workshop | The Essence of Yoga | Bhagavad Gita & The Yoga Sutras

Posted on May 4, 2012 by ctyoga

M.A. Jayashree & M.A. Narasimhan

Tomorrow starts the first day of my 2day workshop with M.A. Jayashree & M.A. Narasimhan (from Mysore Karnataka India) on the Bhagavad Gita & The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
 
The workshops will take place at the: 
ASHTANGA YOGA SHALA, Via C. Tenca 10 (traversa di Viale Tunisia), Citofono/Buzzer ASHTANGA (Terzo piano a Sinistra/Third floor on the Left) from 9.30-13 and then again from 15-18.
 
The workshop has kindly been organized by Elena de Martin from Mi.As.Yo. Milano Ashtanga Yoga school.
 
Desc of the weekend workshop by Mi.As.Yo. Milano Ashtanga Yoga:
Dr. M.A. JAYASHREE e Prof. M.A. NARASIMHAN vengono da  Mysore nel Karnataka, sud dell’India. Sono nati e cresciuti in una tradizionale famiglia indiana di bramini, hanno condotto i loro studi prima nell’ambito scientifico per poi avvicinarsi sempre di più alla comprensione delle scritture e della filosofia indiana; sono profondi conoscitori dello Yoga, nel senso più vero e ampio del termine, nonché del Sanscrito, lingua che parlano fluentemente.
Dr. M.A. JAYASHREE ha fatto il suo dottorato in Sanscrito di cui è riconosciutissima insegnante, professione esercitata per molti anni a Mysore nelle istituzioni scolastiche (College e Università) oltre che con gli studenti di Yoga; dotata di una melodiosa voce, ha studiato canto e musica tradizionale indiana, che oltre a conoscere profondamente ne è anche meravigliosa esecutrice. Ha prodotto diversi CD sui Veda, Yoga Sutra, Sloka e versi sanscriti.
Prof. M.A. NARASIMHAN ha dedicato la sua vita alla ricerca e alla comprensione; dopo aver compiuto i suoi studi è stato per 12 anni discepolo di Maharishi Yogi, maestro che ha seguito da vicino con grande devozione, con cui ha divulgato per tutta l’India la Meditazione Trascendentale, insegnandola, tenendo corsi di formazione e lavorando anche dell’ambito sociale in carceri, ospedali psichiatrici, ospedali oncologici, o semplicemente in piccoli villaggi indiani dove le condizioni di vita sono le più precarie.
Semplicità e umiltà sono le caratteristiche che li contraddistinguono e fanno di loro due grandi maestri, portatori straordinari della conoscenza e della tradizione indiana attraverso un messaggio chiaro, comprensibile, genuino e spontaneo, che va oltre l’intelletto e arriva direttamente al cuore.
Sono fondatori dell’Anantha Research Foundation, Sanskrit & Yoga Research Foundation, Mysorewww.anantharesearch.org il cui scopo è di portare la conoscenza e la saggezza degli insegnamenti tradizionali indiani agli studenti contemporanei di tutto il mondo.Il seminario è aperto a TUTTI: questo straordinario evento desidera essere un momento di condivisione dello YOGA dove l’UNIONE, suo vero e unico scopo, possa essere percepita e vissuta dai partecipanti indipendentemente dalla cultura, dalle discipline praticate e dalle  tradizioni di appartenenza. L’universalità dello Yoga attraverso gli insegnamenti di Patanjali e la Bhagavad Gita sarà l’argomento principe.

Il weekend di Milano fa parte di un lungo tour europeo che tocca diversi paesi come Svezia, Finlandia, Irlanda, Italia, Repubblica Ceca, Olanda, Danimarca dove Jayashree e Narasimhan terranno i loro seminari in altrettante scuole di Ashtanga Yoga, per portare la conoscenza dello Yoga al nostro mondo occidentale.

Il programma si svolgerà nei giorni di Sabato 5 e Domenica 6 Maggio:
mattina 9,30 – 13,00, pomeriggio 15,00 – 18,00 (con pausa in mezzo)

Bhagavad Gita e Yoga Sutra saranno i testi di riferimento di questo viaggio all’origine dello Yoga e del suo profondo significato. Faremo i Chanting (la ripetizione in melodia in lingua originale – sanscrito) di alcuni loro passi fondamentali, seguiti dall’interpretazione attenta orientata verso l’utilità degli stessi nella quotidianità della nostra vita. A questo si articoleranno momenti di domande e risposte e per tutta la durata del seminario ci sarà una continua interazione fra gli studenti partecipanti e i maestri.

Il seminario sarà in Inglese con traduzione in Italiano.
Il costo totale del seminario è di 120€
Giornata intera 70€
mezza giornata 40€

Per ulteriori informazioni e iscrizioni:
Ass. Mi.As.Yo. Milano Ashtanga Yoga
Elena De Martin
astangamilano@yahoo.it 
0239263159 – 3473541355

 
 They are also offering a 7am Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga of the full primary series – i will need to get up at 5.45am in order to make it to that class…i’ll let you know tomorrow if i woke up at crazy o’clock for the yoga class or whether i made it in time for the workshop! 😉
 
Pictures from Madrid to follow! I got back on Wednesday 2nd and had to teach 2 classes – i was pooped afterward! It was great visiting my brother in Madrid and visiting a new city, and learning a few more Spanish words, i just wish it hadn’t rained the entire time i was there! ;( Better luck next time i hope!
Have you guys been anywhere interesting recently? Where? Hope you had better weather than i did! Ciao x
Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, wellbeing, Yoga Dinamico | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dirección España: Madrid

Posted on April 27, 2012 by ctyoga
As you may have guessed from my twitter updates, little Winston & I have taken a little trip to MADRID!
We’re here for 6 days ready to try out all the tapas, try some Rioja, Tempranillo, and any other wine, as well as check out some of Ernest Hemingway’s hangout places, Javier Bardem’s family’s tapas place and some areas i have been told to definitely check out (via Lactea) – everything here starts later, dinner at 10, people out drinking till the wee hours, and when i say wee hours i mean wee – till 6-7am just bar hopping, eating tapas, drinking and chatting! Not sure i can last that late – but i’m definitely up for soaking some culture whilst here – Prado, Thyssen & Sofia here i come! 
 
Today Winston & i took a few long walks, we walked all the way to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, booked Winston in for a wash & cut (tomorrow @ 18:00!) – i’ll post some pix of his new do – window shopped and even had time for a cheeky pop into Starbucks. Yes, there is Starbucks here. I don’t even know why it made me happy to see the logo, but i guess it somehow filled me with familiarity – for 11 long years i’ve been so used to it, it’s kinda weird not seeing it around anymore. I didn’t even drink coffee from Starbucks in the end (i preferred it from Pret) and actually i don’t even drink coffee anymore – but today it was nice to have that choice, to go in, get a Chai tea, a croissant, some roasted Edamame beans and sit in that familiar surrounding – the couches, the wooden round tables and chairs, the various mugs on display for sale – it’s funny how the formula is the same everywhere, comforting, reassuring, or just a great marketing scheme to take over the world? Whatever the case, it was nice sitting in that over familiar environment, and then later walk away w/ my tea in one of those over familiar paper cups w/ the green mermaid logo. 
 
Tonight? Perhaps some Taps & Vino – why not, after all we are in Madrid and the weekend? I believe Prado, Thyssen & Sofia are waiting as is the botanical garden. Can’t wait to see the center of Madrid and all of its barrios.
 
If you have any tips or suggestions – places i must check out, yoga centers, museums – please fire away! 
Hasta Luego!
 
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Breath of the Gods ~ A Journey to the Origins of Modern Yoga

Posted on April 27, 2012 by ctyoga
So as you guys know, on sunday i went to watch this movie…started at 21.15 and ended at around 23:00 can’t remember exactly what time it was….i just remember it being late.
The movie was quite long – at least it appeared to be long….i must say that it was really nice seeing Sri Krishnamacharya on screen, as well as B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois & Krishnamacharya’s children (who are no longer kids). 
It was incredibly informative, from an Ashtanga & Vinyasa Flow point of view – one must also realize that there are other disciplines other than these ones which are not mentioned in the movie at all – students who are currently doing Hatha Yoga teacher training were totally appalled by the movie…so it doesn’t give a full, 360 degree view of where yoga positions, Asanas, come from – which is the goal/aim of Jan Schmidt-Garre. 
 
Personally i found it interesting as i’m practicing Ashtanga, and during my teacher training, read and learnt about Krishnamacharya and Pattabhi Jois. 
 
Here is the summer of the movie i found on Imdb:
 
“A Journey to the Origins of Modern Yoga. Yoga is known to go back to God Shiva, who perfected 8,4 million postures, according to Indian tradition. Far less known is the fact that yoga is at the same time an early 20th century-creation of Indian savant T. Krishnamacharya, which is what this film is about. Krishnamacharya’s life and teachings are seen through the eyes of the director on his search for authentic yoga. His journey leads him from students and relatives of Krishnamacharya’s such as the legendary teachers Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois to the source of modern yoga: the palace of the Maharaja of Mysore, where Krishnamacharya founded the first ever yoga school. A feature-length documentary including rare historical footage as well as lavish reenactments.”
 
I would suggest going to see it for yourselves and making your own mind up on this movie – and if you do go and see it – let me know what you thought!!!
 
Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Yoga Dinamico | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Yoga Movie Tonight!

Posted on April 22, 2012 by ctyoga
 
Tonight i’ll be going to Spazio Oberdan to watch a Yoga movie “Il Respiro degli Dei – Un Viaggio Alla Scoperta dello Yoga Moderno” (The Breath of the Gods – A Journey to the Discovery of Modern Yoga).
 
Showing from the 18 April to the 29 April.
“Il moderno yoga è praticato giornalmente da milioni di persone in tutto il mondo, ma quali sono le sue origini? Il regista Jan Schmidt-Garre si è recato in India e ha incontrato i grandi maestri di questa disciplina per scoprirne la vera essenza. Ne è scaturito Il respiro degli Dei, un documentario in cui, attraverso il racconto delle origini dello yoga moderno, il regista apre una finestra sulla cultura indiana, restituendone un ritratto accurato. Alternando fedeli ricostruzioni a rari materiali d’archivio risalenti agli anni Trenta, Jan Schmidt-Garre mostra come gli insegnamenti di Krishnamacharya si siano evoluti e abbiano portato alla costituzione di diverse scuole.

Dopo aver realizzato diversi film incentrati su arti sceniche quali il teatro, l’opera e la danza al fine d’indagarne il processo artistico, con questo documentario il regista cerca di comprendere come il suono e la forma possano diventare spirituali, concentrandosi su quell’unica disciplina che permette al corpo di fondersi miracolosamente con lo spirito: lo yoga. Per far ciò nel corso del documentario, frutto di cinque anni di lavoro, Jan Schmidt-Garre si cimenta in prima persona con questa disciplina. A muoverlo è la volontà di dimostrare come salire su quel materassino lungo due metri e largo sessanta centimetri significhi entrare in una dimensione parallela, forse l’unica da cui sia possibile osservare la vita dalla giusta prospettiva.”

(Taken from website).

Spazio Oberdan
viale Vittorio Veneto 2,
angolo piazza Oberdan
Milano
 
Film starts at 21.15 – i will give you the lowdown tomorrow! What are you guys up to with your sunday? Whatever you do, hope you enjoy it! x
Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Corsi di yoga a Milano, Milano Italy | Leave a comment

Mysore Magic

Posted on April 19, 2012 by ctyoga
With India getting closer and closer day by day (tho i do have to wait 6 months until i actually leave!), with my ashtanga preparation…well why not continue with this theme?
 
Mysore Magic – Yoga at the Source is the title of a very inspiring short film about the home of Ashtanga Yoga – Mysore, India.
 
Magic happens at the source of Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore, India. Thousands from across the planet journey here to deepen their practice. Hear what they say, and enjoy an insider’s view into the Mysore experience.
 
Have you guys been to Mysore? How was your experience? Any tips for ‘Mysore Virgins’? 
 

 

About Ashtanga Yoga

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (known as Guruji) began teaching yoga in his early 20’s on instruction from his Guru Sri Tirumali Krishnamacharya. In the early 1970’s, the first Westerners stumbled across Guruji’s “Yoga Shala” (school), a small room at the back of his house in Mysore, India. At that time he taught the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Series in a style now referred to in the West as “Mysore-Style”. Primarily mysore-style had a focus on self practice where the student would learn the sequence of postures incrementally receiving guidance and adjustment on a daily basis. In the late 1970’s, Guruji’s first western students invited him to the U.S to teach their friends and students. From that time on, the word gradually spread about Ashtanga Yoga making it increasingly accessible and popular in the west. Consequently, more westerners travelled to Mysore to learn from Guruji in the small Shala where only 12 students could practice at any one time. As the number of foreigners grew the need for a new Shala became apparent, leaving Guruji and Sharath to build a new one which opened in 2001. Today led classes are held Sundays and Fridays whilst Mysore style is taught Monday to Thursday.

The Ashtanga Yoga System emphasises movement with breath. The breath is directed and focused into the upper body. The breath is performed in conjunction with the hold of the bandhas in the lower body. This provides the combined result of inner stability and release of tension in the outer body.

Sri K. Pattahbi Jois explains that “an important component of the breathing system is mula and uddiyana bandha. These are the anal and lower abdominal locks, which seal in energy, giving lightness, strength and health to the body, whilst helping to build a strong internal fire. Without bandhas, breathing will not be correct and asana of are of no benefit. When mula bandha is perfect, mind control is automatic”. (Guruji, Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute)
The bandhas cultivate lightness in the practice as well as strength and flexibility in the body.

1.14 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
In Sanskrit: Sa tu dirgha-kala-nairantarya-satkarasevito drdha-bhumih
Translation: Practice becomes firmly established when it has been cultivated uninterruptedly and with devotion over a long period of time.

 
(source: Jois Yoga.com)
Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Corsi di yoga a Milano, Milano Italy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment