4 Keys to Peace
Like Don Miguel Ruiz and the Four Agreements, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the first written Yoga classic (5,000 BC to 300 AD by varying estimates), offers a fascinating set of Four Keys to contentment. Book I, Verse 33 reads:
"Maitri karuna muditopeksanam sukha dukha punyapunya visayanam bhavanatas citta prasadam."
This Sanskrit verse as translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda, says:
"By cultivating attitudes of
Friendliness toward the Happy,
Compassion for the Unhappy,
Delight in the Virtuous,
and Disregard toward the Wicked,
the Mind-stuff retains its Undisturbed Calmness."
According to Patanjali, all people are combinations of these states, and we maintain wisdom and serenity by applying the appropriate key in each case.
Notice the absence of ego in the Four Keys to equanimity. No envy, pity, guilt, or righteousness, but instead happiness, compassion, delight, and disregard.
This provokes some questions. Who in my life is "wicked" or just wickedly annoying? Happy or unhappy? What is my honest response? Can we take needed action against wicked acts, while maintaining "disregard" to the doers of the acts? Would it in fact clarify our actions and make them more effective and focused? Conserve energy?
Like 4 challenging new poses on our mat, perhaps this month, practice those 4 keys. Carry them in your pocket for daily use, and test them out. Perhaps unlock, as was Patanjali's promise to us, a space of greater unruffled peace, undisturbed calm.
PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS
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Valentines Couples Yoga: The Softer Side of Acro
SoHo YogaWorks opens its fabulous doors in Spring of 2009! Before the new facilities even unveil, we celebrate its opening with a Valentine Couples Workshop, flowing through the delicious, softer side of AcroYoga that is Partner Yoga and Thai Massage. Bring a partner or friend whom you enjoy being with, as we celebrate relationship through movement, breath, and loving touch.
You will learn partner yoga flows and the giving and receiving of Thai massage. You will relax in a luscious Savasana and then be invited to tea and Mary's homemade-with-love cookies. Open to all levels.
$70/$80 per couple Pre-register/Walk-in. Register early for a spot, and the discount.
February 14, 1:30-3:30 YogaWorks SoHo. SoHo Members free.
VALENTINES YOGA
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Recent Acro Sightings
SAKS Window January 11. ISHTA Acro Workshop January 18 (pictured above). YogaWorks SoHo Open House Window Acro January 24 (pictured below). B&D Party (Bodywork & Dessert) 7pm Saturday January 31 at Practice Yoga Downtown!
Frequent flying all around town for Acrophiles and friends! All upcoming and current events are on my website's Events page, and also frequently on Facebook, either in my Albums and/or Events. Also, classes, workshops, and Jams! If you were at an event, look for your picture in my Facebook Albums, you just might be there.
Whenever you travel around the globe, look up www.acroyoga.org for where you're going. Click on the world map to find local Acroyogis engaged in more adventures of yoga, community, and fun!
MY EVENTS LISTINGS
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My 4+ Wonderful Studios
Life and hours being so precious, I only work with wonderful studios. All of them have great teachers, workshops, special events, so I encourage you to check them out: ISHTA, Om Factory, YogaWorks, Pure - and NYHRC! - a club whose Yoga matches the best I've experienced in studios. All links at sidebar right.
Especially this month, watch for Advanced Backbending Acro Workshop February 21 at Om Factory, and their quarterly Party & Kirtan on February 22.
February 14 blooms with Valentines Couples Yoga! Come to mine, YogaWorks SoHo, 1:30-3:30, written above, or attend one at Om Factory: 3-5PM or 7-9PM!
Watch for Restorative Workshops, Acro Workshops, and Acro Series that I will be teaching at these studios in upcoming months.
Expand your world this year! Bring a friend to Yoga; make new friends at Yoga!
MY YOGA LINKS
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R.E.S.T.: Free Massage for Cancer Patients
Founder and President Pamela Schein Murphy started R.E.S.T. after her own experience with breast cancer. Her mission is simple: to introduce an element of wellness to those going through the very same difficult process.
Starting on January 20, 2009, R.E.S.T. will begin providing FREE massage therapies such as reflexology, scalp massage and shoulder massage to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the NYU Cancer Institute at the NYU Langone Medical Center, DIRECTLY INSIDE their treatment rooms from R.E.S.T.'s certified team of massage therapists.
In addition, R.E.S.T. has partnered with Allure Magazine and Bliss Spas nationwide. Bliss Spas are now offering a "R.E.S.T. Intentions Massage" across the country, with 20% of the proceeds being donated to R.E.S.T. It is a 60 minute regular Blissage massage followed by an additional 15 minutes of either reflexology or scalp massage (in order to mirror the R.E.S.T. massage services that will be offered to cancer patients.)
Pam's ultimate goal is to bring R.E.S.T. to other hospitals across the country within the next few years.
You can donate by buying yourself (or a loved one) a Bliss massage; you can also support R.E.S.T. directly (link at sidebar).
BLISS SPA: "R.E.S.T. INTENTIONS"
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Photo Credits; & Forward
Photos Credits (please forgive me if I missed you):
Denise Fahmie for SAKS Window shots featuring Jake Brenner and me; Deven Sisler and Becca Krauss in SoHo Window; ISHTA Acro Workshop participants in SuperYogi Pyramid; Nature's Best Photos for animal pics. Cathy Lilly for my flying photo at Lululemon party Upper East Side. William P. Steele for "Leah's Train" Photo. USA Today & Bob Riha Jr. for Sasha Cohen. Jillian Lange for Triple Cats with Greg Franklin, Kyoko Jasper and me. Alan Finger for my Urdhva Dhanurasana. My brother George for the Cockatoos from down-under.
Please forward to any yogis or friends who might enjoy.
Unsubscribe anytime; Reply anytime! I love & enjoy the dialogue & cyber-sangha.
Om Shanti, shanti, shanti Om.
Peace & Bliss.
Namaste,
Mary
MARY'S WEBSITE
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Raphael: An Aranas Acting Debut
Following in Dad and Mom's thespian trails, Raphael bests us both, making his professional New York debut at age thirteen in this Off-Broadway piece by Karen Hartman.
National Asian American Theatre Company:
"An all Asian-American cast performs this world premiere, creating characters who are Russian and American Jews."
Performs through February.
"LEAH'S TRAIN" AT NAATCO |
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Sasha Cohen Loves Yoga
My brother Charles sent this excellent article on Olympian Cohen's cross-training and rehabilitation with Yoga.
Sasha: "The best thing about yoga - as opposed to the gym or weights - is that you have to use your own body, and it makes you really aware of all the connections and how to balance yourself."
An overall great article on Yoga's place in the American fitness market today.
USA TODAY ARTICLE & VIDEO: SASHA & YOGA |
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NY Health & Racquet Club
Be on the lookout for an AcroYoga Yacht Cruise for Members & friends, come Spring!
Get ready to sail, play, fly, & party AcroYoga style as we circle Manhattan Island.
NYHRC YACHT |
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YogaWorks
Now with 5 Manhattan studios including SoHo, which will have Saunas, rope wall & more.
YOGAWORKS NEW YORK |
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Om Factory
Om Sweet Om: Yoga Brunch, Forrest Yoga, Kirtan, Acro, Yoga Fight Club! New: Teacher Training - Fall 2009!
OM FACTORY |
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ISHTA Yoga
Ayurveda, Marma points, Meditation, Jean, Al, and an amazing ISHTA faculty. My lineage!
ISHTA YOGA |
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PURE Yoga
Beautiful facilities that embrace & welcome; immaculately appointed spaces; teachers that love their jobs. Try it!
PURE YOGA |
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R.E.S.T for Cancer Patients
Donate directly or contact R.E.S.T. to be involved with their efforts to bring wellness to chemo patients.
R.E.S.T. INITIATIVE |
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