Winter Solstice - The Longest Day of the Year!

Early this a.m....about 1:00 or so we awoke our family to catch the rare lunar eclipse.  This year the lunar eclipse coincided with winter solstice..the longest night of the year and when the moon sits the highest in the sky.  This has not happened for almost 400 years! The last was December 21, 1638.

So today being the shortest day.. a day many celebrate as midwinter marks the turning point where slowly day length will start to get longer. 

So a few Sun Salutations this morning is a wonderful way to bring in the rising sun and celebrate that it will be getting stronger everyday.

Happy Solstice everyone!

Namaste.

Pam Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

Happy Birthday Mr. Iyengar - December 14th, 1918

December 14th, 2010 marks B.K.S. Iyengar's 92nd birthday! 

Daily I am inspired and blessed from his wonderful teachings and translations. 

I have set an intention for myself this week to do 108 sun salutations to honor his life's work. 

Although I am not teaching classes during the December break please join me during your own practice if you also feel inspired to do so.

"Yoga aims for complete awareness in everything you do."

               

 "This practice of Yoga is to remove weeds from the body so that the garden can grow."

"Spiritual sadana begins when you go beyond what you consider to be your maximum effort."

"It is impossible to pinpoint where the body ends and the mind begins, and where the mind ends and the Self begins."

 

Aphorisms taken from Illumination: Aphorisms of B.K.S. Iyengar, Published by the Victoria Yoga Centre in honour of the 85th birthday of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar.

Namaste! 

Pam Nelson

www.plnyoga.vpweb.com

BKS Iyengar in Conversation with the Dalai Lama - November 2010

On November 20th, 2010 B.K.S. Iyengar met with His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet to converse on mind training and compassion.  Check out this article by clicking the link below.

www.dalailama.com/news/post/625-dalai-lama-in-conversation-with-indian-yogic-master-bks-iyengar

December - Pose of the Month - Supta Baddha Konasana

Supta Baddha Konasana - Reclining Bound Angle Pose

If you are feeling a little stressed this holiday season or coming down with a cold or flu this is a great pose as it is very restful when energy is low.  This pose gently massages the heart, improves circulation in the abdomen, massaging and toning them.

Props for this pose: yoga mat, 1-2 bolsters, a blanket, a strap, 2 blocks, possibly more blocks if quite tight in the groin.  The bolster supports the back and lifts the chest, the blanket supports the back of the head and neck, the strap helps to hold the feet together and maintain the angle of the legs and the blocks support the thighs, reducing stain in the groins.

Place the bolster lengthwise along the yoga mat with a folded blanket at the top. (My blanket should be folded once more - as I have done further down). Sit with sacrum/tailbone near the bolster.  Join the soles of the feet together and draw the heels toward the groin.  Buckle the belt and loop in over your shoulders.

Bring the belt down to below your waist and pass it under both feet over the ankles and the insides of the thighs.

Make sure the loose buckle strap is coming towards you so you can easily adjust the strap so it is not to tight or to loose. Place a block under the outside of each thigh.

Place the hands on the floor on either side of the bolster, then lower your back and head down to the bolster.  Make sure the bolster is supporting the length of the back and the back of the head.  Move the flesh of the buttocks towards the back of the thighs to reduce any bunching around the lower back.  Draw the arms up over the head and clasp the elbows.  The eyes should be passive, the chest open and the throat and abdomen soft.  Stretch the thighs out to the sides.  After a minute change the cross of the elbows.

Then release the hands to the sides, palms facing up.  Stay for 1 minute, building up to 5-10 minutes.

Benefits: Regulates blood pressure, prevents hernia as the hips and groin become more supple, relieves lower backache, relieves varicose veins and sciatica, reduces pain caused by hemorrhoids, relieves indigestion and flatulence, tones the kidneys and improves bladder control, improves blood circulation in the ovarian region, and is particularly beneficial during puberty and menopause, alleviates menstrual pain, corrects prolapsed uterus

Cautions: If any strain is felt getting into the pose, use two bolsters.  If there is strain in the groin region use more height to support the outer knees.

Namaste.

Pam Nelson

http://www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

plnyogastudio@gmail.com

 



Intention of Week 8 - Divine Yoga: Do the Asana with Your Soul

Sankalpa - intention

Set an intention, and see what happens.

All ideas have been taken from B.K.S. Iyengar's book, "Light on Life", p.61-64

In this section Mr. Iyengar blends how the external body is working to attain a pose, but at the same time the internal core is reaching out to help.  He says, "The material body has a practical reality that is accessible.  It is here and now, and we can do something with it.  However, we must not forget that the innermost part of our being is also trying to help us.  It wants to come to the surface and express itself."

He says, "Asanas, when done with the right intention, will help to transform an individual by taking the person away from an awareness of just the body toward the consciousness of the soul.  The body is the bow, asana the arrow, and the soul is the target."

From here we can hope to turn each of our asanas into a "virtuous asana".  To do this Mr. Iyengar says that we must do the poses with the right intention, not for ego or to impress.  He says it must not be just your mind or even your body that is doing the pose, you must do the the asana with your soul.

Namaste.
Pam Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com
plnyogastudio@gmail.com

4th Annual Women's Wellness Weekend

  

ReTREAT Yourself!

4th Annual Women’s Wellness Weekend

Roses and Chocolate

-a time for self care           

January 28- 30, 2011

Hawood Inn

In beautiful Prince Albert National Park

Includes:   

• Fabulous Vegetarian meals (Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch)   
• Fresh organic juices and beverages   
• Yoga sessions for rejuvenation, detoxification and relaxation 
• Nutrition presentation and cooking demonstration
• Luxurious, directed, do-your-own certified organic facial   
• Unscheduled time for relaxation and reflection   
• Access to roof top hot tub   
• Roses and Chocolate .....and little surprises to soothe your soul! 

Facilitators:
Marian Pidwerbeski - ROHP, CPCC, Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner
Director, Well-derness Consulting

Pamela Nelson – Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor

Registration deadline: December 17th, 2010  -  $325

Limited space — early registration is encouraged.  Gift Certificates are available.

For more information please:

call Marian Pidwerbeski @ 306-663-5881 or email marian@wellderness.ca 

or

Pamela Nelson @ 306-982-2737 or email plnyoga@plnyoga.vpweb.com