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“The Yoga Coach” Helping
to transform lives by opening hearts ~
Dear friends and beloved students, It has been some time since I sent out my last newsletter; with health and family issues demanding my attention and energy I have been redirecting a lot of my efforts closer to home. The past year has been quiet a challenge, and yet, has proven to be a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Tending to my family’s needs and getting through my own dramatic personal health issues -eye infection causing a loss of sight in my left eye- has strengthened my inner resolve to be present in the moment and apply radical acceptance for what shows up. I wouldn’t intentionally choose challenge and conflict as a way for developing personal growth but now more clearly see how they can lead to learning how to live gracefully one day at a time. I’m please to report that not all has been difficult times. I recently completed a year-long Anusara Yoga Teachers Training course with my teachers Denise Benitez and Elizabeth Rainey. What a powerful experience! especially the in-depth study of the yogic text The Bhagavad Gita! Its beautiful teachings expound upon concepts such as duty, surrendering the fruits of your labor, connecting to the Universal, and other key life-affirming principles. It is empowering to see that the issues and questions asked thousands of years ago are just as relevant for humanity today. These teachings gave me strength to deal with my life issues from a deeper place of meaning. It has become more apparent that there are gifts in hardships and pain; they can be the source of growth and insight. Living and learning through life’s challenges can also deepen a type of wisdom that comes from being in the moment even if we may not know the deeper significance behind it all. This learning from life as a way to transform who we are is the central theme of this newsletter. In this issue: ·
Applied
Yoga: Being the Change ·
Notices:
- My teaching
schedule
- Life Coaching
Pearls of Wisdom: Shining the
Light on Relationship
- Ranch Yoga Summer
Yoga Retreat
- Suggested reading
- Website Updated ____________________________________ Yoga
Philosophy: Transformation There is an implied sense of change in the term transformation; it is defined as creating a change in form, appearance, nature, or character, all of which can be an inner-personal growth as well as an outward manifestation. My path of spiritual growth has led me through many stages of transformation; some subtle and some profound. All of them have added something to the formation of who I am today. The forces of change are all around us and I believe that all of us face our own challenges as a way to polish our proverbial rough-cut stones into brilliant jewels. You could call the process gaining maturity but I believe that there is a level deeper to explore. With mindfulness and steady practice we can open to divine grace which is a holistic process leading to a transformation of the very nature of our perception of self. The ancient yogic sages saw our intimate experience with all of life on all levels as a way to nurture our inner energetic light being. They called the process the development of the adamantine, or lustrous diamond body. The process and techniques of achieving self-transformation literally fills volumes of texts. Yet, without having to pour through an extensive reading list I believe there are simple practices that can help us generate the forces of positive transformation. The hope I feel is that in these historic time in which we live -the dawning of the “age of Obama”- those of us seeking to live as conscious individuals can cultivate the inner spark that will transform not just ourselves, but the state of the world as a whole. Before major change will occurred on a global level I believe that we must first seek transformation on the personal and individual level. The Tantric philosophy behind yoga teaches that there are five pulses, or aspects, to the divine: creation, sustenance, destruction, concealment, and revelation. The concealment part is the answer to the question of “if I am a part of God why don’t I know it from the start?” It is by design that we have to seek out answers and meaning. We work through the process of removing the obstacles to the perception of our inherent divinity so as to transform our base-self into one of inner vibrancy and spontaneous freedom. The transformation may be initiated from a point of perception or it may spring from a physical condition that alters our world view sufficiently enough so change can take place. The strongest forces for transformation I have seen are those that shift an emphasis from the ego-based self to the spirit-based Self. Living from this spirit orientation, or the Higher Self, is a radical shift in the common point of reference found in living through our more animalistic nature. It is in fostering the development of our identity as awakened divine beings that living as a human becomes transformative and transcendent. The Tantric text The Pratyabhijña-hrdayam (The Splendor of Recognition) states that the universe is nothing but Consciousness, it is both the source of being and the subject of being. This means that we are Consciousness in a contracted state and the act of discovery of this is divine revelation, indeed, it is the very play of the divine within and around us. The Tantric masters taught that the very state of spiritual liberation is already contained within ourselves in seed form. Knowing our mind and its true nature will help us to understand that thoughts are but forms of our own Consciousness. We do not need to block out or conquer thoughts, but rather, make peace with them and discover what serves us in living our highest purpose. There really is nothing that we lack nor need to renounce, other than the limited self-awareness of our contracted state. This is where the proverbial rubber hits the road: once we awaken to the call of self-awareness we must take action to shift us from concealment to revelation. Transformation does not, by nature, come easy to most of us. First we have to overcome our resistance to change or the arrogance that it is even required. Many don’t awaken at all; their ensuing suffering comes from their ignorance. Many of us recognize our suffering yet hold that it is from the outside that we are experiencing its source. Granted, there are many situations that are out of our control that affect us and we will not know peace until major changes are enacted. This is where discernment and wisdom come into play. Once we own responsibility for our life we can accept, negotiate or reject that which impacts us from the outside. However, until we initiates a life-long practice of self study and awareness of an inner wisdom that transcends our limited minds we will not be able to tune-in to the highest source of ignorance-dissolving knowledge. In short, we need Consciousness to change our consciousness we can navigate life’s challenging situations with grace. The path inward is the key to gaining this wisdom. Rather than being like leaves tossed and blown in the wind we can be captains of our own sailing vessels using the winds to move us in the direction and destination we desire. ___________________________________
Applied Yoga: Being the Change
Changing old habits, perceptions and thinking that no longer
serves us is the way into transformation.
If we desire to live free of the tyranny of ignorance, separation
anxiety, purposelessness, poor health and a sense of powerlessness in
our lives we need to explore who we are on many levels and be ruthless
with our discernment. We
have the power within us to create an alternate reality, one of
connectivity, wholeness, vibrancy, centeredness, creativity, and
personal empowerment. These
qualities come from steadfast effort and commitment, and yet we will not
experience them fully until we are open to experience transformation.
There must be a partnering with a higher power or order to the
universe in order to allow the small-self ego-identity to accept that
there is something bigger than itself ultimately in charge.
Contemplation and self study is the strongest tool we have in our
arsenal for personal growth. It
helps us to recognize and become fully aware of our own consciousness
and the expansive power behind it. With
increased awareness of the present moment and the presence of Grace
(i.e. Spirit in action) we expand consciousness. This is done not by
turning outward only, but first by facing inward.
Our true strength is found in the process of self exploration as
we work in relationship with all aspects of our being.
Our dance of life is to learn through experience what works to
move us closer to our highest vision for our desired reality and what
doesn’t.
The yogis of old knew that it is hard to move inward towards
consciousness if the outer form is out of balance.
As such they devised a system -hatha
yoga-
to address the needs of the body first and then establish the conditions
for contemplation and Self-discovery within that practice.
The physical postures and breathing techniques of yoga were
designed to work on all levels at the same time.
Most practitioners of yoga find that even if they don’t go deep
into the underlying philosophy they still get a great deal of
life-transforming value from the synchronization of breath and movement.
They may start a practice wanting to be more balanced, strong and
flexible only to find that with diligence they also experience a sense
of inner peace and centering that has a strong influence in all aspects
of their life. The formula
is simple: inner work transforms one’s relationship with the outer
world. The eventual result
of dedication to practice is an awareness of our inherent natural state
of being: freedom and spontaneity, or jivanmukti. Tantric teachings, such as those found in The Splendor of Recognition (The Pratyabhijña-hrdayam) illuminate this concept of freedom and liberation to be found in our every-day living. Sutra 16 in this text posits that, “The state of liberation while living is the unwavering experience of oneness with Consciousness, even while one perceives the body.” It is a fundamental belief of Tantra that we do not have to die and go to heaven in order to experience a life of bliss and freedom. On the contrary, it holds that our life is not mere illusion or a mistake to be suffered through. It is by design that we are born with a perception of ourselves as limited beings, and equally it is by design that we can apply the wisdom of Consciousness awareness to find our identity as part and parcel to divine nature. Yoga teacher and Tantric scholar Doug Keller comments on this sutra stating, “this kind of Self-awareness is really our highest spiritual calling while here on this earth… The key to realization, then, is not ‘stopping’ the mind nor eradication all illusion … but rather experiencing fully the natural bliss of just being.” He adds that states of happiness and satisfaction are tastes of this deeper bliss of Consciousness and freedom and they can be expanded upon until total union is achieved. The yogic practice is the art of tending to our experiences so this bliss can be found in even our most mundane moments. It is in relationship with our self and with others that we transform ourselves into vibrant beings. Indeed, the first tenants of the guiding principles of yoga -The Eight Limbs- found in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is a list of five virtues and five observations that establish a personal foundation for transformation. Before learning techniques for mastering breath, body and mind one is compelled to commit oneself to not harm, lie, steal, overindulge, or desire more than actually needed; the practitioner is asked to be content, pure, self-disciplined, studious and devoted. Just like finding your optimal expression in a yoga pose-asana-you must first establish an intention that will add strength to your effort in order to experience the fullest potential in being. Be it opening to Grace or recognizing the power behind personal responsibility, transformation becomes achievable by first recognizing you have been given a divine gift in having been incarnate as a human being. Rather than lamenting the suffering inherent in being in physical form we can radically embrace what is and move into a self-perception as co-creators of our reality.
To be the change required for transformation you must make your
practice relevant for your unique life and circumstances.
Recognize that you live within a balance of forces which work on
you from the inside as well as the outside.
You have an ultimate responsibility to yourself and yet your
relationship to others is critical to your personal growth.
Honing your
response skills through practicing being present in the moment and
connected to your core essence and values with assist you in being more
creative and positive minded. Reflecting
your inner vision outward is fundamental in how you experience the
conditions and circumstances of your life.
In my quest to learn more about how we form our perceptions and
world views I have picked up the book Change Your Brain Change Your
Life, by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. He
emphasizes the importance of consciously cultivating positive thought
patterns as a way to control and enhance our moods, memories, bonding
patterns, sleep, appetite cycles, and relationship to our sexuality.
His technique offer us guidance in recognizing our tendencies
towards Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), and by eliminating
them we can create more inner peace and mental health.
The top “ANTs” to be eliminated are:
- “Always/never”
thinking: thinking in words like always, never, no one,
everyone,
- Focusing on the negative:
seeing only the bad in a situation
- Fortune-telling:
predicting the worst possible outcome to a situation
- Mind reading:
believing that you know what others are thinking, even though they
- Thinking with your
feelings: believing negative feelings without ever questioning them
- Guilt beating: thinking
in words like should, must, ought, or have to
- Labeling:
attaching a negative label to yourself or to someone else
- Personalizing: investing
innocuous events with personal meaning
- Blaming: blaming
someone else for your own problems Liberation from negative patterns of perception is a way to experience a reconciliation between our limited ego-based self and our unlimited Higher Self. The nature of Consciousness is freedom and a spontaneous out-flowing, or pulsation-spanda-from the heart. As we develop vigilant practices of self observation and guide the power of our thoughts our sensory capacities and connection to our intuitive wisdom expands and transforms us. We expand our unitive vision of reality; the cosmos becomes one’s own body and playground. All we experience is a process of Self-definition as we becoming more intimate with our place within the Sacred Space that is the universe. The mystic Sufi poet Hafiz addresses this in his poem All You Do Is Sacred: Now
is the time to know Now,
why not consider Now
is the time to understand Were
just a child's training wheels When
you can finally live My
dear, please tell me, What
is it in that sweet voice inside Now
is the time for the world to know This
is the time That
there is anything Now
is the season to know
~ Hafiz ___________________________________
Notices: ·
My teaching
schedule: Monday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Tuesday:
5:15 pm to 6:30 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard (through February) Thursday 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm 7-week pre-registered series in my home studio.
This class is for students with at least two years experience.
It is designed to take the poses 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. Sunday: 11:15 am – 12:30 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard 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 $45 for a single session.
Also, I’m
available for special group classes at your location. · Life Coach Pearls of Wisdom: Shining the Light on Relationship Relationship starts at birth with our perceptions of the world in which we were born and how it relates to our basic needs for love, nurturing and community. As we grow we can continue to see the world from a self-serving perspective or we can mature into a way of being that includes service and community. We were born to be in relationship; only the rare ascetic does well living isolated in a cave, literally or metaphorically. Indeed, to a great degree it is in relationships that we define who we are. However, it is important to first explore, define and then anchor your identity with your core essence. This moves you from a perception of life as a random sequence of events to a view that considers all experience as a way to refine your relationships and utilize them for personal growth. Your interactions with others then become a way of learning to express your highest values, and as such, refine who you want to be. Failures become opportunities when perceived as valuable input guiding future interactions. Learning how to apply this perspective and move into mastery of relationship is the first step in life coaching and where my guidance can help you move into a vibrant life. If you would like to explore mastering the art of relationship 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 Mark your calendars. This year’s yoga retreat will be held on July 9th through 12th. The four-day retreat is a wonderful experience and value. It is filled with great yoga, exploring my family’s 650-acre ranch in the Methow Valley, and lots of excellent food and company. Total retreat price is $395 per person. More info will follow, but please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information.
· Suggested Reading: The
Shack,
by William Young: This
is one of the books I have enjoyed recently that I would recommend not
only for its story of transformation but also because it could be
soothing for the soul that struggles with the “God” thing.
It is a story of a man in dialogue with God when facing a
critical point of stress in his life.
A quick good read, not too heavy in dogma and goes deep to the
heart. Change
Your Brain Change Your Life,
by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. An
easy to follow expose of how our brain shapes our life and how we can
help shape our brain. Reads
well and with a personal touch from the author that makes it a
compelling science read. ·
Website Updated I’ve worked on my web site www.TheYogaCoach.com and have made it more easy to navigate through the two aspects of my services as Life Coach and Yoga Instructor. I’ve also added an archive of the past two year’s newsletters that I have sent out. Take a look or pass on my web address to anyone you may think could appreciate my instruction or guidance.
May your days be filled with peace, joy and light. Namaste,
Will PS. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends.
____________________________________________ If
you wish to be removed from this list send a blank message with
the word "REMOVE" in the subject line to wjddoran@comcast.net
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