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~ “The Yoga Coach” Helping
to transform lives one open heart at a time ~
Dear friends and beloved students, Thank you for your interest in my perceptions and words of encouragement. In this issue I draw upon the inspirational words of the ancient Indian texts The Upanishads and how they support the act of serving others as a path to spiritual growth and the development of consciousness. In times of stress such as we are experiencing we can all contribute in many ways ¾ big and small. I hold that we serve our highest intention more by recognizing the work we may already contribute and build upon it, rather than demean ourselves for what we are not doing. There is always a need for the grand contribution that touches many lives and I believe we should act when that is within our means. However, recognizing the small gestures can empower us all to do more of the same; our cumulative perspective of service as a way of life will exponentially expand our effectiveness and transformational power. In this issue: ·
Yoga
Philosophy: Seva,
Selfless Service ·
Applied
Yoga: A Perspective on Service ·
Notices:
- My teaching
schedule
- Life Coaching
Pearls of Wisdom: The Source
of Your Effectiveness
- Ranch Yoga Summer
Yoga Retreat
- Suggested resources ____________________________________ Yoga
Philosophy: Seva, Selfless Service One of the things that has drawn me to yoga is that it is not a one-size-fits-all discipline. It embraces the truth that humans have diverse natural tendencies and those differences change depending on the circumstances and proclivities of the individual. Most of us are familiar with the more physical aspects of yoga but that is only one of several expressions of the art and science. In addition to Hatha Yoga which employs using physical postures to develop mental and spiritual growth there is the devotional path of Bhakti Yoga, as well as the path of study and knowledge through Jnana Yoga (pronounce gah na) and the path of selfless service found in Karma Yoga. These various forms of yoga are not mutually exclusive and I believe they can be practiced in a holistic way which expands our resources for creating integration and personal freedom. Each aspect merits exploration but at this moment I would like to address Karma Yoga and its emphasis on seva, or selfless service. To be in the service of
another without looking for personal gain is considered by most
spiritual practices to be a powerful form of worship and devotion, and
as such, is highly transformational for the practitioner.
The Tantric view ¾
or God is to be found in all aspects of being school of thought ¾
holds that when we act on behalf of others we are acting in recognition
of our intimate connection to the Divine manifest in their presence. The
more aware we are of this lofty perception the more powerful the
relationship. Acting with clarity about how serving others is a way to
connect deeper with Spirit can take you from isolation and despair into
a way of being that is empowering and full of purpose.
Cultivating the wisdom of how to act from a deep connection with
your core values in serving the needs of others is a form of recognizing
the profound tool for self-refinement that can be accomplished through
service. The sacred texts of
ancient As a person acts, so he
becomes in life. Those who do good become good; those who do harm become
bad. Good deeds make one
pure; bad deeds make one impure. You
are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.
On a general level service to others
creates a deepening connection to Self, or the presence of the Divine in
all things. By connecting to
others there is a shift of perspective from self-centeredness ¾
serving our basic ego-based needs to the
exclusion of how we fit into the web of society and relationships ¾
toward Self-awareness, an inclusive
perspective that recognizes “the other” as part of something
higher and holier.
“Self” is the unifying consciousness present in all beings
and when we reach out to serve others we ultimately are serving our
greater good. Creating
patterns of being that reflect this awareness of our interconnectivity
can be a powerful way to foster a sense of life purpose.
I am always a proponent of doing the work to strengthen a
connection to your core values and recognize that our personal work is
tried and refined in our relationship with others.
Turning this relationship with the world into a spiritual
practice through seva is a
powerful tool for transforming
lives. Service
to others can be a form of dharma,
or righteous duty or
virtuous path leading us to our “highest truth.”
The act of seva in itself is transformational because it takes you beyond
relating only to yourself and into a state of grace that deepens
partnering with Spirit. As
such, the unforeseen and limitless potentiality of the universe can more
easily become manifest and our place and purpose unfolds. ___________________________________
Applied Yoga: A Perspective on Service I remember the frustration I felt as a young man overrun with solicitations for my limited money and time. When I approached my mother for advice her words of wisdom rang true and stay with me still: “Do what you can within your means and know that even that will change with time.” Since then I have learned that serving others has many aspects that go far beyond the giving of money or committing to grand acts on a global scale. If and when these larger acts are possible I believe we should strive to step up to the plate. However, we can contribute to society in ways that help our collective betterment through small gestures and low-profile acts that may garner little recognition but may have an enormous impact on another’s life. Cultivating an open heart is a sure-fire way to sensitize yourself to the diverse opportunities as they present themselves to be of service within your means. Service does not have to be on a grand scale or performed in a structured formal way. It can be a spontaneous moment when another’s need arise and you simply are there to help. A kind word of encouragement or and act of understanding and patience can have a powerful impact on another. Simply letting go of judgments and accepting people for who they are can help them strengthen their self esteem and possibly open awareness of serving others in return. These low-key acts of kindness serve the greater good by creating unity-consciousness and empathy towards each other. The individual who practices random acts of kindness is served in return by that selfless act. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad adds insight to this by stating: Where there is separateness, one sees another, smells another, tastes another, speaks to another, hears another, touches another, thinks of another, knows another. But where there is unity, one without a second, that is the world of Brahman [the all-encompassing God]. This is the supreme goal of life, the supreme treasure, the supreme joy. Those who do not seek this supreme goal live on but a fraction of this joy. And in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad we read: Those who act without
thought of personal profit and lead a well-disciplined life discover in
course of time the divine principle that all forms of life are one.
They work in the service of the Lord and are freed from the law
of karma. … The Lord is
hidden in the hearts of all … The Lord is the operator; we are but his
innumerable instruments. May
we realize him in our consciousness and find the bliss he alone can give
us. When I was a young man I didn’t have a broad enough perception that being of service could also encompass the small acts. Even if I couldn’t donate money to the myriad of charitable foundations soliciting me now I understand that service is a way of life. Seva is a way of perceiving our place in society as part of an interconnected whole; serving others serves us all, every helpful and kind act is service to a higher consciousness that recognized our unity. In the bigger scheme of things our actions can contribute to the transformation and development of a healthy culture. I frequently see people discredit their small acts as not having much importance. If you are one of those who don’t feel that you contributing much I encourage you to acknowledge all the diverse places you may already be of service to others. You may find that you are contributing more than you think and you may see that opportunities lie in unexpected places. I recall a conversation with a friend who felt sad that she didn’t have time to volunteer or serve others as she would have liked. We talked about her work as a lab technician analyzing specimens for a local hospital. Her sadness turned around when I offered a shift in perspective to include how her technical skills served the medical community in helping to determine illnesses and appropriate treatments. This was a classic case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. Possibly it was her perception that she was being paid to do her analytical work and as such it wasn’t “service.” Being on the other end of the story when I was faced with a nasty eye infection I was very grateful for the technical staff who diligently worked on isolating the virus afflicting me. Their service helped the doctors define the appropriate treatment for me and abated my suffering. My friend’s sense of contribution shifted when I told her of my perspective and gratitude. She now feels that she is making a difference, regardless of whether she is getting paid to do so or not. Family life is another place to explore to see how you can be of service to others. In addition to the basics of providing meals, clean clothes, shelter and an education to your family your acts of kindness and loving support have a ripple effect through our society. Supplying unconditional love while nurturing your children can at times be the most powerful thing you can do, especially when faced with frustrating behavior on their part. First-hand experience has taught me that supporting the chaotic child through their suffering is far more beneficial than abandoning them to their despair and misguided perceptions. It doesn’t always come easy to hold up a child who may exasperate you at every move, yet, without your contribution of service to them they could drift farther apart from healthy behavior and become quite detrimental to themselves, the family and society as a whole. Indeed, our culture is replete with examples of youth who are abandoned to their own resources and turn further toward self-serving gratification and thoughtless crime. As parents, teachers and social servants our service to our youth has a direct and very tangible effect on our society as a whole. By not wavering in our commitment to serve them we are not only being responsible to their needs but also have innumerable opportunities to define our highest vision of who we are and further our individual aspirations of personal growth.
Opening up to connect and serve your friends, neighbors and
community can reflect many aspects of seva.
Taking a moment to chat and listen to another’s story or
concerns may help someone who simply wants to build a relationship or
have a sense that they are being heard.
Loneliness and isolation can be terrible burdens to bear and a
simple act of opening to another in their time of need can have an
immensely positive effect on another.
Helping out with a simple chore, lending a few dollars if you can
spare it, or simply presenting a friendly demeanor can change a life.
In these times of global financial difficulty it is the small
local gestures that may make all the difference between desperation and
a sense that we are all in this together.
A positive and supportive attitude may help your neighbor and
serve your own need for connection as well.
The following poem by Hafez addresses this in a beautiful way. We Should Lean Against Each Other More We
should lean against each other more We
should support each other- Let
all movement That
will take root in the holy soil of your surrender. For
all in existence is just spinning like this ~
From Cupping My Hands Like
a Mountain
Valley
by Hafiz
Notices: ·
My teaching
schedule: Sunday: 11:15 am – 12:30 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Monday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Thursday 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm 7-week class series in my home yoga studio.
This class is for students with at least two years experience.
It is designed to take the poses
7 classes for $60, drop-in
space is often available so call if you are interested: 789-1058.
Friday:
12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic
Athletic Club
Saturday: 10:00 am –
11:15 am at
This is an all-level
drop-in class, everyone welcome, $10 class fee.
Saturday yoga will be suspended
for the summer starting May 30th due to a very busy out of
town schedule. Private Yoga Instruction: For those who want individualized
instruction and guidance I also teach private students out of my home.
Private classes are $35 for an hour when a commitment to ten
classes is made, or $40 for a single session.
Also, I’m
available for special group classes at your location, depending on
details fee is usually $75 per class.
Your core is the center of who you are. It can be experienced in such ways as finding the core strength of your body in a yoga pose or looking inside yourself for inner wisdom and steadfastness. Connecting to your core allows you to express the fullest extent of who you are with integrity and honesty. It also creates a foundation that makes spontaneous freedom possible. To live from your core means getting clear on who you want to be on the highest level. This takes insight and exploration, as well as a creative imagination of what you want your essence to be. Then comes defining to yourself your principles and beliefs that make up your values and setting an intention to live in alignment to those values. Choosing at every turn to do your best in that alignment will give you the data to set your course and re-align if you veer from your destination. This is where a compassionate and understanding attitude with yourself will serve you greatly. Then as your behavior is refined the outside, or environmental world, that surrounds you will fall into synchronization with the fulfillment of your desires. The concept is simple: get clear on who you want to be and how you want to live and take responsibility for moving in that direction. When perceived “errors” occur use them as input to make adjustments on your strategy for living and keep showing up with your highest intention leading you forward. If you would like to explore living from your core by utilizing my life coaching support give me a call, the first inquiry session is free. Go to www.TheYogaCoach.com for more information or call me at 206 861-2775. · Ranch Yoga Summer Yoga Retreat July 9th through 12th I am leading a yoga retreat on my family’s 650-acre ranch in the Methow Valley just outside of Twisp, WA. It is filled with great yoga, community, natural beauty, horseback riding and lots of excellent food and company. The four-day retreat is a wonderful experience and value; total retreat price is $395 per person. Details, more pictures and registration form are found at www.RanchYoga.com but please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with your questions. Space is limited to 18 so don’t wait too long to send in a deposit.
· Suggested Resources: TED.com TED is an acronym for Technology, Education and Design.
This website is a central repository for revealing the wisdom and
insight of the best and brightest of our species.
The website is loaded with 20-minute or less videos that will
reassure you that there is indeed intelligent life on planet Earth.
It will bring a sense of hope into your life.
It is a must-see. New
Dimensions Internet Radio http://www.newdimensions.org/ndir.php One more source for listening to the intelligence of human kind’s most
inspirational minds in an interview format.
I come to this site (also an available channel through www.Radio365.com)
to hear a counter perspective to all the negativity and short-sighted
coverage of our media. It
will heal your soul! The Upanishads, Introduced and Translated by Eknath Easwaran. The author, though Indian by birth and education, writes with a clearly understandable voice that a Westerner can follow. The Upanishads are a classic of Indian Spirituality and give us a wonderfully inspirational source for guidance on our path to wholeness.
May your days be filled with peace, joy and light. Namaste,
Will PS. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends. A link to archived issues can be found at http://www.theyogacoach.com/.
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