Sharon Gannon – Yogini, Musician, Activist, Author

Sharon Gannon is a 21st century Renaissance woman who excels in many spiritual, artistic, and social mediums. She is a yoga teacher, animal rights advocate, musician, author, dancer and painter. coque iphone pas cher However, Sharon is best known for creating, along with David Life, the Jivamukti Yoga Method—a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings and the Jivamuktea Café.

A student of Brahmananda Sarasvati, Swami Nirmalananda, and K. Pattabhi Jois, she is a pioneer in teaching yoga as spiritual activism and is credited for making yoga cool and hip—relating ancient teachings of yoga to the modern world. Sharon is a musician and is a featured vocalist on many CDs including Sharanam, which is her solo album. coque iphone 8 You can listen to her album Sharanam at White Swan Records. coque iphone xr

“When singing holy mantras, we enter into a safe place. Chanting, like a wise old tree in the middle of the forest, provides a haven, a refuge where we can enter our own hearts, taking shelter from the storms of our ego. When we emerge, strengthened, we can act in the world from a place of love and compassion, seeing all beings and things not as “coming at us” but as coming from us — phantoms arising from our own past actions. Through this kindheartedness, we perceive all as holy beings, each providing us with infinite opportunities to bestow the blessings of kindness and compassion. –Sharon Gannon

Sharon has produced numerous yoga-related DVDs and is the author of several books, including Jivamukti Yoga, The Art of Yoga, Cats and Dogs are People Too!, Yoga and Vegetarianism and her brand new release Simple Recipes for Joy: More than 200 Delicious Vegan Recipes. . Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Toward 2012, Arcana V: Music, Magic and Mysticism, What comes after Money, Semiotexte, Yoga Journal and Origin. Learn to make raw green soup with Sharon…

Sharon also writes a monthly essay called the Focus of the Month. She resides in a 125-acre wild forest sanctuary in upstate NY, USA About Jivamukti Yoga As a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings, Jivamukti Yoga is grounded in the original meaning of the Sanskrit word asana as “seat, connection” – relationship to the Earth. Earth implies all of life. coque iphone 6 Citing Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, which states that asana should be sthira and sukham, Jivamukti Yoga maintains that one’s relationship to others (asana) should be mutually beneficial and come from a consistent (sthira) place of joy and happiness (sukham). This is a radical idea that, when put into practice, can dismantle our present culture, which is based on the notion that the Earth and all other animals exist for our benefit and to be exploited for our own selfish purposes. So the practice of asana becomes more than mere physical exercise to keep one’s body fit or to increase strength or flexibility; it becomes a way to improve one’s relationship to all others and thus lead to enlightenment – the dissolution of the sense of separateness, the realization of the oneness of being, the discovery of lasting happiness. This core philosophy is expressed through five tenets which form the foundation of Jivamukti Yoga. soldes coque iphone Jivamukti teachers embody these tenets, so that they color all of his or her teachings, whether in Basic classes, Open classes, other classes, workshops, or even just interactions with others in the Jivamukti community. In classes other than Open classes, the teacher does not necessarily teach the five tenets explicitly or even state them out loud. coque iphone soldes In an Open class, however, the five tenets have a special role, because it is part of the teacher’s job to give the students an experience of all five tenets in each Open class, though again not necessarily by teaching them explicitly or even stating them out loud, but by allowing them to inform the class plan and teaching style. Each of the five tenets should be clearly identifiable in every Open class, even though the names of the tenets may not actually be spoken. By doing this, students learn not to see asana as separate from spiritual study or chanting or meditation, but rather to integrate all of the elements that make up Jivamukti Yoga into one unified practice. This provides for a well-rounded approach to our goal—enlightenment through compassion for all beings.

Kriya Yoga – Speed Up Your Path to Enlightenment

Most of us go to our local yoga class, sweat as we hold a few poses, say a few ‘Ohms’ and feel more grounded and calm. Truth is, we have been taught little about the true spiritual nature of the yogic practice itself. Yoga has been done for centuries as a way to connect to the Gods and Universe – Enlightenment – with the ultimate goal being to leave our physical body behind and transcend in our spiritual form. Kriya Yoga is practiced to speed up your spiritual evolution. Devout disciples believe that it holds the key to true enlightenment. Through years of dedicated practice and study their ultimate goal is spiritual rebirth. coque iphone x In Sanskrit, Kriya means ‘action’. A transformative state. Kriya Yoga became widely known in a book written by Paramhansa Yogananda: Autobiography of a Yogi. Intensive study of Kriya with a Guru is thought to have the potential to lead one to a second, conscious rebirth. But in order to do this, you must leave everything your mind controls in your previous spiritual life behind and devote yourself to God, and your yogic practice. soldes coque iphone Kriya yoga directs life energy to revolve, upward and downward around the six spinal centers which correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac. It was first made In another book, Conversations with Yogananda, Paramhansa Yogananda he writes: “You can be in a room twenty years, trying to get out through the walls, the ceiling, the floor. It is when you finally discover the door that you find your way out. coque iphone That’s how it is with the soul. The average devotee may struggle his whole life trying to escape the bodily limitations by unscientific means, and by the paths only of devotion or discrimination. By Kriya Yoga, however, if he is sincere, he can escape quickly. coque iphone pas cher Kriya Yoga takes one to God by the universal highway: the spine.”
 Those who don’t want this extreme of a journey can still find a connection with the Kriya way of life – it’s just on a less intense level. For anyone serious about this journey – it’s a must that you have a guide. A Guru. soldes coque iphone pas cher The Swami Kriyananda says: “… to take up Kriya Yoga signifies entering seriously onto the path to God. It is not a game, and should certainly be treated as a lifetime commitment… a very sacred step in one’s life. “ You can start on your path for a greater connection and higher purpose driven life with a Guru and take baby steps towards what you feel comfortable with. coque iphone By: Sara E.

The Soul Center Yoga – A Kundalini Yoga Studio

The Soul Center Yoga offers classes in the ancient art and science of Kundalini Yoga. • Learn to relax, meditate, and enjoy being still • Learn to let go of the stress you’re holding • Learn to heal your body and mind with your breath • Experience states of transcendent consciousnesss Types of Yoga Classes available at The Soul Center : Private Yoga Classes available at the Studio or in your own home. coque iphone 2019 Private Group Yoga Classes available at the Studio or in your own home. Group Yoga Class at the Studio, please see Schedule page for days and times. Children’s Yoga Classes, please see Schedule page for days and times. Healing Workshops in Sat Nam Rasayan, an ancient healing art. Prenatal Yoga Classes available at the studio or in our own home (Private or Group classes) Come Visit Yoga by the Sea, a Yogic Boutique Offering : Books (On Health, Healing, and Yoga Manuals) Gifts, Candles, and Soaps Cards and Incense Yogic Music (CD’s Tapes, Video’s) Yoga Mats, Blankets and Props Healing Teas Crystal and Brass Singing Bowl (Wide Variety) About the Director of The Soul Center Yoga – Satya VanderKloot Satya has studied the sacred science of Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, since 1990, healing a serious personal injury through this ancient tradition. coque iphone xr She is an internationally certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, a certified healer in the Sat Nam Rasayan Tradition, and holds a Masters degree in Psychology. She draws on these qualities and on her background as a professional athlete to make her classes reach the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Satya’s Yoga classes are very meditative in nature, designed to gain strength, increase flexibility, promote healing, and deepen your spiritual practice. coque iphone 2019 pas cher The gong and crystal bowl meditation at the end of each class takes you into a state of deep relaxation. coque iphone x She teaches, “A Meditative Workshop for Heart Patients”, at UCLA for The California Heart Center Foundation. She has also taught, “Yoga and Meditation for Healing”, at Kaiser Hospital’s, Out Patient Facility. She specializes in working with people who are facing medical and physical challenges and has extensive experience working with people with Cancer. Satya has taught One-on-One Private Restorative Yoga and Meditation classes at Premiere Oncology. coque iphone xs max Satya also has taught Yoga and Meditation at Summit Malibu, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program, where she works One-on-One with children and adults suffering from chemical dependency and related disorders. She also did vision and dream workshops there. coque iphone 8 Satya’s studio, The Soul Center Yoga, is located in West Hills, California, where she teaches group classes and gives private instruction to adults, children, and pregnant women with special needs.

Contact Yoga by Tara Lynda Guber

Contact Yoga: The Seven Points of Connection & Relationship by Tara Lynda Guber with Anodea Judith, PhD Photography by Norman Seff Preface by Anthony Robbins Foreword by Deepak Chopra Mandala Publishing Contact Yoga presents an inspiring new vision of yoga created to deepen your relationships with lovers, friends, family, and other intimates in your life. soldes coque iphone Contact Yoga explores that mysterious and dynamic edge where two people connect: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. soldes coque iphone 2019

Drawing on her yoga practice of over thirty-five years, Tara Lynda Guber offers valuable insight into the dynamics of all loving relationships using poses designed for two participants that embody the “Seven Points of Contact.” Contact Yoga brings these Seven Points (Trust, Passion, Commitment, Love, Communication, Vision, and Union) into focus as points on the body and as emotional and intellectual qualities for connecting, relating, and engaging with others. coque iphone 7 Contact Yoga will appeal to all who seek depth and fulfillment in their relationships. coque iphone 8 Even someone who does not practice yoga will find the philosophy informative and inspirational. soldes coque iphone Contact Yoga is direct, practical, and effective—a “real world” encounter with a practice that produces immediate results for a physical, emotional, and spiritual body that will transform your daily life. Contact Yoga also features over one hundred striking tri-tone photographs by award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and director Norman Seeff. coque iphone xr His vivid images capture candid portraits of renowned yoga teachers, such as Patricia Walden, Anna Forest, and Shiva Rae, as well as celebrities in dynamic yoga poses. coque iphone 2019 pas cher Featured celebrities include Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, Cheryl Tiegs, Carrie Otis, Daphne Zuniga, Catherine Oxenberg, Linda Gray, and Elizabeth Berkley.

Making Your Body Your Temple

Author: by Susanna Harwood Rubin

Think of your body as the temple in which you do your spiritual practices. So instead of simply rolling out your mat or getting to the studio, make the process a part of it. The walk or drive you take to get there, the organizing of your time in order to make it happen, the delaying of calls and emails so that you can squeeze some asana into your overcrowded day — think of these activities as preparatory. Dressing for the temple, walking toward the temple, entering the temple. It is all a slow move inward.

From the minute you decide to practice asana, decide that that moment is where the practice begins. Even if you have a full day of work to get through or a commute to the studio, when you think, “In four hours I’ll go to class,” let that thought initiate the practice itself. Then everything you do between that initial thought and your body moving on your mat is a gathering up of materials, a bathing, a dressing, a lighting of candles, an integral preparatory part of a greater whole.

Let this shift in thinking infuse your daily activities with intentionality. There is a reason why we set an intention at the beginning of our practice. We want our movement to carry meaning. We want more than simply, “Step your right foot forward for Warrior I.” When movement carries conscious meaning, it becomes far more than simply movement.

I went through a dramatic life shift last year due to unexpected knee surgery that overturned my physical practice as well as necessitating a reconfiguration of my approach to teaching yoga asana. Since my practice was severely limited as I healed, I took the time in which my body was so unusually constrained to refine my verbal instructions so I could just sit while teaching, as I ironically invited people into their bodies through my words. I couldn’t say, as I usually did, “Oh, just do it like this,” then kick out a quick demo.

As a friend of mine observed, for the first time asana was actually difficult for me. I had to pause, plan, and think in a new way. I learned a lot from the experience and have written and taught extensively about it. But its relevance to what I’m writing now is the fact that everything was very slowed down for me, since my days had to be in service to my knee. So parts of my day I had not previously associated with my teaching practice now had to become an integral part of it.
I could no longer dash out the door of my apartment and speed walk down to Virayoga, where I teach weekly classes, giving the studio manager palpitations as I bounced into the studio my usual five minutes before class. I had to leave early and walk slowly and make the getting to the studio a part of my personal ritual. I spent a year learning a lesson about slowness, thoughtfulness, and intentionality.

I regularly ask my students, “Can you think of your practice as prayer?” Think of each asana as a bead on a mala, each an opportunity to touch something you love. Your breath is the thread connecting pose to pose, stringing together the beads of your practice so that you can hold your intention in different ways, in different containers, seeing which form offers the most meaning for you today.

Choose to make every thought, movement, and gesture toward your practice a part of your practice. And here’s a thought: Even if you don’t get to your mat, you are still engaged in your practice. It’s a much more compassionate way of thinking, and that should be part of your process as well. Try it.

Make your body your temple.
Make your asana your ritual.
Let your breath be your prayer.

Originally published in Elephant Journal

The Mind-Body Aspects Of Yoga & Breast Cancer

The mind-body aspects of yoga specifically could carry benefits for women undergoing breast cancer treatment, according to a small new study.

The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, shows that women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer who were enrolled in a yoga intervention (that included meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques) experienced improved stress hormone regulation, decreased fatigue and improved general health.

“Combining mind and body practices that are part of yoga clearly have tremendous potential to help patients manage the psychosocial and physical difficulties associated with treatment and life after cancer, beyond the benefits of simple stretching,” study researcher Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said in a statement.

The study included 191 women with breast cancer of varying stages, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups as they underwent their radiation treatment for six weeks. One group did simple stretching, the second group did yoga, and the third group did no yoga or stretching. The yoga and stretching groups did their assigned activity for one hour, three times a week.

The participants self-reported their fatigue and depression levels throughout the intervention, and researchers also collected saliva samples and administered echocardiogram tests at the beginning of the study, at the end of the radiation treatment, and then one, three and six months after the radiation treatment had ended.

They found that overall, the participants who were assigned to the yoga group experienced the greatest gains in all measurements of health. Specifically, the yoga group had the greatest decreases in cortisol levels throughout the day. And after radiation treatment, the yoga and stretching groups experienced decreases in fatigue, compared with the control group. Months after the radiation treatment, the yoga group self-reported higher general health, and were also more likely than the other two groups to say that they found some kind of meaning of life from their cancer experience.

Previous research has indicated that yoga could decrease inflammation and fatigue among breast cancer survivors. One study showing this effect, published in the same journal as the new study, posited that the beneficial effects could come from yoga’s ability to improve sleep.

Kundalini Yoga

I practice and teach both Hatha and Kundalini yoga.  I see my hatha practice as daily maintenance – a great way to work out kinks in my body, get grounded and calm.  My Kundalini practice is a place of transformation.  The kriyas and meditations are much more specific than your regular flow class; much like an Iyengar practice but rather than focusing on physical alignment the kriyas are a specific set of exercises that generate energy, organize that energy and deliver you to a specific energetic state – particularly one of greater awareness.  Within the practice are built in moments of stillness where we sit q speilling uietly and awaken to our Self.  The breath-work within the kriyas is so powerful that it starts to strip away the layers that veil our consciousness, and in the sweet moments between poses we can sense the fullness of who we are.  The kriyas work on strengthening your nervous system, balancing your glandular system, purifying the body, and calming the mind.

I have practiced kriyas that have left me blissed out, high and filled with a sense of connection and joy and others that have provoked and confronted me to the very core of who I am, both physically and mentally.  I have learned to stay present, and accept pleasure and pain as part of yogasnmallthe same journey to health and balance.    Our ego naturally leans towards pleasure and comfort.  It takes a disserted effort and discipline to begin to release the ego’s grip on our consciousness.  This effort is the work required to begin to access the truth of who we are, to create a strong connection to our Soul and therefore our Soul’s work on this planet.  It is where we start to make great strides toward living as an enlightened being.Kundalini yoga is not to be taken lightly, it is like an express train that shakes and wakes you up. I often say to students that you cannot stay the same when you practice Kundalini yoga.  The very nature of what we do is to awaken the energy of consciousness, to practice in a way that sheds light on our self-imposed limitations, and invites us to think out of the box, and develop our Intuitive mind.  Being able to live from our intuitive mind is one of the main goals of a Kundalni practitioner.

I had done some meditation before practicing Kundalini yoga, but it had always been elusive for me. Meditations within Kundalini yoga are multi-faceted.  You can do the simplest forms like breath awareness or simple mantra, or there are more elaborate ones where there is a specific breath, mantra and mudra that all work together to balance different aspects of the mind and body. When practiced for 40 – 120 days the result is pure magic.  I sincerely encourage you to have an experience of Kundalini yoga for yourself.  It will add depth to your existing practice and to your life.

Author: Kia Miller