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The Yoga of
Service
How's Your
Karma?
Most of us have
heard of Karma. Usually the context is in whether your Karma is good or
bad - like you have good or bad luck. Often we refer to Karma as
something
that has been determined by our good or bad deeds done in the past. It is
said we are constantly adding up (or subtracting) our Karma points - So
what does all this Karma do for you? Buy good luck? Ensure you will have
a
happy life? Help you to be born into a great life next time around? Maybe
so . . . . but I like to think more about how doing the deeds in each
moment effect how you feel and how they contribute to your life by
contributing to others.
Karma Yoga is the yoga of service and
a practice we can all undertake. Think about how it is you serve others -
you probably already have a great foundation for your Karma Yoga practice
-
if not you might consider some way to get involved with volunteering
somewhere. If you already have ample opportunities to serve, the next
step
is to consider how you serve. True Karma Yoga is done without the
expectation of return. It is service simply for the sake of service. When
we serve from that place there is a sense of joy and peace in the heart
that emerges. So there's the paradox - serve without expectation and the
rewards are huge!
We want to share with you about a wonderful
organization that is a model for all of us for Karma Yoga. It is Living
Yoga. Living Yoga is a non-profit here in the Portland area that provides
free yoga classes to several groups that would otherwise not have access
to yoga instruction. All their teachers are volunteers and they provide
classes in prisons, adult and teen alcohol and drug rehab centers and
other outreach programs.
Living Yoga is currently seeking new
volunteers; teachers and support services. They provide mentorship and
support for their teachers and you don't have to be certified to go and
share your yoga practice with people who really need it!
To learn more about
Living Yoga . . .
Bring a Friend to Yoga in
June, Support Living Yoga
 In June
HeartSong will be joining twelve other studios in the Portland Area to
support Living Yoga. All drop in fees for new students who attend a class
with a friend, who is a current student, will be donated to support
others
in receiving the gift of yoga.
Please think about who you might bring to class in June -
they will pay for their class (or you can pay or split the cost with
them)
and we will dontate the full amount to Living Yoga. In addition,
HeartSong
will match the drop in rate for the first 15 students to attend ($26
instead of $13!)
So if you can't volunteer, help support this
great program by talking all your friends into trying yoga next month!
You
will also be providing a great service to us as you will be introducing
new
people to our community!
Summer Immersion to Begin
June 18th
This summer we are offering an
immersion
to help you deepen your yoga practice. Practicing with greater frequency
has a dramatic effect on how you feel and helps you to progress much more
quickly.
The formal immersion will be held for 6 weeks on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00 - 8:30am. Mondays will include the
introduction of a yoga sutra (philosophical theme) and a physical
principle which will be
explored in asanas including some partner work. On Wednesdays enjoy a
practice which will include some work through the Sun Salutation and will
weave the themes from Monday throughout. Friday will be a
silent day at the studio and the practice will be a vinyasa (flow) style
class - instruction will be given however with less
detail and more periods of silence throughout; a chance for contemplation
of the philosophy theme. It is recommended that you have at least 6
months
yoga experience for this immersion. For Beginners who want to dive in
(and
now is as good a time as any) you are welcome to attend Monday and Friday
at 9:00am for a beginning class with the same themes and Wednesday at
7:00am which will be for all levels. The cost of the Immersion will be
$160 (3 class/week at $9/class) This package will allow you to attend
unlimited classes for the entire 6 weeks so you can be as immersed as you
like!
The immersion will be taught by Leslie with the help of Chris
Lehman who will be attending the entire series and teaching a few of the
classes.
For those who are not able to attend the early a.m.
classes, consider doing your own immersion by commiting yourself to 3 or
more classes/week for the same cost for the 6
weeks!
To See Our Full
Schedule
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