photograph "prayer" © J. Merideth 2010
The Potential of emptiness
Sunyata is a Sanskrit word that is generally translated into English as emptiness. Sunyata is the noun form of the adjective "sunya" which means "empty" or "void" (derived from the root "svi", meaning "swollen"), plus -ta -ness, making empty (- ness) or voidness. The idea behind the word makes reference to unbounded openness or a hollow or womb pregnant with unlimited potential. The latent energy referenced by the word Sunyata is particularly poignant as the year draws to a close and we prepare to begin a new cycle. In eastern thought the idea of emptiness is tied closely to the cultivation of insight, wisdom and ultimately inner peace. Sunyata signifies the flux or dynamic impermanence inherent in all things while simultaneously exposing the inter-related or interdependent nature of being. For me personally the idea of emptiness is powerful because it brings to mind the potential for transformation. Like an empty container waiting to be filled, the mind, when void of thought, has the potential to hold any possibility. The end of a cycle or the beginning of a new year are powerful times to let go of what no longer serves us and create the space for what lies ahead. Cultivating emptiness for me is about walking the edge between where I have been and where I want to go next. In yoga, sunyata, is signified by the moment when we have exhaled completely, and before we take the next breath. It is a space of great lightness and serenity between the actions of coming and going. Although we are constantly moving in and out of this space we don't often allow our awareness to fully rest in this space. The end of the year is an excellent time to reflect on emptiness as we resolve to relinquish old patterns and take steps to commit to a more fulfilling future.
"I think about that "empty" space a lot. That emptiness is what allows for something to actually evolve in a natural way. I've had to learn that over the years - because one of the traps of being an artist is to always want to be creating, always wanting to produce" -Meredith Monk
May you be empty with potential and pregnant with unbounded energy!
Namaste,
John Merideth
Winter Schedule • january - march
M, W, F will be one hour 7 - 8am - These classes will be characterized by flowing poses and sequences that are linked to the breath. This class is diverse and sequencing will vary but in general is a vigorous, athletic approach to yoga. A great way to start the day!
TU, TH are Mysore from 6:30 - 8:30am. Students will be encouraged to gradually practice the primary series from memory. Craig will assist with adjustments and questions.
***NEW CLASS!
Centered at The Edge
Life bombards us with an ever widening circle of challenges...how do we maintain our center, both literally and metaphorically, when we are pushed to our edge? This class will provide fertile soil from which to grow an understanding of how our internal dialogue impacts our commitment to staying present. The class will build on basic vinyasa principles and is appropriate for beginning/intermediate - advanced students. Each class will flow through a dynamic blend of postures and inspirational music. Students should come prepared to sweat and let go of preconceptions.
Evening classes begin at 5, 6 & 7:30pm.
For the most up to date class and eVent information, visit the schedule page.
Quarterly Specials
16 Classes $158 - Regularly $198 - Save $40
50 Classes $499
Parking Update...
Please note that while the meters are now being enforced around the studio, the city is still in the process of reviewing the current parking hours. Parking on Sundays and on Holidays is free. Also, you can find free unmetered parking on Juniper, 7th and Piedmont.
Upcoming events and activities
108 Sun Salutations
Date: Monday March 14th Time: 6 - 7pm
Cost: Free unlimited - $10 Dop-In
register now
Metaphor Of Trancendence
The Foundation - Muladhara & Swadhisthana
The chakras are symbols in an ancient metaphorical language. Their meaning pertains to the ever evolving consciousness as it travels from one frequency to another. The wheel, the spiral, the flow of energy from one state to the next, the symbols of the chakras innervate the subtle body and bring about union with the universe at large. In this workshop we will explore the shape, sound and texture of the first two psychospiritual "organs" - Muladhara root, red, earth, stillness & Swadhisthana emotion, sexuality, reproduction. This workshop is the first in a series of four exploring the chakras through metaphor, movement, visualization and guided meditation.
Date: Saturday January 8th, 2011 Time: 9 - 11am
Cost: $25, $10 Unlimited
Instructor: John Merideth
Everyone is welcome register now
min 8 - max 20
Bryan Kest Workshop
Date: Tuesday March 22nd, 2011
Time 6 - 9:30pm
Cost:
After 9/22/10 $75
Late Registration after 2/22/11 $85
Day of eVent $95
register now
Now 45, Bryan Kest has been practicing yoga for more than 30 years. He initially studied in Hawaii with David Williams, the first person to bring Ashtanga yoga to America. He then studied in India with K. Pattabhi Jois, the main proponent of Ashtanga yoga. Kest has been teaching yoga for 26 years. "My primary objective," says Kest, "besides turning more and more people on to a healthier, more peaceful lifestyle that continually challenges them to grow, is to teach a system of exercise that fully integrates the body, mind, and spirit."
The actor is an agent of emotion, an acrobat of the heart. The yogi knows the entire cosmos is situated within his or her own body. In this workshop, we'll work creatively with imagination and bodily sensation to access the universe of emotions living within the body. We'll also investigate how distractions of the mind can in fact be a creative energy incorporated into one's living processes. Whether you've ever acted or not doesn't matter. The work will be oriented to allow each individual to feel their body as a treasure house of living memory, impulses, and emotion. The various exercises will be fun, empowering, freeing, and focused on each participant's personal experience, not on performance.
Date: February 12 or 13th 2011
Cost: $25, $10 Unlimited
Instructor: Craig Newman
Everyone is welcome
register now
Crete 2011 onlYoga Retreat
Please join onlYoga for a relaxing retreat on the beautiful island of Crete in the Aegean Sea. The retreat will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of onlYoga. More details coming soon. Questions? Email us...
register now
Pear and Spinach Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette
Tender spinach is tossed with sliced fennel bulb and sweet pears in this simple salad that delivers complex flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped or grated on a microplane zester (about 1 teaspoon)
- 1 large bunch or bag spinach
- 1 head butter or red lettuce
- 1 small bulb fennel
- 1 Bosc or Green Anjou USA Pear
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Extra parmesan cheese chunk for garnish
In a small bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and salt. Grate garlic clove into mixture and set aside.
Wash and dry spinach and lettuce leaves. Tear into bite-sized pieces and put in a serving bowl. Cut fennel bulb in half and slice lengthwise as thinly as possible. Cut the pear in half and core. Thinly slice.
Slowly pour olive oil into balsamic-lemon mixture, whisking constantly until the oil is fully incorporated. Add Parmesan cheese and several grinds of black pepper. Drizzle desired quantity of vinaigrette over greens and toss lightly to coat. Add the pears and fennel with additional dressing and toss again to incorporate.
Use a vegetable peeler to add thin curls of parmesan cheese for garnish if desired.
preparation time: 15 minutes yield: Serves 4 to 6
a winter mix 2011
poem
BY NAOMI SHIHAB NYE
Letters swallow themselves in seconds.
Notes friends tied to the doorknob,
transparent scarlet paper,
sizzle like moth wings,
marry the air.
So much of any year is flammable,
lists of vegetables, partial poems.
Orange swirling flame of days,
so little is a stone.
Where there was something and suddenly isn’t,
an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.
I begin again with the smallest numbers.
Quick dance, shuffle of losses and leaves,
only the things I didn’t do
crackle after the blazing dies.
