TaDaa

As the creator and supervisor of the yoga program at Deepak Cho-pra's Center for Well Being, I stand on the threshold between yoga and Ayurveda. We teach Svaroopa Yoga to Chopra Center guests who are learning to meditate and to apply the principles of Ayurveda in their life, while they undertake a series of pancha karma treatments. Many of these guests, like many modern yoga students, are here to learn how to stay young and beautiful, or be-cause they want a miracle cure for a serious illness or condition. If such students attain their desire for beauty or health, is this an Ay-urvedic success? Hatha yoga techniques are most ef-fective when they open the practi-tioner to the awareness of Con-sciousness, while caring for the body. Consciousness is the most powerful healing agent of all. Our Chopra Center program provides Ayurvedic treatments, and gives much needed training in how to live a conscious, yogic, Ayurvedic life-style.

A Newsletter published by S.A.T. SVAROOPA Association of Teachers

Summer 1999 Volume 2 Second Issue Published Quarterly

Inside Story 2

Inside Story 2

Inside Story 2

Inside Story 3

Inside Story 4

Inside Story 5

Inside Story 6

Inside this issue: ConsciousnessConsciousness in the in the

Material WorldMaterial World Thirty years ago, as a stay-at-home mom with three kids, I bought two show-quality Dalmatians and began breeding and selling puppies. To raise their value, we needed show ribbons, so I learned to train for both conformance and obedience. I also discovered that popularity is the worst thing that can happen to a breed. Backyard breeders begin producing puppies without selectivity, so breed quality goes downhill. At the time, German Shepherds were very popular and began to exhibit a high incidence of hip dysphasia. As a yoga teacher, I sometimes question if the same thing has happened to yoga in America, and if a similar fate threatens Ayurveda. A recent survey by IDEA Health and Fitness, Inc. (IDEA Fitness Manager, October, 1998) shows that 53% of athletic clubs in the US now offer yoga. Many club members want a yoga workout as part of their cross-training regimen. But they may never hear from their yoga teacher that yoga is the science of consciousness; that

asanas are a small part of yoga's incredible technology; that yoga's true purpose is to cultivate a deepening experience of our own eternal boundless essence as Consciousness-Itself. I'm thrilled that 700,000 people are now practicing yoga in America, but I am concerned that many are coming with the intention of creating eternal youth and beauty, or with the hope that yoga will heal the injuries or illnesses that modern medicine cannot cure. I would love to offer every yoga student and every Ayurvedic client the healing they seek, but some physical conditions may not improve. Nevertheless, both sciences offer true healing, which is the rediscovery of your own essence as Consciousness-Itself. The media wants miracle stories and showy images. Abhyanga (oil massage) and shirodhara (oil treatment to the forehead) photograph well, while basti (enema treatment) does not. How do you photograph Consciousness? And what about the diabetic who buys a book on Ayurveda, takes a

By: Rama

For the past fifteen months I've been

teaching Svaroopa chair yoga at the Cha-teau LaJolla, a retirement facility. We do yoga seated in a chair or standing behind it with a chair for support. Doing yoga seated overcomes the most common objection of older people, "I can't get up nd down form the floor." The Chateau is an elegant place where residents dress con-servatively. At the beginning most of the women came to class wearing hose, in matching pants outfits and carefully made up. These was a decided change from the casual yoga work of workout clothes. The class is held in the Potpourri Room where residents come to drink coffee, and read the paper. The TV is usually on full blast. I wondered if I would enjoy teaching yoga in this atmosphere and if yoga could make a difference in their lives. I look back with pleasure at the changes. They don't dress in workout clothes but the outfits look more comfortable. Many of my students wear socks and after several months of coaxing all took off their shoes, except Alice. "I can't. I have these ugly hammer toes, she said From across the room her friend said, "Take your shoes off. I can't see your toes, anyway." She did and we all clapped. It was a happy moment shared. When I started teaching it always took a few moments to get the class quiet. Now they settle into their chairs and start the inward journey from almost the first breath. We aren't doing exercise, we're doing yoga! I have learned to reach out and invite anyone who passes through the room to join us. It isn't unusual to see canes, walk-ers or even an occasional wheelchair parked at the side of the room. When I asked how old she was, my student, Monet, said, " a lady shouldn't mention her age." I 'm not sure how old my stu-dents are, but I am revising my estimate upward from seventies and eighties, to eighties and nineties. One day a perky lady of 103 joined us. It is spirit rather than age that makes the differ-ence. During class we don't chat but I find myself staying to talk. Recently two of the women talked all during class. I was sur-prised but didn't say anything. It was only afterwards that they told me that a friend has died. I felt privileged by their confi-dence. At first as I looked around I saw only the outside, the gray hair, the wrinkled face, the bent body. I needed to speak louder, repeat directions, and go slowly. Now I am renewed by their enthusiasm, and warmed by their friendship. They give me courage to face the years ahead. I feel truly blessed to be work-ing with this New Age.

Ask Rama "New" Age -Not OLD Age-

By:Sydell Templin

DATES PROGRAM LOCATION CONTACT PERSON 9/28- 9/29 Experiential Anatomy Fairfield, Iowa Judy Ritchie

515-468-2068

9/30- 10/1 Body Basics (w/Bombay) Fairfield, Iowa Lisa Messenger (H)515-469-5333 (W)515-472-7767

10/8- 10/1 Body Basics Ithaca, NY Cornell University

Helen Dickie 607-277-6313 Nancy Myers 607-273-3982

11/12- 11/14 Beyond Relaxation Calgary, Canada Al McGee 403-254-1523

11/19 Teacher Practicum Newton, Mass Belle Sheppard-Mann 617-969-6703

11/20- 11/23 Embodyment Training New Hampshire Doe Wails 610-376-2881

11/25-11/28 Foundations of Svaroopa Yoga Ottawa, Canada Paula Selmayr & Patrick Reid 819-456-2144

12/10-12/12 Bliss Weekend Kripalu Center Lenox, Mass

Barbara Jull 413-448-3220

1/7- 1/9 AVAILABLE

1/19- 1/23 untitled THE STUDIO Reading, PA

Doe Wails & Linda Rado 610.376.2881

2/18-2/20 or 3/3- 3/5 AVAILABLE

3/16- 3/19 Experiential Anatomy Kripalu Center Lenox, Mass

Barbara Jull 413-448-3220

3/24 3/26 or 4/7- 4/9 AVAILABLE

5/26- 5/28 AVAILABLE

7/1-/7/2 Meditation Made Easy Ottawa

7/3- 7/6 Embodyment Ottawa

7/7- 7/9 Body Basics Kripalu Center Lenox, Mass

Barbara Jull 413-448-3220

7/10- 7/14 Foundations Kripalu Center Lenox, Mass

Barbara Jull 413-448-3220

7/21- 7/23 untitled Albuquerque, NM Zoreh Afsar

7/25- 7/30 untitled THE STUDIO Reading, PA

Doe Wails & Linda Rado 610.376.2881

9/22-24 & 10/6-8 AVAILABLE

Where’s RAMA?

Practicum in Print

FLEXIBILITY Backbends Hip Openers Neck & Shoulders Daily Practice Spinal Flexibility STRENGTH Standing Poses Abdominal Vinyasa Classical Poses Balance and Inversions MEDITATIVE Forward bends Lotus & Twists

Strength is defined differ-ently than society often intends, and includes the following elements: ♦ Clarity of Mind

♦ Clarity of Purpose

♦ Vitality

♦ Enthusiasm

♦ Stamina

♦ Fortitude

♦ The ability to do physically challenging things.

Dependable Count-on-it Reliable Results!!! The following are reliable poses for providing a release

of deep muscular tensions around the indicated areas of the spine.

SACRUM: ♦ Janushirshasana (in chair, reclining, on wall) ♦ Baddha Konasana (with forward bend) ♦ Viparita Karini ♦ Virasana II (seated or with forward bend) ♦ Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana (with forward bend in

any angle) ♦ Pawanmuktasana (diagonal angle) ♦ Ardha Mandukasana ♦ Paschimottanasana (stage 1-3) ♦ Setu Bandhasana

TAILBONE: ♦ Prasarita Padottanasana (in the chair) ♦ Pawanmuktasana ♦ Kurmasana ( sit bones firm on blanket) ♦ Eka Pada Raja Kapotanasana (with opposite ribs

on thigh) ♦ Uttanasana (with hip tip) ♦ Ardha Mandukasana (with sacrum press & thigh

twist) ♦ Viparita Karani (staying at least 5 minutes will

move change from sacrum down to tailbone)

CLASS THEMES Strong and FREE!

Lumbar: ♦ Anjaneyasana ♦ Dhanurasana ♦ Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana (with Dhanurasana leg

variation) ♦ Pawanmuktasana (Seated side stretch IF they are

on enough blankets)

Thoracic: ♦ Ardha Matsyasana (supported) ♦ Jathara Parivrttanasana ♦ Pawanmuktasana (Seated Side stretch) ♦ Pawanmuktasana (Blade)

SPOTLIGHT on teachers Alex left YTT teacher training in August 1998 and began teaching 15-18 classes per week, going throughout the themes in places like the FBI, IRS, SBA, EPA, and HUD and many more he promises us many stories when he and Kaori return from China where he is studying Chinese lithographs and stone musical instruments. According to our calculations he will be stateside anytime now so we should have some of those stories for our next issue… FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation IRS Internal Revenue Service SBA Small Business Association EPA Environmental Protection Agency HUD Housing and Urban Development

Yoga

only works

when you do it.

It's like your television,

which only works

when you turn it on.

You have to do yoga

to get the benefits.

This article is reprinted from a San Diego newspaper 5/12-18 1999 "What's Yoga all about" by Susan Drechsler Lying on the floor with a rolled blanket wedged under my knees I asked myself, "So what's this yoga all about? The lights in the room were dim and mellow music was coming from cassette player on the floor. Everyone was in the same position and appeared to be anticipated nap time. As those thoughts were passing through my mind, Instructor Lori Martin, bent forward over my body adjusting my position. The result was so relaxing that instantly my doubts disappeared and I was eager to experience more. During that session I encountered what is called Hatha Yoga, which Lori Martin teachers in Coronado and throughout the San Diego area. Martin trained at Master Yoga Academy in La Jolla. Studying Yoga, Martin found through breathing and awareness that opening the body is a process of letting go layers of tension. She feels that this opening is not only an opening in the physical body, but the emotional and psychological one as well. Martin says she is always looking for ways to bring Yoga to the world. In an effort to work towards this, Martin and a fellow Yoga teacher started a company entitled "Yoga to Go" This new venture has taken them to Sorrento Valley to conduct lunch time Yoga Classes in a large company atmosphere. Lori Martin, YTT Grad '97

Your contributions are important!

This Stuff Works!

I was visiting my mother who is very Yankee and stoically does not complain. She is 86, very active and

curious. During the visit we went on a little excursion. She admitted that she was having difficulty in walking. "My legs are so tired. I don't know why this is happening." A friend of hers had recently fallen and broken her hip. I suspected that she had become afraid for herself. In fact had seemed more tentative on stairs and getting in and out of the car than I had remembered. I offered and Embodyment session assuring her that she'd probably get wonderfully relaxed and it might help her legs. Given her age I did a shorter session and just used hand position one. She easily dozed off and remarked how surprised she could drop off. Afterward I had her walk around and she said that she felt lighter and walked more easily. Later we went out and found that we actually walked a whole mile without discomfort in her legs. "Like the old me before I got old, she giggled." The session was particularly sweet for me as we have had so little physical contact in our family. On Rama's recommendation I will do some regular sessions with her when she comes to visit, keeping them on the 30 to 40 minute side because of her age. Michael Keane, Brookline, MA YTT Grad 1998

In recent months I've been in excruciating pain in my butt and left leg. The pain got so intense that I could hardly

face teaching classes. Cathleen taught a good many of them while I lay at home on the floor, scared to get up. Questioning my yoga practice, I gave it up and sought help from a variety of health professionals. I was advised to take it easy, to back off. I was especially told to avoid forward bending movements. I was also told to take lots of ibuprofen and prescription drugs. After eighteen daily treatments a chiropractor said I was the most frustrating case he'd dealt with in 14 years of practice. That was encouraging...and the last time I saw him! I returned to LaJolla in June for further yoga therapy training. Rama immediately got me back into my yoga practice in spite of all my fears. She had me doing forward bends galore. I was able, under her guidance, to do every single posture we attempted. My body is actually more open than it's ever been in my life. I soon was off the prescription drugs. Rama's explanation: "When tight muscles begin to open and move, they hurt." If you played university basketball, did a lot of long distance running and taught aerobics for 9 years, the muscles hurt a lot when they finally open. People whose bodies are stiff, as mine use to be, don't feel pain, at least not now. (Their time will come) So the answer was MORE YOGA, not less. And in particular, do you know what has helped me more than anything? It's to rise at dawn with the birds, who have more sense than we do, to sit cross legged, grounding my sit bones into a wooden block and to meditate fort an hour. That simple practice not only relieves physical pain but also, more importantly, calms the mind which I'm sure is what caused all the trouble in the first place. My great discovery this summer is that what I wished to avoid I needed to face. What I was afraid to do, I needed to do. The last thing I wanted to do is what I needed desperately to do. Al McGee YTT Grad

I left Rama's "Meditation Made Easy" last month so inspired, along with many others

who were there. For me, the experience of the weekend turned my struggling to get up in the morning for a difficult half hour meditation into an easy to get up very early in the morning for at least and hour and a half experience with God. I feel like another few layers have been shed and I'm experiencing a clarity like never before. So much grace! Cathleen YTT Grad

#1

#3

#2

One Yoga Class

7592 Fay Avenue, La Jolla CA 92037

FREE Master Yoga Academy

619.454.6978

One Yoga Class

7592 Fay Avenue, La Jolla CA 92037

FREE Master Yoga Academy

619.454.6978

sixteen-question self-test to identify his or her constitution, and looks up what foods and herbs to use? Will the authenticity and complexity of Ayurveda be threatened by its own popularity, becoming just one more alternative technique? To address this, the major schools training yoga teachers in America have created the Yoga Alliance to trailblaze standards for yoga teachers. Teachers with training only in physical techniques will not qualify for the new Registry of Yoga Teachers (R.Y.T.) scheduled to debut this fall. Training requirements will include courses in yoga philosophy and meditation, as well as in anatomy and supervised teaching experience. As the president of the Yoga Alliance, I feel strongly about bringing Consciousness back into yoga. I pray that you lovers and supporters of Ayurveda keep Consciousness in the forefront of your awareness, while you apply the traditions healing technologies for the higher purpose. This article was reprinted from Inside Ayerveda: journal of Ayurvedic health care.