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January 2008

January 27, 2008

Jivamukti Podcast "Massaging The Mind With Prayer"

This hour and a half Jivamukti Yoga class focuses on how prayer, or positive thoughts, can massage the mind into a more relaxed state. When the mind is open and free the body will follow and the actions we take in our lives will benefit all.

Click here to play this podcast or right click (control click apple users) to save to your desktop.

You can also download and subscribe to my podcasts through iTunes!

If you have a minute after the class, leave a comment on this post and let me know how it went for you!

January 19, 2008

Jivamukti Yoga Podcast 'Simple Love'

"Simple Love" is a full hour and a half Jivamukti class. It Begins with chanting and an opening talk followed by an hour asana class, relaxation, and meditation.

If you would like to chant along, here are the words we will be chanting today:

Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts words and actions of our lives help to contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.

Click here to play this podcast or right click (control click apple users) to save to your desktop.

You can also download and subscribe to my podcasts through iTunes!

If you have a minute after the class, leave a comment on this post and let me know how it went for you!

January 12, 2008

Jivamukti Yoga Podcast "Delving Deeper into The Secret Prayer"

"Delving Deeper into The Secret Prayer" is an hour and a half live Jivamukti Yoga class exploring how actions guided by love and devotion can lead us towards happiness, freedom and one day to the realization of Oneness! We will be chanting "Jai Bhagavan ... thy will be done!"

Click here to play this podcast or right click (control click apple users) to save to your desktop.

You can also download and subscribe to my podcasts through iTunes!

If you have a minute after the class, leave a comment on this post and let me know how it went for you!

January 02, 2008

Happy New Year 2008

    As we enter the new year of 2008 may I offer you my most sincere wishes that you have great new year. I know that many of us at this time enter into of the new year having made certain resolutions. These can range widely from vows we take to let go of certain behaviors and tendencies that we feel are no longer useful to us and stand in the way of our feelings of inner peace to those qualities or action we have chosen to cultivate in the hopes of becoming better people in world and which will help us to fulfill our life destinies. Whether we are aware of it or not, resolution making is a tradition based in the age old law of Karma which states that everything we are experiencing in our lives and this moment is a result of some past action we have taken and that the state of our futures will be determined by the actions we choose to take now in the present. We have chosen our resolutions because karmicaly speaking we believe that the results of these new actions will bring us more happiness and freedom in the coming year.
    Whatever your resolutions may be remember that one of the greatest tools we have to ensure that we are successful in our endeavor's is the practice of meditation. Sitting still and watching the breath, even for just 5 minutes a day (though an increase in practice will lead to greater results), is a potent means to purify our thoughts and to control the mind. All actions arise from thought. Meditation helps us to gain space from our thoughts and in that space we can decide "is this a thought that I should act upon? Will it help me to uphold my resolutions? or, perhaps should I let it go and wait to act until I know that the action I take is born from a thought which will help  me move in the direction that I want to be heading."  Without that space how can true change occur? What would stop us from just falling back into the old thought habits of the mind that led to our suffering in the first place?
    Heed well these words of Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta:

"Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom."

And may peace and love be with you in this new year.
 

meet sofi...

Sofi is an advanced certified Jivamukti Yoga Instructor who has been teaching Yoga since 1997. She was first certified by Alan Finger in the tradition of Ishta Yoga, and soon after found her foremost teachers David Life and Sharon Gannon, co- founders of Jivamukti Yoga. Along with David and Sharon, Sofi sites senior Jivmaukti instuctors Uma Nanda Saraswati and and Ruth Lauer-Manenti, Seane Corn, and Paul Grilley as her main influences. Sofi is also the founder and co-director of "I'll Yoga For You" - Yoga Vermont's community outreach program.

" The underlying theme in all my classes is devotion. I believe that the amount of happiness and freedom we experience in our lives is deeply linked to our ability to dedicate ourselves to something greater then our own personal gain. Through devotion we are able to reconnect with the Infinite wisdom that dwells within the heart of each one of us."

In her classes, workshops and retreats, Sofi combines a deep understanding of sacred Yoga texts with creative asana sequencing, chanting, music and meditation to provide students with an enriching and heart-opening experience. Her goal is to clearly communicate the traditional ancient teachings of Yoga in a way that will assist students to understand and reflect upon them so that they can be used to enrich their daily lives and lead them to their True Nature of Oneness.

Sofi and her family

Sofi lives in Burlington, Vermont with her daughter, Delia, and her poodle, Penny.

Sofi teaches both private and group classes. She also travels nationally and internationally on a regular basis to teach workshops.