EMILY PERRY:: ELEMENTAL

THE YOGA SUTRAS: SAMSKARAS + OUR EXPERIENCE

I.6 "[These five vrittis are] right knowledge, error, imagination, sleep, and memory"

I.7 "Right knowledge consists of sense perception {pratyaksa}, logic, and verbal testimony"

            ~The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, By Edwin Bryant

According to the Yoga Sutras,  yoga is concerned with the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind (I.2: Yogas citta-vritti-nirodhah: Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind). These fluctuations, the vrittis, are are our thoughts, memories, experiences— the workings of the mind— and are recorded in the mind (the citta) as imprints, or samskaras.

How we experience the world is therefore dependent on these samsakras: they color our view. They are the glasses through which we view the world and compare our experience, giving us a frame of reference.

One type of vrittii mentioned in the sutras is right knowledge. Now what does Patanjali mean by that? Right knowledge would be considered a positive vritti, one that could lead us on the path towards samadhi (meditative absorption) in a more sattvic way. That is to say, while all vrittis eventually cease on the path to samadhi, these positive ones are more helpful on the path. Right knowledge would be something hat helps us see the truth of the nature of reality, instead of keeping us stuck in the old imprinting of our experience. Right knowledge can come from direct experience~ what we know to be true from experiencing it in our bodies. Patanjali is telling us to trust our experience in the world through our bodies, not just the mind (or citta).

These samskaras, this patterning, therefore frames our view of the world, and our experience of it. So if we change our samskaras, make them inactive or burn through them, release them, that frees us up to change our point of view. We can have a new way of being in the world, of walking our path, of living our experience.

And, if we consciously work toward replacing the negative mind chatter (vrittis) that keeps us locked into our habitual patterning, we can further move toward being free to experience the moment as it is, as opposed to experiencing it through filters of the past.

In essence, the path of yoga is unique in that it not only gives us tools to release samskaras (old patterning), but also ways to prevent forming new negative ones. This is why yoga helps us feel lighter and more awake and open to the present. Why we feel just a bit more free, just a bit more calm, with practice.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

{the path ahead, big sur}

May your year ahead be full of joy and radiance!

Here's to filling our lives with more of what nourishes us, sustains us, and fills us with love + compassion!

Om! Jai Ganesha!

NEW VIDEO: AN INTERVIEW WITH JANET STONE

{image credit: the talented Jody Greene}

I am so excited to share with you a recent piece I did over at Elephant Journal Yoga:

Janet Stone: Radiant Mom Yoga {video}

We had an incredible conversation that is not to be missed. Read the article and watch the video here!

NEW OFFERINGS!

I have a new post up over at Elephant Journal, all about using tonic herbs to support a successful meditation practice (if there is such a thing...). And as usual, you can always find my pieces at Elephant over in my sidebar.

I will be adding new public classes starting next week: Tuesday/ Thursday at 9 AM starting on Decemeber 13th over at a new studio space, Pleasure Point Yoga. This class will be all levels, and the space is so beautiful, I can't wait to see you there! First class there is this Saturday at 4 PM for you locals~ we would love to see you!

Starting January 2nd, I will teaching Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 9 AM over at Santa Cruz Yoga, where I teach Tuesday and Thursday nights— this will be a level 2-3 flow, and full of fun challenge!

Hope to see you in class soon!

LIVING WITH RADIANCE

So, I have been really digging into my studies in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and the Yoga Sutras over the last few months— digging into my practice, reading, listening to podcasts, just all around submersion in general. With all of this study has come a lot of clearing. Not only is a clear vision of my practice appearing, but a new vision of my business is emerging.

What has been revealed is the core message of my work as an Acupuncturist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Yoga Teacher~

   ~ I want to support women and men in living radiantly~

Through connecting people with the core of who they are, by supporting embodiment and healthy living, and by facilitating the development of a personal practice {how ever that might manifest}, I hope to help you, everyone, to "live radiantly".

So, something to think about this week: what is the obstacle in your path to radiance? How might you find a way around or through it? How might you dissolve the resistance, transform it into something that is supportive, even anchoring? 

THE FRUITS OF PRACTICE

The breath is the vehicle for the prana, so the breath is important. The breath is the driver, and the beauty of that is as long as there is breath in our body we have the opportunity to experience the fruits of practice, no matter how broken our body might be. It's the breath that will take us to the bandhas. It's the breath that links the body and the mind. Through the breath we can still the mind."

                ~Annie Pace, Guruji: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students

FOUNDATIONS OF FLOW WORKSHOP

Next weekend, Saturday September 10th I will be offering a workshop on the Foundations of Vinyasa Flow Yoga. If you are new to the practice, or want to expand your experience of yoga, please join us!

Come learn about the core elements of the practice, including the breath, the bandhas, the transitions between poses. 

From the workshop description:"Flow styles of yoga, including Vinyasa Flow, are the most popular in the country for a reason: you start by moving dynamically to more easily warm and open the body, release tensions and toxins, and more easily find your way into greater strength, flexibility, balance and, ultimately, a sense of inner stillness and peace of bodymind."

$35: Sat Sept 10th, 1:30- 4:30 PM

Visit Santa Cruz Yoga's website to register and for directions.

 

TONIC HERBS + YOUR PRACTICE

{Photo: Kthread}

My latest post is now live over at Elephant Journal Wellness: "3 Tonic Herbs Every Yogi Should Know About". Come read about the ways in which herbs can support your sadhana, or practice! Please leave a comment if you'd like!

ON TEACHING + PRACTICE

There is something so incredible about the teaching process.

Watching someone's understanding of yoga unfold before me is so exciting. I remember when so much of the practice was new to me: I basically learned yoga out of this book for many years, since I did not know to really look for a public class until 1997 or so. And even now, after all these years, the richness and depth of the practice is still unfolding before my eyes.

 Once I started teaching, it was clear that I had to teach from my own practice, my own sadhana and self-study. That I had to draw from what moved me, confused me, unhinged me, opened me, strengthened me, and healed me.  That I had to somehow put this process into words or form so that others might be able to glean a little transformation from my own work.

I teach and practice to remember. My favorite moments on the path have been those moments when, after receiving a teaching, my heart says, "I knew that!". There is a recognition there, a remembering of something long hidden, unmoored, released and recovered. 

The grace of yoga is that uncovers the beautiful truth: that we are radiant, strong, wise, and receptive. It brings to light that we already are the yin and the yang, that we already embody everything we are searching for.  Being able to explore this, and teach from it, is such an amazing experience. And it is what brings me back to the mat, day after day.

SUMMER BEACH FLOW