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NEW ENGLAND ABUNDANCE . MASSACHUSETTS
YOGA
NEA HOME |
YOGA IN THE PIONEER VALLEY
Shelburn Falls Yoga Teacher Kalavati
Questions can tell a lot about a person and give you a
snapshot of how they want to live their life. I asked
Shelburn Falls Yoga Teacher Kalavati a series.
Its not easy to answer them because you have to search
your mind for your real answers. You can read the answers below.
When and how did yoga find you?
1. Yoga found me when I was about 13 or 14, Lilias Yoga and You on PBS, caught my attention. I didn’t know what the word “yoga” meant so I thought hmmm, “lets see this show.” I promptly began standing on my head in my Bronx apt. much to my parent’s dismay.
What is the most important concept you want your students to walk away with?
2. That yoga is big, it’s not just stretching at all. It’s like the way it’s viewed now in the West is as if one found a shell with a pearl inside, and threw away the pearl and kept the shell. That’s not my metaphor but it is apt. It is way beyond muscles, stretching and even maintaining health. It’s really a science of life and how to achieve our greatest potentials that are untapped and basically ignored in “modern” society. Anything now that is not “scientific” by Western standards is denigrated. That is a silly automatic prejudice. As if all previous world civilizations had no knowledge. It’s incredibly arrogant. If one can read some of the yogic texts they are written in coded and metaphoric language and they chart areas that the West simply declares do not exist. Simply because they cannot see it. So I say keep an open mind, much of our education relies on a narrow understanding of reality and the mind.
What advice do you have for beginning students?
3. For beginning students of Yoga, I would say try different teachers. And choose one that you feel comfortable and yet not complacent with. One that encourages your growth and expansion. Don’t just choose a yoga teacher by flexibility or charisma only. Perhaps they have those qualities but look for steadiness, realness, and kindness.
What do you love about the Pioneer Valley?
4. What I love about the Pioneer Valley is one, the natural beauty and energy of the land. The liberal and educated citizenry and the arts and culture that are everywhere.
Tell us a book that has changed the way you think.
5. A book that has changed the way I think? That’s hard. Some ones that are more recent reads are: The Power of Now, and In This Very Life, by my Buddhist teacher Sayadaw U Pandita.
Any saying or quote that's had an effect on your life that you'd like to share?
6. Well my favorite quote is a bit corny. But it ahs helped me through tough times. The entire prose piece is attributed to Goethe, but according to the Goethe Society it was written by an explorer who then paraphrased Goethe in these last few lines. Anyway…. they are:
“Whatever you can do or dream you can, Begin it, Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
The whole preceding piece is beautiful too, very inspirational! I memorized it before going in for my first real job interview and the weeks after as I waited to hear, it helped me to stay positive.
What are you inspired by?
7. What inspires me? The possibility of reaching our full potential as enlightened human beings. Using all of our capacities in service to compassion, love, and connectedness. The possibility of a mature, harmonious society based on equality, appreciation of arts and learning, simplicity and health in harmony with Nature which is our sustenance. A truly advanced society.
What are you thankful for?
8. Breathing today is what I’m thankful for. Also the truly good karma of having access to many spiritual teachings, from all parts of the globe that were once reserved for few.
Other than yoga, what gives you peace?
9. Nature gives me peace. Being out in nature, walking, sitting by water, one automatically becomes still and serene. That is if the mind is not lost in thrall to constant thoughts that generate themselves-planning/worry/anger and so on.
Tell us three words that describe you.
10. Three words only to describe myself? Hmmmm. Independent, Creative, Caring.
Kalaviti skills include; shiatsu bodywork, yoga teacher, and transition mentor. To get the real scoop on what Kavalati is up to on a more frequent basis real her blog here.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga?:
According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, one of the ancient texts that is the basis for the philosophy behind yoga, there are eight “limbs” (Asthanga in Sanskrit) of yoga. Each limb relates to an aspect of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life, and each builds upon the one before it. You may be surprised to hear that only one of the limbs involves the performance of yoga postures. Here is a description of the eight limbs.
1. Yama:
Five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards others:
Ahimsa: Nonviolence
Satya: Truthfulness
Asteya: Nonstealing
Brahmacharya: Nonlust
Aparigraha: Noncovetesness
2. Niyama:
Five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards oneself:
Saucha: Cleanliness
Santosa: Contentment
Tapas: Sustained practice
Svadhyaya: Self study
Isvara pranidhana: Surrender to God
3. Asana:
Practice of yoga postures.
4. Pranayama:
Practice of breathing exercises.
5. Pratyahara:
Withdrawal of the senses, meaning that the exterior world is not a distraction from the interior world within oneself.
6. Dharana:
Concentration, meaning the ability to focus on something uninterrupted by external or internal distractions.
7. Dhyana:
Meditation. Building upon Dharana, the concentration is no longer focused on a single thing but is all encompassing.
8. Samadhi:
Bliss. Building upon Dhyana, the transcendence of the self through meditation. The merging of the self with the universe. Sometimes translated as enlightenment.
Sources:
Light on Life, B.K.S. Iyengar, 2005.
Yoga: The Iyengar Way, Mira Silva and Shyam Mehta, 1990.