Monday, August 30, 2010

Surfing Meditation

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

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

When I am out there on the ocean floating on my board, alone with the wind and the sky, I'm excruciating aware of how small and insignificant I am in comparison to the awesome power of the water. It would be presumptuous of me to say that I surf the waves - in fact, the waves surf me.

.......Well, meditation is like surfing. If you push too hard and try to control your mind, you'll just end up feeling rigid and tight, and you'll keep wiping out as a result of your efforts. But if you hang back and exert no effort at all, you won't have the focus or concentration necessary to hold your position as the waves of thought and emotion wash over you.

- Stephan Bodian

The homework is to consider that idea that Yoga involves holding the mind in quiet place so you can be present with life and holding the body in a relaxed place so as to not invite disease in. Then use your asana practice to find the balance between just enough effort and going too far. Practice more holding and less controlling; more observation and being and less doing.

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

Thursday, August 26, 2010

One-Pointed Mind

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “One-Pointed Mind.”

When one learns to practice awareness and attention while doing even the simplest and most mundane acts of life, a great joy comes.

When water runs in scattered rivulets down the hillside, it hasn't much force behind it. But when it is dammed up and made to come through a narrow opening, it's power is tremendous. Likewise when sunlight is focused through a magnifying glass, that spot of light becomes powerful enough to burn.

So it is with our minds. A mind that wanders distracted, scattered, and inattentive has little power. But when its awareness is focused one-pointedly, it becomes so powerful that it can achieve anything. Such a mind gains spiritual power.

- Brahmacharini Nitya

The homework is to choose a task you do everyday and bring more attention and concentration to it. Choose something that is considered mundane like brushing your teeth. Build on this practice by continuing to bring additional attention and concentration to other mundane tasks eventually applying this practice to life in general.

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, August 16, 2010

The Power of Concentration

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “The Power of Concentration.”

Concentration is like a diamond, a brilliant focusing of our energy, intelligence, and sensitivity. When we concentrate fully the light of our abilities shines forth in many colors, radiating through all that we do. Our energy gains a momentum and clarity that allows us to perform each task quickly and with ease, and we respond to the challenges work offers with pleasure and enthusiasm.

- Tarthang Tulku

The homework is to apply “a brilliant focusing of your energy, intelligence, and sensitivity to your Asana practice.” Then take this practice off of the mat and into your relationships. Without any judgment observe the effects.

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, August 9, 2010

The Mind is Like a Bird

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “The Mind is Like a Bird.”

The mind is like a bird in a field, always pecking at and picking up something; what is important is that it should select wisely. All that the senses report is woven into something which tends either to destroy or to build up the mind, for the mind assimilates that upon which it dwells…..Hatred and fanaticism introduce qualities which coarsen the mind, impairing mental health; but selfless thoughts are pure, for they seek the well-being of all and unite the puny individual with the cosmic Mind, the mind of God, which rules alike the stars in their courses, the electrons in their orbits, and governs the emergence of the infinitely varied forms of life.

- Hari Prasad Shastri

The homework is to consider the fifth and sixth limbs of Yoga Pratyahara – refinement of the senses and Dharana – concentration as a way to help you select wisely and to build up the mind. Learn to apply these two limbs to your Asana practice as a training ground for the cultivation of selfless thoughts.

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

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bringing the Mind Home

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Bringing the Mind Home.”

We are fragmented into so many different aspects. We don’t know who we really are, or what aspects of ourselves we should really identify with or believe in. So many contradictory voices, dictates, and feelings fight for control over our inner lives that we find ourselves scattered everywhere, in all directions, leaving nobody at home.
Meditation, then, is bringing the mind home…

- Sogyal Rinpoche

The homework is to ask yourself what it means to bring the mind home. To help you inform your answer sit well supported and meditate for five minutes every morning for a week. Practice just emptying the mind of all thinking. Observe what happens.

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