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We are visitors on this planet...during this period we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives.
—The Dalai Lama

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 Reflections on the Yamas and Niyamas
The teachers at Balanced Yoga are systematically reflecting on each of Patanjali's yamas and niyamas this year. June began the niyamas and focused on sauca, cleanliness. My reflections:

"For cleansing of the mind, meditate." - I don't know where I first heard this, but I've heard it many times.

I like the idea of scrubbing out my mind. Not that I have a particularly dirty mind - at least not in the wink-wink-nudge-nudge sort of way - but rather I have thoughts that get stuck. Not really stuck like tar, but more like dental plaque: a thin thought-film that colors my perception. While admittedly that is a rather gross comparison, it's not inaccurate. Sometimes, there'll be a sadness thought-film, sometimes an angry, frustrated thought-film, and even sometimes a pity-party-poor-me thought-film - all coloring the way I perceive the world around and the world within. Of course, I tend to like it when there's a happiness thought-film or, best of all, an I'm-in-love thought-film. But, really, those are colorings of perception, too, and if I fall into the trap of liking one better than the other than I've simply bought duality all over again which is not the union, the one-ness, of Yoga.

Now, if you'll kindly excuse me, there's a meditation cushion calling my name.


Check out the Balanced Yoga blog to read other teachers' and students' thoughts.


Links
One of my favorite things about yoga is the community that is created. Here are a few places on the web you might enjoy checking out.

www.viniyoga.com
American Viniyoga Institute, information about viniyoga and Gary Kraftsow.

www.iayt.org
Internation Association of Yoga Therapists, a great resource for all things yoga therapy.

www.lotuspalm.com
Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage is located in the wonderful city of Montreal, led by Kam Thye Chow and a team of really awesome people.

www.deida.info
David Deida is another teacher of mine. His rather provocative teachings are the about way that men and women grow spiritually and sexually.

www.yogaalliance.com
Yoga Alliance, a non-profit organization supporting national standards for yoga teachers.

www.peaceblossomsyoga.com
Peace Blossoms Yoga is a yoga studio in Akron, Ohio, led by the amazing Jane Montgomery, where I frequently teach. A member of the Green Yoga Association.

www.greenyoga.org
Green Yoga Association, an organization fostering ecological consciousness, reverence, and action in the yoga community.

www.eomega.org
Omega Institute, a holistic education provider based in Rhinebeck, New York, where I spent many years.

www.thecrossingsaustin.com
The Crossings, a holistic education provider in Austin, Texas. In a great city, run by great people, and an absolutely gorgeous, green-friendly facility.

www.sofiayoga.com
A teacher of mine for only a brief period of time, but had an amazing impact. Sofia Diaz is based in Boulder, Colorado, and focuses mainly on feminine spiritual practice.