News from Children Walking Tall in India

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Thank you so much to everyone who has donated children’s clothes in the past few weeks.  In about three weeks we will be traveling to Goa, India and we will be able to bring 100lbs of clothing to Children Walking Tall for underprivileged children. You can also donate through our donation page at Virgin Money Giving/ Native Yoga.

We received and email from the director at Children Walking Tall.  Below I have copied her note to help you understand the mission that they are involved in and which we can all participate.

“Hi Todd and Tamara,

We were really thrilled to see that you had decided to fundraise for Children Walking Tall – its really very kind of you. Almost all of our funding comes from Fundraising and Donations so you can be sure that your efforts will make a difference to children’s lives. We’re also poleased to see that you will visit Mango House shortly and so you will see the work on the ground first hand. I’ve copied Savita in to my email – she manages Mango House and I’m sure will look forward to your visit.

Although its the long school holidays in Goa Mango house has been really busy. As soon as school breaks up Savita is straight on with measuring up for 100s of uniforms and organising bags, stationery, shoes, rain gear etc etc. Its a really big undertaking. In a few weeks the new school year will be starting and we’re happy to report that many of the Morning School children will be going to full time school for the first time. We’re always really pleased to see them join – being able to start school is a tremendous achievement for the children. Its difficult enough for them to learn to concentrate etc but imagine going to school and being taught in a language you can’t understand. The start they get from having attended Morning School means they are well prepared to succeed and hopefully over the years will gain education and skills which will help them out of the poverty cycle.

Do let us know if you need anything from us. So that you are aware we do get a report every week (sometimes two weeks) that summarises all donations in the previous week. As people donate they get an automatic thank you from us via the Virgin site but we also send an individual thank you when we get the report from Virgin.

Thanks again
Jane”

All of your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Todd and Tamara

Give_to_receive_-_juno_to_goa

Native Yoga TT Observations

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Native Yoga Teacher Training Observations

During the Native Yoga Teacher Training Program, a part of the program process is to complete observation forms. The observations are written after taking a class at NYC and can include any insights that the practitioner is having regarding their own practice and or around the subject of yoga. This process forms an integral part of learning to share yoga with others. One of the greatest skills of a yogi or yogini is the ability to observe clearly and process the information observed so as to be able to make decisions regarding the teaching of others. Below are some of these observations. Each submission is kept anonymous so as to keep it universal. This is not so much about glorifying the individual so much as a look at what yoga can be for those that chose to gaze into this vast arena.

“After an inspiring first weekend of the yoga teacher program I went into my practice with another understanding, or willingness to understand, an even deeper layer of what I am actually doing. I tried to consciously think about what my body was doing, how it was feeling, and where I was feeling it. I also tried to think about the meditative perspectives of the practice and the flow of the breath versus the movement. I had a great practice, and this newfound extra layer of awareness is something that I will try to incorporate in my practice and daily from now on. It certainly gives a new perspective of things.” ~Anonymous

“Really, these last couple of weeks have been so life transforming. It is funny how the pieces of the puzzle just all fall into place as they are supposed to. I think that is a little of what Tim Miller was talking about. Somehow life just happens the way it is supposed, for better or for worse. Not that you shouldn’t push for the better, as that is probably a part of the plan, but when things happen for the worse, that is probably a part of the plan also. Those things(for better or worse) aren’t what define you. They are just things that happen in your life. Maybe they make you happy, maybe sad, and you should not attach yourself to them. The real “enlightened” you is what you are looking for. I think I am search of my real internal peace!!” ~Anonymous

The next Native Yoga Teacher Training begins February 3rd, 2012. Visit

www.nativeyogacenter.com for more details about the training.

Interview with Greg Nardi and Native Yoga part 2

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NY: You had the opportunity to study with Shri K Pattabhi Jois(Guruji) in Mysore, India over several years.  Can you describe what it was like to practice in that environment and within the presence of a true yoga master such as Guruji?

GN:

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I started practicing with Guruji in 1999, and so I had the good fortune of practicing in the old shala in Laxmipuran where a maximum of 12 students could fit in the room at one time.  Sharath assisted him each morning, so there was much more attention given.  On my first trip, there were only 30 students at the shala.  We also used to have conference, or question and answer period with guruji, every day at 4 pm.  Things have changed a bit as the community has grown and now there are hundreds of students at once so they’ve had to move to a much bigger shala.  What always surprised me most was guruji’s authenticity and approachability.  His primary concern was for the yoga.  Despite a pretty large language barrier, he was always able to communicate what techniques and aspects of the system were indispensible, and exactly how we were to conduct ourselves.  He kept a very clear and focused classroom.  The effects were palpable because when you walked in the yoga room in mysore, you were walking into a meditative sacred space.  You could feel the effort, focus, and intention and it just carried you through your practice.  Achievements that seemed far off became accessible, doubts and procrastination melted away,  and you just became part of the energy that he created.

Interview with Greg Nardi with Native Yoga

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Greg Nardi will be offering an Ashtanga Yoga Immersion weekend at Native Yoga Center November 11-13th, 2011.  Greg is a phenomenal teacher who has a great understanding of both the practice and theory of ashtanga yoga.  Here is the first question in a series from an interview with him.  We hope you enjoy.  You can vist details about the workshop at www.nativeyogacenter.com.

Native Yoga: How did you first get interested in yoga?  What drew you to yoga practice?

Greg Nardi: I was originally invited to take a yoga class by a friend.  I didn’t expect much since I was never into physical activity, and wasn’t particularly health conscious.  Quite the opposite, actually. I grew up asthmatic and always felt pretty let down and trapped by my body.   So, it came as a complete shock when I fell irrevocably in love with the practice at first sight.  I was always seeking spiritually and philosophically, and the combination of feeling really great in my body for the first time in my life, along with a deeply satisfying spiritual culture hooked me in right away.