Renew Your Friendship - With Your Breath!

How many times have we gotten an e-mail or voicemail from an old friend? Sometimes, we forget to call back. We feel bad. Time passes and we keep forgetting to get back to our old friend. And then, we reconnect - and it's like a day never passed since you spoke to her. She's still the same - in your life, part of your heart.

I think this is similar to the relationship we have with our breath. Sometimes, we don't hear it. We are too busy or stressed to feel the sensations of our breath. We forget to relax and breathe deeply. But then, like we're sitting down to answer an old voice mail, we tune in, we dial her up, and just like our dear old friend, our Breath is there for us. It sustains us from the moment of our birth to the moment of our death.

Sit down. Slow down. Call your friend. Send her an e-mail. Dial in and renew your relationship - with your BREATH!

Taking Classes

Hello, All!

I've been off from J Sarge for a few weeks, so I've decided to take some classes. I'm learning some good stuff and just enjoying being with my breath. I've really missed taking classes.

But now, here's the part where I tell you what you should do!

Be open to new experience, and a big part of that is taking Yoga classes with other instructors. We all like what we know, and we know what we like, but that leads to attachment, and that's something that Yoga teaches us to look away from. If you're so attached to a teacher, then what happens when she has a sub? Is your practice shot for that day, or that week? That's your Yoga time - time for you to be in the present and experience what the Now has to offer. As an instructor, all I ask of my participants is that they breathe and feel and be present, and you can apply that to any situation - or class.

Be well and keep practicing!!!

Namaste',
Iffet

PS "Ashram Sunset" was painted by me last year.

Check out Swami Ji

I found this in my in-box the other day and floated over to read some of Swami Ji's diary. It's absolutely compelling and lovely. This guy is love.

Click on the title of this post to read his diary.

Swami Ji’s Diary – Daily Satsang

Are you curious how a Swami’s life looks like? Are you interested in what he thinks and feels when he is not in public? Swami Balendu, who lived in a sealed cave for three years and 108 days, wants to share his daily thoughts with you in his diary. We have a great worldwide response as the daily entries give answers to many people’s everyday problems. If you have any comments you are welcome to sign our guestbook.

Happy reading! Let me know what you think.

Namaste',
Iffet

Good Quote

If you are good, the whole world will be good for you.

-- Sri Swami Sivananda

Be well!

Namaste',
Iffet

* The Daily Quote can always be seen on the Sivananda "Om" page:
http://www.sivananda.org

* More of Swami Sivanada's Spiritual Quotes available at
http://www.sivananda.org/publications/quotes/random_quote.html

* Sanskrit->English dictionary available at
http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/glossary/glossary.html

J Sarge Banquet Tomorrow!

Meet me and your classmates at Richmond's famous India K'Raja India Restaurant!

Check the restaurant out online at indiakraja.com

We'll be there at 12:30.

Post here if you need directions or want to communicate with me.

Namaste',
Iffet

Family Zumba GOLD PARTY this Saturday!!!!

Please join me and Nicki Lee at American Family Short Pump this Saturday, 4/5/08 at 4pm for a Family Zumba Gold PARTY!!! We'll have balloons, prizes, and, of course, the greatest dance-cardio workout, ZUMBA!!! The best part is, you can bring your kids! Participants ages 9 and up are welcome.

Please call 364-1200 for more information.

Namaste',
Iffet

Focus on the Back

Sorry, All! I've been delinquent in my posting. I'm still here - pluggin' along!

I've been focusing on back strength this week, and I'll continue next week. My brother did something to his back, and landed in the hospital! This has made me conscious of the importance of back strengthening exercises - yes, all those back bends, Cobras, etc. I've shied away from offering these poses because I didn't really know how to help people avoid compression. Now, I do! It's all about length throughout the spine and relaxation of the buttocks. If we squeeze the glutes when doing a back bend, we'll cause compression of the sacral and lumbar spine - and cause pain. Conversely, we need to keep the cervical spine long and just lift with our erector spinae - the muscles in the middle back along either side of the spine.

As I said, I've been focusing on this all week and I'm beginning to feel those muscles engaging and taking pressure off the low back. I hope my participants are feeling the same benefits!

Be well!

Namaste,
Iffet