iHanuman was honored to record her weekend workshop in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this year. This class was the friday night introduction to the workshop and is a challenging 2 hour vinyasa class culminating in the pose Vasisthasana.

Please enjoy listening to this class, but please take care to listen to your own body by following your breath when engaging in this or any yoga practice.

Listen to the class.

Suzie found her teacher, John Friend, in 1994 and was one of the first certified Anusara Yoga Teachers. Today she shares with us some of the philosophy of Anusara Yoga, as well as
how she recognizes the impact that her yoga practice has had on
her life off the mat.

For video clips from this interview, please visit Suzie's iHanuman Teacher Page.
Suzie's CD, "A Daily Anusara Practice for Beginners", is available for download from our digital store. Thanks for helping to build the bridge with iHanuman.
Namaste!

Listen to the interview.

This feature was recorded live at a teacher training workshop at Yoga Source in Richmond, VA where Richard shared some of the history of how yoga arrived in the west, as well as how it has changed from its original form.

For follow up recordings covering some of the classical poses found in the ancient yoga text, the Gheranda Samhita, as well as an introductory pranayama practice, please visit Richard's iHanuman Teacher Page. You can receive this audio automatically by subscribing to our podcast on the homepage of iHanuman. Enjoy!

Listen to the recording.

In this interview Chandra tells the story of her journey with Sri Dharma Mittra, and shares her wisdom and perspective on guru bhakti and the necessity of living masters, the spiritual import of asana, karma yoga, and the history and impetus behind the NC School of Yoga. You can also visit her iHanuman teacher page for video selections from the interview.

Listen to the interview.

iHanuman had the privilege of attending and recording an intimate living room
talk by Dr. Prabhavati on May 29, 2007, during her most recent visit
to the United States. At this special gathering she shared the history of
Ramana's
Garden, inspiring success stories, and the personal lessons about hope,
resilience, and divine abundance that she has learned from her greatest teachers:
her
kids.

If you would like more information on Dr. Prabhavati and Ramana's
Garden, please visit her website at www.sayyesnow.org. If you would like
to financially support the work she and the other dedicated volunteers are
doing there, you can make a tax-deductible donation through the U.S. non-profit
group Friends of Ramana's Garden.

Listen to the talk.

Also, please watch this excellent shortfilm on Ramana's Garden by Explore, a philanthropic multimedia project of the Annenberg Foundation.

The following interview with
Eoin explores his involvement with Camp Moomba and the role of
service and karma yoga. At the bottom of this interview is information
on how you can help support and participate in this amazing giving
opportunity.

iHanuman: This is Tilak, building the bridge with iHanuman. Today we're speaking with
Vancouver yoga teacher Eoin Finn about his involvement with the
Camp Moomba Yogathon. Eoin, thanks for taking the time to talk
with us today.

Eoin: Nothing but pleasure.

iHanuman: So this coming Saturday, July 21st, is the 5th Annual
Yogathon benefiting Camp Moomba. Tell us a little more about what Camp
Moomba is and how you became associated with it.

Eoin: Camp Moomba is a camp on the West coast of Canada that
services kids from all across Canada and internationally as well, and
the mandate is to provide summer camp for kids who are impacted by HIV
and AIDS. I got involved with this five and a half years ago now, because
one of my friends and students, the founder of Camp Moomba, came up to
me and said, You know, I think that we are going to have a financial
shortfall for this camp this year, and I'm wondering of ways that the
yoga community could come together to raise money for the event. And
we came up with a Yogathon idea.

iHanuman: So what exactly is a Yogathon?

Eoin: The Yogathon itself started off as 108 sun salutations,
which is a traditional yoga practice. And that's kind of changed, the
format, since then. Last year we adopted a new format which was 108 minutes
of yoga. With 108 being a yoga specific number, we wanted to stick with
that format, but what we found was that for the average person, 108 sun
salutations was kind of hard on them I would say. You know, 20-30% of
the people out there would have wrist injuries or some kind of shoulder
injury. It was just too much of a hard practice. So we've kind of moved
away from the "-athon" idea, which I think as soon as hear that behind
anything that you do, you automatically assume that it needs to be hard.
And we actually have gone more in the opposite direction and made it
more enjoyable. One of the things that we're really trying to do, really
in the spirit of union, is unite all different styles of yoga and to
really emphasize the fact that no one really has a cartel on making people
feel happy. There are all different paths, and this yoga path is a good one. So we put several teachers
together, each leads a little chunk of their own style of yoga, and we
put together an awesome flowing dance and it works great. So the format
is 108 minutes right now, so that's what we're going to do again this
year.

And we've added another aspect to it as well called the BlissFest.
And the Blissfest is, I mean the best way I can describe it, this
event more than anything is about community. I think personally
that, in general,
life for a lot of people becomes too economically driven and we
lose some of the basics: simple good things that a lot of our ancestors
had
in the societies they lived in up until probably about 100 years
ago. And so I almost view Blissfest as a community fair, where
there are events
for kids, there's tons of great music and we have food and entertainment
and a Sustainable Trade Fair as well. This year we're actually
doing an Eco Fashion Show as well, which is cool. It's kind of,
like I mentioned, part circus.

iHanuman: That's great. And it's really awesome how you really
drive home that it's not just about torturing yourself or "suffering
for good," trying to make it through this 108 sun salutation marathon.

Eoin: Yeah, I mean I think that's an important step, an important
psychological shift for people to make in our society. There may be certain
societies out there where people need to work harder but I think in general
we just need to relax.

iHanuman: We do a good enough job of that by ourselves.

Eoin: Yeah, it sounds like you have the same approach too.
I think ultimately the reason that we all do yoga is to get our
bodies and minds in harmony, and then you get your body and mind
in harmony with everything out there. And if you're really living
from that
perspective
I don't know if you would do yoga for eight hours straight or something
like that . . . even though it's tempting. There's something strange
about the human psyche. I mean, every few months people approach
me and say "Why don't you do 24 hours of yoga?" or something like
that.

iHanuman: And it sounds like the event has grown year after
year. What has that progression looked like?

Eoin: The first year we had about 120 people that showed up
to do it. Last year we had over 1000 people all doing yoga at the same
place. And this year I think we're pretty much on par for at least 1500
or 2000 people. It could even be more than that, I'm not sure. You know
you can just tell when events have reached a critical mass, so we're
definitely on par for something really good.

iHanuman: The energy there has got to be absolutely incredible
with so many people there and the positivity of this being a selfless,
combined effort to make people's lives better.

Eoin: It really is. At one point I should probably send you
our mission statement. But I mean a lot of people give lip service to
the whole idea of working from a new model based on abundance and not
on competition, but we're really trying to build the event around those
principles as well. So it's actually really incredible how when you offer
that chance out there to people, how they really respond to it. It's
been incredibly positive like that. I mean even the people who we have
at this event organizing it, they're used to organizing big computer
trade shows or something like that and they're just shocked. Even the
people who are vendors are not having this 'What's in it for me?' mentality,
but 'How can we give back?' kind of mentality. It spreads once you allow
people to operate on that level.

iHanuman: There was a news story on the internet a couple
weeks ago about how scientists are now actually finding that people who
give money and know that that money or part of that money is going to
be used for improving other people's lives, there is a chemical shift
in the brain, and associates this positive feeling with it.

Eoin: I'm sure, yeah. All levels including the chemical structure
of your mind I'm sure would be hugely impacted by the positivity that's
going on. And that's the beautiful chance to offer something back for
the human evolution experiment that we're conducting.

iHanuman: There are so many people practicing yoga now, and
in this case yogis definitely are stepping up to, I wouldn't say 'confront'
the situation that these children are living with, but contributing in
a positive way. I was so inspired when I first heard about your involvement
with this. I thought, 'Yes, this is what yogis need to be doing.' It's
a great example. And there are so many people doing yoga that we have
the capability to make such a huge difference. What are yogis' responsibilities
in the service area? Could you speak some to that?

Eoin: I agree, absolutely. I think I know whet you're getting
at with your question. Yeah, it's an important thing because it's important
to keep that spirit of deep connection with others and karma yoga alive.
And I think one of the major things we need to look at in the yoga movement
is how popular it's getting and what out relationship is to that. Because
I look, for example, at another really positive movement that happened
on the planet in San Francisco in the late 1960's, that whole peace and
love movement. And it's there to a large extent, but you know when I
go through the San Francisco airport I can see tie-dye t-shirts for sale
as another novelty of San Francisco, that has become part of this commercial
machine kind of thing. And I think in one sense it's an interesting time
in the history of yoga, because when you really look at the teachings
of yoga it's kind of a medicine for too much greed in your life. And
I think that because that's such popular medicine, sometimes for people
giving out the medicine, it's very tempting to get consumed by the very illness that they're
trying to treat in the first place, which is greed.

A simple example I look at is that I really have my sights
set on going to Japan, just because I used to live there and I haven't
been over there for a long time. And I know it's a popular thing for
a lot of people in the yoga community to be doing these days, but I just
look at it and go, 'Yeah, I think it is the responsibility of a yogi
to give back somehow to the community.' So don't just go to a place and
do some tradeshow somewhere, and try to sell as much of your goods, wares,
and services and then leave, but actually try and do something that impacts
that area in a positive way. And try to look at your life more like energy,
and try to spread your own positive energy and really connect with our
life's mission. I basically look at life as a balance between two different
aspects: one is we have our own selfish needs and desires, and on the
other end of it we realize that everything is more connected, that everyone
has the right to be happy, and everything has the right to survive. And
somehow we have to balance those two extremes out. And socially, as people and as yogis, we
can be a little more on the side of giving back before we leave the planet.

iHanuman: Sometimes people see or approach their yoga practice
as almost a solitary endeavor, it's what happens on your mat, and people
aren't challenged as much, I don't think, to take it off the mat, to
see their yoga off the mat as maybe more important. So what I find unique
with the Yogathon at this Camp Moomba benefit is how it is both at once.
You are doing something on your mat but it's contextualized in this much
bigger selfless framework about connecting to other people.

Eoin: Yeah, it's perfect that way actually. It's a good observation.
It reminds me in a way of the Buddhist Metta meditation where you send
love and compassion to your own self first, and then gradually to people
you know and then to people you don't know. And it's such a great model
and way to train your brain and your whole being to respond to life.
I need to take care of myself first, and that's what this physical practice
of yoga is about. At the end of the day it's about feeling good. I don't
know of one single activity where you feel as good as after a yoga practice.
And once you do that, Step B is to spread that goodness around. So it
should definitely be encouraged more, and I see some signs of it for
sure in other events. But yeah, everyone who's on that train, if you
have one foot in the door, keep going! Spread it!

iHanuman: And on the other hand another thing you see often
are those people who are really into service who just work, work, work,
but are really detached from their own bodies.

Eoin: Yeah, it's true and that's a really excellent point.
I think the body is an amazing tool. And it also reminds me of activism
a little bit too. I know that a lot of people who are activists do great
work, but if there's a feeling of anger in your body, and I think that
anger is a physical response to life as much as it's a mental response,
you have to really feel when your body is not there. We all give a lot
of attention to the phrase "Be Present," but I honestly believe that
the total barometer for being present is right in your body. I mean you'll
know when you're present because your body feels a certain way. And it's
definitely hard if you're in the field of service, it's hard to not drain
yourself dry. I actually do free yoga classes a couple times a year just
for people who are in community service for that very reason.

iHanuman: I think I had read that last year's Yogathon raised
almost $86,000 for this camp. Is that right?

Eoin: Yeah.

iHanuman: That is absolutely amazing.

Eoin: It's incredible actually. Yeah. And the real big spin-off
is in the attention that the camp gets, because they need the media exposure.
They are kind of handicapped in a lot of ways because unfortunately there
is such a stigma around HIV and AIDS and talking freely about the issues
people face who are experiencing it from a first person perspective,
especially if you're a kid. And it's not like a lot of other causes where
you can actually show first hand images of people who are experiencing
this because there are privacy issues involved. So not only the funding,
but the media attention is important. The whole issue of pediatric AIDS
is huge.

iHanuman: And it has to be a unique experience for those kids
who do encounter that stigma, whether they or their parents have HIV/AIDS,
to be able to find camaraderie at a camp with kids who are going through
the exact same thing. It has to be incredibly powerful and healing.

Eoin: It's totally unique and powerful and I completely salute
all the people at Camp Moomba who organize the camp and really put their
energy behind it. I mean it's hard enough when you think about it just
being a kid, just trying to deal with some of the life issues that we
all deal with, and then to be dealing with any disease, and especially
HIV and AIDS, which are so unpredictable and we don't have a lot of scientific
data on it. And you can get yourself into a dark corner pretty quickly
being a kid, so yeah, it's nice just to have that chance to come and
play. We all deserve it.

iHanuman: So this event is happening there in Vancouver, but
for all the yogis reading this I want to emphasize that we all can get
involved. This is an extremely important opportunity for us as yogis
to step up. How can people here in the States and around the world help
contribute?

Eoin: You can go to www.campmoombayogathon.com, and if you
want to do the random acts of kindness thing, you can pick someone and
donate to them even if you don't know them and help them out. You can
also make direct donations to the camp at their website: www.campmoomba.com.
It's quite simple. All the registration, the whole event is actually
run online, so
it's a completely paper-free
event.

iHanuman: So go to www.campmoombayogathon.com, hit the donate
button, and let's send some positive energy and love your way.

Eoin: And we would love to expand it too. We definitely have
plans to bring it across Canada and maybe into the U.S. as well, because
we'd actually love to create other camps in other areas. That's our longer
term goal for sure, without becoming burnt out people in service like
we talked about.

iHanuman: That would be great later on to have some affiliate,
satellite events joining in on the same day around the country. That
would be awesome.

Eoin: That would be powerful for sure. It's a beautiful thing
just participating in the event gives you enough fuel in your positivity
bank account to last a couple years.

iHanuman: That's how we'll make a difference in the world
and really change things is by starting in our communities and the little
things really add up.

Eoin: I agree.

iHanuman: I appreciate you taking the lead on this one and
I know you are inspiring a lot of people.

Eoin: Yeah, thanks for all of your interest in the event and
all the great things you're doing to promote karma yoga too. It's a beautiful
thing, iHanuman.

iHanuman: Eoin, thanks for helping to build the bridge there
in Vancouver through all of your service and your love.

Eoin: Namaste.

iHanuman: Namaste.

For more information on Eoin, you can check out his brand
new, awesome website: www.eoinfinnyoga.com, and you can also listen to
the great interview that Lara at YogaPeeps did with Eoin at www.yogapeeps.com (Episode #5). Namaste!]]> http://www.ihanuman.com/index.php?pageId=3836 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:34:23 EDT http://www.ihanuman.com/index.php?pageId=3834

After living and practicing in Southern California with some of yoga's best teachers, she and her husband Sunny moved to Asheville, NC to raise their family. Together they created the Asheville Yoga Center, where Stephanie teaches weekly classes as well as offering her highly-regarded Teacher Training Programs.

The following interview was recorded on May 4, 2007, at her studio in Asheville. During this conversation Stephanie shares the story of her personal journey into Yoga, her fascination with pranayama and bandhas, her love of chanting, and how pregnancy and motherhood helped shape her practice. You can also visit her teacher page for video selections from the interview.

Listen to the interview.

Erich's Moving Into Stillness Discussion Board is an online community forum with over 2000 registered members. With yogis from around the world and across the range of styles and backgrounds, it is very valuable resource for both teachers and students. The following discussion was recorded on April 28, 2007, at an informal gathering of discussion board participants at the Camp Allen Retreat Center in Navasota, Texas. In this talk Erich introduces his "Internet of Mind" analogy, as well as touching on other topics, including the predicament of language, how teaching has changed, being versus doing, and the paralleling of technology and consciousness.

For more information on Erich, visit his website at www.movingintostillness.com, as well as his iHanuman teacher page, where you can find additional video clips from this retreat.

Listen to the discussion.

Jennifer Elliott is one of those inspired by the dedication and teaching of Tim Miller. Jennifer brought Tim Miller to her Yoga Barn this April where he engaged local practitioners in a teacher training workshop. Part of his traditional teacher training includes a discussion on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. iHanuman has created a podcast of this discussion for your listening pleasure.

For more information on Tim Miller and his yoga center, visit the Ashtanga Yoga Center Website. Thanks for helping to build the bridge with iHanuman. Namaste.

Listen to the discussion.

Cynthia Woodring is a hatha yoga teacher living outside of
Charlottesville, Virginia. She generously allowed iHanuman to record
her hour and a half class September 17, 2006 at Studio 206 in
downtown Charlottesville. Cynthia has studied some hindu mythology
along with her study of yoga over the past 15 years. And she
beautifully interweaves the story of Hanuman into her class which
culminates in the pose Hanumanasana.

The full pose, Hanumanasana, is quite a challenging pose, but Cynthia
takes you gently into the full pose through several hip openers and
hamstring lengtheners before asking you to try the full pose.

So find a quiet space on the floor with your yoga mat and a few
blankets. Do what you can or just enjoy listening to the story. If
you miss the feature, you can always bookmark the link to the mp3 or
visit Cynthia's new web-page on iHanuman at www.ihanuman.com/cynthiawoodring. You will find more information on her and her class

schedule there.

Listen to
Cynthia's Yoga Class dedicated to Hanuman.

The following was recorded during a satsang with Swami Satchidananda on Septemer 8, 1990. iHanuman offers these in appreciation for his 40 years of service in the West. Special thanks to Shakticom and the Satchidananda Ashram.

Victor is an amazing artist, a creative, conceptual genius whose artistic vision deeply shapes his experience and expression of yoga. He has created a series of books called From The Inside Out, which are a combination of “visionary images of elemental energy patterns” and “evocative text, written in his own incomparable linguistic style” to illustrate he and Angela’s essential teachings. When studying with Victor, one is impressed by his deep understanding of the body, his compassion, his insightful adjustments, and his authenticity.

The following talk was recorded by iHanuman at the Satchidananda Ashram on November 4, 2006, where Victor was giving a workshop titled “The Breathing Body.” In this talk he discusses the breathing body, quiet mind, finding your inner teacher, and the institutionalization and certification of yoga. Enjoy!

Listen to The Breathing Body talk by Victor Van Kooten