December 2009 Newsletter

December is upon us, and if the weather reports are right, we should see a good deal of snowfall. This gives me a good opportunity to spell out Yoga Eight’s snow-class-cancellation policy. If Madison schools are closed we will probably not be having 7:00am class that day. The 8:45am class will depend on how roads are looking at that point. If there is any question, please call (if I don’t answer, please leave a message, and I will most likely get back to you a couple of minutes after you call). If class is cancelled, I will update the webpage as soon as I have decided, so this is another good resource to look at.

Intro to Yoga Workshops

Our next Intro to Yoga Workshop is scheduled for this Saturday (12/12/2009) from 1pm-3pm. This is a great workshop for someone totally new to yoga as well as the seasoned beginner. If you are interested or know someone who is, let me know ASAP to reserve your spot. The workshop covers the basics of Yoga, pranayama (breath), asana (poses), and touching upon philosophy.

Schedule changes for January 2010

We are looking at adding a Sunday morning class, in addition to some minor changes during the week. These changes/additions will be finalized by mid December, and will be posted on the webpage. Expect to see a couple more ashtanga classes on the schedule as well as a couple of Level 2-3 Rocket Vinyasa classes (a faster pace vinyasa class with more arm balances incorporated in).

Holiday schedule

December 25th (Friday) classes are cancelled.

January 1st (also a Friday) will have one class at noon, all other classes that day are cancelled.

All other classes are as scheduled

Newsletter special of the month

As a christmas gift to all of you, we are offering a free 30 minute private to all newsletter subscribers. These privates are available from 12/16/2009-1/13/2010, but need to be scheduled by 12/23/2009. Ideal times for a private is 45 minutes before a class starts. Please call or email with any questions or to schedule your private today!

Sanskrit term of the month

Paschima and Purva

I present these two words this month, because they complement eachother. Paschima means western and purva means eastern. We find these terms in poses paschimottanasana (forward folding pose or literally western intense pose) and purvottanasana (reverse plank pose or eastern intense pose). When doing sun salutations in the morning, you are facing east, so when you do a forward fold, you are stretching out your western side. When you do the counter pose, purvottanasana, and stretch out the front of your body, or your eastern side. When every you hear the term paschimottanasana, you can bet that the pose is a forward folding pose (think trianga mukhaikapada paschimottanasana and ardha badha padma paschimottanasana)

Let the Practice Serve You

Many people come to yoga with a goal in mind, be it increased flexibility or weight loss. Goals are important and can help us find a healthier and happier life. But sometimes, people become obsessed with a pose. For me, a couple of years ago, this pose was lotus pose. Having a tight right hip meant that this pose is always almost in reach, but not quite. Each attempt would end up with a slightly tweaked knee the next morning and a couple of weeks of recovery. I found myself trying to serve my yoga practice, trying to contort and twist my body for something that was supposed to help me.

My breakthrough came not from my direct yoga practice (as you can practice yoga all day long), but from a different experience. I had to clean a diesel engine which had been wet stacked, meaning that the diesel fuel had not fully been burnt and had passed as liquid with the exhaust into the exhaust section of the engine. My hands were covered in a black greasy substance which worked its way into every crack and corner on my fingers. Even after washing my hands for 15 minutes, the black stains framed my fingernails. It is just like the old adage, a watched pot never boils, my hands would stay dirty as long as I looked at them. I had become obsessed with my fingers being free of the grime. Drawing on my yoga practice, I realized I needed to let go of my attachments, my obsessions. So I stopped worrying about my fingers, about the incessant washing. And the next time I happened to look at my hands, they were clean.

The most important lesson I have learned is to be unattached to things that take time. That doesn’t mean don’t pay rent or ignore relationships. It means don’t obsess over goals and stay true to the path you have chosen. When taken in the context of a yoga practice, don’t make your body serve the practice. Let your practice serve you.

photo courtesy Michael Turner

asana drawings are used with permission from Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois written by Larry Schultz