Sunday at Noon ~ Level One Yoga ~ Starseed Yoga in Montclair

2-13-11 Love.

"Love is mysterious.  We don't know what it is, but we know when it is present.  If we seek love, we must ask where it is to be found.  It is only here in this moment.  To love in the past is simply a memory.  To love in the future is a fantasy.  There is only one place where love can be found, where intimacy and awakening can be found, and that is in the present.  Only in the intimacy of the timeless present can we awaken.  This intimacy connects us to one another, allows us to belong, and in this belonging, we experience love.  In this we move beyond our seperateness, our contraction , our limited sense of ourselves.  Learn to listen to that voice within yourself just here and now.  Your body and mind will become clear and you will realize the unity of all things.  Do not doubt the possibilities because of the simplicity of these teachings.  If you can't find truth right where you are, where else do you think you will find it?"
       
                   - Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart, p. 333

Supta Baddha Konasana (supported bound angle pose) with two bolsters in a "t" like a seasaw, blankets under the hands and blocks under the knees for reading and introduction. 
Sit up in Sukhasana (easy seat) for breath awareness and 3 OM's.
Sukhasana/Virasana hip opener, Dandasana (staff pose), Paschimottanasana (west back stretch) on the exhale and as you inhale slide fingertips up the legs reaching the arms overhead into Urdhva Hastasana (upward facing palms pose).  Vinyasa of these two movements as a prep for Navasana (boat pose) - engage the belly to spine and use your core here!  Navasana, table, cat/cow, Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) - plank 3x.  Balasana (child's pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana - plank 3x. Lunge, Anjaneyasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana.  Virabhadrasana II (warrior II), Parsvakonasana (side angle pose) - reverse Vira II vinyasa - moving between the two poses 3x using the breath to guide you, keeping the lower body stable here only move the upper body.   Uttanasana (standing forward bend), Tadasana (mountain pose), Urdhva Hastasana, Uttanasana - Utkatasana (chair pose) 2x, Virabhadrasana I (warrior I), Parsvottanasana (intense side stretch) - Vira I vinyasa moving with the breath between these two poses, Parivrtta Trikonasana (revolved triangle pose).  Dandasana, Paschimottanasana, foot massage, hip craddle and circles, Janu Sirsasana (head to knee pose), Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana (revolved head to knee pose), Savasana (corpse pose) with shortened guided relaxtion using the activate/release technique.  Played the sacral chakra crystal bowl coming out of Savasana.  

"Love is mysterious. We don't know what it is, but we know when it is present. If we seek love, we must ask where it is to be found. It is only here in this moment. To love in the past is simply a memory. To love in the future is a fantasy. There is only one place where love can be found, where intimacy and awakening can be found, and that is in the present. Only in the intimacy of the timeless present can we awaken. This intimacy connects us to one another, allows us to belong, and in this belonging, we experience love."


                  - Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart, p. 333

Ending Peace Chant:  Asato Maa Sat Gamaya Tamaso Maa Jytoir Gamaya Mritor Maa Amritam Gamaya
Lead us from unreal to Real.  Lead us from darkness to the Light.  Lead us from the fear of death to the knowledge of immortality. 
OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Lokaah Samatastaah Sukhino Bhavantu - May the entire universe be filled with Peace and Joy, Love and Light.
Namaste.  Happy Valentine's Day!