Dorothee and I had such a great time at our winter solstice candle-making event that we knew we had to have another little yoga party soon! Nestled between Valentine's Day and Family Day, this workshop will take place on a Sunday afternoon and is all about *self love*. We'll be working with teacups this time (my favourite!) and all supplies for making an unscented candle will be included, but you are welcome to bring any essential oils you'd like to add to your candle to create your own custom scent. Please bring your own yoga mat, and anything that will help you get cozy (scarves, socks, hoody, etc). Coffee/Tea and snacks will be provided. This event will be held at the Sarasponda Yoga house in West Lethbridge; you'll be given the address with your registration. Space is limited! To reserve your spot, please send an e-transfer of $30 to saraspondayoga@gmail.com. If you have any questions or would like to confirm your spot/s first, just send a quick message and we'll get it all sorted. We hope you can join us! WORKSHOP DETAILS:DATE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019
TIME: 1:00PM - 4:00PM LOCATION: SARASPONDA YOGA (WEST LETHBRIDGE) COST: $30 (ETRANSFER) WHAT TO BRING: YOGA MAT; ESSENTIAL OILS (OPTIONAL!) WHAT'S INCLUDED: TEACUP CANDLE, SELF LOVE YOGA + MEDITATION PRACTICE, REFRESHMENTS, GREAT COMPANY!
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You might have noticed that I've given the website a new look to better reflect some of the recent developments here at Sarasponda Yoga, and I wanted to share a blog post to elaborate on the intention behind all of this. 2018 was a year of transformation for me, with the tail end bringing about some fairly major changes. After nearly three years of teaching private yoga in my home in West Lethbridge, I've made the difficult decision to close down the Sarasponda Yoga Studio for regular sessions. I started Sarasponda Yoga in the early months of 2016 in a carpeted basement, with only one client, and very (very!) low prices. Since then, I've moved into a new home with an upgraded studio and have shared this space with more than 30 wonderful clients, travelled to India, adopted a puppy, completed more yoga training programs, and have come full circle to return to the very things that inspired my own home yoga practice many years ago - trauma recovery, and the desire to cultivate my creativity. { healing + growth } I've been honoured with the trust and openness my clients have shown me and I've grown in more ways than I'd ever expected. In trying to create the best possible offerings for each individual, I've been challenged and inspired to look deeper and work harder. I've learned how to connect better and listen more to my gut, cultivating a stronger belief in my intuition and the courage to continue exploring. This experience has also sparked my creativity and has pushed me to learn new skills. As with all things, we've had our share of ups and downs, but this has been a truly incredible adventure that I'll always hold so dear to my heart. I've met some amazing people and I'll be forever grateful for each and every person I've shared this experience with; thank you for letting me guide you through your practice, and thank you for teaching me. I'm humbled, honoured, and inspired. Thank you, I love you.
I'll be spending more time and energy this year on filming yoga videos for my YouTube Channel, and I'd love to get your feedback as I return to this project. What sort of practices, tutorials and drills would you like to see me create? Do you prefer shorter or longer videos? Is mic'd audio far superior, or is voiceover just as good? Do you like quiet meditative music in the background, or would you prefer I don't include music so you can add your own? I have a long list of ideas that I'm excited to tackle, but I'm also totally open to ideas and suggestions; my only goal with this endeavour is to create high quality content that truly helps people foster a consistent, fulfilling home yoga practice. I'd also love your support in subscribing to my channel, and if you decide to do a practice with me, please reach out and let me know how it went for you! I'm going to be using this blog more frequently to explore and share a diverse selection of yoga and wellness-related content. I'd also love to begin featuring guest bloggers here, so if there's a topic or project close to your heart, or if you have a local event you'd like to share with our community, please reach out! I'd be happy to share your post. Just as I love teaching private yoga, I also really love teaching group classes; there's something so empowering about the collective energy of a group of yogis all moving and breathing together, especially when they have the support of a community behind them. It's been really cool to see our local yoga scene change and grow since I began teaching here close to 5 years ago, and I can't wait to join you in practice again at a beautiful new studio opening soon in Lethbridge. (*more details on this coming soon!*) Let's stay connected!My dear students, family and friends, I want to thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your love and support with Sarasponda Yoga over the past few years; I'm incredibly grateful for you, and I hope you'll continue to practice with me in some way.
For a few years, I felt completely without direction or a sense of purpose. I asked the Universe for clarity for a very long time before I recognized it in my life, but the main reason I wasn't receiving any messages was because I wasn't really listening - I wasn't properly tuned in. This past year, for me, has been all about seeking clarity, particularly around flowing more in harmony with the Universe; I wanted to properly let go of the things that were holding me back so I could find greater purpose in my life. (Less tension and resistance, more flow.) Maybe this sounds vague, esoteric, abstract, or complex, and it has definitely been one of the greatest challenges of my life so far, but I think this is a primary root of the struggle - we overcomplicate the process of surrender. We all know that it isn’t healthy to hold onto the things that weigh us down or don’t serve us, but the actual process of letting go can seem difficult or complicated. Letting go is rooted in surrender and trust - when we stop trying to control how we experience our experience and allow ourselves to be more in harmony with the natural flow of life, we’re opening ourselves up for potent observation and profound growth, as well as making space for more joy and compassion as we release tension from the mind and body. But, HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY "LET GO"? I've been working through this difficult question in my mind for quite some time, and it has come up with my students, family and friends enough for me to see that it's a pretty universal struggle. I haven't uncovered a perfect process, but I've noticed that certain techniques are more helpful in releasing heartfelt tension and moving forward into joy - or, letting go.
SOFTEN This, too, takes time, practice, and patience. Focus on cultivating compassion for yourself; observe your experience with a loving eye, and when you are ready, begin to relax your mind. (*move from the head into the heart*) Notice the sensations that arise and lean into them enough to properly hear and feel what comes up for you. Maybe you choose a mantra that resonates with you, or focus on the energy within your heart space to keep your mind centred and still. *meet whatever comes up with loving kindness. say thank you. let it go.* None of this is easy work; it can be messy and painful and it takes courage to embark on this journey, so it's important that you practice compassion and patience for yourself throughout the process. Do your best not to focus on the feeling of loss with letting go; rather, try to focus on your intention for this transformation, your gratitude for the experience and the lessons behind you, and the direction you're headed now. We're leaving behind our life's conditioning and ignoring the pull of the ego so that we may come home to the true self. REMEMBER: LETTING GO IS A PRACTICE OF RETURNINGKendal, Dorothee and I have been talking about a collaboration for a while now, and we're so happy to announce our first offering - MANIFEST: a journaling, bracelet-making and yoga workshop to send you off in the right direction for 2019. Held on the first new moon of the new year, this workshop will focus on practical ways to manifest our dreams and goals and will encourage participants to set meaningful intentions for the year to come, or perhaps to solidify those resolutions they've already made. This workshop will include a (semi-guided) journaling session to help focus our creative energy and solidify our intentions, followed by bracelet-making with Kendal of This is Chill where you can adorn your wrist with a customized representation of your own personal manifesto (remember carrying around a lucky charm of some kind as a kid? This is like that, but elevated), and closing with a gentle yoga practice and guided meditation session to bring us more clarity and focus for the year ahead. Because we know that some of you might not want to stop at just one bracelet (we don't!), we're offering a additional bracelet options at $15 more.
We're so grateful for the beautiful studio space at CASA and we hope you'll join us for our first event of the new year. Head over to This is Chill to choose your beads and register for the workshop. All you'll need to bring for this event is a yoga mat and your favourite journal. We can't wait! *coziness, comfort, peace, togetherness*Dorothee wrote a really nice explanation of this Dutch term on her most recent Instagram post, which doesn’t have a direct translation in English, except maybe ‘warm fuzzies’. The holiday season can be chaotic and tense for many of us, and we spend so much time thinking about our offerings to others; it's important that we also set aside some time to nurture ourselves and prevent holiday burnout. To celebrate the winter solstice this year, Dorothee and I wanted to host a rejuvenating event where we will unwind and connect with other local yogis, make an adorable hand-poured soy candle, and share a gentle yoga practice and relaxing meditation. It's going to be cozy - bring your comfiest sweater. These candles make awesome little gifts (right in time for the holidays!) or just a lovely homemade addition to your existing collection. (*We encourage you to bring your favourite essential oils to customize the candle’s scent to your liking!*) This will be a fairly intimate event, held at the Sarasponda Yoga residence. Space is limited! Please message us to reserve your spot. 💌 DETAILS Date: Saturday, December 22 Time: 6pm-9pm (ish) Location: Sarasponda Yoga (West Lethbridge ~ full address will be provided with registration) Price: $30 (includes 6.5oz soy candle in a jar, gentle yoga & guided meditation practice, and refreshments 🍵🍷) Registration: (Please DM to confirm space first) ~ E-transfer: saraspondayoga@gmail.com Itinerary: Once everyone is settled and acquainted, we’ll begin the workshop with candle-making, and as our creations set, we will guide you through a relaxing and rejuvenating solstice-inspired yoga and meditation practice. Dorothee and I are really excited about this event and we hope you can join us for some candle-making, yoga, and great company! #yqlyoga
When I was growing up, exploring my interests and discovering my skills, I had a massive fear of failure that often kept me from even participating. If I couldn't be the best at the thing (whatever 'the thing' happened to be), I didn't see the value in trying. My ego was fragile and desperately trying to protect itself as it grew and hung on to the things that made me feel special. I hated competing, especially if I felt I wasn't at the top of the pack; second or third place eventually became acceptable to me, but anything less felt humiliating. This fear stuck with me through my early adulthood, and in fact, this is something I continue to work on to this day. But, my yoga practice gives me the opportunity to confront my ego and examine the ways that it holds me back. It also reminds me that failure is ultimately just a step on the path to success. (I am so sorry for the cheesiness but there's just no other way to put it!) For the past few months, I've been practicing in group classes at a local studio, and I noticed that I would often avoid variations of postures that really challenged me, because I didn't want others to see me struggle. This is almost embarrassing to admit, but having gotten back to my home practice recently and revisiting challenging drills and asanas without the fear of judgement helped me realize just how much I was avoiding because of my fear of failure. Our greatest successes in life come from trusting ourselves and taking some (intelligent/calculated) risks, not tightly holding on to all that feels safe and familiar without ever really pushing through our perceived limitations. When we fail, we assess where things went wrong, and (*hopefully*) move through the challenges that held us back initially: in failing, we grow. Anaïs Nin said, "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to our courage." Here's the secret: permission to fail is actually permission to succeed. This post covers days 12, 13 & 14 of the Purple Valley Yoga challenge. If you'd like, you can read all previous sutra posts in the Exploring the Sutras category. *all translations of the Yoga Sutras are by Sri Swami Satchidananda* Sutra 1.40: Paramānu paramamahattvānto'sya vaśikārah ~ "Gradually, one's mastery in concentration extends from the primal atom to the greatest magnitude." Sutra 1.41: Ksīna vrtter abhijātasyeva maner grahitr grahana grāhyesu tatsha tadañjanatā samāpattih ~ "Just as the naturally pure crystal assumes shapes and colours of objects placed near it, so the yogi's mind, with its totally weakened modifications, becomes clear and balanced and attains the state devoid of differentiation between knower, knowable and knowledge. This culmination of meditation is samādhi." If we return to the previous sutras for context, Patanjali has instructed the spiritual aspirant in various different paths to samādhi. All methods and practices share the common aim of stilling the mind in the pursuit of self-awareness and absorption with the divine. These sutras could be the root philosophy from which "The Secret" was born -- Patanjali is suggesting here that the devoted practitioner will eventually reach this state of unity and bliss with unwavering dedication and single-pointed focus, and when they do, everything will be knowable to them, or within their reach. Without getting too scientific, in his commentary, Sri Swami Satchidananda discusses neuroplasticity and the yogic belief that the mind can give power to those thoughts it focuses on, essentially building pathways either toward imprisonment or liberation. I've always struggled a bit with understanding samadhi, which I don't think is unusual, but here's why: there have been two particular instances in my own life that I have understood as samadhi, and they've felt like an incredible gift from the divine to remind me of my nature and purpose here, but they have (obviously) been temporary and fleeting; sutra 1.46 helps explain why this might be. Sutra 1.42: tatra shabda artha jnana vikalpah sankirna savitarka samapattih ~ "The samadhi in which name, form and knowledge of them is mixed is called savitarka samadhi, or samadhi with deliberation. Sutra 1.43: smriti pari-shuddhau svarupa-shunya iva artha-matra nirbhasa nirvitarka ~ "When the memory is well purified, the knowledge of the object of concentration shines alone, devoid of the distinction of name and quality. This is nirvitarka samadhi, or samadhi without deliberation." Sutra 1.44: etaya eva savichara nirvichara cha sukshma-vishaya vyakhyata ~ "In the same way, both savicara (reflective) and nirvicara (super or non-reflective) samadhi, which are practiced upon subtle objects, are explained." Sutra 1.45: sukshma vishayatvam cha alinga paryavasanam ~ "The subtlety of possible objects of concentration ends only at the undefinable." Sutra 1.46: tah eva sabijah samadhih ~ "Each of the above kinds of samadhi are sabija (with seed), which could bring one back into bondage or mental disturbance." In sutras 1.42 - 1.46, Patanjali returns to the different types of samadhi and paths of reaching them. With savitarka ("with deliberation") samadhi, the understanding of the object of meditation is concrete and thorough, with the ability to separate the whole into its most minute parts. He continues with nirvitarka samadhi, which is "without deliberation", when only the pure knowledge of the object remains and everything else fades away. Sri Swami Satchidananda claims this practice gives you the knowledge of the Knower also. Sutra 1.47: Nirvicāra vaiśāradye 'dhyātma prasādah ~ "In the purity of nirvicārā samādhi, the supreme Self shines." Sutra 1.48: Rtambharā tatra prajñā ~ "This is rtambharā prajñā, or the absolute true consciousness." He continues on in his commentary of the following sutras with an emphasis on purity of mind, as obtaining this sort of control of the mind and freedom from the mental modifications is extremely powerful. "Rtamharā" can be translated as "wisdom-filled-with-truth", or a complete understanding without the need for study. Sutra 1.49: Srutānumāna prajńābhyām anya visayā viśesārthatvat ~ "This special truth is totally different from knowledge gained by hearing, study of scripture, or inference. Sutra 1.50: Tajjah samskāro'nya samskāra pratibandhi ~ "The impression produced by this samādhi wipes out all other impressions." Sutra 1.51: Tasyāpi nirodhe sarva nirodhān nirbijah samādhih ~ "When even this impression is wiped out, every impression is totally wiped out and there is nirbīja [seedless] samādhi" With these last three sutras in Samādhi Pāda, the book on contemplation, Patanjali comes to the most complete form of samādhi, which fittingly translates as "seedless". Here, Sri Swami Satchidananda says, you realize your immortality and break free from the bonds of birth and death.
I think an interesting distinction here is that even the division of the wisdom (prajñā) and the owner of that wisdom keeps us from becoming completely absorbed in this divine bliss. Sri Swami Satchidananda talks about jivanmukta in sutra 1.50, which he describes as a "realized saint", and I've absolutely met a few people in my life who I'd describe this way. There are teachers everywhere for us on this path - the key is recognizing them. |