Archive for Yoga philosophy

Happy 2021! New classes; Yogic Thoughts on DC Insurrection

Photo by Melissa Elstein

Dear Friends and Family,

Wishing you and your loved ones all the very best for the New Year! What a previous turbulent year we have all experienced, and during just this first week of January 2021 the turbulence has continued. I had written here another New Year’s greeting, and was about to hit the “send” button when today’s historic, disgraceful and criminal attack on the Capitol showed up on my email alerts, and I (like most of you, no doubt) spent the rest of the day watching the news with horror and disgust. So I deleted my original text, which no longer seemed at all relevant, and am starting over as I struggle to digest the day’s events. Unfortunately, I cannot say that the storming of the Capitol by Trump’s desperate and unhinged followers completely surprised me given the recent similar attack on the Michigan legislature in April and the October kidnapping plot against that State’s Governor. Today’s events were additionally foreshadowed by the images of white supremacists marching in the streets of Charlottesville in 2017 bearing torches and like today Confederate flags, as well as Trump’s invitation to the violent Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during the September Presidential debates. In recent years, images of mobs comprised of hateful, angry people have unfortunately become too commonplace in this country. Many of us have rightfully been concerned about the peaceful transition of Presidential power and the protection of the rule of law after experiencing four-plus years of the dangers of Trumpism, and with only two more weeks left before the Biden-Harris inauguration, the intensity of our concerns is increasing.

As yogis and spiritual seekers, how can we make sense of these turbulent times in which we are living? Unfortunately, I do not have the answer but I find myself asking that question quite often. In past newsletters, I have discussed the Yoga Sutras, an ancient text that has many relevant sections to this day, especially the yamas and niyamas (ethical and moral prescriptions on how to conduct our inner and outer lives). One of the most important Yoga Sutras principles is “ahimsa” which means non-harming to others and oneself; the prohibition from causing physical and psychological pain, and instead the active engaging in loving thoughts and actions; and the “absence of violence in physical, mental and emotional forms.” http://www.yogapedia.com  Clearly, what I described in the previous paragraph are acts performed with the opposite intention of ahimsa. In 2021, five thousand years after the drafting of the Yoga Sutras, we still observe so much hatred and violence in our society, both political and non-political. In order to reduce such negativity, yogis examine our thoughts, words and actions as a daily practice, and understand that engaging in ahimsa is the ultimate societal and inner goal. When we understand that we can intellectually disagree with our political opponents without making them the enemy, we can engage in an elevated level of discourse which does no harm to others nor ourselves. As a society, we must learn to separate the disagreement of ideas from the demonizing of the proponent of those ideas. In a modern society that often seems to reward the bully, with his rage tweeting and other forms of violence, it may feel somewhat old-fashioned to engage in civilized discourse. But in taking the higher road, we raise ourselves up and demonstrate to others non-violent communication. What we each think, say and do not only affects us individually but also has a cumulative ripple effect as well. So our personal actions are important not just for our soul growth and personal evolution, but also because they help move society in one direction or another.  We each have the choice as to which direction that will be – towards a more enlightened society or one that devolves into chaos and violence.   

So how do the movement forms of yoga fit into this discussion? With our sustained practice of slow, mindful movement and breathing practices (pranayama), we learn to observe ourselves with honesty (satya), curiosity, and non-criticism. Our yoga and meditation practices help calm our nervous systems, and allow us to become less reactive and more reflective. With practice, we find those positive qualities surfacing more often in our lives outside of class, creating more expansiveness in the time in which we react to others, thus reducing the likelihood of a violent response in word or action. We are all on this path together, and I look forward to exploring these themes and more with you in 2021, but hoping as well that the disturbing actions we observed today in DC will not be repeated again.

Please see my schedule for all my offerings in January 2021, including new classes, descriptions and a change for the sign-up option for my Friday noon class (which will now be hosted on my personal Zoom account). Thank you for your support of my teachings!    

December Holiday Wishes During the Pandemic; Tree Bed Decorating; Stop the Chop Helicopter Petition


PA Ballet Company – Snow Scene, Nutcracker circa 1985

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope this email finds you safe and well, and finding ways to enjoy the Winter holiday season even as this persistent pandemic continues to spread here and abroad. With every U.S. State a red zone now, except for Hawaii (who else is having fantasies about moving to Honolulu or the Big Island?), stay at home restrictions are increasing once again as they initially had back in March of this year. Nine months into the pandemic and we are officially into the “second wave” which scientists had indeed predicted would be worse than the “first wave.” Maybe we had been naive to think they were wrong in their predictions, and the Summer re-openings (albeit in limited ways), had felt so freeing after the many months of last Winter – Spring’s shutdowns and stay at home orders. And so it feels like we are going backwards to a certain extent, even as the vaccine is being distributed to first responders this week. December is historically the month of festivities, parties, family gatherings, in-person gift giving, and for many of us enjoying The Nutcracker Ballet at Lincoln Center and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater’s Winter Season at NYC’s City Center. But with theaters still shuttered and indoor dining closing, this holiday season will be like no other we have experienced. I have found myself to be more melancholy this month than any other time since the pandemic started. This melancholy stems from an internal resistance to the sad reality of our current situation – the knowledge of the too many lives lost to the disease, the jobs permanently lost and shuttered storefronts that may never return, the forced inability to entertain holiday guests and enjoy festive nights out on the town.

Yet, as I study yoga philosophy and other spiritual traditions, I realize that I must embrace reality and accept it rather than fighting against it. This does not mean we are passive and non-active; certainly, we can do our best and act in many ways to reduce virus transmission and offer assistance to those in need, such as contributing to worthy nonprofits, purchasing gift cards to local stores and restaurants to help them stay afloat, donating to food pantries and clothing drives, for example. This acceptance of the new reality places us directly in the present moment. Daydreaming wistfully for a holiday season of past years – as I have observed myself doing – is wishful thinking and sets us up for disappointment in the present. So we accept and adapt, and as a result, we likely all will be having a more internally based experience of the holidays and Winter season. Perhaps this is the opportunity to truly “nest” in our homes – to read those books on our book shelves long calling our attention, to nap on our sofas under a comfy blanket without feeling guilty, learn new skills or find new hobbies, expand our creativity with artwork, journaling, and cooking, and of course to try different forms of the healing arts such as yoga, qigong, mindful dance, and meditation. Many animals hibernate in the Winter months, but for humans the demands of conforming to a modern lifestyle have generally prevented us from changing our patterns according to the seasonal changes. But this Winter, the universal message for humanity is to hibernate at home, and perhaps enjoy the above-mentioned activities. But it can also be a unique opportunity to spend more time going inward in self-reflection, listening to one’s inner voice in silence, to be with what is without resistance, and deepening our understanding of ourselves without the many distractions of the outside world. If we envision the entire planet slowing down in peacefulness during the December holidays, hopefully by Spring we can reawaken to a new and improved era as we leave our hibernation dens and join together once again.               
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Photo by Peggy Liebowitz

One of the many ways I enjoy giving back to our community is to “adopt” a couple NYC street trees by taking care of the trees and cleaning and planting in their tree beds. For this holiday season, I thank the local Christmas tree vendors and Plant Shed on West 96th Street for their donation of extra branches that I used to decorate the beds and protect the soil from Winter wind erosion. It looks beautiful for the community and nourishes the trees as well!  (You can read more about my volunteer community work at http://www.west80s.org & http://www.loveyourstreettreeday.com ).

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My advocacy volunteer work with Stop the Chop Another recent volunteer activity I have embarked on is the leadership of a nonprofit formed to eliminate nonessential helicopters over NYC and the NY Metropolitan area. These loud, low-flying tourist and commuter choppers have been increasingly disturbing residents (including myself) in their homes, in our public parks, and along the waterways – all areas that should be peaceful respites from the busy urban streets. These needless flights create stress-full conditions for so many, negatively impact our quality of life, place our lives and buildings at risk, contribute to air pollution, and decrease our ability to enjoy in quiet our public spaces created for recreation and rest, such as NYC’s Central Park.  
Please join my group’s efforts to support the Congressional bill to ban said helicopters as introduced by our local Congressmembers including Carolyn Maloney, Jerry Nadler, and Nydia Velasquez, among others: sign our petitionsign up for our email newsletter, and if you can afford to please make a tax-deductible donation at  http://www.stopthechopnynj.org

Thanks for helping us create a more peaceful city!

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Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and peaceful holiday season!!!!

With love,
Melissa

June Telephone & Zoom Yoga & Qigong/Tai Chi Easy™ Classes; Spiritual Thoughts on These Turbulent, Historical Times

 I hope this email finds you safe and well. We are in the midst of much planetary upheaval, with multiple "once in a lifetime" type of events happening concurrently and with much intensity. It can all feel overwhelming, scary, depressing, anger-inducing, to name a few emotions. However, the message is clear: society must change for the better if we are all to survive and thrive on our one Earth home.

 The start of this new decade has been beyond turbulent. Going into 2020 we understood that this was the last decade to confront and curtail climate change to prevent its most devastating, runaway effects. Yet massive forest fires (some due to manmade illegal deforestation) raged across the globe in places such as California, Australia, the Amazon rainforests, and Indonesia. Then the global pandemic followed, likely stemming from a Chinese "wet market" at which wild and often poached animals are sold for food and medicine, either illegally or with insufficient governmental regulations. These markets have long been criticized for animal welfare and potential human health issues. However, consumer demand continues to create a reduction of biodiversity and wilderness areas throughout the planet as humans have encroached further into the forests. If the health effects of the pandemic were not worrisome enough, with over 400,000 worldwide deaths and 7 million cases as of today, the mandated social distancing/shutdown rules have led to economic turmoil and massive unemployment levels - numbers we have not seen since the Great Depression. As businesses began to prepare for a slow reopening, traumatic videos of unarmed black men being killed by current and former white police officers went viral, and were the final straw for our nation that was originally built on a racist legacy of white European domination over and the murder of Native Americans and African slaves. So entrenched was slavery, that only after a brutal Civil War, and approximately 100 years after our Declaration of Independence had declared that "all men are created equal" with rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, was slavery abolished. Yet, we know racism (and sexism) and white supremacy movements have remained very much a fixture of life in the United States (and elsewhere) to the present day. This past week has seen marches for racial justice in numbers not seen since the 1960s, and due to social media connectivity, international marches in solidarity never experienced before. The status quo is being challenged in all respects, and revealing the many ways in which our "normal, business as usual" is harmful and unjust.   

 Tragically, "I can't breathe" is the mantra of 2020 so far - chokeholds, neck restraints, pepper spray and tear gas choke our populace; the respiratory-borne coronavirus attacks our lungs; mandatory mask wearing inhibits our breath; lockdowns and quarantines have kept us inside apartments with reduced access to fresh air; fires and smog have polluted our air and exacerbated asthma, which in turn make us more vulnerable to Covid-19; anxiety, fear and panic constrict our muscles of respiration; and worry makes us hold our breath. As practitioners of yoga and qigong, we know breath is prana, qi, life force energy. Breath is all. We all deserve to breathe.

 How can we utilize our spiritual practices to help us individually during these challenging times, and improve our society as a whole? I certainly don't have all, or many, of the answers to such a complicated, layered crises, but I always hope to be of some service to others (which I find also uplifts myself). As a yoga teacher, we talk about breathing throughout the class. Physically in yoga class, we learn how to deepen and manipulate the breath through different yoga poses, breathing exercises and deep relaxation, keeping the lung tissue healthy and the accessory breathing muscles toned. Slowing and deepening the breath in a mindful practice relaxes our nervous system, releases healing hormones in the body, and helps to focus the mind away from repetitive worrisome thoughts. We coordinate breathing with our movements in an individualized practice even in a group class. Using visualizations, we send the energies of our breath to areas of our bodies, such as muscles, organs, glands and blood cells. With intention, we breathe in the positive and exhale out the negative. Physiologically, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon, in a reciprocal relationship with our environment - the trees which convert carbon into oxygen. 

 In our spiritual studies, we learn that all is one, that we are energetically connected to one another and to all parts of the web of life, and that our actions create karma (consequences). We learn that our true, deeper selves are not our bodies, emotions or thoughts but rather we are immortal energies or souls in temporary muscular-skeletal vessels learning life lessons on this Earth plane. We are not defined by our skin colors or genders. Our lessons are both individual and collective, interwoven as we all progress towards higher ideals through lifetimes. In yoga practice, to assist us with our spiritual lessons, the Yoga Sutras (one of the most ancient yoga treatises) espouse numerous moral and ethical principles for living a peaceful life and creating a peaceful society, such as ahimsa (non-violence in action, speech, and thought), satya (truthfulness; seeking truth; honesty; non-lying), and asteya (non-stealing; generosity; charity; non-greed). These principles are applied to oneself and to our relationships to one another and the Earth. As we navigate our way through the myriad of crises we are currently experiencing, I hope that the physical, spiritual and ethical teachings of yoga and other spiritual practices can bring us some comfort at this complicated time, and help to advance us to a kind, healthy, equitable, and just future. 

I was very inspired and wanted to share with you this beautiful video of some “Moments of Kindness and Solidarity During George Floyd Protests”:
https://youtu.be/dTypsyd3rvs


Although my in-person classes at Dorot for Seniors, Integral Yoga Institute, and the Children’s Dance Program at Steps on Broadway have been cancelled until further notice, my Dorot University of Walls telephone series continues through the end of August. I have years of experience teaching seated qigong and Chair Yoga over the phone, combined with meditation and visualizations, and I find this medium works very well – especially if you already have experience with those modalities. My in-person Chair Yoga, Qigong and Tai Chi Easy™ fusion classes for Integral Yoga and the Dorot Center for Seniors are now Zoom classes. See below for more details on these classes and descriptions, as there are differences between the two online classes. Please email me any questions you may have about my teaching schedule, and I would also love to hear from you with the sincere hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.

                Photo by Melissa Elstein

Happy 2016, and Setting Daily Intentions Rather Than New Year’s Resolutions

Wishing everyone a peaceful, happy and healthy New Year!

I am away this last week in December 2015, and will be taking a writing course New Year’s weekend at Kripalu Yoga Center in the Berkshires. Hopefully, I will learn how to deal most effectively with writer’s block and procrastination – traits I have been experiencing since college and law school! Can anyone else relate to these issues?

In part, I believe that for me, both writer’s block and procrastination stem from old, deep-rooted patterns of perfectionistic goals – ideals which of course, run counter to all that is taught in yoga; i.e., that the journey is more important than the result; that yoga is an exploration of the self, and not a perfect pose (“asana”); that we value the means, over the ends; and as the Bhagavad Gita teaches, it is the integrity of the process that is most important, and thus to let go of attachments to the outcome.

If you, like me, were raised in a traditional Western upbringing, these concepts are antithetical to messages we received at both home and school. Westerners tend to be very results and achievement oriented. I came from that type of background, coupled with the perfectionistic standards of a professional ballet training from a young age.

When I first read the Gita (Eknath Easwaran’s edition) in my first ever yoga teacher training, it was life-changing. I was amazed at how the concepts written about thousands of years ago, still directly applied to our lives in the the 21st Century. I still have to remind myself that staying in the present moment and enjoying the process, as well as valuing the process, is paramount.

Results cannot be controlled, as they are often beyond our mortal individual powers. But we can have control over the integrity of the process, and then let go of attachments to outcomes. Speaking and acting from a center of truth (“satya”) in seeking an environment that is just, peaceful, and non-violent (“ahimsa”) for all is a yogic ideal; we don’t know if that ideal will ever manifest in our lifetimes, yet that unknown does not negate the importance of those sattvic actions and state of being.

Many people create New Year’s resolutions, but often finding they are unable to fulfill those resolutions, become disappointed with themselves. Resolutions tend to be overly ambitious and focused on an unrealistic result, rather than small, step-by-step intermediary goals.

Before teaching the asana portion of all my yoga classes, I like to offer students and myself the opportunity to set an intention for the yoga practice, the day, or further out in time. In this type of practice, we are basically setting mini-resolutions throughout the year that are practical, timely, and manageable. Maybe they are attainable, maybe they are not. The important thing is setting that intention, breathing into it, and then letting go of the attachment to the result.

If we do this type of practice throughout the year, I believe it obviates the need or desire to set unattainable New Year’s resolutions, such as “I will never procrastinate with my writing ever again.” Once a year resolutions that set us up for failure and disappointment may not serve a useful purpose; instead having an intentional daily or weekly practice throughout the year helps us focus on the process over results.

With that in mind, wishing you all the very best for 2016! May we continue to teach one another life’s myriad lessons and support one another in the process!

Nutcracker Ballet Arts