Unraveling the Esoteric: Continued

notes from & inspired by my workshop
reprinted from Grasping at Intangibles

Ganesha

A popular and easily recognized deity in Hindu mythology, is the elephant-headed God, Ganesha.

There are many stories as to how Ganesha came to have his distinctive elephant head. It is said that he was created as a son by Parvati to guard and protect her quarters while her husband Shiva, was away (it seems understandable that the Gods spend a lot of time working away from home). When Shiva came back, he was greeted by this man and told that he could not pass to Parvati’s quarters. Enraged, Shiva cuts off the man’s head, and goes on past to reunite with his wife.

We can imagine that there was some awkwardness in the reunion as Shiva explains the conflict, and Parvati explains that it was her son that was beheaded. Shiva, ever just, restores the man to life, but all that was around by this time, was an elephant’s head (and better elephant-headed than dead).

Ganesha had a brother named Kartikay. Presented with the challenge of racing around the universe and all of creation, Kartikay sets off to do just that, while his brother slowly and simply walks around their parents, showing his understanding, and thus declaring the universe as nothing more or less than his holy parents. Ganesha of course wins the race, and is named Lord (Isha) of all existing beings (Gana).

-He is associated with the root chakra, providing a solid foundation for the other chakras to bloom.

-He is often seen either riding, or near a rat, and this shows his control over ego and vanity.

-The plate of sweets, or “laddu” symbolize the sweetness of purity, the conch shell represents “om”, the sound that creates space both literally and figuratively.

-His broken tusk is what he used to pen the Mahabharata (or “The Story of the Bharata Dynasty”, one of India’s two great epics, the other being the Ramayana or “Ram’s Journey”. The Bhagavad Gita, or “Song of God” is contained in the Mahabharata).

-The swastika, when facing clockwise as it often is in association with Ganesha, symbolizes the universe unfolding and evolving, and is thusly associated with Brahma (facing the opposite direction it would symbolize the universe folding in on itself, and thus be associated with Vishnu).

-To see beyond the physical appearance of this deity is to see beyond the appearance of the challenges that arise, beyond surface illusions, and into a truth that allows us to navigate difficult terrain. As such, Ganesha is the Lord of Removing Obstacles.

Shake Your Asana Playlist, March 5: The Man

"The subject theme of this week was "The MAN" and the misconception that we do not have a choice in how we run our lives. Sometimes being our own worst enemy by being complicit with bad habits and taking the easy way out. Sometimes being our best friend by standing up for the principle of doing something right (right as in perfect, not the opposite of wrong) even though it might take more time, or energy, or be less gratifying, but doing the right action because it is exactly that." DJ Yogi P

Alibi - David Gray
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Time Won't Let Me Go - The Bravery
In Your Hands - Charlie Winston
Fever - Peggy Lee
Start Again - Duncan Sheik
Life For Rent - Dido
Begin - Ben Lee
I Wish That I Was Beautiful For You - Darren Hanlon
Blame It On Me - Barenaked Ladies
Seen It All Before - Amos Lee
Jolene - Ray LaMontagne
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby - Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
Saving Words For Making Sense - The Six Parts Seven
Happy Everafter In Your Eyes - Ben Harper
Untitled 3 - Sigur Rós

Shake Your Asana Playlist: February 26

DJ P says: "...the yog must go on".

I Will Possess Your Heart (Radio Edit) - Death Cab For Cutie
A Story About A Girl - Our Lady Peace
Follow the Yellow Brick Road - Judy Garland
Middle of Nowhere - Hot Hot Heat
Yellow - Coldplay
Fortress Around Your Heart - Sting
If I Only Had a Heart - Jack Haley
Read My Mind - The Killers
Strip My Mind - Red Hot Chili Peppers
If I Only Had A Brain - Bolger, Ray & Judy Garland
FREE - Gavin DeGraw
If I Only Had the Nerve - Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Judy Garland & Ray Bolger
Think Back - Jon Bryant
Golden Heart - Mark Knopfler
Many Roads - Trevor Hall
Heartbeats - José González
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Walking Home - Tina Malia

Étudiant du mois: Shari Hersey

« C’est au studio de Yoga HappyTree que j’ai tout d’abord découvert le monde merveilleux de la pratique du yoga sur une base régulière. Le yoga m’a toujours intéressée mais ce n’est qu’après cinq ans de douleurs au dos et aux épaules que j’ai commencé à vraiment contempler l’idée de pratiquer le yoga régulièrement. Puis, j’ai découvert que j’avais une scoliose, ce qui peut causer un déséquilibre des muscles et un mal de dos. Alors, je n’ai pas hésité à essayer le yoga. Il se trouve que j’avais un laissez-passer gratuit pour une classe à HappyTree. Dans cette classe, j’ai exploré toutes sortes d’étirements nouveaux et intéressants. Je voulais en savoir davantage. J’ai décidé d’essayer l’abonnement spécial de trois mois pour les nouveaux étudiants, ce qui est vraiment une bonne idée car cela prend à peu près trois mois pour commencer à ressentir les bénéfices. Je me suis rendu compte que le yoga est beaucoup plus qu’un exercice : il fait le lien entre votre corps, votre âme et votre esprit. Pour moi, le yoga est une thérapie apaisante, physiquement et mentalement, et ma pratique à HappyTree est devenue une partie très spéciale de ma vie.»

Shari Hersey

Membre de HappyTree depuis février 2009

Gagnante de la bourse de la Métamorphose de mars de HappyTree

Shake Your Asana PLaylist: February 19

"It was a little honky tonk lovin' for the playlist this week. All about the journey and those highway philosopher's we meet along the way. 'Cause every hand's a winner, and every hand's a loser'." DJ Yogi P

The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
Small Towns And Big Dreams - Paul Brandt
Running Down a Dream - Tom Petty
Great Day To Be Alive - Travis Tritt
Baby Please Don't Go - Van Morrison with Them
Opiated - The Tragically Hip
Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Take Me Away - Dixie Chicks
You Give Me Something - James Morrison
The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel
Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens
Memphis/Tn - Craig Cardiff and the Himalayans
Only Then Will Your House Be Blessed - Harry Manx
Oh Very Young - Cat Stevens
Fire And Rain - James Taylor
Sail Away - David Gray
Cities Of Texas - Paul Kelly
The Long And Winding Road - Ray Charles & The Count Basie Orchestra

Shake Your Asana Playlist: Friday, February 5th

*While DJ Yogi P thinks all his playlists are good (of course!), he admits this one may be "gooder".

Your Song [Time 'Love' Lee Mix] - Groove Armada
Giant - D. Sardy Feat. Liela Moss
Single Ladies - Pomplamoose Covering Beyonce
Cannot Contain This -Moloko
The Youth - MGMT
Mad Pursuit - Junkie XL Feat. Electrocuti
Street Spirit - Radiohead
Numb - U2
Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap
Breathe Me - Sia
So Much For Everyone - Dan Mangan
Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl - Broken Social Scene
This World - Zero 7
Barfly - Ray LaMontagne
Last Night - Moby

Shake Your Asana Playlist: January 29

* go to a site like http://listen.grooveshark.com/ or http://www.playlist.com/ to build a playlist and listen online!

Garden - Pearl Jam
Glass Of Water -Coldplay
One Thing - Finger Eleven
Plan B - Movie Clip Fubar
Read My Mind - The Killers
I Don't Want To Be -Gavin DeGraw
I'm Good, I'm Gone -Lykke Li
Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk
I'm On Fire -Bruce Springsteen
Something Of Your Grace - Harry Manx
Safe And Sound - Hawksley Workman
Libertad - Pacifika
Silence - Sarah McLachlan
Alive (Acoustic) - Edwin
The Weekend - Jon Bryant
Re: Stacks - Bon Iver