THE YOGA CONNECTION

Yoga for Springtime Renewal

It’s that magical time of year again - - time to fling open the doors and windows of our minds to let in the light and make space for new intentions. Nature beckons us out to enjoy the scents and sights of verdant woodlands, swollen rivers, and freshly flowering neighborhood parks and gardens.

Why not adapt a quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson and wake ourselves up to the possibilities? “In the spring a yogi’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of taking our yoga off the mat.” What could this mean for you? Time for a fresh start? New activities? Finding unique ways to sharpen awareness of the human and natural world around you? It could mean practicing yoga nidra in a place where “the sounds around you” include the varied twitters and calls of songbirds, the quiet babble of a meandering stream, waves lapping on a sandy shore, or the sound of rollerblades zooming along a paved pathway in the park. In this issue we explore some inviting options . . .

Try a Yoga Lifestyle Weekend!

students enjoy each others' company at a yoga program Please enjoy this opportunity to experience the full impact of a yogic lifestyle. The event spans Memorial Day Weekend (May 22 – 25 with the option of Sunday departure) and will take place in a nearby residential facility, a scenic and nurturing space away from the distractions of everyday life.

As a participant, you will have a chance to broaden your vision of yoga and learn a variety of practices, concepts and theories to help you take your yoga “off the mat.” Experience ways to blend yoga with your daily life. In a safe and friendly gathering of fellow yoga enthusiasts, your weekend will include:

Early morning yoga classes
Nutritious meals
Walking meditation
Afternoon & morning tea
Karma yoga
Practical and philosophical classes
Silence and personal time

You will have ample opportunity to practice the techniques and ideas that are introduced. SIGN UP NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE – the registration deadline is May 15th. Call 216-371-9760 or check the website for further details: www.atmacenter.com.

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Turn Over a New Leaf with Satyananda Yoga Nidra™

turn over a new leaf with Satyananda Yoga The practice of yoga nidra has many applications for everyday life. The sankalpa is the aspect of this practice that best fits the springtime of our year, an ideal time for creating and planting new intentions. This part of the practice is introduced twice - - once near the beginning of yoga nidra, and once near the end. When the body and mind are fully relaxed, the practitioner is instructed to state a personal resolve - - short, clear and positive. It is repeated mentally three times with an attitude of determination and confidence.

The sankalpa is a very effective technique for training the mind. Like a handful of seeds, the sankalpa is sown in the relaxed and receptive subconscious mind. According to Siddhartha Bhushan, “The subconscious mind is very obedient and hence carries out the orders immediately.” As the subconscious mind is trained, the ordinary mind automatically follows along. (Yoga Nidra: Its Advantages and Applications, YOGA, Mar. 2001)

It is essential to plant the sankalpa in the depths of your mind with strong willpower and intense feeling. Swami Satyananda cautions that conscious resolves guided by the intellect alone rarely bring results, but the sankalpa repeated in yoga nidra will always bring results if it is stated with sincerity. (Yoga Nidra, 1998)

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Walking Meditation: A Great Way to Connect with Nature

Satyananda Yoga can be practiced anywhere I have experienced several variations of walking meditation, some practiced indoors, others outdoors. I prefer the outdoor variety, especially in spring. Walking meditatively does not mean that you can’t tune into the world around you. And, of course, you would not be walking with the eyes closed! It does mean, however, that the awareness is focused on the present moment, each breath and each movement, intently experiencing every step.

Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk and beloved teacher, has written a very inspiring guide: The Long Road Turns to Joy (1996). He shares his reliance on this simple practice to regain his own peace of mind in the difficult times he has experienced.

Here is one of the techniques for combining walking with conscious, mindful breathing:

Focus the awareness on each natural breath flowing in and out of the body.
While walking forward, begin to count your steps. Establish a slow and steady pace.
Notice the number of steps you take with each in-breath and out-breath.
Mentally establish a rhythm by repeating “In – in – in, out – out – out – out.” The rhythm may or may not be even.
Moving up or down hill, for example, the rhythm will change.
Without controlling the breath, keep noticing how many steps it takes for the lungs to fill and how many to empty.

This is just one aspect of walking meditation, one technique. The appeal for me is the aspect of “touching the Earth” that Thich Nath Hahn stresses. He talks about the Buddha being challenged by Mara, the personification of delusion, and touching Earth with his hand in meditation until Mara finally disappears. How does this relate to us?

“Sometimes we feel irritated, insecure, angry, or unhappy. When that happens, please touch the Earth deeply with your feet. Please practice walking meditation. The Earth, our mother, is filled with deep love for us. When we suffer, she will protect us, nourishing us with her beautiful trees, grasses, and flowers. . . . When we practice walking meditation beautifully, we massage the Earth with our feet and plant seeds of joy and happiness with each step. Our Mother will heal us, and we will heal her.” (pp. 13 & 15)

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Apply Saucha to Your Spring Cleaning

Saucha (“cleanliness”) is one of the Niyamas -- inner disciplines which, according to yoga, we are meant to develop in our lives. Beyond physical and environmental cleanliness, saucha also relates to a feeling of cleanliness within the mind. A fresh, clean living space affects our state of mind, helping to dissolve mental conflicts and harmful distractions. And, when the body is purified through the cleansing practices of Hatha Yoga, mental impurities that clutter the mind are cleaned out as well.

Perhaps the pure and natural cleaner recipe below will help you apply saucha in a way that is uplifting to your outlook on life this spring!

All-Purpose, All-Natural Spring Cleaner

24oz. Large Spray Bottle
10 oz. Water
12oz. Distilled White Vinegar
1-2oz. Lemon Juice, pulp-free (a great anti-bacterial - and deodorizer!)
Tea Tree Essential Oil, 7-8 drops (naturally anti-fungal!)

Mix ingredients in spray bottle, use on most hard surfaces (use caution and your judgment with wood surfaces and fabric), add other essential oils to spice things up!

Refresh Your Understanding of SATYANANDA YOGA®

Swami Atmarupa Saraswati, teacher in the Satyananda tradition Our Atma Center Director, Swami Atmarupa Saraswati, was interviewed recently on “I Am Healthy” radio, L.A. Tune in online and take this wonderful free course on the history and essence of SATYANANDA YOGA®. Atmarupa shares her own history as well, along with other important developments here in the U.S.

Listen to the program at:

(http://www.iamhealthyradio.com/antonio_sausys_1.html)

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Upcoming Events at Atma Center

You can find our current worshops and special offerings here.

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This newsletter is provided to you by the Atma Center, 2319 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. [216-371-9760 www.atmacenter.com] The Atma Center is one of three places authorized worldwide to offer advanced training in Satyananda Yoga through Yogic Studies and Teacher Training courses.