May
2010
Grounding May is the perfect time to
begin reconnecting with the earth as we venture outdoors to get our hands
dirty planting, weeding and seeding. However, reconnecting with the earth
can take on a deeper meaning as you begin to explore and understand the
concept of grounding. I was reading an article in
the 1Rapid River Magazine about the Zen Buddhist belief that
“…you are nature…” and realized regardless of your religion how true this
is. Whether you are Christian and believe God created the earth and then
created life from a clump its soil, a Buddhist and believe creation occurs
repeatedly throughout time in cycles with land forming, in darkness…, or a
scientist and believe matter collided creating the earth and all living
things, one truth is evident- the energy of life is generated from the
earth. From creation to the sustaining of life with the food we eat, the
water we drink, the air we breathe, and the atmosphere we grip through to
our eventual returning to the earth in death. As the highest life form
that inhabits this earth we have become detached from nature. Nature
surrounds us; the plants, animals, air, atmosphere, sun, rain.., we work
hard to separate and protect ourselves from it. Survival instincts drive us
indoors. We buy our food in stores forgetting how it came to be there. The
comforts and conveniences of modern life work to isolate us from the earth
and the nature we are. Grounding can bring us back
to the earth and the nature of our own being, our true natural being which
is rooted and dependent on the earth separate from the modern world. Throughout the month of May
all my classes will focus on grounding.
We will begin with physical sensations of grounding and work through
the more subtle energies of the body, mind and consciousness. May is definitely the
perfect time to reconnect with the earth- not by planting a tree or seeding
the lawn, but by planting yourself.
Join me this month and get your hands, feet, hips your whole body
dirty as we dig deep beneath the surface of our inner earth and reconnect
with our outer earth. Pose of The Month Vrksasana
or Tree Pose- Begin in Tadasana (see April 2010 newsletter or check out the
pose directory on website) fully grounding the four corners of the feet shift
the weight to the right foot, lightening the left foot and slowly turn the
left knee out to the left and lift the left foot either to the ankle with
toes still on the ground or raise the foot to the inside of the thigh or
inside of the thigh depending on flexibility and steadiness. Keep lifting
through the heart and tucking the pelvis under as you begin to raise the
arms up overhead bringing the palms together, softening the shoulders down
the back. Now squeeze the left foot into the right leg and the right leg
into the foot, if you are feeling steady and balanced look up and reach the
heart up toward the ceiling, keep tucking the pelvis pushing the hips
forward as you slide the heart up along the ceiling dropping the head back
(only if neck is soft and willing) For details on meanings, counter poses etc. go to
the Pose Directory on our website.. 2010 ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED © After The Masters, LLC CONTENT
MUST NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL. Upcoming Events/News New Pose Directory
added to our website –Check It Out! YOGA IN THE PARK-Join us for
free yoga at the Buncombe County Sports Park off Sand Hill School Rd. Due
to unexpected events this class will begin later in May. More info to follow! WIN $50.00 cash! Simply come to a class and enter to win our monthly drawing. Congratulations to our April winner
(Drum Roll PLEASE) Missy L!!!! Schedule Changes Cancellations- no classes on
Fri May 14 –Sat May 15, Fri May 21- Mon May 24; The 6:45 class on Wens May
12 is cancelled. Several changes in the
schedule have occurred- For the latest full
schedule; Links/Resources 1 Walz, Bill “Awakening Our Deepest Nature”, Rapid
River Magazine Arts & Culture, May 2010, Vol. 12 No. 9 Comments to Archives Missed any of our
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