Spring Update!

[Kathleen Kastner]

"Life is a series of tests, which, if squarely face, give us greater mental strength and peace of mind.  

Learn to rely more on your Heavenly Father for guidance and understanding.  

FIll your empty moments with love for Him, and you will know that you are not alone."

-Paramahansa Yogananda

Dear Friends-

Praise the sun and springtime!  When Yogananda was alive, he encouraged his students to take 10 min "sunbaths" daily to absorb the prana rich life force from the sun, to increase  joy, vitality and health.

The sun salutations in yoga, Surynamaskara A and B, are named after the sun God, "Surya".  They are traditionally practiced first thing in the morning facing east to honor Surya and the dawn of a new day.

If you don't have time for a full practice each day, it's amazing what a few sun salutations can do to improve, strength, flexibility, endurance, peace of mind, your mood and even speed up your metabolism for the day.

They also help align your mind with Divine mind, so you can make healthier and more conscious choices throughout your day, with more patience and less stress and anger.

Here is a video download on our site of Wade and I doing Surynamaskar A's and Surynamaskara B's, just in case you need motivation at home, or want to memorize them for class: (Click Here)

MAYA YOGA home practice computer classes with Yoga VIbes!  These videos were shot at Maya with our students and are a great compliment to your daily practice, when you can't make class or travel.

Full Primary Ashtanga Series with Wade: (Click Here)

Vinyasa with Kathleen: (Click Here)

Vinyasa with Shannon: (Click Here)

Ashtanga Yoga Cheat Sheets:  1st, 2nd and 3rd series: (Click Here)

"Swadyaya"  means "self-study" and is one of the 2nd limbs of asthanga yoga, called the Niyamas.  

We encourage to take a some daily self study time to memorize the primary series of ashtanga yoga, so you can have more of an internal experience when you come to class or when practice on your own.

Start by memorizing Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar) A and B, then the standing sequence, then the floor sequence 3-4 poses at at time, then add 3-4 poses each day.  It's really pretty easy and you will have it memorized in no time!

DEPRESSION and YOGA- Melanie Frogozo is our featured student of the month:

My Yoga Story

By Melanie Frogozo

 

I had developed depression and anxiety from the considerable life changes that occurred within a short period of time. Within a 2 month span I finished school, started my first job in my new career as an optometrist, got married, and moved away from my hometown Houston, Texas to Kansas City. I missed my family, friends, and the familiarity of my past life in Houston. The depression developed into anxiety that made me question my marriage and the choice I made to move to Kansas City for my new husband. The depression and anxiety naturally made my behavior teeter between being angry and sad that affected my daily activities. I wanted to stop having these destructive feelings and this is how I found yoga. 

 

I had heard that yoga was good for relaxation and hoped it might help improve my outlook. Within a few short months of practicing ashtanga my feelings of depression and anxiety started to diminish. I currently practice ashtanga about 3 days a week and look forward to this time for myself. The focus on controlled breathing gradually abolishes all the insignificant and trivial thoughts that I accumulate between practices. I find that my brain feels most calm and clear when I am in poses that are inverted such as Sirsasana (head-standing). My practice has allowed me to be more accepting and more patient in all situations.

 

Below are some further salient unexpected benefits that my ashtanga practice has given me with short explanations:

 

For about 2 years before I found ashtanga I had chronic ankle pain from long years of ballet practice. My podiatrist told me to stop ballet and that I shouldn’t be dancing so much because it was only an avocation, not my occupation. Of course I choose to ignore him and I still continued dancing. About after a year and a half of practicing ashtanga I noticed a marked decrease in the amount of ankle pain I was experiencing even though I was still dancing. Now I pretty much have no ankle pain and attribute this freedom to my yoga practice. 

 

My husband now practices ashtanga and we have both noticed changes in his ability to cope with anger and frustration in his daily life.

 

In addition, we have found ourselves eating less meat since we have been practicing yoga. We are now mostly vegetarian and our cravings for junk food has also dramatically decreased.

 

Yoga has given me so much in so little time and I am very thankful I found yoga. I believe everyone can receive benefits from this practice.

Did you love the "The Bionic Woman"TV show when you were a kid?

You will be happy to know Lindsay Wagner is now a Oneness Deeksha (Blessing) Trainer and will be at Unity Church of O.P, Fri April 1st: 6:30-9:30pm: $35 in advanced; $40 at the door

"Shift your perspective...experience the difference."- Lindsay Wagner

Please pick up the U.S March issue of Yoga Magazine, found at Barnes and Noble, and read my latest article about helpful tips for beginning, intermediate and advanced poses: http://www.yogamagazine.co.uk/Home.aspx?l=us

Free Gardening Class this Sat, March 26th!:  The Alley Community Garden Behind 2930 Cherry 10am Saturday Morning.  (indoors at 2930 Cherry if the weather is bad)

Thank you for your continued support, keep practicing yoga and meditation!

Love and light,

Kathleen and Wade

www.mayayoga.com

VEGAN POP QUIZ:

Q: "Which has more cholesterol, a 3-ounce piece of red  met, a 3-ounce piece of chicken breast, or a 3-ounce piece of  tuna?

A: The red meat, chicken and fish all have the same amount of cholesterol-80 milligrams."

-Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn  www.engine2diet.com (vegan recipes!)

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