I had a really phenomenal experience this past Sunday morning teaching a yoga class to a dance group at the College of Charleston. About a dozen people showed up for the class, which took place in a beautiful dance room located inside the brand new Cato Arts Center on the CofC campus. In preparing for the class, I did a lot of thinking about what a yoga practice might offer people who are passionate about dance and creative movement.

One of the central aspects of yoga is cultivating a harmonious relationship between mind and body. Such harmony is of course essential to creating beautiful and graceful movement in dance. In many Eastern spiritual paths, the mind and the body are seen as equal halves of an integral whole. This is the philosophy of yin and yang: things that appear to be opposites – light and dark, tall and short, earth and sky, spirit and flesh – are in fact inseparably connected with one another.

In Western culture, however, there is a very rigid division between mind and body. In the last year, I’ve stumbled upon a number of brilliant Western thinkers who have addressed this division and the disharmony is creates in individuals.

The first is Sir Ken Robinson, an expert on human creativity, who gave a brilliant address at the 2006 TED Conference on creativity in children and whether or not educational systems around the world do an adequate job of fostering that creativity. (The whole talk is worth watching, but the part I’ll be focusing on begins around the 9:00 minute mark).

During his talk, he spoke about the fact that almost all schools around the world tend to place a great emphasis on language and mathematics over the arts, particularly drama and dance. He says: “As children grow up, we start to educate them progressively from the waist-up. Then we focus on their heads – and slightly to one side.”

He goes on to describe what type of person this emphasis on head-only education creates, particularly in the form of the stereotypical academic professor: “They live in their heads. They live up there – and slightly to one side. They’re disembodied, in a kind of literal way. They look upon their body as a form of transport for their heads. It’s a way of getting their heads to meetings.”

Another brilliant thinker I’ve come across in the past year is Alan Watts, who came to popular attention during the 1960’s as an interpreter of Eastern spiritual traditions (especially Zen Buddhism) for Western audiences. In one of his talks featured on YouTube, delightfully illustrated by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, he addresses this split between mind and body that exists in the West and how it shapes our sense of self.

“I’ve always been tremendously interested in what people mean by the word “I” – because it comes out in curious lapses of speech. We don’t say: “I am a body.” We say: “I have a body.” Somehow we don’t seem to identify ourselves with all of ourselves. We say “my feet,” “my hands,” “my teeth,” as if they were something outside me. As far as I can make out, most people feel that they are something or other about halfway between the ears and a little ways behind the eyes, inside the head. That’s what you call the “ego.” That’s not what you are at all, because it gives you the idea that you are a chauffeur inside your own body – as if you your body were an automobile and you are the chauffeur principle inside it.”

The point that both Robinson and Watts are making is that when we identify primarily with our mind and our thoughts, we disconnect ourselves from our bodily existence. The results are usually disastrous, particularly in our modern culture. We stuff food into our mouths that are deeply gratifying to the mind (products high in fat and processed sugar) but which are nutritionally disastrous to the body. On the opposite extreme, we flock to gyms in order to sculpt our bodies into an idealized mental image of what we should like like – usually based on digitalized media images of the super skinny or ultra buff.

What is lacking is a deep listening to the wisdom of the body. Oftentimes, we only start to listen when we are forced to, usually as a result of an illness or life-threatening condition. Many people then realize that they must flip their entire life-style upside down and start living from a more holistic understanding of themselves.

Many of these people, of course, find their way to yoga classes and meditation retreats. A great deal of the popularity of such practices as yoga, tai chi, and seated meditation are found in the fact that they help cultivate a holistic way of looking at the world and our place in it. These practices are based on the realization that the mind and body form an inseparable wholeness – just as each individual human being, animal, or plant is an integral part of the interdependent environment in which they live. The process of yoga, in my mind, is a process of extending the feeling of identity outwards, away from the narrow confines of our egos, and connecting with our bodies, our communities, the planet, and the universe.

In the yoga class I taught to the dance group, I continually encouraged the participants to focus on their breath. The breath is an incredible tool for helping us cultivate mind/body harmony. Mindful breathing helps us turn down the volume on our mental noise so that the wisdom of the body may begin to be heard. A yogi or dancer can then begin to truly feel his or her body. They can begin to discover where they are tight or sore, where they hold anxiety or stress, in what movements they feel confident or terrified. This deep listening to the body can give us insight into the ways we live and in what ways we may need to change.

When the body and mind begin to move and function as one, we become more effective in what we do, we become more graceful and effortless in our actions, we become less worried and anxious in our inner lives. This is obviously helpful not just on the yoga mat or on the dance stage, but in all aspects of our lives.

So the question is… What might your body be trying to tell you? And if you start to really listen, what changes would begin to happen in your life?

~ Matthew Foley

For anyone who routinely gets massage, or even just treats them self to one from time to time…you owe it to yourself to head over to Atmah Ja’s on Broad Street and experience something unique.  For Atmah Ja, the practice of massage is about more than just the body, as she adeptly integrates meditative stimulation of the mind.

I was fortunate enough to experience a “Beat to your Creative Bliss” massage last Monday evening. And the experience didn’t just begin upon entering the beautifully designed massage room that clearly reflects Atmah Ja’s world travels, but rather it began the moment I entered the gallery.

The Art of Core Consciousness is filled with the beautiful artwork of Iamikan.  The pieces in and of themselves are meditative and full of expressive energy. The window near the back of the gallery was open, letting in a fresh, spring breeze and revealing an intimate and charming courtyard with greens nearly spilling through the windowsill. The sound of the courtyard’s fountain was trickling softly throughout the gallery, and you could make out the subtle scent of incense. In short, the gallery was a stimulation of the senses. Simply being aware of the energy in the room while taking in the colors and textures in each of Iamikan’s pieces creates a form of preparation to the practice you are about to embrace.

“Beat to Your Creative Bliss” is a full body massage that jolts and stimulates a sluggish body with an upbeat, percussive massage. Of course, like any good massage, it was relaxing and felt good on the muscles.  But it was so much more than that. This practice was designed to refresh and reboot the mental body, relieving old obsolete thought patterns trapped in an internalized physical system.

The experience Atmah Ja offers is an exchange of energy and meditation. During this practice she stimulated the flow of meridians, or lines of energy, and directed this creative force into every corner of my body. The meditative breathing that I had come into, sent prana (or life force) to all chakras, and as Atmah Ja stimulated each pressure point, I was able to breath our combined energy directly to her touch.

Overall, what this experience opened in me was a well needed opportunity to awaken my body and mind and shake away any haze that was preventing me from seeing my life clearly.

Through the use of pressure points and deep tissue stimulation in tandem with Atmah Ja’s transferring of energy, I was brought to a refreshed and awakened mind.  This was true to form, as this particular style of massage is designed so you can leave the gallery in an ideal state to find a quiet place to meditate, reflect and wholly prepare for your life’s next endeavors.

An old song says: “There might be a little dust on the bottle; don’t let it fool you about what’s inside.”  If you’d like a clearer look at the complexity inside yourself, head on over to The Art of Core Consciousness and try one of Atmah Ja’s unique forms of massage.  You’ll be so glad you did!

To reserve an appointment for massage with Atmah Ja, call 843.323.8341 or visit The Art of Core Consciousness Yoga and Massage

Most people start a yoga class to reduce stress. They do not go to their first class with the intention of walking out with more stress, but that is exactly what can happen.  Yoga does reduce stress, but sometimes a few simple tips might help you maximize your effectiveness in class.

One simple idea is that you won’t be perfect. No matter how long you practice your yoga poses, you will never get it right. So let it go. Don’t try to do it just like your instructor. Try to do it as he or she teaches you, but thats it.  Let go of the stiff ideas of having to do it perfect and just do your best. Understanding this releases a lot of unnecessary stress and makes doing yoga fun and relaxing.

A second way to reduce stress is to let go of the idea of maintaining a calm mind. Most people think that when you do some sort of meditation that your mind should be calm and blank. That is called being dead. We have thoughts, we want to have thoughts, it’s getting attached and following the thoughts that causes us the problems. When you are in a yoga class and you notice your mind wandering off, just gently bring it back to focus on the here and now. Don’t beat yourself up, just bring your mind back. If it wanders again, bring it back again. The more you practice being present, the easier it gets.

A third way to lessen your stress during your yoga class is to not get attached to thoughts. It’s like my teacher Lama Ole says, let your mind be like an empty house. If a thief comes in, there is nothing to take, so he or she leaves. So if your mind starts thinking about what your going to eat after class, let it, but don’t give the thought any attention. If you don’t give it energy or follow the thought, it will just fade off on its own.

Those are few ways you can reduce your stress and enjoy your yoga classes better. If you have any questions leave a comment or check out my stress management site at www.istress.org.

Dr. John Zipp DC
Foundation for Stress Relief & Education
Chiropractor, Zipp Chiropractic
(843) 303-4227
www.drzipp.com
www.istress.org
Facebook: Zipp Chiropractic
Twitter: @DoctorZipp
Skype: drzipp

Tweet, meet, and give. That’s what Twestival is all about – using social media for social good.

Twestival Global is an event where local businesses and social networking individuals come together in over 300 international cities to support a good cause.  Twestival events worldwide are planned and completely carried out by volunteers.

This year, on Thursday, March 25th, hundreds of people in cities around the world will come together offline to rally around the important cause of education by hosting local events to have fun and create awareness.  The organization they will support is Concern Worldwide.

Concern Worldwide was founded over 50 years ago to meet the needs of people living in extreme poverty, for whom every day is a fight for survival.  Concern’s education programs currently reach over 700,000 people in 25 countries across the regions of Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.  They build schools, train teachers and outfit students with uniforms and school supplies in the world’s poorest nations.

To kick off Charleston’s local celebration of Twestival,  Caryn Antos of Yoga Benefits will be heading up a yoga event in Marion Square Park.  Come on Thursday and do your own practice, or follow Caryn’s guided lesson that begins at 1:30.  The event is donation-based, so bring cash to support a good cause.  All yoga practice levels are welcome.

Yoga Benefits is a local organization that teaches yoga to at risk children.  That is how Antos, the founder of the organization, is related to and was approached about volunteering her time for the Twestival mission.

Antos started Yoga Benefits because she believes that everyone can benefit from yoga.  “Yoga is powerful and empowering,” she said.  “It can help people work through fear, anxiety, sorrow, and aggression and turn those emotions into confidence, peace, compassion and love.  When I started teaching yoga, I did it because I wanted to share what I have learned.”

We at Charleston Yogi and Antos believe that a personal dedication to wellness is a pathway to large successes, and that yoga can build not only a stronger and more confident individual, but a healthier, more powerful community.

For Antos, donation-based classes are a way to share yoga with others without having to put a price on the value.  “I already know there is value on the lesson,” she stated, “but assigning a number to it might mean that some people will not participate.”  Antos has been an instructor at The Sutra Shack, a donation-based James Island community studio, and often supports causes similar to Twestival, where people can donate their practice to a good cause.

Charleston’s Twestival doesn’t stop with yoga in Marion Square Park.  The schedule of events on Thursday, March 25th is as follows:

1:00pm – 3:00pm: Yoga fundraising event in Marion Square Park.  It is asked that you bring a donation for Concern – whatever you can spare.  Maybe it’s what you would have spent on coffee that day, or lunch out with co-workers.

5:30pm – 7:00pm: Meet at Rebekah Jacob Gallery (169 King Street) for networking and pre-event cocktails.

6:30pm – 9:30pm: The event will move along to The Real Estate Studio (214 King Street).  DJ Natty Heavy will be donating his time and entertainment for the event.  Shine your shoes and check out some of the things that are up for grabs in the silent auction.

Tickets for the evening events are $15, which includes music, food, adult beverages and a silent auction.  100% of ticket donations and funds raised will go to Concern Worldwide.

Thanks to the generosity of EF/AVHHF, all donations and ticket sales are being matched through March 25 up to $100,000.  To make a donation via Charleston Twestival to Concern Worldwide, visit http://charleston.twestival.com.

(Charleston’s local Twestival celebration is sponsored by Charleston Yogi, Yoga Benefits, Blackbaud, Rebekah Jacob Gallery, Stasmayer Incorporated, The Buccaneer, Queen Anne’s Revenge, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Red Dog Designs, Holaola Screen Printing, The Real Estate Studio, DJ Natty Heavy, Ben Arnold Beverage Co, Baked, The Modern Connection and Palmettobug Digital.)

**Charleston Yogi and Yoga Benefits hope to see our fellow yogis out in Marion Square on Thursday!  Come and donate your practice to Concern Worldwide. Even if you cannot contribute with a monetary donation, take time to be a part of your community and offer your energy and support to someone who truly needs it.**

Want to keep up with all these fab organizations?  Follow them on Twitter!

Twestival Global: @twestival

Concern Worldwide: @concern

Charleston Twestival: @CHSTwestival

DJ Natty Heavy: @nattyheavy

Charleston Yogi: @CharlestonYogi

महर्षि पतञ्जलि योग सूत्र ।२।

Maharṣi Patañjali Yoga Sūtra |2|

तपः स्वाध्यायेश्वर प्रणिधानानि क्रिया योगः॥१॥

tapaḥ svādhyāyeśvara praṇidhānāni kriyā yogaḥ ||1||

“With intensity of spiritual practice, sacred study, and devotion; here lies the work to get back to a state of equilibrium, purity, and brightness.”  -Translation by śrī Sharon Gannon

Tapaḥ-This word is often translated as heat.

This sūtra is the first in the Pāda entitled Sadhana (conscious spiritual practice) and follows the first book entitled, Samādhi (where Master Patanjali expounds on the goal of yoga).  It therefore stands to reason that in this context he’s referring to the spiritual practices of Yoga.

He goes on to describe how they should be pursued with intensity.  Think of gold.  The more the gold is heated, the higher the temperature, the more impurities are burned out.  We can usually find the time to sleep a little later, or not twist deeper into ardha matsyendrāsana (seated spinal twist).  This is a mental exercise.  We generally chase after things which bring us pleasure while we shy away from those which may seem challenging.  By coming to class AND staying focused, giving our full attention to the work at hand, we purify the mind.  By accepting things which may cause us discomfort, we may actually be happy to receive this pain knowing the purification it will bring.  This cannot be practiced in the meditation rooms, only in our daily lives.  We should always look for ways to expand our ability to evolve.  We should be wary of becoming stuck in a routine which may lead us to moving on autopilot.  Our asana sequence, for example, may become rote execution, taking the “consciousness” aspect out of it.  We may seek classes which don’t challenge us because we don’t want to feel like we can’t “do” a posture.  We may resist giving a few dollars to someone less fortunate because we’re scared to make eye contact.  We may never try a delicious vegan Biscuits and Gravy (One of my recipes: www.bahamayogi.com/Recipes.html) recipe because we mistakenly think “I could never go Vegan”.

Intensity is relative.  For example, to someone who is proficient at salamba śīrṣāsana (supported headstand), going through the preparations of dolphining, half headstand, balancing with knees into chest, and with knees raised may be very intense, both mentally and physically.  My Teacher śrī David Life suggests that if we are a fiery personality, one who needs movement, then we should take a slow class and vice versa.

What could prevent us from this intensity?  Fear.  A friend of mine has a great definition for this:

F  alse  E  vidence  A  ppearing  R  eal

We think we’re not capable.  That somehow we may be less than Divine.  Maharṣi Patañjali says “I thought you might say that, here’s what you can do…..”

svādyāya – Study of  the Self/spiritual books

Anything that will elevate your mind and remind you of your true Self should be studied, absorbed, and then PRACTICED.  We cannot just become walking libraries.  Remember, we’re in the book called Sadhana-PRACTICE.  We can study Yoga Sūtra, Bhagavad Gītā, Bible, Koran, or any uplifting scripture.  We’ll find that these sources are essentially the same in their guiding words.  They never become old.  A true scriptural source lasts forever, it is timeless because the Self is timeless.  We must be wary of “New and Improved” Yoga, or of others who say “That doesn’t apply anymore.”  We must go to the source of the scripture.  In śrī Swami Satchidananda’s words “If I say every day you must tell 10 lies in the name of Yoga and you can find no scriptural source to back that up, it should be suspect.”

Furthermore, if it is a true scriptural source many other sources of the world must agree.  The commandment “Thou shalt not kill” is a good example of this.  Also of how we can change it to suit us, “Thou shalt not kill HUMANS, animals okay, just not humans, except of course if they kill someone first, and then also maybe if they threaten to kill you, or someone you love, or if they have a country that has more oil than you, or maybe have weapons of mass destruction, and if they happen to be around an area we think is a hideout for bad guys…”  Scriptures and teachers may present information, but is up to us to decide how to practice and apply it.  We should then sit in meditation DAILY to observe the effects of these practices on our minds.  We may find the spiritual path is not an easy one, that the truth may be inconvenient yet we will find an easeful, peacefulness in it.

īśvara praṇidhānāni-offer with devotion to God

Maharṣi Patañjali reminds us, as he has throughout the first book, Devote everything to God.  He uses the term īśvara.  This translates as Supreme Being, God in personal form.  He doesn’t say Jesus, Mohammed, śiva, or Kṛṣṇa.  Yoga has been around for thousands of years.  There are no doctrines in Yoga which conflict with the beliefs of others.  So Maharṣi Patañjali tells us to offer the intensity of our practice towards realizing the Divine within ourselves.  He says offer all your efforts to God, whoever you believe Him/Her to be.  This is necessary because he knows our tendencies to become attached to our actions.  As my Teacher and Co-Founder of the Jivamukti Yoga method David Life says in Jivamukti Yoga Practices for Liberating Body and Soul :We recommend this dedication because asana practice is very powerful.  It can stir up a lot of energy, and the student may wonder, “What do I do with this energy I feel pulsing through my body?”  A teacher who is teaching Yoga only as an exercise- not as a spiritual, psychological, and physical system of purification- responds “I don’t know , do what you want with it,” might as well take the student to the edge of an abyss and say “Go ahead, jump.”

Students who are not taught to dedicate the energy released by an asana practice to God tend to do one of two things.  They may let all that power manifest in their bodies and personalities and become highly charged and very charismatic.  If you look at their faces, however, you may see rage, as well as anger, jealousy , and selfishness.  These are emotions that were stirred up by the practice but were never turned over to God.  Or, the students may fall to pieces, destroyed emotionally and physically by the practice.  These students will probably lose interest in Yoga.  Neither of these outcomes will occur if you apply Maharṣi Patañjali’s sound advice: Give it to God.  Devote all effort to God Realization.

Maharṣi Patañjali’s eight-limbed system is predominantly an effortful path, but the last two limbs-Dhyāna (meditation) and Samādhi (enlightenment)-cannot be attained through effort.  They are the result of Grace.  Yet it is only through intense effort that we can prepare ourselves to receive such grace.

I humbly bow at the lotus feet of my great teachers.

om śānti śānti śāntiḥ