“The Pianist of Willsden Lane” opened Jan 18 at TheatreWorks, at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts. It is a heartfelt, harrowing, and yet exuberant true story of a young Austrian pianist who leaves Austria on the Kindertransport during WWII. Ken and Elaine highly recommend it. We believe it will sell out quickly, so get your tickets soon. It plays until February 16. https://www.theatreworks.org/201920-season/pianist-of-willesden-lane/
Pranayama session this Sunday 09:30
We will have a pranayama session at 9:30-10:00 in the Blue Room before the Sutra Discussion group this Sunday January 19.
Sutra Discussion Sunday January 19
Dear all, our sutra group is back after the December 2019 hiatus. We’ll be meeting at 10:00-11:30 on Sunday January 19 in the “blue room” at YiY. Bring your translations as usual.
We plan to discuss sutras 2.53 and 2.54, the last sutra about the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga, pranayama, and the first about the fifth limb, pratyahara:
Sutra 2.53: dharanasu cha yogyata manasah
And the mind is now prepared for the process of direction toward a chosen goal.
Sutra 2.54: sva vishaya asamprayoge chittasya svarupe anukarah iva indriyanam pratyaharah
The restraint of the senses occurs when the mind is able to remain in its chosen direction and the sense disregard the different objects around them and faithfully follow the direction of the mind.
Translation and interpretation by TKV Desikachar
Statement regarding the misconduct by Patthabi Jois
After the victims of the abuses of Patthabi Jois came forward with their stories a few years ago, teachers and studio owners the world-over made statements to acknowledge these events. This prompted us as Ashtanga teachers at YiY to start a conversation to clarify our thoughts and feelings about this. The result is the statement below. We hope that this will give our students the opportunity to engage in the conversation should they wish to do so.
If you have questions about this or simply want to listen and hold space, we will be meeting after morning practice in the Blue Room at 10am this Sunday, January 12th, 2020.
Statement on behalf of the Ashtanga Yoga teachers at YiY regarding the abuses committed by Patthabi Jois
The Ashtanga yoga system, which is taught at Yoga is Youthfulness, was developed and popularized by Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009) in the city of Mysore, India. We recently learned that between approximately 1983 and 2003, Pattabhi Jois sexually and physically abused dozens of students.
We acknowledge the courageous women who came forward to report the harm. We believe that survivors must feel safe to come forward and they should trust that their community will support and believe them.
It was in large part the traditional culture of Ashtanga yoga in Mysore that made possible the misconduct of Pattabhi Jois. Notable elements of this culture include unquestioning loyalty to the guru, suppression of communication and dialog, and inflexible rules.
At our studio in Mountain View, California, we take a practitioner-centered approach which focuses on the safety and well-being of the student. Since the studio opened in 1999 we have fostered, to the best of our abilities, an environment that encourages agency in our students. We have empowered our students to observe, practice, and study. We are proud to have created a community of teachers and students who care deeply for each other and support one another through thick and thin.
The recent revelations of abuse have brought about a deeper understanding of the importance of consent in teaching yoga. To this end, we are implementing the following measures at our studio: encouraging students to give feedback, especially if a particular adjustment makes them uncomfortable, and providing “No Adjustments, Thank You” cards for practitioners who do not want to be adjusted. Visiting teachers will also be expected to follow this approach.
Please reach out to any of us if you have questions.
Anne Namur, Beata Skrzypacz, Meghan Marshall, Michael Nitzberg, Mojdeh, Philippe Alexis, Sabina & Joseph Hentz (studio owners), Thoa Van Seventer
Moon Day Friday, 1/10
Enjoy the rest, and the weekend:)
Change of the schedule
On Thursday the 26th and Friday the 27th there won’t be regular morning classes. In stead we will have a self-practice. The studio will be open 6-9am. Please respect the time. I am also asking you to keep it safe and don’t give each other adjustments. Thank you.
Beata
Moon Day for Christmas
Santa brought us a Moon Day this Wednesday December 25! Please take rest.
Looking for housemates
We are looking for two adults to share a house in Redwood City.
Here is the link that we have out through Stanford:
https://www.places4students.com/Places/Details?HousingID=Dia6GOpYU74%3d&SchoolID=hlga%2b2falS4%3d
It describes the house, gives all the details of the rental situation and gives a price.
Contact Danuri rottdan @ gmail.com
Moon Day Wednesday, 12/11
Mood Day tomorrow, take rest
Sutras in December
We won’t be meeting for a Sutra discussion in December, and will resume in January with a discussion on pratyahara, the fifth limb of yoga.
Instead we will be having a “sutra discussion dinner” at the Chef Zhao Kitchen restaurant, in Palo Alto, on Friday December 13 from 7pm:
http://chefzhaokitchen.com/
It will be an informal setting to eat tasty food and perhaps go over some unanswered questions about the sutras.
You don’t need to have attended any sutra discussions – you are welcome to join. Please let me know if you can make it by emailing me philippe at nodiamonds.com