Namaste' Sandy Carmellini

Welcome again to my monthly newsletter!  It's been a very busy month, and my hope for you is that you have found some time this summer to relax or play.  In two weeks we'll be at the Green Gulch Retreat!  We are really looking forward to it!  There is still a few spaces left--contact me if you are interested!

Last month the newsletter introduced you to the eight limbs of yoga: Yama (universal/moral laws), Niyama (self purification/discipline), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (rhythmic breath control), Pratahara (withdrawal of the mind/domination of the senses), Dhrana (concentration), Dyana (meditation), and Samadhi (a state of oneness with the Supreme Universal Spirit).

This month we will begin elaborating on the first of these limbs:  Yama.  There are five principals of Yama.  Essentially, these are ethical disciplines.  It is believed that if these are not practiced, chaos, violence, untruth, stealing, dissipation, and covetousness will be experienced.  It is also believed that the roots of all evils are the emotions of greed, desire, and attachment which bring pain and ignorance.  The five principals of Yama are:
Ahimsa--Non-violence
Satya--Truth
Asteya--Non-stealing
Brahmacharya--Continence
Aparigraha--Non-coveting

Ahimsa means "not killing" or non-violence.  The true meaning is much wider than this--it means to love and embrace all creation.  The yogis believe it is an insult to the Creator to destroy any being.  Violence arises from fear, weakness, ignorance, and restlessness.  Ahimsa brings freedom from fear.  The late, great Mahatma Ghandi spent his life demonstrating Ahimsa.

Satya means truth.  Truth is the highest conduct of morality.  Just as fire burns impurities, the fire of truth cleanses the yogi.  If the mind thinks the truth, if the tongue speaks the truth, if the whole life is based upon truth, then one becomes fit for the union with the infinite.  The four sins of speech are:  abuse and obscenity, dealing with falsehoods, calumny (or telling tales), and ridiculing what others hold sacred.

Asteya means "not stealing."  The desire to possess what another has drives a person to evil deeds.  Craving muddles the stream of tranquility.  Freedom from craving allows one to ward off great temptations.

Bramachararya means continence.  This is considered the battery that sparks the torch of wisdom.  The dictionary defines continence as a life of celibacy.  In Indian belief it also means monogamy.  The ancient texts recommend marriage to householders.  Without experiencing human love and happiness how can one possibly know divine love?

Aparigraha means not hoarding.  The yogi believes that hoarding implies a lack of faith in the Divine Spirit to provide for the future.  The yogi makes his life simple and trains his mind to not feel loss.  He believes that everything will come to him at the proper time.  It is also believed that one should not take things without working for it--this creates poverty in the spirit.

I hope you enjoyed this brief description of the yamas.  Next month we will explore Niyama--stay tuned!

And if you can't come to Sausalito this month then come to Italy in October ($1295)--we are still offering an extra night free!  This is a $195 value!!

February in Hilo, Hawaii is beautiful!  Eco-designed facility, fabulous views, breathtaking studio, delicious food!  From $825 for the week!

Come join me for Saturday morning class (10:45-noon) at the Yoga-Movement Center in Walnut Creek (on Locust Street near Peet's Coffee)!  Bring a friend (mention this newsletter) and get your second class free! (For my class only)

That's enough for now.  May you stay in good health and enjoy the long days of summer!

Peace and blessings,
Sandy