I love this picture of people practicing yoga together, across the border fence between San Diego and Tijuana- it's a project of border meetup.
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Added by Christine McCaull on January 15, 2009 at 5:17pm —
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For the past week, we've been looking hard at the things that fill our spaces and our thoughts. We then put every stuffed animal, every outgrown princess dress, every read-once hardcover book and seen-once DVD, every pair of 12 year old girl not quite right pair of jeans, every extra lamp and shelf and chair, every lego in a big pile. Then, we had a garage GIVE- set up a shelter in front of the house, hung signs, and made a karma wish exchange plan- and everything was free for the taking.
I can…
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Added by Christine McCaull on December 24, 2008 at 12:00am —
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I've been in an unpleasant state on and off for a while...one could say subdued..lethargic...sometimes touching on existential gloom- forgetting my true nature. In my mind I hear my teacher saying,"Just go to the mat- even if it's only 20 minutes a day- tune into your breath- the source of all things breathing you." That's all it takes to stay connected and aware, right? But sometimes that home practice isn't enough and you must get into the studio and gratefully fall into the hands of another's…
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Added by Christine McCaull on November 18, 2008 at 12:00am —
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Hello beloveds, You mostly know about our work with the Heart of Yoga Peace Project. Will you take a look at our downloadable class for peace, and consider hosting a class? We have more resources (flyers, etc.) available at www.hoypeaceproject.org.
Shanti, Christine
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Added by Christine McCaull on November 3, 2008 at 2:37pm —
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"Support the knees, flat back, palms open to receive,
Steadily inhale through both nostrils,
Unify the two breath streams at the bindi point,
Exhale, split your air evenly out left and right,
Relax the tissues that constrain the lungs' expansion,
Make space around the brain, Dissolve."
Do You Know Your Heart, June, 2008
Stillness deludes one into thinking forms can be stable,
while secretly amplifying, magnifying
No simple thump-thump at the inner wrist, no:
a rolling, p…
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Added by Christine McCaull on August 10, 2008 at 5:52pm —
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Friends, here is an update from our beloved Lisa, teaching yoga in the Middle East, talking about the day to day life there, the struggle, the small joys. If you are in a position to do so, please support her work, and those of all the people bringing yoga as a nonsectarian unifying way to connect and acknowledge peace in the self and with others. Many of you know about the Heart of Yoga Peace Project, and what Mark and I and many others have been trying to do there- for more information, visit…
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Added by Christine McCaull on July 22, 2008 at 9:51pm —
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When this whole Pancha Karma thing started, I had no idea about the withdrawal part, I thought it was about changing your food/cleansing the body and adding some meditation. So, I've been doing what I can.
Although we had tried Indian cooking before, we certainly hadn't made "Kichadi", the staple food for the first two weeks of this- a perfectly balanced combo of basmati rice and dal. Doug demonstrated, with a great deal of kitchen flair, tossing in spices with aplomb, which we replayed at home…
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Added by Christine McCaull on April 18, 2008 at 6:00pm —
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When I first started practicing yoga, I thought Namaste must mean in some way "class dismissed". Over the years I came to understand the literal interpretation as "the God in me acknowledges the God in you." But it may just now be coming to full understanding. Let me tell you about Agape....
John and I were in LA a few weeks ago, and after years of being invited and resisting, we went to Agape for the first time. Agape is the powerhouse interdenominational spiritual center started by MB Beckwit…
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Added by Christine McCaull on April 12, 2008 at 5:30pm —
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This is a lovely end of class meditation- people are always surprised by who comes to them. It takes about 8 minutes and produces a deep feeling of expansiveness and perspective.
Compassion meditation (karuna)
-Visualize a loved one: May you be free from suffering, may you find peace.
-Hold yourself as your beloved: May I be free from suffering, may I find peace.
-Visualize a neutral someone: May you be free from suffering, may you find peace.
-Visualize a difficult someone: May you be free fro…
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Added by Christine McCaull on March 11, 2008 at 12:21am —
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This week, we're going to take the first 20 minutes of our asana time and explore three breathing techniques and one meditation practice. We'll be doing alternating nostril breathing, shining skull and breath of fire- to balance the energetic channels and to enliven/invigorate the body, and discuss when these can be used in day to day life. The meditation technique involves bringing energy up the spine accompanied by color and sound. My goal is to expand the tools your have at your disposal to f…
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Added by Christine McCaull on March 3, 2008 at 1:51pm —
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Anatomical Focal Point (s): Fire from the Belly (core), Strong Roots (legs)
Breath: Shining Skull
Study: Want freedom? Satya, or Truth Telling (see below)
Next in the study of the 5 Yamas
Want Freedom?: Satya, or Telling the Truth
The Practice of coming into truth- of Truth Telling- isn't as simple as it sounds. There are layers to this- from Outer Truth, to Inner truth, to the Ultimate Truth- all of which play a role in creating a life of ease and freedom and connectedne…
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Added by Christine McCaull on February 14, 2008 at 12:00am —
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Wherever you are,
love your body as it is right now. I
mean NOW, not when it achieves some desired future state or as it was at a
reminisced point of peak fitness. I mean
NOW, not when it is ailment free. It’s a
magnificent machine, and does wonders for you everyday. Maybe it only gets your spirit from the bed
to the bathroom, or maybe it allows you to have babies, or peel a banana or
walk to the store or dance Swan
Lake or hold a
handstand. Whether it is fat or ta…
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Added by Christine McCaull on February 6, 2008 at 3:30pm —
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For the week of February 3, we're focusing our class practice on Santosha, or the active practice of contentment.
Physical postures on Wednesday and Saturday will emphasize sensation in common poses, deep noticing and gratitude. Longer holds, more breath. We will also play with three challenge balancing poses- one for the arms, one for the core, one for the legs- that will encourage the practice of contentment with where we're at, no matter the external circumstance.
www.yogaco…
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Added by Christine McCaull on February 6, 2008 at 2:31pm —
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