Awakening Ganesha

December 1, 2005                        Monthly  Newsletter                                             Volume 13          

Namaste, 

Beginning Friday December 2nd, Kathleen Bryant will offer a 3-week Therapeutic Yoga series designed for students with challenges such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, anxiety, or insomnia.  The evening classes will meet Wednesday and Fridays from 4:30-6:00 pm with a series discount of $90,  Individual classes after the initial registration will be $17 per class.

New Year's Day *** Classes Free all Day

7 Centers will have an open house on New Year's Day for those not interested in football and interested in trying out a class or teacher that they haven't expereinced before. During our lunch break from 12:00 - 2:30pm there will be storytelling, tarot readings, chair massage, ear coning among other activities. All proceeds will go to benefit The Children's Project which has sponsored the free Mom and Baby Yoga class in the Sedona community for the past five years.

                 New Year's Day Schedule

5-7:30am            Chakra Sadhana  *Gary

9-10:00am          Beginning Hatha Yoga    Amber

10:30-12pm         Intro to Hatha Yoga       Ildiko

12-2pm     Storytelling, Chair Massage, Readings, Used Book Sale...

2:00-3:00pm          Mom and Baby Yoga  Kathleen

3:30-4:30pm         Kundalini    Rebekah

5:00-6:00pm          Moon Salutations     Ruth

7-8:30pm               Kirtan w/ Sedona Wallahs  

* This will be the first of a continuous 7 day practice focusing on one chakra per day. This class is free - the remainder of the series is $75. Call to register for inital instructions.

Next Chakra Yoga Intensive -  In response to the feedback we received from the participants in our first Chakra intensive, we have scheduled the next 7 day experience for March 3-10, 2006.  The cost will be $800 with early registration (30 days prior) of $750.00. 

                The Bhagavad-Kita

Wisdom-Dialogues between Lionheart as Arjuna with Krishna

Lionheart practices Khetchari mudra for enlightenment

Part II -Krishna calls a Spade a Spade
Krishna, shaking his head slowly, says: "At present, Lionheart, your mind is bewildered by conflicting attachments and uncontrollable instincts. When it can rest steady and undistracted by a quail bobbing for seeds in the dirt or a jumping grasshopper or a moth fluttering by a lightbulb, only then, when your mind serenely reflects in contemplation of your own True Self, will you be enlightened. This is nothing less than the goal of life."

Lionheart replies: You mean, when I am going to eat next is not the goal of my life? Or who is going create a great lap for me to sleep in ... or what vortex are we going to walk to today? And what about catnip?  Krishna, how does one know an enlightened being such as you describe, the one absorbed in the Divine? How does such a cat sit or eat or walk about or play?"

Krishna's eyes start to twinkle as he answers Lionheart's query: "My furry and plump friend, you should strive to become such a being! This being is called the Illumined One, the one who abandons all selfish desires, cravings and torments of the heart, who is satisfied with True Self and wants nothing else. This one knows that real bliss is found within. This is the cat who is undisturbed by sorrow or difficulties, who doesn't thirst for pleasures, and who is free of the three things that most taint the mind, namely attachment, fear and anger. Such a one is established in wisdom, an Illumined One."       To be continued ....

Note:  Embedded in The Mahabharata, a literary masterpiece, is one of the finest mystical documents the world has seen- the Bhagavad Gita, Song of the Lord. The “poem” is set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra as the Pandavas and Kuruvas prepare to go to battle.  Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, turns to his charioteer, Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and questions his role as a warrior. The Bhagavad Gita is the teachings of Krishna. 

Ambaya's Corner....Practical Ayurveda

Holiday Greetings to you and your loved ones. May this happy season bless you in many joyous ways. In terms of staying healthy during this season, watching your body's pH level is a practical way to celebrate consciously. One of my teachers, Dr. Vaidya Mishra, has what I call the "fast track to health." He teaches us how to monitor our pH factor and keep balanced in very practical ways. It very is important to keep a healthy balance between the acidity and the alkalinity in your body. A healthy body should be kept at a 7.0 to 7.4 pH, a range that gives us "reserves for stressful times." Acidic pH, below 7, is an invitation for detrimental conditions.  One of the biggest contributors is white processed sugar, so I urge you to choose your sweet goodies carefully. We can contribute to each other's well being by offering consciously baked goods with wholesome sugars in moderation, like sucanat, maple syrup, or stevia. Honey should not be baked as it turns into toxic matter when cooked.  Honey is very beneficial when used raw. However, it is very heating and should be avoided by those with agravated Pitta dosha. Dr. Mishra's website (www.vaidyamishra.com) offers a detailed

article on how to balance pH. If you have any questions regarding his recomendations, you can  contact me at:

ambaya@vedicmagic.com

Much love, joy and magic to you.

                                      Ambaya

   Vedic Astrology News....

      The Benefic Moon

In Vedic astrology, the Moon is one of the most important planets. The Moon represents not only the emotions, but also the mind. The Moon is a social planet, nurturing, and sensitive. Being a “friendly” planet, the Moon does best associated with benefic planets, or with planets placed in signs on either side of her. Motherhood, family, home, femininity, receptivity, imagination are also indicated by the Moon. The Moon is a major factor in determining one’s psychological makeup, as well as influencing one’s ability to relate to others.

The Moon moves quickly, and travels one sign of the zodiac every 2 ½ days. Ayurvedically, the Moon is a kapha or watery planet. It is of a sattvic or pure nature. In Sanskrit, the Moon is called “Soma” or “Chandra.” The gemstone for the Moon is the pearl, or secondarily the moonstone.

On a spiritual level, as the Moon is a receptive planet, it can also indicate taking a path of surrender, or performing an act of service in a caring way. Practicing Bhakti Yoga would be one way of honoring the Moon. The Moon connects us to the Divine Mother energies.

So during this holiday season it would be recommended to honor the qualities of the Moon and put them into action, by connecting with good friends and family, donating your time to a humanitarian cause, or deepening one’s meditative practice for peace and goodwill. 

Debra Infante, Vedic astrologer, can be reached at (928) 639-0623 for astrological consultations, either in person or by phone.

 7 Centers Yoga Arts

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