Book Giveaway! Core of the Yoga Sutras by B.K.S. Iyengar

Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Yoga Sutras Giveaway!

Today is a happy day for anyone who is a lover of Iyengar yoga, and the teachings of its founder B.K.S. Iyengar. Harper Collins has just released Guruji's new book, Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga, and I am delighted to announce I am hosting a giveaway for one copy of the book on my blog!

First a little information on this insightful work from one of our great yoga masters.

From the press release: 

Iyengar has devoted his life to the practice and study of yoga. It was Iyengar’s unique teaching style, bringing precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of “Yoga for all,” that has made it into a worldwide phenomenon. Iyengar, who turned 94 in December last year, and calls this his “last major work in this lifetime.”

In Core of the Yoga Sutras, he applies the philosophical core of yoga–the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These are 196 aphorisms forming the foundational text of yoga philosophy. Each sutra is presented as Sanskrit text, transliteration and English translation, followed by Iyengar’s unique commentary and authority only he can bring to the work.   This is a wonderful introduction to the spiritual philosophy that is the foundation of yoga practice, and we are excited to share this wonderful new title with you.   To view an excerpt of this title, please click here <http://www.scribd.com/doc/120672906/Core-of-the-Yoga-Sutras> . 

I recommend you visit the link above. A glance at the Table of Contents alone will give you an indication how important this work will be to the study of yoga.

Iyengar yoga and the teachings of B.K.S. have been transformational in my own life. His teachings transmitted through excellent teachers such as Phyllis Rollins, Mary Reilly, Ramanand Patel and Aadil Palkhivala have brought so much clarity to my practice and saved me from years of frustration and injuries. These teachings have also informed and expanded my knowledge as a teacher, to the great benefit of my own students.

For the wisdom of Mr. Iyengar and for all of these teachers I am eternally grateful. Namaste.

To enter my giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book, just follow the steps below. You may enter every day. Bon chance!

Great thanks to Harper Collins for providing the giveaway copy. You can LIKE them and see their Tweets and info on this title and many more at:

https://www.facebook.com/HarperCollins360

https://twitter.com/Harper360

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The Body Is My Temple, Asanas Are My Prayers, BKS Iyengar

Some inspiration for you from one of the greatest yogis ever. BKS Iyengar still alive and well in his 90s. Still teaching and inspiring. Enjoy!

Heal your heart with guided meditations from Teal Marie Chimblo Fyrberg and Blissful Body Yoga. Download yours and begin your journey today.

Join us at Blissful Body Yoga in Gastonia, North Carolina for Mandalas: A Creative Journey Into Stillness. 

If you love yoga and art and want to learn more about ancient forms of deep meditation, this is the workshop for you. In this 2.5 hr workshop you will learn about the history of mandalas and their use as a meditative tool for thousands of years. You will create your own mandala based on what you want to manifest in your life right now (mandalas are a tool for transformation!) We will share our creations and experiences, and then use our mandalas in seated meditation. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! September 18, 2012: AM and PM sessions.

Big Discounts On Iyengar Yoga Conference in Washington, D.C. with Patricia Walden

The Maitri Southeast Regional Conference is almost here (May 3 - 6, 2012 - Washington D.C.)  and there are some great discounts. This conference features world class Iyengar yoga teachers such as Patricia Walden, Manuoso Manos, John Schumacher, Karin O’Bannon, Lois Steinberg, Dean Lerner, and Joan White.

If you were thinking of attending the Maitri Yoga conference in DC., we have an amazing discount on our block of rooms through tomorrow! We are discounting the conference registration from $485 to $395 and the offering a rebate of $50 per night on the cost of the room. If you share a room with someone, that can be a savings of $300!! We also have a couple of free offers for the first people to register today and tomorrow. Today's offer is a free mat. Tomorrow is a discount on a great prop called the 3 Minute Egg. Let me know if you would like to take advantage of this great opportunity and I can get the discount code to you today for your registration. Our website iswww.iyengarconferencedc.com

Come and join us in Washington D.C. at this unique, one-time event in the Southeast Region! Register now!

Living Yoga

I recently came across an interview on the Yoga Journal Web site with one of my favorite yoga teachers, Aadil Palkhivala. The article contains some wonderful quotes from Aadil given durning one of his classes at the Boston Yoga Journal conference. Here they are:

Aadil says, the purpose of asana is "to help the body be a better vehicle for the spirit's command. Why do we practice? We practice for the exploration, discovery and fulfillment of dharma."

1. To learn if your practice is serving you, look at your life -- what is the state of your relationships? --That is, your relationship with family, with the earth, with food, etc.
2. To choose your teacher, don't look at the person's practice, look at the person's life.
3. Don't knit the ribs together during practice under any circumstances -- we want to expand the heart center, not contract it.
4. Never practice Uddiyana bandha while actively breathing -- it strains the heart. (During pranayama, it is done while holding the breath out.)
5. The best way to cultivate the rasa, or juice, in standing poses is by using the quadriceps. Bring the earth energy up into your legs using the quads, then into the pelvis, then knead that energy into your heart.
6. Don't send all of your prana, or lifeforce energy, out around you, tilt the pelvis up and send the prana into your heart.

Finally, some food for thought from Aadil: "It's a magnificent cosmic evolution which we are a part of, usually dragged kicking and screaming; but if we choose to participate, the suffering will end."

You can read the rest of the article here. You can visit Aadil's site and learn more about Purna Yoga and his teaching, here.

Sacred Geometry: Utthita Trikonasana, Triangle Pose

Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose) is a foundational yoga posture that engages, stretches and strengthens the entire body.

There is a sacred geometry inherent in all yoga asana. Placing the body mindfully and with proper alignment into yoga asanas activates the energy meridians in the body thereby increasing the flow of Prana (vital life force) throughout our bodies.

In Trikonasana, as in all standing poses, the foundation is in the connection the feet make with the earth and the energetic activations of the muscles in the legs. It is an excellent posture to build strength in the legs, core and back. The intense lateral side stretch and opening of the chest also aid in developing deep breathing.

Often when students new to yoga (and old, for that matter) move into Trikonasana they mistakenly focus their attention on getting the hand down to the floor. This is TOTALLY unnecessary. The hand may never reach the floor, and it if reaches it only by shortening the side waist on the extended side, collapsing the chest forward, or over straining the legs (sometimes all three!) then the sacred architecture and the great benefits of the posture are lost. What is more, serious injury may occur. Keep the hand as high up on the leg as necessary to keep the integrity of the pose (never press on the knee), or use a block as an excellent prop to assist in the pose.

Enjoy making yourself into a glorious extended triangle! Jai Bhagwan!

HOW TO DO IT:
This is very good clear instruction for Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose), given by John Schumacher, a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher and director of Unity Woods Yoga, in Washington, D.C.



AND FOR FUN:
This is just TOO cute and clever, and quite good instruction, except for the hyper-extended knee:-)