Yoga – Union with the Absolute (FULL)
Geeta Jyothi
McGahey
Short Description:
Framed by Bhakti (devotion)Yoga, Karma (Action) Yoga Raja Yoga (the eight-fold path) and Jnana (Self-Knowledge) Yoga we will experience the absolute through Pranayama (yogic breathing), Quaker worship, meditation, Self Inquiry, and asanas (energetic yoga postures 1¼ hr/day). A mostly inward workshop including presentation and participant sharing. Bring a mat.
Long Description:
Worship 40 min 24% (24) Lecture 10min 6%(6) Discussion 25 min 15% (15) Experiential 90 min 67% (55)
From a perspective of Yoga including concepts about God, surrender and obedience, Participants will learn structural yoga joint freeing exercises, practice Surya Namascar (sun worship), 12-20 health enhancing yoga postures, deep relaxation, yogic breathing exercises, and meditation techniques including the inquiry “Who am I?” We will explore ways to enhance the quality of Quaker worship. Discussion will be based on the writings of Ramana Maharshi, Bill Taber’s Four Doors to Meeting for Worship, personal experiences, questions, difficulties and how yoga connects with Quakerism. There will be daily repetition so that participants can do the practices on their own at home.
PLEASE BRING A MAT and if needed a pillow to sit on the floor. Meditation will be done either on a chair or the floor, whichever is most comfortable to the participant
A potential schedule is below, subject to input from the group and collective energy. All of the yoga, breathing, and meditation are worship.
Daily, (order to be determined, but will always end with practice of asanas).
Pranayama – 10 min
Check-in, questions, and discussion – 25-30 min
Quaker worship, with prompts, queries based on Four doors to Quaker worship 20minutes
Presentation –10-15 minutes
Break –5 min (starting between 10:00- 10:15)
Meditation or Self-inquiry 15-20 min
Yoga Postures (Asanas) – 75-80 min – Mostly rigorous but with deep relaxation- Joint-freeing series (to isolate and strengthen individual joint actions) , Vinyasas (Series of movements such as Soorya Namascar, Sun Salutation), and Balancing, standing, inverted postures, forward-bending, backward-bending, and twisting postures following the teachings of Swami Sivananda lineage and Mukunda Stiles
Monday –– The Divine, Bakti
Mantra meditation - Soham, OM, God is love, Spirit of God descend upon my heart,
Mind wanders bring it back, Mind is unwilling – I am “Infinity”, Bliss,
Worship – God- language
Tuesday – Raja Yoga - Yama (Self control): Non-Violence, Truthfulness, Freedom from Stealing, Acting From The Divine Center (Continence), Freedom from Greed
Quaker worship – How is this different from meditation. Concept of obedience
Object Meditation
– Please bring any symbol, picture, form that centers you on the Divine.
Wednesday – Raja Yoga - Niyama (Precepts): Purity, Contentment, Self-discipline, Study, Surrender to God.
Walking Meditation
Quaker worship – concept of surrender
Thursday – Karma Yoga - Awareness
Self-Inquiry Meditation Ramana Maharshi’s writings are the source.
Download site to access writings of Ramana Maharshi; Who Am I
Friday – Jnana Yoga Self-inquiry
Suggested –
Words of Grace – Ramana Maharshi
Four Doors to Quaker Worship- Bill Taber
