“Man is a stream whose source is hidden. Our being is descending into us from we know not whence.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Over-Soul

The practice of yoga offers the possibility to connect with the experience of “our being descending into us.” It is through breath that life flows through us and yoga is all about breath awareness. As the breath is always changing so are we also in a constant state of change, and yet amidst all of the change we each have a constant “sense of self.” To watch the breath is the key to entering into the “stream” of which we are all apart.

75% off most books in the store. Come find some inspiring literature and bring it home.

Last month, Sujantra was interviewed by North Park News for an article on the studio. Below is the website of North Park News. Click on the article to be brought to a PDF. Enjoy the pictures!

http://north-park-news.com/index.html

The most ancient of the yoga texts are written in “sutras” which are short concise statements. These sutras have been passed down for thousands of years both orally and in writing. To me they are poetry. I recently came across a few lines by the modern poet W.H Auden (1907-1973) that felt like yoga in words, albeit with a certain melancholy tint…kind of like the feeling right beforethe first sun salutation on a sore morning:

“The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;

Pour away the oceans and sweep up the wood.

For nothing now can ever come to any good.”

After a few sun salutations the bliss of life eclipses those sentiments, but still they have their time….

Walking into my morning den with a sense of purpose and knowing desire sure to be fulfilled, I, the modern day caffeine addict enters the womb of the green goddess. Uttering a medley coded words, I create the beverage of my desire, to be magically manifested by the speedy, well trained barista. The enthusiastic cadence of  voices surrounding me reveals a morning crowd assured of fulfilling their bodily longings.

In this stylized, post-modern opium den all are equal. Doctor, lawyer, painter and priest: all of us stand at the altar of the liquid. Momentarily satisfied in the knowledge that soon the green mermaid will pour her brew liquid into our veins and brains.

How does this relate to yoga? Yoga teaches us to observe the movement of our thoughts and desires: both physical and mental. In the ability to observe ourselves we stand a chance to become the observer…to become the self: that element of ourselves which transcends our fleeting longings and desires. Find that in your yoga and you will find the flow of joy which is self-effulgent: a joy which depends on nothing other than its own existence for satisfaction.

There are ends and there are means. Yogic disciplines are the means. Oneness-a feeling of connectedness with ourselves and all of existence-is the ends.The path of yoga is a path of guidelines which are general and through which we all find our unique path. Great teachers make a clearing which makes our journey more sure, yet the only guarantee of our progress is our sincere effort.

Thoughts? Help me here folks!

Hello Everyone!

We’re starting to play with blogs on our site. We’ll have guest blogs from our teachers, as well as Sujantra’s faithful welcome blog each month. We hope everyone is having a beautiful month, and enjoying this winter weather!

Sujantra McKeever
Know Thyself

Starting this Spring, we will begin our annual Teacher Training Program. The entire program lasts eight months and is divided into three phases. You can take any or all of the phases.

The program is designed to be a way for you to explore, in depth, the ancient art of yoga. You will not only experience the joys of yoga practice, but you will also learn to share that joy with family, friends, and the public.

Yoga means union. The union of mind, body, breath, and community.

By exploring yoga, you learn about yourself and others. We are all unique, yet we are all quite similar. The depths to which you know yourself are the depths to which you know others. To know the universe, know thyself.

Join us for the experience of a lifetime!