Do you Satya?

The practice of Truthfulness
By Rocio Morales

If you are new to yoga, soon you will realize that Yoga is more than the poses you practice. It is a way of living and has 8 limbs to guide you to Enlightenment. Practicing those eight limbs will help the yoga practitioner to gain knowledge from the living experience and with time a deep understanding of the Reality.

The eight limbs of yoga are: Yama (abstentions), Niyama (Observances), Asan (postures), Pranayama (life-force control), Pratyahara (Sense-withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (Meditation) and Samadhi(Contemplation). As you can see these eight limbs cover not only the physical but also the mental and spiritual layers of who you are.

This week I would like to explore Satya (truthfulness). Satya is one the five Yamas (abstentions).
In almost any religion we find that telling the truth is positive not only at a moral but also at a psychological level. If someone lies, he needs to put so much energy to keep the lie going to the point that it becomes a big burden.

There is no doubt that we all know the value for being truthful, tough practicing it might be a challenge .
I recently received a call of a distress yogi who was fired from a studio who according to him has non-truthful practices. Allegedly the studio owner encourages teachers to post fake comments on the website and other places using fake names to promote the studio. At the same time if a teacher develops something (training manuals, videos, etc) for that studio, the name of that teacher won't appear credited by the studio.

Without taking any responsibility to the studio owner untruthful way of doing business I wonder, how come those issues became a problem after this yogi was fired.? At what extent a person is responsible for following untruthful actions.? I understand there is not an easy answer to this; the social pressure and the need for a job can be a big challenge.

Following the eight limbs in a society that is going in the opposite direction is not easy and I think that is the reason why the wise souls who came before us and practiced yoga said that yoga is a practice, it takes time and great awareness to live by them in this society but is doable. It all depends on our goals and the way of living that we are looking for. Yoga at the end is a set of techniques that should be done and practice consciously at all times.


At some point everyone should stand up for what we think is right and truthful and act in consequence, other times life give us the opportunity to calibrate and follow our principles. As for this yogi, I am happy to say he is finding other great ways to share his experience of yoga and support his family.
Want to practice Satya? Follow the recommendation of Sri Goswami Kriyananda as he writes his book "The Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga, "you should examine all your words before speaking, and utter them only if they are useful and good. Complications arise when virtuous words lead to hurt"

Georg Feurstein in The Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga, mentions that in the Yoga -Bhashya, "Vyasa states that if one speaks at all, it should be for the communication of one's knowledge and as a service to others, and hence the communication should not be deceitful, erroneous, or barren."

Are you a fixer and a doer?

By Rocio Morales

I think in the modern world, most of us are. We live an a society where it is expected to come up with solutions or ways to fix things.
If a kid comes to you with a bruise, you will look for a way to clean the affected area and then put a band-aid to where the bruise is. If a friend tells another friend about her problem, you would hear the listener suggesting ways to solve the issue almost automatically.

We are use to do and fix, and when life challenges in some situations where regardless of the impulse to act, the effect is minimal; such experience becomes an an interesting one and a wonderful opportunity to grow.

Some years ago my grandmother passed away, she was without a doubt the link between all the family, her presence and kindness hold the family together. When she passed, all that connection changed and hasn't been the same since then. A result of her passing, my mother went into a severe depression and no matter what we tried to do or say she was going downfall. Watching her in this state made me realize the little control we have over those we love.
After trying different approaches (and spending time and resources trying to "fix her") my siblings, and myself realized that she needed time to break the cycle of depression and came out of it at her own time and terms. I am happy to report that she did.

There is an old Zen proverb that applies to this experience: "Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself"

Yoga allows you to experience this type of situations not only at a physical but also at a mental level and even spiritually. For instance if your hamstrings are tight, no matter what you do, they will take time to lengthen. Forcing those muscles to lengthen, will injure them and the healing process can be long. On the other hand if you have a good disposition, meaning you will allow your body to open and feel OK when some people can bend and touch the floor and you can't even pass you knees, the body little by little will open. At a physical level Yoga helps to remove the old habits and open an space in your body for those muscles to relax and lengthen.

At a mental level Yoga gives you the opportunity to watch your mind and all the stuff that is in there when you go into a pose, are you too competitive that every pose is a challenge to be master forcefully? or do you acknowledge the restrictions in your body and keep working with them without feeling embarrassed.?

Next time before jumping to fixing and doing, resist the impulse and listen more, be open to possibilities and let go of the desire to control or to make everything perfect. To me that is one of the biggest gifts I have received from my yoga practice. Not everything is about doing and fixing, many times is better to let go, decide not to become a victim and open a space to heal and grow with the resources we have at hand at this moment, the present where we have more control over our life.

Sitting doing nothing Spring will come...

Ayurveda and Yoga itips for the Summer

In Texas we have been enjoying a fresh and wet Spring for the most part. Nevertheless some days you can feel the Summer coming closer and closer with temperatures above 90 degrees.
For that reason I decided to take an interesting workshop with Mandy Eubanks and Kerry Meath called "How to beat the Summer Heat with Ayurveda and Yoga".

Ayurveda is the sister system of Yoga and means the Science of life. Kerry mentioned "Interestingly the Caraka Samhita, the oldest Ayurvedic book ever found describes many of the ailments that we suffer today."
In Ayurveda everyone has a unique body type made of the interaction of five elements: Ether, Fire, Water, Air and Earth.

Kerry explained that in the Summer there is more heat, humidity and sunlight therefore the predominant elements are fire and water. The fire element is associated with the PittaDosha (Ayurveda mind and body type).
Some characteristics of the Pitta type are that people tend to have skin problems, quick temper and headaches. They are smart, curious and have drive. Too much heat produces allergic reactions, rashes, heavy sweating, heart burn, etc. Kerry recommends to cool down the body to avoid inflammation and liver problems.
Here are some tips:
Avoid hot, spicy or oily foods; avoid coffee and alcohol, sun exposure and rigorous exercise.
As for your yoga practice, Mandy and Kerry recommend:

a) Keep a relaxed hold
b) Instead of lifting your eyes in your practice, keep your gaze forward and soften it.
c) Use twits to help the body to eliminate better and release toxins.
d) Use Sitali breath to cool the body down as pranayama

During the Summer, try to sleep and wake up earlier.

In other words, refresh yourself frequently, specially if you have a pitta constitution to avoid overheating and inflammation.

I felt great after a gentle practice and with great ideas to abate my fiery disposition. Summer bring it on, I will be better prepared!

Kerry and Mandy have schedule classes like this one to go over every season. Check the Castle Hill Events calendar for more information at http://www.castlehillyoga.com/
To contact Kerry Meath go to http://www.timelesshealthsolutions.com/

Yoga Sanga May issue is out!

Hello everyone,

The Yoga Sanga team is pleased to present our May issue!

Please take time to visit our website and read the great and interesting articles we have prepared for you.

This issue we are giving a special recognition is to Rita Karydas a talented teacher who lives in San Marcos http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7538 and to The Art of Living Foundation specially the volunteers in the Austin chapter) for being the recipients of the Yoga Sanga Karma Yoga Recognition Award, take time to listen to the interview with Arvind Raghunatan to learn more about this organization and the visit of a Swami and healer from India to Texas in May. http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7601

Can you guess what would be the yogic quality that would help you grow spiritually? Check your answer here http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7511

How did Ganesh loose his head? http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7595

Here you will find an article on the work force commission and its plan to regulate yoga teacher’s training programs as vocational schools. There is plenty of information to have an informed opinion. http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7529

Have your heard of Spiritual Phytoessenceing? Find it here how aromatherapy has gone one step forward to bring your spirit in harmony. http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7507

People associate Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with movement and exertion, we ask a long time practitioner, author and yoga teacher, Gregor Maehle about this yoga style http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7514

If you would like to deepen not only your practice but understanding of yoga, we have a list of committed teachers and programs in Texas (and some correspondence / online ones for those who need more flexibility) http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7541

May is a good month to appreciate mom, what about start showing appreciation more frequently for those closest to us? Read why here http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7534

If you couldn't make it to the Texas Yoga Conference in February in Houston, here is an overview of the conference. http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7525

Can Homeopathy help those allergy sufferers during spring and summer? We ask a Homeopath and here are her answers. http://www.yogasanga.net/?p=7497

As for yoga events in May, check our calendar at http://www.yogasanga.net/?page_id=10

I would love to hear your suggestions for articles, karma yoga recognition or just to say hello; just send a message to yogasangatx@gmail.com

Share the journey and live your yoga in and outside the mat!

Namaste,

Rocio Morales