YOGA RASA COMMUNITY NEWS

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1 YOGA RASA COMMUNITY NEWS January 25, 2008 Issue 85 Yoga Rasa exists to actively participate in creating peace on our planet by joining with others to grow an all-inclusive yoga study community, promoting total physical, mental, spiritual health and well being. 3800R Spencer Burke Pasadena, Texas A PEACE OF MY MIND... Tracie s message I love the topic of this week s newsletter. As I write I get to use many of my favorite Sanskrit and English words. Read on and enjoy, may you experience the rasa of our love! Rasa, the inspirational essence and sublime taste of all experience. Someone who intentionally seeks to swim in the sweetness of a rasa-saturated life would be referred to as a rasika, sometimes known as the taster. As a school of yoga, Yoga Rasa seeks to empower others to live a life that is rasa filled. The way of the rasika in modern day terms could be referred to as the knowledge of emotional intelligence. Rasa yoga is the art of creating an intentional experience to cultivate a specific bhava or emotion and becoming the rasika of everyday life. The very purpose of the modern day rasika is to actively seek to create the type of feeling tone or bhavana one desires and then to become totally immersed in the experience in a way that awareness is keen and totally present. With in-depth study at Yoga Rasa one can learn to create a heightened awareness of the ebb and flow of emotion and may, from a dichotomist perspective turn the bhava (emotion) that arises from an event or interaction into rasa, a sublime understanding of joy, love, sorrow, anger and fear. These are only a few of the bhavas but the idea is that through a focused mind we cultivate an ongoing awareness of what we are feeling. Allowing the emotion, keeping it in the light of a compassionate responsive consciousness, shifting our self-talk to an uplifted inner dialogue and directing our thoughts we create a transcendent, awe-inspiring encounter with ourselves. Life radiates the rich sweetness of rasa. There are some of my sweet friends out there who are coming in contact with more of the dryness in life, where experience becomes either good or bad. From the rasika s perspective the experience of being human contains good and bad and seeks not to negate something because it is bad or attach oneself because it is good. The rasika instead will practice focus and embrace what is happening in the moment and become aware of the process taking place within him. He seeks to understand in such a way that the event can be transformed into a sublime moment of rasa, avoiding the addictive nature of attachment and the resistant spirit of avoidance. We can begin to see clearly, from the mountaintop, the interplay of life and that we often do not understand the required ingredients that create the joyful feast of living. Hang out with me this weekend for the meditation intensive and let s learn and talk more. Reaching out to you this chilly day warm thoughts of light and love. Love,T. I would like to add to my teacher of the subtler yogas, Shree Om-kArAya namah (the best of teachers) Shiva Rea, my heartfelt gratitude for guidance and understanding of these teachings. COMING ATTRACTIONS January 26 Meditation Intensive I (1/26-27) January 30 Early Bird registration due Valentine s Day: Yoga, Wine, & Chocolate (2/14) February 2 Ayurveda Level I (2/2) Note the early bird deadlines for great savings on great workshops!

2 Explore Your Rasa Rasa: the "taste" or essence of any impression; the aesthetic experience in transcendence; the emotional fulfillment of the soul; nectar of life. If there is one topic that can make a big difference in your experience of life, it is this one RASA. Rasa is a Sanskrit term used in both yoga and Ayurveda. If you ever feel run down or like you are going through the motions in certain areas of your life, rasa will turn it around. The source of deep satisfaction, rasa must be present in your body and your mindset to enjoy life. Read on and learn how to create a deep well of contentment in your life. Consider joining us for the Ayurveda workshop or the belly dance classes to learn more about rasa!, Liz Rasa, Your Juice! Rasa is obviously the inspiration for the name of our studio and community, so we think it is a significant concept! Without being aware of it, you have already learned about rasa by attending classes and events here, because we bring it into our way of teaching. As with all Sanskrit words, there are a variety of definitions that all represent rasa. Sanskrit words have many facets. By understanding each facet of the word through different applications of it, the dimensions of the concept open up to you over time. Ayurvedic teacher Dr. Vasant Lad says in his book, The word rasa has many profound meanings. Rasa means taste, melody, experience, comprehension, interest, enthusiasm, appreciation, emotion, juice and essence. The words juice, emotion, and taste are related in that they all have in them a reference to water. Rasa has water-like attributes, an expression of fluidity. Without this juice, life begins to feel dry and bland. This happens at a physical, emotional, and psychological level. Physically, we feel tired and un-energetic, stiff and empty. Emotionally, we feel stuck or bored. Psychologically, we feel disinterested, isolated, or resistant to life. That does not sound like much fun which is another sign of low rasa. Take a moment to ask yourself if there are areas of your life where you feel this could be occurring. Rasa is an embrace of life, digging your heels totally into life. In the holistic medical system of Ayurveda, a basic meaning of rasa is taste. Think about the concept of taste taste is what makes our food enjoyable! During times when we might have a cold or congestion that prevents us from tasting as fully, eating is not as much fun. The same goes for living if we are not tasting our life experience, savoring it, appreciating it living is not much fun. Belly Dance Rasa Last Saturday, we had the belly dancing workshop and party. What an event a first-hand experience of rasa! I so enjoyed learning about this art. It was a totally new experience for me. There is no denying the fluid aspect of it moving the hips, spine, and arms in a sensual and creative way. Activating the body in this way cultivates rasa. After that workshop, I felt so loving toward myself and very content, even though I have a long way to go as far as being a belly dancer!

3 When we were all together for the party, the rasa was still very evident, and the awesome performances brought it out even more. I noticed that I connected more deeply with people. I was so interested in talking with people and spending time in community. Rasa brings us together as human beings. I felt so present that each conversation I had made me feel as though time were standing still. Cultivating Rasa When we find ourselves moving away from connecting with people, or not taking care of ourselves, or going through the motions in life it is time to focus on cultivating rasa. The present moment offers rasa. All of life experience offers juice if we immerse ourselves mindfully. Life experience is rich, but that richness can be lost if we are busy resisting it or attaching to it. Even the most mundane experiences are full of juice and richness if we become present. I can be driving in my car, on the same route I drive every day, and find the rasa. Sometimes it is in the feeling of the sun on my skin, sometimes it is an amazing cloud in the sky, sometimes it is hearing a funny story on the radio. Part of cultivating rasa is being aware and accepting of our emotions. Rasa is available in the moments of pure joy as well as the moments of deep pain. When we see emotions as part of what it means to be human, we can receive the richness from it and not be paralyzed or overwhelmed by them. Part of cultivating rasa is also self-care are you giving yourself what you need physically through diet and exercise, emotionally through having fun and being in community with others, spiritually through exposing yourself to inspiring teachers and also taking time for inner quiet and reflection? The result of a well of rasa is joy, peace, inspiration, enthusiasm, creativity, courage, and a deep contentment. All of us at Yoga Rasa are here to assist you in creating your own well of rasa. I hope to see you in class. Tracie and Liz welcome all comments, criticisms, and loving support! Tracie: virarasa@comcast.net Liz: tararasa@comcast.net Experience Triple Delight Yoga, Wine & Chocolate all in one great class St. Valentine s Day Thursday, February 14, :30 pm Enjoy the present moment, applying the teachings of yoga to life s pleasures. Savor chocolate & yoga, followed by wine tasting. Register Online Today

4 Newsletter can be found online at: Sacred Warrior Retreat St. John, US Virgin Islands June 14-21, 2008 The Sacred Warrior Yoga Retreat is for those who want to: Live the best life possible Experience their highest potential Discover a more playful heart Discover Inner Peace Live powerfully, mind, body & spirit To read more about any of our workshops & retreats, go to: Meditation Intensive Part 1 ~ Focus your mind and change your life ~ Develop the mental edge in this popular & effective workshop. This weekend! Space still available. Saturday & Sunday: 12:30-4:30 pm Ayurveda Level 1 Understanding Yourself for Maximum Health February 2, 2008 Decode the mystery of health using this ancient philosophy Learn diet & lifestyle practices to optimize your health Discover your unique body/mind type Deepen your self-understanding on all levels Understand specific methods for reducing stress

5 Find Yoga Rasa on MySpace: Yoga Rasa Book Club Busting Loose From the Money Game Continues this Sunday, 11:30 am. All are welcome. YOGA & MORE Tuition Specials For Everyone For ALL STUDENTS: For NEW STUDENTS: Buy 6 months unlimited classes, attend a workshop free*!! Get our Essential Starter Package & attend a workshop for free! Posture & Breath Clinic + 3 months unlimited classes + 1 Private Lesson + Yoga mat + Strap + *Your choice! Block + Blanket + Meditation Intensive I or Ayurveda I Meditation Intensive THIS WEEK AT YOGA RASA schedule/changes for the coming week Saturday 1/26 7 am Being Yoga Teacher Training 12:30 pm Meditation Intensive I Sunday 1/27 10 am Yoga Stability 11:30 am Book Club: Busting Loose 12:30 pm Meditation Intensive I Monday 1/28 5:30 pm Yoga Foundation 7:15 pm Being Yoga Teacher Training Tuesday 1/29 5:30 pm No class (new class pending) 7:15 pm Meditation 7:45 pm Yoga Fundamentals Wednesday 1/30 11:30 am Sringara Rasa Flow 12:30 pm Meditation 5:45 pm Shanti Rasa Flow Thursday 1/31 9:30 am EnerPilates 5:30 pm Power Yoga Foundation 7 pm Yoga Foundation Friday 2/1 4:15 pm EnerPilates OM SHANTI Please submit newsletter ideas! Liz at tararasa@comcast.net. If you wish to unsubscribe from this, or any Yoga Rasa communication, please let us know!