Tag Archives: Yoga

Yoga alternate teacher, Alice Haumont, training

 

Trained in dance (classical and contemporary) in my childhood, graduate and researcher in Philosophy (Free University of Brussels, 1994-2004), I found in the practice of Ashtanga Yoga the meeting point of these two passions.

This discovery of Ashtanga Yoga constitutes for me a true discipline as well as a deep tool of self-knowledge. This led me to undertake the training of a teacher taught by Jean-Claude Garnier, of whom I have been faithful to the teaching for several years.

“Simply be present with your own shifting energies
and with unpredictability of life as it unfolds.”
K. Pattabhi Jois.

Contact information :

 

 

AshtangaNews

In this part “blog”, you can consult news directly or indirectly related to Yoga as well as articles in the press, talk with us by offering other articles, and reviews !

Complete Sanskrit: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading and Understanding Sanskrit, with Original Texts: (Book only) Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language with Teach Yourself Paperback – 25 Jun 2010

Designed for complete beginners, and tested for years with real learners, Complete Sanskrit offers a bridge from the textbook to the real world, enabling you to learn the grammar, understand the vocabulary and even how to translate the inscriptions and texts from this ancient and religiously significant Indian language.

Structured around authentic material, and introducing the Devangari script for those who wish to take their understanding further, this first updated new edition for some twenty years also features:

 

Ashtanga Yoga News Letter 3 : march 2019

Yoga « way to fullness » … 

The "Hindu Trinity", Brahma, Vishnū, Ćiva.

The “Hindu Trinity”, Brahma, Vishnū, Ćiva.

On the way to the intuition of “non-duality”, we try to be coherent yet if we are honest with ourselves we know how hard it is. For example, you are asked to stand up straight, we think and feel that we are vertical, but if we look in a mirror, we will see that this is an illusion, we have a shoulder higher than the other, the head inclined to one side, the pelvis rotated, a knee bent, the belly forward or backward, more support on one foot, etc.. In short, we are twisted. It is the same in postural yoga practice “asana” (Devanāgarī: आसन). We need an outside perspective to straighten, untwist and align ourselves, in order to go vertical.

During his first meeting with Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois), Anne expressed “it’s strange, but for the first time in my life I experienced a person other than myself you knew better than me what was good for me … and I trusted … “him.

Transmission of Yoga exists in this relational quality. It is a relationship of love, without love there is nothing of value, we cannot achieve the “Kingdom of Heaven” for a Christian, or what we call “Deep Reality” in Yoga.

The practice of Yoga Mala is a precision work (from the Latin praecisus), i.e. “no split” without division of breathing, movement, concentration, rhythm etc.. It is a work of unification. Hindus, like Christians might say  to live a relationship state of “Trinity.”

Three not two, two is not  one… The Trinity is not a duality and non-duality “advaïta” (Devanāgarī: अ त) is not unity. This is articulated One between “I” and “you” of ourselves, a … A relational One 

«Oh yoguin, ne pratique pas le Yoga sans vinyāsa…»
Vāmana Ṛṣi (devanāgarī : वामन ऋषि)
Yoga Korunta

Forth yoga Korunta  śloka express :

« Trī stanam avalokayé

Āsanam prānāyāma dristhihi »

Translation

The three key points of the method are: posture, breathing and concentration of the gaze.

Shri K. Pattabhi Jois’s comment

The method of yoga Korunta consists of three simultaneously performed points, that are:

a. Posture Āsana : to lengthen and stretch the spine back to ensure good blood circulation;

b. Breathing Pranayama : The wide opened rib cage so that breathing is good, long and soft;

c. Dristhihi : The head in alignment and directed towards one of the nine focus points so that the mind is concentrated. In this way, in your practice, you will not be troubled by what is happening around you and within you.


Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois), Laksmi Puram, Mysore

Om Shanti,

JC Garnier

The “Pongal”, Arul or with “Tourism Office”…

In Mahābalipuram, you will have the choice between two possibilities to participate in this wonderful celebration, Pongal, one of the most colourful in South India.

Indeed, during your session of Ashtanga Yoga in the month of January you may participate in this rich in colours and music event.

  • The Tourism Office organizes each year for these festivities of Pongal, a visit to a traditional village some km from Mahābalipuram (singing, dancing, puja, etc.).

Pongal in Arul familly

Pongal in Arul familly

  • If you prefer, you can live this event in a traditional Indian family in a small village 4 km from Mahābalipuram, one of our Indian friends “Arul” invites the participants to the session of Ashtanga Yoga to share the Puja ceremony and share the typical Pongal meal.

Masala Dosa (for 2-3 people)

Ingredients:

  • 2 onions
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 2 Green Chile
  • 2 or 3 potatoes
  • Curry leaves
  • Mustard seeds
  • Dal, a handful
  • Turmeric, a pinch
  • Salt

 

 

Preparation:

1 Boil potatoes

 

  1. Cut the vegetables into cubes
  2. Heat oil in a frying pan then add in the order:

a. Mustard
b .Small curry leaves
c .Dal
d. Onion and chilli
e. Tomatoes
f. Turmeric

4.  Cook dosas in a pancake pan
5.  Crush the potatoes by hand and add them to the preparation
6.  Warm all by adding a little water to make a sort of “paste” a bit sticky!

Put preparation on dosa and serve

DOSA(S) :

Dough made from rice and dal powder

Becoming a member of a recognized Federation of Yoga teachers

Fédération Carte

Fédération Carte

Becoming a member of a Federation

There are different sorts of members.

Becoming a member as a teacher requires submitting an application to the secretariat and providing a copy of the teacher certificate with a description of the experience acquired in yoga.

The Board of directors examines the demand and if it is accepted, the member pays his membership.

Practicing members apply to the secretariat and pay their membership.

Other members pay their membership to their instructor, who himself has to be a registered ABEPY member.

More details below :

  1. Effective teacher and trainer members (Belgium) :
  • Are required to provide a copy of their certificate, or to explain their experience in Yoga.
  • Have to be accepted by the board of directors.
  • Pay an annual subscription of xx,- €.
  • May participate in the general meeting and are eligible for the Board of Directors.
  • Are insured by Ethias (SMAP).
  • Can insure their students.
  • Can appear in the Federation mailing list and on their website.
  • Can have announcements (workshops, courses, conferences, trips, …related to Yoga) appear in the Echo of Yoga and on the Federation’s website under the section “Activities”.
  • Will benefit from publicity during the fairs attended by the Federation all year-round, through the secretary’s information desk. (Upon reception of the membership, and if they wish to, teacher members can appear on the lists sent to persons asking for information and on the association’s website).
  • Trainer members are teacher members who are in charge of a school training yoga teachers, which is accepted by the ABEPY. The head teacher alone pays the trainer’s membership of xx,- €.

2. Effective practicing members : 

  • Practice and study Yoga.
  • Pay an annual membership of xx,- €.
  • Can participate in the general meeting and are eligible for the Board of Directors.
  • Are insured by Ethias (SMAP) for Belgium.
  • Receive a subscription to the Echo of Yoga for Belgium.

3. Other members (students) :

  • Need to be registered through a teaching member, who will settle their annual subscription of x,- €.
  • Are insured by Ethias (SMAP).
  • Can be registered throughout the year.
  • Can actively participate to the association’s life, but do not vote during general meetings.
  • Can subscribe to the Echo of Yoga, directly or through their teacher, for xx,- € per year.

4. Honorary members :

  • Have substantially contributed to the development of yoga or have proved helpful to its cause.

5. Associations and moral persons :

  • Can join the association by paying a subscription of xx,- €, providing their activities are compatible with its purpose. They can make announcements in the Echo of Yoga or on the association’s website, but they cannot participate in the management of the association, nor insure students. They receive the Echo of Yoga.

For subscription, use only the account number: ……………………………….

Indicate your name, surname and/or communication number.

 

I.Y.F.

I.Y.F.

Non-exhaustive list of Federations:

In Belgium:

In France:

www.federationyoga.fr/

In Greece :

In Europe :

Tiruvannamalai, famous pilgrimage destination.

Tiruvannamalai, Annamalaiyar Temple

Tiruvannamalai, Annamalaiyar Temple

Renowned pilgrimage destination, the city is famous for its great temple of Annamalaiyar dating back to the IXth century AD and devoted to Shiva. The city is also well known for the legendary sacred hill of Arunachala, which is a holy place, as well as for the presence of the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi, considered as one of the most illustrious wise men and Indian mystics of the XXth century.

 

  • The temple is one of the largest in India with a surface area of 10 hectares. It is surrounded by a wall, ornamented by four colossal towers (known as Gopuram) used as the entrance of the sanctuary, and decorated by thousands of sculptures painted rich in colours. The Gopuram have a distinctive architecture dating back to the Chola period in the IXth century. The Eastern Gopura is one of the largest in India; it is 66 meters tall. The room of a thousand pillars is magnificent. The temple is full of life, six rituals are held daily from 5h30 to 10h, there are twelve yearly festivals of which the most famous is the Karthikai Deepam held on the day of full moon between the months of November and December. More than three million pilgrims are present during the celebration. At the top of the hill of Arunachala, there is a giant fire, visible over several kilometres, held in the honour of Shiva.
  • The sacred hill of Arunachala, also called Arunagiri, Annamalai Hill, is one of the five holy shivaït places of South India. Some believe Shiva manifested himself there as a pillar of light. Many Saints and wise men have established themselves on the hill or in the caves, such as Sri Ramana Maharshi who lived there from 1899 to 1916.

“Arunachala is really a holy place. Of all holy places, Arunachala is the holiest. It is the Heart of the world. It is Shiva itself. It is the secret and holy heart of Shiva. In this place, it resides forever under the form of the glorious Arunachala Mount.” Extract from: Sri Arunachala Mahatmyam – Skanda Purana.

At the foot of the sacred hill of Arunachala lies the Ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Ramana Maharshi is one of the greatest wise men and spiritual masters of modern India. He was born on December 1879 and died on April the 14th 1950. He came to transmit the ancient Wisdom of the Advaita-Vedanta under a new, simpler and clearer form. It is based on his personal experience, and he has made accessible to today’s men, the finding of the path of knowledge (Jnana-Marga). According to his teaching, only the Self, the pure conscience, has to be found thanks to the continual question: “Who am I?” “You are That at this precise moment.”

“In the centre of the heart’s cave, in the shape of Me, in the shape of Self, unique and solitary, straight from self to self, the Brahman shines! Enter yourself inside, your thought piercing up to the source, your spirit buried in itself, blow and feel within the collected depths, all of yourself fixed in you and there simply just be!”
Sri Ramana Maharshi 

Tiruvannamalai is located 163 km from Mahabalipuram, 3 hours by car, approximately 5 hours by bus (first go to Chengalpath then change bus to Tiruvannamalai).

Apart from the benefits of Ashtanga Yoga, what to do on Andros island

Andros is part of the Cyclades archipelago. It is a vast, fertile and mountainous island. Rare in the Greek islands, it has many sources and torrents. Some valleys are therefore very green. The trails of the island allow ballads among vineyards and fruit trees. The architecture is also very different from other islands: large neoclassical houses with roofs covered with tiles. Andros is untouched by mass tourism. It mainly attracts wealthy Athenians.

Andros is a paradise for nature lovers and hikers. A well-developed network of trails takes you through the island.

Our Sophia Dimitri very hospitable hosts, will offer you numerous possibilities for excursions.

Must see :

The village of Chora, the beaches on the west coast, the monastery of Agios Nikolaos and of Panachrantou.

Andros Island, the beach

Andros Island, the beach

The beach :

The sand is pleasant, the sea is transparent and fairly quiet. Swimming is enjoyable, but at Easter, water can be a little bit chilly!

Indulge yourself to the benefits of the practice of Ashtanga Yoga, to the blue of the Aegean Sea, to hiking, to osteopathic consultations, to massages, to meetings with other yoga practitioners, to resting, to reading, to swimming or simply stay on the beach doing nothing!

Pongal rice (salty)

Ingredients :

  • Peppercorns (+/-1 tablespoons)
  • Cumin (idem)
  • 2 glasses of rice
  • 5 glasses of water
  • Cashew nuts (not many)
  • Special Vanaspati oil (mixture of several oils and condiments)

Preparation :

  1. Heat a little oil in pressure saucepan and add peppercorns and cumin
  2. Add 5 glasses of water
  3. Add 2 glasses of well-washed rice
  4. Cook until 5 whistles in other words until the rice is well cooked
  5. Fry the slightly crushed cashew nuts in a little special oil.
  6. When the rice is cooked, add cashews nuts

Is eaten with the coconut chutney

LEMON RICE

Pressure pot

Ingredients : 

  • Rice (Well washed), 2 glasses
  • Water, 3 cups
  • 1 lemon
  • Dal, one handful
  • Blackgram, one handful
  • 3 dried chilli (red) open them
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • Mustard seeds
  • Curry leaves

Preparation :

  1. Put water and rice in pressure saucepan, cook until you hear a whistling sound, turn off and leave.
  1. Roll the lemon on a hard surface to “get the juice”, cut it in half and press, collect the juice in a bowl. Add a teaspoon of turmeric.
  1. Heat oil in a frying pan, add :
  • Chilli and fry
  • Curry leaves
  • Mustard seeds
  • Dal and the blackgram

Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, and then add

  • The lemon juice and a little water
  • Salt

Turn off under the frying pan

  1. Open pressure pan and mix the cooked rice with the sauce