KonaYoga.com

The best is always yet to come...

Whatever with the past has gone, the best is always yet to come.

-Lucy Larcom

I scored another birthday a few Sundays ago and I'd have to call it the best one yet. The songs and happy wishes began at midnight and continued all day so I decided to end the day by making some very special wishes as I blew out the cake-less candles. At this point in my life, many things that I lightly considered "nice to have", have been gift wrapped and presented to me in such profusion that I wondered what effect a ritual, huff-and-puff-and-blow birthday wish would have.

 

I brought all the candle holders I have into my living room and lit them, as you see in the photo. One candle held the wish for each person who has ever come into contact with Kona Yoga: may you find the most ideal replacement to suit your needs. It would be nice if everyone held the space open for a new yoga teacher or studio and found their next, best thing. That was my wish. That is my wish and I would love to hear from you when you settle in with a new teacher, a new class, and a new perspective. Namaste.

 

The End of the Beginning

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

-Winston Churchill

Those of you who have been attending classes this past month, already know that I've decided to close Kona Yoga at the end of August. While it may come as a surprise to some of you, it's been in the back of my mind for a long time.

 

The lease contract for the studio ended in November and it's been on a month-to-month basis ever since. The intention to close has been there for several years, the final decision, arrived a few months ago.

 

In a 2008 newsletter article, I wrote:

 

The more that I'm willing to accept and allow into my life and the wider I open my arms...the more life rushes in to fill the space.

 

Teaching weekly yoga classes for the past nine years, in one special spot, allowed me to define, and then refine, a joy-filled existence. The open-heart-centered yoga that I practiced and taught, has permeated my life and I now feel the need for more space and expression. It's time for the next best step.

   

But it's not time for "goodbyes", yet. Wouldn't it be nice to celebrate what yoga has brought into our lives during the next eight weeks and to create ways to keep allowing those gifts to flow?

 

 

 

Photo: Om and Mo, are faces on the studio floor that have been with me through every class.

Happy Father's Day 2011

There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues, the most dominating virtues of human society, are created, strengthened and maintained.

- Winston Churchill

 

This is one of my favorite photographs from my family gathering in San Francisco during the Memorial Day weekend. It's a picture of my dad and me, sitting in the window seat of my parents' hotel room, with jackets and bags strewn on the bed. The lighting washes out evidence of the time of day and I was unaware of it being taken, so it feels like a snapshot of a memory.

Just a short time ago, at least in my mind, my dad was the one who went out into the world and brought back information and experiences to teach and entertain his children. Now that we are grown and scattered across the country, and dad no longer ventures too far from home, we bring bits and pieces of our world back to him. Although our roles have been exchanged in that sense, he is the original. We, his children, are the variant years and models. Never is it more apparent, than when we are all together. Line us up and the brand speaks louder than any of the ....enhancements.

It is my wish, that the gleam in his eye is partly due to a reflection of his own image; that he sees a bit of himself in each of his four children and that we bring bits and pieces of his world back to him.

To Fred and all you dads out there, Happy Father's Day

(June 19, 2011)

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Note: I love the above photo for its "my daddy and me" commentary but truth be told, I was actually showing Fred a series of adult cartoons. :D Priceless!

The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.

-Rabindranath Tagore

 

This is what my memory of the last workshop looks like. I'm not exactly sure who was there in every class (unless I look at my registration print-out), but I definitely see my teacher, clearly. I re-live the workshop with Jehangir Palkhivala whenever I review my eighteen pages of written notes and recall the many conversations with him.

 

I'm savoring the effects of the Prasarita Sequence, the meditations, and teachings, while conjuring up ways to keep them all, front and center in my daily life. It's up to me now to increase my field of focus, to expand from my teacher out into my world. 

 

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Every year, Jehangir adds another dimension to his healing regimens and the Mother Sequence is usually a basic component. If you are interested in learning the Mother Sequence or are familiar with the sequence and would like to add the power of your emotions to your practice, I teach a class on Tuesdays at 7:00am. It's not a "listed" class. If that doesn't fit your schedule, contact me for other possibilities.

 

We are still waiting for a supply of Mother Sequence books (sold-out during the workshop). Also, I expect to have CocoMint and Orange-CocoMint oils available within the next few weeks. Thanks to the expertise of Sharon Warren and Warren Botanicals, I'll be able to offer premium grade oils! :D

Even as a tortoise draws in its limbs, the wise can draw in their senses at will.

-Bhagavad Gita

 

Kiyoko the tortoise came to class last week with her owner, Tracey Shoemaker. She stayed in one spot all evening, just observing and probably as happy as everyone else when I turned off the lights for Savasana. So mellow and introspective, she gave me a greater appreciation for the Tortoise pose,  Kurmasana .

The next morning when I told the 7am class about Kiyoko, Bryce Groark 

shared the story of old Lonesome George, a tortoise in the Galapagos that Bryce has filmed.  George is the last of his species and has refused to mate outside of his "line". So far, George is truly exhibiting the qualities of Kurmasana with "equanimity whether in sorrow or in joy." Just like Kiyoko.

 

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 In need of a feel-good-boost? Watch and listen to Manuel De Los Santos (You Tube 03:48). That's all I'll say about this. 

 

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Just in case you haven't seen any film footage of the latest volcanic activity, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has a 6 minute video of the Napau fissure eruption taken yesterday.  So that's why the vog's so thick.

 

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Anyone from out of town planning on attending Jehangir Palkhivala's workshop April 8 - 11? Christine Carlson has a little rental unit (sleeps 2-4) up in Kaloko and she's generously offering a 20% discount off the regular $100/night rate as a special during that time. Photos and full information is available here.  Also available, a 360 degree video of the unit done by Chris' son Anders.

The past is behind, learn from it.

The future is ahead, prepare for it.

The present is here, live it.

-Thomas S. Monson

 

This poem reflects my thoughts about the pose, Tadasana. You may even hear some of my often repeated instructions. :D  

 

 

Past, Present, Future

by Fion Lim

 

Don't get stuck in the past,
Where you linger on and on in familiarity,
And replay old memories over and over again.

 

Don't overindulge in the future,
Where you daydream about leading a grand life endlessly,
And imagine the sweetest days you could ever live.

 

Don't neglect your present,
Where true life begins to unfold and pass you by silently,
And you wonder about missed opportunities and lost moments.

 

For lessons, quietly contemplate about your past,
And you might realize life has cleverly placed you in situations,
That demanded you to raise up to the challenges and to grow.

 

To reduce your anxiety and panic attacks, make plans for your future,
And you might see that your dreams and goals are acting like guiding lights,
Shining the path for you to follow through and learning to overcome your fears.

 

To avoid the state of merely existing, be aware of your present,
And you might notice that you are part of a grander scheme,
Where the past is long gone and the future has yet to come,
And that your present is the most precious moment you could ever feel.

 

Your past and your future both lie in your present,
Where your present wields the power to influence and change,
The way you think about your past either with gratitude or with regret,
And shape your future to either a success or a failure.

 

Live totally in the present,
Enjoying each and every moment,
Where it is all happening,
Where it truly matters.

 

 Photo of a sculpture by Michael Patrick Garman: Down Dog Art

April 2011 Workshop Features Jehangir Palkhivala

Jehangir Palkhivala returns to Kona Yoga, April 8-11, for yet another fascinating workshop filled with his knowledge of yoga, and many years of experience with the healing wonders of the human body. Jehangir travels annually to the U.S. from Mumbai, India, where he lives with his family and teaches yoga.

 

WORKSHOP

The Prasarita Sequence
Saturday, April 9: 9am-12noon, 2pm-5pm
Sunday, April 10: 9am-12noon, 2pm-5pm

The Prasarita (The Open Heart) Sequence offers practitioners a great sense of joy and freedom. This practice opens out the body, helps the mind become expansive and allows the heart to blossom. Jehangir will start by taking students through the 'Ujjayi Effect' and help them experience the 'Nada of Enjoyment' - “to settle the mind happily in the heart”. Jehangir will take students through a fresh sequence with their focus on an open body, and expansive mind and blossoming heart. He will also take them through a step-by-step experience of heart purification in the light of Patanjali.

The intention is to free our hearts with Patanjali's beautiful concept of Sorrowless Flame and the Being beyond Attachments. These allow our spirits to open up to the source of infinite joy. (Much depends on the heart of the practitioner – its willingness to surrender, its desire to bloom).

Please carry writing material with you.

TALKS

Komalan Shariram
Friday, April 8
5pm - 7pm
A unique technique that originated in the Mumbai Advanced Class, where the participants group into sets of five or six and with the help of bolsters and each other, learn to soften and ease the nerves and muscles into a state of intense relaxation. The aim is to eventually, replicate and achieve this state without the use of external aids.

Healing with Food
Monday, April 11
5pm – 7:30pm
This talk is based on new information, research and experiments collected through the course of the year. If you've ever attended any of Jehangir's workshops, you'll remember his numerous suggestions and recipes for all types of ailments through the use of whole foods.

 

FEES

Entire Experience: Workshop + 2 Talks $300.00

Single Classes $ 65.00

Friday 4/8 Talk $ 40.00

Monday 4/11 Talk $ 40.00

Both Talks, no Workshop $ 70.00

Workshop Only $240.00

Workshop + 1 Talk $270.00

 

 

REGISTRATION FORM

The above information, as well as a Registration Form, is available in PDF format as a 2 page, tri-fold brochure.

 

CONTACT

barbara@konayoga.com

 

Smile to the Infinite Variety

In the time of your life, live - so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite variety and mystery of it. -William Saroyan

 

Departing from my usual format, I'm just going to list some things I found interesting this past week. I go back and forth between my iPhone, two laptops, books, magazines, Kindle, NPR on the radio, and talking to real live people. Somewhere along the trail I found:

• Tara Bray Smith on true communication. Hawaii born and raised, Tara wrote a memoir, West of Then: A Mother, a Daughter, and a Journey Past Paradise in 2004. She's now married and living in Germany and speaks to living around a new language.
• MIT Open Courseware. MIT offers free, non-credit courses on-line, 2,000 of them, according to their home page. Some of them offer videos of lectures while many include notes and reading lists.
• Dying with Confidence, is something I'm determined to do so I was overjoyed (really!) when this book popped up on one of my screens. It's written by Anyen Rinpoche and on it's way from Amazon along with...
• Anatomy for Hip Openers and Forward Bends. You can flip through the book online, along with the sound of a page turning. :D
• Photos of the 1946 tsunami that hit the Big Island, along with 2010 pictures of the same locations. A six minute video by the Center for Study of Volcanoes.
• How Meditation May Change the Brain, appeared in the New York Times. I'm waiting for a study to prove that you can meditate while doing an active yoga practice but the current research makes me happy.

 

   Where's Armand?  Diary Writing and Memory. This is a revisit of a 2009 article in which I compare Armand's diaries to those of Thomas Edison, who wrote 5 millions pages of notes.  

 

   Lessons in Balance. If you'd like to read what I write during the rest of the week, this is where I post them.  

 

   Kona Yoga, This Week: Don's Monday (1/31) class has been canceled and I'm canceling my Monday class on 2/07. All other classes will be held as scheduled this week.

Weekly Class Schedule.

   Coming Up: Jehangir Palkhivala, April 8-10. I'm working on fliers this week and if you'd like copies mailed to you for your studio or for friends with no internet access, please e-mail me your mailing address. Jehangir will be teaching a new sequence, a deep relaxation method, and a talk on his latest nutrition experiences and discoveries.




Photo: World Culture Pictorial

Getting Even

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

I'd like to get even with this man.

 

I could stop right there. The title, photo, and quote say enough.The man is my yoga teacher, Jehangir Palkhivala, from Mumbai, India. He makes the trip to the U.S. once a year, to teach his sequences of yoga postures. He enthralls his audience with mythic tales of gods and goddesses, remarkable healing experiences, and equanimity. I see and experience him just once a year, I appreciate and learn from him, every day.

 

How would I get even? How could I get even? I guess if I'm going to announce to the world that he is my teacher, it would be proper and respectful of me to be a good example of his teachings. That would take a lot of doing, and time.

 

Maybe I should stop right here.

 

 

Related post: Reverb 10 - Appreciate

Photo courtesy of Aadil Palkhivala

Originally published in Lessons in Balance,1/14/11.

 

The Gift of Support

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

-John F. Kennedy

When asked a few days ago, "What's the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?" my response was:

My most memorable gift this year was Support, I truly felt the helping hands of others this year. Whether they sent kind words, generous monetary gifts, smiles, airline tickets, mouthed "thank you" or  "I love you", treated me to breakfast, lunch and dinner, or sat expectantly in front of me for a yoga class. I felt so cared for and appreciated.

 

I've been so blessed in years past, but this year I felt as though everyone was bracing me, telling me that I was doing the right thing. In the coming year, I'd like to continue to notice and appreciate Support, as well as to spread it around to others.

 

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
~William Wordsworth

 

Art: Gifts by Julie Paschkis, 2003

Posted on Lessons In Balance, December 30, 2010.