Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hello Yogis/Yoginis,

As most of you know, I will no longer be holding an ongoing class on Monday evenings at the Centre de Yoga du Marais, after the last class on June 29th.  I will still be connected to the Centre, and hope to offer workshops there from time to time.  This change was unexpected, so I do not have another place to offer classes at this time.  (I am available for private sessions and group sessions at your home or place of business.)

I am working on a new website, which will eventually integrate this blog, so please note the website address:

www.justoneyoga.com

I will be in touch and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about anything.

I look forward to our next meeting.

Jai Bhagwan!

Chers Yogis/Yoginis,

Comme vous le savez, il n’y aura plus de cours de façon continue les lundis soirs au Centre de Yoga du Marais après le 29 Juin.  Je serai encore affiliée au Centre et j’espère animer des ateliers de temps à autre.  Ce changement a été inattendu, donc je n’ai pas de nouveau lieu pour donner des cours en ce moment.  (Je suis disponible pour des cours particuliers ou de groupe chez vous ou dans votre société.)

Je suis en train de créer un nouveau site web, qui va finalement intégrer ce blog, donc je vous prie de noter l’adresse web:

www.justoneyoga.com

Je vous tiendrai au courant de mes mouvements et n’hésitez pas à me contacter si vous avez des questions sur quoi que ce soit.

Au plaisir de notre prochaine rencontre.

Jai Bhagwan!

Yoga For Cancer Survivors

 

 

 

Hello All,

Just a quick shout out to a great organization, based in the U.S.  Yogabear is a non-profit organization which matches cancer survivors with free yoga classes in studios all over the U.S.  Studies have shown that a yoga practice as complementary treatment for cancer patients can improve the participants’ sleep patterns, energy levels and feelings of well-being.  What a wonderful gift for someone going through a challenging time: free yoga classes!   I would love to see this program spread out internationally.  

Yogabear is hoping to win $6,000 in a blog competition hosted by Zamanta. Let’s help them continue to help others!  

This blog post is part of Zemanta’s Blogging For a Cause campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

No matter what happens, Yogabear is already a WINNER!!

Just One Yoga

It is worth remembering that there is only one yoga and can only be one yoga. True, aspirants are of different natures and resort to various doctrines and practices to progress along the path. But one who completes the process of yoga understands its different paths and sees that the systematic practice of various disciplines leads to the same place. In the end, all yogas lead to one great Yoga. —Swami Kripalu (1913–1981)

For more on Kripalu Yoga go here.

Fitness Workshop February 14th

Hi Everyone,

I will be a featured presenter at a fitness workshop on Saturday, February 14th, 10h-13h,  at the American Church of Paris.  This event is hosted by Alison Benney of ParisFitness.  For more information, here is the poster detailing the events.  If you’d like to experience some other fitness styles, come on down – and feel free to pass on the message to your friends who might be interested!

 

Bonjour à tous,

Je serai animatrice (parmi plusieurs) à un atelier de fitness Samedi prochain, le 14 Février, 10-13h, à l’Eglise Américaine de Paris.  Cet événement est organisé par Alison Benney de ParisFitness.  Pour plus d’information, voici l’affiche qui détaille les animations.  Si vous vous intéressez à découvrir d’autres styles de fitness, venez nous joindre – et n’hésitez pas à passer le message à vos ami(e)s qui pourraient être intéressé(e)s!

Jai Bhagwan!

Survey/Sondage

Hello Everyone,

Here is the LINK to the yoga class survey. Thank you for participating!

Bonjour à tous!

Voici le LIEN pour le sondage du cours de yoga. Merci de votre participation!

Why Jai Bhagwan?

Practitioners of Kripalu yoga often say Jai Bhagwan instead of Namaste at the end of yoga class.  There is really no difference in meaning between the two.  The intention is to honor (or bow to) the Light (God, divine spark) in the other person.  It is a gesture of recognizing our oneness, because this Light we are bowing to is singular and shines through all.

Swami Kripalu was raised in the Gujarat province of India, whose language is Gujarati.  Jai Bhagwan is a form of greeting used in this area of India.  Literally it means “Victory (or Hail) to the Lord,”  which roughly translated brings us back to the “honoring of the Divine within,” which is, in my opinion as well as others, a more accurate translation than the literal.

So, essentially, we are simply continuing the tradition of the Kripalu lineage when we say Jai Bhagwan in yoga class – and the ancient Sanskrit greeting of “Namaste” is another way to say the same thing.

Swami Kripalu On Hatha Yoga

The body is stimulated by proper exercise, which both strengthens and relaxes.  We all must travel a long distance in this physical body.  If we do not care for it, how can we reach our goal?  The body benefits most when the postures are performed consciously and with full understanding. It takes time to accomplish difficult postures.  Avoid forcing the body into them prematurely.  Work into them gradually.  Otherwise, the body can be harmed.

Pranayama (breath control) is the king of all exercises.  Under conditions of heightened respiration, the heart, arteries,capillaries, veins, and lungs perform many day’s labor in only a few hours.  As blood circulation increases, basic nutrients are distributed to all the tissues in the body.  Waste products accumulating in the cells are eliminated into the veins.  Indeed, one can comprehend the significance of all forms of exercise by understanding this process alone. The body parts are moved merely to churn and stimulate the respiratory process. 

Kripalu Yoga is the most advantageous practice for a person living an active life in society.  Success in life requires both mind power (chitta) and life force (prana)  Chitta and prana usually work independently.  While waking, chitta is dominant and controls the body.  While sleeping, prana is dominant and controls the body.  While practicing Kripalu Yoga, a smooth flow of attention is maintained on the body while gracefully passing from posture to posture.  Through regular practice, prana awakens. Chitta and prana become friends of equal strength who cooperate closely with one another. The uniqueness of Kripalu Yoga is that postures, breath regulation, introversion, concentration, and meditation are all happening simultaneously. In the beginning stages, the practice of postures is primary and the other aspects of yoga are secondary. In the final stage, meditation is the primary experience. Asanas (postures) performed with a deep sensitivity to the breath are ten times more beneficial than those without breath awareness. The cause of all agitation is the constant modification of mind.  The mind easily becomes concentrated and one-pointed through the practice of yoga.  When control of the mind is obtained, the kingdom of peace is established.”