June - Book Review - You Are Therefore I Am

You Are Therefore I Am, A Declaration of Dependence, by Sathish Kumar is full of wisdom, and a feeling of loving kindness exudes from the book towards each reader.  I have read and re-read this book many times and never tire of the peaceful reminders of living together as one on this planet.


Satish Kumar was born in 1936 in India and at the age of 9 joined the brotherhood of Jain monks. 
At 18 he helped with land reforms helping Gandhi with his view of a peaceful world.
He has undertaken many peace pilgrimages where he would travel vast distances with no money.  His autobiography, No Destination, tells more about this journey.
He is the editor of the magazine Resurgence.
That is only a small portion of his life.


From the back cover:

This book traces the spiritual journey of Satish Kumar - child monk, peace pilgrim, ecological activist and educator.  In it he traces the sources of inspiration which formed his understanding of the world as a network of multiple and diverse relationships.

You Are, Therefore I Am is in four parts.  The first describes his memories of conversations with his mother, his teacher, and his Guru, all of whom were deeply religious.  The second part recounts his discussions with the Indian sage Vinoba Bhave, J. Krishnamurti, Bertrand Rusell, Martin Luther King and E.F. Schumacher.  These five great activists and thinkers inspired him to engage with social, ecological and political issues.  In the third part Satish narrates his travels in India, which have continued to nourish his mind and reconnect him with his roots.

The fourth part brings together his world-view, which is based in relationships and the connections between all things, rather than the philosophy of dualism, division and separation which are found in Rene Descartes' famous maxim "I think, therefore, I am."  Satish Kumar holds an emergent world-view, encapsulated in a fundamental Sanskrit dictum, So Hum, well known in India but not in the West, which can be translated as "You are, therefore I am".  This mantra underpins all the experiences brought together in this book.

If you have a chance read this thoroughly entertaining, interesting and enlightening book. 


So Hum
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/

Words of Wisdom - 4

When there is strain it is physical yoga. 

When the brain is passive, it is spiritual yoga.

                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                        - B.K.S. Iyengar


Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/

Summer Classes - 2011 - Christopher Lake

Join me at the Christopher Lake Curling Rink for some energizing morning yoga classes to start your day or some rejuvenating evening classes.

I am a Certified Iyengar Yoga instructor and have been teaching in the Christopher Lake/Prince Albert area for over 8 years.

All classes can be tailored to suit all levels.

June -

Tuesday 28th - 8:00 - 9:15 am

Thursday 30th - 7:00 - 8:15pm

July -

Sundays - 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st - 8:15 - 9:30am

Tuesdays - 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th - 8:00 - 9:15am

Thursdays - 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th - 7:00 - 8:15pm

August -  

Tuesdays - 2nd, 16th, 23rd - 8:00 - 9:15am

Thursdays - 18th, 25th - 7:00 - 8:15pm

Fees- $14/class or 5 class flex-card for $60



Location: Christopher Lake Curling Rink, Christopher Lake, Sk.

For more information please contact:

Pamela Nelson

306-982-2737

Email: plnyoga@plnyoga.vpweb.com

Website: www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Blog: www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

Girls Youth Yoga - How Great is That!

This past spring I was fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada/Association canadienne de yoga Iyengar to teach Girls Youth Iyengar yoga classes in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

The Certification Mark Fund is made possible through the generosity of Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar and is to be used for the development and promotion of Iyengar yoga in communities across Canada.

In doing this though I was not alone. 

I partnered with the Lakeland District for Sport, Culture and Recreation who provided the transportation from the Prince Albert Northern Buses to the Margo Fournier Centre and a lunch from the Prince Albert Share-A-Meal Food Bank after each class. So, thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who helped coordinate for these classes.

Also, a thank you to the teachers who were willing to come along with the girls to each class.  Without their support the girls would not have been able to attend.

Finally, thank you to the girls who were willing to come out and try something new and participate in the Iyengar Yoga classes.  I can tell you I had a lot of fun teaching them and I think I learned just as much from them.

Starting yoga in the teen ages can help not only build strength and flexibility, it can also promote a better self image leading to more confidence in their own abilities and better decision making.  Yoga can help reduce stress from studies, improve sleep and a general overall feeling of well-being.

Below is a few pictures from the youth classes.

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/

A Warming Help

A warming help is attention and a kind word from someone in a difficult or uncertain moment.  It might even be from yourself to yourself.  It is the right amount of encouragement one needs to take that next step forward.


I really like this idea and have experienced many warming helps throughout my lifetime without really stopping to consider the impact they really made on my life.


Some include the words from the "Steam Engine that Could", that my daughter told me to remember to make it through my first marathon - "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can"  - and my first steps on the path of my Iyengar Yoga teacher training that without my husbands encouragement I would never have taken.


See if you can notice those warming helps when they arise in your life and how they impact you! 
Better yet, see if you can give a few to others so they can make their next step forward.


This idea of a warming help is from this months book of the month - the power of kindness, The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life,  by Piero Ferrucci.


Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/

Christopher Lake Farmer's Market

The May long weekend is here and the Christopher Lake Farmer's Market has started for another year.
The hours are 8am- noon every Saturday until around the September long weekend and is located in the Christopher Lake School parking lot.


My family and I will be there again with our unique items from India, Nepal and Tibet. 
The sale of these products not only helps people in these countries but part of our profits go to support other charities.


We have beautiful OM pendants and bracelets, earrings small and large, scarves, wool sweaters, hemp or cotton purses and bags, high quality incense, singing bowls, drums, Tibetan prayer flags, prayer malas...

Check out my website under Products to see some examples - http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/


My kids are also selling creations of their own.


Gabrielle is producing Great Gifts by Gabi - a few include large and small stuffed rhinos

Hannah is cooking healthy granola cereal.  Full of nuts, seeds, wheat and oat bran, wheat germ and of course oats!

Aiden will be selling Balloons for Bellur.  This is a fundraiser to help raise money for the small village of Bellur in India.  The birthplace of B.K.S. Iyengar.  

1-$3, 2-$5 or 5-$10. 

The proceeds will be sent to the Bellur Krishnamachar & Seshamma Smaraka Niddhi Trust (BKSSNT).

BKS Iyengar was born in 1918 in the small village of Bellur, India.  The B in his name actually stands for Bellur.  A vast amount of his life has been spent to improve the lives of others.  This is not only shown from his over 70 years of dedication to the art, science and philosophy of yoga, but in the charitable acts to improve the lives of the underprivileged in his home village of Bellur.

Some of the projects he has undertaken include building the first primary school, RIM Hall for yoga classes, water storage tank and a Special School for Girls.

BKSSNT is a charitable trust and has undertaken as well as completed several projects with focused aim. Click here to know more about the Aim of Project undertaken by this Trust.


We hope to see you at the Market! 


Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/