From the Chair

Spring 2008

With the spring equinox, we are now in the season of renewal with the northern hemisphere warming up as this part of the earth tips toward the sun. Flowering plants will begin to bloom displaying the colors and diversity in Nature. People are shedding the layers of winter and coming out of their hibernation looking forward to adventures outdoors.

True to this season of renewal, Yoga Alliance is taking on a new life.  We’re welcoming new board members and saying goodbye to five dear members who have offered dedicated service to Yoga Alliance.  As we look to our upcoming 10th Anniversary next year, we’ve also welcomed a number of new staff members to the office. 

As always, we are involved in a variety of conferences and events including the first National Institutes of Health’s (NIH)Yoga Week in May.  You can read more this event, as well as the other exciting events we’re participating in below.

All in all, growth is in the air. As yoga teachers, let’s think about how we can spread our wings even wider and be true agents of positive change. Some examples of this might include: offering a free outdoor yoga session for the underserved in your area; tending to the garden at your local senior center or community park; or sample another style of yoga to expand your knowledge base.  Recommit to eating sattvic foods such as organically grown fruits and vegetables. Explore the ancient science of Ayurveda. Allow ideas to spring forth and propel you – and others around you - to a new level.

As Sri Aurobindo said, “The yoga we practice is not for ourselves alone, but for the Divine; its aim is to work out the will of the Divine in the world, to effect a spiritual transformation and to bring down a divine nature and a divine life into the mental, vital and physical nature and life of humanity. Its object is not personal Mukti, although Mukti is a necessary condition of the yoga, but the liberation and transformation of the human being. It is not personal Ananda, but the bringing down of the divine Ananda – Christ's kingdom of heaven, our Satyayuga – upon the earth.” Catch that Divine light and shine it on others and, as always, every day, find a reason to say, “Jai!”

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Ph.D., MBA, RYT, CHHC   

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January/February 2008

B.K.S. Iyengar said, “The practice of yoga fills up the reservoirs of hope and optimism within you. It helps you overcome all obstacles on the path to perfect health and spiritual contentment. It is a rebirth.”

Eleven years ago I almost died. The anniversary of my own rebirth is coming up on March 10. Yoga - and my mom who originally introduced me to this science when I was four - brought me back to health and taught me how to live. The practice strengthened me physically, mentally and spiritually. It was my therapy.

Around the world, more and more people are turning to yoga as a means of healing. Whether it is a back injury, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, asthma, insomnia or anxiety from a busy life, they are being led to this ancient wisdom by doctors and others in the health profession. Studies have now shown how the asanas, pranayama, and meditation can positively affect respiratory rates, circulation, stress hormones and even help reverse heart disease. And, there is a greater understanding that Yoga is more than just a physical form of exercise. Although certain styles can surely tone the muscles, strengthen the bones, improve flexibility and increase energy, the essence of the practice goes much deeper into the cells and into your soul. After all, it starts with spiritus, or breath.

The beauty of yoga is that it is truly for every body – no matter what the shape or size. With consistency of practice, you can overcome physical limitations and move toward self-awareness which is the anchor of all healing. The practice is also irrespective of age. My youngest student is three-years old and the oldest is 83 – sometimes in the same session! One of my teachers, Tao Porchon-Lynch, will be turning 90 years old this summer, and she is still as vibrant as ever teaching, dancing and traveling the world.

In January, I had the pleasure of attending the Integrated Healthcare Symposium in New York on behalf of Yoga Alliance. It brought together the latest thinking in integrative healthcare and complementary and alternative medicine, including yoga. We heard similar messages of healing at the Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco. YA staff member Jeannine Frest was there at our booth to answer questions and I had the honor of moderating the continuing education panel, entitled “Handle With Care: Ahimsa in Asana.” I also had the opportunity to participate in the “Yoga as Medicine” intensive workshop.

Yoga Alliance is once again delighted to be among the distinguished sponsors of the International Association of Yoga Therapist’s second annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR), March 6-9, 2008 in Los Angeles. This professional gathering is designed for yoga teachers, yoga therapists, yoga researchers and health

professionals who use yoga in their work. The SYTAR program and registration pages are accessible through www.iayt.org. Yoga Alliance registrants receive a $100 SYTAR 2008 registration discount, and hotel room rates at the newly renovated Los Angeles Airport Hilton are just $119 per night. SYTAR offers up to 21.5 contact hours in Yoga Alliance approved continuing education credits. A few of our YA Board members will be in attendance so I hope you can join us. There will be a host of workshops designed to enhance your knowledge of therapeutic approaches to teaching.

As a teacher, see how you can make the practice accessible to as many people as possible - not just to the students who can mold their hips into Padmasana, but those who can find solace in a supported Sukhasana. Think about how yoga has been a form of therapy for your own journey and how your personal lessons can be translated into an empathetic voice for your students. Since February is Heart Health Month, seek to extend compassion and love to all who come into your presence. Whether it is chair yoga for seniors or modifications in a vinyasa flow, find options which are inclusive to all in your community.

As Sri Swami Satchidananda said, “Health is your birthright, but not disease; Strength your heritage, but not weakness; Courage, but not fear; Bliss, but not sorrow; Peace, but not restlessness; Knowledge, but not ignorance. May you attain this birthright, this Divine Heritage, to shine as fully developed Yogis, radiating joy, peace, and knowledge everywhere.”  And, as always, every day find a reason to say, “Jai!”

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy  Ph.D, MBA, RYT, CHHC

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November/December 2008

Quote:  “…doing work without attachment one attains the Supreme Being.” –Bhagavad Gita

Seva means selfless service. It implies being connected to all things. It’s a way to express your own humanity and divinity. It’s more than just a physical act; it’s part of a spiritual practice – expanding the hearts of the giver and receiver. It helps you develop a spirit of true self-surrender and humility… the path of Karma Yoga.

This season, let’s seek opportunities to perform seva every day; to reach out to people who are less fortunate financially, less confident emotionally, or less secure spiritually. Stretch your empathy muscles. If someone is negative or attacking you, find a way to respond with compassion instead of firing back. If someone looks sad, offer a smile. When others receive honors, rejoice with them. Embody the qualities of joy and allow them to stream from you. As the Dalai Lama says: “…give with radiance on your face.”

The holidays can be very stressful for many people. As yoga teachers, it is an ideal time to extend our service through meditation sessions and restorative classes, as well as stress management workshops. As it gets cold in certain parts of the country, it’s also the perfect time to plan a healing retreat someplace beautiful and warm. And, since the best teachers should always be students, remember to treat yourself to a yoga class with your favorite teacher or plan your own personal getaway. As we know, to be fully present for others, we must take care of ourselves.

Yoga Alliance is embracing this season of service. The YA staff was happy to perform its own small act of seva by donating used computers to Joshua House – a children’s home in Maryland. We are also pleased to make available the beautiful 2008 calendars featuring RYTs. Thank you for your submissions. We count on your continual commitment to the cause to make this coming year the best yet for us all.

The New Year will bring many opportunities for enlightened community-building. Be sure to join us at the 5th annual Yoga Journal San Francisco Conference at the Hyatt Regency from January 18-21, 2008. Yoga Journal extends a $20 discount to RYTs for this event (www.yogajournal.com). I encourage you to visit the YA booth and allow YA staff and me the chance to meet you!

Also, Yoga Day USA is coming up on Saturday, January 26, 2008 (www.yogadayusa.com). In its ninth year, this annual nationwide celebration was designed to raise awareness about yoga's benefits by offering free or low cost workshops in communities all across the country. Many of these events are also fundraisers for charitable organizations. With your involvement, we aim to reach an ever-expanding universe of yoga practitioners and enthusiasts – spreading the message of healthy living and total being. Remember to send us photos showcasing your efforts and reports outlining the rewards!

We once again are delighted to be among the distinguished sponsors of the International Association of Yoga Therapist’s second annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR), March 6-9, 2008 in Los Angeles. This professional gathering is designed to benefit yoga teachers, yoga therapists, yoga researchers and health professionals who use yoga in their work. The SYTAR program and registration pages are accessible through www.iayt.org. Yoga Alliance registrants receive a $100 SYTAR 2008 registration discount, and hotel room rates at the newly renovated Los Angeles Airport Hilton are just $119 per night. SYTAR offers up to 21.5 contact hours in Yoga Alliance approved continuing education credits.

As B.K.S. Iyengar said: “Happy is the [person] who knows how to distinguish the real from the unreal, the eternal from the transient and the good from the pleasant by his discrimination and wisdom. Twice blessed is he who knows true love and can love all God’s creatures. He who works selflessly for the welfare of others with love in his heart is thrice blessed. But the man who combines within his mortal frame knowledge, love and selfless service is holy and becomes a place of pilgrimage, like the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Saraswati and Jamuna. Those who meet him become calm and purified.”

With this in mind, we at YA urge you to be a beacon of light for all who come in contact with you. Find stillness in the busyness of the season. As written in the Upanishad, “Who sees all being in his own self, and his own self in all beings, loses all fear.” Let’s move into the New Year with a united sense of fearlessness, eyes open to the miracles around us. And, as always, on every day and in every occasion… find a reason to say, “Jai!”

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Ph.D., MBA, RYT, CHHC

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September/October, 2007

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “He who deliberates fully before taking a step will spend his entire life on one leg.” In looking at this proverb through a yogic lens, I see two counterbalanced thoughts. The first is, although it is extremely important to be mindful, movement is necessary. Just as you trust the flow of breath in a Vinyasa practice, sometimes you must trust the flow of life and step out on faith knowing that ALL is happening for your Highest Good. The second underlying truth in this proverb is that at some point it’s good to come back to steadiness on two feet - to Tadasana-Samasthiti. Imagine spending your entire life in Virabhadrasana III or Vrksasana! We are reminded that change is natural and harmonious with nature and life.

For example, as we go deeper into fall, think about how to balance movement with stillness. The autumnal equinox at the end of September has led us into a time for turning within. It is a time for cleansing the body, mind and spirit, making space for a richer, fuller internal and external experience. As we look forward to 2008, it is also a time to set your intention and take specific action to further your life vision and deepen your personal practice.

Yoga Alliance has embraced this season of change and renewed our approach to purposeful progress. As we strengthen our house within, we continue to expand our reach into the community, connecting with teachers and listening to students. At the end of September, the YA Board of Directors held its fall meeting in conjunction with Yoga Journal’s “Drop Back Into Nature” Conference in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado. Jeannine Frest from the YA staff and the entire YA Board were present at our booth in the Yoga Marketplace and participated in a host of interesting workshops. Above all, we were delighted to have the chance to meet many of the RYTs in attendance.

The YA Board also welcomed a new Board member, Felicia Boyd. Felicia offers over 28 years as a dedicated yogi, as well as over 20 years of experience in corporate and public service specializing in Information Technology. Please take time to read her bio in this issue. In the spirit of change, Shakta Kaur’s term as Interim President/CEO ended and I was elected Chair of the Yoga Alliance Board. As a karma yogi, I will keep a watchful eye on the organization as Interim President/CEO while we continue our executive search for a permanent CEO, someone who is spiritually vested in our community and has the practical skills to move YA into its next life-form.

Join us as we expand our horizons. From October 18–21, you’ll find Yoga Alliance exhibiting at the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) Conference, "Ayurveda in Practice,” in Albuquerque, New Mexico. NAMA extends its member discount to RYTs for this event (www.ayurveda-nama.org). I encourage you to visit the YA booth and allow YA staff member Jackie Gray and me the chance to meet you! Treat yourself to new perspectives and deepen your knowledge of Ayurveda while taking in the breathtaking beauty and rich history of “The Land of Enchantment.” Practice yoga in a new environment and be transformed by the experience.

As Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois says, “Yoga is 99% practice and 1% knowledge.” In other words, it requires you to move from the intellectual realm (knowing what to do) to the experiential realm (actually doing it). Find sthira (steadiness) and sukha (comfort) in your life as you move deliberately with intention. Allow your students to be your teachers and your entire life to become a Vinyasa. Ask yourself, “How can I find balance between effort and ease? What steps am I taking every day – on and off the mat – that allow me to transform my world?” And, of course, if you find yourself moving too fast, remember the essence of the practice… be still and just breathe! The stillness will inform your next step and the breath will infuse your spirit with energy.

As my guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda said: “Become great servants of humanity. Renounce all the selfish shells. Walk on the earth like liberated gods, representatives of God, the true children of God. Let people see the light in you and see their light with the help of your light.” And, every day find a reason to say, “Jai!”

Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy, Ph.D., MBA, RYT, CHHC

Chair of the Board and Interim President/CEO