Not so naughty fudge

By Camella Nair

Ingredients:

3 cups shredded dried coconut

1/3 cup raw agave1

tsp vanilla

1/2 cup raw carob powder

1cup alfalfa seeds.

In a food processor bring together the coconut, raw agave, vanilla, and carob powder. Add the alfalfa seeds and pulse again to form a paste. Roll into balls and nuts and chill.

The winter solstice

The winter solstice.

By Swami Enoch Dasa Giri

As spiritual entities we are travelers in time, spirit in form (kala purusha). We exist in a universe that is a matrix of consciousness. This universe is composed of an infinite number of patterns or cycles such as: birth/death, day/night, inhalation/exhalation, and the rotation of the seasons – each with its traditional kriya or ritual. I thought you might find some reflections on the symbolism of the winter solstice and this important holiday season to be meaningful.

The winter solstice and the celebrations of the sun’s return (Hanukkah, Christmas) are festivals of light that remind us of this vital spiritual principal. We are not permanent residents down here, though some of us act as if we may be. We come and we go. We descend and we ascend. We inhale and we exhale. We give and we receive. But as mystics we are always seeking the point of equilibrium, of stillness, of balance and self-awareness.

There are great lessons to be learned from observing nature. There are great lessons to be learned from observing your nature. In yoga this practice is called svadhyaya or self-study. Yet to learn from nature necessitates removing your subjective emotional filters and seeing yourself, seeing Life as it is, not as you desire it to be or fear it to be, but as it is – wondrous and beautiful. Beholding Life as it is (and you are part of Life) is not easy because you have to renounce your expectations and projections. In Japanese philosophy there is a concept referred to as shabuhi. It means that nature is not man’s concept of nature. Nature is not a perfect square or a perfect circle. It is certainly not formed out of straight lines. The pattern of the solar year is not 360 days; it is 365 and a quarter days. Shabuhi expresses the organic nature of life. It reveals that we, like the universe, are not moving in a circle but in a spiral – an ever expansive movement toward greater balance.

Kriya is an esoteric school of yogic thought. It is concerned with inner experiences and dynamics. The root of the word kriya means an action, rite, or ritual – an inner, conscious one. Holidays or Holy Days are like inns upon the path that offer you as a traveler in time an opportunity to stop and reflect at particularly auspicious points upon your journey. Where have you been, where are you now, and toward what are you traveling? Are you moving in a circle or a spiral? Is your path a conscious movement (kriya) or an unconscious karmic pattern?

The winter solstice (December 21st) is the point where the sun enters the zodiacal sign of Capricorn, its extreme southern declination. The sun has descended lower in the sky than it will all year. For three days it stops moving north or south (ascending or descending) and is “still.” It then begins to ascend again on the 25th, the high holy day of Christmas – the festival of the Sun’s return. To the mystic, Christmas and other festivals of this season (Hanukkah, Dawali and Kwanzaa) are celebrations of Light, reminding us that as spirit we too ascend and descend. We have descended into form and shall ascend once again at the appointed time.

The Mystical Significance of the Winter Solstice
The solstice also holds a deeper symbolic meaning. There is an old mystical hermetic axiom: “As above, so below. As within, so without.” Within your astral body (which is a solar system in miniature), there is an astral sun. This sun rotates each year “ascending and descending” around the twelve mansions of your astral spine, the idic and pingalic hemispheres of your six chakras. At the winter solstice, the astral sun moves (transits) into the Capricorn section of your Saturn chakra, the lowest point of your chakric universe. During the Sun’s movement through your Saturn chakra tremendous spiritual energies take “form”, which are then released in the next solar cycle of your existence.

Though it may seem as though there is little or no creative activity at work place right now – either within you or in the nature that surrounds you – there most definitely is. Do not make the mistake of thinking that just because you do not see something (or more accurately are not aware of something) that nothing is happening. The formed arises from the unformed. The very structure of the next cycle of Life, of your life, is being generated at this time. My teaching for you at this time is simple. Make it a kriya, a conscious ritual of creation.

How can you do this? How can you make your life a kriya, a conscious movement through time? One way is to create a map, something that gives you a reference point for where you are, where you have been, and where you wish to go. This could be the cycle of the seasons, the cycles of astrology, or the cycle of the breath. For most people it is the cycle of the holy days (holidays) to which Christmas and Hanukkah belong. Here we are taught to celebrate and reflect on our life through a rich tradition of rituals and observances (kriyas). We begin to see the cycles of our life as part of a whole, part of a larger pattern – the Bharva Chakra (the wheel of existence). We stop to get our bearings, to make sure we are moving forward and not just going in a circle. We slow down our busy lives for a moment and become quiet enough to see afresh the pattern of our lives and the path we are on, just like we do in meditation.

By making our lives a kriya we come to the realization that independent of the cycle or universe in which we find ourselves – physical embodiment, the dream world, marriage, parenthood – it is the hub of our self-awareness that brings clarity of purpose, direction, and the strength to walk the path before us, which we and we alone have created. This insight allows us to refrain from fragmenting or distorting our experience of Life because we no longer fear it, judge it, or blame others for our karma. When we make our lives a conscious ritual each act, each thought, each word becomes a means to become more conscious (a sacrament in Christian thought), to remember from whence we have come, who we are, and why we have come here.

May you find peace, harmony and joy throughout this season and the year to come!

Swami Enoch Dasa Giri is an inspirational teacher, born in Chicago; who shares the living tradition of yoga with warmth, humor, and sincerity. He is a direct disciple of Sri Goswami Kriyananda who carries the flame of the Kriya lineage brought to this country by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Swami Dasa will visit Texas in February. He will offer a lecture on Karma: beyond the myths and misunderstandings. For information please go to http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=2729



The results of family surveys reflect that lately people living in the US practice what is known as serial monogamy, a movement from marriage to divorce to marriage again and again. 
As for religious practices there has been some information on the subject from the beginning of the year and the latest is from last week.

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that in general the US population changes their religious affiliation more than once in their life.

Not only a third of those who attend services usually go to a different church but nearly a quarter attend services held by another religion. Besides practicing an organized religion they also affirm beliefs that could have lifted eyebrows 100 years ago: 23% of those who consider themselves Christians believe in astrology, 22% in reincarnation, 26% find spiritual energy in physical things, and 21% believe yoga is a spiritual practice. 



Mr. Prothero wrote for The Wall Street Journal on Friday that "religious promiscuity is nothing new; many early Christians were also practicing Jews. And in China the "Three Teachings" of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism have co-existed for centuries, with many believers turning to Confucianism for etiquette, Taoism for freedom and Buddhism for enlightenment"
For Mr. Prothero, a professor of religion at Boston University this might be a sign that people are loosing the sense of the sacred. 



There is not doubt that many times people change religion just because their favorite movie star is doing so, others get bored without even studying the basics of the religion they practice. 
Nevertheless, I don't see this trend as a problem; I like to think that there is something deeper happening, a search for meaning.

People might change their affiliation because they are looking for something more meaningful and less threatening; they want to have a personal experience that can bring them closer to the divine regardless of name or affiliation. 

Let me ad another interesting piece of data reported by the American Religious Identification Survey last March, "the percentage of people who call themselves Christians has dropped more than 11% in a generation, and so many people declined any religious label that the "nones", now 15% of the USA, are the third largest "religious group" after Catholics and Baptist” 

According to the Pew's 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape survey 92% or the population believe in a God 70% said many religions can lead to eternal life, and 68% said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion. 



Could all these changes affect society or how our kids develop a sense of goodness and even morality? Is this tendency making them confused and have a cynic relation to God? Maybe.
The other side of the coin is that questioning the belief system we grew up with can become a search for truth and understanding, a way to trust our own experience and relation with the Divine without dogma. 



It seems to me that all this data represent a new take on religion. People are being more open and willing to understand the others point of view, recognizing that Truth does not belong to anyone though there are ways to approach it. 

This is the foundation of a mystical or spiritual way of understanding, and yoga has been one of those paths for more than 5000 years old. Sages of all times have said it: Yoga gives a series of techniques. If you want to have an experience, you should try them and see where they can take you. 



As for me as a yoga practitioner, I am glad the perception of Yoga has gone beyond the stretches and pretzel-like poses, little by little Yoga is taking its right place as a spiritual practice though not the only one. I truly believe that any search, devoting time and a desire to learn, will transform your life forever.

What is generosity?

Want to feel generous this holiday season?

I met John Kissick recently and his story moved my heart.He might be on his late 40s and has recently started a new company. In this economy, starting a business means a lot. He didn't stop there, he told me that three years ago he was living on the streets with all that is involved around this circumstance.
One day, an stranger offered him a hand, not only in terms of shelter or food, this person offered him an opportunity to learn a way of standing up and walking in his own two feet.
Today, John has a dream. He is starting The Homeless Angels Foundation in Austin (homelessangelsnetwork.org website is under construction now) to give people on the streets an opportunity to learn, work and come back to the social structure.

After talking with him, I couldn't stop thinking, what does it means to be truly generous? The Merrian-Webster's dictionary says that a generous person is "characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit, liberal in giving, marked by abundance or ample proportions"
For Jonh Kissick, having been homeless will help him to understand those he wants to help and to develop successful strategies do to so.

As for the rest of us, there are many ways we can help.Maybe before buying gifts that we really don't care on giving but feel pressure to do; there is an alternative that would make us feel better.The alternative is GoodShop.JJ Ramberg, one of the founders of GoodShop told us that when you buy from brands or retailers that have made a commitment with GoodShop, you can determine a school or charity you would like to donate to. After your sale is done, they will donate up to 30% or your purchase to your cause.

They promise that you won't pay extra and what you spend will be reflected on your charity. You might even save money if you use their coupons and free shipping deals!
Some of the Yoga retailers that you will find are: Gaiam, Yoga Accessories.com, Paragon Sports, Sports Authority, Amazon (and more than 1,400 other retailers)
As for the non profits that are Texas based. Mr. Rangerg game some examples: Ananda Dallas Meditation and Yoga Center, The American Red Cross, The Nature Conservancy, The NRDC, American Heart Association, Kids Making A Difference (Texas), United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) - Greater Houston, Tiger Creek Wildlife Rescue (Texas), ASPCA. Mr. Ramberg mentioned that GoodShopwork work with more than 84,000 nonprofits

Next time you need to buy a present, check www.goodshop.com and feel good about buying here!And if you can't find what you are looking for, use GoodSearch. In this website, after you designate your favorite charity, just for looking around, they will donate a penny to their cause.To use GoodSearch1. go to www.goodsearch.com2. designate your favorite charity or school in the “Who do you GoodSearch for” box3. search as you normally would in the Yahoo powered search box. Each time you do a search, about a penny is donated to your cause

Enjoy the Holiday and feel good about it!
Rocio Morales

Yoga Class for a Healthy Neck with Mark Uridel

Yoga for a Healthy Neck: Asana, Bandha, Pranayama and Mantra

Yoga Sanga is pleased to invite you to a workshop in Round Rock with Mark Uridel.

When: Saturday January 23, 2010
Where: Allen R. Baca Center Room 1. Located at 301 Bagdad St. Suite 250, Round Rock TX 78664.
Time: 9:30 – 11:15 AM
Cost: Sign in before January 6th and pay $30.00. After January 7th, $40.00
What to bring: Mat, blanket and a strap.

Please send a check to Yoga Sanga to: PO Box 5717. Round Rock, TX 78683

Class description.
The latest medical research reports that most people with neck pain respond positively to specifically designed exercises. Join Mark Uridel, for an integrative and holistic yoga class designed for the health of your neck.
We will explore 5 ways Yoga can help to keep your neck healthy:
1. Relaxes your muscle tension.
2. Improves your posture and body awareness.
3. Strengthens the muscles that support your neck.
4. Reduces stress and mental tension.
5. Engages your whole body, mind and breath.

Space is limited, sign in early to reserve your place!

About Mark Uridel.

Mark, MSPT, RMT, ERYT has 20 years of training and experience in Yoga. A member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, he integrates his Physical Therapy expertise into his Yoga classes to provide an educational, healing and transformational experience. Mark teaches Anatomy of Movement for Yoga and Yoga Therapeutics nationally and provides Physical Therapy consultation and personalized Yoga programs for his patients. Mark has appeared in the Yoga Journal and presented at the Body-Mind-Spirit Educational Conference in Santa Clara, California, at the Southwest Yoga Conference and at the Texas Yoga Retreat.

Karma: beyong the myths and misunderstandings

Yoga Sanga is pleased to host Swami Enoch Dasa Giri‘s first visit to Texas .

Swami Dasa will give a 2-hour lecture open to the anyone interested in understanding the concept of Karma more in depth and beyond misunderstandings. He will offer techniques to soften and neutralize karma as well as how to understand this concept from an esoteric perspective.

Dallas: Friday February 19, 2010
At Ranjana’s Yoga from 7:30-9:30 PM
13614 Midway Rd., Suite 101. Dallas, TX 75244

Austin: Saturday February 20, 2010
At Casa de Luz Auditorium from 7-9 PM
1701 Toomey Rd. Austin TX, 78704

Houston: Sunday February 21, 2010
From 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
At The Yoga Institute located at 2150 Portsmouth Street. Houston, Texas 77098

Swami Enoch Dasa Giri is an inspirational teacher, born in Chicago; who shares the living tradition of yoga with warmth, humor, and sincerity. He is a direct disciple of Sri Goswami Kriyananda who carries the flame of the Kriya lineage brought to this country by Paramahansa Yogananda.
Dasaji has devoted himself to the study and practice of the Kriya tradition for over 30 years. His life is dedicated to helping those that wish to open their minds to deeper knowledge, their hearts to greater kindness, and their lives to unselfish service.
In 1998 he was ordained into the yogic priesthood, where he received the title Swami Enoch Dasa Giri. Through his work as an ordained priest, teacher, professional astrologer, and successful restaurateur, he understands first-hand the joys and challenges of being a householder on the yogic pathway.

For more information or questions send us a message to yogasangatx@gmail.com or call Rocio Morales at 1800-6623901.

Suggested donation $15.00 per person

Join us to learn and clarify your questions related to Karma!

The missing piece in the Fort Hood incident

Time is ticking, lists have been made and refrigerators are getting full to receive the guest for the Thanksgiving celebration.

Those who will be cooking and cleaning will be worry about who will be attending dinner and if the old feuds will resurface again. For the most part the food will be excellent and there will be some ready to enjoy the black Friday as a "consuming celebration."

Like any other year, some families will be missing a love one and others still in disbelieve after loosing someone close in a violent act, whether is on the street, fighting the war far away or by the hand of one of their own.

So much ink has been used in trying to understand what happened in Fort Hood. What is missing is the reflection that each one of us needs to make regarding our loyalties, sense of righteousness and beliefs.

We can use this time while being among our relatives to see a reflection of who we are and how we react to events. There is Louis who decide to become a Hare Krishna follower, and grandpa Samuel who still is a devoted Jewish and my aunt Lara who prays the rosary every week on her knees even though she is 70!
All these people think their belief is the right one. Fortunately for one dinner, they are able to eat with someone that might think differently and be at peace with that.

My favorite part of the Thanksgiving celebration is that it does not require a religious or political affiliation, it is time to come together and be thankful for all we have and sometimes for things we lost. It is time to remember that this land is not ours and was taken in a violent way and we should honor those cultures that though we don't comprehend, have still so much to teach us.

We should have more of these dinners to move beyond our beliefs, and see that though they seem different and everyone has the right to express their opinion, in the fundamentals they are not that much different. Only by tolerance and keeping an open mind we will be able to live in peace in our inner circle and have hope for the matters of the planet.
At the end of the day, whether they are right or wrong, it really doesn't matter because, the fundamental principle of creation in this plane is not subjected by our puerile beliefs.
The hope is that in every household in the US, this thanksgiving will be a time to get together and to practice tolerance and kindness.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Rocio Morales

Esher Vexler and Juan Anguiano at the Texas Yoga Retreat

As a yoga teacher I know there are some classes that you have to plan very carefully to give the student the opportunity to receive all the benefits. One of the biggest challenge is partner yoga; not because is hard, or students can injure themselves, no, that is not the issue. The issue is that is so easy to become a loud, unfocused class.

Yoga doesn't really allows for social interaction, you keep your personal space, listen carefully to the instructions and at the end you feel refresh and renew.
In partner yoga all those rules are gone and you enjoy interacting with others.

Last week at the Yoga for Texas Retreat I had the opportunity to enjoy a partner yoga class led by the oldest teacher in Texas: Esther Vexler.
She came from San Antonio. Esther is 92 years old, with a lovely presence and kind energy.
My partner was a 65 years old lovely former dancer and yoga teacher. Ria was very flexible and we were able to do all of the poses.

As expected the class was a bit distracting but full of joy. We did tree poses, triangle, back-bends, forward bends with a partner. Miss Vexler was very patient and we had to pay attention to understand the pose we were about to do.
There were lots of laughs and bodies projected to the floor without injuries. Esther did her best keeping us engaged and remind us to appreciate the trust of our partner .
Without a doubt, it was a fun experience!

On another class, Juan Anguiano gave directions so we could had a closer and experiential look at Mula bhanda. He looks like 20 though he told me he is in his mid thirties.
Juan gave us different exercises to start feeling the lifting of the pelvic floor and how that sensation can be handle in other poses like triangle, warrior pose or cross legged pose.
Unfortunately the time didn't allow to go deeper into the meaning of the bandhas in a yoga practice.
By the end everyone was able to feel the lifting and support of the root lock.

As for the organization of the Texas Yoga Retreat, I have to say that they were very attentive of our needs and participants' comments.
Barsana Dham is a beautiful and quiet place that allows people to focus and enjoy the retreat, the food was great!
Some of us even got some beautiful kurtas for an amazing price. One day the lady form the gift shop showed us how to wrap around a Sari.

At the end I came back home through a pouring rain but with a big smile and appreciation for having renew energies and have met very interesting people.

Thank you!

Class with Robert Boustany

The 3 hours class I attended at the Texas Yoga Retreat had a long title " Moving deeper into hips & legs, a technically deeper approach toward forward & back-bends." The teacher was Robert Boustany.

Boustany's 40 years of yoga practice has taken form in his own style called Pralaya Yoga. I will explore this concept further in the January issue of Yoga Sanga.

Robert has studied very closely not only the anatomy of the human body but how different muscles that apparently have nothing in common can be used to strengthen and release two different areas.

With a background in Physics, he gives special attention to alignment and lengthening of the spine, not for the sake of it but as a way to increase energy and strength. He told us "strength and flexibility come together, therefore working with the spine is a must"

Boustany asked us to explore having the arm lifted and inclining the head away from that arm to notice how the head and arm can work to release the neck.
He also showed us how to do an abdominal work and then feel how the quadriceps are connected with them . "Strengthening the abs lengthens the quadriceps" he added.

"What is a stretch? Proper relaxation and contraction of the muscles" Robert told us.

He recommends to be present not only when we practice yoga but at all times, living in the past or the future can make an impression in the way our bodies move.
"If we learn to align the spine, if the spine is long, a surge of vitality will be reflected in all our organs" Boustany commented

"Alignment is uniform pressure in the joints. Yoga gives temporary relief from the insanity of the mind." Robert recommends to be mindful of our bodies, "muscles doesn't know how old you are, but the mind can freak you out!" he mentioned.

Being mindful of your body will help to avoid injuries. "The pose is over when the muscle cannot support itself" he added at the end of the class.

When we finished that class we had a feeling of a deep stretch in the hips, abs and quadriceps plus very interesting reflections to think about.

Shanti,

Rocio

Richard Miller and iRest

What a weekend! It has been intense in terms of all the great experiences and the yogis and yoginis I had the opportunity to interact with.

Let me start with last Friday and work my way through Sunday.
On Friday there was a free event at one of YogaYoga studios. The room was almost full and everyone was ready to listen and meet Richard Miller Ph.D.

Dr. Miller is author of Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga; he is a clinical psychologist and contemporary spiritual teacher of non-dualism. Richard Miller is the founding president of the Center of Timeless Being, co-founder and CO-president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology, and co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapy.

He told us about his first encounter with yoga back in 1970. To his surprise, (he was expecting an active class) his first class was a Yoga Nidra class. From that class he found a mentor that guided him into yoga and psychotherapy. During those years he even taught some classes for Bikram for a couple of years.
During his presentation, Dr. Miller said “Yoga is knowing feelingly and exponentially that what I see is part of me, it awakens the 7 senses and moves us from the illusion of separation”

He has come to understand that all the practices are skillful means to explore the mind. Miller had a realization after being able to have his foot behind his head that “I wasn’t any better than anyone just for doing that.” At that moment he decided to become a witness in presence.

The difference between Yoga Nidra and iRest is that we use a more western language and approach so the practice is available to everyone. Dr. Miller said that in India the practice of YogaNidra seems a little bit like an imposition in terms of the symbols this practice use. He let the student decide which symbols to use and explore his own space.

Dr. Miller started applying it to post traumatic stress disorder patients; “ the military wanted to have a clear and simple way to use it,” he ads. The result was the title of Integrative restoration (iRest)
As for what he expects to see in the future of Yoga, Dr. Miller wishes that Meditation will become more prevalent in the studios so we can have a better understanding of the mind. “Violence only arises as a sense of separation,” he concluded.

To learn more about the Center of Timeless Being and Integrative Restoration iRest Yoga Nidra programs please visit CTB's website: www.nondual.com.

The practice of gratitude

November is finally here!

Regardless of the economical challenges that every family have felt during the recession I think we still have a lot to be grateful for.
Some say that this crisis is a wake up call for the people in the US to the problems that most people in the world have suffered for generations.

There is no question that this land is rich, productive and abundant to the point that as a culture we have wasted many resources. Nevertheless, the positive side of any crisis is that there is always time to learn and adapt and humans are wonderful at that.

I invite you to explore a little deeper the concept of gratitude and hopefully by the end of this blog you will be compelled to practice it more frequently.

The dictionary mentions that gratitude is to be conscious of the benefit received. The awareness make us thankful, pleased, and glad. These positive feelings promote a sense of well-being and a desire to help others.

David DeSteno, an associate professor of psychology at Northeastern University. suggests that feeling thankful can lead to greater social good as people are more inclined to give back—and not only to the person who helped them.
DeSteno observed the behavior of two groups after one was helped by an outsider. The gratitude that this group felt might have been one of the reasons why when it came to offer assistance or raised resources for a cause they had a better response to the request than the group that didn't have any help.

At a deeper level gratitude helps us to realize all the events that need to happen in order to be the beneficiary of a "thankful moment."

Let's say tomorrow you go to the store to buy clementines (tangerines), meanwhile you wait to pay for them, you realize that having the clementines in your hands is the result of the farmer cultivating the soil in a proper way, plus the drivers that bring them to the distribution center, the store manager who assigns a fair price, the cashier who will put them carefully into your paper bag to avoid being smashed on the way home; all that so when you wash and eat them you will be happy and grateful for a great buy!

It reminds me of the Vedic God Indra, the king of the Gods whose net hangs over his palace on Mount Meru. Indra's net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is reflected in all of the other jewels as a symbol of interconnectedness in the Universe.

Our actions for small that they might seem at a certain moment, can have great repercussions in the well-being of others.

Let's practice during this month gratefulness for all the little joys in life, remember what is really important can not be bought with money...

Shanti,
Rocio

What is the link between Halloween, the Day of the Dead and Yoga?

I received this fascinating question after posting the Halloween blog. I would like to share some thoughts with you
about that.

As you read from the previous blog Halloween started as a Celtic ceremony by the
druids who were the Celtic priest.
Interestingly enough the day of the dead celebrates the same as the Celts; it was a well known and common celebration by many indigenous groups (Mayas, Mexicas/Aztecs, Purepechas, Nahuatls, Totonacas), and also celebrated 3000 years ago.

In the Aztec tradition they dedicated this festivity to the goddess Mictecacihuatl (Lady of the night) and whose husband was Mictlantecuhtli (Lord of the land of the dead)
They used to honor children and relatives that have passed away.

For the Aztecs, death had not a moral connotation, there was no hell or heaven, what was important is the way people died, this would determine where to go after life.

Some of those places where:
Tlalocan (Tlaloc's paradise) Any death related to water, and children sacrificed would go here. It was a place or tranquility and abundance. They would buried them as seed to germinate later on.

Omeyocan (Sun's paradise or Huitzilopochti's place) Here was the place for all warriors, prisoners that were sacrificed and women that would died in labor (as they died fighting a big battle)
They buried them in the Palace yard so they could accompany the sun in its daily trip from noon to dusk. It was a high privilege to go to this place after life, because there was everlasting joy and music. Those in there would come back after 4 years as birds with beautiful feather's colors. (For those with symbolism interest, notice the Mars to Mercury symbols!)

There was a place for those who died of natural causes (Mictlan) and for children (Chichihuacuauhco). Depending on the circumstances they would come back to the material plane after a while.

To celebrate this days ( could be up to two months in July and August) they used to choose a tree, bring it down and decorate with bright flowers; celebrations would go for two months with dances and food to honor the dead.

In the XVI century the Spaniards brought their own festivities and blended with the natives. Moving their calendar to the Catholic celebration of all saints.

Today on November 1st they honor children and infants whereas on November 2 it is the day to honor the adults.
The celebration in some places is to go to the cemetery, clean the graves, decorate them and bring food to remember the deceased. Skulls will be display as a symbol of death and rebirth.

Others will gather at homes where altars will be set up for the deceased with food (that they use to like when they were in the material plane), candles, sugar skulls, Mexican marygold flowers with deep yellow and orange colors, incense and special bread called bread of the dead.

So where is the connection to Yoga?

In Yoga we acknowledge the fact that we are in some ways the product of our blood line.
Subconsciously or consciously our reactions are a product of what our families believe and have been.

The name for them is samskaras or imprints from the past. The more we are aware of them, the more consciously we will see how they propel consciousness into action. Who we are is blend of actions of the past and the influences we have received from family and the society we live in. For that honoring the dead is a way to reconnect with those forces and make peace with them in order to remove the subliminal activators, gain awareness and set us free.

Confused about Halloween?

I was talking with a group of women and after the talk, one woman asked to the group, what do you know about Halloween, I am conflicted because at church they told us it was evil and at the same time I have celebrated it with my kids.
The other women said, I like it and regardless of what they say I do it and it's good for my kids because they have fun!
I told them that many traditions in different religions started as pagan festivities and what those religions did is to adapt or change the name so it would be one of their traditions.
Here are some historic facts in case you want to know about Halloween.
The tradition related to Halloween started three thousand years ago in Ireland by the Celts. Their priest use to celebrate the last day of the harvest and the beginning of longer nights and shorter days. During this time the Celtic priest called Druids believed that the line between the dead and the living was thinner and spirits could come to the living plane. This celebration was call Samhain (November).
They considered that not all those visitors were friendly so in order to appease those unfriendly spirit they offered food and sweets. To placate them they also used masks and customs.
Celts also use animal offerings to bring the sun back in the Spring. This time was also used to predict the future. Many of those prophecies became stories that will go around Ireland and Europe by story tellers, each of them would add a piece of imagination to the stories.

At the same time in Rome there was a mystical ceremony called Pomona that would honor the goddess of gardens and fruit. It was the opportunity to thank for a good harvest. By 50 BC Rome had spread through Europe and spread Pomona to those places.

During the first century a religious movement (Christians) was getting organized and considered that the natural forces were hostile and against God. They thought that the Devil was deceiving pagans.
By 325 Constantine summoned the council of Nicaea, during that time the Christian doctrine was established. Pagan festivities were so deep in to the social fabric of many places that the new church tried different things to abolished them without much success. It was Pope Gregory III who decided to turn the pagan festivity into an all saints day (November 1st). Pope Gregory IV standardized the date of All Hallow's day . Hallows means to make holy, to sanctify and because it was celebrated in the evening it became Hallow's eve. As time went by you can notice how easy it could change into Halloween.

As you can see no witches have appeared so far neither fear of cats.

By 1400 the religious structure was male oriented and started to prosecute wicce (wise one). They were mostly women and many of them died burned or hanged.
It was until 1486 that Christianity linked the Devil with the Celtic rituals during Pope Innocent VIII ruling.

So how it came to the colonies?
Well, by 1600 the Catholic church was torn by the work of Martin Luther, specially in England. On November 5th, 1605 one catholic (Guy Fawkes) tried to burn the house of lords; that is the reason why in England, they celebrate this day in a similar way to Halloween (use of customs and parades).
When puritans got to the colonies they didn't like Halloween because it was either too catholic or too pagan. For that, each colony had a different approach to it; in Salem they killed around women accused of witchcraft meanwhile in Virginia Halloween became a very popular festivity. In Virginia they had divination games, carved pumpkins and games with apples.
When Irish people came to the US, many more games gained popularity and started using pumpkins as jack-o- lanterns.
In 1920 Anoka Minnesota trying to avoid pranks and vandalism during Halloween festivities, started a Halloween Parade and self proclaimed Anoka as the Halloween Capital of the World. After that the rest of the country followed its example and became a kids festivity.
Since the 70's more adults are celebrating Halloween as well, most of them grew up with this celebration and continue adding a fun way to celebrate and be a little crazy too.

Halloween is the second biggest festivity in the US after Christmas. It generates a 2.5 Billion of dollars and as you can imagine some religious groups condemn its pagan roots and keep linking it to the devil. Some places instead of celebrating Halloween they invite the parishioners to Hell-houses; nothing like instilling fear.
And talking about fear, Hollywood has helped to link Halloween with murderers and ghost movies, I guess fear is also good business.

Anyhow if you decide to go trick or treating, hope you remember that started as a way to thank the Earth for all its goodness and abundance and that trust is a big ingredient to keep all of those children safe.

Happy Halloween!

Rocio

Memories from an unique retreat and ordination

Ah! feels good to come back to the warmer weather compare to Chicago. Nevertheless I felt so much warmth in my heart that the rain, cold and fog did little to upset my mood there.

On my way back, I called my mother to say hello and her first question was, so how should I call you now? I told her that I was the same, the only difference is that I took a vow to serve to the best of my abilities, the rest is really the same.
A friend who took care of my cats in my absence asked the same, and I said "really for the world I am the same, but if you ask me to marry you, or baptize you child or pray for a loved one, I will attune to the lineage I am part of and something good will come from it."

I also told her that Chicago has a special place in my heart, more specifically the Temple of Kriya community, a diverse and thriving community that comes twice a year to seat at the feet of Sri Goswami K. to laugh, learn and lift above the routine and its challenges and renovate their energies to deepen their sadhana (spiritual practice.) I have met so wonderful and dedicated souls, they are like my extended family in the US.

Sri Goswami K. has been teaching people for more than 60 years, yet his humor, kindness, and deep understanding of human psychology has enlightened our path and empower many lives. He is part of a householder lineage that practice how to balance their "physical" life with the desire to understand Reality. His message has always been practical and deep: "you deserve to be happy but to do that you have to stop trying to control life; adjust, adapt, acclimatize. Let go of your anger, let go of your old habits and patterns inherited by your blood line, arise and wake up!"

This retreat was unique, after being a Kriya student for almost 8 years, me and six other students received ordination from Sri Goswami.
Diwali (festival of lights) was starting, the new moon was in Libra, my daughter and husband were present, Sri Goswami ordained us after 10 years of not doing that, and a generous and kind community received us with an open heart. The vibration was high and the ritual had a profound effect in every one of us.

I have a new title now but I think there is still a long way to go in order to really earn it. Study, practice and being congruent in action and thought will guide me to be a better being.

I am deeply grateful not only to all who have walked the path before me, to those who are walking the path beside me and send many blessings for those who are coming behind.
Shanti,
Rocio Morales
(Swami Pushkaryananda)

So you will be a what?

My Spiritual teacher (Guru), Dasaji frequently tells us "there are magic moments in life, portals that will open in front of you and that if you cross them your life will be transform forever"

For most humans that can be the birth of your child, a sunset, your wedding day, the day your boss gave you that big promotion, and also when you lose someone or when you realize there are things that you have very little control over.

I feel on the verge of one of those moments. Diwali is the festival of light in India and will be celebrated on Sunday at sunrise. At the same time a group of fellow seekers and I will be ordained in the Kriya Tradition as swamis (yogi priests.)

One friend asked me, -will I be able to see light coming out from your ears? -No I said. Another inquire, -will you be levitating and reading my mind? -Definitely no.
-So what is it and why are you doing this? another wanted to know.

Becoming a swami is very simple as I understand it. It is about taking a vow to serve
Life. For those with artistic talent, they will use this gift to share the beauty of life an rise awareness; for those who can teach, they will become teachers or writers; for those who can heal, they will counsel or heal the human body. In other words I will be doing what I am doing but with a conscious decision to be better.
As anyone who has studied the Eight Limbs of Yoga, should know this is not an easy feat but opens an amazing path to live one's life.
I foresee multiple attempts and falls and once in a while success.

So... my friends asked almost rising an eyebrow at the same time, there is nothing practical about becoming a Swami?
I smiled and said, there are couple of practical services in the community. Remember Yoga is not a religion and has no affiliation with any of them. Nevertheless some of the activities that a yogi priest offers to the community are: being able to marry people, blessing of a space, praying for a sick one, ritual of death and rebirth, baptism, and spiritual counseling to mention some.

The word swami means master of himself; in my case the commitment to master my mind, body and spirit for a higher purpose and connection with Life. I have no doubt that there will be a spark transmitted from the lineage at the moment of ordination but it is up to me to keep it alive and growing.

In light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar captures the essence of the commitment I am about to embark. It is important to mention that you don't need to take a vow to do that, it just helps to be supported by an ancient lineage and living flame in the search for truth.

Here are Iyengar's words:
"He who works selflessly for the welfare of others with love in his heart is thrice blessed. But the man who combines within his mortal frame knowledge, love and selfless service is holy and becomes a place of pilgrimage, like the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Saraswati and Jamnuna. Those who meet him become calm and purified.
Mind is the king of the senses. One who has conquered his mind, senses, passions, thought and reason is a king among men. He is fit for Raja Yoga, the royal union with the Universal Spirit. He has Inner light"

What a goal (the one that might take thousands of incarnations)!
But every journey starts with a simple step, and I am ready to take it!

Ribbon cutting ceremony

Ah! It is always nice to meet new people, specially if they have very little in common with you.
Today the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce had a little gathering to cut the ribbon for Yoga Sanga. Well, we are an online Magazine therefore there is no really a space or office beyond my studio at home, hard to cut anything on the computer...
For that they offered me the Chamber's offices. A very old and renovated house on Main Street in Round Rock.
I learned that over 90 percent of the membership is composed of small businesses interested in prospering and creating a healthy environment in which to conduct business. The Chamber is made up of people who realize that through the Chamber they can accomplish collectively what no one of them can do individually. The strength of the Chamber lies in attracting the greatest number of members, creating a pool of resources from which can be drawn ideas, energy and finances.

The members were talking about how they are facing the challenges of the recession and how innovative they have become to continue attracting customers.
Yoga Sanga wants to offer an affordable greener way to attract prospect students to classes, studios and special events. Also we want to be a place where new and old practitioners can find inspiration and information related to the eighth limbs of Yoga.
It was a fun ceremony, specially trying to hold those scissors almost as big as I am (not too of a challenge, I have to admit)

When I was ready to cut the ribbon, someone said you have to cut it with a fast and strong movement otherwise it won't cut. I use all my yoga energy and almost break the scissors, they laughed and said, guess that yoga thing really works! I am having a smile on my face for that.
Of course the food was great, catered by Angie's in Round Rock, so fresh and delicious, thanks for those great treats!
Thanks for those who came to say hello, your presence is deeply appreciated.
Shanti,
Rocio

I love animals, they have been part of my life since I can remember.
According to the Humane Society in 2007-2008 there were approximately 74.8 million owned dogs in the US.
During my Summer early morning walks I saw a stray dog a few times, he (not sure) looks like an Scottish Collie, dirty and seemed lost.
As soon as he saw my dog and I he ran away.
Last Friday I saw him again. He has lost a lot of weight and seems curious but distant, if you try to approach him, he runs away.
I called animal control to report seeing him. A lady called a little after and said that she is aware of the dog and all the attempts to capture him have been vane. She thinks he is living on the golf course because of the reports she has received from neighbors.
No one has reported a lost animal like this one and she thinks someone might have dropped him and left.
The animal control lady said that finally a neighbor has accepted to set a trap close to where she thinks the dog lives and is hoping to catch him soon.
The sad news is that she thinks the dog might be sick and will have to euthanize him.
When I heard that my heart ached. I understand he might be sick but if a dog like this survives one of the hottest summers in Texas, lack of food, natural fauna and is still alive, he should deserve a better ending.
How many times we are unaware of the repercussions of our decisions and how much it can affect others?
I hope the dog will have a better ending and will live in a loving home for many more years. We'll see...

Forgiveness as a spiritual practice

I was contemplating this picture of the Kinkaku Temple in Kyoto, Japan sent by my beloved host daughter and wishing to be there surrounded by the serenity of the place when I received a call from an old friend. He was excited and astonished from what happened to him recently.

He said he has been reading about forgiveness and trying to practice it after being layoff twice. He was angry, depressed and holding little hope for his future. So he decided to give the book a chance and committed to perform the forgiveness ritual that was suggested there.

In most spiritual traditions there is a ritual of forgiveness, an important practice to sweep clear our path and open our hearts.

Without telling anyone he performed the ritual and was taken by surprised when a couple of days after performing it his previous boss called (first contact after four years!) to say hello and apologize for how things were handled during his first layoff.

He made me smiled when he said, “ I did not expect this, I opened the door to heal this wound and now I will have to talk with my previous boss, that is going to be the real challenge!”

Some people get mad at someone and get over it very quickly and others find offense in every little thing and wait for years to get revenge or feel a victim. I know some things are just so hard to overcome, but forgiveness is the key to overcome the sense of powerless.

In the words of Isabelle Moiland in The Long Search “As long as you don’t forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy rent-free space in your mind”

Now that the harvesting season is starting, hope you will take a moment to reflect and let go of grudges that are holding you back.

Exciting news!

Tomorrow morning finally you will be able to visit the Yoga Sanga website!

If you have started a business, you might remember all the time and energy that is behind this along with a passion to do something different.
Daring to step into the unknown is not easy, you walk in mud, sometimes it is hard to see clearly, falling quite frequently and some times not having a clear idea of the end result.

So why do you keep trying? because you believe is a good thing and there is always one or many caring hands that cheer you up. To them I express my profound gratitude.

Hope all of you will be able to visit the website www.yogasanga.net and send me your feedback. There might be a little glitch here and there but we are committed to work hard in order to offer a reliable, honest and inspiring magazine.

Share the journey!!!
Rocio

The Case for God

I would like to share with you today a beautiful ritual that Karen Armstrong described on an NPR interview on NPR (Fresh air)today. Miss Armstrong wrote "The case for God" a fascinating point of view on the role of religion and compassion in the XXI century.

She mentions that some centuries ago (X BCE) in India, Brahmans had an interesting contest.
Students will come together to participate on a retreat where the activities were pranayama (breath control exercises), fasting and preparing the mind for the challenge. It was simple, each of them needed to define Brahman (the ultimate reality). One at a time students would give their definition an the others had to listen carefully and challenge it by giving their own and move on.
What is fascinating is that the winner would be the one who would bring everyone to silence. It was said that in that silence, Brahman was present.

Miss Armstrong says "A theology should be like poetry that takes us to the end of words"

In any yoga school that is the end result, being able to quiet the mind so we can transcend it and for a moment see Reality as it is not as we usually see it full of veils.

Enjoy the night and the soon to come Fall Equinox tomorrow!
Rocio

For the full interview visit: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112968197

Retreat a breath of fresh air!

Every year a group of students and a wise soul come together to spend some time. It is an opportunity to be away of the routine and reflect on life's purpose at a subtle and deeper level.

It happens all around the globe, some cultures are more use to it than others. In my case I found the solace of a retreat here in the US. I remember my mother saying six years ago "will you live your kids alone with your husband for three days?; that is so unusual" I said yes and I have done that many times.

The group I am part of got together in Minneapolis this year. It is always nice to see again those we are close to but only see each other once a year and the new comers with the desire to learn and answer fascinating questions that are hard to ask in other settings.

To help those that can't come to this event, we record the teachings and this is where I come inn, I am usually the messenger that sends the recordings after designing a disk label and a cover for the case.

It is a challenging process as I have no particular artistic talent; but gives me the opportunity to listen to the teachings again and always find answers and clarifications to issues that can be overheard when I am taking notes or checking up the recording levels at the retreat.

We were an awkward group of people surrounded by wedding rehearsals and banquets. One night people couldn't sleep as the groom found out something that upset him and was yelling drunk outside our rooms. Not a peaceful yogic way to wake up or fall sleep as it was very early in the morning. Luckily enough yoga always helps to make you more acceptable and adaptable.

Today running with a cold found the opportunity to slow down and prepare the packages for my fellow yogis and yoginis having my teacher Swami Dasa in the background. Ah! that was the best way to allow the body to recover and get stronger for the week.

Have you been in a special retreat? Any stories that you would like to share?

Pushing hard and hoping to have the website by the end of the week.

Have a great week!

Rocio

Compassion in action

Can't believe a week has passed so fast!

I went to San Francisco to help my sister settling in. She just arrived to study her PhD wit a little 6 years old. To say the least it is and overwhelming time for her. I hope that with a little more time things will improve for her and her daughter.
Whether my husband and I were trying to choose some furniture for her minuscule and very expensive (for Texas) studio, or lifting the mattress through an endless staircase, a thought kept coming to mind that Sri Goswami Kriyananda always remarks, "clarity of purpose is key to a happy life."

Before coming back to Austin I told her -if you really want this, you will have to wake up every morning and remember why you are here and that every day the goal will get closer to you.

But it is not easy as life usually isn't, dealing with so many details for her and her daughter has been a daunting task. On the brighter side she has found a wonderful group of people that has helped them unselfishly. They don't have much, most of them students as well that understand the challenge of studying having to provide and take care of a kid. They represent the true compassion in action, you give not what you have to spare, you give from your own time and resources because it is the right thing to do.

No doubt there are heroes everywhere, be grateful if you have found one of them and feel good about yourself if you are one of those special kind souls that lift our hearts and give us hope that regardless of the challenges, things settle down.

If you have a story about someone helping you at a hard time, share it with us.

Shanti,
Rocio

The things we value

There is no doubt that male and female brain in general value and appreciate different things.

For instance, I would never spend $500.00 or more for a Dallas Football game (though I know some women may) or thousands of dollars in an expensive car as a result of a midlife crisis.

Ah! but give me a romantic movie or spending a weekend doing Yoga and listening to an inspired soul and I am there.

If you haven't read Joel Stein's column on how he describes her wife's process of eating placenta, you haven't see how different and funny this experience can be for a couple Afterbirth: It\'s What\'s For Dinner
Reading this article made me confirm in a hilarious way how foreign some of the yoga practices can be for a new student.

Picture this, my husband had a stuffy nose and I suggested using the Neti Pot. He wanted to know what that was and as I am explaining the technique, his faced changed from surprised to horror and rejection before running away and saying "you yogis are crazy, I can't do that to my body!"

I have heard many students going to a class because they can practice without that "chanting and weird stuff some teachers do at the beginning of class", and some others might be looking for something beyond the poses. All that might be the reason why there are so many yoga styles. The goal of Yoga Sanga, is to offer points of view on different traditions so prospect students will find their match.

The website will be ready by the end of the week, I can't wait to share it with all of you!

Shanti,
Rocio

Patience is a virtue

I remember being a kid and waiting for what it seemed an eternity to ride my new bike on Christmas break.
I had a very different upbringing for a child born in Mexico, in my case it was clear who bought all the presents. There was no mystery and we weren't allowed to tell other kids.
The great thing about this system is that we could go to the store and buy whatever wanted (assuming there was enough for seven kids). The down side was the time we had to wait to use them!!

My best present ever was my first bike, it had a shock in the frame and I thought it was an advance piece of engineering and special design. When time came I was elated to taste freedom. I remember waking up early many Saturdays and bike for a couple of hours around neighborhoods, feeling the cool breeze and enjoying my little independence.

In a way that is how I feel today, I cannot wait to share Yoga Sanga with you but ah! the pain; it is not ready yet. Programmer has promised it will be done by the end of the week (at this point I am not sure to trust that).

Bear with me and I will let you know as soon as it is out.
I cannot wait to share wonderful articles to the Texas Yoga Community!
Enjoy the long weekend!
Rocio

Ignorance and greed

I hope I am not alone on this but I have noticed that my brain has a delay when I am in an inverted pose and my lovely teacher Peggy comes and says, "lift the shoulders, tailbone in, internal rotation of the legs..." I usually go blank and feel less than bright for not having that yogic control over my body.

Well I just felt like that after talking with my sister. Today two women stole not only jewelry, money and credit cards from my mother, they stole her dignity and confidence for people.

We still cannot understand how two women were able to fool my mother with a bizarre story; to the point that she drove them around!
Everyday you hear about people abusing the elderly and how much they are target of scams. It is hard to believe how people can abuse a benevolent heart.

My Guru's teacher, Sri Goswami Kriyananda tells a conversation he had with his Guru Shelliji in terms of ignorance and greed. I am paraphrasing it.

Kriyananda recalls talking to his Guru and asking him -why do people do actions that will bring them negative karma.?
Shelliji answered -they do it because they have forgotten the laws of life. If you pollute the lake sooner or later all the fishes will be dead and you will starve. Most of us don't think too far ahead, therefore we are usually moved by greed and laziness.
Then the solution is easy, people need to understand the laws of life thus they can release themselves from ignorance -Kriyananda replied.
-That is an important part of the solution but not all as each person needs to have the desire to learn. Shelliji commented

As for my mother and the rest of the family today, we had a harsh awakening.

Where is the crisis?

I had the chance to sit down with a group of lovely ladies to talk about the economical recession and asked them how they are coping with the challenges that it has brought into their lives.
Most of them where very optimistic saying that not having a credit card debt have helped them realize how important is to use the money wisely. Others were grateful because even though their employers cut their hours back, they feel better compare to others that lost their job completely.

In the group there was a young lady that just moved to Texas from Michigan. She is trying to adapt to her new surroundings but misses Michigan quite a bit. She told us how after living there for 6 years she witnessed how the economy plummeted. She saw how residential areas were desolated and strip business areas completely closed converting small towns in ghost ones.

To contrast that idea during the weekend I dare to go to the Apple store to ask how much a Mac computer would cost me, I arrived at noon and it was packed.! People waited for 30 minutes to be helped and I saw white big boxes with Macs flying as if they were the cheapest computers in the world.

There is no doubt that compare with other states Texas has been fortunate and hopefully those who lost their jobs here will find one soon.

One of the columns that you will find at Yoga Sanga (hopefully by the end of the week, so the programmer keeps saying) is questions and answers. The question I chose for this issue is related to crisis in our lives and how to face them in a more balance way. Maybe it is not as much as to avoiding them as to learn how to face them differently.

Rocio

How come you missed it?

That is what my students asked me in disbelief on Friday morning when they asked if I heard the storm that came into Austin Thursday night.
I looked at them and said did it rain? Most of them couldn't sleep because of the wind blowing around the houses.
My only excuse was I guess I have been a little sleep deprived and my body took the opportunity to catch up. No doubt my awareness was into my sleep state.

By the way talking about awareness, one of the articles that we will be featuring is written by Ramanand Patel (wonderful yoga teacher and a genius in the use of props and small movements that give you a fast reality check). In his article he explores consciousness and its relation with contentment.
Shantosha or contentment is an interesting and often misunderstood concept in the Yoga lingo, I am sure this article will bring some light to it.

Tell me if you have a story of complete unawareness about something going on around you.

Enjoy the weekend!
Rocio

Yoga practice

A tired and little frustrated student asked me today, how much time should I practice yoga every day?
It really depends, if you talk only about the asana (poses) then everyday will be great; if you talk about the other 7 pillars, then is every day, every moment...- I answered

Her concern was that after 3 months of not doing any Yoga, her body struggled all through the class. Sounds familiar?

It is better to practice the poses everyday for a short period of time if that is all you have, than going to a class once a week. Muscles have memory and the more we stretch them gently the easier is to open and strengthen them.

I have an older student; she might be in her 50s and had two surgeries on her knee। When she started coming to class she was hesitant to move much. Little by little using support, her body started to open up and now she has reduced the use of props and gained not only strength but control over her body.

Don't be fool by the models in the magazines, everybody is different and though there is a model to follow in every pose, we have to adapt to what the body is able to do in every practice.

My teacher would say "constant practice and complete detachment bring the goal closer"
Have you made time for Yoga today?

Rocio