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Welcome!
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Welcome to the ParaYoga Sangha newsletter. Its purpose is to keep you informed of what's happening in the larger community of ParaYogis. As our ranks and strength build, we are excited to have more to offer you in our expanding community and the world.
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A Letter From Yogarupa Rod Stryker
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 In April, I was privileged to have taught 67 senior ParaYogis at Guru Parampara, the ninth and final module of the ParaYoga Master Trainings. I feel truly grateful to have shared the teachings with so many extraordinary individuals and to experience a culmination of the work that we have done together the past few years come to such beautiful fruition.
To continue building the strength of our community, I am extremely pleased and excited about the first ever ParaYoga Mela: Enlivening the Fire of Practice and Teaching. This special event for senior ParaYoga practitioners and teachers will be held August 8-11, 2012 at our spiritual home, the Himalayan Institute, in Honesdale, PA.
In this first of its kind event, we will gather to celebrate each other, ParaYoga, and the promise of what together we can bring to the world.
Our 3 and a half days together will include:
·Deepening AM and PM practices led by me, along with one or two experiential offerings with senior ParaYogis
·Teachings on Sri Vidya and an updated synthesis of ParaYoga teaching and methods
· Skill building sessions that will focus on methods and theory to crystallize YOUR voice as a ParaYogi
· Panel discussions to address empowerment as teacher, leader, businessperson and seeker
· Think-tank/community building sessions in which we brainstorm on shaping a vision for the future of ParaYoga (and yoga in general), clear and positive paradigms for business, branding, networking
· A special fire ceremony
· Some special surprises and just plain FUN and games (see below)
Remember, this event is only open to students who are formally enrolled in the ParaYoga Certification Program and who have taken at least three ParaYoga Master Trainings. Workshops and conferences do not count towards the prerequisite.
I am looking forward to a joyful celebration and sharing in the teachings while we create a memorable and vital event together. To encourage as many of you to come as possible, we've made the event as affordable as possible. Registration information can be found here and below.
It is my sincere wish that you will be part of what promises to be an extraordinary gathering and that you will help to make the first event of its kind to be a major success. The 2012 Mela will present an opportunity for you to build the fire of your practice, understanding, vision, resolve, and more fully embrace the teachings and mission of ParaYoga and the Himalayan Tradition, as well as your ParaYoga Kula (family).
With love,
Yogarupa
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ParaYoga Mela: August 8-11, 2012
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Space is limited for both the PY Mela as well as Himalayan Institue, so do not wait to secure your place at the first ever ParaYoga Mela.
To register for the ParaYoga Mela, please register directly with the ParaYoga office here.
For accommodations, please register directly with Himalayan Institue here ASAP to reserve your room. Space is limited during this weekend, as they have other programs running at the same time.
To facilitate as many people as people to attend, we've made the training as affordable as possible. The cost is $297 for PYMT Enrollees and $234 for ParaYoga Certified Teachers.
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| ParaYoga Mela: Get Involved | 
Calling all artists, musicians, singers and performers of all kinds! If you have a talent you'd like to share with us, the ParaYoga Mela is your time to shine.
Dust off your tap shoes. Rehearse your joke telling. Get your juggling routine together. It's Talent Show time! There will be a ParaYoga Talent Show and a separate ParaYoga musical presentation, both starring you.
If you are a composer &/or musician playing any instrument and want to be a part of the "ParaYoga Orchestra", email Melissa: mlindon@gmail.com. There are instruments at the Himalayan Institute we can borrow like keyboards, a harmonium and two acoustic guitars. Melissa will let you know what musical ideas are currently afloat.
If you are a singer of any sort and want to be in the "ParaYoga Choir", email Annika: banannika@gmail.com. Annika will let you know what musical ideas are currently afloat. Kirtan, anyone? If you want to perform in the ParaYoga Talent Show, email Mia: Mia@MiaPark.com. You can perform at both events if you're a musical type. All kinds of talent are welcome to perform at the Talent Show. Be creative, be genuine, but, by all means, don't be shy. For you drawing artists, we'll also provide sidewalk chalk and templates for you to draw your favorite yantras on the ground. We're hoping for neat overhead photos. Who said ParaYogis don't know how to have a great time? |
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ParaYoga Teacher Workshops
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ParaYoga teachers lead amazing workshops across the country on a variety of unique topics. Here is a list of select events.
ParaYoga Fundamentals (Intro Series)
Honolulu, HI
Ongoing
Chicago, IL
June 23
Anamargret Sanchez
Riding the Prana Wave: A 2 day Para Yoga Intensive
Miami, FL
June 30-July 1
Cheryl Bell
ParaYoga & Meditation Workshop: Deepen your understanding of how your practice leads to meditation
Seattle, WA
July 1, August 5
Breathing and Meditation
Takoma Park, MD
July 17-August 21, 2012
Los Gatos, CA
July 21-July 22, 2012
Lake George, NY
September 14-16, 2012
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"Basking In the Prana of Rest and Plant Wisdom" by Level I Teacher
Brooke Sullivan
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Savasana (pronounced "shavasana") is otherwise known as the corpse pose. Not for morbid reasons but to invoke the feeling of doing absolutely nothing...A gift in time where one can relax, release control of the muscles, the breath and even the flood of thoughts that often plague us. In this state of absolute Be-ing-ness we are able to access a profound level of healing, pranic healing. Pranic healing is a flood of energy
that bathes the tissues of the mind, revitalizes the cells and nourishes the very fabric of our being. When done correctly (supporting the person's constitution and lifestyle) and with wise sequencing, asana (the yoga postures) prepare us for this rest. After we rest in Savasana we are able to access the deeper dimensions of our internal landscape through the practice of meditation. So basking in savasana is a key step to relaxing the body & the mind in order integrate our practice and our busy lives to be able to sit. Don't
let your mind trick you into thinking this rest is a waste of time!
Taking savasana to a truly pranic level can be a challenge if the body and mind are extremely out of balance, the nervous system jacked or depleted, muscles tense, or the whole body overworked from stress. Instead of being able to feel and bask, a depleted system often slips into sleep and a bit of snoring! If this is the case for you, take a look at your life. Are you exhausted? Possibly pushing yourself past your limits? Do you get enough sleep? Are you getting nourishment from your food and joy from your life? If not, your body may need a bit of assistance. I'm not talking coffee, alcohol, or pharmaceuticals....but Nature's Medicine Bag. If you do suffer from any of the above and cannot relax (which is so prevalent it is more common than French Fries with Ketchup) you may want to look into supporting your nervous system. When the nervous system gets fried it is very challenging to pretend you are a corpse and rest. Instead, the mind takes over with lists of things to do or ways to be. It is a mysterious and seemingly baffling reason to many why the coffee stops working and they are always tired yet cannot relax. It may be that the body needs help in pressing the 'reset' button! Plants classified as nervines would be the choice group to seek when dealing with the above issues. Nervines calm and soothe the nerves. It is as simple as that. They relax the body by releasing tension and soothe the mind without drowsiness. They work magic for anxiety, fear, stress, worry and even fear of public speaking. My favorite nervines are Milky Oats and Skullcap. These two amazing allies help to heal our nerve endings, physically bringing nutrients to the sheaths. They jump start the parasympathetic side of the nervous system, assisting the body in the reset it needs, to function more optimally. If all of this is new to you, welcome to the world of plant medicine...where health grows on trees! In the forests! In the fields! You just have to know how to use it and know where to get them!! So to tie the two together, yoking the basking of Savasana and healing with plant medicine, is Prana. Prana is the main force behind the plant's capacity to heal. This intelligence goes way beyond chemical constituents. It is a network of energy and vital life force that is unique to the plant and creates a synergy with our bodies for healing and transformation. Prana is also what floods through the body in Savasana when we are able to truly relax and give ourselves the time to do so. When we are tight, tense or exhausted, we unknowingly close the gates to this amazing healing force and miss out on the healing benefits of rest. So take yourself to the next level...the intelligence of prana for relaxation. Brooke creates herbal products using prayer and other fine ingredients. Learn more about her herbal goods at VitalYogi.com
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Yogarupa travels with Himalayan Institute to the largest gathering in history, Kumba Mela, in January, 2013. He will teach there, as well. Many ParaYogis will attend this amazing event.
"There is a place, at the convergence of three holy rivers in India, where, during significant conjunctures of Nature's Forces, the environment and everything in it becomes spiritually charged exponentially. At that time, spiritual practice yields thousand-fold fruits, which, through set intention, can infuse collective consciousness with positive, lasting change. Seers and seekers are drawn to this place and space from all over, knowingly, and sometimes unknowingly. The next and most significant opportunity to experience and contribute to this phenomenon that has come to be known as the Kumbha Mela, is January - February 2013...don't miss it!"
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Congratulations!
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 Welcome the newest Certified |
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"The science of Yoga needs to be taught. I believe it's necessary to set a high(er) bar-set high standards, so that we don't become complacent. I know that there are many people who wish to look more deeply into the practice and want more from the practice than a "yoga butt."
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ParaYoga Certification
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Are you considering taking the step to commit to the ParaYoga Master Training? Whether you plan to teach or not, enrolling in the program will confirm your commitment, bring you into the sangha in an official way, and provide you with resources, including the ParaYoga Essentials CD, which no ParaYogi should be without.
The ParaYoga website goes into great detail about what the certification process entails, but if you get confused, contact the PY office or Lauren Toolin, and we'll help guide you along your path.
Official Enrollment Into The PYMT program:
Please note that officially enrolling in the PYMT program requires submitting an application, headshot, and paying the enrollment fees. There are many ParaYogis who have been studying with Rod for a long time, and some who may have even submitted a Certification application well before official Enrollment into the PYMT program was required in April 2011. This new procedure of asking everyone to officially enroll in our program (meaning submit their application along with a headshot and enrollment fees) has only been in effect for one year. Even if you have previously submitted an application to us prior to April of 2011, you will still need to officially enroll in the program and submit a new application. Please click here for more information on the enrollment process. Thank you. |
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Yogarupa Rod Stryker continues to teach throughout the year in the United States and Europe. See Rod's schedule here to plan your next ParaYoga training.
Registration is now open for the Vinyasa Krama training in FL in December, 2012. Register now as Yogarupa's events have been selling out very quickly.
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| Yoga Teacher Trainings Led by Certified ParaYoga Teachers | |
Tanya Boigenzahn Sowards
235hr Yoga Teacher Training
Minneapolis, MN
July 9 - Aug 3, 2012
Karina Ayn Mirsky
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| ParaYoga Master Training Videos |
Have you seen the nine ParaYoga Master Training intro videos? They are on Rod Stryker's YouTube channel. Under two minutes each, they touch on the nine PYMTs.
 | | Vinyasa Krama: The Energetics of Sequencing |
Let's educate the masses with these videos and share what ParaYoga is about. These videos are perfect for posting on your Facebook page, on your blog and in your newsletter.
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Certified Teacher Highlights
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Mia Park volunteer teaches yoga to pregnant inmates and domestic violence survivors. She's excited to apply ParaYoga techniques to help these clients.
Check out this awesome yoga blog by Jean Mazzei.
Chanti Tacoronte-Perez is not only a great asana stick figure artist, but she also teaches yantra painting she learned in India.
Brooke Sullivan is an herbalist making handmade apothecary with love and healing mantra. Her Vital Yogi Travel Apothecary kit is here.
The charming Sue Neufeld is learning Sanskrit fire chants for her new kunda. She reports, "Now that's MY idea of exciting!!!" Who says ParaYogis don't know how to party?
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ParaYoga®'s Mission
|  | | ParaYoga®'s mission is to touch as many lives as possible with the power and wisdom of Yoga. It recognizes Yoga as an ancient spiritual tradition, capable of enriching all aspects of modern life. ParaYoga®'s unique focus is to offer an approach into the depths of Yogic science. It trains teachers who--through knowledge and the light of direct experience--guide others to realize their highest potential. ParaYoga® actively pursues positively affecting the evolution of individuals, Yoga, and life in the world. |
| Project: GRACE | |
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The Himalayan Institute needs your help.
Serve a Living Tradition
The Grounds Repair and Campus Expansion Fund will improve the facilities at our international campus here in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, so that we can continue our important work in yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic health, as well as our global humanitarian projects. Recently we discovered the need for repairs to our 58-year-old septic system that will cost over one quarter of a million dollars. There are also several smaller projects that can no longer be delayed. We have outlined these projects and their estimated costs in the right hand column so you may have an overview of these needs.
How You Can Help
The most convenient way to help is with a direct contribution here.
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