Today marks the first day of Fall with the Fall Equinox, one of the two times of the year when the Sun crosses the equator and the day and night are of approximate length. Yogis have recognized the significance of the seasonal shifts for thousands of years and honor these energetic changes by performing some ritual of Asanas, Meditation, Chanting, etc. observing the magnetic number 108. The number 108 has great significance and has long been acknowledged as an energetically charged number. Not only is it infinitely divisible by 9, it is also derived from the rishis and mathemeticians discovering the diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth. Here are some other interesting facts on the number 108, which is a sacred number in both Eastern and Western religions...

So, there's a good chance you've felt the effects of this seasonal change. I know I have, as I've fluctuated back and forth between feelings of energetic heaviness and light-heartedness. We begin to feel these changes internally as we gradually evolve into days with less sunlight and longer nights. It's a time of great spiritual insight, as we continue to awaken to the one light which is ever-present and always illuminated, the Light of Consciousness within and all around us.

The training I attended with Rod Stryker was incredibly enlightening. What an amazing Yoga he is, not because of the poses he can do, (although he did evolve to quite advanced stages in his Asana practice,) but because of his enlightened Consciousness/Presence. He has been practicing Yoga and Meditation for thirty years. In 1999, Rod met Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (PhD), spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute and successor to Sri Swami Rama. In 2004, Panditji initiated him as "Yogarupa" (which means "essence" or "embodiment" of Yoga.)

What I'm so stoked about is Rod recorded the entire 5 day training for us. So, I will be able to practice to it, experience the guided meditations (which are AMAZING) and continue to study his teachings on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. And, I'll get to share it all with you! Having this recording is really more valuable than gold, in my humble opinion.

I love what it says on his website about Yoga. I really think, as Yoga practitioners, we are approaching this place of evolution in our practice. A couple of months back, the owner of Cosmic Cafe in Dallas, invited me to teach at the his studio upstairs above his restaurant. He asked if I would teach a class that focuses more on meditation and the energetics of the practice, not just the poses. I joked and said, "The poses are so last decade." Or something like that. It's true, though. Eventually, our practice awakens us to the subtler dimensions of our Self, the fact we are more than just a body and mind. Ultimately, we are pure Spirit, or energy, and we awaken to our unboundedness the more we remember our true nature as Purusha, or Pure Consciousness. This happens most profoundly through meditation. Although, the poses are still awesome and incredibly transformational, when practiced with perspective and understanding.

One of the simplest, yet profound, lessons I can share with you from the Yoga training with Rod is 1:1 breathing. This means your inhale is the same length as your exhale. At the training he said, almost all of you are emotionally breathing. This means, the thoughts/emotions affect the flow and evenness of the breath. He said the first thing we needed to do is get established in 1:1 breathing. So, I've been working with this in my practice, in my car and in any situation where I notice my breath getting disturbed. It's incredibly powerful.

Here is the information from Rod's website:

The authoritative ancient texts of the Hatha Yoga tradition (like the “Hatha Yoga Pradipika” and “Gherand Samahita “) describe Yoga as a journey that culminates in sublime success and happiness. These teachings describe how through perfection of body, breath, mind, and spirit we access it. When understood and practiced accordingly, practice become “Para” (the supreme, highest, or the place where our very best efforts culminate).

The texts are very clear. Yoga includes all of the following: Asana, Pranayama, Bandha, Mudra, Visualization, Meditation, Chanting, Kriya, Mantra, Kundalini, along with a vast array of other practices. Most of us have heard about these techniques, perhaps we may have even experienced some of them. However, it's difficult to find a single style of Yoga today in which all of these techniques are offered or taught seamlessly as a whole. But that is exactly what ParaYoga is all about.

More and more students are finding that not only are the techniques "other than Asana" accessible, in the hands of a knowledgeable ParaYoga teacher, they link one to the very heart and true power of Yoga's potential.

Needless to say, I will definitely be training more with Rod in the years to come. "Yoga as a journey that culminates in sublime success and happiness." Woo hoo!!! So, if you happen to be someone who is affected by the decreasing sunlight as we grow into Winter, have no fear. As a Yogi, your journey is ever-awakening you to sublime happiness with every breath you breathe.

Namaste! Read more

I will be updating more shortly. I've just finished a 5 Day Master Yoga Training with Yogarupa Rod Stryker, one of the most beloved and highly-respected Yoga teachers in the country and world. The training was on The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the most revered text on Yoga ever written. The Sutras predate Christianity and Hinduism and are an enlightened text which, almost always, must be imparted to one through the guidance of a teacher. They are almost impossible to grasp fully on one's own. I am so grateful to have spent this time with Rod, who is truly the embodiment of the Yogic teachings.

Also, I will be offering a Yoga Trance Dance in Dallas on October 3rd! This is going to be an amazing experience, as we allow ourselves to break free of that which binds us, opening up and liberating our hearts and minds.

If you are not currently subscribed to the True Yoga Newsletter, I am sending out the Fall edition today. So, be sure to visit the Newsletter page on the site and subscribe so you can receive the most up-to-date information on what's happening in our community and beyond.

I haven't checked this out yet myself, but I thought this might be of interest to you. International Yoga teacher, Seane Corn, is speaking on Yoga: Meditation in Action, airing on public radio stations nationwide through this Wednesday, September 17th. Here is all the info:

"Greetings from Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett, public radio's Peabody Award-winning conversation about religion, meaning, ethics and ideas produced and distributed by American Public Media. I'm writing with details of our upcoming program, "Yoga: Meditation in Action,” which I’m sure will be of great interest to you.

The 5,000 year-old tradition of yoga is converging intriguingly with 21st century medical science and culture. This week, Speaking of Faith explores the practicalities and power of yoga. Krista Tippett's guest, Seane Corn, is a renowned yoga teacher who is also a leader in applying yoga's spiritual lessons to global, social crises. She describes yoga's potential to be meditation in action, and explores it as a form of "body prayer."

"Yoga: Meditation in Action" will air on public radio stations nationwide from Thursday, September 11 through Wednesday, September 17. It will also be featured online at speakingoffaith.org where you can download and podcast the program and find broadcast locations and times.

You will also find other Speaking of Faith programs and much more at speakingoffaith.org.Read more