Author: Diana Gould Bonyhadi

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Andrew Harvey in Seattle

Hey Everyone,

Did I tell you that Andrew Harvey (world re-known author, scholar, mystic) and Karuna are going to be leading a 5-day retreat/workshop right here in Seattle?  Lucky us.

Hosted by Wisdom University, this workshop entitled Heart Yoga will take us deeper into the connection of Sacred Activism and Yoga.

Want to learn more?  You can participate in a free hour-long  teleconference with Andrew Harvey tomorrow night at:pm PST.

To Register for that call: myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/4P4XE5DH051PO15T

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New Ashtanga Style Style Class

Hey Everyone,

I will be adding a new class to my teaching repertoire.

Ashtanga-Alignment:  Wednesday evenings 5:30 – 6:45, Urban Oasis in Issaquah.

This will be  powerfully active, movement-based class, sure to get your prana flowing. We will be moving through the basic level one ashtanga series, but with a focus on alignment.  This class is for the experienced yogi seeking to up-level their practice.

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana

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Insight from a weekend with Sara Powers

Greetings,

I spent this past weekend with Sara Powers who is the founder of Insight Yoga.  Sara and her husband Ty have been leading yoga classes and workshop for many, many years, and although I had not yet had the opportunity to study with her in person, I had been familiar with her through her video “Insight Yoga.”  As the only yoga video with which I like to practice, it felt like re-meeting an old friend when I walked into to take her workshop.

Sara Powers has set her heart and mind to the integration of yoga, meditation and transpersonal psychology.  So to spend a weekend with her, was an experience focused within, on the prospect of “being in yoga”, rather than of “doing yoga.”  And what a pleasant prospect it was.

As everyone knows who reads this sporadic blog, my focus has always been on “living yoga,” whether it occurs on the mat or hopefully even beyond the mat.  Thus to spend a weekend focused inward, breathing our way into the deepest parts of ourselves, was a great blessing.  I will admit however, that I am not so adept at being still for such long periods of time.  Not only did my body shout out its discomfort, but my brain was also busy, sending me all sorts of messages.

And yet that was what we were there to do.  Become aware of the ramblings of the brain.  We sat meditation before and after asana practice.  We practiced meditation in the asana practice.  In fact, yoga with Sara is meditation in stillness and in motion.  Our work in meditation was not to shunt away the messages of the brain but rather to become “mindful” of them.  Instead of noting a thought and saying “I see you now go away,” we were to acknowledge the thought and follow it. By allowing ourselves to follow a thought, we engage in a process of self-acknowledgement, and self-affirmation.  It becomes liberating to enter this process, and a bit entertaining.  For example, here is just one of the thought trains that I followed…

“Breathe in to the hara. Awareness of breathing into the hara. Am I thinking my breath?  Am I focusing on my breath? Am I focusing too much on my breath? Am I distracting myself from my breath? Am I really meditating?  Mindfulness… What happens if I spend the whole time analyzing the focus of my breath?  Will I no longer be practicing mindfulness? Follow a thought … There are no thoughts … How did I do that?  Oops, there is a thought.  My thighs are beginning to hurt … Should pay more attention to hip openers, or maybe I should pay more attention to closed hip positions … how to teach this balance …  Are my students getting it?  How can I serve them better”

Okay, you get the idea.  Not only did my mind search around for things to latch onto, but under it all, was a common thread of “am I good enough?”  And I doubt I am the only one out there who is constantly filled with self-doubt.  But that is the power of a mindfulness practice.  We can see how often we go to these places, and by doing so disempower those voices of self-doubt.  Recognizing our communal need for love and affirmation, and the collective tendency towards self-doubt, we in turn become more accepting and nurturing as individuals and as community.

Now that is pretty darn cool.

So, take some time (ten minutes) to sit in contemplation of your thoughts.  Acknowledge them  for what they are.  Enjoy the process.  Enjoy letting go.  Live your yoga.

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

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New Year Events and Commitments

Hey Everyone,

Hope you are enjoying 2011. Did you make any resolutions for the New Year? I did. I want to do more of the things that I know bring me joy. Instead of looking back and regretting what I didn’t do last year, I want to honor all that I did do that made me feel good. And I want to do more of all of those things that make me happy. I should probably be able to keep this resolution. That is as long as I remember to stay present.

I am hosting a workshop this weekend at Urban Oasis in Sammamish, WA. The workshop is entitled Ten Essential Poses and runs from 1:30 to 4:00pm on Sunday. Come and learn what 10 poses would make up your essential practice. We are all different, so not everyone needs the same ten poses, but all of us need to have a few posses we can do every day that will bring us back into the light and help to ground us, so we can move forward in peace in the moment.

Hope to see you Sunday, and Happy New year to Everyone.

Shalom & Namaste,
Diana Bonyhadi

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Winter Solstice and the Balance of Yoga

Winter Solstice and a Lunar Eclipse – powerful forces of light and dark – all in one evening.  Wow, I am still trying to wrap my brain around the possibilities.  Last time these two events occurred simultaneously was 456 years ago.  I will have to ask my friend and ayurvedic astrologer, Melanie Farmer, to comment on the synchronicity of these events and their possible effects on our doshic equilibrium.

On the one hand, now that the solstice has passed, I know the days are going to get longer.  With each day we will have a bit more light.  But the contradiction here is that even though the days will be longer, we will actually be entering more fully into the cold of winter.  At least there is a balance, a bit more light for a bit more cold.

And a lunar eclipse.  Here in the Northwest, we frequently are unable to see this magical event.  But night before last, the skies cleared and the moon was large and full, only to be slowly covered up, not by clouds, but by a shadow.  The moon that is so consistent in its cycle, moved through its cycle yet again, but its light was momentarily oblated by a larger force, the force of a shadow.

So here we are, moving from darkness to light, yet entering into this moment of turning, with a full awareness of the power of our shadow. Because it was indeed our own shadow that covered the moon – the shadow of the earth covering the light of the moon.

In yoga, we are always seeking to achieve balance.  We balance on one leg and one hand (ardha chandrasana), on one leg (vriksasana), on both hands (adho mukha vriksasana), on our heads (salamba sirsasana).  We work to balance our inhalations and exhalations (sama vritti pranayama).  We strive to balance our breath with our asana movements (vinyassa).  And most importantly we seek to balance our  effort/engagement with our ability to let go.

And many times we do find ourselves in balance.  It happens pretty regularly, just like the solstice.  When things are all in place and we exert correct effort, the asana, be it headstand or tree will simply just happen.  Ah, but then we begin to wobble.  Nobody is pushing us, the floor is not moving.  What is happening?  Could it be our shadow?  That little voice inside that continuously questions our ability to be.  “Uh, are your really in that headstand? You sure you have it right.? Can’t believe you are still there, what a lot of work that must be.”  And by the time those shadow thoughts have registered, we are probably all about to fall.

But let us take comfort in the fullness of the eclipse.  Let us allow this amazing event to be a touchstone for our yoga.  While a shadow does indeed pass in front of the moon, the moon does not lose it’s course, and neither should we.  Let us abide in the fullness of the moment.  Let us watch the shadow pass by. Let us not worry or be shaken by the doubts that arise in a moment of darkness.  And then let us pass into the fullness of the asana, the fullness of our breath and balance of our yoga.

Happy Winter.  May you experience the beauty of the season with the fullness of your heart.

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

 

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Do Yoga, Be Happy

Feeling Blue?  Try a downward-facing-dog pose.  A new study from Boston University School of Medicine found that yoga boosted mood more effectively than walking.  Doing an hour of yoga three times a week for 12 weeks increased GABA levels by 13 percent as measured in the study’s healthy participants right after a session.  GABA, a neurotransmitters in the brain, is lower in people who are depressed; levels rise with the use of meds.  The walkers showed nor significant increase in GABA levels.  “This is the first study to find a behavioral intervention – yoga – that has an effect on brain chemistry similar to that of antidepressants” says study author Chris Streeter, M.D.

 

So now you know, one more scientific study proves that yoga is good for you.

 

Happy downward-dog everyone.

 

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana

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Why I Went To College

Why I went to College

If you ask someone who is about 17 why they are going to apply to college, in most cases, the honest answer would be…because my parents and my college counselor told me to.  In some instances you will hear that the person wanted to learn as much as they could from the best institution possible.  Or they might say they are going to college to play for the best college team in the country.  I highly doubt they will tell you that they are going to college to accrue debt, learn how to party, make friends that last a life time, oh, and maybe learn some accounting, biology, or how to write an essay.

I went to college because it was expected of me, not because I knew what I wanted to do with my life.  I ended up studying international affairs and psychology, becoming captain of my sailing team.  The dual degree led to a fascinating career in mediation and international collaborative problem solving, the sailing led to a great opportunities to crew on some excellent boats.  But, most importantly, because I went to college, I made friends that have supported and nurtured me for ever so many years.

Okay, how is this related to yoga???  Well, today I am flying to Palm Springs to help three of these friends celebrate their birthdays.  My plane was to leave at 1:00.  I got to the airport at noon, I boarded the plane at 12:30.  I sat on the plane till 2:30, I got off the plane – still in Seattle at 3:00.  I got back on a plane at 3:30, and now I am finally heading to Palm Springs. But…  never did I let this get to me.  In fact, it didn’t even occur to me to stress out.  I am thankful they figured out the plane shouldn’t fly while it was still on the ground.  I am thankful there was a fresh plane to take us to our destination.  I am thankful I have friends from 20 years ago I can go hang out with.  And…

I am thankful to my morning practice and my students for giving me the opportunity to deepen our practice together.  I am pretty certain that without the yoga, at this point my body would be complaining, my mind would be complaining and my energy would be all whacked-out.  But as it is, I am calm, happy and centered.

It’s all about staying present.

Letting go of expectations for the future.

Letting go of expectations for the past.

And rejoicing in the moment.

So, when someone asks you why you went to college,  or why you should go to college,  remember, the correct answer is… the parties, the friends, and the ability to write a good essay.

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

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10 Essential Yoga Poses

Welcome to December.

Happy Chanukah  and soon a Merry Christmas to All.

A couple of quick announcements  –  Good news for all of my active Yogis and Yoginis

New Class – Weekend Renewal – Hatha, Alignment, Vinyassa Flow, Pranayama and time for deep Shavasana

Sunday Mornings:                    9:30 – 11:00            Village Green Yoga

January Workshop

Ten Essential Poses:              Sunday, January 9th. 1:30 – 4:00       Urban Oasis Yoga

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Yoga to Balance the Winter Blues

Good Afternoon.

I see snow on the mountains.  The air has changed and now it is surely winter.  That’s okay by me, now I have an excuse to drink eggnog in the mornings and hot chocolate in the afternoons.  Maybe I will even get to go skiing this year.

Another thing that winter brings is an increase in vata energies.  Now I am by no means an expert in ayurveda  ( I can however, recommend a few fabulous practitioners), but I do know that too much of anything can lead to imbalances.  Too much vata energy can lead to an increase in colds, joint pains, arthritis, congestion, dryness of skin, insomnia, and a generalized sense of agitation.

But you don’t need to let the “winter blues” get you down.  Don’t let the wild winds of winter blow away your serenity.  Turn to your yoga practice to bring balance back into your life.  Now is the time to slow down your practice, and build and stoke the internal fires. Start by holding your poses for longer – go deeper exploring the edges of each asana.  Add a few balance poses – Vriksana (tree) and Gururdasana, will bring both heat to the body and calmness to the heart and mind.  Turning further inward, spoil yourself with a deep forward bend aided by props.  Do a long paschimottanasana (seated forward bend) but use bolsters and blocks so you can stay longer.  Finally, add a few minutes to your svasana  – add them at the front end, as you place blankets on and under your body.  Nurture yourself with bolsters and eye pillows.

Yoga and ayurveda have long been the  sister sciences of well-being.  Learning about your doscha, and how seasonal changes effect your doscsha  can help you to stay healthier and calmer regardless of the season, the weather or your “to-do” list.  For more information on ayurveda, here are a few of excellent links:

http://www.chopra.com/ayurveda

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/introduction.htm

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ayurveda-000348.htm

Have a great week, stay warm, and love yourself.

Shalom & Namaste

Diana Bonyhadi