Virgo & Divine Discontent

Happy Birthday, Virgos!

Virgo is signified by the Virgin.  Once upon a very long time ago in ancient Greece, a virgin was defined as “one who is whole unto oneself.”  From this Virgo came to be related to wholeness and perfection, the ability to care for oneself, and to serve others in the process of becoming whole again.

The archetype of Virgo is attuned to purity and is acutely aware of when it’s lacking.  In this regard, Virgo has a wonderful spidey sense of what is off kilter, missing, or tainted.  Likewise, Virgo has a knack for identifying what would make this self, other, situation, relationship, etc, more perfect or whole.

Astrologer Steven Forrest calls it “Divine discontent.”  It’s a hunger, drive, and effort put toward making what actually is into what it should be. 

This is a handy gift unless it devolves into its shadow form which is excessive perfectionism, criticism, and nitpicking.

Virgo rules the digestive system.  I’ve read that we have more “brain chemicals” in our guts than in our actual brains.  When we (we all have Virgo in our natal charts) act out the shadow Virgo traits mentioned above (which also include excessive worry, brooding, and anxiety) our guts get stirred up.  This week’s home recording includes practices to calm and balance the digestive system by stimulating nabhi, the navel marma which governs the digestive organs.  And it ends with a visualization for Self-compassion to relax the Inner Critic.

I hope you enjoy!  Please reach out if you have any questions. 

Love,
Shala

PS,
As the Fall Equinox approaches, if you’re looking for a way to mark the turn of the seasons together, please join me and my friend Verena Wieloch for an evening of sound healing, deep breathing, and gentle yoga at the Asheville Yoga Center, Thursday, September 22 from 6:30-8:30 PM.  Here’s a link to register for this event:  Tuning In & Turning Inward: A Gentle Yoga, Breath & Live Music Meditation for the Autumnal Equinox (IN-PERSON) 

Virgo:  53  min.  Flow & Yin Practice (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)

https://vimeo.com/746992904/590fb0b4f5


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Here's my in-person weekly class schedule at Asheville Yoga Center:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Flow & Yin

Thursdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Hot Flow & Yin

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Ishvara Pranidhana and our thousand serious chess moves

We’ve come to the final Niyama (character building practice) from Patanjali’s yoga sutras:  Ishvara Pranidhana.

Ishvara is that from which everything comes and that into which everything dissolves again:  Pure Awareness.

Pranidhana means to fix attention, to devote, to offer.

Simply put, Ishvara Pranidhana is a surrender to God (aka Pure Awareness, Presence, Being).

Sufi poet Hafiz shares a perspective on Surrender in his “Tripping Over Joy” :  

"What is the difference

Between your experience of Existence

And that of a saint?

The saint knows

That the spiritual path

Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved

Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually 

Tripping over Joy

And bursting out in Laughter

And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear, 

I am afraid you still think

You have a thousand serious moves.”

Ha!  Heard.

For more on this topic, here’s a link to a home practice recording:

Ishvara Pranidhana:  44  min. Gentle-ish Practice (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)

https://vimeo.com/740166119/3013896f6b


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Let's celebrate the Fall Equinox together at AYC:


Tuning In & Turning Inward: A Gentle Yoga, Breath & Live Music Meditation for the Autumnal Equinox (IN-PERSON) with Shala Worsley and musician Verena Wieloch

September 22, 2022
6:30PM - 8:30PM
In person at Asheville Yoga Center

with Yoga Instructor Shala Worsley & Musician Verena Wieloch

All Levels Welcome!

And- I picked up another class at the Asheville Yoga Center:

Thursdays 4-5:15pm  Hot Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!

love,
Shala


Here's my full in-person weekly class schedule at Asheville Yoga Center:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Flow & Yin

Thursdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Hot Flow & Yin

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Lion-hearted Leo

It’s Leo season!  Happy Birthday, you big cats!

Healthy Pride and Generosity

Yes, the archetype of Leo the Lion is brave and exuberantly expressive.  But there's an overlooked side to Leo- the capacity for effortless generosity.

The zodiac sign of Leo corresponds with the cultivation of healthy pride and self-expression.  When we feel full of ourselves in the best possible way-  confident, vibrant, radiant-  natural acts of generosity arise spontaneously.  That’s the archetype of Leo in action.  

Leo rules the Sun, so wherever our Sun is positioned in our natal chart is an area of life where we're meant to develop a healthy sense of ego.  When we do that successfully, then we naturally become more Leo-like- magnimous, charitable, generous.  Acts of generosity arise more effortlessly, such as-

• Generosity with our attention to someone who is lost, confused, or struggling emotionally.

• Generosity in celebrating another person’s happiness.

• Capacity to be generous in assuming that people are basically good (without being naive or careless).

• Being generous in our sympathy toward someone who has experienced loss.

• Being generous with compliments and praise of others.

• Being generous with unconditional respect for others.

• Being generous when hearing another person’s opinions.

• Being generous ascribing motives to a person’s action or speech.

• Being generous with our willingness to be helpful.

(Thanks to local Buddhist Dharma teachers, Nancy Spence and Susan Grant for that list.)

Admiration and Appreciation

Another aspect of the Leo archetype is the ability to express and create without fear.  Like the Sun it is ruled by, Leo shines brightly for all to see without a trace of inhibition. 

In its highest expression Leo shares the spotlight with others and is generous with its appreciation, enthsuiastically applauding others for their genuine efforts in creative self-expression. 

Leo Bodyparts

Leo rules the heart, the spine, and upper back (think “strong backbone”).  This week’s sequence includes postures which stimulate Hridayam, the marma region for the heart, as well as those which strengthen the muscles around the spine.  

The recording begins with a brief history and extended practice of Surya Namaskar- the Sun Salutation, a body prayer of appreciation for the Sun.  That’s followed by a yin section with reflections on generosity, creative bravery, and appreciation.

Sound interesting?  Here’s the link:

Leo:  70  min. Flow & Yin (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)

https://vimeo.com/736532720/2579a1cfae


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Oh! And, in case you're interested:  


Tuning In & Turning Inward: A Gentle Yoga, Breath & Live Music Meditation for the Autumnal Equinox (IN-PERSON) with Shala Worsley and musician Verena Wieloch

September 22, 2022
6:30PM - 8:30PM
In person at Asheville Yoga Center

with Yoga Instructor Shala Worsley & Musician Verena Wieloch

All Levels Welcome!

Also- I picked up another class at the Asheville Yoga Center:

Thursdays 4-5:15pm  Hot Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!

love,
Shala


Here's my full in-person weekly class schedule at Asheville Yoga Center:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Flow & Yin

Thursdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Hot Flow & Yin

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Svadhyaya: Taking an honest look at our own minds

Here’s Benny showing his enthusiastic zest for life, relishing the breezes up near Mt. Mitchell.   His loving life smile reminds me of this quote from Swami Sivanada Radha, “After the demands of the ego and its greed have surrendered, the struggle for fulfillment of personal desires lessens; life takes on a new zest like a breath of fresh air.”  

Svadhyaya is this week's topic.  In brief, it's the process of becoming aware of the ego's demands and the ability to recognize when we're caught in the grip of them.  It’s listed as the fourth Niyama in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Svadhyaya is a compound Sanskrit word.

Sva =  self, one’s own, the human soul

Dhyaya =  meditating or contemplating on

Svadhyaya = self-reflection, introspection

As an ancient Hindu practice Svadhyaya was the discipline of memorizing and reciting ancient Vedic texts, presumably so that their spiritual wisdom would be transmitted to the memorizer. 

As a yogic ethic, Svadhyaya has a slightly different meaning.  Yogis practice svadhyaya by using a variety of methods for self-reflection in order to recognize and escape ego traps. 

Traditional yogic methods of svadhyaya include the recitation of purifying mantras and contemplation of mental patterns.  A modern yogini might inquire:  How did I come to be in this messy state of mind?  And how can I get out of it?  

Today’s home practice will include reflections related to Svadhyaya as a means to free ourselves from moments when we’re gripped by ego clinging (Asmita).   Fun stuff, hehe.  No, really, I do think this is fun in that it’s a way for us to return to fully enjoying life more quickly and more often. 

Let’s practice together! 

Here’s a link to the recording:

Svadhyaya:  59  min. Flow & Yin (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)

https://vimeo.com/732239038/e00ab3e22f


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

You can find me in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center.  Here's my weekly class schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!
love, Shala

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Cancer, the Crab, and Emotional Intelligence

Happy Birthday, Cancers! 
 

The zodiac sign of Cancer is associated with:

• Nurturing and caretaking

• Family, lineage, home and roots

• Emotional intelligence and the capacity for perceiving and healing our emotional inheritance (moods passed down through generations)
   

Cancer is depicted by the Crab, an animal whose body is so sensitive to the elements that it must grow a shell to protect itself.  Those who embody the archetype of Cancer wear a metaphoric shell into which they can tuck when they sense the need for recharging and restoration.  All of us embody Cancer, the Crab, when we feel like just chilling at home with our closest friends as well as when we feel the itch to “go home” to see our folks.

This week’s recorded practice will be a strong and slow flow followed by a yin/restorative section.  The strength building is in honor of Cancer’s aim to form strong emotional boundaries.  The fluid movements mimic Cancer’s watery intuitive capacities.  During the yin section there’s an inquiry practice related to our own emotional inheritance followed by a Buddhist Tonglen meditation for emotional healing.  The sequence also focuses on the body parts ruled by Cancer- the chest (nourishing/nurturing) and stomach (healthy digestion).

I hope you enjoy!

Cancer, the Crab, Emotional Health:  80  min. Strong, Slow Flow & Yin/Gentle Yoga 

The link to the video: https://vimeo.com/727153214/3b3387e541

Suggested Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5mwVIe72GyIbeyrfQ4O6nX?si=265606e8a15f49a5


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****
 

You can find me in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center:


July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Co-led with Gota Cebrero; All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my weekly class schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!
love, Shala
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Tapas: Playing with Fire in the Summer Heat

Happy Summer Solstice, Everyone! 

Tapas, the ethic of self-discipline, is associated with fire and the heat that is created when we make a strong effort to form a good habit or correct an unhelpful one.

Practicing ‘tapas’ is like playing with fire.  In order to cook our food we need to apply just the right amount of heat.  Too little fire, and the food doesn’t get cooked.  Too much fire, and the food becomes scorched.  

Proper practice of self-discipline means that we apply just the right amount of effort/heat, and the result is helpful to our bodies and minds.

If we have a tendency to underuse the fire element, this shows up as weak will, lack of discipline.  The result is  that we see no positive gain from our lackluster efforts.

And, if we apply too much heat/effort, then we end up doing more harm than good.  I can go there, and the results aren’t great… Like the summer I decided it was a good idea to race my bike up a steep mountain five days a week during the hottest part of the day as fast as I could go.  Fun, yes!  But it took a toll on my body, resulting in a number of heat related symptoms.

What’s your relationship to the fire element?   Here in Western North Carolina, we recently had our first week of 90 degree weather this year.  During summer, the season ruled by Pitta Dosha, the proper practice of tapas will include strategies to KEEP COOL. 

With that in mind, this week’s recording offers an asana practice which calms the fire element through forward folds, slow and flowing movements, cooling pranayama, and time to chill out in yin and restorative poses.  

I hope you enjoy!

Tapas/Calming Inner Fire:   63 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle Yoga (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/722627188/2d0c40c7ca


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****
 

You can find me in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center:


July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Co-led with Gota Cebrero; All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my weekly class schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

 

Gemini: The Teacher and the Storyteller

Happy Birthday, Geminis!

Evolutionary astrologer Steven Forrest describes Gemini as being represented by the twin archetypes of the Teacher and the Storyteller.  These two archetypes exemplify the Gemini qualities of curiosity, open-minded perception, and communication.  He says the best teachers and storytellers convey information in a way that lead the listener’s mind to stop in its usual and predictable tracks in order to consider something entirely different.  In his Book of Air, Steven Forrest describes a Gemini breakthrough moment when his main spiritual teacher said something to him in greeting that, “stopped the endless flow of business-as-usual-reality affirming words in my head.”

I love that:  Words that stop the mind’s habitual process in order to reach a fresh perspective.  It reminds me of the modern mystic Byron Katie and her method of questioning one’s own stress inducing thoughts.  

In this recorded practice we’ll honor Gemini through storytelling, a Byron Katie-inspired inquiry practice, and asana which stimulates pranic flow in the Gemini ruled body parts:  shoulders, arms, hands, fingers, and the nervous system as a whole.

I hope you enjoy!

Standing sequence & floor postures:   51 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle Yoga (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/717292278/f4d41eed95


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

You can find me in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center:


July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Co-led with Gota Cebrero; All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my weekly class schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Santosha: the Yogic Ethic of Contentment

Once upon a time there was a Buddhist teacher who said that all spiritual practices aim at making us happier, but there is only one practice brings lasting happiness.  That is the practice of Contentment.

Patanjali seems to agree.  In book 2, Sutra 42, he says: “By contentment, supreme joy is gained.”  (Satchitananda, 2.42)  He lists Santosha, Contentment, as the second of five niyamas, which are yogic ethics related to creating a good relationship with oneself.

Supreme joy, the highest joy, unshakable joy.  Where do we find that?  Certainly not in the outer world of constantly changing circumstances.  One week life seems to be progressing in a gentle and easy way and the next day there are squirrels in the attic, a flat tire, or much worse…  

And isn’t it morally wrong to practice contentment in the face of climate disaster, war, injustice, inequity, and all the suffering in the world? 

The Buddha and Patanjali were not suggesting that we practice contentment and take no action to curtail suffering in the world.  This ethic is about gaining insight and some measure of control over the human tendency to yo-yo back and forth between a state of attachment and aversion, craving and avoidance, raga and dvesha (in Sanskrit).  That’s something we can do while we are simultaneously taking right action to end suffering for ourselves and others.

Yoga philosophy suggests that avidya is at the root of discontentment.  Avidya is the human proclivity to be born into this world and immediately become distracted by our sense perceptions.  We taste something, and we either like it or don’t.  Same with what we see, hear, smell, and touch.  Distracted by these many likes and dislikes, life becomes mostly about getting what we want and avoiding what we don’t want.  We easily forget where we came from, who and what we truly are.  

Echkart Tolle talks often about turning our attention to a deep, abiding presence at the core of our Being.  He describes a connection to Being as the “cream”, and everything else in the world of form (our external life) is like “skimmed milk” in comparison.  

The practice of contentment is not something we can do or create, but we can orient our attention to what is already and always there.  When we take our attention deeper than our surface desires and repulsions and into the open, spacious, fullness of our Being contentment is present effortlessly.

So simple, so hard.  The other day dealing with a traffic slow down on the I-240 bridge, oooph... so much dvesha!  So much wanting the situation to be different than it was.  I had to remind myself every few minutes to just cheeeellll.   Car yoga:  sense the tension (physical, mental, emotinal), relax, repeat.  

That’s the basic, underlying theme of each one of these home practice recordings.  So here’s another!  This one has a few reflections on Raga/Dvesha and Santosha woven into the gentle section.  I hope you enjoy.  

Love, Shala

Santosha:   72 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle Yoga (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/708777396/2afeaf2b24


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****
 

You can find me in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center:


July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Co-led with Gota Cebrero; All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my weekly class schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Would love to see you there!
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

They say the Buddha was a Taurus

Happy birthday to all those with the Sun sign of Taurus!

Legend says that Gautama the Buddha was a Taurus, and that makes perfect sense.  There’s a Buddhist tale about a student of Zen saying to a Zen master something like-  “Hey, I’ve heard the other teacher is very accomplished and can walk on water.  So… what can you do?”  And the Zen Master replies, “Well, I chop wood and carry water.”   This practical, earthy response is indicative of the Taurean path to awakening which is to be in complete presence with ordinary life as it shows up each moment.  

To celebrate Taurus this edition’s recording will include mindfulness practices and a focus on the body parts ruled by Tauruss- the shoulders and neck.  The vinyasa portion will be slow, steady, and strength building in honor of Taureans’ preference to NOT be rushed, and the Yin section will bring together the two wings of mindfulness:  Compassion & Wisdom.

If Mindfulness, Pranayama & Restorative Yoga sounds like a good combination to you, please join my friend Gota Cerbero and I for a co-led weekend workshop in-person at Asheville Yoga Center July 8-10.  After 2 years away from one another due to Covid-19, it’ll be grounding to spend a whole weekend together!  Registration info is at the bottom of this email.

Taurus/Mindfulness:  79 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/703437743/dc1abfcbd5


*****
This recording is offered for free.  If you enjoy it and know someone else who would, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

You can find me in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center:


July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Co-led with Gota Cebrero; All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my weekly class schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

with love,
Shala

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Spring Cleaning: Round two- featuring Fire, Air, & Space

Akasha:  Space

Space is the first of five Vedic elements, which are the elemental forces of Nature described in the ancient Vedas.  Everything we can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell is a combination of these 5 Vedic elements, the Pancha Maha Bhutas.

Akasha is the first element that came into existence.  It is the container for all other elements.

The qualities of space are determined by what it lacks.  

Space is cool in that it lacks warmth (like fire).

Space is light, in that it lacks heaviness (like earth and water).

Space is immobile, because it lacks a propulsive force (like air).

Space is subtle, in that it lacks an obvious, tangible presence of the other four elements.

Space is omnipresent, in that it infuses all the other elements.  It is everywhere, holds everything, rejects nothing.

When the element of Space is acting harmoniously in us, we feel accepting of ourselves and others.  One of my favorite Vasant Lad quotes is, “Space equals freedom and freedom equals love.”

When we cultivate the Space element in our yoga practice, we move toward the part of ourselves that is infinitely spacious, that which contains everything and rejects nothing:  the eternal, loving Witness.

The second half of this week’s recording incorporates the element of Space through meditation and reflections in restorative postures.  Akasha is a perfect element to cultivate during the Kapha season (late Winter, early Spring) which is dominated by Water and Earth, and deficient in Fire, Air, and Space. 

Read below for more on the elemental approach to this week’s recording.

Here’s the link:

Spring Cleaning with Fire, Air, Space:  59 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/700956052/1b1e9dc0bb

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****
 

Vayu:  Wind!

Has anyone else noticed the extra WIND this Spring?  The Vata part of me finds it unsettling.  If someone out there knows why it’s been unusually breezy in Western North Carolina this season, I’d love to hear from you.    

Those of you who are not Vata predominant might be loving all this windy weather.  It’s a wonderful antidote for the heaviness of Kapha accumulation that can occur in cool, damp, early spring.

Vayu, the Air element, is the second of the 5 Vedic elements of Yoga and Ayurveda.  A better translation of Vayu is “wind,” because it is prana in motion.  Vayu facilitates all movements in us from the movement of food through the digestive tract to the movement of electrical impulses in our nervous system as well as the movement of thoughts through our minds.  

When the Air/Wind element is diminished, we feel dull, sluggish, slow, depressed and lacking in vitality.  Stimulating the Wind element in practice can put a spring back into our step.  To cultivate Vayu in this week’s practice  we'll mobilize stagnant prana from where it tends to hide out in the joints, do enlivening pranayama practices, and include movements that change direction like the wind.

Agni:  Fire

The third element that is important to incorporate in a Spring Cleaning, Kapha balancing practice is fire!  To stoke agni in this week’s practice we’ll build heat through quick movements, straight lines, and twists.  We’ll also practice Agni Sara Dauti.

Agnisara Dhauti is one of Shatkarmas, or traditional cleansing practices in Hatha Yoga.  It’s mentioned in several hatha yoga texts including the 18th century Gheranda Samhita.

Agni = Fire

Sara = Essence

Dhauti = to Wash

Agnisara Dhauti = a cleansing practice done to purify the fire element

Agnisara dhauti tones and cleanses the abdominal organs and digestive tract, the seat of fire element in the body.  Note:  Avoid agni sara if you have a hiatal hernia, are menstruating or pregnant, as well as if you have ulcers, cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure.

Be in touch if you have any questions about incorporating Space, Wind, and Fire into your yoga practice this Spring. 

 

And, btw, I'd love to see you in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center:


July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Please join my good friend and colleague Gota Cebrero and I for this co-led weekend workshop.   All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my in-person schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

with love,
Shala
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Saucha: Purification, Cleanliness, & Spring Cleaning

Hi Everyone,
 

Happy (breezy, slow to get going) Spring!  This week’s recording is a Spring Cleaning practice in honor of Kapha season and the first Niyama- cleanliness, purity.

Here’s the link; scroll down for more about Saucha.

Recorded Practice:
This recording is a 66 min. mixed practice:  Vinyasa Flow & Gentle/Yin.  If you want to do only the gentle portion of the practice, then fast forward to minute 35.

Saucha:  66 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/694160406/4bdbc1d86c

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com
Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Saucha, the first Niyama

Over the last six months, we’ve explored all 5 Yamas listed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.    This week we broaden our focus to include the second limb, Niyama:  cultivating a healthy relationship with ourselves. 

The 5 ways Patanjali encourages us to create a healthy relationship with ourselves are:  Saucha (cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (discipline), Svadyaya (self-reflection), and Ishvara Pranidhana (remembrance of Presence, the Eternal).
 

Let’s take a closer look at the first Niyama, Saucha- cleanliness.  Here are the two sutras Patanjali gives as a hint for how to think about and practice Saucha:

II.40  By purification arises disgust for one’s own body and contact with other bodies.

II.41  Moreover, one gains purity of sattva, cheerfulness of mind, one-pointed focus, mastery over the senses, and fitness for self-realization.

(from the translation by Sri Swami Satchitananda)

That first one is a chin scratcher, but the second one sounds encouraging.  

“By purification arises disgust for one’s own body and contact with other bodies.”  Disgust is a problematic word when used to describe one’s own or someone else’s body.  Perhaps an alternate translation would be:

“By purification arises dissatisfaction with what it feels like to be out of balance in body/mind and the desire to avoid habits, people, and situations that contribute to that imbalance.”

It’s like this- if you’re feeling fresh and cheerful because you’ve just showered and you’re wearing bright, white, new, clean clothes (symbolic of a clear mind and body), you might be more mindful than normal about avoiding mud puddles or hugging people covered in mud.  Once we take the time to cultivate a clear and clean body and mind, we gain motivation to stay away from foods, media, and situations that are harmful, negative, and unhelpful.

The second sutra describing Saucha goes on to say that by practicing cleanliness we become cheerful, harmonious, and more likely to connect with our deepest Self, Presence.  Nice.  So how do we practice Saucha?  Here’s a list of few ways to practice this ethic:

• Movement for physical cleansing: build heat, move the body in every direction it’s willing to go.

• Pranayama for moving stagnant prana:  breathe deeply!

• Meditation for clearing dusty, old, unhelpful mental habits

• Fasting from certain foods unhelpful to one’s particular constitution and from various media forms that stress or dull the mind

• Refreshing the sense perceptions:  Tongue scraping, Ayurvedic eye drops, Nasya for ears and nose, Exfoliation of the skin

From an Ayurvedic perspective, Spring is the perfect time to refresh our practice of Saucha.  I offer individual consultations for those who would like guidance on creating a personalized Spring Cleanse.  Email me, or respond to this newsletter, if you’d like to set up an appointment.

 

I'd love to see you in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center. 

July 8-10 Restorative Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Please join my good friend and colleague Gota Cebrero and I for this co-led weekend workshop.   All are welcome! Register at https://www.youryoga.com/300-hour-tt/

Here's my in-person schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

with love,
Shala
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

 

Aries & the Astrological New Year

Happy birthday, Aries!

And happy astrological new year to everyone!  Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and represents beginnings, fresh starts, and charging ahead onto new paths.  Like the first green plant shoots we see coming out of the ground in the Northern Hemisphere this time of year, Aries is associated with being first, taking initiative, quick and decisive action.

To mark the Spring Equinox this week’s recording will feature a Warrior series to embody the boldness of Aries  as well as yin-time to shine the sunny spotlight of awareness onto fresh, creative shoots of inspiration that might be pushing up through our psyches in sync with Spring.  Scroll down to find the link to the recording.

Young Aries vs. Wise Aries

As the Sun passes through Aries this year, which archetypal expression is rising in you?  Young Aries or Wise Aries?

Young Aries energy is fresh, brash, headstrong, acts before thinking and can get us into a mess of trouble.

Wise Aries energy is passionate, quick, bold action inspired by a connection with the depths of one’s Being and in service to something larger than the individual.

Recorded Practice:

This recording is a 71 min. mixed practice:  Vinyasa Flow & Gentle/Yin.  If you want to do only the gentle portion of the practice, then fast forward to minute 33.

Aries/Spring:  71 min. Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/687469650/d56ecfc12e

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

I'd love to see you in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center.  Here's my in-person schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

with love,
Shala
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Nadi Shodhana: Alternate Nostril Breathing

Hi Friends,

Next Friday, March 18, there will be a full moon in the sign of Virgo.  When the Moon is full in the sky, it means that the Sun and Moon stand opposite one another from our perspective.  One way to sync up with this cosmic balancing act is to do practices which facilitate a balance between the Solar and Lunar qualities within us.  Nadi Shodhana is such a practice.

Nadi Shodhana, unpacked

Nadi Shodhana, commonly called Alternate Nostril Breathing, is one of my favorite pranayama practices, because it’s a method of finding balance in all “weather”, circumstances, inner and outer conditions.  

Nadi Shodhana is a good friend (technique we can rely on) when it feels like the soil around our feet is shifting, when we feel keyed up or knocked down, when we are ready to find our way to inner harmony despite our external life situation.

On a deeper level, nadi shodhana balances two main nadis, or energetic channels.  In nadi shodhana we’re using the breath as an energetic pipe cleaner to purify the openings of these two nadis which are accessed through the nostrils.

Nadi means a tube or vessel that carries something.  In the case of this breathing practice it refers to two of the most important energy channels, the Ida Nadi and the Pingala Nadi.  The Ida Nadi carries lunar energy which calms us down, puts us in touch with parts of ourselves that are typically hidden, our Yin-sides.  It’s accessed through the left nostril and is associated with the right hemisphere of the brain.  The Pingala Nadi carries solar energy which helps us with discernment and taking necessary action.  It’s accessed through the right nostril and is associated with the left hemisphere of the brain.

Shodhana means to cleanse or purify.  So, while Nadi Shodhana is often called Alternate Nostril Breathing, a more direct translation would be Energetic Channel Purifying Breath.

This week’s recorded practice integrates Nadi Shodhana into both the Vinyasa Flow AND Yin portions of this combo practice.  It’s not traditional to do nadi shodhana in the middle of a vinyasa sequence.  But, I find it helpful in cultivating deep, one pointed concentration as well as establishing a harmonized, or more sattvic, state in the postures.  If you decide to try it, I’d love to hear what you notice in your own body/mind as a result.  

If you want to do only the Gentle/Yin/Restorative portion of the practice, then fast forward to minute 24 of the recording.

Recorded Practice:

Nadi Shodhana:   46 min Vinyasa Flow & Yin/Gentle  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/687469650/d56ecfc12e

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$10 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

I'd love to see you in the studio at Asheville Yoga Center.  Here's my in-person schedule:

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

with love,
Shala
 

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Pisces, Oneness, & Feet

Happy Birthday, Pisces!

Pisces, the Zodiac sign of the Fishes, is related to water, specifically the oceans and the ocean of Oneness.  

When I think of Pisces what comes to mind is-

Imagination, Sleeping and Dreaming, Being more than Doing

Dissolution, Merging, Oneness, and Compassion

The Gentle recording this week features an intersection of restorative poses, pranayama and meditation.  I hope it floats you softly into the Ocean of Oneness.

And, since Pisces rules the feet, they will be the featured body part in the Vinyasa recording.

Enjoy! And Love!

Shala

PS,

I’ll be back in the studio THIS WEEK!  Starting Wednesday, March 2, my weekly live-stream classes will transition to in-person practices at Asheville Yoga Center.  If you’ve been missing breathing and moving in the room together as much as I have, please join me.  I’d LOVE to see you there!  (masks optional)

Mondays in-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

4-5:15  Warm Gentle, Restorative, & Yin

5:30-6:45  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Wednesdays In-person at Asheville Yoga Center:

12-1:15  Hot Vinyasa Flow & Yin

Recorded Practices:

Pisces & The Feet:   34 min Vinyasa Flow  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/682916237/240e58fb2c
 

Pisces & Oneness:  48 min Gentle/Restorative sequence  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/682920382/b0dd4baf4e

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Love,
Shala

*********

Thich Nhat Hanh's poem written below is a poignant example of the Pisces experience of Oneness:

Please Call Me By My True Names 
by Thich Nhat Hanh

(from Call Me By My True Names, The Collected Poems of Thich Nhat Hanh)

Don’t say that I will depart tomorrow— even today I am still arriving.

Look deeply: every second I am arriving to be a bud on a Spring branch, to be a tiny bird, with still-fragile wings, learning to sing in my new nest, to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower, to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry, to fear and to hope. The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death of all that is alive.

I am a mayfly metamorphosing on the surface of the river. And I am the bird that swoops down to swallow the mayfly.

I am a frog swimming happily in the clear water of a pond. And I am the grass-snake that silently feeds itself on the frog.

I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones, my legs as thin as bamboo sticks. And I am the arms merchant, selling deadly weapons to Uganda.

I am the twelve-year-old girl, refugee on a small boat, who throws herself into the ocean after being raped by a sea pirate.

And I am also the pirate, my heart not yet capable of seeing and loving.

I am a member of the politburo, with plenty of power in my hands. And I am the man who has to pay his “debt of blood” to my people dying slowly in a forced-labor camp.

My joy is like Spring, so warm it makes flowers bloom all over the Earth. My pain is like a river of tears, so vast it fills the four oceans.

Please call me by my true names, so I can hear all my cries and laughter at once, so I can see that my joy and pain are one.

Please call me by my true names, so I can wake up and the door of my heart could be left open, the door of compassion.
************
 

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Aparigraha: The Art of Letting Things Flow and Letting Things Go

Aparigraha is the practice of non-greed, non-hoarding, non-possessiveness.  It is one of the 5 yamas, one of the 5 ways to be nice to others, listed as part of the first limb of the 8 limbed path of Raja Yoga.    

Let’s look at the related riddle that Patanjali gives in Book 2, Sutra 39.  It’s one of my favorites, because it’s so bizarre:

From Swami Satchitananda’s translation:

“When non-greed is confirmed, a thorough illumination of the how and why of one’s birth comes.” 

Repeat that a few times and see what arises in your mind.  “When non-greed is confirmed, a thorough illumination of the how and why of one’s birth comes...”

There are many ways to unpack this riddle, but what stands out to me is that the point of life is not about accumulation of STUFF.  Life is not about buying and amassing material things, holding on to more than we need.  When we hunt for and eradicate erroneous personal beliefs that lead to gathering and holding onto STUFF, what arises in the cleared out space of awareness is the true purpose of our lives.  

What is the true purpose of one’s life?  What is our mission?  What's our calling?  Why were we born?  Answers to these salient questions naturally arise when we create the proper conditions through concentration practices such as those found in the hatha yoga tradition (asana, pranayama, bandha, mudra, and meditation). 

Another way to understand the riddle given in the sutra on Aparigraha is this:

Aparigraha is NON-greed.  What is the opposite of greed?  The opposite of holding on to more than we need is gladly letting go of excess.  To practice aparigraha we can consider:  what do I have in abudnance that I can easily share?  The point of life is not to have it all for ourselves, rather to gladly share what we have with others.
 

At the end of each recording this week there is a brief reflection related to Aparigraha and connecting with the deeper purpose of our lives.

I hope you enjoy!
 

Aparigraha:   29 min. Vinyasa Flow  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/678238004/e503c54206
 

Aparigraha:  37 min. Gentle, Restorative, Yin sequence  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/678216372/1726fc9009

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Love,
Shala

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Stoking Inner Fire

We’re having a real Winter here in WNC for a change, and it’s taking an effort to stay warm.  This week’s practices are all about stoking the inner fire.  
 

Increasing Agni & Decreasing Ama

When agni the fire element is low we can experience symptoms such as:  low energy, lethargy, low metabolism, sluggish digestion, brain fog, feeling depressed and lacking motivation, feeling chilly, withdrawing from others, stiff joints, and poor circulation.
 

To increase agni in the vinyasa flow practice, we’ll use Bhastrika, the full version of Breath of Fire.  Bhastrika means Bellows.  In this strong breathing practice, our diaphragm works like a bellows forcing air in both directions, in and out.  The effect is drying, heating, and invigorating.  It’s a great antidote for Kapha dosha which accumulates due to excess mucus and cold in the body.
 

Be cautious with Bhastrika pranayama if you have irregular blood pressure, heart issues, or eye problems (such as glaucoma).  If Bhastrika causes you to become light-headed or dizzy, stop the practice and go back to normal breathing.

In the gentle practice we’ll stoke agni by gradually building warmth in the body as well as practicing the Agni Mudra, which is a hand mudra used for stimulating fire, increasing metabolism, and balancing the digestive function in the body.

Tea to Detoxify Ama

The symptoms of low agni above can be accompanied by an increase of ama, which is a sticky, slimy and aggravating residue produced by the body when digestion is incomplete.  Ama tea is a great remedy for this situation.  It’s a simple blend of kitchen spices that increases agni and decreases ama and has been a favorite of mine this winter.

In her book Healing the Thyroid with Ayurveda, Marianne Teitelbaum offers this recipe for Ama Tea:

To a thermos full of hot water (that has been boiled for up to 5 minutes), add “2 green cardamom pods, 2 thin slices of ginger root, 2 black peppercorns, 1 whole allspice berry, 1 clove, and a ½ inch piece of cinnamon stick.  Seal the thermos and let the spices steep for 20 minutes.”  Sip slowly as much as you’d like at a time over the course of 4 hours.

If you try it, let me know what you think!

Stay warm,

Shala
 

*****
Bhastrika:     35 min. Vinyasa Flow Sequence  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/675477631/ded3032108
 

Agni Mudra:   31 min. Gentle Yoga Sequence (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/675472920/2ce8fe3f9c

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Aquarius, Uranus & the Vijnanamaya Kosha

Happy Birthday, Aquarians!

As the Sun passes through the sign of Aquarius, I’m thinking about the significance of that sign and its modern ruling planet, Uranus.

Aquarius keywords include maverick, inventive, unorthodox, quirky, unique, and individualistic.

Uranus, The Great Awakener, is present at moments in our lives when we are liberated from old conditioned thinking and follow an urge for a breakthrough to a radical shift in consciousness.

In this week’s recordings, you’ll notice my Aquarian approach to sun salutations as well as the subtle beckoning of Uranus, The Great Awakener, in the gentle sequence.  I’ll share the connection between the archetype of Uranus and the Vijnanamaya Kosha.  Read below for more.

*****
Aquarius:    40 min. Vinyasa Flow Sequence  (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/672769618/b9c871b2a2

Uranus & the Vijnanamaya Kosha:  44 min. Gentle Yoga Sequence (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/672762306/a520ced839

*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

Unconventional approach to Surya Namaskar

If you’ve been following along with the recorded practices, or if you used to do in-person practices with me at the Asheville Yoga Center, you know that my approach to Sun Salutations is somewhat Aquarian.  I start with the standard Surya Namaskar A + B from the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition and then add in an unconventional varying series of standing poses and breathing practices intended to balance all the major body parts and clear the mind.  The intent is the same as the more traditional versions of Surya Namaskar:  to recognize and honor the power of the Sun and seek to embody warmth, vitality, and brightness in the present moment.

Uranus, The Great Awakener

The modern ruler of Aquarius is Uranus, The Great Awakener.  The Uranian archetype connects us to the Vijnanamaya Kosha, the fourth layer of our being which holds insight, awareness, and wisdom.

Uranus has an exhilarating energetic quality similar to electricity and is felt during sudden changes, upheaval, and surprises that lead to epiphanies, breakthroughs, and insights.  Aha moments are Uranian as are flashes of knowing, wake up calls, and envisioning an ideal future.  

In the deep stretch and restorative section of our practice times together, we invite in the archetype of Uranus through breathing practices and spaciousness.  The deep breathing helps to get prana moving in our systems, so that we feel alert, alive, and charged with Presence.  Taking time in each pose, we allow space for Uranus, the Great Awakener, to communicate to us through images and flashes of insight which are typically covered up by an overly cluttered mind. 

It's a pleasure practicing with you, 

Shala

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is one of 5 ethical behavior modifications listed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras commonly translated as:  celibacy. 

Brahma is a Sanskrit word with many meanings.  Big, divine, supreme intelligence, ultimate reality and True Self are among a few of them.

Charya means:  to walk toward, to master or to act according to one’s code of conduct.

Putting those two words together, a more literal translation of Brahmacharya is:  to commit to a course of action that leads to unification with one’s True Self, or Pure Awareness.

Once upon a time in yogic history, being a Brahmacharya was a phase of a young student’s life when they were expected to remain celibate, in order to gain vital energy and dedicate that energy to the pursuit of spiritual studies and ultimately the unifciation with ultimate reality.

The Upanishads mention that people of any age can become a Brahmacharya and enter a phase of life dedicated to the pursuit of spiritual understanding.  That phase is understood to be enhanced by the practice of various restraints related to diet and sex.

In sutra 2.38 Patanjali says:  “By practicing brahmacharya, vigor is gained.”  The suggestion is that we waste a lot of our life force with concerns related to our sexuality.  Brahmacarya suggests that we turn the spotlight of our attention to the part of us that is beyond sexuality.   

One way to practice the ethic of brahmacarya is to consciously set aside our sexual identities when we “come to the mat.”  Who are we if we don’t identify ourselves as a sexual being?  What happens in our minds if we temporarily eliminate the need for thought loops related to sexuality, gender, or attractiveness?  Let’s try it and see. 

This week’s recordings are an invitation to try that experiment.  Each session begins with the conscious intention to create a purposefully neutral space while we move through asana, pranayama, and meditation.  I hope you enjoy!

Love,  
Shala

 

Brahmacharya:  29 min.  Vinyasa Flow Sequence    (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/667808765/21c00a7b71
 

Brahmacharya:  37 min. Gentle Sequence    (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/667822482/a0c2317df4


*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Introducing: Kapha

Brrrr!  I don’t know where you are in the world, but here in Asheville, NC we’re finally feeling the snap of cold winter air.  With last week's snow and this coming weekend’s forecast of cold rain/snow mix we’re getting a taste of Kapha weather.   Vata and Kapha doshas both hold court during Winter.  Vata weather is dry and cold, while Kapha weather is cold and wet.  Vata naturally rises from Fall into Winter and Kapha naturally increases from mid-Winter into Spring.

Kapha dosha is a combination of Water and Earth elements.  Its main function is to generate structure and cohesion.

The qualities of Kapha are steady, stable, slow, heavy, cold, and soft.  

Kapha tends to increase during times when there is less movement than normal such as the stillness of mid-winter when many animals are burrowed in the ground, periods when we tend to oversleep or take extra naps, during monotonous activities, and when there is lack of change in our routines and life situations.  

During Kapha times, we’re more prone to weight gain, sluggish digestion, congestion, seasonal allergies, water retention, lack of motivation, lethargy, and depression.  

In order to stay balanced and counter Kapha’s effect, we can move and breathe in a way that helps us feel light and invigorated.   Our practice mantra for Kapha pacification is:  Heat up!  Lighten up! And Change things up!

If Vata is high for you right now, and post-holiday Winter weather is creating immune suppression, lack or grounding, or anxiety, then go back to the Vata pacification practices from this past fall.  

On the other hand, if you’re feeling any of the Kapha symptoms listed above and want to feel a rush of energy and invigoration, try these Kapha pacifying practices.  They include postures and pranayama that help to wake up the main sites of Kapha in the body:  the stomach, chest and lungs.

I hope you enjoy!
Shala

Kapha Pacification:  41 min.  Vinyasa Flow Sequence    (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/665209621/0a4c643e04
 

Kapha Pacification:  38 min. Gentle Sequence    (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/665206011


*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.

Post holiday blues remedy: Viloma on the Inhales

After the holiday hullabaloo has passed, the transition into the quiet of Winter can sometimes be jarring and accompanied by bouts of seasonal blues.  This week to remedy that and aid in a smooth transition from celebration mode to deep Winter meditation mode we’ll practice Viloma Pranayama on the inhalations.

Viloma means “against the grain.”  When you rub your hand against the grain of wood it feels rough.  That’s the way viloma pranayama feels as you divide the inhalations or exhalations into several parts.  

Dividing the inhalations into several parts is supposed to be invigorating.  If you’re feeling a little post holiday blues, then this week’s recordings are for you.  When practiced in the right way at the right time, viloma on the inhalations will lead us to a state that is uplifted, alert, cheerfully focused, and ready to enter a meditative state.

Enjoy!  Love,

Shala

 

Viloma, inhalations:  26 min.  Vinyasa Flow Sequence    (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/662648553/213bbaf8c7
 

Viloma, inhalations:  31 min. Gentle Sequence    (suggested Spotify playlist is in the Vimeo description that you’ll see once you click the link.)
https://vimeo.com/662645731/db0c613a20 


*****
These recordings are offered for free.  If you enjoy them and know someone else who would like them too, please forward this email :-)

If you’re able and would like to make a $1-$5 love offering/recording, many thanks!

Paypal =  shalarain@gmail.com

Venmo = @Shala-Worsley
*****

If you'd like to receive these emails/recordings when I send them out, click this link to subscribe.