WEEK ONE
ZOOM Class Schedule:
Wednesday, Jan 1! 12-2pm In-studio and ONLINE LINK HERE RECORDING LINK
Thursday, Jan 2nd 7:15-8am ONLINE LINK HERE RECORDING LINK
Friday, January 3rd 7:15-8am ONLINE LINK HERE RECORDING LINK
Saturday, January 4th 9-10am ONLINE LINK HERE RECORDING LINK
Saturday, January 4th 1:30-3:30 WORKSHOP LINK HERE RECORDING HERE
Sunday, January 5th 9-10am ONLINE LINK HERE RECORDING HERE
WELCOME!
Welcome to the 40 Days of Yoga 2025 Edition!
The next 40 Days contain the potential to create new habits and leave old beliefs and limitations behind. We strive to offer and teach yoga authentically and do our best to share as much of the holistic practice as possible.
During this program, we will explore the 8-Limbs of Yoga, a classical framework for the Path of Yoga as discussed in many texts, including Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. The 8 Limbs delineate the steps to take, practices to do, and mentality to cultivate to achieve success on the path of yoga.
There is a strong focus in the modern and Western world on the physical aspect of yoga practice, which is disproportionate to the importance that Asana (physical posture practice) was initially given.
Although Asana is an important aspect that brings many benefits to the dedicated and consistent practitioner, traditionally, the first two Limbs would be practiced (the Yamas and Niyamas), which guide a Yogi's ethical, moral, and personal observances and obligations and well-established before students even begin to learn the Asana (yoga poses).
We hope to enlighten you about a complete yogic system encompassing morality, personal observances, physical practice, breathwork, meditation, focus, and peace. This holistic practice is the key to truly accessing the myriad benefits of Yoga!
Each week (roughly), we will cycle through content and teachings about the 8-Limb path. We recommend finding a copy of the Yoga Sutra if you don't have one already. There may be a copy available at your local yoga studio or bookstore, and there are many variations found online that can be helpful, too.
We are so grateful that you have chosen to deepen your practice and will journey with us over the next 40 Days!
We are sending love, light, and prayers for peace.
Happy Time!
DAILY CONTENT:
Day 1
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”
― William Hutchison Murray
Day 2
The yogi takes this vow:
I will never harm any person. I will never harm any being.
I will never say anything false.
I will never steal on any occasion.
I will maintain brahmacharya on all occasions.
I will not accumulate things.
There may be an exception because of conflicting dharma. This was the case for ahimsa and satya. It may happen here as well. For instance, if the harming of one may save a hundred then it may be the right thing to do. But generally the yogi does not find himself in this situation.
-Srivatsa Ramaswami
Day 3
Yoga Sutra 3-1
deśa-bandhaś-citta say dhārāna
dharana (concentration or focus) is to bind the mind to a place
Dharana means concentration, holding, or focus. Patanjali describes it as ‘binding the mind’ to a place. To focus the attention on a place or an object. He gives a number of options. The only qualification is that it must be uplifting. It could be a candle, a light in your heart, or your eyebrows, or the chakras, or Om. You keep minding the mind, bringing it back to the object of attention over and over until you bind the mind. - Ramaswami
Day 4
Arjuna’s focus helped to make him great
Arjuna’s Arrow
Arjuna had razor sharp focus, and his teacher, Drona Archarya, was the greatest teacher who ever lived. Drona had many students, but Arjuna was the one who excelled the most in archery. According to the tale, one of Drona’s other students criticized Drona for favoritism, and Drona responded by challenging all of the students to take part in an archery contest. He asked them all to try to hit the eye of a wooden bird.
His first student, called Yudhistar, tried the shot, and said that he could see the sun, the clouds, and the trees when he aimed at the bird. He missed the shot. The second student, Ashwathama, tried the shot and could see the bird, the branch on which the bird sat, the mango near the bird, the leaves, and other surroundings. He also failed the shot.
Arjuna was the last to try the shot. When asked what he could see, he replied that he saw the eye of the bird. He did not see the tree, the branch, or even the bird. He saw nothing but the eye and hit his target. ~ Rachel Donovan
Day 5
HAṬHA YOGA PRADĪPIKĀ Chapter I verse 17
kuryat tad asanam sthairyam arogyam canga laghavan
Āsana Practice brings increased steadiness, less illness and a lightness of limb
"Asana is a bridge. It helps you understand the weather of your mind. You do the asana to see yourself."
-BKS Iyengar