New Years Update!

[Kathleen Kastner]

"This is my wish for you: that you all reach the land beyond your dreams, where there is peace and joy eternal.  May you realize your fulfillment of whatever strong good wish you release in the ether." 

-Paramahansa Yogananda 

Dear Friends-

Here we go again gang, a new year!  So what are we going to do differently in 2011 to help us live fully in our lives?!

I have to admit, at this point in my life, I am not interested in  "manifesting," anymore, which is a HUGE sense of relief, whew!

I just pray daily for God's will for everything in my life and if I do have a goal/intention, I ask that it be guided according to Divine will and TRY to let go of how it may or may not be revealed in time.

I'm grateful for the first time in 42 years to be able to say, I know where I am suppose to be living, I know my life purpose/career and yes, I know who I am supposed to be married to, thanks Wade, which brings me great peace of mind.

However, if you feel you don't have these important answers in your life, I know life can be challenging and full of uncertainty, so please embrace the uncertainty and cherish the mystery that is about to unfold in the new year for you.

In class, we have been discussing the "Klesha's," the five afflictions of the mind, stated in Patanjalim's yoga sutras.  Five ways the mind likes to try to keep you separate for your Self, God and other people.

Please be aware of how these afflictions might be holding you back in your yoga practice, in your life and in your relationship with others:

1. Avidya- ignorance  (Choosing to make the same negative choices in our lives expecting to get different results, which is Einstein's definition of "insanity."  Dating is a great example of this one, so be open to dating a different "type" of person than you have in the past.)

2. Asmita- ego  ("I am too good","I'm not good enough", "I could never do that," "I am right," which are all limiting thoughts.)

3. Raga- attachment (Attachment to what you will or won't do in a yoga class or your life, or attached to what other people say or do in your life)

4. Dvesha- aversion ("I don't like backbends, so I'm not going to do them," or an aversion to certain people in your life, or an aversion to updating your resume, etc)

5. Abhinevesha-fear of death (Extreme attachment to the physical body for ourselves and our loved ones and not trusting in our relationship with God and the after life.)

Prayer, asana, ujjjayi breath and meditation will all help you neutralize  these afflictions in your mind, so you can have "moksha" liberation in your life on and off the mat.

So think BIG for yourself in the new year, give your goals to God, take right action when needed and enjoy your life in the meantime, the Universe wants to be happy!

NEW YEAR'S SCHEDULE:

Our annual burning bowl ceremony is this Fri, Dec 31st, with the Noon Intro to Ashtanga Class, so it will be a 90 minute class, or you can stay for the burning bowl ceremony after the mysore class.

We will meditate on something we would like to release from 2010, write it down and burn it as a form of transformation and and pick a Yogananda card as a source of inspiration for the new year.

Fri Dec 31st:

9:30am Mysore

Noon-1:30pm Intro to Ashtanga with burning bowl ceremony with Wade and Kathleen

5:30pm cancelled

Sat Jan 1st

10 am cancelled

Noon-1:30pm  Noon with Drew: A special New Year's Day Vinyasa Class with an unique intention setting exercise called "The Five Wishes" to help you connect with and realize your deepest, most heartfelt, desires.

Based on the book "The Five Wishes," by Gay Hendricks.

Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Workshop with Samantha Nardella!

Seven Sundays beginning Jan 14th-Feb 27th: 5:00-6:00pm: $75 for all seven classes or $15 drop in fee, plus tax. To sign up email: samanth...@yahoo.com

A one hour restorative yoga class, while focusing on the spiritual law of the day.