Yoga Opens Your Heart for Valentine's Day

Love your loved ones and keep them close. A good yoga practice opens your heart and increases awareness not just of your body but of your relationships. Yoga means unity - unity of your mind, body and spirit. But also unity of the heart - which includes mending all those holes and gaps with those for whom you care and who care for you.

The tender parts of our love and hearts can be delicate, raw and sensitive, and this can be scary. This time of year presents an opportunity to reach out to those you love. So send out a few Valentines. Mail, email or simply call those you love - a friend, a relative or a sweetheart, maybe even a sweetheart to be. Don't be afraid. Expect nothing in return. And share your love.

Class Schedule Modifications

Last week my mother was diagnosed with cancer, so I will be commuting out of DC from Friday to Tuesday to be with her. Her prognosis is not yet known, but we're all optimistic she'll pull through. Her cancer is not advanced, but her otherwise poor health presents some challenges in her treatment. Please keep her in your prayers.

This will affect nilambu's class schedule. Wednesday night classes will continue as scheduled and now will not shift on March 1st on the beginning of Lent to Mondays, as previously discussed. Thursday day and Thursday night classes remain unchanged.

Saturday class is temporarily suspended until further notice.

Click here for a summary of class offerings.

I am available for private sessions three days a week and would love to help you focus your practice according to your needs.

Or consider giving a loved one who lives in DC a very special Valentines Day gift of a private nilambu yoga session. I am offering a holiday rate of $60.00 (normally $80.00) until February 18th. Just email me to inquire.

On Balance

Yoga Journal features his terrific article on balance and balancing postures, called Plumb Perfect. I highly recommend the piece.

I met the author, Roger Cole, during my restorative training class. He is very knowledgeable and presents information clearly.

When we balance, we align our body's center of gravity with the earth's gravitational field. Quite literally, we place ourselves in physical equilibrium with a fundamental force of nature. But we can't achieve this harmony by remaining absolutely still. Instead, we must refresh our balance moment after moment. The sustained effort to center and recenter, when successful, brings not only our flesh and bones into balance but also our nerve impulses, thoughts, emotions, and very consciousness. Hence, we feel calm. Equilibrium brings equanimity.

I've heard balance described as a dance with gravity - a dance which requires responsiveness and sensitivity to your partner.

He breaks down the success of balancing into three components

1. Alignment
2. Strength
3. Attention

It's worth the time to read the full piece.

Name the Bones

Poor Bones - no name bones.

For now, we'll call her Nemo.

So, here's the official solicitation of nominations to name our helpful new class aid - the skeleton of human bones. Be creative. The name does not have to be a human name. Let's see if any one has any ideas. Anyone? Anyone?

Consider names from Western classical literature or mythology or from Eastern classical literature or mythology. Either male or female names can be submitted (I have no idea if the number of ribs indicates this thing is male or female). Or offer a word that is not usually a name. If I get enough good suggestions, I'll conduct further voting.

For now, we'll just refer to the bones as Nemo, Latin for "no name." Yes, Masterpiece Theatre's Bleak House has an incognito character named Nemo, but my cousins had a dog named Nemo, too. It'll do for now.

Thanks to Riki Alexander who facilitated this acquisition. You don't have to be a client to suggest a name. Email notes at the address below. Thanks!

Best Meditation Products: Dharma Crafts

Dharma Crafts offers meditation supplies and support. I love this catalog and the web site is terrific too - with all sorts of freebies - a page of "Buddhism Basics."

Right now, they are featuring gifts of "loving kindness" for Valentines Day.

I also recommend subscribing to their newsletter, In the Moment. You can do so by clicking here.

Finally, they have really terrific written pieces on Buddhist teaching, including how to meditate, all of which are helpful.