MahaMondo

Miami : Good Vibes & Light

Negrocan's Cada Vez always takes me back to Miami , where I am headed out to on Monday , with its good vibes & light. Back in the day, the DJ @ Lotus NY would drop this cut during the depths of winter & everyone would start bouncing on the couches. Much love to Moses Love & the I Love Yoga crew who I hope to see there. The Wall Street Journal has an illuminating piece regarding the new "Marketing 3.0". The rise of online social networking sites like YouTube, MySpace & Facebook have rapidly altered the playing field of sales & marketing , with their abilities to conduct specific & immediate viral marketing campaigns based on vibe & point-of-view. And in the New Yogic Order, the greatest teachers ( Sri Dharma Mittra , Jivamukti, David Swenson & more ) are communicating, radiating & vibrating their light online via these sites. As Deepak Chopra puts it , " You can escape this package of illusion (MAYA)if you see yourself not in the shadows fighting to get to God but in the light from the 1st moment. The only difference between you & a saint is that your light is small & a saint's is great ( MAHA). You are both in the light." & Thanks to Danurasana for providing the head's up on "MALAYSIAN MUSLIMS NOW BANNED FROM PRACTICING YOGA ." To all of us that can both practice yoga freely & exercise our basic human rights , stay in the light -

Terrorism in Mumbai : Puja in Varanasi

There is no Divinity or Liberation in terrorism & violence. Via ml1 is this vid of an Aarti Puja in Varanasi to counter the darkness of these forces -

The Practice of Yoga Begins Before Class Starts

I was looking forward to group practice this Thanksgiving morning . It turned out to be a packed class at the West Studio.

 And once again, for the benefit of the NEWBIES this morning who acted like they were in a bad reality show like "The Hills" , via Yoga.about.com & Austin Yoga are these reminders based on COMMON SENSE & COURTESY :

1. Remove your shoes. ( No explanation needed )
2. Arrive on time ( If myself & others made the effort to show up early, your sense of entitlement by squeezing into the front row with a loud "I need my yoga" speaks volumes - )
3. Turn off your cell phone ( With that ringtone , I know you don't have an Iphone or Blackberry, heh heh )
4.Respect the Teacher ( Your attempts at repartee' & responses during the course of class were not solicited - )
5. During class DO NOT DRINK WATER. Water cools the inner heat;   what is called "tapas", that helps make the body flexible.

" Self awareness  leads to attention to detail and to the RESPECT for the space and peace around you "

OM Shanti.

Be Thankful : Massive Attack

" You may not have a car at all , but just remember brothers & sisters, you can still stand tall. Just be thankful, for what you've got - " I have always loved this remake of a classic by Massive Attack and Paul Oakenfold's tweak is even better. Happy Thanksgiving -

The Bhagavad Gita : Conversation with Harnad

I checked in with Harnad after a transporting class this afternoon to firm up the sked for Thanksgiving next week. 2008 has turned out to be a MAHA year , in spite of the economic fears & stress which had been precipitated by GREED & the irresponsible rapaciousness of the MEDIA ( Yup , it is a self fulfilling prophecy, talk about recession & it will happen ... ).

So Thanksgiving will be spent in gratitude with teachers who have instilled hope, clarity & blessings ; 9 AM with Vytas B.@ the West Studio & onwards to Golden Bridge Hollywood.

Harnad did throw me a curve ball during our conversation by asking      " So what is the Bhagavad Gita ? " Thanks to the prostelyzing efforts of a high school friend who had joined ISKCON aka The Hare Krishnas , I was able to provide this snapshot : " The Gita is a dialog between Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna on the eve of an epic battle back in the day - " And ?

" It is a classic seeker's treatise of transcendence wherein Arjuna endeavors to discuss, slice & dice & wrap his head around the meaning of life , war , divinity , baseness,spirit, etc., etc. as filtered through the eyes and eventually the divine light of Krishna's DHARMA ."

" OK, I'm getting a copy - "

Sri Dharma Mittra ; Sapporo Satsang

Via Yogi Andrei is this vid of Sri DM's satsang in Sapporo Japan dedicated to Lord Shiva -

Kaya Sadhana : The Body as Vessel

"You look great " was the reaction from  my relatives who had come into town over the weekend for the three "ings ", as they say in Singapore : shopp-ing, eat--ing & drink-ing.

They were impressed by my exhibition of will & resolve by not having steak , rib eye or red wine during our dinner. And these rels knew me from wild & crazy previous incarnations . So without coming across as a preacher , I was able to communicate how TAPAS, asana , pranayama & meditation have transformed me.

KAYA SADHANA is a Sanskrit term for the development of the body for a spiritual purpose.During the process, physical changes will occur in the body as practice continues. In Hatha yoga tradition, the body as vessel is purified through TAPAS , a burning action or purpose represented by the fire deity Agni. ( Image via Lonnie Butler Photography ) 

Kitsilano : Yoga Town

Kitsilano or "Kits" as it is fondly called by Vancouver locals is the epicenter of the city's yoga lifestyle. Studios such as Semperviva &  YYoga have locations there. I did not have a chance to attend group practice at any of their locations or drop in on Eoin Finn's Wednesday PM class as we had dinners planned every evening.

The image on the left is of Lululemon's 1st retail store in Kitsilano. Big news today in Vancouver was the company's founder , Chip Wilson, who sold 48% of his interest in the company valued at     $108 MM ( as in 108 mala ) to Nike. 

Chip, who like many , got hooked after his initial yoga class , plans to share his windfall with employees & family -

Yoga @ Home : Jason Crandell

I picked up a copy  of Yoga Journal's  Guide  " Yoga  @ Home " at the terminal as I waited for the flight to Vancouver this morning. It is an excellent resource not only for home practice but as a resource for "in room"  hotel practice while traveling.

Jason Crendall's  pieces  on  PERSONAL PRACTICE & DOWN DOG are particularly informative & enlightening. He breaks down setting one's itinerary as follows : " In yoga, you'll have a map in hand when you learn the basics of sequencing - the logical ordering of postures that will take you through a well rounded practice. The basic structure of a sequence is like a bell-curve. It starts slowly with opening poses; increases depth and intensity with standing poses ; crescendos with backbends, abdominals and inversions, and moves towards greater stillness with twists, forward bends, relaxation poses and meditation."

Maty Ezraty & Richard Rosen have contributed articles as well which I have not gotten around to digesting. MAHA props to Yoga Journal for using the Sanskrit names for the Asanas & providing the corresponding detailed backstories & alignment information.

* Jason C. just sent an email update indicating he will be teaching @ YogaWorks Montana & Main St. April 18 & 19 -

The Doors & Blondie : Rapture Riders

This excellent mash up of The Doors & Blondie is a great analogy for the RAPTURE that vinyasa can transport one to . It is always said that "there is nowhere to get to " , so it is all about riding the present crescendo of flow, prana and asana. As mentioned in the previous post , Jim Morrisson & The Doors still live & rock on , whether in a coffee shop in Austin or in their hood of Venice , Cali. Jim will always be the once & future philosopher, the Lizard King.So deep. My work & travels take me to Vancouver next week , where I hope to meet up with the good folks from My Yoga Online -