Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Mind Machine

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “The Mind Machine.”

The ordinary mind, being a machine, has but one function: It creates and then goes about attempting to solve problems! It enjoys this game and will continue to play it as long as you allow it to do so, throughout your entire life if it can. It is not concerned that you are suffering in many areas because of its games. You will come to understand through the meditation techniques that you are not your ordinary mind and that it has not nearly the importance which we attach to it.

- Richard Hittleman

The homework is to learn to take the concentration you bring to your asana practice into the practice of observing your mind. Try to be removed from your thoughts and act as an observer of the activities of the mind. Just observe without always following or believing what the mind is suggesting.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

Monday, July 19, 2010

Prayer and Meditation

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Prayer and Meditation.”

Prayer and meditation necessarily proceed from our ordinary experience of being a subject confronting an objective world. In fact, we can tell their effectiveness by the degree to which they bridge the split between mind and matter, inside and outside. Successful meditation and prayer lead to the state of ecstatic unification in which subject and object stand revealed as the same eternal Being. This ecstatic self-transcendence must be realized not only in special moments of isolated contemplation but also in every moment of active life.

- Georg Feuerstein

The homework is to remind yourself that Yoga is meditation in movement and that it is a preparation for a prayer and/or a meditation practice. In all of these practices the ultimate goal is to live the practice fully in daily life. Our work is to take the Yogic experience into our lives off of the mat.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

Monday, July 12, 2010

The Unimportance of Death

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “The Unimportance of Death.”

Death is unimportant to a Yogi; he does not mind when he is going to die. What happens after death is immaterial to him. He is only concerned with life – with how he can use his life for the betterment of society.

- B.K.S. Iynegar

The homework is to take account of your life and see how you can enhance your contribution towards the betterment of society.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

Monday, July 5, 2010

Death is a Beginning

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Death is a Beginning.”

Death is not an end, but a new beginning. Under the stress of conflicting passions and earthly desires, biological cravings and love of pleasure and power, is hidden an eternal stream of pure consciousness which is not affected by the law of cause and effect and which is ever tranquil bliss and freedom, real love and truth. This is the real Self of man.

- Hari Prasad Shastri

The homework is to practice Savasana.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003