May 21
Jai Bhagwan All!
And good morning! Posting an update here on the home page as email is not working optimally at the moment… We are becoming adept at adaptation!
First, I would like to acknowledge your perseverance and ingenuity towards figuring out how to get to class! Some of you have really been jumping through hoops to make sure you get this necessary restorative and rebalancing time for your self. We are noticing that and are inspired.
Second, I would like to thank everyone who responded to my Sunday email teaching. Your words go a long way towards keeping the best parts of me thriving. Since a large part of the message centered around sattvic community, I thank you for being part of my world. That message is posted below this note in case you did not get to read it.
Third, I invite you to join me for a guided relaxation and meditation tomorrow May 22nd at 6:00 pm via Zoom. Please let me know that you will be joining, if you haven’t already, so that I can send you a link.
Lastly, June calendar is available and along with a full class schedule meditations will continue on through June.
sent with Love,
Jahnvi
Student body Communication From May 17
Well, Jai Bhagwan Everyone! And good morning.
Sometimes even with the best of efforts, you just have to yield to what is!
I am so sorry that we did not get to gather this morning for our collective practices.
—to do all that you can do
—with the right attitude
—with the right amount of effort
—while knowing what and when to let go
—IS essentially how we practice…
So we may have gotten some practice in this morning despite the technical difficulties!
Hopefully the issues with Zoom will be resolved for tomorrow’s class.
Since we did not get to spend time together I am sending these thoughts, which you can contemplate at your leisure.
•even with the best of intentions you could still be distracted
•you have to recruit support
•sometimes it can be found outside but you can also look within
Food for Thought:
“You can’t do it alone”
This comes from a speech delivered yesterday by President Barack Obama to one graduating class of 2020. If I hear these words with yoga ears it says to me “your ego cannot do it for you.” It takes more than that.
Additional encouragement was offered to “find allies in common cause.”
Yoga teaches us that “satsanga,” keeping good company is one of the ways to reach your goal. Allies can be found in classical yoga texts, the company of good people, thought, and practices.
And lastly, “there are good people out there, who will come to your aid, if you lead them.”
This one comes to us from The Rise of Skywalker. Yes. The movie.
Take from this message to look for support outside, as when we come together for class or by turning to our families and friends, but also look for support inside. Look towards Yamas, niyamas, commitment, practices, diet, sattvic past times, and casting your vote for every thought, emotion, and action.
Enjoy the rest of the day… and be victorious
May 10
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, sisters, aunties, and ALL mother-like figures in our lives that nurture us, guide us, and love us.
As with all our yoga practices there is an external application as well as an internal application… Observing this holiday is an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the auspicious purified feminine aspect of our being — existing within each one of us.
Bhagavad Gita, one of the Classical Yoga texts of Sanatana Dharma, lists some of the divine feminine graces in chapter 10.34. Today’s teaching centered around vāni, purified speech. When speech arises from a place of love it is always useful, true, and kind… always.
Said with love, Jahnvi
April 19
Jai Bhagwan everyone!
All of us at Yoga Way hope you and your families are well.
April 6
Jai Bhagwan and Good morning!
Thank you all for your continued participation and mutual support. It is a wonderful feeling to know that while we are each individual threads we are all woven into one community. It is a beautiful reminder of all that these teachings have brought to our awareness and into our lives.
We are adapting to changing methods daily! And are now able to offer more options for you to make your tuition payments. See yesterday’s email to the student body.
Good news for prospective students! We will be offering one-on-one Introductory meetings to get you acclimated to this new process and look forward to having you join us soon!
Currently, the contact us page is not working properly so please email us directly at yogaway@earthlink.net if you are interested in becoming a new student with Yoga Way.
Enjoy the sunshine today, stay well, and do good.
March 31
Jai Bhagwan everyone!
We are well into our second week of a full class schedule online! Thank you for being such an important part of it. One of our long-time students reminded me yesterday of an essential element regarding our shared community: “We’re in this together!” So, again, thank you for your enthusiasm, support, and continued participation.
In response to your requests, and out of a heartfelt need, we plan to provide an additional offering. Friday April 3rd begins a three-week series of guided meditations. It is our hope that these sessions will supplement your yoga asana classes and contribute to a deeper sense of stability and well-being.
Medha: Friday April 3rd 6:00 – 6:40 by donation
Guided Relaxation for Healing
Usha: Friday April 10th 6:00- 6:40 by donation
Guided Relaxation for Inner Harmony
Jahnvi: Friday April 17th 6:00 – 6:50 by donation
Guided Relaxation and Meditation
Donations, in any amount, can be made through the Venmo app or any method you prefer. Sessions will be held through the same Zoom app you are now familiar with for regular classes.
Feel free to ask if you have questions. My inbox is open!
Looking forward to continued gatherings with you all.
Jai Bhagwan!
March 25
We are now on schedule with live classes online! We started with our first class on Monday… Enrolled students will receive an invitation to join in. Check your email for details as we refine our process.
March 19
Enrolled students will receive an email communication today regarding preparations for home practice, together! Check your email for how to. It’s a good checklist and will help you get the most out of collective virtual practice time.
March 16
With the rapid changes we are seeing regarding coronavirus, it is clear that we need to alter how we move through the coming weeks and months.
For everyone’s safety we all need to participate in the effort to slow the spread of the virus. Therefore the wise, and necessary, action to take is to temporarily suspend classes at the Center.
We are, however, doing our best to devise a method of delivering classes to you online… but we are not quite there yet. Please be patient as we work to get ourselves up and running.
Safeguarding our physical health, and those around us, is only one aspect of what we are experiencing. There is also a psychological aspect that takes a toll as well. We hope to continue to provide the practices and tools that will help us get through these challenging times together.
We will continue to post communications here as things develop.
Be well
March 15
Please know that we are continuing to monitor the evolving Covid-19 situation. While we are still within the government guidelines for gatherings, we are currently working on alternative ways for us to practice together. We will give you an update as soon as we have more information.
In addition to the hygiene requirements that we are familiar with, there are other things that we can do individually that also help us collectively.
1. Keep up with your home practice. Keeping your stress levels down will boost your immune system and help keep you healthy.
2. Make sure that you get 6-8 hours of sleep each night. The physical and mental bodies need to rest and restore overnight. This is a huge factor in keeping your immune system strong.
3. Eat well. Do we need to say more?
4. Drink enough water. Staying properly hydrated is essential to good health.
More to come soon!…
March 14
We have been monitoring the evolving situation with COVID-19, as I’m sure you all have been. We will continue to follow government response and will respond and update you accordingly. We also proceed with the knowledge that things may need to change… Please remember that our primary concern is for the health and welfare of all.
March 10
Jai Bhagwan,
We all want to be responsible and informed when it comes to our health and safety.
The other day I was asked if our class schedule would be affected by the current health concern regarding coronavirus.
The question is appreciated as some of you may be wondering.
Currently we are continuing with classes as scheduled.
The guidelines listed below are basically the ones we use during flu season but are a good reminder at this time.
1. If you do not feel well or are exhibiting flu-like symptoms please do not attend class.
2. Refrain from handshaking.
3. Use only your knuckle to touch light switches and elevator buttons.
4. Use a paper towel or glove to use the gasoline dispenser.
5. Open doors with your closed fist or hip and avoid opening door handles with your hands unless there is no other way.
6. Use disinfectant wipes at stores when available and wipe the handle of your cart or basket.
7. Wash hands with soap for 20-30 seconds.
8. Use hand sanitizer with a greater than 60% alcohol base when touching objects that might be contaminated when you can’t immediately wash your hands.
9. Cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. Clothing can carry a virus for up to a week.
10. Wear washable gloves when you can. Money, credit cards, cell phones, and keys can also carry viruses.
11. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. And notice how many times you do that in a day!
Be well
Classical Yoga is a science that combines practical methodology, intellectual understanding, and heartfelt commitment. It is both applicable and accessible regardless of ones age or stage of life. This traditional, systematic approach promotes purification on physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual levels. Applying oneself whole-heartedly in practice fulfills one’s highest potential.
Yoga Way is committed to learning, experiencing, and sharing the deepest meanings of these ancient teachings, which stem from the timeless tenets of sanātana dharma. The purity and power of these insights would not be possible if not for our Bapuji, Swami Shri Ashutosh Muni.
Our objective is to cultivate the highest and purest aspects of the soul through this applied science. In doing so, we minimize our distractions and focus on our goal. We are delighted to work with students who feel a readiness to begin.
Jai Bhagwan!
Honoring the divinity within us all