MahaMondo

Joel B. : Sanskrit Come Alive

The previous post was going to be the last one prior to my departure for Ipanema. However, I picked up the latest issue of LA Yoga after Jerome's class this evening, I felt the need to honor our yoga philosophy teacher , Joel Bender , who is profiled in it via the article "Sanskrit Comes Alive". I've posted this vdo previously of the Vishvaksena Hymn as an opening invocation at one of our Sunday morning classes. Narayanayeti samarpayami : whatever I do , all activity to the highest , Narayanaya I offer. See you at the Malibu Temple , Joel.

Yoga do Bem no Nirvana : Nov. 14

Just received this event flyer from Tatiane R. for the Yoga do Bem benefit : ONG LuaNova @ Nirvana Gavea.

 Ticket $ 20- All proceeds collected will go to the NGO Lua Nova ( New Moon ). The entrance charge includes participation in all the events.

17:00h Presentation of the NGO New Moon by Pedro de Melo Franco

17:30 Yoga Practice with Pedro de Melo Franco & Jen Jaya ( California, EUA )Yoga Kids for children over 4 years old with Antonio Tigre

19:00 Kirtan with Maha Bandha & Ananda Jyothi

Each participant must bring a yoga mat. Tickets available @ Nirvana : www.enirvana.com.br.

You can also contact Zen People : www.zenpeople.com.br. for more benefit information.

I am looking forward to seeing Pedro again then & finally meeting all the other friends in Rio that I have been in touch with via email.

Regular posting on this blog will resume  towards the end of November.

Hari Om & as they say in Brazil , Abracos -

Om Namah Shivaya : Bintang TV

Bintang TV Brazil has this global cultural vibe going with a surf trip video shot in Indonesia set to a soundtrack of American kirtan walla Krishna Das chanting the Panchakshara mantra.

Hare Burger : Praia Ipanema

I had done a couple of posts on Rafael Marques AKA Rafael Espacial after my trip to Ipanema earlier this year. It looks like he is now a local celeb , as in , " famoso personagem de Posto 9 ". Famoso enough to warrant a mini-docu on Brazilian TV. His burgers are on my list to try once I am back there latter part of next week. Hare Hare to the best veggie burgers in the galaxy.

Sayanasana : Elbow Balance

  Dice broke down Sayanasana at his Saturday class this morning. I've been practicing Pincha Mayurasana with a strap at Jorgen's led class , and I find that using it has accelerated the sense of  lift & balance versus that of a block between the hands.

Starting with the strap shoulder's width around the upper arms , I launched myself into Pincha Mayaurasana. The key was to raise the right hand first and place it under the chin , then follow with the left hand.  Drishti : Nasagrai ( tip of the nose ) . And as my French associates or Jerome would phrase it , " Et voila, Sayanasana ! "

The other factor to bear in mind is to keep the feet extended in order to maintain the counter balance ; and breathe through it.

Using the strap created one of those "breakthrough " moments for an advanced asana. And even if I didn't pull it of today , there will always be as one of my favorite teachers puts it , " Next week ..... ". Practice, practice , practice.

Image via Light on Ashtanga Yoga .

Samadhi Pada : Patanjali

Joel B. also gave me a copy of the Samadhi Pada after class last Sunday. It is the 1st section of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , consisting of 51 sutras. Samadhi can be interpreted as a trance like state or as an altered state of consciousness.In the Samadhi Pada , Patanjali gives us the aim of yoga in theoretical terms, explaining it as the restraint of the chitta vrttis , the restraint of the mind. We got around to the 27th sutra at class today ; what a feat ,so much to think about. Thanks to DylanisHappy from Thailand for the vdo.

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois : Opening Invocation London

This vdo was shot in London , 2003. It shows Sri K. Pattabhi Jois leading a class through the Primary Series.

Om Namo Narayanaya : 54 Repetitions

" He who reads this in the morning destroys the sin he has committed at night. He who reads this in the evening destroys the sins he has committed during day time. He, who reads this at noon addressing the Sun, gets rid of the five great sins as well as subsidiary sins. He also gets the holy effect of reading all Vedas. He becomes one with Lord Narayana at the end. This is the knowledge of Veda . " This mantra ensures material sufficiency & spiritual health. Beautiful meditation.

Ganga Aarti : Aksari Mantra

Once new practitioners get past the Lowest Common Denominator signifiers & hurdles of current day US yoga , e.g. lycra yoga wear , slogan Ts , doga , down-doggie , etc. , they will be able to open up to the source ; India & its tradition of bhakti ( devotion ).It's not about religion . It is all about opening your heart , mind & spirit. A copy of the Aksari Mantra ," Om Namo Narayanaya " was given to me by a teacher on Sunday ; and another of my teachers played the same version of the mantra after class last night. ( The same teacher who says," I don't have hybrids in my class." ) Hari OM . How incredible & powerful is that !

John S. : Three Circle Flow

" The sun is shining ." That is how it felt like after practicing @ John Sahakian's Three Circle Flow noon class ; Yogis Anonymous .

After being in Denver with its roller coaster weather , the vibe at his class was like surfing , flowing like H2O. The class is based on aligning pranayam ( breath control ) and movement which results in total relaxation. John's passion for surfing translates into that  yogic "ritam " , a quality all of my principal teachers possess . I've been attending his classes for almost 3 years now in order to tweak & connect with my breathing , a useful thing to have along with "drishti" during stressful meetings and situations.

Three Circle Flow was coined by John as a description for the 3 circles of breath around the waist , chest & ribs. It can also be utilized as a  decription for a triple system of management via yoga , hypno-therapy & breathing.

Fall & winter may be coming to Santa Monica , but at this noon class , it will always be summer ; carving through the air & breathing freely.