Shanta Yoga Blog
New Site!
Welcome to the new site! We are so excited about the new design and the new schedule! You will notice that we have also added workshops to the schedule.
Please, explore the new site and tell us what you think!
July Schedule
A quick note today to update you all on the new schedule for July!
Morning Classes:
Tuesday & Thursday 7:00-8:00 am
Saturday Yoga in the Park 9:00-10:00 am
Evening Classes:
Monday & Wednesday 7:00-8:30 pm (No class Monday July 4th)
Tuesday & Thursday Beginners Series 7:00-8:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday 8:15-9:15 pm
Morning classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7-8 am. These classes are very gentle and are a great way to start your day relaxed. If you have yet to attend a morning class, we invite you to find out just how wonderful your day can be when you start with a yoga practice.
It is our evening classes that take on the twist (pun intended) this month. Monday and Wednesday classes are held from 7-8:30 pm and are appropriate for any skill level, but the classes run longer and you will get a more intensified practice. The Beginners Series moves to our evening line-up this month and will begin Tuesday, July 5 and will run each Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 pm ending on July 28. The Beginners Series is a series of 8 classes meant to be attended in a sequence, so we encourage you to attend all 8 sessions (click here to read our previous post concerning this series). Our Everyday Yoga classes will still be offered on Tuesday and Thursday, but will run from 8:15-9:15 pm.
Also, don’t forget about Yoga in the Park every Saturday morning at 9 am. You can find us at the south end of Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove. We hope to see you at one or all of these wonderful classes!
Jai Bhagwan!
What Ails You?
#9 in a series of posts that addresses the topics listed in this article.
“I hate yoga sometimes.”
A few years ago, as my journey into yoga began to pick up speed and my body and mind seemed to change minute by minute, I wrote the following, “Yoga is good for what ails me, even if it is yoga that ails me.” To expand on that thought, I knew that although my body was exhausted and my mind was tired, continuing my studies and keeping up with my asana practice was the best avenue for me for to learn why I felt the way I did.
Another way to view this is to look at Ahimsa, or non-violence, the first of the Yamas. Ahimsa is the opportunity to study what is causing you harm, or in this case to hate yoga; hatred is a harmful emotion. You could be attaching the label of hatred to yoga as a whole, but it is more probable there is something being released through the practice itself causing you to place blame on the practice. Continuing with your practice, especially when you feel such things, is the most opportune time to study what causes you to react and the consequences of those reactions. Remember, asanas are about breaking your reactive patterns on and off the mat, increasing your ability to be happy and at ease throughout the many facets of life. So, if you notice such feelings coming up, well then good, that means it’s working!
Jai Bhagwan
It’s A Very Good Place To Start
There are many people who would like to start practicing yoga but are intimidated by regular classes. There are also those who haven’t practiced in a while and would like to renew their practice at a more relaxed pace, as well as those people who seek help with alignment in certain postures while reviewing the basics of yoga. Shanta Yoga’s Beginners Series is just what you need.
The Beginners Series is exactly that, a series of classes designed around the needs of beginners. Classes focus on proper alignment in each posture based on your body’s needs. Basic breathing techniques are also demonstrated and taught. Questions are always encouraged but especially so in the Beginners Series. This is the perfect time to ask those questions that arise during regular classes but that you don’t ask because you don’t want to disrupt the flow of class.
The Beginners Series is a sequence of eight classes that will be held Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 6:30 – 7:30 am beginning June 7 and will conclude June 30. These classes are designed to be attended sequentially, so we encourage you to attend both Tuesday and Thursday mornings so you don’t miss anything; however, we understand that life gets busy, so keep in mind the series will repeat in the evening during July. Please contact us at info@ShantaYoga.com with any questions you might have.
The Beginners Series is offered and supported by your donations.
Jai Bhagwan
Park It!
Look outside, what do you see? Flowers, green grass and leafy trees. If you walk outside, you’ll hear songbirds and the sounds of children playing. Spring has finally arrived and with it comes Yoga in the Park.
Join Dhruti and myself at 9 AM each Saturday morning in a park near you for Yoga in the Park. During June, our Saturday morning practices will find us under the trees at Lions Park on Main Street in Pleasant Grove. You might ask yourself, “Why would I want to practice yoga at 9 AM on a Saturday morning?” Spending an hour practicing yoga with us is a great way to slow your weekend down so it lasts longer and who doesn’t want a longer weekend? It’s also a great way to introduce your friends to yoga!
Right now, we are looking for a new park to be our home for July’s Yoga in the Park. If you have a nice park in your neighborhood or town and want us to bring Yoga in the Park closer to your home, e-mail us at info@shantayoga.com with details.
We are so excited to see you this Saturday as we kick off Yoga in the Park!
Until then, Jai Bhagwan
Ramdas and Dhruti
Embracing the Dread
#8 in a series of posts that addresses the topics listed in this article.
“I have poses I dread and avoid practicing and teaching.”
The easy answer is no, neither Ramdas nor I have postures we dread practicing or teaching. The real question, however, is what causes the dread? If you are avoiding a particular pose because of dread, or some other emotion, then might I suggest you not avoid it? I’m not suggesting you talk yourself into liking something you dread, but rather to simply notice what it is about that pose that makes you so uncomfortable.
More often than not, you have reached some sort of edge, whether physical, mental or emotional, and you no longer have the ability to remain at ease in the posture. This is the moment where you can really engage in some self-study. Again, yoga postures are a place to practice yoga, where we learn about ourselves, learn what causes us to react and to help us increase our capacity for being at ease in more and more situations. As I wrote in this post, postures are deliberately designed to make us uncomfortable so we can grow and learn, and if we avoid those posture that we know make us uncomfortable, how will we ever evolve, and in turn, live with greater ease and happiness? Food for thought.
Jai Bhagwan
Can’t Buy Me Love
#7 in a series of posts that addresses the topics listed in this article.
“I am not doing this for the money. I could barely make a living teaching you this class, as I receive little financial reward for the effort I am putting into this. So please respect that.”
Do you have a passion? Is there something that you do, whether work, family or hobby, that you have such a love for that it completely fills you and you need nothing more than to share it? This is how both Ramdas and I feel about yoga. This is why we teach; we have personally witnessed in ourselves, each other, and in students the remarkable changes yoga can inspire. For us, yoga is not about making a living, it is living. Respect is earned, and sharing our enthusiasm is far more rewarding than any monetary gain.
Recognizing these are words on a screen, I invite you once again to attend our classes and discover this for yourself; our mutual love for yoga is not difficult to spot! For further insight, please read this post about our class fees.
Jai Bhagwan
Making The Most Of Time
#6 in a series of posts that addresses the topics listed in this article.
“I may be smiling at you when you walk in late and loudly slam your mat on the floor next to your meditating classmates but that doesn’t mean I approve. We all have busy lives but if you arrive late please try to be respectful of me and your fellow students. Start thinking yoga BEFORE you come in.”
We have three very simple rules for all of our classes, which are as follows:
1. Non-violence (Ahimsa): Do not hurt yourself.
2. Truthfulness (Satya): Listen to your body and work within the limits of your body’s ability.
3. Non-stealing (Asteya): Classes start on time and we make the most out of the class time we have.
Clearly these guidelines are based on the yamas, the first limb of Patañjali’s Ashtanga Yoga (remember those niyamas the other day?). It is the third rule of class that I would like to address: Asteya, or non-stealing.
What could stealing have to do with arriving late to a yoga class? Asteya means far more than simply not taking that which we can pick up with our hands and carry off. All discontentment arises as soon as we compare ourselves to others, who they are or what they have, causing us to be discontent with ourselves. Then, we begin to believe that we need what someone else has to be happy, which is where the coveting begins. Asteya reminds us not to take anything that is not freely given, whether it is tangible items, words or ideas.
In a classroom setting this translates to beginning class on time; the non-stealing of time. If, however, you find yourself delayed and are committed to attending our classes, please come! Keep in mind that if you come in after class begins, remember that the teacher will not backtrack to catch you up. Do the best you can, for that is all that you can ever do in any situation. On the flip side of this, if you have arrived on time and someone else arrives late, then this is a wonderful opportunity for you to practice! Practice what you have learned and let go of any distractions; those distractions are not happening to you, they simply things that are happening.
Jai Bhagwan
Yoga Nidra Tonight!
Have you attended Yoga Nidra? If you have, then you know why we offer it frequently; if you haven’t attended, then we invite you to set your intention now to attend this evening. Give yourself the gift of an hour and allow yourself that time to discover relaxation.
Yoga Nidra is appropriate for anyone regardless of ability and no previous yoga experience is necessary. You are guided through a relaxing meditation while lying on your back (or sitting if needed) leaving you feeling refreshed and relaxed. Don’t take my word for it, come and discover this for yourself.
Join us tonight at the studio for an hour-long session of Yoga Nidra. Here is the link to the studio address. Please contact us at info@shantayoga.com should you have any questions or concerns. We’re here to help!
As with all of our in-studio classes, Yoga Nidra is offered by donation. We appreciate your generosity!
Jai Bhagwan
Ramdas’ Class Notes: Intention
Well it’s been a long while since I last wrote here and I’m not sure I want to interrupt Dhruti’s series. However, I keep saying that I will put up class notes and I really need to follow through on what I say I will do.
Classes this week covered two different themes. On Monday and Tuesday we focused on intention, “Why am I here in class tonight?” and on Wednesday and Thursday we focused on feeling. Now I want to take some time and focus on each of these themes. Today, we’ll look at intention.
Intentions really boil down to one very simple question, “Why am I doing what I am doing?” So often, we rush through life without ever stopping to think about why we are doing what we are doing. It is not that we do not have a reason for doing what we are doing; rather, we simply are not aware of what that reason is. When was the last time you thought about why you brush your teeth when you were actually brushing your teeth? Even better, when you ask “How are you doing?” are you simply being polite or do you really want to know how the person is doing?
Here is a little experiment you can try. Over the next couple of days, simply stop for a moment and think about what your intention is for whatever you are doing. After you have recognized what your intention is, go back to what you were doing and bring the feeling of your intention into what you are doing. Just notice whether consciously acting with intention changes the way you do things.
Why would anyone want to act with intention? When we act without being aware of our intention, we are simply going through the motions. When we consciously act with intention, our actions are alive and engaging. We have all simply gone through the motions before and we all know how boring that can be. We also all know how exciting it is to be fully engaged in what we are doing and the key to being fully engaged is acting with intention. Now, don’t just take my word for it, try our little experiment and experience it for yourself.
Watch for part two of this week’s class notes, where I will talk about feeling, Monday.
Jai Bhagwan
Ramdas
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