| What is Yoga? |
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The word means "yoking" of the
Self by
spiritual discipline; a method of training designed to lead to
union of the human spirit with ultimate reality, and a release from the
limits of the individual ego. A path to salvation. An end to
identification with suffering.
"The soul itself is like a sun, a source of light. Each individual contains such a secret sun in their heart as the soul force behind their being." "The soul dwells within the hearts of all creatures, which is the source of real feeling and knowing. Yet this is not the physical heart, but the core of our being, which we experience in the heart region of the physical body." -David Frawley, Yoga and Ayurveda |
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| Camel |
| Sanskrit
name: Ustrasana ~ Photo by Toni Chiapelli |
What is Yoga to me? To practice peace in the here and now daily, and to share my practice with others. Why do I practice Yoga? I was drawn in originally by a flood of feelings of innocence that I thought were lost. I experienced an explosive release of a sense of profound safety. That was the pillar that became my yoga practice. A forgiveness... a flower opening softly... it was my heart. The only goal of Yoga is enlightenment. The purpose of the Asanas (poses) are to calm the body so that it can remain still during meditation. During meditation, the storms of the mind are calmed. The mind quiets like a still lake which reflects the moon like mirror– just as the mind finally reflects our true nature: peace. My own approach towards teaching yoga emphasizes awareness of the breath as the cornerstone to unlocking the secret places of the heart, soul, body and mind. Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodhah "Yoga is to quiet the storms of the mind" Verse 2 of the Yoga Sutras by the sage, Patanjali. When the mind is quiet, the great voice of the Universal Self can be heard. We experience the inner teacher, and we are free. |
"You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state." ~Sharon Gannon "When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world." ~B.K.S. Iyengar "Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold the exhalation, and surrender to God." ~Krishnamacharya |
Susana
McGuire Certified Yoga Instructor
831.239.2594, PO box 2273, Monterey, California 93942
durgadelight@yahoo.com