September 2010 Newsletter
Submitted by debbie on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 18:23
Greetings to all,
Labour Day is over and we're heading towards fall. We've got so much planned for the autumn, a new schedule, a few new classes. Lots of details follow below.
When Ariel emailed to say that Tree Pose (Vrksasana) would be our "pose of the month" for September, my mind started composing this newsletter. Although tree pose looks fairly simple it can be challenging because it requires balance, alignment, strength and focus to execute. I think we've all probably fallen out of tree pose once or twice, and in a group yoga class we may not have felt so great about that ('gosh, I hope everyone missed me looking about as graceful as an intoxicated cow'), but you know - it happens.
Autumn seems to get many people thinking about trees, the drama as the leaves change colour and then fall off the trees. Trees are such an indicator of change. Interesting isn't it that we know the seasons come and go and we don't get too attached to the pattern - it happens.
Leaves falling, and falling out of tree pose got me thinking about non-attachment and how we often get ourselves so into outcome. Trees don't seem to get into outcome; they take each day interacting with the elements, finding balance by surrendering and adjusting to whatever comes along. It reminds me again of how what we learn on the mat can be applied to everyday life.
In the first chapter of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (the guidebook for yoga practice), we are instructed that the "essential companion is non-attachment, learning to let go of the many attachments, aversions, fears and false identities that are clouding the true self." Sometimes we need to let go of what we think the outcome should be in a yoga pose, or any life situation (ego), and simply be in the moment - even though it could include pain as well as pleasure. Sometimes we need to allow our intuition, inner light and natural balance to surface and allow ourselves to be authentic, in the moment and feel really alive!
"...But every season is a kind
of rich nostalgia. We give names -
Autumn and summer, winter, spring-
as though to unfasten from the mind
our moods and give them outward forms.
We want the certain, solid thing..."
(From "Song at the beginning of Autumn" by Elizabeth Jenn)
Namaste from all of us at HCY
