Christmas: Celebrating an unmarried teenage mom giving birth in a stable, to a baby who grew up to be a prominent activist for peace, playfulness, laughter, love, liberation, appreciation and beyond-capitalist values; who preferred the company of honest prostitutes to that of the religious and political elite; who partook in joy-filled, ecstatic, radical direct action in transcending the banking system, and was publicly executed as an enemy of state. My prayer today is in: Celebrating that this wisdom within guide all who call themselves Christians, or any other illusory label or limitation in this world.

This day of the Three Kings, I urge you to honour and venerate the king – or queen – you carry within. We are all born noble and beautiful. Throughout our lives, we carry the light of illumination within our spiritual heart – Hridaya. We can dull our light with ego and illusion, but it never stops burning, with hope and persistence, as long as our heart beats and out lungs draw air.

Yoga is a practice that allows us to believe in, then perceive, and then polish our inner light. When I began practicing yoga, I had no idea that inside myself I carried such beauty. In fact, I didn’t have a very high opinion of myself at all. I judged myself so harshly – the inner and outer me – that I wept often, crying out in pain and frustration at the brutal futility of life. Or, seeming brutal futility. Because that light was glowing within me even if I could not see it. It manifested in many ways, but I had been trained to see these manifestations of loving compassion as something negative. I judged myself as weak, emotional, tearful…unrealistic.

But from the darkest night, the sweetest dawn. From the thickest mud blooms the rose-hued lotus. That gnawing resentment of the state of the world hammered at me, pushed me forward, forced me to find solutions. Our suffering is our friend. As Patanjali says in YS II.23 “svasvamisktyoh svarupopalabdhihetuh samyoga”, which is translated by TKV Desikachar as “however powerful or disturbing something may appear to be, it is our reaction to it that determines its effects…”  This means that every time we suffer, it is really an opportunity to practice distinguishing between the observer (our inner light, our purusha) and the observed (the changing material world, the prakriti).  Because I suffered, I found yoga.

Yoga has helped me see my inner light, to polish it, and to keep it as a sacred part of myself.  Of course I am still dogged by my ego, my stupidity.  But I don’t suffer as much because I know and believe that the inner light shines bright and constant within me, and that I, and everyone, every single person, is blessed with this light.  This is your inner King, your inner Queen.  Honour and love him or her.  Celebrate his or her arrival.  Accept the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Rejoice and be happy.  Share you happiness with someone else and soon we will all be free.  AUM.

• cojines y mantas para tu propia comodidad (hay colchones para dormir)
• ropa cómoda (por favor sin perfumes)
• taza para te o café
• agua para beber (preferible en botella de cristal)
• fotos de vuestros seres queridos que no puedan asistir
• objetos sagrados para absorber las vibraciones puras
• tu propia agua sagrada en un vaso de cristal tapado (puedes bendecirla y transformar su forma cristalina con las palabras de intención positiva, escritas y pegadas en el vaso unos días antes de noche 11-11-11)

Her comment at the end: in group classes people always come and go, perhaps staying 6 months, perhaps 3. She feels she can’t advance because she always ends up with beginners again. She wonders why we can’t stick with our yoga? Comments?

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En mi clases de ésta mañana, habían tres principiantes y una señora que ya lleva 6 años practicando. Existe una diferencia importante entre ella y las nuevas. Más tiempo practicamos, más se alarga nuestro ciclo respiratorio. Eso significa que cualquier movimiento coordinado con la respiración se alarga. Si nuestra exhalación es corta y brusca, nos va bien dejar caer un brazo con poco control ú atención. No obstante, en cuanto que tomamos control de la diafragma y entramos en contacto con la respiración ujjayi, aprendemos exhalar lentamente y con mucho control. Así comenzamos a controlar los movimientos del cuerpo, permitiéndonos bajar tal brazo suavemente y con mucho control. Al extender el principio a toda la práctica, destacan diferencias cualitativas y cuantitativas relacionadas con la duración de las posturas dinámicas y estáticas.

Su comento? En clases grupales siempre hay mucho va-y-viene. La gente permanezca 3 meses, 6 meses, y luego dejan las clases. Siente que no puede avanzar porque está siempre con principiantes. Se pregunta porque no aguantamos con nuestro yoga? Comentarios?

Hola! Eco Altea fue un éxito no obstante el resfriado que me agarró por la nariz! Dirigí dos clases de yoga el domingo por la tarde, ambas bien llenitas.

You can find them on Facebook.  If you’ve still not joined the monster social network, the street address is Paseo Mediterràneo 1, local 9 bajo, 03590 Altea, Spain.