yoga

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Compassionate Seattle

Compassionate Seattle

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.33:

Maitri karuna mudita upekshanam sukha duhkha punya apunya vishayanam bhavanatah chitta prasadanam.

By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and equanimity toward the non virtuous, the mind maintains its attitude undisturbed calmness.

In this Sutra, Patanjali reminds us that our practice of yoga is indeed a practice of living and acting from the heart of compassion.  Whatever we do on the mat to bring health and clarity to body, must also be an integral part of how we live beyond the mat.  Balancing love, happiness, pain, virtuousness and equanimity in all that we do, will bring greater calmness and peace to our hearts and our communities.

You could say it started when His Holiness the Dali Lama came to Seattle in April of 2008 for the Seeds of Compassion Conference.  During that historic week people from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond came together to envision a world of compassion.  And what a fantastic week it was.  I had the privilege of being involved in many aspects of the event and was touched at the deepest levels by the heart and vision of our community.

But in reality, Seeds of Compassion wouldn’t have happened here, if the spirit of compassion was not already alive and vibrant within our community.  People from all walks of life, have been working together behind the scenes for years, living and sharing the spirit of compassion.  And that is why, Seattle is about to become the first city in the US and perhaps the world to have an official Charter of Compassion.  Living, educating and working from a place of compassion will now be officially incorporated into almost every aspect of our city’s vision and plan.

So, how can you get involved?  Be part of the official celebration and launch of Compassionate Seattle, April 2010 – http://my.compassionateactionnetwork.com/profiles/blogs/compassionate-seattle-its-up

Date: April 24th 9am – 8pm
Main Event: 9am – 5pm: Compassion Showcase and Exchange
Evening Celebration and Performance: 5- 8pm
Location: Center for Spiritual Living, 5801 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98105
Tickets: Available through Brown Paper Tickets and can be purchased for the entire day/evening (9am – 8pm) or just for the evening celebration (5pm – 8pm). Lunch can also be purchased in advance (or bring your own.)

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana Bonyhadi

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Routine as the Touchstone to Deepening your Practice

Home again from vacation.  The bags are unpacked, the laundry clean and put away, meals planned for the week, and all of us have returned to the routine of school and work.

Routine which may become monotonous, does provide a stable ground upon which to rest.  We know what is expected of us, and how best to manage our strength and energies within it.  Routine, which can sometimes lead to boredom, also provides an opportunity for renewal and deeper introspection.

Take for example the sun salutations.  We know the routine:

  • Tadasana
  • Utanasana
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana
  • Plank
  • Bhujhangasana/Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
  • Utanasana
  • Tadasana

As we breath and move from asana to asana we gain strength and clarity.  Each asana is a meditation in and of itself.  And yet each asana leads to the next asana, deepening the meditation.  As the flow becomes more and more familiar, we begin to deepen our practice and our understanding of ourselves.

Sure, there is room for boredom.  All the room your are willing to allow yourself.  As soon as you mentally jump ship (so to speak) the asanas no longer provide the foundation for the meditation, and become no more than an aerobic exercise.   The true gift of the sun salutation lies in its ability to link our breath, movement and mind into a heart opening practice.  One in which we put aside all of our “to-do” lists, and allow ourselves to experience a greater sense of well-being and connectedness.

And there is great room for enhancement and variation.  All the other asanas can be incorporated into the sun salutations.  Routine becomes enhanced, and yet grounded in a deeper practice.

So, as we return again to the routine of daily living, I find myself embracing my sun salutation practice as a touchstone for renewal and re-entry.  May it be so for you as well.

Shalom & Namaste,

Diana

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2 Weeks with Anna Forrest

Breathe, Go Deeper, Breathe

I heard Anna Forrest was coming to town.  One of my favorite teachers has been one of Anna’s Teaching Assistants. I have heard about Anna Forrest for years, and have always wanted to study with her.  Not often she comes to Seattle.   I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I got on the phone and signed up.

I signed up for a series of early morning intensives; 6:00am to 9:00am.  That the studio was 45 minutes away, and that I would have to get up at 4:30 every morning to get there, didn’t register at the time I signed up.

Intensive is the perfect word to describe the series.  On my first day, there were over 80 people in the room and the room was at least 80 degrees.  In no time we were all pouring sweat.  We kept working harder and harder, getting ever closer to the core of our beings.  When that first session was over, I truly wondered what I had gotten myself into.  I was exhausted, sore, sweaty, shaking, tired, and I wondered how I would be able to keep this up, in addition to teaching my usual classes and remain a sane parent.

I guess I wasn’t the only one  that felt that they were being pushed to their limits.  The next day at least 15 people had dropped out.  As each day passed, the class size diminished.  It picked up again on the weekends, but never returned to ridiculously filled class of the first day.  Did I mention that our mats were only two inches apart from each other on all sides.  Yesterday was my last class, and I think there were only 35 of us left.

I am so glad that I took the series and stuck it out.  Anna is an amazing teacher.  Now I won’t recommend this series for everyone, but if you are the least bit interested in pushing your practice to the next level, challenging yourself to go deeper and deeper still, then definitely sign up.  But remember to check your ego at the door, take a break when you need one and have a strong foundation and understandings of alignment before you enter.

Anna Forest uses a sweat lodge mentality and Native American traditions to set the space.  She emphasizes Ujjayi breathing , and the breathing  room often sounds like  the wind were blowing through the trees.  Students are asked to set an intention for each class, an intention to bring healing to some part of their body or spirit.  As students move ever deeper in their practice, they are reminded to return to the place that needs healing and breath into it.  The intensity and pacing of the class calls to mind the EST seminars of the 70’s.  No time for a break, no time wipe the sweat from your bod or tears from your eyes,  keep going, dig deeper, release your inner demons.

Eka pada Koundinyasana I - but not me this time

I truly appreciate having had opportunity to study with Anna.  She brings an authenticity and vibrancy to her teaching.  She keeps the students on track and focused.  She is a master at helping people to go the extra step, and master asanas that may not have ever been available to them in the past.  I caught a very cool twisted, extended arm balance (Parsva Eka Pada Koundinyasana I)  and as well as a handstand with splits variation (Eka Pada Vrschikasana).  I loved the focus on breathing, and the heart opening that accompanies it.  I walked away from each session feeling stretched, strengthened and inspired.  And amazingly enough, those 4:30 mornings did not wear me out – in fact I was invigorated.

And for you my favorite students, I realized that  Anna and I share many similar approaches in our teaching methodology.  When she reminded us to set intentions, I thought of you When she reminded us to breathe, I thought of you. I think we both share an understanding of the healing benefits of yoga.  However,w I think we come at it from different places.  Don’t worry, my classes won’t turn into sweat lodges, and I won’t stand you on your head till your ready.  But seeing as this was a teacher training, I may slip one or two new things in for your next class.  Hint, Anna loves core work as much as I do.