Must Reading For Your Yoga Practice

Hi everyone. It's Harlan with an important recommendation for your yoga reading.   It's a book called Yoga Beyond Belief: Insights to Awaken and Deepen Your PracticeThe book is by Ganga White and has an introduction from Sting.

You might think a book with an introduction from Sting would be one of interest to the general public -  Not at all the case here.

The reviews on Amazon show it's a serious book that will add to your practice.  I gave it as a gift to my yoga teacher Valerie and within minutes she was somewhere else as Ganga White transported her to another dimension.  (Sara, don't despair; your copy is on the way.) 

Learning From Children And Friends...

Namaste,

Hello friends,

I have just returned home from Beautiful British Columbia -Vancouver. I took a quick five days to go see my family and close friends. I will be heading to India for a New Year’s retreat with Shiva Rea and will miss the festivities of Christmas at home. I needed a loving dose of my family and on a whim decided to go for a short visit.

The famous line of my mom’s every time I come home is "I wish you could stay longer", our time together always goes so fast. I remind her that we have to make the most of the time we have and that some time together is better than no time.

The highlight of my visit was being with my nieces, having a sleep over with my mom and sister, waking up to the earth covered with snow, doing my practice as I watched the snow falling elegantly to the ground, greeting Santa Claus as he came into town off a boat, and the constant flowing love from my nieces and my best friend’s children.

The innocence and curiosity is so beautiful to observe in children. Their playfulness is in this moment and their joy is found in the simplest things.  We were down town getting into the car and my three year old niece, Kyle suddenly shouts out “there’s Santa Claus.” Our eyes all darted up and there he was fixing his beard in a car. “Santa has a car” Kyle blurted out. We all began to laugh and said “yes, I guess Santa has a car as well”.  Her little brown eyes lit up with a magical twinkle.

Remember that kind of excitement when you were young? I think as we get older we tend to loose this freshness of finding bliss in the little things. I find that whenever I am around children, I am reminded of a new excitement of all the little things.

When my best friend met me at the airport she had her two children with her. She has a four year old and a one year old. While we were waiting in the car, I was talking to the baby and said a phrase with the word love in it. Listening closely, Solomon – her four year old said to me “what does love mean”.

What a profound question for a four year old to ask. For a moment I was caught off guard. How do I answer this one, I thought. I told him love is an emotion that comes from the heart. It is when you really like something or someone, you feel love for them. I gave him the example of loving his brother and his mom and all his uncle and aunts. He responded with “ I love my dad”. His father is absent from his life but he mentions him often. “Yes, Solly…and he loves you.”

I had questioned how I  answered that for him. Kids minds are so fascinating. They have a way with asking some fantastic questions. That evening I gave Solly a Christmas gift. It was a book for kids written by Wayne Dyer, Incredible You! 10 Ways to let your greatness shine through. If you don’t own this book it is a must have to read to your children.

We snuggled up on his bed and read the book. There was a question in the book about what you love to do. It was so serendipitous how we had just discussed that word earlier. Now, here it was and he completely understood the meaning of the word.

It was wonderful to read this book and hear this little being talking straight from his heart and disclosing his emotions. I feel books like these are essential for children. They have a clear, feel good message and it begins to teach children how they can become great human beings and be the best they can be.

I believe if we can begin  to educate our children in a healthy, loving and positive way about becoming kind, loving , sensitive, compassionate human beings, they are learning yoga. The children are our future, we will create more of a safe and loving planet if we begin the  essential teachings of yamas and niyamas. This Is one pathway way to greater peace for our future.

One of my Favorite quotes is “ Dare to be Remarkable.”

-Jane Gentry.

In your day, how are you stepping our of your comfort zone, expressing yourself or doing a kind act for someone that is totally remarkable.

My friends and I sat around on Monday evening discussing what it means to UNCLUTCH. My new friend Kito shared with us an experience he had on a 10 day course at Nithyananda’s  ashram in India. He received a whole talk about what it means to unclutch.  We had quite an interesting conversation about what this moment has to offer. How can be remain unwrapped from the entanglement of our mind or from doing too many things at once.  Unclutch from emotions, tiredness, stress, anxiety, needing, wanting, analyzing, and…. just be. Allow yourself to become each experience as this moment unfolds.

I wish you all a peaceful holiday season. Enjoy all the beautiful children in your life and around you. Celebrate their innocence, keenness and all the light that shines from them. They will surely make you smile and bring warmth to your heart.

Om Namah Shivaya,

Blessings,

Sara

Where Do All The Clients Go?

If you've been noticing a drop off in attendance in your classes recently, it's not your fault.  It's the time of year.  People are focused on holiday parties and shopping.  Sometimes yoga takes a back seat.  Relax though.  They'll be back soon.

I remember last year showing up to one of Sara's classes (as she was transitioning to privates) and only I and another person had come.  But Sara was the lucky one.  Her friend Kim has no one show up to her restorative class.

December's holiday season will bring about January's resolutions and new dedication to personal change.  Review our postings on the forum, review our old newsletters, and prepare for your January campaign.

Yoga Site Critique

Gail has been one of the most active participants in our forum.  We've given her lots of feedback on her site and she asked for a critique.  Here's a video critique of her site.

We hope in the near future to be offering a service where you can get a professionally designed website at very low cost which will allow you to make changes on your own.

For those of you who would like to hire a professional, we'll show you how to use Scriptlance in the future.

A Message From Harlan

I have two yoga teachers - Sara and Valerie.  They are so very different.  Every day with Sara, I never know what to expect.  She reads my mood as she walks in the door.  And frequently, she makes adjustments during our practice.

Last week, she walked in and asked, "What kind of practice do you want today?"  I said "high intensity power."  I went to the computer, cranked up iTunes to a power play list and came back to my mat.

Sara walked over to iTunes and put on some Wah! and lead me through a restorative practice opening my hips.

And then there are the days when I'd like nothing better than to rest in child's pose and Sara leads me through a Shiva Rea style "fire practice" leaving me drenched in sweat, exhausted, and feeling totally wiped.

Valerie is a student of David Williams who brought Ashtanga to the West.  With Valerie, I know we are going to do the first series of Ashtanga every day.  With the familiarity, each pose becomes an old friend.  It becomes a predictable part of my day. 

Vinyasa. The word comes to symbolize so much.  Up down back up. Breathing in and out. Bandhas engaged.  U2 in the background is singing "With Or Without You" - one of the greatest and most spiritual rock songs of all time.  My breathing is long and deep and I'm dripping sweat on my mat and I move from the Standing Series to the seated poses.

Predictability and Unpredictable.  It's the story of our lives.  When we engage the familiar, do we have the courage to step beyond?

My sainted Talmud teacher, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik once commented at an impromptu celebration marking the completion of a section of the Talmud.  "We return to you.  Our Minds are on you."

Even when we are not working on our practice, our practice is working on us.

Even when we don't know what to expect, we can handle the challenges life throws our way.

Even when we think we know what lies ahead, even the familiar can become new.

Thanks guys for putting up with me.  You're the best. 

In honor of Chanukah, I wanted to share a video of another teacher of mine, the saintly Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach who was the Jewish Amma.  Rabbi Shlomo traveled the world including India and the Far East in search of Jewish souls seeking deeper spiritual connections.  One of his students recently posted a video of Shlomo visiting an Ashram in Montreal.  If you ever wanted to see Jewish Kirtan, this is your chance.  Like Amma, Shlomo's hugs were never to be forgotten. 

December's Print Newsletterr

Today, I began shooting the video for the December newsletter.   I'm going to show you how to shoot video and have it up on your website for less than $200.

And boy, will it ever make a difference.  People will know you before they speak with you on the phone.  Your personality will shine right through.

If you subscribe now at the products page above, you'll get the DVD free in your December newsletter. (New subscribers only).

The DVD will be available for sale in January at $39.95 so subscribing to the newsletter and getting it free is an incredible deal.

I'll even walk you through a sample script you are free to use on your website.

So I recommend you subscribe now and get the DVD for free.

 

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