A lot of beautiful thoughts

Buddha Boy Documentary

2011-10-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

A fascinating documentary about the powers gained by using the yogic Arts. Buddha Boy (Ram Bahadur Bomjon) is a Nepalese teen who meditated until he reached buddhahood. He meditates day and night, 24/7 without any food or water, the camera rolls nonstop for 4 days the amount of time it takes a human to die of dehydration.

There were also eye witness accounts of Buddha Boy bursting into flames ( a result of Tibetan meditation practice- tumo).

Every person is interconnected, if not through the breath then through their brains

2011-02-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.

I've opened a new yoga studio!

2010-09-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

Amanda here, I've opened a new Yoga Studio in Rockville Centre called Revolution Yoga. You can check out our website here www.revolution-yoga.com and come in to sign up for some classes, we have amazing teachers! And right now it's only $40 for an unlimited month of yoga!

Hope to see you there,

Peace and Love,
Amanda

Why are we happy?

2010-03-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don’t go as planned.

The Paradox of Risk

2010-03-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

"Far more often than you would realize, the real risk in life turns out to be the refusal to take a risk. In other words, the trulymost threatening dangers usually arise when you shrink from confrontingwhat only appear to be the most threatening dangers. What is widely
regarded as 'playing it safe' turns out not to be safe at all."-Charles S. Sanford Jr.

For More Click Here

Golden Rules of the Yogi

2010-03-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

An Excerpt from Basic Yoga Philosophy: The Yamas and Niyamas. ~Peg Mulqueen

Available on elephantjournal.com

"We are all programmed to search for meaning. We look to make sense of our world and sense of ourselves, and ultimately how they fit together.

Prior to my life as a yogi, I looked toward institutions for guidance: my church, my education and my profession in psychology. Individually, each held an essential nugget of truth, but (for me) a connection was missing.

It was yoga that ultimately brought the three seamlessly together.

While yoga is not a religion, it is a spiritual quest complete with beliefs universally shared by Jews and Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus alike.

Yoga is also not therapy, yet every day millions of people find self-fulfillment and enlightenment not on a counselor’s couch, but on a yoga mat.

Yoga is not a school, but I can think of no singular place where I’ve gained more wisdom. In fact, to adapt a phrase: everything I ever needed to know, I learned from yoga.

You see, yoga is literally a unification. And while separately it is neither a religion, a psychology, nor a learning institution, it is an integration of the above.
Literally, it all begins with just a few golden rules.

We call them the yamas (how we treat others) and niyamas (how we treat ourselves). Admittedly, none of these concepts are rocket science, but in practice they are profound. In fact, our very evolution as individuals and as a society depends on our willingness to not just practice yoga, but to live our yoga, as well.

Outlined succinctly in the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (the yogic textbook, you could say) are 10 simple practices. These are a yogi’s “ten commandments”—that don’t involve twisting legs into a pretzel.
The Yamas or do unto others:

1. Ahimsa: Be kind to others. A comprehensive do no harm: not in words, thoughts, nor actions. This one rule trumps all others, including the next . . .

2. Satya: Tell the truth. “. . . and the truth shall set you free (john 8:32)”

3. Asteya: Only take what is yours. Remember playing in the sandbox? The same rule applies!

4. Brahmacharya: Be respectful and reverent. Though this can sometimes be interpreted as celibacy—and since there is no way for me to clarify with Pantanjali now—I will take some liberty to explain. Brahmacharya is a higher awareness in our relationships—one that transcends the physical one. Abstinence may result, but this is not the intention.

5. Aparigraha: Share. Anne Frank once said, “no one has ever become poor by giving.” In fact, it is in giving that we may also receive.
The Niyamas or self observances:

1. Sauca: Be pure. A shower is nice. Brush your teeth too, please. But don’t forget, purity also means being cleansed of bad habits and negative emotions.

2. Santosa: Practice acceptance. Contentment—not to be confused with complacency—means we learn to love ourselves with unconditional positive regard. It means allowing ourselves to seek happiness not from outside of ourselves, but from within.

3. Tapas: Do your work. Sri Pattabhi Jois reminded his students, “practice and all is coming.” He was referring to a yoga practice, and a meditation practice too. This doesn’t happen through osmosis: we must do our work and let the benefits unfold in time.

4. Svadhyaya: Take time to reflect. No matter what your field of work, I bet it involved study and years of schooling to become the person of knowledge and expertise you are now. Become an expert of you. Learn you.

5. Isvara pranidhana: Stay humble. No matter how big you are, how wise or right you are, how powerful you become—recognize you are not the absolute. With a sincere meekness, know and honor divinity.

The meaning in our lives is discovered not by the practice of yoga—but by its embodiment. In becoming a person free of jealousy, dishonesty, discontent and destruction … and in taking the time to put our beliefs into action with others and ourselves … we discover who we were meant to be all along. Our true state of being is revealed—one of love and utter joy."

Peg Mulqueen is a yoga instructor and writer. When not on her mat, Peg can be found on a surf board in Maui—learning to fall off gracefully and get back up . . . . or suspended 500 feet in the air on a zip line over a Costa Rican jungle —conquering her fear of heights…or searching for the perfect cast, fly fishing in the wilder places of Montana. Visit MySpace.OM.

Want to Live Longer? Stop Worrying.

2010-01-31T11:30:00.000-08:00

Want to Live Longer? Stop Worrying.

If you want to live to a hundred, you'd better lighten up.

Children of centenarians—who usually inherit both longevity and personality traits from their parents—are on average more outgoing, agreeable, and less neurotic, according to a new study.

Reflection for the New Year

2010-01-31T10:39:00.000-08:00

Refection- by Colleen Saidman Yee

Happy New Year fellow yogis!

As 2009 comes to a close, I am remembering what Pema Chodron says, and that is:

“At the beginning of every day, reflect on the day ahead and aspire to use it to keep a wide-open heart and mind. At the end of the day before going to sleep, think over what you have done. If you fulfilled your aspiration even once, rejoice in that. If you went against your aspiration, rejoice that you are able to see what you did and are no longer living in ignorance. This way you will be inspired to go forward with increasing clarity, confidence and compassion in the days that follow.”
...continued

For the time being

2009-09-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

"It is thoroughly normal to be so tentative about the time of our lives, or so asleep within it, that we miss it entirely.”

Norman Fischer describes the philosophical fallacy of time and explains how time is simply being.

For the Time Being

Matthieu Ricard 'the happiest man in the world' explains how to train ourselves to be happy.

2009-09-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

What is happiness, and how can we all get some? Biochemist turned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard says we can train our minds in habits of well-being, to generate a true sense of serenity and fulfillment.

photo by matthieu ricard

Is happiness catching?

2009-09-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

The emerging science of 'social contagion' holds that we are whom we surround ourselves with.

Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler say your friends--and even your friends' freinds--can make you quit smoking, eat too much, or get happy. A look inside the emerging science of social contagion.

Is happiness catching?

By Clive Thompson

Miles of Smiles by Carin Goldberg

"Remember, Be Here Now" by Baba Ram Dass

2009-09-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

A heavy talk by Ram Dass- Listen when you have some time and with an open mind.

Remember, Be Here Now by Baba Ram Dass

The first time I heard about Ram Dass was at my Yoga Teacher Training in New York City. My instructor was gushing about his book "Be Here Now" and how profound it was. He was a Harvard professor turned guru who experiemented with LSD at it's beginnings with Timothy Leary. He eventually travelled to India and met the guru Neem Karoli Baba who influenced most of his teachings.

She told a story about him that always stuck in my mind and drew me to pick up "Be Here Now" later on in a used book shop. The book itself is mind-altering.

The story goes like this. Tim Leary and Ram Dass (previously richard alpert) go to india and hike up a hill to meet the most holy man in the city. As they were at the forefront of psychological experimentation with LSD they were curious as to how it would affect a guru, a holy man, who claimed to be linked into some other realm of human understanding.

So they sit down with the guru who has spent the majority of his life training his mind to meditate and they offer him some lsd. He places it in his mouth, waits a moment, and says, "I don't feel anything please give me some more." So they hand him another dose, he places it in his mouth, waits, and says again, "I still don't feel anything, please give me some more." This goes on a few more times, and the dosage given to the holy man is now equal to a dosage that Tim or Richard would take themselves after building up a serious tolerance. It turns out the LSD never affected the guru. It seemed that his control over his mind was so strong that the drugs were unable to take effect. Now this was partially the reason why Ram Dass became who he was and partially why I got really into meditating. It's an impressive thing.

Check out the talk, maybe it will bring you to a new understanding.

peace and love,

amanda digiovanna

Painting of Guru Ram Das by Sewa Singh Khalsa

Let yourself Feel- Esteban Diacono

2009-08-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.

This is a video created by Esteban Diácono to the music of Olafur Arnalds' Ljósið using "Adobe After Effects, particular v2, soundkeys and a little starglow". Dancing Streams of smoke linked to musical undulations. Pretty Cool.

Spending some serious time getting dirty may lead to more blissful states

2009-08-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

UK scientists suggest that a type of friendly bacteria found in soil may affect the brain in a similar way to antidepressants. Well that makes sense, human beings are solar powered and soil powered! GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY!

ARTICLE LINK

Incense good for the soul, good for the brain

2009-08-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Religious leaders have contended for millennia that burning incense is good for the soul. Now, biologists have learned that it is good for our brains too. In a new study appearing online in The FASEB Journal, an international team of scientists, including researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, describe how burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. This suggests that an entirely new class of depression and anxiety drugs might be right under our noses.

ARTICLE LINK HERE

photo by: Declan McCullagh

The big bang explained

2009-08-22T23:01:00.001-07:00

Introduction to Adam Kern's Yoga Beginners Blog

2009-08-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

Adding this section for Adam Kern, Actor, Radio Personality, and new yogi to recount his experiences on and off the mat. Here is his story, Enjoy!

My name is Adam Kern, a native Long Islander, 27 years of age, face of a 19 year old, an "old soul" in other respects, and a baby yogi- 8 months old to be exact.

A quick bit of history, before I move onto how Yoga has become vital in my life.

My father, a man I loved dearly and looked up to, shot himself in the head when I was merely 15; my brother found his body. He was undergoing an ugly divorce with my mother at the time, and despite financial success, as seen by our sprawling 4 ½ acre estate in Lattingtown, he never found peace. I hope he has now. As for me, my tactic was to avoid ever facing the reality I found myself unceremoniously hurled into. Late nights, television, radio, food, alcohol, drugs, books, study, cigarettes- all were means towards this end of escape.

Ten years later, with an overwhelming amount of opportunities, a college degree, and a family still somewhat in tact; I found myself nevertheless hopeless at age 25. It took a few near death experiences for me to wake up. I got help. Humans seem to innately help others who honestly seek it. And so it goes.

That's my story, but everyone has one, and it's senseless to compare. It's better to identify with the feelings I wrestled against; the inescapable fears, the feeling of being "less-than", never being in the present moment, worry, despair, self-pity… and in droves! So my facts are my own, but EVERYONE has had to overcome very serious hurdles in life and find themselves doing the wrong things, for the wrong reasons, in order to escape suffering. As I faced my new reality without my familiar crutches, this inevitable truth became clear: life without the option of hiding is difficult. One needs tools. So, when after two years of collecting tools (religious ideas, spiritual books, service for others, famous quotes, sayings, prayers, meditations, no longer touching booze, etc.), my girlfriend suggested I tag along with her to a Yoga class, my thought was "Can't hurt; probably another tool…"

As a fairly typical American, with a fairly typical lack of knowledge on the subject of Yoga, I believed I was in for an hour or so of sitting cross-legged with incense burning, breathing deeply and meditating to soothing sounds of sea-birds and ocean waves crashing on a foreign shore; perhaps the Mediterranean…

My first instructor was a lovely, beaming woman named Leslie; and she seemed a fine candidate to lead me through my first tranquil Yoga experience. I clearly spotted some incense, too, and some really relaxing music was indeed humming away softly, all in an overwhelmingly tranquil studio. So it was with true surprise that at the forty- minute mark in class (my oddly- cocked head, swimming in a saline bath, happened to face the clock), and contorted in my first Triangle pose, that this thought honestly crossed my mind "God, I'm not sure I'm going to survive this! Help!!!" I really believed it was possible for me to perish there and then. Never had I experienced a workout like that. New muscles were discovered, the difficulty of maintaining a pose was realized- I had survived, but barely! A sense of well- being was palpable afterwards, a buzz of oxygen and health unlike anything I've ever known.

I supposed all those ladies and few guys in that first class were super-humans; able to live through routine trials that would have deep- six-ed most mortals in a hurry. They bent like Gumby, and seemed never to break (some even, to my utter disbelief, wore that same damn Gumby- esque- grin during the class). My respect for Yoga and those who practiced it was exponentially heightened. I at all costs wanted to be like them; calm, content, comically flexible, effortlessly dexterous, graceful, joyous, and apparently invincible.

My second class at the Yoga center I drove over a concrete parking space divider in the snow- covered lot, never even saw the thing, and was hopelessly stuck. The owner, Roni, saw my conundrum, and started directing me how to break free. Another woman, heading towards class, offered to bring out some other students to help. I graciously accepted. Seven women came out, with Roni orchestrating. I hit the gas in reverse, eight people pushing the front, and was freed in an effortless second. This made a permanent impression on the way "Yoga people" lived their life. They, without apparent thought, just started helping and didn't stop until the problem was solved. I was now hooked.

No longer did I see an end goal (be super- flexible, say "Ommmmmm" for a full minute in one breath, do a handstand); I saw a journey before me. With an athletic background, my flexibility was atrocious. I kept coming, though. No worries. My instructors taught me how to breathe using ujjayi, the purpose of the asanas, how to get into the poses, to loosen my tongue from the roof of my mouth when I struggled to maintain a position, and so on. Every class I walked away with new knowledge, felt stretched out, oxygenated, strong- magnificent!!! My posture almost immediately improved ten-fold; I never even noticed that I previously walked with a very visible hunch, which in time would have definitely laid waste to my back.
Yoga, meaning to "yolk" together the mind, body, breathe, and spirit, has no "end." Better news I couldn't hope for. I apply Yoga in the car, before I go to sleep, when I rise, during work; whenever I need to steady my entire being. So many wonderful experiences dot this entire journey…

This blog will pick up the here and now of my story, in August, of my first year in Yoga. Yoga is NOT a religion. No. But it IS a way of living. If a mind like mine, one so ever- used to running a hundred miles per hour, brooding over the past, fretting ceaselessly about the future- if a mind like that can experience some moments of total peace in his life after only some months practicing Yoga, I swear that ANYONE has A LOT to gain from this 5,000 year old practice.

Amanda DiGiovanna is one of my seven or so instructors, and gave me her blessing for this blog. In fact, it was in her class just last week I found myself in three brand new, never- done before, poses (in my practice). I thought Side Crow was years away, but last week I found it. I also maintained a few good seconds in a Forearm Stand. Unreal. And last but certainly not least (in fact, I'm most proud of this one) in shavasana my eyes finally "sunk into their sockets." So racked with stress as they always were, I felt a new sensation by letting go completely, and it dawned on me just HOW MUCH stress we carry in the muscles of the EYES! Who knew!??

I'll end this initial entry with a use of Yoga I applied yesterday, off the mat.
Late last week my teacher Roni, the center's owner, a profoundly spiritual women, told a quick tale. An ancient Chinese tale, I believe. Here it goes:

"Many thousands of years ago, two devoted monks were traveling towards the home of an another, highly venerated monk. It was a long road ahead. Some hours into their journey, they happened upon a woman walking the opposite way. She was dressed in the finest of silks, yet was flummoxed and stopped in her tracks. The path ahead of her was mud-filled and treacherous. Though celibate monks they were, even touching a woman was seen as improper, the first monk without hesitation walked across the mud, retrieved the woman and carried her to the other side, and resumed his walk with the other monk. Five hours later, exhausted, they had arrived at their destination. The second monk then said to the first "Why did you carry that woman? We are not supposed to do that." The first monk quizzically cast his gaze upon his comrade. He retorted "My friend, I carried that woman some five hours ago. Are YOU still carrying her???"

Like a ton of bricks this story hit me; I then applied it practically.

Absent-mindedly, I had left behind an important book at the radio station that employs me (where I have my own show Sunday's from 6-7PM on WGBB/ am1240wgbb.com) and was in a hurry. The parking lot is in the back of the building, but rushing, I parked at the neighboring business's parking lot, ran in, found my book, and returned two minutes later. Now I was double- parked. The owner, who had boxed me in, suspiciously scowled "Can I help you?" I sheepishly explained my situation In a menacing manner, he warned me that next time this happens, I'll have four flat tires. Not exactly a pleasant little exchange. Previously in life, I would have been irate at such a reaction; after all, I had been there no more than TWO MINUTES. But instead I thought about it calmly, while breathing consciously, and soon figured I was in the wrong. It was his property and I had no business to park there, even temporarily. His threat still bothered me though; I don't like being threatened. This weighed heavy on my mind until about thirty minutes into my drive, when I remembered the tale of the monks. I was carrying around Mr. Four Flats with me that whole time!!! A half an hour after the incident! I smiled, because now I KNEW I could just "let him go." And did. And that's Yoga. I was spared undue suffering, I honored the thoughts of others, and forgave.

This is a way of life worth living.
Again, I'm honored Amanda has signed me on, and look forward to sharing my experiences as a beginner yogi with all!'
Namaste.

The difference between hope and expectations

2009-08-22T15:19:00.000-07:00

Find the peace beyond the struggle, the pleasure beyond the pain and the balance admist the confusion, all by letting go of your preconcieved notions. There is a vast difference between hope and expectation. Expectations leave us with unfufilled desires, hope allows us to imagine each situations' beautiful outcomes without any concrete ideas about how they may happen. Then each outcome in your life can be interpereted as beautiful, since it was founded on hope rather than expectations.

Let it all be shown to you.

By Amanda DiGiovanna

Photo by: Paul Loren

Meditation

2009-07-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

BBC does a series on Meditation, follows the practices, biological changes, its benefits, and different cultures' interpretations. Enjoy!

Just Jump

2009-07-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I travelled up to New Paltz for my sister's birthday. A tiny little town about an hour outside of Manhattan in upstate New York that has been perpetually stuck in the late 60's/ 70's. There are often groups of 5 or 8 boycotting the government on the side of the main road, all the shops sell tie died something or other, every restaurant carries vegan/organic/ vegetarian options, there is live music somewhere every night, every weekend you can find outdoor markets, and there are yoga studios/classes around every corner. Yes a little slice of paradise. Anywho the biggest kick one can get from this little town is the outdoor scene. The area is breathtaking and talk to any local to find hundreds of things you can do outside, off the beaten path.

So for my sister's 19th birthday (on the 19th of july) we decided we needed to do something we've never done before...cliff jumping. We talked to some of her friends who grew up in the area and they pointed us about 45 minutes outside of town, so we got on our swimsuits and drove out to High Falls. As we drove I looked outside the window, as the trees flew by and the hot air poured onto my face my mind started to wander to the task at hand. Jumping off of a cliff, there could be rocks at the bottom, people have died doing this kind of thing, what if I die?, what if my little sister dies?. I felt that familiar anxiety rising up in my stomach as my mind reached in out of control directions when nothing had even happened yet.

I've noticed a similiar feeling in classes when my advanced teachers have asked me to go into forearm stands or some sort of crazy backbends that at the moment I was convinced my spine was never meant to curve into. So I did the same thing I've done in those situations, I let myself breathe a little deeper I moved away from my mind and focused on the sweet smell of the air. I listened to the birds chirping in the trees and the sound of the leaves as the summer air passed through them. The anxiety passed, because really at that moment I was not jumping off a cliff, therefore at that moment I had nothing to worry about.

We parked and got out. We found the entrance to the trail and trekked around a bit, I felt my mind going at it again, what will your parents do to you if your sister doesn't make it back? If you only break your leg it wouldn't be such a big deal, would it? My sister interrupted my conversation with myself to point out an incredible dilapidated stone wall lining the walk that was framed by two brooks under the elevated path. I was completely missing it. I was on auto pilot because my fear was taking me over. That was it, the rest of the trail I let myself become completely absorbed in the enviroment around me and after about an hour of hiking we found the jump off point.

There were lots of other people there. One cliff on top of the other looked down to a blue reservoir. In the center was a huge flat rock that people were laying on sunning themselves, watching others as they jumped down. My sister's boyfriend who was with us, ripped off all his clothing, ran past others who were hesitant to go and jumped right off. My sister and I hurried up to the cliff's edge to look over. All that was left of Ryan was a plume of bubbles, 30 seconds later he emerged from the water with a huge smile on his face waving us both down. My sister and i gave each other nervous looks. We waited back while a few others jumped off. She said, "The longer we wait the harder it's going to be." I responded, "You are absolutely right." I felt the anxiety surely working its way back in. In order to avoid a full fledged paralyzed fear reaction I looked her in the eyes and said "Just do it." So she smiled at me and ran off the edge. I looked over to the stranger next to me who had been standing there for a while and said, "Well now it's just me." She responded "Yes it is, want to count down?". Three Two One, I leaped, the fall felt never ending and freeing, I hit the cool water, weightless...and rushed back up to the top. Swam over to the rock in the center and laid in the hot sun. It was bliss.

We swam over and climbed back up to the top of the rock. The girl who counted with me was still standing there looking over the edge. My sister and Ryan took a few more runs but the girl was still standing there despite her friends' urging to jump down. My sister and I tried to give her a few words of encouragement but it wasn't budging her. She obviously wanted to go. She turned to me and said "I'm shaking so bad". We tried to explain it's not as bad as you think it will be, you can't know until you do it, when will you be here again?, you may regret not doing it. But she couldn't bring herself to go over the rock. I felt bad for her. By the time we left she still hadn't gone, but couldn't seem to take her eyes away from the edge of the rock.

In life, just like in yoga class, we would never progress or experience anything if we let the fear take us away from each present moment. Keep that in mind the next time you opt out of anything, are you opting out for real reasons? Or something you made up in your head that came from a fearful place, rather than a clear one.

And come on whatever you're opting out of, it's probably not like you're jumping off of a cliff. ;)

Compassion all around

2009-07-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

One of the most important lessons in yoga is the practice of ahimsa, which in Sanskrit means non-harming. The practice of nonharming consists of compassion towards all living things in thought and action.

Buddha stated, if you do not include yourself, compassion is incomplete.

So while you practice yoga, meditation, and life take your well-being into account. Don't push your body past where it wants to go, if something hurts mentally or physically soften away from it.

Did you know that when you imagine a scenario in your head, your bod ythinks you are actually experiencing it? If you think of a stressful situation at work, your body releases stress hormones and you feel awful! If you think of someone you love you feel bliss. Endorphines flood your system. So by thinking negatively or judging a situation negatively you are actually harming yourself.

When thought ends we stop affecting ourselves and the things around us. We exist in a pure state of peace, and the body responds to this in very beneficial ways. We tap into something else, our brain releases diferent electrical waves, it heals itself and grows new healthier connections.

The solution: exist within each second, then die to each second only to be born to the next.

-Amanda DiGiovanna

Losses from Labeling Life

2009-07-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

In yoga class, as in life, we have an experience. As soon as we name the experience, something happens. Naming or labeling the experience is like opening a file of our past experiences under that name. Our past judgements rush in and color in the experience, dulling presence. When this happens, we no longer see reality. All we see is our own past judgements pasted on what we see and even feel. We become disconnected with reality. In a very real sense, we are alone in all the universe. This state is what we experience most of the time.

Sometimes we come across an experience that has no past reference in the mind, The mind is suddenly stilled. There is no memory to dull the experience. This surprising break in the dullness frees us to experience what we are: love's presence. Usually it feels like awe, like when we cross above a treeline on a new mountain peak the first time. In this class we practice no naming what we feel. We simply let the experience be shown to us as it is now. We practice looking intensely at the reality, the sensation and the breath, insteadof the dull experience of yesterday's sensation. As always, the aim of the class is to expand our awareness of the rush that we are and learn how to regain it when the dullness tries to work its way back. Once we learn at will how to feel the rush of what we are, the dullness is intolerable.

By Phil Urso

2009-07-09T16:25:00.001-07:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I do be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson

2009-07-09T16:24:00.001-07:00

"What yoga philosophy tells us, is that permanance is a creation of the mind and that there never was anything permanent to begin with that we could hold on to. Life would be much easier and substantially less painful if we lived with the knowledge of impermanence as the only constant." Donna Farhi

Ken Robinson says school kills creativity

2009-07-09T16:20:00.002-07:00

Nurture what you've got :)

2009-07-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

"What most don't realize is that when the human being inhales, this action is not merely the sucking in of a nominal amount of air; the rib cage expands, the diaphram blossoms open and the atmosphere spills into us. In essence it is the entire universe that is entering our bodies, flooding our capillaries, swelling our every cell. When we exhale, we expel a piece of ourselves back into that very same universe. We are all more connected than one would think. Keep this in mind as you practice yoga, meditation, or life. On every inhale, take what you will of the universe, and with every exhale, give back a little of what you received." By Amanda DiGiovanna

Nuturing Creativity

2009-07-09T16:01:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth Gilbert author of eat pray love talks about nurturing creativity

2009-07-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

Expanded awareness

2009-07-09T15:48:00.001-07:00

How it feels to have a stroke. This particular stroke affecting the connectedness of the two sides of the brain shows a woman how it feels as the ego disolves and the mind expands.

2009-07-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

"Let us devote to unselfishness the frenzy we once gave gold and underpants." -Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Breakfast of Champions

2009-07-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

Surround yourself with incredible people and you will never be short of incredible ideas.

-amanda digiovanna

Gorgeous Earth

2009-07-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

CLARK LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY-CHECK OUT SOME BEAUTY

2009-07-09T14:48:00.001-07:00

2009-07-09T14:34:00.001-07:00

"Yoga is against bondage. Bondage is being tied to patterns of behavior from which we cannot withdraw. Repetition leads to boredom, and eventually boredom is a form of torture. So yoga says keep the freshness, keep the pristine, keep the virginity of sensitivity."-B.K.S. Iyengar

Change your perspective, Change your life

2009-05-22T20:39:00.001-07:00

Your life can be your own personal heaven or hell.
It all depends upon the lense through which you see your world.

Change your perspective
Change your life

Approach your practice (whether it be yoga, meditation, your job, chores, or relationships) as a great gift you've been blessed with, rather than a tedious requirement. Relish in each moment as it passes by, for if you don't you may regret having missed it.

Change your perspective
Change your life

by Amanda DiGiovanna

Test thoughts

2008-03-08T13:11:00.001-08:00

Test thoughts