Charlene Ballard Yoga

02/14/2022

Happy Valentine's Day!

A day for expressions of love to family, friends, and others who are important in one's life.

In Sanskrit, the language of yoga, the word Namaste is often spoken at the end of a yoga class. It means "The Light within me honors the Light within you."

A few years ago I drew this mandala and gave it the title "The Light Within." (The word mandala is another Sanskrit word mentioned in ancient yoga texts; it means "circle," and is said to be a symbolic representation of the universe.)

As the Light within you shines out to your loved ones and to the world around you today, may you remember to beam that Light and Love to yourself as well.

Namaste.

01/18/2022

Stillness within me
Like the quiet that snow brings
That's what I hope for

Haiku, a Japanese form of poetry consisting of three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, brings me clarity, insight, and the occasional surprise.

Fortunately (for me), you don't have to be a poet to reap the rewards of Haiku just as you don't have to be a swami to reap the rewards of yoga practice (which, by the way, can also bring clarity, insight, and the occasional surprise).

01/10/2022

What do fungi growing on a fallen tree limb and yoga have in common? Good question. Here is my take on the matter.

Both fungi and yoga serve a valuable purpose. As dead wood is decomposed by fungi, it aids new plant growth by returning important nutrients to the ecosystem. Just as fungi nourish the earth, all the practices of yoga are designed to nourish our body, mind, and spirit.

Fungi show us, and the philosophy of yoga tells us, that all life is interconnected and that we are in essence one with all of life. Swami Sivananda says this about oneness:

"Scorn not the tiny creatures or the undeveloped beings. The same life that throbs or pulsates in you is throbbing in all creatures. . . Realize your identity and intimate relationship with all creatures. . . endeavor to behold, behind the veil of form, the real hidden life or consciousness behind and underneath the form. If you practice like this for some time, you will derive inexpressible joy. This will eventually result in the realization of oneness. . . Feel your oneness with the sun, the sky, the wind, flower, tree, buds, animals, stones, rivers and ocean. . . Rest in oneness now, my dear child. Do not entertain unkind thoughts. Do not speak unkind words. Pull out all walls that separate you from others. If you see difference, there is absence of love."

12/31/2021

A 4-minute meditation for the new year from one of my yoga teachers.

12/20/2021

I send wishes of peace, both outer and inner, to all students from my past yoga classes and to any others who might be viewing this post.

Both outer and inner peace are important to me. During this past summer I compiled a book of my photos taken over several years. The title of the book is "Places of Peace," and contains photos of places in nature that I've visited on some of my personal retreats over the years. As the book was nearing completion, my thoughts turned from outer to inner peace. Thinking that I should give some attention to the role that asana and meditation practice play in my life regarding inner peace I included a few photos of my favorite yoga poses (like Triangle Pose shown below).

The pandemic has meant that I've put my yoga teaching and my personal retreats on hold, but I still find "places of peace" outside my home where I can appreciate the beauty and stillness of Nature. Inside my home I turn to my yoga practice.

One of my long-time yoga students wrote in an email to me a few months ago that she missed our classes not only because of the yoga practice but mostly because of the feeling of fellowship that came from being part of the group. I share that sentiment. I derive a lot from my personal practice, but I very much miss the fellowship that comes from being with class members. Yoga refers to this as satsang, "which can be translated as 'associating with good people' or simply 'being in the company of truth,' and refers to the act of gathering with like-minded, uplifting people, especially those on a spiritual path."

As you end this year and prepare to begin a new one, I wish each of you peace and a feeling of fellowship with the people and places that are important to you.

03/01/2021

"The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common." Ralph Waldo Emerson

The sight of these snowdrops this morning after several recent winter weather events may not have made me wiser but certainly more hopeful, and that may be enough to qualify for having seen "the miraculous in the common."

11/16/2020

During this pandemic I have undertaken the study of Sanskrit, the language of yoga. A recent assignment was a reading from a Sanskrit text of approximately 300 to 600 A.D. Part of the passage (the greatest gift) seems as relevant today as all those years ago.

The Best Possible Gift:

"No gift of cows, no gift of earth/land or gift of food is indeed such an important thing as the greatest gift among all gifts: the gift of safety/of absence of fear."

01/12/2020

01/02/2020

YOGA CLASSES AT FRENCH ART COLONY
THURSDAYS, JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 13, 2020
10 AM TO 11:15 AM, $10.

Feel “in the pink” with the help of yoga. Wishing you good health and good spirits in this New Year.

10/29/2019

YOGA CLASSES AT THE FRENCH ART COLONY -- THE PATH OF YOGA

THURSDAYS, NOVEMBER 7 - DECEMBER 19 (NO CLASS ON THANKSGIVING)

10 AM TO 11:15 AM, $10.

We will be using the 8-step path of yoga as outlined in ancient texts to guide us during this 6-week session. A tree is often used as a metaphor to describe this 8-step path -- the roots; trunk; branches; leaves; buds; concentrated vital energy; flower; and fruit representing the 8 steps.

The majority of the time in our classes will be devoted to 4 of these steps.

The branches of the tree correspond to the asanas (postures) that we practice in class. The leaves correspond to the breathing practices. The flower buds correspond to the deep relaxation that occurs after the postures. And the tree’s concentrated vital energy corresponds to the techniques we employ at the end of class to develop concentration and mindfulness.

We will, however, take a look at the roots and trunk of the tree of yoga. The roots represent the 5 ethical principles (yamas) that encourage us to live in peace with ourselves and with one another. The trunk represents the 5 observances or personal principles of positive action (niyamas).

It is these ethical principles and observances that we incorporate into our daily lives along with the practices that we learn in our yoga classes that will finally lead us to the flower and fruit stages -- to the state of wholeness and freedom that the path of yoga promises can ultimately be attained.

10/26/2019

Over the last decade or so, we've been hearing that mind-body practices like yoga and meditation may affect our genes. A new review of the research solidifies it.

09/03/2019

Yoga classes at the French Art Colony begin on Thursday, September 19.

The practice of yoga not only helps our bodies become flexible, fit, and strong but also helps our energetic and emotional centers (our chakras) become balanced. With balanced energy centers we are better able to deal with the complexities of daily life and with the emotional ups and downs that each of us experience as we journey through our individual lives.

As I grow older and as my view of yoga widens and deepens I find that I value the wisdom and healing power of this ancient tradition more and more.

In this upcoming 6-week yoga session we will explore postures and other aspects of yoga that are designed to lead us toward the state of wholeness that Yoga promises.

Classes on Thursdays, 10 to 11:15 AM, $10.

Namaste,
Charlene