Finding perfect pitch and harmony in yoga

This month the mythical goddess ‘Saraswati’ has been an inspiration in my practice and teaching. ONE of the aspects of Saraswati is that she is the goddess of music and in one of her many arms she holds a lute.

I often listen to music in my self practice, but this week I am attempting to rather listen to an internal ‘music’ in my body – it’s much more subtle but by tuning into it your yoga experience heightens and can become so full it creates an internal soaring symphony from the inside out.

Our mind or consciousness is the musician and our body the instrument it plays.  That way we find harmony between body and mind capturing that feeling of soaring freedom that listening to an exquisite piece of music can bring.

"In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches" 1
"Harmonia - to fit together, to join" 2 (Greek)

Harmony is the combining of two or more pitches to create a union and new fuller sound.  A skilful musician has to learn to listen deeply to respond in accordance to fellow musicians and notes, finding that perfect pitch. Yoga is often interpreted as ‘union’ or ‘yoking’. A skilful yogi has to truly listen to his body to respond in his practice mindfully, finding that union of yoga.

How often do we block out the shrieking hamstrings just so we can ‘push through’ and impress our teacher or fellow students?  (Who doesn’t give a damn really). By deeply listening to our body we learn to practice with integrity. Knowing how to respond, takes learning. And that is why we are always learning.

And after learning to listen then comes the discipline. So we develop skill as a yogi or musician – refining our practice and building knowledge until it can flow in perfect harmony.

Every string on Saraswati’s lute is perfectly pitched – finding that right balance between taut and slack so that it can vibrate with resonance in tune with all the other strings.  So every fibre of being, every muscle, bone and organ has potential to find that perfect pitch & alignment  – a balance of engagement (‘muscular energy’) and stretch (‘organic energy’) . So we fine-tune the body with integrity whilst experiencing and being aware of our inner harmony.

1 - William P. Malm Music Cultures of the Pacific, the Near East, & Asia.
2 -Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, "A Greek-English Lexicon"
Tagged , ,

Back in the Swing of Things…

 

I love this time of year, when we can make plans, set intentions and have a renewed vigour for looking after ourselves.  Everyone around us is doing the same and it gives us the impetus to try new things, let go of a few old habits.  Which yoga is pretty good for.  My inspiration for this month is Saraswati – the goddess of music, flow, voice, science and art.  Come to class to explore traditional poses and philosophies with a modern approach; hone and tone alignment allowing the body to be and find it’s natural harmony.

Savour the Moment

Once again we step into winter, and the festivities. As the parties increase I’m a little tempted to hibernate.  But as I gear up I thought, what do I really want?  And that is to keep clear, clear as the crisp sky.  Why? Because this is good!  It is great to celebrate with my friends and family, share delicious food and drink and practice the yoga of just being present and open to what is.  My teaching plate is fairly full too.  And for that I am incredibly grateful.  I am grateful to my friends, students and teachers. Thank you. What a year it has been! Time to celebrate. I look forward to 2012.  Lots of exciting stuff getting lined up…watch this space…

Capturing the moment - low sun over London Bridge

Do The Yoga Boogie – Saturday morning Yoga

The final two classes on 3 & 10 December at Urdang Academy are going to be a “Christmas Celebration”. Open to all with music, creative flowing and playful practice, a warming, rejuvenating potpourri of back-bends, twists, hand balances, inversions, hearts and hips openers. It will be “The Practice” style class where I will be moving alongside you but leading the way – a bit like a trekking guide. Dialogue, requests and hangovers are welcome. 10AM – 11.30AM. Afters we can wander onto Exmouth market for a coffee / tea / pastry to treat ourselves a little more. If you are keen to come contact me or click attending on the facebook event.  It’s only £10 and all profit (above rent) will go to a charity of our choice.

Like a ... yogi!

Kali’s chaos

Kali is the cycle of darkness and chaos. Which sounds scary. But it’s where we need to step into to learn, grow and develop. When we play the edge of our internal rules and regulations, challenging our identification with who we are and what we think we can do, we can grow even more ‘soft strong’ and graceful.  So! When we are brought into chaos we line up our heart’s desires and our head’s wisdom. Then we play, we keep it light. We trust the support of those we love, and we let loose our inner Kali. She is the one that teaches us we always can grow stronger and softer, our nature is to constantly expand, constantly grow.

Jackson Pollock

Melt – to make what is solid liquid.  The heart – emotional epicentre of love and compassion.  I.e. Fill up with and spread the love!

On the mat:  explore this by playing with arm balances and working with the ‘melting of the heart’ key action, dedicate your practice to someone you love and notice how your body feels when you do so. 


The Anusara Invocation – the essence

Here is my interpretation of why it exists and how it goes.  It’s not always easy to teach, because it requires exposing your baseline belief as well as opening up your heart in song. It is a stripping bare of the soul. The invocation underpins the fundamental teaching of Anusara Yoga and Shiva-Shakti Tantra (the philosophy that Anusara Yoga is based on). The beautiful kirtan singer Nikki Slade once taught me that chanting is the yoga of the heart. So it seems appropriate to chant this text. And it’s in Sanskrit, an ancient sacred language whose rich sounds have deep resonance.

The invocation is a dedication to the innate essence of being,  that which is intrinsically good. Shiva represents this essence found in yourself, your loved ones, nature, the world around you.  Sometimes the goodness is cloaked and harder to see but we Anusara yogis believe that this intrinsic goodness is running through everything. In basic terms, we ‘look for the good’. And the chant goes a little something like this…

Symbolic mythical figure of Shiva

Om Namah Shivaya Gurave (I honour Shiva, the essence of being, the guru, teacher within and without)

Saccidananda Murtaye (Truth, consciousness, bliss)

Nisprapancaya Shantaya (Omnipresent and peaceful)

Niralambaya Tejase (Ultimately free and luminiscent)

Om, Om, Om (universal sound connects us to the essence)

[An aside:  repeating Om Namah Shivaya alone is a powerful seed mantra used alot in yoga meditation.

A very soothing sound and concept to repeat to oneself.  Give it a bash if you dare stepping down the rabbit hole... see you on the other side!]

26 November workshop

THE INNER FIRE – with Bridget & Sarah

Instead of going into complete hibernation and turning into grumbling bears this Winter, come out to play! Embrace the season by doing some fiery heart-melting, hip-opening, resolve-strengthening yoga, with Bridget and Sarah.

Yoga Place, Bethnal Green, £30

Contact info@yogaplace.co.uk for info and to book.

Kindling the fire in the hips and hamstrings
Sat., 26 November 2011, 2.30pm – 5pm

Draw in and thaw out with some flowing, heat-building vinyasa, followed by hip openers and forward bends.
Accept where you are in space, time and place. Embrace it by drawing inwards to kindle your projects, ideas and dreams.  This flowing yoga workshop has a meditative focus, working the dense and tense area of the hips, hamstrings and lower body – using asana, breath-work and meditation to find and fuel yourself over the wintry months.

Tagged , , ,

Chris Chavez at Indaba for Diwali celebrations

“Join world-renowned Anusara yoga wizard Chris Chavez for a festive, candle-lit evening of practice and play. With down to earth instruction you’ll build a stronger foundation and with high-energy asana you’ll be inspired to new levels. Chris’s charismatic teaching style reaches out to everyone who practices with him.”

I’m going! Are you? Book here

Ross Rayburn is coming to Londontown

One of my favourite teachers, Ross Rayburn, is in London for the first weekend of November – quick check out his workshops at Indaba studio in Marylebone.   These tickets are selling fast.  And it’s not surprising – he’s “awesome”.

Saturday Morning Yoga

Saturday mornings at the Urdang Academy on Rosebery Avenue, EC1 . Join Adele and me for a fun and flowing class to kick start your weekend. Starts Saturday 8 October 2011. 10 – 11.30am . All levels are welcome. Adele and I have trained in Anusara Yoga together and have a similar outlook on life and yoga practice, we will teach alternate weeks. £13 (bring change!). Contact an.urban.om@gmail.com for details and queries. See here for my full schedule. 8 October – 10 December 2011.

Get more arm power, inspired by the goddess Durga

Tagged , , , , ,
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.