Happy Anniversary One! and All!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."  - Mahatma Gandhi

Congratulations to Tania Spilchen and all of the members, friends and champions of One! International who gathered for a Gala last weekend to celebrate One!'s 11th Anniversary!

Together we enjoyed Indian food and entertainment, speeches from volunteers, a silent auction and eachother's company. 

Best of all, for the first time, we all got to connect live with the children, teachers and parents of One! in Mumbai via Skype to hear their voices and feelings! 

We were inspired and uplifted!

Thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, and donors who made the evening such a joy to attend, and to all of the friends who contributed their support and generous donations!

Thank you, Tania-Didi!  You are an inspiration as always!  I see your beauty, love, wisdom and determination reflected in One!'s children, and I see theirs in you!

Stressed Out Yoga Chick

Ha ha ha!  Thanks for sharing Terry!  I love the final relaxation!

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! 

Your Health is in Your Hands

one love origami

Wanna smile?  I invite you to visit my new origami blog, 

one love origami 

featuring:

• Cute origami stuff that I fold and photograph.
• The benefits of origami.
• The story of Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Peace Cranes.
• Classes and events.
• Links and videos so you can fold fun stuff too!

Om Shanti!

Congratulations Y4T Class of 2012!

"To be appointed as a teacher is a great privilege.  If you are honest and if you are vigilant in delivering only what you have received from the lineage, and which you have verified through personal experience, then you will experience a great sense of joy in every moment of your life.  The important thing here is that you first put yourself in the shoes of those you are supposed to serve.  Then you will automatically know what to teach and how to teach." 

- Swami Rama, Himalayan Institute

New Features in Kali's Kitchen

Ganesha's Lotus (Detail)

Now it's even easier to get Yoga news, recipes and more from Kali's Kitchen:

Receive posts directly to your e-mail with the NEW!  Follow Me by Email feature!

It's quick and easy to sign up.  Un-subscribe any time.

You will also see a NEW! Label Cloud to help you find posts you're interested in, a NEW! Poll and a NEW! Community Answers area to ask questions, make suggestions and share your wisdom!

Thank you to all of You, the community of Yogis and Yoginis reading this blog around the world!  I see me in you and you in me - Namaste!

The Invocation to Patanjali



Image borrowed from collectindianstamps.com


"Welcome Back!" to the pioneering students of the first ever Meditation and Yoga Philosophy, Level Two class which began last night at Yoga for Today!

It was wonderful to hear how much you retained from  Level One, including chanting the first four lines of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras by heart!

In Level Two, we will continue with our meditation practice, mantras, Sanskrit reading and writing, stories, songs, and sutras. 

We will also be chanting the "Invocation to Patanjali" as I learned it from my teacher Swami Swaroopananda, the Acharya (Spiritual Director) of the Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas.

We will learn the invocation little by little over the first four classes through the traditional method of "call and response" and group chanting. 

Feel free to write it down and bring it with you to class if you like.  See you next Wednesday!

The Invocation to Patanjali

पतञ्जलिप्रार्थनं॥

योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां मलं शरीरस्य च वैदिकेन ।

योपाकरोत्तं प्रवरं मुनीनां पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोस्मि॥

yogena cittasya, padena vācāṃ,

malaṃ śarīrasya ca vaidyakena ।
yo'pākarot taṃ pravaraṃ munīnāṃ

patañjaliṃ prāñjalir ānato'smi ॥

I salute Patanjali, the highest among the sages,

who has presented the remedy for removing impurities of the body

through his treatise on Ayurveda (the Science of Life),

the remedy for removing impurities of the speech

through his treatise on grammar,

and the remedy for removing the impurities of the chitta (the mind stuff)

through his treatise on yoga; this, the Yoga Sutra.

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.

One Hundred Thousand Grains of Rice!

Woo Hoo!  In less than a week, Kali's Kitchen has already donated over 100 000 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme at FreeRice.com! 

FreeRice has two goals:

• Provide education to everyone for free.
• Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

You can help us to reach our next target of ONE MILLION GRAINS OF RICE!

Click here to join the group "Kali's Kitchen" on FreeRice.com! 

Happy New Year!



Hand-folded Origami Peace Crane



Happy 2012!

Wishing you a year of Peace.

May all beings enjoy 

health, happiness, love,

noble companionship,

prosperity, abundance,

gratitude, good luck,

freedom from suffering

and the causes of suffering,

generosity, kindness,

patience, joy,

concentration and stillness, wisdom and realization

of your own highest Self.