Fasly-Kam

Yamas are the first of the eight limbs of Yoga; the first of the eight guiding principles for helping to lead a yogic lifestyle, or, more generally, to "calm the fluctuations of the mind" (for whatever purpose you choose). The word "yama" comes from the verbal root [yam] which means to subdue or to control, which implies that these "yamas" are controls or acts of curbing or suppressing our behavior (towards others or the outer world) to help us become more "yogic." There are five of these principles, or disciplines, in the yamas, as follows: Ahimsa: non harming. Ahimsa   is a term meaning 'not to injure' and 'compassion'. The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hiṃs – to strike; hiṃsā is injury or harm, a-hiṃsā is the opposite of this. Satya: truth. Satya   is the Sanskrit word for truth. It also refers to a virtue in Indian religions, referring to being truthful in one's thought, speech and action. Asteya: non-stealing. As...

Is it judgement, as a trained practitioner /instructor, when you are a participant in a yoga class and you see someone doing something so wrong for their body that you want to reach out and say "wait - that's going to hurt...please don't." Or is it concern? Or busybodiness, or nosiness, or just plain invasive? What is the boundary? I have to think about it in this context: If I was a nutritionist, would I stop someone who was overweight at a restaurant from dipping their french friend in cheddar cheese soup, drinking a milkshake then going outside for a smoke? But then again, coming to a yoga class to learn is different than coming to a restaurant to eat. If someone offered me bad quality food, I WOULD want another food specialist to speak up and say "that's not properly cooked chicken you might get sick" or even "those greens weren't washed - be careful." Maybe these analogies fail to describe the issue with which I'm struggling. If t...

A sign at the gym where I was teaching read "Your body is a reflection of your physical standards." That message alone would discourage most people I know from going to the gym. Is the gym implying that someone with a prosthetic or in a wheelchair or who had a congential problem or is trying to get fit but is overweight has low standards? Now I'm sure it was just someone's attempt at being pithy and trying to garner memberships and they didnt' think about it too much. But really, that was pretty shallow and callous. In a cheerful demeanor I suggested they change it to be less insenstive, less judgemental, less superficial. I didn't state this but I would prefer (at least in the context of a "fitness gym"): "Your state of mind has a direct relationship with the health of your body. Elevate the fitness of both!"

City of Hope has a phenomenal event called Yoga for Hope this Saturday August 11 at the Bayfront Hilton, 8 am to 12 pm. http://nationalevents.cityofhope.org/site/TR?fr_id=1580&pg=entry I wish I could attend -if you go comment here and let me know how it was!!! In celebration I'm pleased to promote that all community class donations at The Little Yoga Studio (http://thelittleyogastudiosd.com/) this week will be routed to this amazing organization. Wonderfulness!!