BARBARA BORIS Yoga

What They Hate About Mumbai
By SUKETU MEHTA
New York Times, Op-Ed, November 29, 2008

Mumbai, India, stands for lucre, profane dreams and an indiscriminate openness. And this way of life appalls religious extremists.

MY bleeding city. My poor great bleeding heart of a city. Why do they go after Mumbai? There’s something about this island-state that appalls religious extremists, Hindus and Muslims alike. Perhaps because Mumbai stands for lucre, profane dreams and an indiscriminate openness.

If you don’t know Suketu Mehta, and are interested in the REAL Bombay, check out his book:

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found

But be forewarned, it’s not pretty.

I rarely post my India travel pics, but here are some, relevant now. Martin & I having afternoon tea at The Taj Palace Hotel, Mumbai, 2003. We went to the Taj most afternoons that year, during the ten days we spent in Mumbai attending Ramesh Balsekar’s morning Satsangs. The Taj had an in-house coffee bar: Barista; India’s equivalent to Starbucks. There I could get a “real” coffee (black) and Martin could get decent (not the best) service tea (not chai) and bisquits. We would sit and watch the goings on on the street and at the Gateway of India from the second floor windows. (Note: click on pic to enlarge, then click your back button to get back to the blog.)

For more pics and story continue here:

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Wednesday, Nov. 26, Level I-II Class, 4-5:30 is ON
Sunday, Nov. 30, General Level Class, 10-11:30 is ON

Wednesday, Nov. 26, Level III Class, 6-8 is CANCELED
Friday, Nov. 28, Level II-III Class, 10:45-12:45 is CANCELED

and in its place:

Post Thanksgiving Digestion Class
Friday, November 28
11:00-1:00

We all have much to be thankful for living in the Woodstock area. I hope you add to your list how special it is that we are able to freely practice yoga and to spend time on the spiritual path. This is one of the greatest blessings in life.

Have a great holiday, and I look forward to seeing you in this year’s
Post Thanksgiving Digestion Class.

This class is open to all levels and students of all styles of yoga. But please, no absolute beginners or major injuries for this class. It will be moving too fast for your safety.

The Apana Prana is the main downward energy of the body. In most yoga classes the postures are done to stimulate the upward flow of Prana to lead towards Enlightenment. Unless the downward Apana Vayu is moving correctly, congestion, blockages, sluggishness, constipation, and dullness will result.

It’s not: “You are what you eat.”
It’s: “You are what you don’t poop out!”

After a feasting holiday, it is good to work on asanas to stimulate this downward flow. This will be a STRONG yoga class. Besides stimulating the Apana Vayu Prana, we will work to stimulate the Agni Gastric Fire. Please let me know before class if you are having your period. Some abdominal asanas are not appropriate during menstruation. Alternate postures will be offered for you, so don’t let that be an excuse not to come.

We will work on the following:

• kriyas to stimulate digestion and elimination
• asanas to stimulate digestion and elimination
• jumpings in the various asanas and vinyasana
• inversions
• twists, compressions, and stretches to the abdomen
• a long expansive restorative pose to relax the abdomen and belly at the end

Regular 2 hour students can use their class card to pay the discounted $18 price. If you have a 1 1/2 hour card add $4. New or drop-in students pay $20. No need to register in advance. Please show up by 10:45 to sign-in so we can start on time.

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINOH BHAVANTU
may all beings everywhere be happy and free