Awakening Ganesha

February 2, 2006                       Monthly  Newsletter                                            Volume 15         

Namaste, 

It's another busy month at the Center......  Here are some last minute reminders for this coming week:

Thursday, February 2nd at 6:30pm - The Song of the Crystal Healing Bowls with Jay Schwed.  $10 donation  

Friday, February 3rd, 6:30pm - Satsang with Lawrence Graziose.  $$10 donation

Saturday, February 4th, 10:30-4:30pm - The Enneagram of Personality Workshop.  Cost:  $65

Sunday, February 5th, 3:00-5:00pm - Children and Their Parents Meditating Together in the Yurt with Rahob Rinpoche.  Free to the public.                

Next Chakra Yoga Intensive -  In response to the positive feedback we received from the participants in our first Chakra intensive, we have scheduled the next 7-day experience for March 3-10, 2006.  The cost will be $800, with early registration (30 days prior) of $750.00. 

The Adventures of Lionheart  

Cat observer and zoologist, the great Desmond Morris, offers answers to your burning questions about cats in his book, Catwatching.

Why do cats sneer?

No, they're not doing a kitty-version of seetkari pranayama! Every so often a cat can be seen to  pause and then adopt a curious sneering expression as if disgusted with something, which might look like turning up one’s nose at an unpleasant smell such as the urine of a rival, certain brands of cheap cat food, or unwanted attention by a tarty girl-cat. The truth is the opposite…when the cat makes this grimace, known technically as the Flehmen Response, it is in reality appreciating to the full a delicious fragrance. The cat stops in its tracks, raises its head slightly, draws back its upper lip and opens its lips a bit. This behaviour can be likened to a hungry man inhaling the enticing smells emanating from a busy kitchen, except the cat is employing a sense organ we lack. Called the vomero-nasal or Jacobsen’s organ, it is best described as a taste-smell organ extremely important to cats when they are reading the odor news deposited around their territory. For cats it is of great significance and explains the strange snooty gaping they adopt occasionally as they go about their social rounds.

Ambaya's Corner....Practical Ayurveda

If you find that your vata is high and you are experiencing anxiety or worry, rolling in repetive thoughts, feeling distracted and maybe having a bout of constipation - this is the soup for you. It is nourishing, grounding and lubricates the channels. Enjoy!

Ambaya’s Vegetable Barley Soup

Serves 12

1½ tbls Ghee                     2 bay leaves

2 cups Barley                     2 Tbsp thyme

1½ lbs carrots                   ½ tsp dried oregano

Bunch mustard greens         2 tsp dried basil

1 bunch celery                   ¼ bunch fresh basil

½ lb snap peas                   ¼ bunch fresh parsley

1 bunch kale                       1 tsp sea salt

1 bunch swiss chard            ¼ tsp pepper

Add ghee to the soup pot, along with salt, pepper, oregano, thyme and dry basil. Add mustard greens, celery, carrots, peas, chard and kale stems.  Let soften and get coated with seasonings for a few minutes.

Add barley, water, fresh basil, bay leaves, parsley and when barley is almost cooked add the chard and kale leaves. Keep stirring until barley is cooked. Simmer and serve.

Check out my new recipe book, Ambaya's Ayurvedic Recipes: For your Health!

    According to the Vedas there are four aims or goals of life which are: kama (desire) or our ability to enjoy life and have emotional happiness, artha (wealth) or the acquisition of material goods to function well in life, dharma (purpose) or our recognition of what we do in life, and moksha (spiritual liberation) or our need for spiritual growth and ability to transcend the three lower goals.

    We can see these elements in the Vedic astrological chart through the houses. Kama (desire) houses are 3, 7, 11; artha (wealth) houses are 2, 6, 10; dharma (purpose) houses are 1, 5, 9; and moksha (spiritual liberation) houses are 4, 8, 12. 

   Planets located in dharma houses can reflect one’s activities or focus that promotes one’s sense of purpose. Also, the lords of dharma houses can also give indications and signs as to how one actualizes his life purpose. 

   Planets or lords of artha (wealth) houses indicate sources of wealth, service, or one’s career or vocation. 

   Planets or lords of desire (kama) houses describe our life in terms of relationships, from siblings, to romantic or business partnerships, to the group or community as a whole.

   And finally, planets or lords of moksha or spiritual houses can guide us on our path of spiritual evolution. These are houses of happiness and peace of mind, transformation, and ultimate liberation.

Debra Infante, Vedic astrologer, can be reached at (928) 639-0623 for astrological consultations, either in person or by phone.

 7 Centers Yoga Arts

Upcoming Yoga Trainings and Special Workshops

May 8-12        Chakra Yoga Course - NYC  

                    Ruth Hartung/Rockefeller Center 5-7am

                    Contact Mary: 617-905-6296

Teacher Training Alumni News

Marcie Osmonovich (March 05) wrote us from Cambridge (UK) where she is teaching yoga 4 days a week - 2  of those days at the local Air Force Base.  Way to go, Marcie!  She also reports her 12-year-old son has embraced Ayurveda and is practicing daily on the family. 

Brad Scott (March 05) stopped in to see us and will be attending Lawrence's workshop this weekend.  It's so nice to have returning students visit!

Jennifer Lampe (June 05) moved from San Francisco to Chicago - brrrrrrrrr.  She has a job at a fitness center, where she will be teaching yoga. She is hoping to attend the 500-hour advanced training. 

Traci Temple (September 05) moved into a new home and plans to convert a portion of it into a studio, where she will continue teaching yoga. 

Veronique Plante (October 04) recently celebrated her first year as a yoga teacher, attended a Vipasanna retreat in April, and visited India last fall.  She has accepted the name "Rashi" and is slowly, slowly getting used to it.   Namaste, Rashi.

Finally, a HUGE thank-you to two of our former students:  Tim Page (June 05) and Amber Massa (September 05).  Tim and Amber have been assisting during this training by helping in the kitchen, leading hikes and just generally lending a hand wherever needed.  We hope more alumni will follow their example.