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Introduction to Yoga
Yoga--For Your Health...For Your Self™

Yoga for Non-Human Animals

In Memorium to Modern Day Yogis:
Krishnamacharya
Vonda Scaravelli
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Ester Myers
Yogi Bhajan

And Yogis I have known:
Betty, 10/2003
Jane, 6/2003
Mary Jane, 1/2004

What is Yoga?

There are 3 forms of Yoga—Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina—all of which originated in India.  On this web site, I will deal primarily with Hindu Yoga, although all authentic Yoga has the same purpose. 

We are here to discuss authentic Yoga—the technology of self-transcendence or ecstasy.  Yoga is the tool to a state of being or consciousness known as self-transcendence—it is not a form of exercise, which you may find in some gyms.  “Transcendence” means going beyond what we know or experience—in Yoga it means going beyond the ego-personality.

The Sanskrit (sacred language of India) term “Yoga” can be understood from the ancient texts of Vedânta—it means union of the individual self with the supreme Self.  The alienation of the individual self from the supreme Self and our ignorance (avidyâ)  (not understanding our True Nature, not being enlightened) causes our suffering (dukha).  Yoga is a liberation practice, in which the individual seeks the “continuous ecstatic enjoyment of the transcendental Self.” (The Yoga Tradition, page 5, Georg Feuerstein, PhD, Founder and Director of the Yoga Research and Education Center --now Traditional Yoga Studies). 

Between 6500-4500 BCE, Yoga was foreshadowed in the most ancient, still-extant written documents, the Vedas, particularly the Rig-Veda.  (More about this later.)

Special Programs

Ginny Stafford, RYT

About Yoga and Your Class 

Welcome to Yoga Class!
Your CHEER center Yoga teachers are all registered Yoga teachers that have graduated from an accredited Yoga teacher training program.  They are trained to help you and will give each student individual attention. 

Below is some information for you: Please feel free to ask your teacher ANY questions about the class or Yoga.   

Please be comfortable, be at ease, and have fun in your Yoga class!  There is never any need to feel self-conscious.  This is your time for YOU. 

Yoga: Yoga need not be mysterious. It is not a religion, although people of a number of religions practice Yoga—you can practice Yoga if you are religious or if you have no religion at all.  Yoga is a spiritual tradition born about 6500 years ago in India—Yoga is not ‘new age’!  The word “Yoga” means literally “to yoke” – it is the connection among the body/mind/spirit.  In our Yoga classes, we enjoy and celebrate our lives, our health.  Yoga has proven health benefits, most prominently: wellness, spinal health, increased flexibility, improved strength, improved lung capacity, stronger bones, disease resistance, improved balance, lower blood pressure, and many others.  We teach Hatha Yoga, which strengthens the body. The “brand” of Hatha Yoga we teach is called Svâdhyâyâ™, which was developed by Susan Hamadock of Rehoboth Beach’s Silver Lotus Training Institute and Center for Healing Arts™.  The name is not important to our class, but it is important that you know that this system was carefully developed with the individual in mind: it is a system that is very individualistic and relies on your own self-study and meeting your own needs.

A Little Sanskrit: Occasionally we will use a Sanskrit word in Yoga class—this is the ancient language of Yoga. One of these words is OM, which means “all or everything”—this word is similar in sound and meaning to “amen.”  Another word is Namasté, which we use right at the very end of class, as a sign of mutual respect.

 About the Class:
--Yoga is about mindfulness and staying in the present moment.  Leave your cares at the door.  This is YOUR time!

--You will not be asked to move your body into positions that look like a pretzel!

--Our intention is to support each student at all times. We invite each member of the class to stay within yourself, not compare yourself to how your body may have felt or acted years ago or even yesterday.  Do not compare yourself to the teacher or anyone else in class—your Yoga is yours. Do not judge yourself or others—keep your attention on YOU—you are here to benefit yourself!  You will never be criticized for doing Yoga wrong!  The only comments the teacher will offer you will make sure that you maximize your energy and minimize your potential for injury.

--A typical class includes a centering meditation, breathing exercises, asanas (postures), and relaxation.

--Yoga is about doing LESS.  You do not have to strain to benefit from Yoga.  You will hear a lot about this in class.  In other words, we do NOT abide by the slogan “no pain no gain” – in fact, Yoga recognizes that you must be mindful of your own body and NOT do anything that causes pain.  We will work together on this.  But, please know that the first ‘rule’ of Yoga is ‘non-harming’; and that applies to YOU, first and foremost. Ultimately, you will learn how to do the postures in a state of relaxation and alertness.

--Yoga class is very safe.  However, in some very rare cases, if you are not careful, you can be injured in Yoga class.  Just as in any other daily pursuit, it is up to you to remain diligent; and one of the most important parts of our class is to train you to do just that.  Your teacher is trained to help you get the most from your Yoga class and to make sure that you are safe, but everyone is different.  You’ll be ok, if you:

-Let your teacher know about all of your health/fitness concerns, keep your communications open, ask questions;

          -Do NOT work too hard; do NOT try too hard;

          -Do NOT stretch too much;

-Honor your body, and listen to your body; be prepared-it IS possible that you will learn a great deal about yourself in Yoga class;                

-Keep “beginner’s mind”—knowing that none of us know everything—be open to new ideas;

-Your teacher is not a guru and not a model for you. You will find that they learn as much from you as you do from them.

Yoga Study Group
Continuing the Yoga Study Group: Below is the schedule.  The sessions are private and free.  This is not a public group; because of level of effort considerations and space, only students of Cyndee Trower are eligible for the group. All dates and topics are subject to change. To ensure a safe place for all of us, please leave political discussions at the door!

Fall 2005 - Spring 2006
We agreed to study the Bhagavad-Gita, using Swami Satchidananda's translation and commentary, The Living Gita.  All meetings will be at Cyndee's house, third Monday of each month, 7-8:30, unless otherwise noted.

September 19: Chapters 1-2 and Overview, Cyndee leading.  Discussion of alternating leadership of subsequent discussions.

October 17: Note time change: 6:00-9:00pm--viewing and discussion of the movie Bagger Vance, a modern-day telling of the Bhagavad-Gita staring Will Smith, Matt Damon, and Charlize Theron; a Robert Redford Production.  Bring your own popcorn!

November 21: Chapters 3-5 cancelled

December 19: Chapters 3-7

January 16, 2006: Chapters complete Gita

Study Group discontinued

Meeting dates: the third Monday of each month, January - May, 2005.

Where: Cyndee's house

Time: 7:00 pm -8:30 pm

 

Specifics:

January 17 RSVP by January 10

(subject postponed from December 2004)

Chapter 10, Positive Energy, by Judith Orloff

 

February 21 RSVP by February 14

Pat Wood--talk on her recent trip to India and other places. 

 

March 21 RSVP by March 14

Buddhist Yoga--very basic introduction

 

April 18 RSVP by April 11

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  Very nice short book.  We'll discuss if and how Toltec wisdom relates to Yoga.

 

May 16 RSVP by April 9

Special time and place: 6:00 pm.  Meet in parking lot in Bethany Beach next to Addy Sea. 45 minute walking meditation--this will be very slow and mindful, so no fears of twisting ankles or knees on the sand.  Wear good shoes or bare feet.  7:00 pm--dinner together at Magnolia's--discuss the walking meditation, review our past Study Groups, plan for the fall.

In 2004

First session, Rescheduled--Monday, October 6, 2003, 7-8:30 pm

1.  Presentation (Cyndee) --What is Yoga?  What are Svadhyaya and Svadhyaya Yoga?
2.  Discussion--What does Yoga mean to you?
3.  Discussion--The "Prime" Yama (Moral Principle), Ahimsa (Non-Harming).    What is it? What does it mean to you? How can you deepen your practice? 

Second session, Monday, November 24, 2003, 7:00-8:30 pm:

1.  Presentation (Cyndee)--The Major Forms of Hindu Yoga (Raja-, Hatha-, Jnana-, Bhakti-, Karma-, Mantra-,  Tantra-, Laya-)
2.  Discussion--Which Form calls you and why?
3.  Discussion--Morality in Yoga--the 'other' Yamas:  Telling the truth, not-stealing,
chastity, greedlessness. What do these mean to you?  How can you deepen your
practice of the Yamas?

January 19, 2004 Monday, 7:00-8:30 The Niyamas (Cyndee)--Rules of Conduct: 
purity, contentment, self-discipline, education of the self, dedication to the
Lord, adoration.  Discussion: (lead by Dottie): Are you an emotional person or
 an intellectual?  How do you characterize emotions?  Are there good emotions and bad
emotions?  What do you do about your emotions?  How can you cope with emotions that
 bother you and cultivate the emotions you want?  Bring a favorite, poem, phrase or
saying, and pen and paper.

Monday March 15, 2004, 7-8:30 pm:
1.  Your Yoga practice--what is it? (asana? pranayama? moral principles? mindfulness?
 loving kindness?) How is it going?  What helps?  What hinders?
2.   What do you think about constant striving for perfection?  Is this a Yoga ideal?  How
 do you let go?
3. 15 minute drumming meditation

April 19, 2004, 7-8:30 pm: Poetry writing with Barbara Carter

Monday, September 27, 2004, 7-8:30 pm
Drumming with Marco Hernandez.  FREE, of course.  Donations accepted for Fair Trade Federation.

Monday, November 8, 2004, 7-8:30pm
Discussion: Positive Energy
by Judith Orloff, M.D.
BUY THE BOOK or borrow from another member
For Discussion read Chapter 1 and
pages 134-141
Bring paper

 

Yoga After Breast Cancer
My story and yoga recommendations for teachers and students.

Yoga for Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue
Recommendations for practice and references.

Yoga for Depression by Marianne Walch, Ph.D., RYT -- Silver Lotus Yoga

Yoga for Round or Inflexible Bodies

Spiritual Practice
This is the main section of the 1Nature Yoga Page. Read Spirituality and Morality in Yoga.

Links

Silver Lotus Training Institute and Center for Healing Arts
Susan Hamadock's Institute in Rehoboth Beach, DE, for her psychotherapy practice, Yoga, Yoga teacher training, Reiki, and other healing modalities.

www.yrec.info
This site is a must for the serious Yoga scholar.  It includes discussion forums, downloadable Yoga texts, and the distance learning course designed by Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D.

International Association of Yoga Therapists
"The Interface between Yoga and Medicine"

Karuna Yoga--Frank Jude's Karuna Center for Health and Well-being
Compassion in ayurveda, Yoga, meditation, and bodywork.  Mindful transformation.

Pema Chodron
"Pema Chödrön is a leading exponent of teachings on meditation and how they apply to everyday life. She is widely known for her charming and down-to-earth interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism for Western audiences. "  THE most beautiful and inspiring dharma.

"The largest Yoga directory on the internet"

Full directory of Yoga services and professionals

Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health

Himalayan Institute

Lotus Moon Healing Arts
Chantal Wilkins

Mid-Atlantic Yoga Association

ByRegion Network

Life in Balance -- Ami and Steve Sciulli -- Healing Music

Fair Trade Federation (and visit Marco and Kimberly at Made By Hand in S. Bethany, DE)

 Delmarva Community Wellnet
"to nurture Body, Mind and Spirit of the Delmarva Community"

Recommended Texts
(I only recommend texts that I have read and believe highly beneficial)

By Georg Feuerstein, PhD:

• The Yoga Tradition

• Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita

• Wholeness or Transcendence

• Yoga for Dummies (with Larry Payne, PhD)

• TANTRA The Path of Ecstasy

• In Search of the Cradle of Civilization

• The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali

• The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga

• The Lost Teachings of Yoga (CDs)

By BKS Iyengar:

• Light on Yoga

• Light on Pranayama

• Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

By Gary Kraftsow:

• Yoga for Wellness

• Yoga for Transformation

The Bhagavad Gita:

• The Living Gita, Sri Swami Satchidananda

• Bhagavad Gita, Stephen Mitchell

• The Essence of Yoga, Bernard Bouanchaud (very hard to find)

By TKV Desikachar:

• The Heart of Yoga

By Stephen Cope:

• Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

On Buddhism:
    By Pema Chodron:

• When Things Fall Apart

• The Places That Scare You

Buddhism Plain & Simple, Steve Hagen
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh
Mindfulness Yoga, Frank Jude Boccio

More to come!

Let us meditate on the words of the traditional Yoga Longtime Sun Song:

May the longtime sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on.