“Another world is not only possible, She is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
Arundhati Roy
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Namaskar!
I am enjoying the final week of a two month stay in India. The rest here has served me well, although a lot of people tell me it is a paradox to go on vacation in India (but I wouldn’t want it any other way)!
Each morning as the sun rises here in Rishikesh over the foothills of the Himalayas I feel blessed to have the opportunity to step outside of my usual routine and responsibilities to look inwards. Just emerging from a challenging stretch of life events, I can’t help but marvel at the grace of yet another invitation to come home to myself and to remember what is truly important.
No matter what happens to us in our lives it is our great blessing to always have the opportunity to reconnect with our hearts and start fresh, whether it has been years since we last did so or just a moment. Indeed, spring is always around the corner somewhere, waiting for us, once we endure the darkness of winter with patience.
Wherever you may be in the world or in your life right now, I invite you to do just this. Go for a walk and bathe yourself in the fresh air, lie in the grass and take a nap, or gaze at the stars from your front steps tonight. Remember how the entire universe is on your side, urging you to live only and always from the Truth of your own heart.
May you always live connected to your heart and the eternal spring that awaits you there.
With a deep bow from the banks of the Ganga,
Sara |
The sunrise of supreme bliss shimmers
in every particle of the universe,
so why not drink a fresh cup of joy every day
and become inspired with new perception?
Remember, love and respect
must be renewed with each dawn.
Swami Muktananda
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Everyday Yoga for Beginners
(70 minutes)
Appropriate for beginners, or for more experienced yogis on days you just need to be gentle with yourself, this well-rounded practice aims to gently build strength and stamina, improve flexibility and range of motion, heighten body and breath awareness, revitalize and relax. Filmed in a yurt at her spiritual teacher, ShantiMayi’s, ashram in the French Pyrenees, Sara Avant Stover (also known as Shiromani) draws from Anusara-Inspired Yoga™ and breath-centered approach of T.K.V. Desikachar, striking a balance of vinyasa (flowing through poses with the breath) and static poses.With clear alignment cues and poetic imagery, Sara’s instructions aspire to deliver safety and inspiration while guiding you to a still and vibrant place inside—a place that you can come home to every day.
Available by digital download from www.ihanuman.com
By making your purchase on ihanuman, you will cut down on packaging waste, donate 5% of your payment to charity and get to enjoy your product instantaneously! |
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Spring into Spring with Anusara-Inspired Yoga™
Yoga Elements; Bangkok, Thailand
March 21-23, 2008
Breathe in a fresh commitment to living a life of love and reverence. The Earth herself supports us in this on the auspicious spring equinox, the only time of the year when the Earth literally inhales. Let the rhythm of the cosmos, in tune with Anusara Yoga® and your own heart, teach us to follow nature's lead and to breathe in more lightness, more openness and love this season.
Spring Detox with Yoga & Ayurveda
The Ruby Room; Chicago, IL
April 5, 2008
Awaken to spring by learning how to incorporate Ayurvedic & yogic wisdom into your daily life. During this season, Ayurveda (yoga’s sister science meaning “The Wisdom of Life”) teaches us to follow nature's lead and to become lighter and more open--physically, emotionally, and mentally. Failure to attune our bodies and minds with natural rhythms at this time may contribute to common spring dis-eases such as allergies, colds, retention of winter weight gain, general lethargy, and emotional stuckness. This seasonal transition is especially important for personal renewal since it serves as the foundation of our health for the rest of the year.
Embodying the Movements of Love: Anusara-Inspired Yoga, Yin Yoga & Meditation
Riverdog Yoga; Old Saybrook, Connecticut
May 3-4, 2008
Come home to your heart’s true essence, which is always love. Sometimes dynamic and sometimes still, we’ll embody the full spectrum of love’s expression through the enthusiasm of Anusara-Inspired Yoga , the quietude of Yin Yoga and the stillness of meditation. Coupling these approaches creates a balance between “doing” and “being,” which is a fertile ground for a heart-full, awareness-based meditation practice. When our minds rest in peace we ground ourselves in unshakable happiness. We shine and remember that we are love embodied.
Guest Yoga Faculty at Omega Institute; Rhinebeck, NY
May 11-18
Sara will be teaching two daily yoga classes for guests as well as intensives for the staff at this beautiful wholistic retreat center in New York State.
Looking ahead…. |
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Sunset at the Retreat Center
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Women’s Yoga and Meditation Retreat
With Sara and Ouyporn Kournkaew; Chiang Mai, Thailand;
January 17-27, 2009
Join us for another magical gathering of yoginis! This year’s retreat was truly transformational for us all and we hope that you can join in on the fun with us next year.
Enjoy 10 all-inclusive days to develop or deepen a relationship to your yoga and meditation practice—and, most importantly, to yourself. Cradled within an earthen building and embraced by the peaceful nature of a Thai village, we will dig our feet deep into the mud of our beings to blossom our greatness. Together, we will delight in the fragrance of revelation, freedom and the devotional offering of our deepest essences. |
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Happy Yoginis at the 2008 Retreat |
“A week of being surrounded by love, supportive women in a safe haven, gave me an opportunity to step inside myself and honor myself for who I am with total self-acceptance, compassion and an open heart.”
Mel Campbell, Yoga Teacher; Chiang Mai, Thailand
“The program is and was outstanding. Sara, you rock! I have been blessed by you and your gifts. Thank you!”
Jill Dorsing; Oregon, USA
“I feel all women for the first time in my life. I feel deep love for life and for myself. I feel a responsibility towards life being and expressing that I am a woman, in all possible ways.”
Claire van der Poel, filmmaker; Amsterdam |
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Anusara-Inspired Yoga™ classes, workshops & retreats on the banks of the Ganges.
Rishikesh (Laxman Juhla), India
February & March 2009 (more details coming soon)
One of the holiest sites in India, every yogin should make a pilgrimage to the shore of divine Ganga in Laxman Juhla at least once in his or her lifetime! No doubt you will be transformed when surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas, the quiet and continuous prayer of the river and the blessings of the saints who continue to walk the Earth here and who have done so over thousands of years.
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Bitter, dark green vegetables help to cleanse and lighten the body (and the liver) after a long winter. Enjoy!
You will need:
- 2 cups young fresh kale, stemmed, ribbed and shredded into thin strips
- Rock salt or sea salt to taste
- Fresh-ground black pepper to taste
- 1/8 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/8 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil
- the juice of one lemon (to taste)
Place the shredded kale in a steamer above rapidly boiling water and steam, covered, for about 10-12 minutes.
Heat ghee in a pan until clear, add the turmeric, paprika and black pepper and stir briefly to release aroma.
Add the kale and salt, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until flavors are blended.
Add lemon juice and serve hot with brown rice.
(Serves 1)
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Improve your health and connection to life by tuning into the cyclical rhythms of the moon and paying attention to how these affect you.
New Moons:
Use these days to relax, sleep in, meditate or curl up with a book. This is a good time to cleanse by eating simple foods like fresh juices, fruits, salads, simple soups and steamed vegetables.
March 7, April 6, May 5, June 3
Full Moons: Use these days for high-energy celebrations. Dance, go for a hike, skinny dip under the moonlight, indulge in rich desserts and festive meals with family and friends.
March 21, April 20, May 20, June 18
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“Save Your Trash, Because There’s No Such Thing as ‘Away’ “
Meet one adventurous and visionary man, Ari Derfel, from San Francisco, California who actually kept all of his garbage for one year, in his house, and put it on display for the world to see. Every day he looks at the impact that he has on the world and invites you to do the same.
What would happen if you kept all of your garbage for one year? What do you throw away every day? How can you reduce the impact that your own life has on wearing out our Earth?
Click here to meet a man of inspiration! |
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