Patanjali's Eight-Limb Path of Yoga

Hi Everyone -

If you don't receive my yoga+fitness newsletter, checkout an excerpt from this month's edition below! If you would like to be on the newsletter, just send me your email address (kaleigh@kaleighlundy.com) and I will make sure to send it your way. Enjoy! -K

PATANJALI'S EIGHT-LIMB PATH OF YOGA:
When most of us think about yoga, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the poses (asanas) or breathing (pranayama). However, those two aspects are actually part of an Eight-Limb Path of Yoga defined by Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras outline a plan for living that flows from action to knowledge to complete liberation! The first four limbs are the limbs of tapas, or spirituality to action. Included are asana and pranayama as well as the yamas and niyamas, or the five moral restraints and five observances of yoga. The yamas and niyamas are sometimes compared to the Ten Commandments and are the true foundation of the yoga student's life. (I've included a chart below with the breakdown on each). These four practices nourish the body, refine the mind, and bring peace to the heart, allowing us to meet the pressures of life with equanimity.

YAMAS

Ahimsa - Nonviolence
Satya - Truthfulness
Asteya - Nonstealing
Brahmacarya - Moderation
Aparigraha - Nonhoarding

NIYAMAS
Sauca - Purity
Santosa - Contentment
Tapas - Zeal, Austerity
Svadhyaya - Self-Study
Isvara - Pranidhana - Devotion to a Higher Power

The next two limbs of the Eight-Limb path are pratyahara and dharana. Pratyahara means "turning inward" or withdrawing the mind from the senses of perception. In the stillness of pratyahara, dharana - or concentration - can be developed. The deepest sense of connectedness and awareness can now be established in the form of dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (union with the object of meditation). Once we've achieved samadhi, we re-experience our primal oneness and attain complete harmony!

The Eight-Limbs are a map that we should continually refer to as we move through our yoga journey. As you start to more fully incorporate each limb, you will soon realize they are all intertwined. It's hard not to practice one without practicing another. Remember not to think of this path as having a finish line or ending. It's a continuous, life-long journey with ups and downs and zigs and zags. As long as you remain open to your own spiritual potential you will transform into the person you were always meant to be! -Namaste!

The Key to Happiness

"Success is not the key to Happiness, Happiness is the key to Success. If you love what you are doing, you will be Successful." -Buddha

I recently read this quote right after the New Year and it really reinforced my career choice. I, like many others, question if I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing in life. I sometimes ask myself when my business is slow should I have stayed in the corporate world to have more financial stability and structure? And almost immediately I remind myself that I am so much happier & healthier teaching yoga, dance & training then I ever was in my previous career. I've also come to realize that everything in life is temporary...the only thing that is consistent is inconsistency. So when I have slower weeks, I know longer sit and worry, I instead embrace the extra time to develop my own practice or to creating new sequences or exercises for my students & clients. I also take the time to network more and find new ways to build up my business. I know this is the power above's way of telling me I need a little rest before the next big wave of opportunties present themselves just like they did this month. I've added three new yoga classes & three new clients to my already steady schedule, but I welcome the business, because I love what I do and I know the added hours are only temporary. When I need a break, it will come and as long as I remain happy, so will success! :)

Namaste!
Kaleigh

Meditations From the Mat

Most of my family and friends know how much I enjoy reading, so I was delighted at Christmas to receive the book "Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga" by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison. There are 365 insightful & inspiring entries to reflect upon as you move through each day of 2011. Today's particular entry, "If you do what you did, you get what you got," really struck a chord because many of us, myself included, have just made New Year's Resolutions that require change and accountability. The quote reminded me that you must be accountable for your actions because there are always consequences, whether negative or positive. The entry goes on to describe how the Yoga Sutras (196 succinct lessons on the nature of humans and how they can reach their full potential) outline two aspects of spiritual practice: abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (non-attachment or renunciation). Renunciation, as the book states, cannot flourish without practice. And even if we do practice, it's not a substitute for renunciation. In other words, there must be an ending to whatever habit or behavior your trying to renounce and a new beginning must occur. You cannot use your yoga practice, or workout or any other feel good mechanism to temporarily stop or delay the habit or behavior, but you can use it to help commit yourself to changing and letting go! So if you have a New Year's Resolution, utilize abhyasa and vairagya to help yourself execute change! I guarantee you will be a happier, healthier YOU in 2011! :)

Good Luck!
-Kaleigh

New Teaching Schedule!

Hi Everyone -

Sorry it's been a while since I've updated my blog! One of my New Year's Resolutions is to do just that! :) I'm excited to announce I've added 3 new classes to my teaching schedule! I will be teaching at Yogis Anonymous in Santa Monica (on 2nd street between Wilshire & Arizona) The class is the only hip hop vinyasa flow class on the schedule AND it's donation-based! Can't get much better than that! Come check it out!

Yogis Anonymous
(www.yogisanonymous.com)

M/W/F: 2:30-4pm (All Levels)

And don't forgot my schedule at Maha...

Maha Yoga
(www.mahayoga.com)

M/W/F: 12:45-1:45pm (All Levels)

Tues/Thurs: 7:30-9pm (All Levels)

Namaste,
Kaleigh

New Teaching Schedule!

I'm excited about starting to teach at TWO new yoga studios this week! Updog Fitness is in the heart of West Hollywood and 5 Point Yoga is in Malibu located within the Country Mart. Both are beautiful studios with fantastic students and instructors, so I would love for you to join me for a class!

Check out my schedule below:

www.updogfitness.com
Fridays, 7/30 - 8/27: 10:30 - 11:45am (Full Blast Yoga Level 2/3)
Tues/Thurs: 12:30-1:30pm (Lunch Break Yoga)

5pointyoga.com
Sunday, 8/1: 9:30 - 11am (Core/Vinyasa Flow)
Sunday, 8/1: 11am - 12:25pm (Vinyasa Flow Level 2/3)
Wednesday, 8/4: 11am - 12:15pm (Plyo, Legs & Abs)

Namaste!
Kaleigh

Yin Yoga

The main yoga classes I teach as well as take are vinyasa/power flow, so I decided to switch gears this past weekend and do a much needed Yin Yoga class. Most vinyasa classes incorporate Yang asanas/poses, which are considered more physical and strength-oriented with a deeper focus on the muscles. Yin complements Yang by focusing on elongating the connective tissues around the joints through extended, slow stretches. To properly do Yin postures, the muscles must be relaxed around the connective tissues you're trying to stretch, so not all yoga poses can be done safely and correctly during a Yin class. Some of the most effective poses that are used include those stretching the hips, pelvis and lower spine.

For example, one of my favorites we did in class was pigeon or sleeping swan. We held each side for around 5 minutes (you can hold up to 10+minutes). I found the most difficult part of holding the stretch for that length of time was letting go or relaxing around the hip joint. Because our hips are known to hold a lot of emotions, there were a few times in this pose where I wanted to laugh because it was so uncomfortable, but I instead focused on my breathing and allowed myself to really melt and release into the stretch. It was truly such a huge release!

Surprisingly, I wasn't able to find a whole lot of Yin classes offered in the LA area (at least on the Westside). However, you can checkout the below web sites, book and DVD for some stretches you can do on your own at home. There's also a more in-depth description of what Yin yoga is all about and how it can benefit and complement your Yang practice.

http://www.yinyoga.com/
http://www.paulgrilley.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Yin-Yoga-Paul-Grilley/dp/1883991439
http://www.amazon.com/Yin-Yoga-Foundations-Quiet-Practice/dp/B000B5871I

Namaste!
Kaleigh

Donation Class at Palisades Park: Fri. 5/21 at 12:45pm

As most of you know, Maha is going to be closed starting today (5/20) through next Friday (5/28) for renovations =( Sad, I know! But I've decided to take advantage by having a donation class by the ocean in Santa Monica instead! I scouted the Palisades park and thought we could meet at Ocean & Georgina (1 block South of San Vicente) at 12:45pm - 1:45pm tomorrow (Friday, 5/21). Please let me know if you think you could make it! It will be the same great workout, but with some added sunshine & ocean breeze.

I will also most likely do a class next Monday & Wednesday depending on how it goes tomorrow, so look for another confirmation regarding those classes. Feel free to email or call me with any questions!

Location: Palisades Park on Ocean & Georgina (Santa Monica)
Time: 12:45 - 1:45pm
What to Bring: Yoga Mat & A Smile =)

Namaste,
Kaleigh