John and Lucy Scott in Boracay

I was supposed to join this retreat but most of my exams were scheduled on the same week.  I decided to cancel on the last minute. I was able to catch John and Lucy though at the led class in Makati just before they flew back to NZ.  It was great to reconnect with them even just for a few hours.

Here is Liana Romulo's article about the retreat: Renowned Ashtanga yoga teacher leads Boracay retreat - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos.

Cheers.

Stillpoint

"Ask not to challenge but to understand" - John Scott

The ego.

It is our greatest enemy.

How can we understand something if we refuse to look at it from the very root?

How can we learn if we refuse to hold on to what we already know?

Take culture, for example.

How can we say we have genuinely understood being a Filipino if we haven't been to the Philippines? Or the very least, live and interact with the Filipino community within our area?

In my own battle with the ego, I try to remember the words of my teachers.

"Try to understand... and not condemn" - Tiwariji

***



***

Swasthi Prajabhyaha Paripala Yantam
Nyayena Margena Mahimmahishaha
Gobrahmanebhyaha Shubamastunityam
Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Lotus sitting... breath calming... mind stilling

A POEM FOR GURUJI

Forever sweating with your leg behind your head

I'm sure you would much rather be in Padmasana instead

breathing deeply amongst other sounds,

the soft counting of Guruji, his lotus feet upon the ground

All matter of judgement is cast away from here

Fly above the aching bodies, breath it in....breath it out.

Watch the freedom dance around the room, Guruji can see it,

Floating and gliding, circling his head

drifting in and out of his mind - so perfectly designed

He chuckles as it lingers around a humble student, always a step behind

then coming back to drift around his mind

A burst of colour light and song

as the students echo Guruji's OM

I wonder the thoughts his head creates even just to ponder on

I'm sure they are more complicated than just a simple OM

***
By India Scott (at 13 years)
From http://www.stillpointyoga.co.nz/news.cfm?id=131

***

Until the next stillpoint.

Lessons from Mr. Scott

Yoga begins with listening.

***

One... Spine

Two... Relax

Three... Breath

Four... Mantra

***

Question... not to challenge... but to understand.

***

Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha

GONE, GONE, GONE BEYOND, COMPLETELY GONE BEYOND,ENLIGHTENMENT, HAIL

Ang Molo ni Aling Upe, Yoga4Isko, etc... etc...

From the creative mind and direction of Lomen... executed and produced by Aling Upe.

Tested and proven authentic by the Chona and the author.

The copyright of the recipe is still pending. It should be out soon.

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My PE2 Yoga students in makarasana.

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and... featuring JP... the rubberman. Sport Science major. One of the 3 UP Pep captains.
Why 3? Because UP Pep will win for the 3rd straight year.

Mark the date. Sept 13, Sunday @ 1pm. Araneta Coliseum.

I won't be there though as I will be attending John Scott's workshop.

OM

Iyengar Yoga Workshop

Jawahar Bangera
Jawahar Bangera is a senior teacher based in Mumbai, and has been a student of BKS Iyengar since 1969 – and is “still a student,” he says. Jawahar has been teaching yoga for almost three decades, and travels regularly all over the world to teach and hold workshops. He graced the IYCM studio four years ago, and it is with great pleasure that we welcome him back to teach at the Institute once again. - Iyengar Yoga Center Manila

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Sept 14-20. Same week as John's. But schedule looks perfect as they have an afternoon session, 2-4:30pm. I can attend John's mysore in the morning in Alabang... go to Makati for the Iyengar workshop... then get ready for John's workshop in the evening at 6:30.

Ok... maybe I should stock on pain relievers and liniments if I'd do this.

Should decide soon.

Got the details from Phil Yoga Network egroup.

Om.

Be Inspired