Birth "DAY" of Yoga

Join me on July 15th for some yoga ...and cake!

For more details please call 982-2737...

Quote - Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.

Don't walk in front of me: I may not follow.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.

-Albert Camus

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Sleeping Tortoise

The sleeping tortoise takes all its limbs into its carapace. So does the yoga: going back into himself he does not see anything worldly any longer, He makes peace in himself. -B.K.S. Iyengar Namaste Pamela Nelson Www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Four Mountains

The Buddha said to the King of Kosala:

"Majesty, suppose a trusted messenger brought you news that a mighty mountain, high as the sky, was approaching from the East, crushing every living thing in its path.  Just as you began to worry about this situation, another trusted messenger brings news that a mighty mountain is advancing from the West, also crushing everything in its path.  Then messengers from the North and South arrive bearing similar messages.  Four mountains are advancing towards the capital, crushing every being in their paths. You know that you cannot escape.  There is nothing you can do to prevent the mountains from coming.  Your time is short.  What would your Majesty do?"

 The King pondered for a moment and then said,

"I believe there is only one thing I could do.  That would be to live my remaining hours in as worthy and serene a way as possible, following the true teaching."

The Buddha praised the king.

"Yes, your Majesty!  Those four mountains are the mountains of birth, old age, sickness, and death.  Old age and death are closing in on us, and we can never escape."

The king joined his palms.

"Remembering that old age and death are approaching, I understand that the best thing I can do is to live my remaining days and months according to your teaching, living serenely, mindfully, and benefiting others, including the future generations."

-Taken from Old Path White Clouds, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Enjoy the day!

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

 

 

Tswana Proverb (Botswana)



Decisions are sometimes hard to make when there is more then one option.  This proverb really spoke to me yesterday when I read it.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Tswana Proverb - Botswana

Poo, ga di nne pedi mo sakeng.

Two bulls can't stay in the same kraal.

In the agricultural society in most of the rural parts of Botswana, animals are the measure of wealth. Historically, people have not trusted banks and choose instead to keep their wealth in the form of cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys.  Cattle are at the top of the list.  There is an intimate relationship between a person and his or her cattle. It is common knowledge that you cannot put two bulls into one kraal.  They will fight each other unto death.  This proverb is used to point out that you can't have it both ways. A decision has to be made.  While there may be two options, you must choose between them.

-From Africa: A Land of Hope, by Donna Ward

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Words of Wisdom - 18

Man was blessed with a head, a heart, and hands that are made for: jnana, bhakti, and karma. 
Karma cannot be done without knowledge and love. 
Bhakti cannot be understood without action and knowledge.
Jnana cannot be gained without love and action. 
These three are intimately connected.
True knowledge, true love, true action cannot be acquired without a regular practice and without adopting rigorous discipline. 
Otherwise: Knowledge cannot be complete, love cannot be total, action cannot be disinterested.

B.K.S. Iyengar, Sparks of Divinity

Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient

The word Om is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

What do these words mean in the context of yoga?

Omnipotent is having an almighty or infinite power.

Omnipresent is being present everywhere at the same time.

Omniscient is having infinite awareness, understanding and insight.

By beginning the yoga sadhana with the chant Om, which is the seed of any idea, word or thought, we offer our prayers to the almighty or infinite power. 

Om is everything that cannot be seen, touched or felt. 

It is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

Fitting I think that all these words begin with Om.

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

June/July Pose of the Month - Viparita Karani

Viparita Karani - Legs up the Wall Pose

This pose is a restorative pose that helps improve circulation of the blood and hormones and relieves nervous exhaustion. 

There are a few ways to set up for Viparita Karani.  I have shown a few here. 

The first is to place a block at the wall, with a bolster in front of it on the mat.

 Then place one or more folded blankets on top.  This will depend on your height.

 Sit sideways on the bolster, with the right hip touching the wall.

 Begin to swivel the body around to bring the legs up the wall, keeping the buttock bones at the wall.

Let the shoulders and head come to the floor, with lower back on the bolster.  Gently roll the outer shoulders to the floor, palms facing up.  The chest puffing out, broaden the collarbones towards the outer shoulders. Relax the throat, soften the eyes. Keep the chest and abdomen relaxed. 

Press heels into the wall and keep the inner edge of the feet together.
Stay for 3-4 minutes and gradually increase the duration.
To come down, bend the knees and carefully roll to the side off or slide hips onto the floor and then roll to the side.


In the next variation, begin without any height first, but have 2-3 foam blocks close by to use under the hips.

 With sit bones at the wall begin to swivel the body around bringing the legs up the wall.

 With buttock bones at the wall, reach for the blocks.

 Place feet on the wall with knees bent.  Lift the hips and place the blocks one at at time about 2-3cm from the wall.

 Release down, support the lower back.  Let the outer legs roll in and press thigh bones towards the wall.  Relax the throat, broaden the collarbones to the outer shoulders, and roll the shoulders under.  Relax the arms and hands.

Here is another fun way to come into the pose...just roll into it..:)

Place top of head on the floor and hands at sides.

Lift hips and roll with control...

Landing in the pose...ENJOY..the feeling of JOY.


Benefits:
Helps regulate blood pressure, treat ear and eye ailments, stress headaches and migraines.
Also relieves indigestion and nausea and alleviates arthritis and cervical spondylosis. 
Helps also to prevent varicose veins.

Cautions:
Do not practice during menstruation, or if do keep hips on the floor.


Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Summer Sadhana classes in Christopher Lake, Sk.

Join me from July 9th to 13th for an early morning yoga practice.

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.vpweb.com



2012 Summer Yoga Classes at PLN Yoga Studio, Prince Albert and Christopher Lake

Join me for morning or evening yoga classes in Christopher Lake and Prince Albert this summer.

If having trouble viewing this poster, please check out my website or call for details.


Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Summer Solstice Class

Please join me to celebrate the first day of summer!

June 21st - 5:30-8pm at PLN Yoga Studio in Prince Albert, Sk.

Please register by June 7th if interested.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

June Book Review - Sparks of Divinity, The Teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar

Sparks of Divinity, The Teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar from 1959-1975 was compiled by Noelle Perez-Christiaens, a dedicated student of Mr. Iyengar.  Noelle was born in 1925 and was one of the first Westerners to study with B.K.S. Iyengar. At that time Mr. Iyengar was giving individual classes at his home.
This book is the collection of teachings from her class notes and correspondence.  The back cover states," The entries cover the period from the mid-1950's, when Iyengar was first invited by Yehudi Menuhin to teach in Gstaad, Switzerland, through the death of Iyengar's wife in 1974 and the opening of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India in 1975.
Noelle's story is quite intriguing and the book tells a little of how at 33 Noelle went over to India to study with Mr. Iyengar.  Her notebooks became full with Mr. Iyengar's remarks about "how to see the world, the philosophy of yoga, his devotion to the Devine, and his love of human beings."  She wanted to share this others .

Over time she founded the Institut de Yoga B.K.S. Iyengar in Paris.

For me this book is a treasure to have as it includes many photos and stories of Mr. Iyengar and his family. Thank you to my family for the wonderful Mother's Day gift of this book!

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com