Happy Halloween………….Can you see the witch?

Yoga Legislation in NJ

As you know, I don’t usually engage in online political discourse however I am going to make an exception here today.

In our Tuesday am class we discussed the link that I am sending you and as a group we sort of decided that this NJ Congressman needs to hear from us, us being those practicing yoga.

As you will read,  Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts from District 5 (Camden & Gloucester) has submitted a bill to the legislature of NJ that would require yoga teachers and studios to be licensed by the State.  He lumps us in with “exercise facilities” & “fitness professionals”, disregarding completely the uniqueness of yoga.  His ignorance reflects that of the mainstream with regards to what yoga really is.

Now, I do not claim to KNOW what yoga actually is, or isn’t.

I’m still engaged in the practice of knowing who I am or aren’t and we all know how long that can take!  Nevertheless, I feel that it’s my civic responsibility to add my voice to any issue that touches my heart.  This one, ‘got me’……………………………….

I feel that I am doing a part by keeping you informed.  Integrating skillfull mental activity (buddhi) with willfull action (tapas) and a spirited purpose (karma) is tough stuff and needs lots of practice.

My intentions are to join with other yoga/wellness/holistic professionals in NJ in educating our legislature as to the reality of yoga.

Many voices speaking truth at the same time can be ‘transformational’.

Do what you will.

Trust that everything is good.

And, please, share your yoga experience(s) with those around you so that we can bring more people out of ignorance and into the light.

Om shanti.

Om.

All that said, here are some links to check out regarding this issue.

http://esutra.blogspot.com/

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A3500/3356_I1.HTM

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=16

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/SelectRep.asp

….harpers, unite…………

…..get your music out.

om, amen, shalom, salaam

Check out……..

………the new video I just added over there on the right side.

“Naked Women for Peace.”

It was sent to me by a like-minded friend and certainly gave me a chuckle or two.

ps……….nothing personal!

May all beings be peaceful.

The Saturn Cycle…Measuring Time…Part One

If you’re coming around to 30, 60 or 90 years of age (rounding the numbers off to prioritize ‘concept’), you’re probably approaching a time period that astrologer’s call the Saturn Return.

Volumes have been written about the Saturn Return and I encourage you to Google the term and start reading. However, be prepared. You may not like what you read. Saturn has a reputation of bringing us face to face with cold, hard reality.

If you stay with it though, there are some very substantial rewards to be gained, and they’re always worth whatever efforts you make. We can talk more about the essential meaning of the planet later. Remember, these  are years when critical decisions are being made……consciously and/or unconsciously. Take your time. Move slow.  Demonstrate Patience.

The 3 year period of time that precedes the return, beginning somewhere around the ages 27, 57, or 87 approximate is also a part of the cycle that deserves attention. The balsamic phase of the Saturn cycle lasts a whole lot longer than the balsamic phase of the moon. The balsamic phase of the moon is ~3 days compared to the 3+years of Saturn’s balsamic phase.

If you are currently moving thru the balsamic phase of Saturn then it’s time to do some serious clutter-cleaning. Prepare by creating some ‘empty space’ for Saturn to fill.

Clutter shows up everywhere.  We get cluttered physically, mentally emotionally,  and every other way that you can imagine.  This is the time to recognize the places in your life where you are: stuck, limited, over-responsible, under responsible, too serious, not serious enough. Re-define your relationship to time and re-set your personal biological clock.
(You can read about the balsamic phase of a cycle here to better understand the mood of these 3 years. You might also find some practical suggestions of appropriate actions to take during this time. Up until now we’ve been applying these phase definitions to the lunar cycle. However, in actuality we can apply these phases to any repeating cycle.)

Among other things the Saturn cycle describes our relationship to time.

That’s Huge!

How we measure & prioritize our time, both as a culture & as individually,  defines us as surely as anything else on this planet.

How we behave towards ourselves and each other is often a response to the often ignored subtle details of time *management*.  Check it out yourself.

The position of Saturn in your chart establishes the beginning of your ‘life pattern’ that will unfold over the next 28-30 years, and then repeat itself one or two more times before you pass on giving you specified times for growth and development. Learning to tell time by cycles and phases can be much less stressful than telling time by years, clocks & calendars.

The Vedic Astrologers have their own rendition of a Saturn Cycle. They call it Sade Sati and it comes at a completely different period of time than the western Saturn return. The jyotishi’s measure this period  in the chart when transiting saturn begins to move into the sign that precedes the natal moon sign. So, for instance, if your natal vedic moon is in Cancer , Sade Sati begins when transiting Saturn moves into Gemini and stays in effect until it gets to Leo. Hrmpf. That’s a really long time. I know. I just completed it and Saturn has truly ruled the roost in my world. Unfortunately for me, I now at the opening act of my western Saturn return.  I guess I still have a lot of time management to learn.

What I love about the philosophy inherent in vedic astrology is that it prescribes remedies. The ancient schools prescribed mantra, ritual, chanting, gemstones, herbs, and yogic practices. The intention was to make peace with the planets (gods & goddesses). In this way we could minimize negative events and engage in activities that bring joy & pleasure.

Stay tuned for more on this topic.

…………more on stress-management

I’ve been facilitating stress management classes since 1989. Originally I targeted real estate agents and looking at current events methinks that I should find a way to re-connect with those struggling souls!

Here’s a tidbit of information I included in my recent yoga classes on stress-management.

When they did all those studies determing what is known as the fight or flight reaction to (perceived?) threats (stress) they used men. After observation those were the words that were chosen to represent surges of adrenalin and cortisol into the human body. Fight. Flight. Sounds simple enough , and it’s quite true. Remember of course that we’re still operating on very old software when it comes to how a human responds to (perceived?) threats & stress.

The tidbit is about how a woman’s body responds to those same adrenal gland secretions.  Recently they duplicated the same circumstances as that for the men and discovered that neither fight or flight were the most common responses for the females.  At All.  What had been observed by the experimenters was that female bodies tended  more to Freeze during stressful conditions. Think ‘deer in the headlights’ kind of reaction. Whaddyathink?

When I took a little survey among  my students, men & women, I discovered that The Freeze feels much more resonate with them than fighting or fleeing….not always, but most of the time.  Nearly all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief by just hearing that alternative F-word. (freeze)

Whatever. Stress is stressful. There’s no doubt about it. Yoga helps. Find a teacher that you resonate with. Go often. Relieve your stress. It’s good for everyone. Yoga Nidra tonite.

Come, The Door is Round and Open. (rumi)

Here’s some information on my studio.

Dear Fellow Bloggers………

Thank you for the kind words I have received from some of you.  Obviously, if you are one who checks in fairly often here you have obviously noted my absence.

I was indeed absent.

It was not pleasant.

I think I’m here again.  Although, the terrain does indeed look/feel a little different.

It’s all good.

Om Shanti Om