AWAKENING SELF NEWSLETTER — Jan 2005

1) Announcements
2) Yoga of the Seasons: Winter Woes and Wonders
3) Class, Workshop, and Retreat Schedule
4) This month's article - "Inner Immunity " by Connie Habash
5) Spiritual Quotes

1) Announcements

I'm back from maternity leave, but motherhood never stops! Meera, Michael, and I are doing great (look for updated photos under Baby Meera and also my class schedule!).
I'm returning to my Tuesday and Friday classes at YIY for now from 9:30-11am, and look for more classes possibly being added in the next few months. I also return to my counseling practice the 2nd week of January on Wednesdays only.

INTRO TO YOGA WORKSHOP returns! Wanting to get back
into your yoga practice, or know someone who'd like to start?
I'll be offering my Introduction to Yoga workshop again in January,
on 2 Saturdays, 1/15 and 1/22 from 2-4:30pm at YIY in Mountain
View. $50 if registered by 1/8; $60 thereafter.
TODAY (SAT. 1/8) IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!

CLASSES AT YIY RESUME:
Tuesdays (Beginners) and Fridays (All Levels) from 9:30-11am, starting Jan 4th, at YIY in Mountain View.

BABY & MOM YOGA CLASS
Pre-crawling babies and their mothers are invited to attend this new yoga class at Devi Yoga in Menlo Park!
Mondays, 2 - 3:15pm
$15 drop-in, or 5 classes for $65
http://www.devi-yoga.com

YOGA MAMMAS! I have started a new discussion group (in addition to Namaste Yoga Circle) on Yahoo for all mothers of babies, young children, and expectant mothers who wish to share community, spirituality, and information on yoga and natural health and well-being for our families. We will begin with online discussion, and will soon we having gatherings at my home in Menlo Park! If you would like to join this group, please click on this link to find out more:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoga_Mammas/

WOMEN'S SPRING RENEWAL RETREAT
This year's theme is EXPLORING YOUR WILD WOMAN!
Has your yoga practice or your life become a little too tame?
Look for fun and frolic as we celebrate Spring together and get a little wild! Yoga classes by day and drumming, chanting, and playfulness in new evening programs. More information HERE
APRIL 22-24, 2005 at Mount Madonna Center
Early bird discount if registered by 3/25; special lower rates for triples and dorm accommodations (bring your friends!)

A CLASS SCHEDULE FOR THE NEW YEAR:
Look for an email announcement near the end of this month
for my new class schedule for early 2005!

LEVEL 2 CD IS HERE!
A Balanced Yoga Practice, Level 2, will be available next week. A step up in intensity from my level one practice, this audio CD is one hour and fifteen minutes and is a "deep, slow flow". Including longer standing pose sequences, backbends, forward bends and inversions,
it again has original music by my friend, Brian Hunter.
$16 plus $3.50 shipping charges, or pick one up at a class soon.
Special: buy both Level 1 and Level 2 for $30!
More information HERE after January 10th

2) Yoga of the Seasons: Winter Woes and Wonders

     As if the hurricanes of the Fall weren't enough challenges to deal with from our natural world, we start off the Winter season with some other familiar and not-so-familiar weather challenges: record snow in many areas of the US causing
accidents and hindering travel, and now the devastation of a tsunami following from a massive earthquake.

     Natural disasters awaken much in us. We feel deep compassion for those who suffer from them. We realize how blessed we are in our day to day circumstances. And we are reminded that Mother Nature is both beautiful and tremendously powerful. It's very humbling to see something we consider ordinary, like water or snow, causing so much devastation.

      Yet that which destroys also heals. The very same element, water, that caused the destruction of so many homes and villages is also desperately needed for the survival of those left behind. Pure, clean water is in short supply where there was an over-abundance of ocean water flowing through many coastline communities. Fire, too, both cooks our food as well as burns down acres of forestland.

     Nature teaches us this paradox of life - that everything is important in the right balance. That which is good can become something bad in excess or in lack. Snow delights us by dusting the trees with a glistening sparkle: but when a blizzard hits, we curse and fear it. We may become weary of incessant rain, but during a drought we wish we had somehow retained more of it.

      We can keep ourselves in better inner balance and harmony with nature by continuing to stay moderate in our uses of these precious resources, even in times of abundance. Try not to waste water when you are washing dishes or showering. Take what you need when you are eating - no more, no less. What things do we really need in our homes? Are we taking unnecessary trips in our cars that we could otherwise consolidate in one trip or can we walk, bike, or take a bus more often? What are we giving back to the earth in return for what we take? If we strive to keep balanced in our day to day lives in what resources we use, we adapt better during times when the balance has been upset.

      Could it be that if we live more in harmony with the planet, keeping this delicate balance of give and take, that we could avert such disasters? I don't know, but it's fairly common knowledge that we could preserve many of the treasures and vital sustanence that we receive from nature if we learn to conserve and utilize those gifts consciously. Animals and plants are able to live in this harmonious way with the world, only using what they need - what keeps us from doing the same?

     These woes of wintertime have many lessons to offer us. Let us all have gratitude and appreciation for what the earth gives us. We can all remember, when we are shivering a bit in the snow that there are others who do not have snow boots
or have lost all but the clothing on their backs. We can look out at the sea both with wonder of its inherent beauty and also with a renewed respect for its force. We can never assume that we have mastery over nature - the tsunami, wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and blizzards keep things in perspective. Tread lightly on her soil with reverence, and see what aid you can offer those who have been less fortunate in the face of nature's might.

copyright 2005 by Constance L. Habash

3) Class, Workshop, and Retreat Schedule: Fall/Winter 2004 and Winter/Spring 2005

RETREATS:

WOMEN'S SPRING RENEWAL RETREAT returns! "Exploring Your Wild Woman"
Mark your calendars for: APRIL 22-24, 2005
Mt. Madonna Center, Watsonville
A special time to let loose, play, explore the feminine within, and connect with other women in community.
EARLY BIRD discount (register by 3/25): $255-350,
depending on accommodation; add $30 thereafter
Retreat information and registration form HERE


WORKSHOPS:

INTRODUCTION TO YOGA! Never tried yoga before? Want to brush up on basics, or get back into a regular practice? Think you'll get lost in a regular class? This workshop is for you! Including yoga postures, breathwork, relaxation, meditation, and yoga philosophy.
Two Saturdays: 1/15 and 1/22, 2-4:30pm
$50 if registered by 1/8: $60 thereafter at Yoga is Youthfulness, Mountain View

CHAKRA YOGA Teacher Training Session
at The Yoga and Movement Center, Walnut Creek
Saturday, February 5th, 12:30-6:30pm
(part of YMC teacher training program)

AYURVEDIC YOGA with YES Teacher Training program
San Jose
Sunday, March 13th, 1:30-5pm

108 SURYA NAMASKARS to celebrate the Spring Equinox!
Come early or late, do 1 or 108, or just sit and meditate!
In March near the Spring Equinox (date to be set), 7-9am at YIY in Mountain View.
By donation, with refreshments served afterwards.

INTRODUCTION TO SANSKRIT Teacher Training at The Yoga and Movement Center, Walnut Creek
Saturday, May 7th, 12:30-6:30pm
(part of YMC teacher training program)

MONDAYS
2-3:15PM Baby & Mom (pre-crawlers)
Devi Yoga, Menlo Park

TUESDAYS
9:30-11AM Iyengar & Vinyasa, Beginning
YIY, Mountain View

FRIDAYS
9:30-11AM Iyengar & Vinyasa, All Levels
YIY, Mountain View

4) This month's article: "Inner Immunity" by Connie Habash

     Recently, I've been reading about how the immune system works. We have an intricate and very effective system in our physical bodies for identifying and eradicating foreign objects and organisms that may be dangerous to us. It starts from our skin and functions down to a cellular level. It's truly miraculous how we are able, without even conscious knowledge, to be protected from the vast majority of bugs and toxins that we are exposed to.
     
      Unfortunately, there are other ways in which we are much more vulnerable. While most of us have strong physical immunity, often times we have weak mental and emotional resistance. I think of this as inner immunity - our resistance and resilience in the face of mental and emotional toxins.

     We are innundated by words, images, sounds, and ideas that could be unhealthy for our hearts and minds daily. TV, radio, and computers feed us news of all kinds of horrors, as well as attempts to persuade us to live certain kinds of lifestyles and fill our ears and eyes with gossip and grandiosity. People we meet in the grocery store or on the roads may have bad attitudes that they try to dump off on us. A boss may be critical or condescending, our partners may be grumpy or complaining, and our kids may make us feel like we're mean for taking away the internet priviledges. Some days, we barely notice the little jabs, and on others we may feel pretty beat up.

     Fortunately, it's not usually as bad as all that, and we have many things in life to enjoy and bring happiness. Still, we all need to be able to fend off this negativity when it arises. We all need a strong inner immunity to prevent us from falling into the trap of taking in criticism, taking on anger, or getting absorbed in the drama of violence that unfolds in the media before us. We need something to keep all of it at bay, and keep our psyches relatively clean, healthy, and peaceful.

     How do we develop a good inner immunity? Just like with our own physical bodies, the key is to have multiple layers of defenses, and maintain their integrity. If one should fail or fall short of keeping every intruder out, we'll have other resources at our disposal to dispose of negative thoughts and emotions.

     The body's first layer of defense is the skin itself. It creates a semi-solid boundary between our more vulnerable innards and the world at large. This is also essential for our inner defenses. We've heard the phrase "he's thin-skinned", referring to someone who is too sensitive to what anyone says or does, and takes everything personally. It can be helpful to be more "thick-skinned": put-downs can just bounce off a less permeable surface. But what creates a thick skin? Just as the skin is our boundary between the outer world and our insides, a thick skin is a clear boundary between who you know you are and what anyone else tries to convince you of. If someone calls you stupid and you know that you're smart, that comment will just bounce off you like a clod of dirt off your arm. It simply won't go in if you're clear about your true self.

      This isn't always easy to do, but if we practice staying clear within ourselves, it will naturally fend off the effects outside of us. It helps to recognize and affirm for yourself that who you are is determined by your inner self, not what any influence says or does outside you. Essentially, you are what you believe. Nothing will enter into your mind and heart unless you already have a place that's receptive to that idea.

    For example, if someone said to you, "you're so orange!", you'd probably look at them as if they were nuts and the comment would easily slide off your skin (unless, I suppose, you bought a bad tube of self-tanning lotion). There would not be anything in your psyche that responds to being orange, so it doesn't penetrate your inner skin.

     It's the comments like "idiot!" or "you're so selfish!" that may trigger a reaction, because some part of us may secretly wonder if perhaps we are. If you firmly believe in your own innate intelligence or own essential goodness (not measured against any standard, and not expecting perfection), nothing will shake that, at least not for long. Your skin will keep that comment from sinking in and causing needless grief or sorrow. Recognize these kinds of comments as the worthless hot air that they usually are.

     Another outer layer of our defenses is the ability to tell what is healthy and what is not. We don't eat food that smells bad. We'll avoid touching our hands to our face when we've had them in the dirt or have been cleaning the bathroom. This is a common sense way of keeping oneself healthy that is innate in us.

     In our inner immunity, the yogic term for this would be viveka - discernment. We can use our ability to discern what is healthy for us from what is not and to make good choices. Just like choosing healthy food to eat, we can more consciously be aware of the choices we make in what kind of television to watch and what people we feel right about hanging around. This can protect us from needlessly being exposed to experiences that may bring up worry, anger, or fear, disturbing
our inner peace. Most of us have probably experienced being tempted to watch a horrifying scene in a movie, only to be plagued by frightening images in our sleep. Discernment (viveka) tells us to stay away from things that will leave negative residue in our psyches. It can help us to determine what is the best use of our time and energy to keep our hearts open and loving and our minds clear. It's a strong component of inner immunity.

     But what about those times when the outer defenses are breached? The body's immune system has an elaborate response to invaders beneath the skin's surface. It is enabled with the capability of seeking out and identifying the intruders, and then destroying and/or disposing of them. So our inner immunity similarly needs to have a protective response when a negative energy penetrates our thoughts and emotions.

      Often, we may find ourselves having a fear, getting angry, or feeling down and not realizing how the train of thought started or why. We may not in the moment be aware of when we are being affected by something, but find an hour later that we're in a sour mood. In these instances, it takes practice of observation of our thoughts and emotions to notice when they arise. When we are aware of the processes happening in our minds, then we can choose to eradicate or at least redirect a negative thought or emotion rather than be at its effect.

      Our consciousness needs to first identify what thought is occuring that is harmful. Take, for example, the thought "I am a failure." This may start out as feeling disappointed that a project didn't turn out quite the way we wished, and then it snow-balled into a negative belief, attached to an emotion, such as sadness. It may have expanded from simple disappointment into thoughts about all the things in life that didn't work out the way we wanted, or envisioning things in the future that we imagine won't succeed.

      Our inner immune system needs to sound the alarms once we become aware of a negative chain reaction like this. In our body's immune system, once an invader has been identified, it is attacked or surrounded and either destroyed or sent out of the body with waste products. We need to respond similarly to those negative thoughts! Identify these thoughts as something not-of-you: they are thoughts, not your reality. They can be changed, wiped out, or at least questioned once we become aware that they're occuring.

      Meditation is one powerful way of practicing this self- awareness and eliminating threats to our inner peace. Taking time out in the day to simply sit and be present, observing whatever arises, develops the awareness that allows us to stand up to the negative patterns that arise in the mind. Once we become practiced at observing, then we can take action on what needs changing or cleaning out in our psyches.

      When we've identified a thought or emotion that's not serving us, we have a few choices as to how to become immune. We can observe it without attachment to it, imagining it floating by and disappearing like steam into the atmosphere. We can laugh at it, knowing that we've caught that bug in the act of trying to disturb our peace. We can give it a reality check - just because something doesn't turn out the way we want one time doesn't reflect on who we are as a person and doesn't warrant a "failure" label.

      We can also cultivate the opposite quality or idea from what negativity is arising in the consciousness. This is a technique that is discussed both in Buddhist and Yogic philosophy. Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutras, states that "for the repelling of unwholesome deliberation,
the yogin should pursue the cultivation of the opposite. (Yoga Sutra II.33) When our thoughts are not wholesome, we need to come up with something to concentrate the mind on that is uplifting, positive, healing. There are many ways that we can cultivate an opposite: it may be conjuring
images of light or of someone we love, singing a song that warms the heart, doing a kind or thoughtful act for another human being, or practicing affirmations.

      For example, the cultivation of the opposite may be done through an act of kindness. If we see disturbing things on the news of bad events that have happened to others, we may feel more hopeful about the world if we go out and help someone else in need.

      When the thought that someone may not like us distresses our hearts, we can bring in the opposite quality by sitting down and remembering the times when someone showed their love and appreciation for you. You might even be able to pick up the phone and call someone who can remind you of how special you are to them!

      Affirmations are positive self-statements that help us to build self-esteem and confidence. For example, when the fear of failure arises, we can affirm ourselves positively:"I am successful in many ways" or "every step I take leads towards greater fulfillment". The more we repeat these
affirmations, the more they sink into our minds and hearts and we begin to feel their qualities within us. Additionally, if we are practicing filling our mind with these positive statements, just like a mantra, it leaves little room or energy for negative ideas or emotions to arise. It takes a while of
consistent practice, and isn't always easy, but it can powerfully build inner resiliency against unhealthy outer influences.

      This is not unlike eating healthy food, getting ample exercise, and sufficient rest in order to keep our body's immune system strong. We need good inner nourishment in what we choose to fill our minds with in order to withstand moments that threaten our mental well-being. Practicing
affirmations, meditation, choosing activities that we know will lift our spirits or encourage greater self-awareness, and giving aid and kindness to others in need are all ways that we can keep our inner immunity strong. Then, with some determination, we can make it through the Winter free of depression as well as the flu.

Copyright 2005 by Constance L. Habash

5) Spiritual Quotes

"I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings.
My wisdom flows from the highest source. I salute that Source in you.
Let us work together for unity and love."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, "Prayer for Peace"

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
~ George Bernard Shaw

Blessings,
Connie

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