QUIETNESS

Posted on January 15, 2017 by yogarasayana

Dear friend,

It has been a while since I have written. There is so much being written and shared out there anyway, so the ability to just listen for a while got to me.

Also, there was not much to share in terms of events in the life of Yogarasayana, my alter ego. Or rather, my teacher and practitioner persona.

It is not that there has not been a lot going on. We finished the Yogarasayana India 2016: Forest Sage Retreat auspiciously. A lovely group of students and friends sharing some yoga sutra of Patanjali, some jungle time, some Ganges time and some all around good times.

On coming back, I headed to Phoenix to spend time with the students of the lovely Mary Bruce and Lorilee Gilmore, my hosts. The topic was Psychology of a Sage. So you can see where my head is these days…On coming back, I headed to Phoenix to spend time with the students of the lovely Mary Bruce and Lorilee Gilmore, my hosts. The topic was Psychology of a Sage. So you can see where my head is these days…
Read the related article Psychology of a Sage: Activating Higher Functional States here.

And of course the LA Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy Clinic has been in session and has kept me busier than ever.

Then of course there has been all the other stuff that we all shared. The uncertain becoming even more uncertain, definitely a disturbed vata trend. And I believe to some extent, we are all a little shell shocked and a little worn out by events not just here in the USA, but all around the world.

Perhaps some quiet is called for. Some time to turtle up, huddle into a shell and examine who we are in there. I feel fortunate that in these difficult times, I have these ancient yogic teachings that I can fall back on. Those that talk about who I am when I move past who I am sure I am: because I know I am flesh and blood, lifeforce, a mind, some intelligence and even some happiness when I allow it. When I say to myself, yes indeed this is me. But it is not lasting. This is the mortal me. It changes just like my world changes. And it is best not to get too attached to this me nor to the world it lives in.

Best to go looking for the me that is not mortal. The one that does not suffer. The one that is also you. It is there we fall in love with each other and everything else mortal. In fact, that is the simplest description I can give of Tantra, of Buddhism, and of the Upanishadic Vedanta. And it is from that place that I continue to grow this love that trumps all the hate I may exude, share, witness when I do not allow myself to be. Just. Quiet.

Even in this conversation we are having. To encourage you to join me in this quiet. Where we are a shared Being. Not separate except in our mortal lives. And that is as it should be. Where we can enjoy each other, admire each other, help each other and give each other space when we get under each others skins.

But this is getting long in the tooth. So I will stop here.

I have a quieter year planned for 2017. We shall see how that plays out. Perhaps I will still come to your hometown. However, I do encourage you to join me in any of the below and meet each other too.

There are three teaching Retreats planned:

April: Yoga Practices for Emotional Intelligence: CLICK HERE
Sivananda Yoga Farm, Grass Valley, CA. April 7-9, 2017

This time around, it is less theory and almost all practicum. So, you actually get a taste for why I keep teaching this stuff. This Emotional Intelligence Stuff. The stuff that when functioning clearly, innocently, joyously leads to clear, innocent, joyous thinking and thus actions. Those that support us instead of bushwhacking us. Every. Single. Time.
REGISTER HERE FOR GRASS VALLEY RETREAT

June/July: The Art and Practice of Vinyasa Krama Yoga with Ayurveda: Zen Rocks, Mani, Greece. REGISTRATION COMING SOON! INFO: ADRETREATS@GMAIL.COM

Ever since I started studying with Ramaswami Sir, back in 2004/5, I knew I would need to teach this miraculous way of practicing. But I also knew I had to wait till it came in my voice. Obviously Ayurveda infused. Here we go. Serious Practitioners and all Yoga Teachers. This is for you.

Sept/October: **Yogarasayana India Retreat 2017! Into the Stories.**

This Retreat is in the Planning Stage but this is how it is shaping up:
Two sections:
A Southern India portion that includes Somatheeram Ayurveda Beach Resort, Kerala, for a week of pampering and Ayurvedic treatments and then a week of travel around some of my favorite places down south. Such as Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Arunachala.

A Northern India portion that starts with the birthplace of Lord Krishna; continues to the Taj Mahal and then wanders into Rajasthan, and into some legendary temple, wildlife and archeological sites. Along the way we will talk about the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, the meaning of Tantra which in itself can be quite evasive to pin down and stories from India’s mythological past.

A total of two weeks in Southern India. And one week in the North. Do just two weeks or do it all.

If you are interested in this Retreat, please write to adretreats@gmail.com and you will be put on an Early Announcement Letter with a Special Price Offer.

Meanwhile, I bask in your friendship,

Arun Deva

India Retreat: Sacred River Tour & Kerala

Posted on January 20, 2014 by yogarasayana

YOGARASAYANA INDIA RETREAT FALL 2014

SACRED RIVER TOUR & KERALA

September 26 – October 14, 2014

with Arun Deva and Jutta Hecht

Yoga, Ayurveda, Sacred Rivers, Temples, Taj Mahal, Regional Cuisines, Elephants and More…

ITINERARY:
Sept 26: Arrive Trivandrum early morning: transported on to Somatheeram/Manaltheeram

Sept 26-30: 5 days of rest, rejuvenation, massages, swimming, yoga, ayurveda and yummy foods: Soak it in!

Oct 1: Neyyar Dam: Early morning visit to elephants. Sivananda Ashram.

Oct 2: Flight to Delhi, capitol of India.

Oct 3: Rishikesh by train. Traditional evening aarti on the Ganges.

Oct 4: Morning White Water rafting. Later in the day, visit Parmath Niketan on the other bank of the river and stay for another amazing evening aarti.

Oct 5: Hike to Neelkanth Temple.

Oct 6: Explore Rishikesh.

Oct 7: Agra to see Taj Mahal by sunset

Oct 8: Visit Agra Fort, then onwards to Mathura.

Oct 9: Vrindavan. Eternal Home Of Radha Krishna: radhe radhe!

Oct 10: Varanasi.

Oct 11: River boat ride, Assi Ghat, Ganges aarti.

Oct 12: Sarnath. Where the Budhha first turned the Wheel of Dharma.

Oct 13: Delhi. Last chance to shop before heading home.

As for all the details:

PRICING:
Early Bird Special: $3800 per person.
Deposit must be received by June 1.
Full payment must be completed by July 1st.
(After July 1st any outstanding deposit will apply towards Regular Price.)

Regular Price: After June 1: $4100 per person.

Valid till August 1.
After Aug 1, prices will rise again to meet additional costs of late bookings.To learn more or to sign up for the Retreat: Please write Arun Deva at yogarasayana@gmail.com.

The above prices include the following:
At Somatheeram/Manaltheeram:

Garden Room Double Accommodation (Upgrades including to Single Occupancy available at appropriate extra charges)
3 full meals each day (Except on day we travel to Neyyar Dam: Breakfast will be packed)
Daily Vinyasa Krama classes with Arun
3 Afternoon Ayurveda Lectures with Arun/Jutta
One Cooking Lesson with Resort Chef
One afternoon excursion to Ayurvedic Medicine Plant
Airport Transfer to and from Trivandrum.
Evening entertainment (as offered by resort)
One excursion to Neyyar Dam.

On Sacred River Tour:

All group transfers, sightseeing and excursions.
All currently applicable taxes.
Most excursions entrance fees as applicable are included. (You will be informed of any additional that we did not plan for if and as they arise)
All accommodations based on twin sharing basis. (Please note, that the surcharge for single occupancy here is substantially more as they charge by the room)
All rail, air and road transportation included.

What is NOT included:

Airfare not specifically included above, including to/from your own starting and ending destinations, whether in India or elsewhere.
Tipping
Additional costs you may incur as a result of taking this trip including but not limited to passports, visas and other incidentals.
Additional incidentals you may incur such as laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, any foods or drinks not specifically covered above, or any items of a personal nature that are not expressly mentioned above..
All meals not expressly mentioned above. (This includes most lunches and dinners on the Sacred River Tour.)
Any transportation not expressly included above.

To learn more or to sign up for the Retreat: Please write Arun Deva at yogarasayana@gmail.com.

Sacred Greetings

Posted on January 1, 2014 by yogarasayana

My sacred greeting to you:
To speak with the respect rising from the very floor of the pelvis that holds our deepest secrets.
From the sacred sacrum I offer to share with you in this play of life all the joys I discover and to eagerly hear of yours!
With the power to affect positively, I promise to engage the core power of the belly’s own fierce love when we meet.
It comes from a heart just aching to open and open…and with every opening, it craves to open more.

It is one the throat sings with full abandonment, even warbling is allowed as long as it is full-throated!

It is when our eyes are raised in ecstasy to that sacred spot right in the center of our brows, right there where the optic chiasma centers for a moment, in the moment, and we enter the very presence of our Being.

And it explodes within our own crowns into a thousand open lotus petals! Bring your own inner bees to feast!!!

I greet you all from dreams and truths, that we may find in each moment an awakening of our spirit, our purpose, our celebration and joys and our peace, always in peace.
And truth be told, I wish upon you all much merriment and amusement: where the heart of sacredness hides!!!

In love, truth and light,
Arun

The journey into 2014…

A yogin`s life these days is not just symbolically a journey. It is a complete practice:)
In 2013 I found myself again and again on the road.

Now it looks like 2014 will be even more traveling. Om Shanti.

So, to dear friends in India, in Greece, in Salt Lake/Park City, Albuquerque, Dallas and Las Vegas, and always in LA and points further south along this magnificent coast, see you soon!

Feb/March offers a personal sadhana with my daughter to our root-home, India. And a pilgrimage of healing in Hariharapura, a sacred village in Karnataka with numerous ancient temples of lore and a police department that plays basketball all day as they have nothing else to do:)

Then end March it is back on the road: Park City/SLC then Albuquerque, and on to Dallas and Corpus Christi, TX extending all the way into April, the season of flowers and fragrances.

…and an invitation to meet along the path:

Come May, my birth month, I return to Grass Valley Sivananda Yoga Farm with what may be my dream workshop to teach:)
Pancha Maya Cikitsa

Five Layers of Healing through Yoga, Ayurveda and Tantra – Pancha Maya Cikitsa

Friday, May 2—Sunday, May 4, 2014

Perhaps all healing does have to penetrate into our psyche but what if it begins with the psyche, then comes back to the body, to our life-force, our mind, our intelligence and our very truth/consciousness/bliss?

If you would like to join us for this Certification Program:

Please Click Here for Details

UPCOMING YOGARASAYANA INDIA RETREAT 2014!

2014’s Fall India Retreat will feature a Sacred River Tour. Our first time paying homage to the Ganges and her sister-river, the Yamuna.

Ganga:
Varanasi to share in the Shiva/Shakti energy and visit Sarnath, where the Buddha first set the Wheel of Dharma in motion.

Rishikesh where the Sage`s themselves came to bathe and meditate. We will hike to Shiva’s Neelkanth Temple and white water raft Ganga’s sacred water.

Yamuna:

Mathura/Vrindavan, where Shri Krishna played his flute for Radha and all walk around greeting each other: Radhe Radhe!

And of course we will visit another great monument on the Yamuna, the Taj Mahal.

Somatheeram, Kerala:

As is now the custom for all Yogarasyana Retreats, we begin at the Ayurvedic Beach resort, Somatheeram in Kerala.

Here we will enjoy six days of Ayurvedic massages, amazing foods, yoga, self-care teachings and a visit to river bathing elephants!

Greetings from distant shores…

Posted on September 23, 2013 by yogarasayana

Ah Greece, you are enticing and sensual. I still remember the face you showed me the first time I visited you. You did not even share your amazing azure seas with me. Just the din and clamor of protests and discontent in the heart of Athens and a lot of smoke and confusion. I left you sick as a dog and yet you called me back. And took me to a hillside of olive groves looking down on crystal clear aquamarine waters. Last year with you was amazing. Ah but this year. This year in the same spot you started to heal me. What an amazing adventure this Retreat was! The waters, the intimate group hungry for Ayurveda, the heartfelt foods and the clearness of snorkeling your pristine waters with your colorful fish.

Now, enriched, I am on my way to India to meet another intimate group of yogin for the pure yogarasayana experience at Somatheeram! And a palace, temple, tiger and culinary experience par superior: Rajasthan!

As we live, we flash in and out of conscious states that shift like quicksand. Nurture like ambrosia. Keen our senses with resolve. Open our hearts wide. Bring out our essential truths (and sometimes desperate deceptions). And allow us occasionally to make the exactly perfect decisions that can only come from the frictionless balance between willing and surrendering.

Below please find links to recent articles published by Light On Ayurveda Journal (a peer reviewed journal) and Whole Life Times.

Next up on the Yogarasayana Journey: November in Salt Lake. Workshops in So Cal.

May peace be upon you,
Arun