Self, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.
5. Ishvarapranidhana: surrender to, or worship of Ishwara (God).

Spend 24 hours consciously practicing your chosen Yama or Niyama or some aspect of it. 

For example:

• Practice ahimsa by not eating meat for the day. 
• Practice santosha by not complaining about work, your husband, or the weather.
• Practice satya by not exaggerating. ("I'm starving!"  or "I hit a million red lights on the way here!")
• Practice asteya by not making personal calls, surfing the net or texting on business time.
• Practice tapas by going on a one day "media fast", turning off the tv, radio, and internet gossip.
• Practice saucha and aparigraha at the same time by finally cleaning out the basement or the back closet and donating the clothes you're not wearing to someone else who can!

Get it?  It's challenging, but really fun!

If you find it helpful, jot notes down during the day about how it's going.  Maybe make a note every few hours about whether or not you were able to keep your committment to yourself during that time. 

Don't get discouraged - keep going! 

At the end of the 24 hours write approximately 1/2 to 1 page summary of the experience.  Please bring a copy to class with you and be prepared for a group discussion. 

Your best bet is to choose one and begin right now! 

Otherwise, the tendency is to "forget" indefinitely, or to make some small transgression of your committment and give up or start over with the illusion that getting it "right" and doing it "perfectly" is what will make your experiment and your Yoga "successful".

Please recall that this is a practice and each "mistake" helps us to grow in awareness.  In that sense, there is no such thing as a mistake.  Each lapse in awareness allows us to see ourselves more clearly.

Be warned:  Sometimes in the process of cleaning the mind we "kick up some dirt", but it's so worth the effort!

Have fun!