Dear Friends and Yogis,

I have enjoyed the first inklings of Spring this past week as the days have warmed a bit and the sun has been shining, urging me out to the yard and garden to see what changes are stirring.  My youngest son Sage is anxiously awaiting the first daffodil bloom and asking each day if Spring is here.

The natural progression of the seasons reminds us that there is a deep and intrinsic order in Nature.  Yoga reminds us that we are part of this sacred order.  Just as plants and animals align their growth and development with the seasons, so must we align our bodies, minds and hearts to create harmony and balance in our lives. 

Alignment is at the heart of the Anusara-inspired yoga that I teach.  The exquisite alignment principles that instruct how we place our feet and hands, and align our muscles,  bones, and organs have profound impacts on our physical health.  Alignment in yoga doesn't stop at the mat; however.  True alignment is unifying our bodies, minds and hearts to experience greater joy and harmony in all aspects of our lives.

My teacher John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga refers to this as "lining up with the stream of Grace.  When we are in alignment, we experience joy."  Some days, it is easier to find this alignment, other days it is more challenging.  Nonetheless, yoga is a full-time practice, and Tantric scholar Douglas Brooks writes, "No matter what we are doing or where we find ourselves, we can and indeed we must create an experience of alignment." 

More often than not, the simple things in life are what that can bring us back into our hearts, back into alignmnent: pausing in our busy day to gaze out the window and enjoy the beauty of nature, noticing and enjoying the smile of a young child or passerby, stopping in the heat of a challenging situation to find and reclaim the natural rhythm of our breath, rooting down through our feet and rising up through our spine as we stand in the grocery line and making gratitude for these simple joys a daily practice.

I offer you this advice: Don't miss the simple things that bring you into your heart.  This is where you will find true alignment.

Namaste,

Annie

Yamas and Niyamas
by Annie Barrett

The yamas and niyamas form the first two limbs of the 8 Limbs of Classical Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) : restraints (yamas), observances (niyamas), physical postures (asana), breathing practices (pranayama), withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and aborption with the Absolute (samadhi).

The yamas and niyamas are ten principles or core values for living a wise and joy-filled life.

“Yamas and Niyamas are emphatic descriptions of what we are  when we are connected to our source…. our fundamental nature is compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful”  writes Donna Farhi.  Stephen Cope says the yamas and niyamas teach us “about avoiding behaviors that produce suffering and difficulty and embracing those that lead to states of happiness.”

Each yoga class in the next few months will focus on one of the yamas and niyamas.  Below is a short description of each.  Together we’ll become aware of and explore how each of these principles can be observed and practiced on and off the mat with the goal of living a life of greater authenticity, purpose, and joy. 

Yamas - Wise characteristics for living in the world
Ahimsa – Non-harming.  Have compassion for all living things.
Satya – Truthfulness, Make a commitment to the truth in words and actions.
Asteya – Non-stealing.  Don’t take anything that is not freely given.
Bramacharya – Energy moderation.  Use energy wisely and avoid by ruled by your urges.
Aparigraha – Non-grasping.  You can’t hold on to something or someone and be free at the same time.
 
Niyamas – Qualities for living a soulful life
Saucha- Purity.  Bring cleanliness and order to body, mind and environment.
Santosha – Contentment.  Find satisfaction and equanimity with the present moment.
Tapas – Right Effort, burning enthusiasm. This is disciplined and directed use of one’s energy.
Svadhyaya – Self Study.  Take time for self-contemplation and study of scriptures and wise texts.
Ishavara Pranidhana – Dedication to the highest.  Make every action an offering.
 

Resources:
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, various translations
Yoga, Mind, Body and Spirit by Donna Farhi
Living Your Yoga by Judith Lasater
“Path to Happiness” by Hillari Dowdle, Yoga Journal, Jan. 2009