News01/11

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Dear Yogi,

Hope you are well.

Here is the January 2011 Ashtanga Yoga Jiva Newsletter.

Here is your best New Years Resolution - repeat after me :

“In 2011 I will create more peace, love and understanding for all, by becoming a vegetarian and doing my practice everyday”. Simple huh?!

December and January dates for your diary:

December 2010

Wednesday 29th - Last Mysore practice of the year with Nigel & Last Led Primary class of the year

Thursday 30th - Last practice at Amarin before the studio closes. Jamie teaching the class.

January 2011

Tuesday 4th - New Moon Day & Amarin Plaza studio re-opens.

Thursday 20th - Full Moon Day.

Friday 28th - Nigel’s last class at Absolute Yoga.

And Now, the End is Near

Yes the rumor is true - in January I will leave Absolute Yoga.

For more than two years I have given the Absolute Yoga Mysore students my sweat, tears and blood, but now it is time to move on. I am very grateful to all the students of the Mysore program, present and past, who have shown so much love, dedication and determination. Watching and participating in your practice and progress has given me so many amazing and useful experiences and so much joy and so much tiredness, all in equal measure!

So, now I find myself rather tired and broken and in need of some self-healing and a greater emphasis on my own yoga practice.

Please watch this space for news of me teaching again in Bangkok / Thailand / The World.

Bangkok Moon Days for 2011

New Moon

Full Moon

January 4

January 20

February 3

February 18

March 5

March 20

April 4

April 18

May 3

May 17

June 2

June 16

July 1

July 15

July 31

August 14

August 29

September 12

September 27

October 12

October 27

November 11

November 25

December 11

December 25

As we have had many new students join us this year, I want to repeat what was sent last year about Moon Days:

What is a Moon Day?

In Ashtanga Yoga practice a Moon Day is the day on which a full or new moon exerts its strongest influence.

So What?

Regular Ashtanga Yoga practitioners should not practice on the days of the new or full moon. The day you rest is the day of your regular practice time nearest the new or full moon.

Tim Miller, Certified Ashtanga teachers’ website is usually referred to on why this is:

Like all things of a watery nature (human beings are about 70% water), we are affected by the phases of the moon. The phases of the moon are determined by the moon’s relative position to the sun. Full moons occur when they are in opposition and new moons when they are in conjunction. Both sun and moon exert a gravitational pull on the earth. Their relative positions create different energetic experiences that can be compared to the breath cycle. The full moon energy corresponds to the end of inhalation when the force of prana is greatest. This is an expansive, upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded. The Upanishads state that the main prana lives in the head. During the full moon we tend to be more headstrong.

The new moon energy corresponds to the end of exhalation when the force of apana is greatest. Apana is a contracting, downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but dense and disinclined towards physical exertion.

The Farmers Almanac recommends planting seeds at the new moon when the rooting force is strongest and transplanting at the full moon when the flowering force is strongest.

Practicing Ashtanga Yoga over time makes us more attuned to natural cycles. Observing moon days is one way to recognize and honor the rhythms of nature so we can live in greater harmony with it.

Why are the moon days in Bangkok sometimes occurring on different dates in other territories?

The moon is not completely full or new for an arbitrarily nominated day or 24 hour period. The moon is completely full or new, only for a moment. In different time zones the completely full or new moon occurs at different times of day. And therefore sometimes on different days. For instance, in Bangkok this year the moon is full on the 8th of October at 1:44 am. London is 6 hours behind Bangkok, so in London the moon will be completely full at 7:44 pm on the 7th of October, the previous day.

Why does the Thai moon calendar sometimes disagree with the yoga moon calendar?

This is a common question. Comparing the stated moon days on the Thai calendar with scientifically calculated moon phases, it was found that dates of moon days often differ by one or even two days. No explanation or relationship could be found by this writer! Extensive checking on the internet similarly brought no answer. Wikipedia have a “Thai lunar calendar” page which states the following:

The Thai lunar calendar (Thai: Patitin Chantarakati) (literally, Against-the-Sun Moon-Ways) is Thailand's version of the lunisolar Buddhist calendar used in the Southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos and Burma. Based on the third-century Surya Siddhanta Hindu calendar, these combine lunar and solar calendars for a nominal year of 12 months. An extra day or an extra 30-day month is intercalated at regular intervals; Thai, Lao, and Cambodian versions do not add an extra day to years with an extra month.

Not sure what that means exactly, or if it offers an explanation. If anyone thinks they know, please write in.

I wish you are a very healthy and happy 2011.

Namaste

A political victory, a rise in rents, the recovery of your sick or the return of your absent friend, or some other favorable event raises your spirits, and you think good days are preparing for you. Do not believe it. Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.

Emerson

Ashtanga Yoga Bangkok