April 23rd
From The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda
From The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
Reading:
Book II Sutra 15
Read each translation and commentary on this Sutra. What feels relevant to you and how does it feed you, or direct you, on your journey?
March 18th
From The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
Reading:
Book I Sutra 5 – pp 25-26
How do you approach pleasure and pain in your daily life? In your deepest relationships? With your self?
January 18th
From The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
Reading:
Book II Sutra 43 – pp 213-214
The New Year is often marked with intentions for goodness in our lives. Can we burn away old habits in the body, the mind and speech, replacing them with new and beneficial habits? How can we create new habits from pathways that feel well-worn and deeply ingrained in our life?
November 16th
From The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi
Reading:
A Foundation for Transformation & Book 1 Sutra (Chapter) I
This is many pages of reading. Give yourself time to absorb these words, reading only a couple of pages each day.
How does it make you feel – in your body? In your mind?
October 19th
Reading:
Book II Sutra 1
How crazy is it to think of pain as beneficial? And surrendering – how do you know when to push and when to surrender? How to surrender and feel intact with you?
Sept 28th
Reading:
Book I Sutras 1-4
The mind is made up of thoughts. We cannot touch them but we certainly can feel them, throughout our body. One thought can create a cascade of thoughts to follow.
How do we create thoughts? Change thoughts?
Or do thoughts create us?
How does this quote resonate in your life?
Readings from Past Gatherings
June 8th
Reading:
Book I Sutra 15 & Book II Sutra 55
The senses – how do they inform you, guide you, distract you and perhaps derail you? Are they guiding you to places you want to go?
May 11th
Reading:
Book I Sutra 33
This Sutra, nicely nestled into the Portion on Contemplation (Book I), is an abrupt change in approach. This hands-on Sutra gives us answers, not theory.
Are we watching to know when to use a key? How can we practice to know which key to use?
Apr 6th
Reading:
Book 1 Sutras 15-16
Mar 2nd
Reading:
Book 1 Sutras 1-4
These Sutras give us the definition and goal of yoga. How relevant do they feel to you and what you are seeking in yoga?
Jan 19th
Reading:
Book 2 Sutras 33 & 34
As we come into the New Year, which is often a time of increased energy and effort to adopt new habits to better ourselves in some way, we will look at the changing behavior potential of these 2 Sutras.
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Dec 15th
Reading:
Book 2 Sutras 46-50
We will keep it simple this month. Let’s ground ourselves back into the most tangible of the koshas – the body and the breath. Read about asana and reflect on its value and relationship to your seated practice. Read about the breath, the prana, and also connect it with your practices.
And then come to the gathering to sit and breathe with others.
Peace & Light
Nov 17th
Reading:
Book 2 Sutras 30, 31, 35-39 – The Yamas (Abstinences)
Why does that word ‘abstain’ frighten us, and cause us to either shrink away or approach with extreme caution? Can we tip toe into them, or must they be embraced whole heartedly?
Read, reflect, and come to the gathering to share your thoughts and insights.
Peace & Light
Oct 20th
Reading:
Book I Sutras 12-15
In these few Sutras Patanjali gives us all the instructions we need on how to transform the mind. Yet why is this so difficult for us to do?
Read these Sutras, reflect, and I look forward to hearing from you when we next gather.
Blessings & Love
Sept 22nd
Reading:
Book 1 Sutra 2
Book 4 Sutra 18
Read.
Can you recognize and feel when the “vrittis” are swirling? Has meditation helped you to glimpse flashes of “Purusha”?
Reflect on what predominant “vrittis” in your mind are blocking the experience of “Purusha”.
Peace
June 15th
Reading:
Book 2 Sutras 40-44 – The Niyamas (Observances)
The Niyamas are the second of the eight limbs of yoga. They offer guidance for our daily “off the meditation mat” life.
Read through a Niyama a day, and circle back and read them again, letting the repetition infuse a little further into you.
*Note – We looked at Book 2 Sutra 40 a month ago, comparing the Sutra with other references Patanjali made to the body. Now we will look at this Sutra as it pertains to daily life.
This is our final gathering until September.
Peace
June 2nd
Reading:
Book 1 Sutras 32-34- The Four Locks and Keys (Sutra 33) are nestled between sutras on concentration and breathing.
Read and reflect first on the possible reason for this, and then go into your own experience and see what truth lies there for you.
Bring this with you to our gathering.
Peace
May 11th
Reading:
Book 2 Sutra 40 – Read the Sutra and the commentary many times. Reflect and look back at other Sutras where Patanjali discusses use of the body to further meditation.
Reflect on the way in which your body hinders or accelerates your practice.
Peace
April 28th
Reading:
Book 2 Sutras 49-53
Pranayama – read the Sutras and the commentary once. Then read just the Sutras and feel (breath) them.
Come to our gathering wearing comfortable clothing that allows you to breath fully and easily. Let’s expand together!
Peace