Awakening Ganesha

May 2, 2007                       Monthly  Newsletter                                        Volume 31                 

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR.......

May is a transition month for us while we remodel and transform the Yurt.  Because of that, ALL classes will be held in the main room during the month of May.  Also, 8:30am classes will be suspended until June.  Joining the staff this month Rebecca Johnson, Andrea Murphy and Leila Mullins, all recent graduates from our 200 hour Teacher Training program.  (Please visit our website to view current class times/teachers).  Thank you for your patience until this project is completed. 

REMINDER of two upcoming special offerings: 

May 8 -17th, Gary Majchrzak will be teaching another 10 day Course of Transformation.  Following that will be the 7 Day Chakra Intensive from May 18 through the 25th.  Two great opportunities to bring change into your life.  (For more information, see below descriptions.)

The Adventures of Lionheart,  Temple Cat

  MySpace. com

Profile: A Tom Hanks type, masculine but sensitive, occasionally stubborn, short distance traveler, car afficianado.

Music: Gato Barbieri, Cat Stevens,

Movies: Born Free, the Mouse Hunt, Tom & Jerry (cartoon)

Books:  When Cats Reigned as Kings, The Audobon Field Guide to Birds (western edition), Yoga Sutras for Cats

Status: Uncommitted but interested. Enjoy being pursued.

Here for: Entertainment

Orientation: Straight with shawl fetish

Body Type: Athletic and muscular somewhat kapha-esque seasonally

Ethnicity:  Feline American Shorthair

Zodiac Sign:  Aries Sun, Leo Rising

Smoke/Drink: Doesn’t smoke but does take occasional catnip, drinks from the tap

Children: Redirecting sexual energy this lifetime for spiritual enlightenment

Education: Eastern philosophy-have learned from sitting in the laps of masters

Occupation: Column writer and Temple Cat

Hobbies: Birdwatching, Sunbathing,

Car: prefers European luxury sedans w/ leather seats

Food: Wild game and Dolphin-safe tuna

More to come..........

To contact send letters to Lionheart@7centers.com

The Ayurvedic Corner

Ayurveda for Kids

Whether we are parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, or well wishers of children, we want to see our little stars shine.  Ayurveda has a specialized branch of Pediatric medicine known as BalaTantra or Kaumarabhritya. This ancient science offers some simple, natural, wisdom to keep kids healthy and happy in today’s fast paced world. 

• Establish A Consistent Daily Routine – Waking early, sleeping early, and eating meals in harmony with nature’s rhythms are the foundations of good health. Children feel a sense of security, confidence, and stress reduction when they know what to expect from day to day.
• Warm Oil Massage –A daily Abhyanga massage before bath time greatly boosts children’s immunity, calms their nervous system, and provides a layer of protection from germs. A drop of Sesame oil in the ear prevents ear infections.These few minutes of gentle touch enhances the bonding and affection that kids seek.
• Freshly Cooked, Wholesome Foods – Feeding kids warm, nourishing meals such as hot cereals, stewed fruit, vegetable soups and kicharee provide them with nutrients that are easy to digest. Introduce small pinches of digestive spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, cinnamon, and turmeric to clear toxins.
• Honey & Ginger Home Remedy –Raw, organic honey helps to expectorate excess mucus and the ginger juice keeps agni, or digestive fire strong.  A daily teaspoon of this combination (plus a pinch of turmeric) can ward off common colds, flus, and allergies.
• Warm Milk – Ayurveda recognizes the nurturing, ojas producing qualities of milk. Raw, non-homogenized, organic, whole milk cooked with spices like cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, natural date sugar, and a dab of ghee is easily digested. One cup before bedtime balances emotions and induces sound sleep.
• Sensory Impressions – Over stimulation from TV, movies, computer games, and commercial advertisements leaves lasting impressions on kids’ minds.  Their delicate sensory organs should be protected from these assaults which go deep into their psyche and disturb Prana, affecting their emotional and spiritual growth.
• Free Play– Playing with children stretches their body and provides exercise, while developing their creativity and imagination. Most of all, their souls are satisfied by the love and attention that they crave from caretakers. Grandparents in their Vata stage of life are the best companions for those little Kapha angels!

Each child is born with their own unique proportion of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  To best understand an individual’s dosha and specific health concerns, please consult with a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Avani Sukhadia Robinson, Authentic Ayurveda of Sedona, HOlistic Health Center & Spa. www.ayurveda-sedona.com 

Vedic Astrology

The Planetary Periods or Dashas of Vedic Astrology

Vedic astrology has many techniques that are used to determine the timing of events. The most prominent predictive technique in Jyotish is called the dasha system. In actuality there are many dasha systems, but the one used most is the Vimshottari dasha system.

The planetary dasha lords are the nine Vedic planets of Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. They each run for a specific length of time - Ketu is 7 years, Venus is 20 years, Sun is 6 years, Moon is 10 years, Mars is 7 years, Rahu is 18 years, Jupiter is 16 years, Saturn is 19 years, and Mercury is 17 years. If one adds the total years of all the planetary cycles, it equals 120 years, which according to ancient Vedic thought is considered the complete lifespan for a human.

So for instance, if one is currently in the Jupiter dasha, this means the energies and significations of the planet Jupiter will take center stage for 16 years. Some Jupiter themes are education, philosophy, spirituality, wealth, travel, children, teachers, and sacred places. But of course not everyone will experience all of these significations in the cycle of Jupiter. An astrologer would look at the basic birth chart and assess many more complex factors to determine what the individual might expect in that time frame. One person in the Jupiter dasha may decide to go back to school for more education, while another travels to sacred sites around the world, and still another may have a child. In other words, the karmas held by the planet Jupiter in one’s individual chart will “ripen” during the dasha of Jupiter according to the uniqueness of that horoscope.

Each of the nine planets has a certain vibratory energy that has a specific effect on our lives. This can be seen in a more evident and precise way when one considers the expression of the planetary periods used in Vedic astrology. Ultimately, the purpose of each of the planetary cycles is to motivate each of us on our path of spiritual evolution.

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

                7 Centers Yoga Arts

Upcoming Teacher Trainings

and Special Workshops

   August 10-19th             500-Hour Teacher Training w/ the International Yoga College

Faculty includes: Hansa Knox, Natasha Korshak, Kristi  Hook, Ruth Hartung, and Kathleen Bryant, among others.  For more information contact Ginny Beal at (928) 203-4002 or go to www.internationalyogacollege.org

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