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Thought for the Day
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Most people live, whether physically, intellectually or morally, in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul’s resources in general, much like a man who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into a habit of using and moving only his little finger.
– William James
We think we are very limited creatures, very small, good for maybe only fifteen minutes of love or patience before we have to crack. Instead of identifying with our deepest Self, we are identifying with some biochemical-mental organism.
But when you calm the mind in meditation every morning, you will see how far you can stretch your patience and your love during the day. You will see for yourself how comfortable you feel with everybody, how secure you feel wherever you go. You will find that you have a quiet sense of being equal to difficult situations.
These discoveries give a hint of the heights to which a human being can rise. Once we see this for ourselves, we will catch the exhilaration of the mystics when they say that because the Lord is our real Self, there is no limit to our capacities.
- Eknath Easwaran
Click here for more Easwaran
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Message from Karen
Dear Friends,
Do you feel that you're living "in a very restricted circle" of your potential being? Are you busy all the time doing something? Is "I'm too busy" your mantra? This can certainly be a time of year when many people feel too busy. Students are busy with end of semester projects, exams and papers. Teachers are busy grading those projects. Parents, especially parents of young children, are busy with holiday shopping for the perfect gift. And many of us are busy with holiday preparations - cleaning, decorating, cooking, travel, etc. There's a lot going on between Thanksgiving and Christmas so it's not surprising that there would also be a lot of stress.
The theme for this newsletter, Discovering the Present, can have different meanings at this time of year. After all, this is the time of giving and receiving. Eknath Easwaran reminds us that there is a way to become more present and less stressed:
"When you calm the mind in meditation every morning, you will see how far you can stretch your patience and your love during the day. You will see for yourself how comfortable you feel with everybody, how secure you feel wherever you go. You will find that you have a quiet sense of being equal to difficult situations."
It doesn't need to be hard or add more time to your day. Meditation actually gives you more time because your mind becomes calmer and more able to handle daily stresses so that your attention is able to be more focused and your efforts more productive.
During this busy time of year, give yourself the gift of being present. Take a few moments of quiet time. The world can wait a few minutes. Your worries and concerns can wait a few minutes. Who says that you have to be on all the time? It's okay to turn off for a few minutes. It takes practice and you can do it.
Breathe, you can relax now...yoga heals us. How? Practice.
Blessings for a peace and joy this holiday season. Namaste, Karen
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Discovering the Present: Yoga for Self-Care Workshop
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Welcoming Beginners and Experienced Students
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Take time out from your busy days to indulge in Yoga for Self-Care. Nurture your body and your spirit with a mini retreat that will leave you feeling restored and renewed. During our time together, we'll explore movement and breath, restorative poses, guided imagery, loving kindness meditation, deep relaxation and more.
Whether you are new to yoga or experienced, come. Stiff and out of shape? Come! Stressed out and no time for yourself? Come and tune into your inner peace.
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Time: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
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Location: St. James Church, 95 Route 2A, Preston, CT 06365 (directions)
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Fee: $45, bring a friend and you both save $10 (2 for $70)
- Bring: Your yoga gear (yoga mat, blanket, cushion or pillow, bolster if you have one. I will have extra), your journal, your free spirit
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Dress: Comfortably in layers. We may go outside, weather permitting, for a labyrinth experience.
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Presenter: Karen O'Donnell Clarke, specializing in yoga for every body.
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To Register:
Call: 860.204.0797 or email yogahealsus@yahoo.com
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Special Winter Solstice Class
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Monday, December 21st
Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year and the longest night. In many cultures the Winter Solstice signifies a time of rebirth and celebration marking the return of the light.
Join us in our own Winter Solstice celebration. We'll practice 12 sun salutations to the Gayatri Mantra and then a series of hand mudras set to the Gayatri Mantra.
The Gayatri Mantra is a sanskrit mantra known as the mother of the Vedas. Russill Paul says to "use this mantra to celebrate the power of the Divine in sound and in light, drawing into your soul the illuminatory power of spiritual awakening."
Welcoming beginners and experienced students of all levels who can complete a slow flow version of the sun salutation. Modifications will be offered as needed.
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Ledyard Center School, 740 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, CT 06339
Fee: $20
Bring: Your yoga gear (yoga mat, blanket, cushion or pillow, yoga blocks) Dress: Comfortably in layers.
Presenter: Karen O'Donnell Clarke, specializing in yoga for every body.
Mail your check to: Yoga Heals Us LLC, 129 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, CT 06339
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Loving Kindness Meditation
Metta or Lovingkindness Meditation
In doing metta practice, we gently repeat phrases that are meaningful in terms of what we wish, first for ourselves and then for others.
May I be free from danger.
May I have mental happiness.
May I have physical happiness.
May I have ease of well-being.
May you be free from danger.
May you have mental happiness.
May you have physical happiness.
May you have ease of well-being.
May all beings be free from danger.
May all beings have mental happiness.
May all beings have physical happiness.
May all beings have ease of well-being.
"Lovingkindness for all beings is the foundation of moral and spiritual awakening...The Buddha taught his students to develop a power of love so strong that their minds become like a pure, flowing river that cannot be be burned...
The concepts of separateness that have dominated our lives have produced tremendous suffering. What we have taken to be real is in fact a hallucination.
The division between self and other is the degradation of our highest human potential; the liberation of the mind that is love. The critical moment of the path, which breaks open the loving heart, is the realization that we have never existed as separate, isolated beings."
- Sharon Salzberg from the book Lovingkindness - the Revolutionary Art of Happiness
Get this book and others like it. Shop Amazon at Yoga Heals Us
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Shop Yoga Heals Us for holiday gifts
Yoga CDs:
Healing Yoga for Every Body
Gentle Yoga for Every Body
Video:
Yes, You Can Yoga!
Books:
Karen's picks on Amazon.com
Shop Karen's Amazon picks
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