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Will Doran Yoga Newsletter - January,
2008 Dear friends, Welcome to the new year. In this newsletter I invite you to explore what opportunities and insight await you when you explore new beginnings and self study. I encourage you to take your life further and your understanding deeper by going inward. There is much to learn and even more to experience with your gained insights. May your journey bring you peace. In this issue: Yoga Philosophy: Beginnings Applied Yoga: Adhikara, The Art of Studentship Notices:
____________________________________ Yoga Philosophy: Beginnings January is a month for making changes and setting courses for new beginnings. The holiday season is over and the new year lies ahead full of possibilities. It is a time to get clear on your intentions and explore the limitless potentiality of your future. In the darkness of winter we can slow down our activity and journey inward towards self discovery deepening our connection to our core essence and inner vision. I personally find that, rather than making a list of resolutions, a clarification of intention takes me further towards the expression of my highest expression of my greatest good. So how do we approach the beginning of a new year in an optimal way? How do we take our ideals and make them reality? I propose that the answer lies in the honesty of our intention. It lies in the level of responsibility we are willing to take for the creation of our optimal lives. It requires an opening of sorts, to grace, to honesty, to vision and action in alignment with that vision. The first principle of the Anusara school of hatha yoga is "open to grace" and I see this as a splendid beginning. It implies that we make a choice to open up and remove some of the obstacles that restrict our alignment, that we partner with something bigger than ourselves, something connected to the bigger picture of our ultimate reason for being. Indeed, it is an invitation to clarify who we are on the deepest level and come to an understanding that all our existence is a process of refinement of our capacity to love and serve. At the core of our essence we are individuated sparks of the one unified Self. When we learn to recognize that truth we are empowered to not only love and serve our own personal interests but that of all humanity as well. Through our connection to others we can refine our ability to live in a life-affirming way that touches others through our every thought, word and deed. I find that it is my forgetting of who I truly am that allows the pressures of life to close me off and blocks the inside-out expression of my core essence. In my more lucid moments I know that I am a spark of the divine, a being of light that chose to be incarnated into the human experience for its learning and refinement of my capacity to express and create love. However, it seems inherent in my humanity that I forget this from time to time. It is the returning to an awareness of the presence of grace that brings me back into alignment and helps me see the unique path of my humanity before me. As stated by many great spiritual teachers, our task is one of remembrance of our ultimate identity and then diligently to work at removing the obstacles that obscure that knowledge on a day-to-day practice. When we remember who we truly are we can act in accordance to that vision of mutual respect, compassion, integration, and hope. When we remember we can apply these larger life lessons as a matter of expression in all that we are. I have learned that the work I do on myself invariably has an effect on my perception of the world and my contribution to the lives of others. It starts with self study, clarity of vision, disciplined practice, and a loving positive attitude. I can then more easily move into forgiveness of my imperfections as I fall short of my ideals and I can be more compassionate and understanding of others, even those who have little or no insight into our shared divinity. It is the recognition of my intention to do and be the best I can that makes the life process of self-refinement sustainable. This is grace applied. By holding myself and others "big" I can compassionately accept that I/we sometimes live quite "small." This is my personal key to hope: by recognizing my errors and shortcomings I can use their shadow to further define and shine light on my vision of how I want to be. I accept that I am a work in progress and every intention and action is an opportunity to burnish the gem of my being and make it shine bright. Recognizing that I am living in a reality that has many complicated layers of relationships and responsibilities I can lighten up and take refuge in my ever-deepening connection to my core values and highest vision for myself. I have learned that investing in self-awareness makes my plan of operation more definable and my choices more clear. I know what my intention is and strive to take responsibility for my thoughts, words and deeds. The result is a state of "beingness" that reflects these intentions inwardly to myself and outwardly to the world. It even serves to strengthen my resolve when I recognize that not all who perceive me do so with the same compassionate slack I give myself. Being steadfast in my resolve means knowing who I am even when others in this free-will zone choose to be less kind and judge me otherwise. Getting to that ideal place of self-awareness seems to be the crux behind this being human. Visualizing the possibilities empowers our intentions to manifest our desired realities. Without vision we are vulnerable to the external influences that blow and shift with the randomness of the wind. Anchoring in to a clear understanding of who we are takes a lot of work and frequently the supportive assistance of more experienced and insightful guides. Before the work gets done it helps to know what the desired end result looks like and what tools we have to utilize in the process of bringing it about. Ultimately the most qualified person on the path to self discovery is yourself. The question then is are you willing to take the required steps to connect to your inner wisdom? Are you honest enough with yourself to recognize how empowered you are to make positive changes, to master your attitude and perceptions? The journey of transformation starts with the knowledge that you are empowered by making conscious choices and acting in a single-pointed way that honors your inner vision of who you are and what you want for yourself. Once that becomes clear, grace has a way of accompanying you on your journey. For ultimately, grace is the expression of loving compassion and child-like wonder on this path of being human and self discovery. ____________________________________ Applied Yoga: Adhikara, The Art of Studentship This being human is full of opportunities for growth, insight and self-mastery. The key word here is opportunities; the implication is that effort is required or things may simply stay pretty much the way they are and new joys and understanding would be lost. Most of us have learned by adulthood that if we apply ourselves to our practical studies we can advance in our careers and or academic endeavors. We may also have noted that our lives require skills and insight that go beyond the basics of how to make money and "get ahead in the world." Experiencing the setback of one or two failures in interpersonal relationships or job advancement may make it clear that we were not born with a complete understanding of the rules of engagement in the field of being human. What is required is investigation, observation, and a commitment to being a life-long learner in a well-rounded field of personal studies. In light of this I place before you the challenge of adhikara, taking on the role of spiritual studentship. Some of us may have received some religious training or brief introduction to philosophy but I have found that most have not been given sufficient training to fill the required knowledge of what it takes to balance the scales of mind-body-spirit integration and equilibrium. We come from a young culture that has placed its emphasis on the mind and intellectual studies, as well as personal gratification. In recent years, however, we have taken more responsibility to understand the mind and the physical body working in harmony with the spiritual body as a way to cultivate integrated health. I believe that we are now on a new path of understanding that is ushering in more consciousness, awareness and a deepening sense of our interconnectivity with the world and divine forces in which we live. From this we will open to new areas of growth and a clarity of vision that will link our interests with those of the world on a whole. Where religion was the main source for forming our understanding of God and the principles of living within the moral and ethical guidelines of a society I now observe that spirituality – the study and practice of connecting to our spirit essence – is gaining an ever-stronger foothold in our culture. What has drawn me to the study and practice of yoga is its strong connection to spirituality within the framework of existing in a human body as an integral part of being a balanced human being. We are learning that mind and body are can be highly effective tools for discovery in the process of expanding our awareness of our higher nature or Self. Yoga’s governing principles hold that it is through the study of the body that the wisdom of the soul reveals itself. The mind has been emphasized and rejected both, now we are seeing that it too is integral in the process of integration with the spirit. Indeed, what we most frequently refer to as yoga in the West more specifically is really any of the many schools of hatha yoga which places a strong emphasis on learning through the body. In Vedanta and Classical yoga, which preceded the body-oriented hatha yoga, the emphasis is on the study of sacred text, selfless service, and devotion (jana yoga, karma yoga, and bhakti respectively). What I observe with keen interest is the growing number of practicing yogis who take the role of studentship to heart and integrate all of these elements into their life practice. They are following the axiom that "it is all yoga" and are exemplifying the highest concepts of Tantra which is the root of hatha yoga. As such, work, relationship, diversion, celebration, mourning, self study, and the like are all aspects of understanding how this life is an integration of possibilities for Self awareness in action. The divine thread weaves the total tapestry of life and existence. So what would your adhikara, studentship, look like for you? It is your inner journey that will define the path you will follow. By implementing "self study" as a governing concept you can take it in any number of directions. For me it begins with setting the stage with a morning meditation. This is a quiet time set aside to sit and let go of my thoughts – as best I can – and observe what shows up. It may be the sounds of the neighborhood or a troubling e-mail going over and over in my mind; it may be the observation of the presence or absence of inner stillness and just sitting with that. What I notice the most is that it is discipline, the kind of compassionate discipline that doesn’t berate myself for not being in a state of perfect bliss. My practice is one of coming back to center time and time again until there is inner quietude, or not. This may be a lot to ask of yourself so my recommendation is to find a way to systematically practice some form of inner stillness. It may be that walking your dog and noticing the sounds of the wind or traffic does it for you. It may be waiting for the tea kettle to boil while sitting motionless and observing the pattern of your breath. The idea is to be the witness, to watch and observe. This practice of self-study may start off as something small but in time and with practice may flourish into something more. Developing your concentration is the precursor to meditation which is the key to life transformation. Start small and let it grow. Studentship may also be served by seeking out inspirational material to read and contemplate. By investigating what other seekers on the path to understanding have learned you too may gain insight into why things are the way they are and how you may empower yourself to make the changes that will bring you more peace. This goes hand-in-hand with self observation throughout your day. Study what works and what doesn’t in how you approach all aspects of your life. Try different ways of perceiving and responding to situations as they arise. The more clear you get on what your life would ideally look like the more you can make choices that support that reality. Watch and observe. Slow down your rushed-into responses and listen a little longer than you might. You may just learn that your tendency to think you understand what is before you is actually an established pattern of assumptions and you are actually missing out on a lot of what others have to contribute. Another way to further your role as student is to take on ritual or a set requirement of study. At times expanding the mind and inner awareness go hand in hand in a paradoxical way. Through the act of learning and performance the mind settles into a pattern that allows the deeper learning to come about. Bringing in a sense of the sacred into your actions – be they simple routines or more complex ritual – will open the doors of possibility for grace to infuse itself in the act. By quieting the "little self" of the ego the larger wisdom of the "true Self" may come forth more easily. Spirit is always there, it simply needs more refined awareness to be heard. Finally, I suggest the exploration of what "flow" means to you. Think of it literally and metaphorically. Where do you run into obstacles and where do you move through life with grace and efficiency? What type of speech works for you in your relationship with others and what produces conflict? Can you do the same amount of work but in a different way that produces more inner and outer harmony? What does your increased concentration learned through meditation contribute towards quieting your mind? Does it help you to be fully present to others and the moment at hand? You may begin to notice that ultimately the spiritual life does not need a lot of dogma to support it, but rather, being clear in your intentions, thoughts and actions may bring about a deepening of your total integration. My invitation to you for this beginning of a new year is to take on the role of studentship and go deep into the learning of who you are. You may find that you are able to move towards a level of mastery that will bring about more peace, abundance and joy than you ever could imagine. ___________________________________ Notices: John Friend in Seattle: Although his workshops filled months ago John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga, will be speaking on February 1st, 7- 8 PM at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard. His talk in on synchronicity and serendipity as seen through Tantric philosophy. He is a wonderful speaker and teacher. I encourage all my students to take this chance to listen to him. Click here to find out more details or call Anusara central at 1-832-482-3457.
Monday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Tuesday 10:00 – 11:15 am 7-week pre-registered series in my home (Jan. 8 - Feb.19) Space Available for drop-ins ($12 per visit or $60 for 7 classes) Thursday 7:30 to 9:00 pm 7-week pre-registered series in my home (Jan. 3 – Feb 21) Friday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club Saturday: 10:00 – 11:15 am at Phinney Center on <<Phinney>> and 65th Sunday: 11:15 – 12:30 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Schedule changes: Classes I’m subbing: OAC for Ricardo on Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:30 pm. OAC for Dani on Wednesday, January 16th and 23rd at noon Classes that I’m having subbed: Sunday Feb. 3rd, Friday noon class on Feb. 8th. I am cancelling my Saturday Feb. 2nd Saturday class to attend John Friend’s workshop.
Private instruction: I also teach privately out of my home for students who want undivided instruction and guidance. These sessions are customized to each individual’s needs. Private classes are $35 for an hour when a commitment to ten classes is made, or $45 for a single session.
As a professionally trained Life Coach I work on a deep level with individuals to help them journey into the richness of their life and make the choices that bring peace, happiness and fulfillment. I can help you find your inner wisdom to do what needs to be done and take yourself into new realms of fulfillment and a sense of self-guided direction. If you would like my support and guidance please give me a call to discuss your wishes. I can be reached at (206) 789-2321, or you can go online to www.TheYogaCoach.com for more information.
May your days be filled with peace, joy and light. Namaste, Will PS. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends. ____________________________________________
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