Upcoming Programs February - March 2023

Dear Sanga, Greetings from Chennai! I have always wondered about what keeps one's practice regular and evolving. While we talk about high level conc

Dear Sanga, Greetings from Chennai! I have always wondered about what keeps one's practice regular and evolving. While we talk about high level concepts, just keeping the wheel of daily practice well oiled and moving, giving us a smooth ride, seems to be a challenge for most people. We can perhaps arrive at a good rhythm sooner, if we took care of a few essential details! Creating a concrete sense of what we do as a daily practice takes attention, time and consistent effort. Rather than muddling over what to do, how much etc. start with one small essential practice for the day like a few important asanas (that serve your needs more than anything else) in which you will stay longer and breathe deeper with attention and care, a pranayama practice of 24-40 breaths. you can make some small changes on other elements of your practice based on your changing needs. Maintain a routine of practising at the same time (more or less) of the day and journal after the practice. Keep it simple. There is no need to change your practice everyday. When you stay with the same practice for a length of time, you will be able to go beyond the tangible, gross experience of the body and breathe into the more subtle exploration. It will also make the mind more steady and resilient. Taking care of cultivating healthy eating habits and a good sleep routine are paramount for an aspiring practitioner. Remember, it is small, incremental changes that we make and sustain for a length of time that help create healthy habits for the body, sense organs and the mind. And of course, working with a teacher whom you meet for a class at least once a month. Being observed, corrected and guided by a caring teacher will make your practice very special and your learning exponential! And I have heard one of my teachers say that if your practice is regular you will attract sincere students… At YogaVahini, we aspire to create more practitioners who care for themselves, others and the earth! This year, we have lined up a few community outreach programs in Chennai and Hyderabad. If you live in these locations or can travel once a month or even once in a few months, do reach out to us so you can participate in offering simple yoga practices for people with various health and therapeutic needs. The February Sangati series with a special exploration of the Panca Maha Bhuta by Lakshmy Narendra, this will be an evening practice (in India) for a change! Hopefully more people can join and benefit! Sriram's much awaited online course on the Bhagavad Gita and practices based on Sankhya has been moved to March 15th, don't miss it! If you are in a time zone that is not convenient, no worries, all registered participants will get recordings of the sessions for a short period of time. The next batch of Yoga for Women, group class begins in February. Group classes are a good way to start, restart and reinvent your practice, being part of a committed group and regular guidance from a teacher can get you on track with actively committing to promoting your health and well-being. If you are reading me reiterating what I have already said many times before, well, we all need this again and again, right? With all my good wishes and prayers, Saraswathi. Sangati is our special series of practice sessions led by senior teachers from YogaVahini, with an intention to foster continued practice and study for the whole community. It is open to all. Reasonable level of good health is required to join these sessions. We are also assuming you are already a practitioner in this tradition, so it is not for beginners. Our intent is to strengthen our own personal practice that will help us deepen our awareness, clarity and conviction on this path. Senior teachers will take turns to lead the sessions for a period of time to help explore deeper dimensions and subtler elements in practice. Each series (4-6 weeks duration) will follow a particular theme offered by the teacher based on what inspires them. We are also happy to offer what the Sanga would like to explore collectively. Do write to us! In February we will explore Pañca Mahā Bhūtas with Lakshmy Narendra, a senior therapist from YogaVahini. For more information & registration, click here: Register here A 10-session course to get drawn into the teachings of the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita keeping the larger picture of Yoga and Yogasadhana and the Yogadarshana of Patanjali. We shall chant the Gita and study the gist. Each session includes a practice with Asanas and Pranayama focussing on ideas of the Pancamahabhutas and the Dashendriyas in Samkhyakarika. For more information & registration, click here: Register here This course will enable today's women to deepen self-awareness towards better self-care: improving your physical, mental, and emotional health. Join and encourage the important women in your life to join and experience the special power of yoga! For more information & registration, click here: Register here YogaVahini is a vibrant and growing community of Yoga practitioners, students, teachers, and therapists. We strive to provide an environment such that our personal learning flows into daily life seamlessly, manifesting as coherent and harmonised action. You are receiving this email because you were a part of our past programs or made an enquiry with us. To continue to receive future newsletters please unmark this email as promotion and move it to your primary inbox Read our privacy policy here, to unsubscribe click on the "Unsubscribe" button at the bottom of the email. ©2023 YogaVahini | Centre for Specialised Yoga Training, Therapy & Research, 3rd Floor, Gayathri Realities, ADITHYA flats, 2/1 Navarathna Avenue, Anna Colony 1st Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090, Phone: 9884642456. Preferences   Unsubscribe     Powered by Mad Mimi®A GoDaddy® company

Begin again, begin afresh!

Dear Sanga, Another year has passed by… 2022 has been a year of transitioning and learning from a very challenging period in life. For many of us par

Dear Sanga, Another year has passed by… 2022 has been a year of transitioning and learning from a very challenging period in life. For many of us part of the YogaVahini community, there has been a lot of rich learning from many teachers. Even a glimpse of the treasures and possibilities that lie within have helped anchor ourselves and reinforce the commitment to the path. However, it has been far from easy because the distractions, fears and insecurities have become multifold in the last couple of years... and to hold one's ground, not giving up or falling back into old patterns, one needs practice, continuous, uninterrupted practice… sa tu dīrghakāla nairantarya satkāra ādarā āsevito dṛḍhabhūmiḥ (YS 1.14) For the coming year, I would simply like to focus on the qualities of practice and how to build a stable ground - Drdha Bhumi. Just a few guidelines that can help with this: Start focusing on your intake, build healthy set of habits that would help you digest better, gain on energy levels and sleep, less aches and pains in the body, feel lighter and a positive disposition of the mind. Rope in a partner or friend so that you mutually support each other. Doing this as a whole family, is even better! Within weeks, we can see how good food procured, cooked and consumed mindfully not only changes our blood chemistry and physical wellbeing, it transforms our state of mind. We will experience better energy levels, lightness and the ability to enjoy simple joys of life. Food cravings will come down and the mind will naturally gravitate towards what is healthy for us that we will enjoy consuming in moderation. Have a balanced routine I learnt recently that having the waking up time consistent will help build a better circadian rhythm and sleep cycle. Through the day, having short or long breaks from "DOING" to simply enjoying the present moment is deeply nourishing. Even 2-3 minutes of such breaks - between one engagement and another, can make our days feel expansive! The best way to start and end your day is with a few conscious breaths in deep silence, awakening each part of our body, your senses and mind gently and joyfully, connecting to the larger world and all living beings, sending a silent prayer for people who need healing is a great way to awaken Maitri and Karuna bhavana towards ourselves and the world around us. Connect with your Sanga Reading and reflecting, having meaningful conversations, journaling and discussing our practice, especially the challenges we face, the questions we have, the insights we gather, can be great boosters to our practice! Being part of a practising Sanga AND working with a teacher on a regular basis is indeed the lifeline of our abhyasa! The Sanga reminds us everyday that I am not alone in this path even though I have to walk the path by myself! Nurturing Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and Upeksa in the context of our relationship with the Sanga helps cleanse our whole being of all impurities that spring from self-centered intentions and actions. The mind then begins to embrace more of reality and develops the clarity to act in ways that promote peace and wellbeing. Seek and ye shall find Having a good teacher who is walking the path, a little ahead of us is a blessing one can seek with all earnestness and find! Having a neutral eye to look at our practice, how I move, how I breathe, what is missing, what are the patterns that are helpful/not helpful, can help us progress in leaps and bounds! And yes, this means we need a teacher with whom we have a relationship of mutual trust and goodwill, every line of Sahana vavatu... matters! Move and eat with awareness and loving attention to the body Enjoy breathing in and breathing out with stillness and silence in-between Make meaningful connections, receive and offer with dignity and respect Live deeply with wonderment and curiosity on the interconnected nature of our existence Seek to understand and accept 'what is' so we have the strength to respond appropriately to changing life situations So, here is wishing you and your family a beautiful, bountiful year ahead. Let love and peace reign. HAPPY NEW YEAR! love, Saraswathi YogaVahini is a vibrant and growing community of Yoga practitioners, students, teachers, and therapists. We strive to provide an environment such that our personal learning flows into daily life seamlessly, manifesting as coherent and harmonised action. You are receiving this email because you were a part of our past programs or made an enquiry with us. To continue to receive future newsletters please unmark this email as promotion and move it to your primary inbox Read our privacy policy here, to unsubscribe click on the "Unsubscribe" button at the bottom of the email. ©2022 YogaVahini | Centre for Specialised Yoga Training, Therapy & Research, 3rd Floor, Gayathri Realities, ADITHYA flats, 2/1 Navarathna Avenue, Anna Colony 1st Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090, Phone: 9884642456. Preferences   Unsubscribe     Powered by Mad Mimi®A GoDaddy® company