Here is a recent playlist. This is more on the heavy side. Good for a yoga class that is going a bit deeper into postures, particularly hip openers would be good. Enjoy it!
In yoga philosophy there is the concept of Purusha and Prakriti. The way I like to think of it is that Purusha is everything that doesn’t change, and Prakriti is everything else. The thing that doesn’t change is your inner light, your True Self. That’s Purusha. What’s great about this concept is that it’s a good way to stay on the path of seeing your self and your world in a good light. That’s because the unchanging Self, the full of light and everything good self, is really us. It’s the good us. The person we love to be and know we are. Prakriti is temporary, impermanent, not solid. Sometimes, when things aren’t going so well we can end up defining who we are by our temporary state of mind. If I am angry or frustrated or sad, it’s easy to think, “I’m a sad person”, or “I’m an angry person.” But, those emotions are temporary. Purusha never changes. Our True Self never changes.
For me, it helps me to get through the experiences and emotional times that are harder to deal with. I remind myself that these states are temporary, and I try to learn something about myself during those times, and work to see my True Innate Self. That unchanging Self that is in me, and in everyone. Maybe that’s something you can try as well.
Take care – John
Purusha and Prakriti – Finding the Unchanging Through All That Changes from John McConnell on Vimeo.
Here is a short (2:31) video about how to do half moon pose. It features Ali Schwartz, one of my yoga students, who has been taking my classes longer than anyone else!
View from Treadway Mountain.
A few weeks ago I went with some friends to the Adirondacks to camp at Putnam Pond State Park. I’d never been there before, and it was really great. We decided we wanted to hike up Treadway Mountain (none of us had ever been up it before), and the best way to get to the trailhead was to paddle across Putnam Pond. So, we all made the relatively short paddle across the pond, left the boats, and started working our way up the Mountain. It took about an hour, and when we got to the top the view was truly magnificent. We could see almost completely around us, and everywhere we looked was beauty — mountains, trees, lakes. Really incredible.
For people who have been to the top of a mountain, or seen any kind of natural beauty, it’s a wonderful feeling. To me it feels like all the beauty on the outside is erupting on the inside. I guess other people feel that way, too, since I found this nice sutra from the Radiance Sutras (aka Vijnana Bhairava Tantra) about that very thing.
Go to a wide open space,
Gaze without looking anywhere,
The mind stops its building of thoughts,
And rests on its own foundations –
Which is that immensity.
The light that you see by
Is the light that comes from Inside.
I really love the last stanza. I like to think of it as when you see some kind of beauty, it’s just a reminder of all the beauty you have within yourself.
Here is a hip/back opener class, about an hour, with this theme in mind. Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
Take care — John
The Light That Comes From Inside – John McConnell Yoga from John McConnell on Vimeo.
Yoga Retreat
QUEBEC YOGA RETREAT
August 16-18th
Jouvence, Quebec
I am excited to announce that I will be holding a yoga retreat from August 16-18th in at the beautiful Jouvence retreat center based in Mont-Orford National Park. Signup by May 1st for discount. I hope you can come!! [Find out more]“Breathe” Mugs now have HANDLES!
Check out these awesome new mugs I have available for the visiting public!
