Seasons Greetings!
Winter solstice is a time of seasonal rhythm that stretches into long dark nights and presents us with the hope and promise of a new year. Wherever you find yourself during this holiday season may you know lasting peace and happiness!
In this issue:
In service,
Winter Solstice Retreat
This year I am pleased to invite you to my first ever winter solstice retreat at Kripalu center. Essentially the retreat will be a way of exploring mindfulness to embody space for the new year. If you are interested in reading more click here or to register visit kripalu.org.
Road Scholar
For many of us managing to make the trip to Kripalu in the Berkshires is challenging. I've heard this first hand recently from more than a few students so I am making the space in 2008 to offer a few workshops 'on the road' at local studios. If you have a favorite local yoga studio that hosts workshops and are interested in having me visit locally please let me know by sending an email.
Drawing of 'heart posture' is excerpted from Ancient Way to Keep Fit, copyright 1992. Shelter Publications, Inc. www.shelterpub.com
The heart plays a core role not only in our physical bodies but also our collective psychology and myths At the same time cardiovascular disease has become a leading cause of death and effects about 1 in 4 people in the US and Canada.
About a decade ago I discovered an ancient Chinese yoga posture for relieving aches in the heart. Recently I have begun to teach this pose and it captivates the students.
I plan to record and release a yoga audio sequence around this pose in 2008. Here are the details: from standing, turn right foot outward 60-90 degress and rotate at the hip, place the left forearm to rest on the shelf of the low back, bend 90 degrees at the right elbow as well as the shoulder and make a soft fist to squeeze blood out of the palm, after lengthening the spine turn the face to the left, and with awareness relaxed at the chest sustain the pose for 2 to 8 breaths depending on comfort. Email comments
If you are interested in looking ahead and making plans for 2008 and attending any of my workshops please check my current listing Kripalu events.
If you have not yet enjoyed the very effective 21 minute guided relaxation audio - do go ahead and download a copy of the audio as a gift. The track is an extended version of the relaxation on my latest CD - Gentle Yoga CD Blade of Grass. And if you are interested take a moment to browse the reviews and perhaps even purchase your own copy direct from me online and I'll ship it to you for free.