The New Moon falls on Tuesday, May 15th
(and Full Moon on Tuesday, May 29th)
Please take rest. There will be no class
Conference on Sunday, May 20th at 12.15 to 1.15pm
Our monthly gathering to discuss Ashtanga yoga philosophy and talk about any questions you have about the practice.
Save the date and please RSVP. Free to all AYSB members.
Mat Etiquette
It is getting a little busier in the mornings! AYSB is rocking 🙂 It is wonderful to welcome all of you. Some friendly suggestions since we gratefully no longer have the luxury of taking an acre of space to ourselves everyday:
- If you are in the front row please pull your mat forward in line with the door recess. Allow no more than two feet between mats to give space to arriving practitioners. If you are in the second row, please pull your mat forward, no more than 2 feet is necessary behind the front row. This might enable a third row as needed. Similarly, when you go to closing at the back of the room, please do not space the mats too far apart, to provide fellow students room when they are ready to move to closing. A little mindfulness will mean that everyone feels welcome and we don’t need to keep rearranging ourselves every time someone arrives.
- With our close proximity, please continue to be impeccable with the cleanliness of your mat, gear, clothing and yourself (as you all already are). Also, please do not wear strong fragrances or perfumes.
- Try not to step on anyone else’s mat. That is their sacred space. If you are doing a posture that requires you to stretch your limbs out or move your legs overhead, please be aware of your neighbours and adjust accordingly. It is more important to not invade someone else’s space than insist on doing the full expression of every pose by planting your foot on another person’s mat (or face)! Keep your practice compact, with your body, mind and drśti (and all senses really) contained within your own mat space as much as possible 🙂
- Please be respectful of the altar. If you are resting in front of it turn around so as not to point your feet directly towards it.
Inspiration
I am loving David Whyte’s new book of poetry (available on Amazon):
THE BELL AND THE BLACKBIRD
The sound
of a bell
still reverberating,
or a blackbird
calling
from a corner
of a
field.
Asking you
to wake
into this life
or inviting you
deeper
to one that waits.
Either way
takes courage,
either way wants you
to be nothing
but that self that
is no self at all,
wants you to walk
to the place
where you find
you already know
how to give
every last thing
away.
The approach
that is also
the meeting itself,
without any
meeting
at all.
That radiance
you have always
carried with you
as you walk
both alone
and completely
accompanied
in friendship
by every corner
of the world
crying
Allelujah.
…
THE BELL AND THE BLACKBIRD
Title poem from “THE BELL AND THE BLACKBIRD”
PUBLISHED APRIL 2OTH 2018
© DAVID WHYTE AND MANY RIVER PRESS 2018