Aroma
Boutique:
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Here you can
find the products used in the Aromayoga class. You can read
about how the products are made and what ingredients are
used. The essential oils help to open up the seven chakras
or energy centers and can help to release blocked areas of
your chakras. They also aid in releasing memory and emotion
that are stored within these centers of your body.
If you
do have any allergies and sensitivity to essential oils,
please let Tanja know before class, or just do not
participate in applying them during our pratice. In any
case, all ingredients used are complelety free of any
synthetic additives and chemicals and should not cause any
irritations, since they are diluted in a carrier oil. All
ingriedients are either organic or wild
crafted.
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Tuesday AromaYoga Class:
30. April
2007
This will
be another wonderful week with May day, Beltane on
Tuesday 1. May and a Full Moon in Scorpio on
Wednesday, May 2, 2007.
For info on Beltane and the
Full Moon click on the link in the quick links
box.
I do mention the
"Central
Channel" quiet
frequently in class and today I want to explain in
more depth what I mean with the Central Channel. Look
below for article.
Last
weeks AromaYoga class was written up in a yoga blog by
Jefferson. See
link.
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The Central Channel:
(shushumna
nadi)
Neutral force - flow
of spiritual
energy
The
central channel, Sushumna Nadi, is
located on our central parasympathetic nervous system,
which is also known as the autonomous nervous system.
It is responsible for our spiritual evolution and our
physical, mental and emotional balance.
The central
channel is the channel of ascent, it guides us,
consciously or unconsciously, towards the higher
awareness of the Sahasrara (seventh
chakra).
It
is the vessel for the kundalini energy that runs along
our spine and up to the crown of our
head.
The Muladhara Chakra, the root chakra is the
meeting place of the three main nadis: Sushumna Nadi
(Central Channel, or midline as I call it), Ida and
Pingala Nadi. From Muladhara chakra, Ida and Pingala
alternate at each chakra until they reach the third
eye/ Ajna chakra where they meet again with the
Sushumna nadi.
Because the Sushumna Nadi is
invisible, it is also called "subtle
body".
The central channel has
been described in many religions and philosophies. The
prophet Lao Tse describes it as the middle way in his
work entitled "Tao Te King". On a physical level, this
channel controls all spontaneous functions, such as
breathing, heartbeats, etc.
As the kundalini
energy begins its upward ascent from chakra to chakra,
the subtle and gross bodies undergo a
purification. The physical health and
well-being is restored, mental blocks and tension
removed, a general sense of ease and happiness is
felt, and a creative environment opens up for
diving deeper into meditation and experiencing oneness
and attunement with nature and the all there is around
us.
This initial state is called
"enlightenment" or
realization.
Ida is the left channel:
The left channel, Ida Nadi, is located on our
left sympathetic nervous system. It represents the
feminine, lunar aspect within us, and the past. It is
the channel that manages our emotions. On a physical
level,the left channel controls the left-hand side of
the body and the right hemisphere of the brain, while
on a subtle level it expresses our pure desire to seek
the truth. The left channel also corresponds to the
Yin aspect (the Moon, the dark side) of our being.
Pingala is the right channel:
The right channel, Pingala Nadi, is located
on our right sympathetic nervous system. It represents
the solar, masculine aspect and the future. It gives
us the physical capacity for action and the mental
capacity for analysis and planning. It is the source
of our artistic creativity. On a physical level, the
right channel controls the right-hand side of the body
and the left hemisphere of the brain. The right
channel also corresponds to the Yang aspect (the Sun,
the light side of our being.
These two nadis
operate as a thermostat, balancing the body
temperature. Ida nadi is the cooling nadi and
Pingala is the warming nadi.
The
central channel or Sushumna is associated with fire
and the union of the two other nadis and is supporting
the chakras in the center.
It governs all functions
of the subtle and physical body. The chakras are found
along the spine on this great channel. Sushumna nadi
is said to be blue in color.
How to create balance
between the "left and right"
channel?
Bringing ida and pingala
into equilibrium is a major focus of hatha yoga, in
fact, the term hatha symbolizes this balance.
Balancing sun and moon, right and left, male and
female or pingala and ida.
The most powerful method
of balancing ida and pingala is Nadi Shodhana, alternate-nostril
breathing. (Literally, the Sanskrit name means
"nadi cleansing.") This practice is effective because
the ida nadi is directly connected to the left
nostril, and the pingala nadi to the right. A few
rounds of this basic pranayama technique at the end of
an asana practice are an excellent way to help restore
balance between the two nadis.
You can also
bring awareness of ida and pingala into any asana
practice by pausing between poses to notice which nadi
dominates your breathing. Notice your
mind-states.
Are you agitated and active (pingala-like) or calm
and receptive (ida-like)? Through
this checking-in process, you can begin to identify
which poses activate one nadi or the other, and which
are particularly effective for you, in creating
physical and emotional equilibrium. You'll also be
developing your awareness, deepening your practice,
and clearing the way for your spiritual
growth
What is
Kundalini Energy?
The Kundalini
within us resides in the triangular Sacrum bone
situated at the base of the spine. Once this
extraordinary energy is awakened, it rises up along
the spine inside the spinal chord,and passes through
all the chakras in our subtle system before opening
the "Sahasrara", the last centre on top of our heads.
That is how we achieve Yoga or Union with the Spirit
within us, in other words, how we become one with the
omnipresent power of God.
The
Greeks referred to this energy as "Pneuma", Islam
speaks of "Rûh", and Christ called it "The Holy
Spirit". In Jewish mysticism it was known as
"Shekkina" and long before that, the Sumerians
worshipped the Mother Goddess Inanna, who gives
spiritual birth and the sacred breath.
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Please
come to Centerpoint Studios weekly ongoing
ChakraAromaYoga Class.
The level of this yoga
class is from advanced beginner to intermedeate. I do
try to accomodate all levels. If you have no
experience in yoga at all, you are welcome to just
join in and sit on your mat. Observe, visualize,
meditate and experience the oils and the sounds. No
one will be send away and there is absolutely no
judgement. This is a feel good class and healing does
occur from being part of the circle. Its about healing
from the inside out and not about how many advanced
poses you can do.
Please always listen to your
body and only do what feels right at that certain
moment. Please let me know about any injuries that you
have before we start class.
Class is every Tuesday
evening from 8pm to 9:30pm.
Centerpoint
Studios are located at: 324, Lafayette Street, 7th
floor (just north of Houston) By subway: take the 6 to
Bleeker, or W/R to Prince Sreet or V/ B/D/F to
Broadway Lafayette
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Learn
more about the Chakras:
Here
you will find some helpful information to educate
yourself about the chakras, before you come to
class
This
link willl explain in more detail about the seven
energy centers, the chakras and their importance and
impact to our physical bodies.
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The Yamas and Niyamas
continued...
Yamas: Living with our
outer-world
There are many
interpretations of and opinions about the yamas and
niyamas. The yamas as described in Patanjali's Yoga
Sutra, which are also known as the great universal
vows or rules of behavior, exists in nearly every
religion or social philosophy, because they are not
limited by either class, creed, time or circumstances.
The Yamas are the guidelines for how we interact with
the outer world, the social disciplines to guide us in
our relationships with
others.
Niyamas:
Living with your inner world:
The Niyamas are the second
constituents of Ashtanga Yoga, (ash=eight limbs of
yoga). How we interact with ourselves, our internal
world. The niyamas are about self-regulation-helping
us maintain a positive environment in which to grow.
________________________________________________
Yama:
Satya (truthfulness),
Satya is the
second Yama. Satya means truthful, honest or
virtuous.
Satya
brings whatever is willed: For one who increasingly
practices honesty or truthfulness in actions, speech,
and thoughts, his or her will is naturally
fulfilled.
Exercising
care in speaking truth: Truth is concurrence between
thought, word and deed. It must be true to fact and at
the same time pleasant. If by speaking the truth,
another is hurt it ceases to be truth and becomes
himsa [harming].
How do you live truthfulness in
your life?
How does truthfulness show up in your
life?
The way to live truthfulness in
your life is to be truthful to yourself and to your
heart. You need to do that first before you can open
the truth to everyone else.
Just as with ahimsa,
we need to be non-violent towards ourself. With Satya,
we need to be truthful to ourself.
Satya requires
that there is strict avoidance of all exaggerations,
pretense and of withholding
information.
A yoga posture for Satya could be
Virabhadrasana 1 or Warrior 1 Posture. This is a
posture of standing forward and being forward in your
truth.
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Niyama:
· Santosha or contentment
The
second niyama is called Santosha or Contentment.
.
We
need contentment to establish a calm, clear
mind. Asana practise and meditation
stills the mind, and cultivates contentment in the
moment.
Santosha
brings happiness and joy: From an attitude of
contentment (santosha), happiness, mental comfort,
joy, and satisfaction is obtained.
Contentment
comes from within: We humans seem to always be seeking
satisfaction in the external world and our internal
fantasies. Only when we comfortably accept what we
currently have will be able to do the practices that
lead to the highest realization.
How
does contentment show up in your life?
One
of the keys to Santosha, is to live in the moment. To
be present, to be in the now.
A
yoga posture to try here is Virasana or the Hero
posture.
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Check out last weeks tuesday
AromaYoga class write up by Jefferson:
Yoga Mut Blog by
Jefferson
Go to day: 32
Thank you
Jefferson!
The Yoga Mut: by
Jefferson
(Yoga. 40 days. 40 different
studios.)
Why? Since losing
45 pounds, and leaving a cushy, well paid career in
corporate America, I've been looking, searching for
more. I'm creating my own path and yoga is part of it
right now. I want to learn something about myself I've
never been able to feel, see, or experience and what
better way than to do yoga for 40 days at 40 different
studios, all in New York City! I AM THE YOGA
MUT
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May Day/
Beltane:
Beltane is an old Celtic
Fire Ritual, meaning 'bright
fire' or
'lucky
fire' and
is held on May 1st (May 15th in Scotland).
It
celebrates the start of summer.
Beltane celebrates
life. For the Celts, it was a festival that insured
fertility and growth.
Also known as May Eve,
May Day, and Walpurgis Night (in Germany). It
celebrates the height of Spring and the flowering of
life.
Beltane is a festival of
flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.
Beltane, and its
counterpart Samhain, divide the year into its two
primary seasons, winter (Dark
Part) and
summer (Light
Part),
does it
make you think of: Ida
and Pingala?.....
As Samhain is
about honoring Death, Beltane, its counter part, is
about honoring Life. It is the time when the sun is
fully released from his bondage of winter and able to
rule over summer and life once again.
"It is said that when the
veils are so thin it is an extremely magical time. The
queen of the fairies is roving about on Beltane eve.
She will try to entice people away to the Faeryland.
Legend has it that if you sit beneath a tree on
Beltane night, you may see the Faery Queen or hear the
sound of Her horse's bells as she rides through the
night."
Where can you embrace something
magical and new into your life?
Celebrate life,
fun, joy and fertility, the growth of a new
creation.
Blessed
Be!
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Beautiful
Music:
Lastly, I want to
introduce some music that I love.
The first CD is
called: Mercy Songs and was created by Ferenz
Kallos and Mercedes Bahleda. I play it in frequnetly
my classes.
The CD covers seven
songs from all parts and beliefs of the world.
Mercedes voice is so pure and divine.
You can
contact them through:
ferenzmail-mantra@yahoo.com
starintheeast@gmail.com
Secondly:
Check out Patrick
Bernards website of beautiful yoga/meditation/chakra
music.
His music is
magical/inspirational and absolutely
blissful.
www.patrickbernard.com
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If you
are looking for a beautifully structured and
informational beginners class, I can highly recommend
my friend Jill Cameras class. Her class is directly
before my AromaYoga class at Centerpoint studios:
every tuesday at
6:30pm.
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As a courtesy to
other yogis, please try to be on time. If you want to
reserve your space you can do so by going to www.mindbodyonline.com,
click on yoga and then enter centerpointstudios. Its
easy.
Aromatic
Blessings,
Tanja
April
Aromatics
tanjab1@mac.com
http://www.aprilaromatics.co | | |
