Practice and Non-Attachment

Abhyasa Vairagyabhyam Tannirodhah (By practice and non-attachment, they [mental fluctuations] are restrained) - Yoga Sutra I:12.

The Yoga Sutras I:12-16 talks about practice and non-attachment.  These sutras say that the mental modifications or fluctuations of the mind can be controlled through practice and non-attachment.  Practice means to keep the mind steady or calm.  The steadiness or calmness of the mind happens only when practice is done regularly and with deep sincerity over a long period of time.

Honda Bay

Last day in Puerto Princesa.  Mia had been telling me to visit the Underground River National Park but it's a whole day event and I only had Saturday to visit interesting places around the city aside from restaurants and dessert places.  After the lunch at Saigon, Hudson, another colleague from the psych dept, informed us of their plans of going to Honda Bay and asked if we'd like to tag along.  And so we did.

First stop, snorkeling.

Passed by Starfish Island.  Got its name because of the abundance of sea stars.

 Second stop, the Snake Island.  

"If the Starfish Island is full of sea stars, does it mean the Snake Island is full of snakes?"

"Then why are we stopping here and staying for more than one hour?"

Apparently, it got its name not because slithering snakes rule the island but because of its shape.

Took a walk and explored the island.

On our way back, we passed by another island.  Wasn't paying attention to the names as I was exhausted from the sun, sand, and swimming... I happily dozed off.

For yoga, healing, detox retreat in Palawan, visit Bahay Kalipay.

OM

Govinda's Workshop Details

The Practice of Ashtanga

A 6-Day Workshop and 4-Day Retreat with

Ashtanga Yoga Certified Teacher

Govinda Kai

August 21-26, 2010 Workshop (Bliss Yoga Manila)

August 28-31, 2010 Retreat (Tali Beach, Nasugbu)

WORKSHOP

August 21    Saturday Workshop Day 1
7-9    AM    Mysore Style Practice
9-10  AM    Break
10-12 NN    Technical and Philosophical Elements of Forward Bending

The forward bend is the most common element in yoga practice, particularly in the primary series of the Ashtanga system. In this session we will explore the more technical and subtle aspects that make forward bends deep and transformative. We will also explore the symbolic and emotional implications of the forward bending position. Understanding the forward bend is one of the main keys to creating a truly powerful practice and is also a way to ground an understanding of how to live a more fulfilling life.


August 22    Sunday Workshop Day 2
7-9    AM    Mysore Style Practice
9-10  AM    Break
10-12 NN    Emotions: The Hidden Door To The Human Soul

Most people are confused by the emotions that they feel and are left to deal with in their lives. Emotions feel to be so mysterious and so uncontrollable. We often feel helpless to navigate through all the consequences that result from the emotions that we and those close to us feel. In this session, we will explore a way to understand your emotions so that they serve to enhance the quality of your life and not the other way around. A deeper and clearer understanding of the area of emotions is a major key to creating a powerful spiritual life and is absolutely necessary for the achievement of any kind of lasting happiness.


August 23    Monday Workshop Day 3
7-9    AM    Mysore Style Practice
9-10  AM    Break
10-12 NN    The Art Of Back Bending

The back is the most mysterious and complicated area of the body. More nerve ending exist along the spinal column than in any other area of the body. Even the most knowledgeable experts in the area of back medicine have declared that they still don't truly understand the subtleties of the back. In this session, we will explore the more detailed elements of the bending of the back and all the aspects that go into a deep and powerful back bend. Back bending also holds the key to many of the emotional and psychic obstacles that we encounter in our personal lives. By understanding back bending, we can begin to seriously overcome that which holds us back in life.


August 24    Tuesday Workshop Day 4
7-9    AM    Mysore Style Practice
9-10  AM    Break
10-12 NN    Sex: A Deeper Perspective

Sex is certainly one of the most essential of human activities. Sexual activity, whether with others or by ourselves and the thoughts that accompany our feelings about sex dominate much of our time. Yet, for the most part, we are confused and befuddled by this area of life, perhaps more than any other. Many people have experienced some form of trauma in this area of their lives and very few people have the courage to talk openly about this area of life. In this session, we will begin with a yogic perspective on sex and begin to explore just what sex is and how we can begin to understand it in a way that it actually becomes an empowering part of life and not one that only causes us frustration and trouble.


August 25    Wednesday Workshop Day 5
7-9    AM    Mysore Style Practice
9-10  AM    Break
10-12 NN    The Secrets Of Arm Balances

In the Ashtanga Yoga sequence, we perform arm balances in every single vinyasa or transition. Every time we jump back or jump forward, we perform an arm balance. For many practitioners, at best, arm balances are something we "try hard" to do. Most people do not have the understanding of the details that go into creating a powerful arm balance. The secrets to arm balances are not as mysterious and as difficult as most people think. In this session, we will cover the most basic elements of an arm balance which will give you a whole new perspective on a part of practice that is often misunderstood.


August 26    Thursday Workshop Day 6
7-9    AM    Led Class
9-10  AM    Break
10-12 NN    Love And Friendship

The quality of our friendships and love relationships is truly what defines the difference between a life well lived and a life that is dominated by boredom and desperation The quality of our relationships also is reflective of the quality and depth of our spiritual practice. The keys to understanding our own selves are also the same keys that lead to fulfilling and lasting relationships in our lives. Let us dive deep into a discussion in which we can better understand what is the difference between a human relationship that is filled with deep love, trust, honesty and loyalty and a relationship that is merely superficial or even downright destructive.


To Register:
Fee is Php 24,000.00 for 6 days
Early Bird Discount (Register by August 5) is Php 21,600.00
Sign Up for Asana Practice is Php 1,500.00
Sign Up for Workshop is Php 2,500.00
Required Reservation fee is Php 7,200.00, non-refundable

Workshop Venue is Bliss Yoga Manila, 28/F, Trident Tower Penthouse, 312 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (corner HV Dela Costa St), Makati, Manila.


For Details and Inquiries please email tesa.celdran@gmail.com or call/sms to +639178300293

Govinda is back!

Tesa's teacher Govinda Kai is back in town to do a series of workshop and a week-long retreat.

***

The Practice of Ashtanga

A 6-Day Workshop and 4-Day Retreat with

Ashtanga Yoga Certified Teacher

Govinda Kai

August 21-26, 2010 Workshop (Bliss Yoga Manila)

August 28-31, 2010 Retreat (Tali Beach, Nasugbu)

RETREAT

August 28 Saturday Retreat Day 1 – Morning Mysore style practice followed by Unlocking The Secrets Of The Mind -- Our understanding and awareness of, or lack thereof, our own minds holds the power to radically affect the quality of our lives. During this session, we will talk at length about this mysterious part of ourselves, including questions such as "What is the mind?", "Where exactly is the mind located", "How does the mind work?", "How can I improve the quality of my mind?" and other relevant topics related to the mind. Perhaps one of the biggest first steps to a much deeper and more powerful yoga practice and life is to begin to understand the mind. This session will be a first step to move your understanding in the right direction.


August 29 Sunday Retreat Day 2 – Morning Mysore style practice followed by
The True Role Of The Guru Or Teacher -- In this modern age of yoga practice, the role of the teacher or Guru is often misunderstood or under appreciated. Yet, in traditional yoga practice in India, the role of the teacher or Guru is given the greatest importance. In this session, we will delve into why the role of the teacher or Guru is given such great importance. There is a hidden key to the more profound depths of practice that is held within the kind of relationship that we build with our teacher or teachers. What we will discuss will shed much light on your understanding of yourself, your practice and of life. Both teachers and students alike, will learn how to build a much more powerful practice through the relationships that we form with both our students and our teachers.


August 30 Monday Retreat Day 3 – Morning Mysore style practice followed by Making Magic And Real Love Through Family And Community -- There are few other places in life where we express our highest aspirations and deepest fears than in the way that move within our families and communities. More emotionally and spiritually evolved people almost always express themselves through building and facilitating strong, honest and loving families and communities around themselves. In this session, we will explore some of the elements that can help us to reflect ourselves more clearly through our relationships with our families and communities. United we rise, divided, we fall. Let us all begin the process of being agents of unification and empowerment. By transforming your relationships with your family and community, you transform your relationship to yourself and to God above.


August 31 Tuesday Retreat Day 4 – Morning Mysore Style practice, followed by Who Or What Is God? -- This question is perhaps one of, if not the most, asked questions on the planet. Why do we have such an enduring hunger in our hearts to know the answer to this question? We will watch a film on this subject together and then engage in some lively conversation to explore the deeper meanings of this search of ours.

To Register:
Fee is Php 30,000.00 for 4 days inclusive of room (twin sharing) and 2 vegetarian meals.
Early Bird Discount (Register by August 5) is Php 27,000.00
Required Reservation fee is Php 9000.00, non-refundable.

Retreat will be held at 58 Outlook Drive, Tali Beach Resort, Nasugbu, Batangas.

For Details and Inquiries please email tesa.celdran@gmail.com or call/sms to +639178300293.