Jayendra Hanley

A few weeks ago I participated in a 'fire ceremony' at Bindi Yoga Studio in Amersfoort, and to my surprise people are still talking about it. Maybe it was just different and interesting, but also there is a power in mantra repetition (we repeated a Ganapati/Ganesha mantra), in contemplating Fire, Light, in joining in a process of giving and receiving, and deep contemplation of intention, and offering our intentions written on paper into the fire. Everyone likes to hear a good story too, like the one about Ganesha as the energetic doorway to the Heart of Consciousness and the playful one who puts up the obstacles too. We'll have to do it again sometime. A good January event.

Today, January 14, is Makara Sankranti, a traditional Indian holiday. It is a day of transition, when the sun begins its six-month journey into fullness and the Light expands. On this day, the sun is honored as the form of the Absolute, the embodiment of the Supreme Light that nourishes and sustains life.

Makara Sankranti is a time of change and of new beginnings. It’s around the time of our New Year and also not far from the Winter Equinox. Beginnings. New Year’s resolutions. Aren’t all beginning times pulsating with energy and full of possibilities, of unlimited potential? We don’t know what is around the corner, what life is going to bring us this day.

This is my class theme this week – a new beginning that is full of possibility. We have the teachings about the present moment, the fullness in the present moment – we have the ability to create whatever experience we want to create right now. We choose to do yoga! What else is in the present moment, the place of beginnings? Supreme Joy. It’s fun to start fresh and share the yoga again.

Recently I was in Hawaii visiting my friends Ruthie and Jim Bernaert, and I was able to attend several of their classes. About 15 minutes into one of Jim’s Level 2 classes, I thought, “I haven’t felt this good in years!” And that led to “I can do almost everything he is asking us to do!” And I did a pose that I had not done in years – Urdhva Dhanurasana with my hands on a chair seat, and a pose that I had not attempted yet since my hip surgeries – Supta Virasana. And for the first time since my hip surgeries, with the support of the energy of newness and a new beginning, I was able to kick up into Pincha Mayurasana, and since then, it’s no problem at all.

So on Makara Sankranti, I am teaching the First Principle of Anusara Yoga: become aware of the present moment, of the fullness of energy and consciousness in this moment, full of potential. We have lots of anticipation – what does the next moment hold for us? That energy is full, Purna. That energy contains supreme joy, Ananda. We’ll practice with awareness of foundation and from there, a rising light and full heart. Enjoy!

Invocation

I’ve created a new page for yoga topics, and I’m intending to do some writing here. My intention is primarily to communicate with the students of my Anusara Teacher Trainings.

We begin all endeavors by invoking Grace. Grace is that force or power that holds everything together and is always supporting us. When I look back on my life, I see the hand of Grace repeatedly opening doors, giving me little nudges to step forward into what life has in store for me. Grace is another word for the Shakti when She opens our eyes to Her presence. Grace is the word for the Shakti when she protects us when we’re not aware of that protection. We invoke Grace in gratitude for what has been provided for us. We invoke Grace because we always start with the Highest – why not begin with the recognition that ultimately, there is a greater power who is working through all of us, who brings us together and is the Light that we all learn to know and love.

“Voc” refers to vocal, to speak out, to harmonize with sound. There are so many mantras that I have learned to love, that I repeat regularly in order to draw forth that power from within me and everything. Since I’m going to be writing mostly about teaching and practicing Anusara yoga, I think I’ll offer the Anusara Invocation to the universe:

Om Namah Shivaya Gurave
Satchidananda Murtaye
Nishprapanchaya Shantaya
Niralambaya Tejase

My translation in this moment:
Om, the primordial sound. If that power of Grace were to speak, perhaps Her first sound would be Om. A – U – M is the actual spelling: A, the first vowel, representing that which is beyond everything, the ground of all Being, spoken at the back of the throat. U, the opening at the top of the mouth, to M, the manifestation of the sound. Namah Shivaya Gurave: I offer my actions to that source of grace and wisdom within us all.

This Power takes a form: it just Is, it is Consciousness or Life, and Ananda, Supreme Joy, the source of happiness within each heart.

Never absent, meaning always present – even when we think we are alone, remember the experience of the Light within you. Full of peace – when we remember – peace. Without support, so this power is the support of everything, and it shines with radiance, delight, freedom and supreme Joy.

I freely chant this invocation at the beginning of all of my classes (if I remember the chanting cards for everyone to follow along – while writing this I realize that maybe we can chant even without the cards!)

Now, we set off on this journey of sharing our love of all things yoga. Enjoy!

Great class with guest teacher Bridget Woods Kramer

Teacher training weekend 28 + 29 november 2015

Great class with guest teacher Bridget Woods Kramer