BARBARA BORIS Yoga

that I thought it was CLEAR to all…

I have NEVER stated that I was a Certified Iyengar Teacher.

I HAVE taked Iyengar Teacher Training at the Iyengar Institute of Greater New York in New York City.
I HAVE studied three times in Pune at the Ramamani Iyengar Yoga Institute.

I am sorry if anyone was mislead. I have updated the title of my website.

Signed,
Barbara Boris
23 July 2008

I am very honored to be returning to teach at my fourth retreat at Zen Mountain Monastery this weekend. There are still spaces available. If you are interested in exploring meditation, Zen practices and living, and five and a half hours of Iyengar yoga come to Mt. Tremper and have a weekend vacation close to home!

Yoga Asana: Gate of Ease and Joy
Zen Mountain Monastery, Mt. Tremper, New York
Friday, June 6 – Sunday, June 8, 2008
(arrive around 5-6 for dinner, leave on Sunday around 12 after lunch)

“Asana” is a Sanskrit word meaning “seat.” It is defined as a steady posture done with ease, joy and completion. In zazen, creating the ease and stability of the body is often as difficult as finding stability in the mind. When the body is correctly aligned, one feels remarkable stillness and strength. As Master Dogen emphasized, “Sitting zazen is simply the peaceful and joyful gate of the dharma.”

In this popular annual retreat at ZMM, appropriate for beginners and yoga practitioners of all levels, we use Iyengar Yoga to explore the intricacies of asana in the seated posture. By looking at how we sit in zazen and by making small adjustments to our posture, we can bring more ease and stillness to the body and mind. We also create a simple and effective daily routine that supports our zazen. This year’s emphasis will be on opening the groins, hips, back, and shoulders to create freedom and space in the body.

For “non-Zenners” this is a great opportunity to try out traditional Zen Meditation in a monastic setting. The main monastery is a beautiful historic building right off of Rt. 212 before you get to Phoenicia, NY. The Zen Program for the weekend entails two “easy” sitting sessions of 25 minutes each with a walking meditation between, both morning and evening. You are allowed to sit in chairs, if cross legged sitting is not possible. Beginning meditation instruction will be given on Friday night. The yoga program will be broken into morning and afternoon periods.

For a reveiw of the 2006 retreat by Zen student follow this link:
http://barbaraborisyoga.com/?page_id=183

Total Cost (including room, food, and yoga) is $275. (MRO Students $225.)
Register through www.mro.org
845 688-2228

Ina Becker will be substituting this Sunday’s class while I am at the Monastery.

From this past Sunday’s New York Times.

Can You Become a Creature of New Habits?

“…But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.

“Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try — the more we step outside our comfort zone — the more inherently creative we become, both in the workplace and in our personal lives….”

“…“Try lacing your hands together,” Ms. Dawna Markova, author of “The Open Mind” and an executive change consultant for Professional Thinking Partners says. “You habitually do it one way. Now try doing it with the other thumb on top. Feels awkward, doesn’t it? That’s the valuable moment we call confusion, when we fuse the old with the new.” AFTER the churn of confusion, she says, the brain begins organizing the new input, ultimately creating new synaptic connections if the process is repeated enough….”

I think there is a bit of Iyengar Yoga going on here! Read the entire article for some interesting ideas.