Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Mar 21, 2011
Monday Mar 21, 2011
Swami Nirmalananda was a saint in India, and one of the gurus of our founding teachers Sharon and David. Nirmalananda lived in the hills of southern India and practiced social activism. He maintained silence for 11 years, in those years was an avid letter writer. He wrote to all manner of politician, activist, celebrity, artists.
In this simple way, we can all become socially engaged. Sharon Gannon encourages us to write one letter a week. It is especially important to write letters praising the positive changes you see in the world, since most of the letters usually come from people who are coming from the negative point of view.
Mia Theodoratus joins us on her gorgeous harp!
Tuesday Mar 01, 2011
Tuesday Mar 01, 2011
When we think of "Activism," many of us automatically think of picket signs and protests. Each of us has different talents and inclinations, and its up to each of us to find our way in....our way of creatively and positively engaging with our world.
Sunday Feb 06, 2011
Sunday Feb 06, 2011
We offer up all of our limitations, including our mental afflictions, our unwillingness to learn, and our notions of ourselves that are holding us back. Offer it into the fire, swaha!
Asana moves through the 4 birds which alchemical symbols for elements; crow=earth, phoenix/eagle=fire, crane/swan=water, and peacock=air.
Sunday Jan 16, 2011
Sunday Jan 16, 2011
What does Cooking, Gardening, and Cleaning have to do with Alchemy? We are going to explore this month of January with a story about Sharon Gannon's Alchemy teacher, and her first lessons as a spiritual seeker.
Tuesday Jan 04, 2011
Tuesday Jan 04, 2011
Garlands are not simply things we put on trees, they too are an offering to the divine or a way to welcome a special guest. Spiritual Practice requires a continual investigation of habit and ritual, as practitioners we keep imbuing our practices with meaning to keep them sacred.
Physical practice is a deep hip opening class, leading up to Malasana, Garland Pose.
Thursday Dec 30, 2010
Sunday Nov 28, 2010
Sunday Nov 28, 2010
"Asteya Pratishtayam Sarva Ratnopastanam"
To one who is established in non-stealing, abundance (material, spiritual, mental) arise. Or, literally JEWELS (ratna) are given.
I chose a story from my childhood growing up in New Mexico, because to the girl who cares for the Turkeys, jewels literally appear from under the turkeys' wings.
Saturday Nov 13, 2010
Saturday Nov 13, 2010
"Asteya. Offering back everything that you've been given. It's the opposite of feeling entitled to things. It's the sense that nothing is yours. Everything is on loan--even your body, even your mind." Ruth Lauer-Manenti, "Sweeping the Dust"
Friday Oct 29, 2010
Friday Oct 29, 2010
When the going gets tough, the tough go deeper into their practice. Sometimes the hardest thing to do when our practice reaches a plateau or seemingly stagnates is to stick with it. The way to get through the plateau is not to switch into a different pose, or a different practice, or a different job/relationship/apartment..... but to lean into the situation and breathe.
Thursday Oct 28, 2010
Thursday Oct 28, 2010
What are the obstacles to our practice? What are the obstacles to compassionate action? When do I decide to take action or not?
Extra Twisty Classy.