Friday, January 18, 2013

To Draw Out From Within


"Education is the attempt to “lead out” from within the self a core of wisdom that has the power to resist falsehood and live in the light of truth, not by external norms but by reasoned and reflective self-determination."
-Parker J. Palmer, The Courage to Teach

Well,  I am spending a lot of time writing online but no so much on my blog. most of my attention these days is on answering questions in our Asana Junkies forum and preparing course materials for the upcoming Online Teacher Training and Mentoring Group. I am enjoying the work online A LOT. Particularly fun is to see how the online forum can provide both intellectual information about the practice and the "how to" of practice but also can provide a function of group connection and support. Certainly, online forums are not the same as the nitty-gritty up close and personal work that we do when we are in proximity to one another however it does highlight and offer a meaningful sense of being together as a community of practitioners.

One of my current favorite writers is a Christian psychologist named Scott Peck. I read his book A Road Less Travelled years ago- I mean like in 1987 or something-- and so its fun all these years later to revisit his work and teachings from a more adult perspective. I have recently been reading his book on community called A Different Drum. He talks a lot about how community is different than being part of a group and his definition of community centers around an idea of leadership being a shared experience in true community. He makes a distinction between a "group" that has a great leader and good followers and having a true community where everyone in the group gives their talents, etc. and assumes responsibility for leadership in some way and the power differential shifts away from a centralized figure to a shared experience.

He has some very cool things to say about how groups form and grow and how chaos is a very real stage of community development and that for the evolved kind of community he is describing to occur, a period of breakdown and chaos has to happen. He even defines healthy community has a community that can "fight gracefully together."

Obviously there is a lot of food for thought here and a lot to consider about how such notions might interface with yoga practice, study and community. One thing I am very  clear on these days is that having an inspiring vision and/or an intellectually appealing idea does  NOT mean that I actually know how to bring those visions and ideas to life in a functional way. I do believe it takes some training and some practice and a lot of trial and error.

At any rate, I do know that I am a creature of community and I see myself as a weird combination of idealistic realism. Or realistic idealism. I am not sure which, actually. However,  I live in a pretty dynamic tension between what I find as inspiring visionary impulses and the stark reality of how dicey those propositions are and how difficult it can be to be human and in loving, healthy and honest relationships with ourselves and one another. Breaking through our patterns and moving beyond our conventional coping strategies is not easy, although I do think it is worthwhile.

So being online as a learning community is a certain kind of practice and a certain kind of experiment. Being up close and personal is both similar and different. I am interested these days in calling the group work we are doing "learning communities" as opposed to yoga community or spiritual community because I think what we are really up to is an educational process. The more I ponder yoga these days and even my own relationship to spirituality, I keep coming back to education as my primary passion in all of it.

How is it that yoga can teach me? How is that yoga can help me learn from my own experience? How is that yoga can help me learn from my mistakes? How is it that we, as  fellow community members, can support, challenge, soothe, disturb and otherwise "draw out from within" the deeper wisdom that lives inside each of us individually and collectively? How might we truly learn to learn what matters most. I think yoga has good tools for that. So I am more into yoga as a tool for learning than I am as a system to "believe in" or to "convert others to" etc.

So these are my questions these days. Good times.

4 comments:

Prize Fitness said...


About Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice in complementary medicine with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles of yoga that people use for health purposes typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.Yogais countless. Whatever you may be looking for – weight loss, diabetes, better time management, and freedom from anger, effective communication, or creativity at work, yoga has the answer. The practice of yoga has immense benefits for not just the body but also the mind so that you enjoy a perfect healthy state of being.

About Prize Fitness yoga:
Prize Fitness is dedicated to helping our guests achieve a perfect balance in body, mind and spirit, through the medium of yoga. We demonstrate through our various customised tours@prizefitness.com that contrary to popular belief - Yoga can be practiced by everyone. Yoga has an amazing effect on our body and mind energies. Prize Fitness appeal to those who wish to understand/familiarise themselves with the philosophical tradition of India, without necessarily delving into its organised religious aspects.


Rishikesh Yoga

Rishikesh is the most fames yoga place in world. The place is known as the TapoBhumi; meaning the place for yoga meditation of the Gods. Rishikesh is a peaceful, temple town on the banks of the holy Ganges River, which is clear and flows full of spiritual energy. Rishikesh is an entry point leading to the sacred places deep in the Himalayas.

Ever since, Rishikesh has been the stepping stone and the first destination on a list of holy shrines and sites stretching across the lofty Himalayan Range.

There are innumerable Prize Fitness yoga centeras such Rishikesh is known as 'World Capital of YogaRishikesh.In the 1960s, Rishikesh came in to the Western world's limelight as the place where the pop group Beatles met their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Rishikesh attracts millions of tourists,people every year come here to practice YOGA, MEDITATE, REJUVINATE and gain peace of mind. The place is also very famous with foreigners who come to Indiaas part of a spiritual journey. People find that Rishikesh can touch their hearts and change their souls for the better.

Yoga retreat with Rishikesh tour
6:00 am :- Wake-up with herbal tea .
7:00 am to 8: 00 am :- Purification/Pranayama or Satang (group discussion/meditation/mantras chanting) or Morning Maun
8:15 am :- light breakfast with Milk/juice
9:00 am to 11:00 am :- Beginners Asana class
11:30 am to 12:15 am :- ayurvedicconsaltation (5 peoples a day)
12 : 30 pm to 1:30 pm :- lunch
Free time after lunch student can go for local sight seeing / 5 people will have ayurvedic treatment a day
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm :- Guided meditation / yogic philosophy
8:15 pm to 9:00 pm :- Dinner
Self-study/discussion
9:30 pm :- good night

WHERE : HOTEL Narayan kunj in Ramjhula
WHEN : WINTER TIME 9.15AM TO 11.30 AM
EVENING TIME 5 PM TO 7 PM

Yoga Hall Is Open 15 Minutes Before Class Timefor Students. Time After Class Is Also Given For Q&A.

STYLE : Focus Of Class Is Body & Breath Alignment To Achieve Awareness (Supra Consciousness). Daily Classes Are Designed To Meet The Needs Of The Students In Attendance, Frozen Shoulder, Scoliosis, Etc.

IDEAL STUDENT : Willing To Work The Entire Two Hour Period On Their Own Self Effort. Student Should Not Be Suffering Under Time Considerations. The Yoga Performed In The Class Will Be Their Main Focus.

OBJECTIVE : There Are Over 200 Muscles In The Body And We Are Going To Attempt To Reach All Of Them.

SPECIALTY OF THE CLASS : Is Variations Which Lead Into The Final Positions - Transformations.

SPECIAL 10 DAY CLASSES FOR GROUPS : Diagnostic, Medicinal, 5 Elements, Recuperative, Standing & Back Bendings, Partner, Intermediate, Advanced, And Pranayamas.

For bookings on Yoga Tours India please tours@prizefitness.com

Prize Fitness said...


About Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice in complementary medicine with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles of yoga that people use for health purposes typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.Yogais countless. Whatever you may be looking for – weight loss, diabetes, better time management, and freedom from anger, effective communication, or creativity at work, yoga has the answer. The practice of yoga has immense benefits for not just the body but also the mind so that you enjoy a perfect healthy state of being.

About Prize Fitness yoga:
Prize Fitness is dedicated to helping our guests achieve a perfect balance in body, mind and spirit, through the medium of yoga. We demonstrate through our various customised tours@prizefitness.com that contrary to popular belief - Yoga can be practiced by everyone. Yoga has an amazing effect on our body and mind energies. Prize Fitness appeal to those who wish to understand/familiarise themselves with the philosophical tradition of India, without necessarily delving into its organised religious aspects.


Rishikesh Yoga

Rishikesh is the most fames yoga place in world. The place is known as the TapoBhumi; meaning the place for yoga meditation of the Gods. Rishikesh is a peaceful, temple town on the banks of the holy Ganges River, which is clear and flows full of spiritual energy. Rishikesh is an entry point leading to the sacred places deep in the Himalayas.

Ever since, Rishikesh has been the stepping stone and the first destination on a list of holy shrines and sites stretching across the lofty Himalayan Range.

There are innumerable Prize Fitness yoga centeras such Rishikesh is known as 'World Capital of YogaRishikesh.In the 1960s, Rishikesh came in to the Western world's limelight as the place where the pop group Beatles met their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Rishikesh attracts millions of tourists,people every year come here to practice YOGA, MEDITATE, REJUVINATE and gain peace of mind. The place is also very famous with foreigners who come to Indiaas part of a spiritual journey. People find that Rishikesh can touch their hearts and change their souls for the better.

Yoga retreat with Rishikesh tour
6:00 am :- Wake-up with herbal tea .
7:00 am to 8: 00 am :- Purification/Pranayama or Satang (group discussion/meditation/mantras chanting) or Morning Maun
8:15 am :- light breakfast with Milk/juice
9:00 am to 11:00 am :- Beginners Asana class
11:30 am to 12:15 am :- ayurvedicconsaltation (5 peoples a day)
12 : 30 pm to 1:30 pm :- lunch
Free time after lunch student can go for local sight seeing / 5 people will have ayurvedic treatment a day
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm :- Guided meditation / yogic philosophy
8:15 pm to 9:00 pm :- Dinner
Self-study/discussion
9:30 pm :- good night

WHERE : HOTEL Narayan kunj in Ramjhula
WHEN : WINTER TIME 9.15AM TO 11.30 AM
EVENING TIME 5 PM TO 7 PM

Yoga Hall Is Open 15 Minutes Before Class Timefor Students. Time After Class Is Also Given For Q&A.

STYLE : Focus Of Class Is Body & Breath Alignment To Achieve Awareness (Supra Consciousness). Daily Classes Are Designed To Meet The Needs Of The Students In Attendance, Frozen Shoulder, Scoliosis, Etc.

IDEAL STUDENT : Willing To Work The Entire Two Hour Period On Their Own Self Effort. Student Should Not Be Suffering Under Time Considerations. The Yoga Performed In The Class Will Be Their Main Focus.

OBJECTIVE : There Are Over 200 Muscles In The Body And We Are Going To Attempt To Reach All Of Them.

SPECIALTY OF THE CLASS : Is Variations Which Lead Into The Final Positions - Transformations.

SPECIAL 10 DAY CLASSES FOR GROUPS : Diagnostic, Medicinal, 5 Elements, Recuperative, Standing & Back Bendings, Partner, Intermediate, Advanced, And Pranayamas.

For bookings on Yoga Tours India please tours@prizefitness.com

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