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Jason is now teaching yoga 3 times per week at the Sante Center working with patients on an individual basis. For more info. check out their website here:
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Schedule Changes
*Effective starting Monday 4/23*
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New Mysore classes
Wed. 7-10am
Friday 7-10am
Sunday 9-11:30am
New Beginner classes: Saturday 9-10:30 w/Nancy Modern
Cancelled classes: *Friday 4:30pm Guided Full Primary *Monday 4pm Beginners *Saturday Ashtanga Level II
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NEW SCHEDULE
(effective 4/23)
Monday
Mysore 6-9pm
Tuesday
Therapeutic Yoga 9-10
Mysore 4-6:30
Intro to Ashtanga
7:30-8:30 4/24-5/29
Wednesday
Mysore 7-10am
Beginner 4-5pm
Therapeutic Yoga
5:15-6:15pm
Thursday
Therapeutic Yoga
9-10am
Mysore 4-6:30pm
Beginner 7-8pm
Friday
Mysore 7-10am
Saturday
Beginners 9-10:30am
Sunday
Mysore 9-11:30am
Therapeutic Yoga
4-5:15pm
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"No matter how hard the past you can always begin again." ~Buddha
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Our Busy Mind and Cultivating Commitment to Our Practice by Jennifer Clayton
John Lennon once said "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". Our mind's tendency to become absorbed in the ongoing mental commentary of our life's unfolding is something we all experience and become so accustomed to we often don't realize its happening. The Buddha said "Our thoughts create our reality", and yet many of us are so busy 'making other plans' that we don't take notice of the unremitting thought patterns that are creating the brush strokes on the palette of our life's canvas. It's these habitual thought and emotional patterns that recreate the same scenarios over again in our lives, until we bring our awareness to the root source and resolve the core issues.
When I started my Ashtanga practice just a couple years ago I was well aware of old patterns in my life but didn't know how to change them. As a single mother I was searching for a way to bring more consciousness and heart to my life and my daughter's life rather than continuing on the auto-pilot programming of a hectic single parent trying to 'do it all'. This way of living often left me feeling a sense of lack, stress and fear.
When I stepped into the practice I awkwardly fumbled my way through the postures to the best of my ability, gradually finding my breath over the cacaphony of internal voices that told me I wasn't doing it right or wasn't performing the postures well enough. What left the biggest impression was the feeling at the end; I knew I had stumbled upon something vital-akin to home- but at that point did not realize its far reaching potential. As many Ashtanga students will agree, you can't flirt with this practice for very long, at some point you need to decide whether you are going to commit or not. I flirted for about 6 months and by then realized that contained within the Ashtanga system is everything I would ever need for a sustainable life long practice.
At first I only saw myself moving awkwardly through the postures, but another essential component of the Ashtanga system is the breath. As we move through the asana we are also engaging a deep, steady breath and once we enter the full expression of each posture we take 5 breaths before moving on to the next posture. This creates a connection, or union (yoga) of movement and breath that engages the mind and with regular practice you are essentially creating new patterns that are carved out by the breath and a willingness to be with the moment, rather than a relentless inner dialogue that constantly breeds fear, doubt or insecurity.
I couldn't see all of this when I began but once I committed with a steady devotion a spark infused my practice and shed light on the possibility of a deeper peace, inspiration and vitality that was available to me. The depth of our asana is irrelevant to the inner work we put forth on a day to day basis. It's the willingness to show up on our mats each day and tend to our practice that is at the heart of the true journey of yoga. This does not mean its always easy, comfortable or convenient but for our journey to be real it must come from the heart. Ultimately its up to me to believe in myself beyond the 'story' around being a single parent or otherwise. We all have a story, its ultimately up to us to write a new script.This inner spark that arises from a deep commitment to creating true and lasting change in our selves, our bodies, our world is what gets us up out of bed at sunrise to unroll our mats.
Another gift the Ashtanga system offers us is mysore style practice; this means self-guided under the support of a qualified teacher. With regular practice in mysore style classroom we can develop a profound connection to our practice that eventually becomes the foundation for a home practice when we need or want it. On the days that seem full to the brim with schedules and responsibilities, I am deeply thankful that I can unroll my mat, (sometimes at 4am!) and with each breath followed by posture and breath again, clear the soot from my inner lantern and cultivate the space in my heart for the inner light to shine.
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Intro to Ashtanga Yoga 5-Week course with Jason Varney 4/24-5/29
Tuesdays ~ 7:30-8:30pm
Are you curious about the Ashtanga method? Wherever you are on your path, whether you are a total beginner or an established practitioner this is the place to begin. Learn the foundational aspects of this traditional practice and why it is not only safe and effective but also deeply transformative for those who choose to commit to a regular practice. Ask questions, experiment with postures and learn how to integrate the foundational aspects to your practice and experience an increase in health, joy, passion and vitality.
Fee: $75 |
Partner Yoga w/ Jason Varney and Christi Trabucco ~ Saturday April 28th @ 7pm
We may call it partner yoga, but don't get the wrong idea. This is a journey that any two people can take, whether you are partners, friends, family or even complete strangers. It's all about FUN!
Join Christi and Jason for this nurturing, playful and instructive workshop. Jason and Christi present a manageable movements to create an accessible beginning point for all levels. This is a great opportunity to invite a friend along who always talk sabout trying yoga but is a bit nervous to show up at class alone.
Fee: $35 individual/ $60 partners
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Kirtan with Shubalananda
Saturday ~ May 5th at 7pm
Shubal's kirtan must be experienced. Reinforced by his mastery of the guitar and the harmonium, his power and bhava create a mood which allows all to join in the power and inspired devotion through song. Shubalananda Saraswati has been leading kirtan and singing bhajan for the past 25 years. He is a sadhu living on the Kakshina of the Northeast US kirtan community. Shubal has been a regular kirtan wallah at Kiripalu Center in Lenox Mass. for the past 10 years and is out six nights a week leading kirtan regularly at over 20 yoga centers across New England.
Kirtan is not a performance bt is a participatory call and response chanting and singing of the holy names.
*This event is Donation based |
Restore with Yoga Sutras: Tatra sthitau yatno'bhyasah w/Karen Rafferty
Tuesday May 29th 7-9pm
Practice is your effort to be steady and your steadiness of effort.
Patanjalim Yoga Sutra 1.13
Patanjali's Yoga-Sutras are the guidebook to why and what we are practicing when we journey onto the path of Yoga. While the Asana practice offers the groundwork by allowing us to get in touch with our physical body, this classic work of Indian philosophy spells out how the mind works, what the obstacles are that we will encounter during our journey, and how we can use the mind to work towards understanding ourselves on a deeper level. This is a one-time opportunity to share with Karen on her visit to the mainland. This two-hour workshop will utilize Restorative postures to put the body at ease so your mind can absorb the wisdom of the Sutras.
No experience with Restorative Yoga, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Sanskrit or chanting necessary. Come share with the community and be moved by the vibrational power of group chanting.
Fee: $30
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