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In This Issue
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Bhujangasana, Cobra Pose
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The Cobra Pose pronounced "Boo-jang-Gahs-anna"
in Sanskrit, is a backward bending pose. "Bhujanga"
means serpent or snake, and "asana" means
comfortable seat, or pose.
Technique:
Remember that all breathing is done through the
nose, breathing deeply and steadily into the
abdomen. All movements should be executed in a
graceful manner with no jerking or straining...only
effort. Straining in yoga creates more stress in the
body so remember to flow and move the body
towards a "feel good" stretch.
* Lay down on your stomach on your mat.
* Feet and legs are aligned straight out in back of
you. Heels are touching, or slightly apart with the tops
of the
feet flat on the floor.
* Place the hands palms down beneath the shoulders
aligning the fingertips with the tops of the shoulders.
Elbows bent and arms are pressing gently into the
body.
* Place the forehead on the mat.
* Inhale and slowly roll the head forward
brushing the forehead, nose and chin against the
mat, then raising the head neck and chest upward
arching the back.
* Lengthen and tilt the head back slightly. Avoid
crunching the neck or stretching out the chin.
* Roll shoulders back and down opening the chest.
* No pressure on the palms. Your awareness should
be on the space between the shoulder blades using
the upper back for strength. Imagine you are
squeezing a ball in between your shoulder blades
remembering not to strain.
* Breathing deeply and steadily, the pelvis presses
into the mat.
* Hold the pose for 15 seconds.
* On an exhalation lower down slowly, first bringing the
chest to the mat and then brushing the chin, nose and
forehead to the mat.
* Relax the feet, keep the arms in place and rest the
head on one cheek, observing the breath as you rest
for a few seconds.
* For the second round bring the feet in place as
before, check the positioning of the hands, bring the
forehead to the floor.
* Inhale and raise up once more
feeling that you are able to go slightly deeper into the
pose by lifting up just a bit higher on the
inhalation.
* One again, hold the pose for 15 seconds.
* Lower down on an exhalation and rest in Advasana,
the relaxation pose on the abdomen: feet about hip
width distance apart, arms slightly away from the body
with palms up and rest the head on one cheek.
* Observe the breath.
* Rest and Enjoy.
Benefits:
Strengthens the spine
Stimulates abdominal organs
Relieves constipation
Helps prevent disorders of the uterus, ovaries and
testes.
Helps relieve stress and fatigue
Opens the heart and lungs
Therapeutic for asthma
Soothes sciatica
Tones adrenal glands
Regulates blood sugar levels
Improves posture
Contraindications:
Back injury
Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Headache
Peptic Ulcer
Hernia
Hyperthyroid
Pregnancy
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Greetings of Peace and Joy!
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Lessons in Yoga
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by Reverend Jaganath Carrera
"Sacred Wisdom"
Bhagavad Gita,
a dialogue
between
Lord Krishna and the warrior, Prince Arjuna.
Chapter 9, "The Yoga of the Regal Science
and
the
Royal Secret."
26. Whatever is offered to me with true devotion - if
only a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or a sip of water - I accept it
because it is given with love.
27. Whatever you do, Arjuna, make that an
offering.
Whether it's eating, sacrificing yourself, giving help, or
even your suffering (tapas), offer it to me.
28. In this way you free yourself from the bondage
of
karma and its good or bad results. Through this Yoga,
you thus achieve true renunciation and come to me in
a state of liberation.
34. Think of me constantly; devote your life to me;
offer
all your actions to me, and bow down and surrender
before me. Thus you become steady on your path to
the supreme goal, and come unto me.
Offer everything as an offering. Every act of prayer or
worship, every act in life, even our suffering, should be
offered up to God. This is the essential teaching of the
Gita and the very heartbeat of spiritual life.
Recognizing that absolutely everything is God and
from God, the highest worship and the highest
sadhana is to offer everything to God. It is gratitude
and faith in action. It strengthens the mind, brings
discriminative power, and the experience of
unshakable peace and joy. This is the Yoga Life, this
is how we should live. Everyday, in some small way,
let us cultivate this attitude and shine as mature yogis,
enlightening the paths of others, soothing their
suffering and bringing comfort, faith, and bliss to their
lives. Live your life as a sacrifice to God in any form -
as
Goddess, Vishnu, Siva, Jesus, The Cosmic Power
(Parashakti), Guru - it doesn't really matter, approach
in whatever form is most dear to you. Ultimately, God
is your Self, nearer to you than your own heart.
Let's do it and let's do it now. Let's do it now.
Love and Blessings.
Yours,
jaganath
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Sri Swami Satchidananda
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"Hinduism", "Catholicism", and "Judaism", all
the "isms" are different decorations. But they all have
the same basic principle, that the individual must
become fit to realize the Cosmic One, to know that he
is not different from the Cosmic One. Let us accept all
the different paths as different rivers running toward
the same ocean. "
OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
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Interfaith Observances
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March, 2007
3 - Magha Puja Day -
Buddhist celebration of the teachings of
Buddha.
4 - Purim - Jewish celebration of
deliverance from slavery. Charity to the poor, sharing
food with friends, and vigorous merrymaking mark the
observance.
4 - Holi - Hindu spring festival.
17 - St. Patrick's Day- Christian saint
known as a missionary celebrated for haven brought
Christianity to Ireland.
19 - Spring Navaratri & Hindi New Year-
Sacred 9 day festival of praise and devotion to the
Divine Mother. Also coincides with Hindu New Year's
observance.
21 - Nau-Roz- Baha'i New Year.
21 - Norouz- Zoroastrian New Year.
25 - Annunciation to the Virgin Mary-
Christians remember Mary as she receives word
of the coming birth of Jesus.
27 - Ramanavani - Hindu celebration of
the Lord Rama.
30 - Mawlid an Nabi - Islamic
remembrance of the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
31 - Lazarus Saturday - Orthodox
Christian remembrance of the resurrection of Lazarus.
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Google Guruji
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Question - A Sangha member writes:
I was raised a Catholic and for a long time have
tried
to understand what it means that Jesus is "Christ."
What is the Christ and how is that same thing
described in the Yoga teachings?
Thank you very much.
Guruji Answers:
Hari OM,
Thank you for the question.
What we are encountering in this question is a
fundamental puzzle that has faced spiritual seekers
from the beginning.
Let's start with a little Yoga philosophy. There is
spirit
and matter. Matter is constantly undergoing change.
Things come into creation, change, and pass from our
view. Spirit is One, eternal, and unchanging. It is pure
consciousness. In Yoga, the mind is also part of
matter. It comes into being, changes, and one day
passes. Keeping this in mind, let's look at Jesus the
Christ.
Jesus is the physical being; the body and mind
that
lived 2000 years ago. The Christ is the eternal Spirit
that functioned through Him. Because Jesus was
such a pure vessel, the Spirit, which he called God the
Father, could be experienced through Him very fully.
The Spirit is our True Nature, it is our common
ground; our very core and essence. That is the Christ.
We all have that Spirit within us as our own Self. It is
the same Spirit we see expressing through Lord
Krishna, the Buddha, Mohammed, and all the saints,
sages, and gurus of all traditions and times.
Lord Jesus said, "Be perfect, even as your Father
in
heaven is perfect." He was speaking about
experiencing the perfection - the Spirit - within. He also
taught that the pure in heart will see God. When our
minds are serene, tranquil under all circumstances;
when we grow to see all in creation as our brothers
and sisters, and when we naturally express loving-
kindness to all, our minds will be pure enough to
realize our own Christhood, Krishnahood,
Buddhahood. It is an experience that is in all our
futures.
Christ is from the Greek for, "anointed." It is the
Greek
equivalent for Messiah. To be anointed is to be
chosen, to inherit a Divine post. That is certainly true of
Lord Jesus. But it is also true of all of us. God put us
here to do our part in fulfilling the Divine Will. And to do
it fully requires that we go deeply within to experience
the Spirit that is our Self. When we do, we, too will be
anointed by Spirit.
I hope that answers your question.
Love and Blessings.
Yours,
jaganath
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Do you have a question for Guruji???
If you have a question for Guruji and would like to see
it in print in our next newsletter, please submit
your inquiries for Guruji to
bhavani@yogalifesociety.com.
All questions will be initially answered by
Guruji via email. Upon review and with the inquirer's
approval, the correspondence will be printed in April's
Newsletter.
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News From Our Sangha
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Scheduling Programs with Narani
Our beloved Karuna Lynne tirelessly serves Guruji and
the YLS Sangha as Vice President to the YLS Board of
Trustees and the Executive Committee. She is the
video editor for Guruji's recorded satsang
programs and is developing the Spiritual Arts
Department within the YLS.
Karuna was also
serving
as Guruji's Personal Assistant but with so many
responsibilities and up and coming projects on her
plate, Narani Lisa Lorelli has
graciously accepted the service of Personal Assistant
to Guruji.
Narani is a YLS Board of Trustees Member, Treasurer
and a member of the YLS Executive
Committee.
Our warmest thanks and deepest appreciation to both
Karuna and Narani for their unwavering dedication to
service.
If you would like Sri Guruji Reverend Jaganath
Carrera
to speak at a function or your Yoga center, or perhaps
if you have a program idea you would like to discuss
and develop with Guruji, please contact Narani via
email at
revjaganathprograms@yogalifesociety.com.
Narani will be happy to help you with scheduling
details and more in depth projects and ideas.
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The Vegetarian Cafe - Recipes
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Peter's Breakfast Rice Bowl
Warming, delicious and aromatic breakfast
alternative
to oatmeal. Great for balancing and energizing the
body and mind in
the cold early spring months.
3/4 cup plain cooked white basmati rice (hint:
prepare
basmati rice the night before according to package
directions- you can use the rice as a side dish for
dinner and
save some for a nourishing breakfast - refrain from
using cooked basmati rice which has been
refrigerated for more than 3 days).
1/2 cup milk (cow, goat, soy or nut)
1/4 tsp. ground coriander
1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 tsp. ghee (optional)
If using left over cooked basmati rice, warm it up in a
small saucepan with a small amount
of water to prevent scorching. Add milk, spices,
raisins and ghee to the warm rice and mix gently.
Bring all ingredients to a gentle boil and reduce heat
to low. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes, continually
stirring.
Serve whole or blend to create a farina type
consistency.
Great with a touch of honey or maple syrup.
Enjoy!!
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New Beginnings, From the Editor's Desk
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by bhavani dirito
Editor, YLS
Newsletter
Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Yoga,
Heartfelt greetings of Peace and Joy!
I am looking outside my window as i am writing
this
article.
Snow is blanketing the ground and tracing
the
oak trees in shimmering bands of white. In the
mist of all this winter is a precious little purple crocus
flower making it's way through the weight of the snow.
Traditionally, the crocus has been a symbol
for the
approaching
spring season. Its appearance always fills me
with a sweet anticipation of seeing the earth wrapped
in
different shades of green, flowers blooming
everywhere, and experiencing that intoxicating
perfume that only travels on the softest of spring
winds.
In
many faiths, spring
ushers in a new year.
Everything is reborn with a glorious new
strength and vibrance. The sun becomes ever more
present and all of nature is nourished by its
light.
It
seems the same happens to us with each "rebirth" as
we come closer to our goal of self-realization. As the
Light becomes more prominent in our lives, we
also
begin to reach towards our inevitable growth.
The YLS Newsletter is also experiencing growth and
change and I want to thank you all so much for your
contributions. Because of your creativity and
participation, together we are developing a haven
where new ideas are shared, a place to inspire and to
be inspired. It's a joy to work with all of you. I truly
hope you enjoy this month's newsletter and that it
serves as an aid to deepen your practice.
Please feel free to submit your ideas or comments to
me at
bhavani@yogalifesociety.com.
I look forward to
hearing from you.
I wish you and your loved ones a
blessed spring season. Just as the wondrous
crocus flower makes it's way through
the cold and frigidness of winter, may all beings
realize the
infinite beauty of the True Self as it blossoms from
out of the blanket of ignorance.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,
Joyfully at Your Service,
bhavani
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YLS Mission Statement
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The Yoga Life Society functions under the guidance of
Reverend Jaganath Carrera, who is its founder and
spiritual head. Based on the Integral Yoga teachings
of Sri Swami Satchidananda Maharaj, it exists to foster
the study and practice of the
branches of Yoga, and to share these teachings with
anyone seeking
health, happiness, and peace.
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Upcoming Satsangs with Guruji
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March Satsangs
Integral Yoga Institute, (201)796-7585, Fairlawn, NJ:
Living Your Values
Friday, 2 March, 9:15am-10:45am
--- Suggested Donation $12
Integral Yoga of Princeton, (609)683-9199, Princeton,
NJ:
Three Precious Jewels: Secrets for
Success in
Yoga
Sunday, 4 March, 10am-
12pm
--- Suggested Donation $15
Freehold Yoga Center, (732)462-YOGA, Freehold, NJ:
Conversations with God: Meditation
and
Prayer
Friday, 9 March, 8pm-10pm
--- Suggested Donation $15
Simply Yoga, (609)924-7751, Kingston (Princeton
area), NJ:
Introduction to Raja Yoga
Sunday, 11 March, 1pm-5pm
---
Fee $45
Yogaville, Satchidananda Ashram,
(434)969-3121, Buchingham, Virginia:
4 Day Raja Yoga Intensive
Thursday thru Sunday, 15-18 March
For more information, please log onto
http://www.Yogaville.org
Inner Light Yoga Center, (732)951-1100,
North Brunswick, NJ:
Raja Yoga
Friday, 23 March, 6:30pm-
9:30pm
Please note
that this class is part of the ILYC's Yoga Teacher
Trainee curriculum, but is open to the
public.
--- Fee $25
Integral Yoga Institute, (201)796-7585, Fairlawn, NJ:
Raja Yoga
Wednesday, 28 March, 7pm-10pm
Please note that this class is part of the
IYI's Yoga
Teacher Trainee curriculum, but is open to the
public.
--- Fee $25
Starseed Yoga, (973)783-1036, Montclair,
NJ:
Bhagavad Gita Introductory Course
3 week study course,
Thursdays, 8pm-9:30pm, 29 March, 12 April, 15
April
--- Fee $52
Integral Yoga Institute, (201)796-7585, Fairlawn, NJ:
Why Me? The Meaning of
Suffering
Friday, 30 March, 2007, 8pm-9:30pm
--- Suggested Donation $12
Lotus Yoga Center, (973)783-5060, Montclair, NJ:
Raja Yoga
Saturday, 31 March, 2007, 4pm-
7pm
Please note
that this class is part of the Lotus Yoga Center's Yoga
Teacher Trainee curriculum, but is open to the
public.
--- Fee $25, Pre-registration by phone is required
as space is
limited
April Satsangs
Integral Yoga of Princeton, (609)683-9199, Princeton,
NJ:
Drop Your Burdens and Be Free
Sunday, 1 April, 10am-12pm
--- Fee $15
Integral Yoga Institute, (201)796-7585,
Fairlawn, NJ:
Blessed Are You: Yoga and the
Beatitudes
Friday, 6 April, 9:15am-10:45am
--- Suggested Donation $12
Easter Service
Sunday, 8 April, 10am-12pm
--- Free of Charge
NY Integral Yoga Institute, (212)929-0586,
New York City, New York:
Raja Yoga Teacher Training
Certification Program
With Swami
Ramananda, Swami Bhaktananda,
Swami Karunananda and Reverend Jaganath
Carrera
Monday, 9 April thru Monday, 4 June
--- Fee: $900 Active IYI Teachers. Other Teachers
$1000.
Deposit of $100 is required.
To ask for an application or register, contact Sevika at
(212) 929-0586 ext.16
For further information, please log onto http://www.iyiny.org
be sure to click on the "Teacher
Training/Graduate Level" listing on
the website for a more in depth description and class
schedule
Freehold Yoga Center, (732)462-YOGA, Freehold, NJ:
Bringing Yoga Into Your
Relationships
Friday, 13 April, 8pm-10pm
--- Suggested Donation $15
Inner Light Yoga Center, (732)951-1100, North
Brunswick, NJ:
Raja Yoga
Friday, 20 April, 6:30pm-
9:30pm
Please note
that this class is part of the ILYC's Yoga Teacher
Trainee curriculum, but is open to the
public.
--- Fee $25
Integral Yoga Institute, (201)796-7585,
Fairlawn, NJ:
Truth is One, Paths Are Many: the
Essential Teachings of Yoga
Friday, 27 April, 8pm-9:30pm
--- Suggested Donation $12
Raja Yoga
Wednesday, 28 April, 7pm-10pm
Please note that this class is part of the
IYI's Yoga
Teacher Trainee curriculum, but is open to the
public.
--- Fee $25
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