May-June 2005 - The Journey Magazine

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debate on its subtle theoretical aspects, but how will thathelp you if you refuse to enter the water yourself? Youmust learn how to swim.From the book The Art of Living~Vipassana Meditationas taught by S.N.GoenkaThe Present“Be here now,” ”live in the present moment,” “letgo of the past.” All the great self help books havegiven the same advice, all the great spiritual teachershave said the same thing. Yet there seems to be somethinglargely missing from these profound words andteachings...an actual way or practice that cultivates thisart of living in the present moment. One of my favoritespiritual books, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior byDan Millman, is an epic story about the power of beingpresent and conscious in every moment. Like after anyinspirational reading, I made a strong determination tobe present in every moment of my life. It took lessthan one minute to fail. I read the book over againhoping I could find the secret formula to living in thepresent moment. Reading after reading, book afterbook, spiritual discourse after spiritual discourse, it wasnot until I found the courage to attend my first 10 dayVipassana Meditation Sit that I found my way and discoveredthe secret formula to living in the present moment.Vipassana is an ancient practice of meditationwhere you develop insight by observing your bodilyrespiration and sensations. Yes, the secret formula washiding right underneath my nose! By training the mindto concentrate on your breath you begin to break old,blind habit patterns of the mind that keep you fromenjoying real happiness in the present moment. Whenyou practice this technique regularly, the entire patternof your life changes. You no longer look outsidefor the causes of your problems, you no longer blameor try to change others. You begin to purify your mindand the pure mind is full of positive vibrations, full ofreal peace and harmony.Jonny Kest is the founder of Michigan's Jonny KestCenter for Yoga and the Midwest Yoga Conference. Jonnyhas been a student of Ashtanga Yoga and meditation forover 23 years. His compassionate, yet disciplined teachingstyle, has helped establish Metro Detroit as one ofthe largest yoga communities in the Midwest, where heteaches classes that are both therapeutic and challenging.Jonny's teachings awaken the healing power ofbreath and the sensuality of being, to find true alignmentwith our hearts and spirit. He can be reached atwww.jonnykest.comYoga Teacher FeatureEach issue we feature a different Yoga TeacherTo be featured in an up-coming issue of The Journey,please call Clyde Chafer at (440) 223-1392Name: Susan SmolaWhere do you teach?: I have my own little place in Akron, TheYoga Studio. In addition to teaching classes there I also am atKarma Yoga Cleveland, 1-2-1 at Case and I’m teaching to a lovelygroup of retirees at Tri-C.Teaching Experience: I’ve been teaching yoga for three yearsand studying for about six...it’s been a transformational experience! I’ve been blessed be able to studywith my beloved teacher, Marni Task, and I’m in the process of finishing my 200-hour yoga teachertraining with another incredible woman, Jan Hauenstein. Their combined feminine energy isextraordinary!Styles of Yoga Taught: At this point in my life I’m quite drawn to an athletic and vigorous style of yoga,a.k.a. “power yoga”. Most of my classes follow along this venue with a bit of Pilates for “power house”inspiration added into the mix. Recently I’ve added to my teaching repertoire a gentle class for a moremature population and I’ve been studying and including the practice Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) into myclasses.Do You Offer Workshops?: Yes I do! I’ve have taught workshops at my studio in addition to hostingworkshops that other wonderful teachers have presented. Jennifer McMullen shared her extensiveknowledge of meditation techniques with my students and Tom Smith from the Tom Smith Pilates Studiotaught an incredible Pilates workshop. The talent that we have in the Cleveland/Akron area is phenomenal!Phone Number: 330.958.9642Email: akronyoga@aol.comWebsite: www.akronyoga.comMission Statement: I am honored to be able to share my love and passion of yoga with others. I feel Ilearn as much from students as I share with them and for that I am truly blessed.PAGE THIRTY FOURMAY • JUNE 2005THE JOURNEY
Being PresentA YogaStudent’s PerspectiveBy Diana Kampinski“We are either now here or nowhere.”- Baron BaptisteThe present moment is the only thing that is real.Our growth happens in the Now. My emotionsand past experiences can take a hold of me andpull me out of the present moment. I get caught up in thestories of my mind, missing what’s really happening right infront of me. This moment won’t come again. When I’m inmy head, the voices pull me like a wild horse taking mewherever it wants to go. I lose control. When I’m in thepresent moment, in a gentle way, my heart and body leadme to where I need to go. When I’m in my head I feel distracted,scared, doubtful and sometimes even angry. I feellike I’m on the edge of insanity.Being present is not an easy task for me. As a student ofyoga, I am learning, growing and beginning to trust that it isthe only way to live. It’s in the moments when I feel the mostdistracted and overwhelmed that I feel the most resistance tocome to my mat or my meditation cushion. I feel so muchthe yoga studioakron’s premier power studio1653 merriman road • merriman valleyakron, ohio 44313330.958.YOGAwww.akronyoga.comresistance to stop what I’m doing, breathe and feel. I knowthe resistance means I need yoga now more than ever. Iforce myself to do the work. I stop and close my eyes. I takea few deep breaths. I ask the voices in my head to step down.I have a million different stories going on in my head. I takea walk outside, I come on to my mat or I sit down. I start tocome to my senses. A thought comes right back into myhead and I’m in a story in my mind. I begin again, bring myawareness back. I open my ears and hear the sounds of thismoment. The answer is listening. Listening to my body, listeningto what it has to say. I feel whatever I’m feeling on anemotional and physical level and become a witness. I keepcoming back to the breath. I start to notice the things aroundme. I hear my breath and stay still. I find myself in anotherstory in my head. I notice it, and begin to focus on my breathonce again. Nothing is more important than this moment.This dance continues until I feel clear, centered and grounded.I feel a tear stream down my face. I am so grateful; I amblessed. I feel love and my heart is open. My spirit and bodybecome one.Being in the moment is really and honestly looking atwhat is real, not some made up story in my mind. That isone way that yoga and meditation have transformed me; Ihave become aware of the present moment. I can now seeand identify my feelings, take ownership of them. This allowsme to deal with my feelings easier. If I can feel what’sreally going on inside me, I know that I am healing. I canstop, ask myself questions. Am I taking care of myself or amI not taking care of myself? Am I in my head or can I be inthis moment? Can I relax more, try less and give up controlMarni TaskMarni Task teaches Jivamukti (vinyasa) Yogawith an anusara (alignment) flair.She is excellent with therapeutics for injuries.For private or group lessons call(216) 376-2521or email marnitask@aol.comFor schedule & workshops visitwww.marnitask.com• private lessons tailoredto your beginner oradvanced practice• excellent with alignment• hands on theraputecsto heal new or old injuriesOn the east side at8 Limbs& Cleveland YogaOn the west side atInner BlissDowntown atKarma YogaTHE JOURNEYMAY • JUNE 2005PAGE THIRTY FIVE
Page 1 and 2: HEALTH & WELLNESS • HOROSCOPES
Page 6 and 7: BEING PRESENTBy Wah!You have somewh
Page 8 and 9: By Ted LardnerAt the recently-opene
Page 10 and 11: What is hell if not our own concept
Page 12 and 13: DEARLOUISELouise L. Hay is a metaph
Page 14 and 15: The experience of beingBy Agnes J.
Page 16 and 17: Elementary Informationon Being Pres
Page 18 and 19: HEALTH & NUTRITIONPAGE EIGHTEENA Sp
Page 20 and 21: doing. She traveled to Toronto, Can
Page 22 and 23: Psychic Readingsby TinaUnfold the O
Page 24 and 25: EXPO WORKSHOPSPower YogaWorkshopWit
Page 26 and 27: EXPO DEMOS/WORKSHOPSCONTINUEDAct To
Page 28 and 29: PAGE TWENTY EIGHTARIESMay has you e
Page 30 and 31: Let your music out loudlyIf you hav
Page 32 and 33: Citadel of Inner PeaceWellness Reso
Page 36 and 37: transformyour bodyreviveyour spirit
Page 38 and 39: Tantric PathTo EnlightenmentBeing P
Page 40 and 41: THE YOGA LISTINGSYoga Studios:Bhumi
Page 42 and 43: ®MEMBERTO ADVERTISE IN THE JOURNEY
Page 44: MIND, BODY & SOULEXPERIENCEMINI-EXP

May-June 2005 - The Journey Magazine

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