Ruah Yoga: May 2009

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Salute the Sun: Ruah Yoga in Central Park!

Email Ruah if you plan on attending and be in touch if you have any questions: ruahyoga@gmail.com. Bring your mat, strap and towel.

I hope to see you in class or in the park soon!

Ruah

DIRECTIONS:

Here are directions from 72nd and 5th avenue
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Terrace+Dr&daddr=East+Dr&hl=en&geocode=FWwjbgIdQFqX-w%3BFQQnbgIdelKX-w&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=40.773506,-73.969059&sspn=0.004087,0.010536&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=19

Here are walking directions from 72nd and Central Park West:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Central+Park+West&daddr=East+Dr&geocode=FTAybgIdaDeX-w%3BFQQnbgIdelKX-w&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=40.777225,-73.972675&sspn=0.016346,0.042143&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17

SCHEDULE:

Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm*

July Dates: 7, 9, 16, 21, 28
August Dates: 4, 6, 11, 14
*Subject to good weather & interest.

SIGN-UP:

Please pre-register for each class by sending me a simple email up until 5pm of the same day.
Email: ruahyoga@gmail.com.
Subject: Central Park Yoga (or CPY) + Date you plan to attend

PRICE:
Same day sign-up: $20
Pre-register on-line: $18

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Ruah Yoga Lesson: Arm Balances Crow to Tripod Headstand (Bhakasana to Sirsasana II)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loXP8cGXFs4

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Escape with Ruay Yoga this Fall!

In response to many requests, an early Fall retreat in the Tri-state area is in the works. Please email me if you are interested in learning more about it and if you have specific dates that you would prefer or if you have recommendations for locations.

EMAIL: ruahyoga@gmail.com

Spring Greetings

Greetings!

I hope this finds you doing well and enjoying spring! I am happy to share with you some exciting news.

The Brazil Yoga retreat was a great success - the NYC group returned feeling fully rejuvenated and with plenty of fun stories and pictures.

Now that I am fully accustomed to practicing yoga outdoors on the beautiful beaches of Buzios, it is only natural that we transition in beautiful weather salutig the sun together in Central Park starting this June (see schedule below)!

Also, this spring marked Sri Dharma Mittra's 70th Birthday. As many of you know, I am greatly indebted to Dharma's teachings and practice with him regularly. I had the honor of celebrating with him, the amazing singer Krishna Das (you've all heard him in my class playlists) singing Kirtan (call & response chanting) along with 500 yogis from around the globe.

Finally, while I have weddings to attend for the next two weekends and will be out of town until Wednesday, I look forward to seeing you in class, out and about in the city and, of course, in Central Park for lots of yoga through this beautiful spring and transition into summer!

May peace & love be with all of you for this beautiful day and each day into your lives. Om

Shanti,

Ruah

Escape to Yourself: Experience Your Own Personal Retreat

Waking up every morning to the sound of ocean waves and blue skies ready to practice only steps away from an emerald green lawn overlooking the turquoise blue crashing waves. For eight days, life was paradise on the Ruah & Joana Yoga Retreat.

We practiced yoga & meditation two times a day; went running; practiced my guaranteed 6-pack abs routine 4x a day, ate healthy vegetarian meals, swam in the soothing ocean waves; relaxed lazily in lounge chairs watching the horizon, discovered beaches & went snorkeling on a boat ride and explored the adorable town of Buzios.

On our last day I lead the class through 108 Sun Salutations to meditate on our transition into the end of the retreat. 108 sun salutations represents the number of beads in a mala or prayer garland/necklace, the 108 pithas or holy sites of India, the 108 Upanishads (sacred scriptures, the 108 marma points or sacred places of the body and the times around the circumference of the sun & moon to equal the average distance to the earth.

The beginning of the Sun Salutations flowed easily, I flew into chatturanga effortlessly although I found my mind also flying around. Each time my mind wandered, I did my best to reconnect to my breath and focus on my third eye, the ajna chakra. Wherever my thoughts were, I felt amazing – breathing in the fresh salty air, the morning sun on my shoulders and the blue sky radiating all around.

Around Sun Salutation number 60 or so, it dawned on me, “how will I maintain this bliss when I return to NYC?” I recalled my past experiences on retreats and how writing in a journal often helped – making it possible to read my own words expressing happiness in that moment. Yet words on paper would clearly only be a small part of reconnecting. I knew in my heart exactly what would recreate this sensation – exactly what I was doing already – yoga, meditation and pranayama (mindful breathing) guide the way and offer the best sensations in any environment.

Pantanjali’s Yoga Sutras II.7 & II.8* remind us that while we attach ourselves to all that makes us seemingly happy sukhanusayi raga, and we create aversions to all that makes us seemingly unhappy (dukhanusayi dvesha) true happiness and peace has nothing to do with anything external, but rather comes from deep within ourselves.

Happiness is like a door that already exists within us, yet with the distractions of daily life it is always challenging to figure out how to open the door. With the keys of yoga, meditation & pranayama (mindful breathing), it helps us to easily unlock the door and sense an abundance of positive vibrations that come from deep within.

Once we take the time to clear away the clouds of vritti (busy thoughts) of the citta (mind), through connecting our mind body and breath, we naturally begin to sense santosha (happiness) in the center of our hearts. Yoga offers those incredible feelings – yet when we are in between practices, sometimes it is challenging to remember. That is why when practicing yoga, meditation & pranayama it’s a wonderful idea to remember exactly how you feel in that moment to inspire you to continue.

Committing to a yoga practice is like signing up for an endless personal retreat that helps connect to our inner santosha at any time within any environment – whether sitting at your desk at work or enjoying the warm breezes of summer! When santosha permeates in the body & mind, it becomes natural to reflect those feelings onto others in our lives and in turn share our bliss with the world around us.