AGAMA YOGA'S FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Namaste to all yogis and friends far and wide!

On Monday night we marked here the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri - the Great Night of Shiva, in fact in Vedantic and Hindu Tantric traditions, this night is a symbol of new birth, the eve of a new year. Many of the Agama shaktis culminated weeks of a special tapas and prepared the ritual space for last night's meditations - the Blue Hall possibly never before looked as beautiful, glowing by candlelight for the solemn worship to the Divine Absolute... The evening began with soulful bhajans to Shiva and readings about the Eight Divine Aspects of Shiva, interspersed with music meditations and our one-hour synchronized meditation of Laya Yoga. We hope you were able to join us in this homage and union as we celebrated the great Mystery of Shiva.

Our 2009 season has started well and happily! We have a Teacher Training Course of 20 aspiring teachers working hard at their training, now past the halfway mark. Our summer TTC just filled up this week, although we are still accepting waiting list applications. In workshop news, during the first week of February, Swami Vivekananda led a well-attended Tantra 1 Workshop and, due to its success, an impromptu Tantra 2 Workshop was added by request to the winter schedule for 4-8 March.

Monika Nataraj reprised the Mystical Belly Dance 1 Workshop she first held at Agama last winter, a week of shakti laughter, shimmies, and revelation of the Divine Feminine within through transfiguration and dance. The workshop culminated with an evening offering of dance features during our 1001 Arabian Nights Valentine's Day party... Next month, Monika takes these teachings to the next level with Mystical Belly Dance 2, highlighting drum solos, the Dance of the Seven Veils, Sufi Dervish whirling, and classical temple dance.

We continue to offer monthly 10-day silent meditation retreats. In January and February senior teacher Udi Maimon led the Awakening the Crown Chakra Retreat, with participation growing each month. This retreat has received excellent reviews and will return in August. In March Claudiu Trandafir returns to Agama, and will lead the Hridaya Retreat until July. Please join us!

The Agama Yoga Health and Consultation Center is also open, led by Director Mihaiela Pentiuc. The center offers Yogic therapy and homeopathic consultation and therapy, as well as chiropractic and, next month, additional therapies. The center operates entirely on donation. Any donations, no matter the size, toward equipment purchase and expansion are gratefully accepted and appreciated very much!

The Agama students have undertaken several beautiful initiatives this season. They are, first of all, meeting among themselves in order to form the new Agama Student Assembly, which will be introduced officially in March. Also, spearheaded by teachers Tiffany and Claud, an organic garden has been planted on Agama's new leased property with seeds from Auroville in Pondicherry, South India, and compost is being solicited at collection points near the Yoga halls. Twice per week for four hours each morning, many students are giving shape and love to this new garden. Also, an offspring of this initiative, a group of inspired students has formed a Karma Yoga cooking club, taking turns at preparing lunch for Swami and Mihaiela on a rotational basis. These international chefs are creating fantastic dishes of cuisines ranging from Spanish and Italian to Israeli and vegan specialties. Thanks for this delicious Karma Yoga!

Also this past weekend, teacher Julien presented the second annual Phangan Film Festival on the island, of which Agama was a sponsor. The festival brought environmentally aware and spiritually themed films from around the world to an open-air cinema on the sands of Holiday Beach Resort for hundreds of beach-going film lovers. The charming festival, held under palm trees and a starry night sky, will sponsor a sister version on the neighboring island of Koh Samui in August.

In a commemorative last local announcement, we wish to salute Moses Maimon, our outgoing General Manager, for his tireless efforts, effective leadership, and completely dedicated service to Agama for the past two years. Thank you sincerely, Moses! We wish him good luck in his future endeavors, and hopefully some well-deserved retreat time. In his place, beginning 1 March, teacher Rainer Gasser will take the reins as our new GM. We offer our welcome and wholehearted support to Rainer in his new position!

Courses and workshops for the entire season have been announced online. View our new workshop calendar to see the schedule for 2009, or visit our Thailand calendar for this season's course levels and dates. Upcoming workshops include the Art of Dying with Swami Vivekananda, Vira Training with Claudiu Trandafir, and Complete Femininity with Mihaiela Pentiuc, in addition to the Tantra workshops.

In international news, Geoff has opened a new Agama Yoga center in Mazunte, Mexico, on the beautiful coast of Oaxaca. He currently offers the First Level Intensive Course, in addition to special events, workshops, and retreats. An enthusiastic team of helpers there is also working toward full Spanish-language instruction and materials alongside the English-language teachings. The center recently offered a retreat coinciding with Koh Phangan's New Year's Retreat. Contact mexico@agamayoga.com for more details.

In addition, Agama courses are currently offered in UK, Israel, Rishikesh, India (open through April), Hungary, and Amsterdam. Agama's Dharamsala, Ottawa, Ontario, and Vancouver centers will all reopen in March and April - see website for details. Also, Thomas and Ronela wish to make a special appeal for karma yogis who might like to join the building efforts at their center in Northern B.C. (Canada) anytime between May and November. The two will be teaching and completing construction on their Yoga facility/retreat space and ashram in Terrace, and can offer anyone who would like to come help free meals and accommodation as well as ongoing course teachings at their level (up to Month 24). If you have the time, energy and heart to help this project, contact Thomas at anuttarayoga@gmail.com.

Swami's autumn tour to North America is shaping up. He will teach again in Ontario at Shanti Yoga Retreat (21 September - 12 October) and in Vancouver (26 October - 8 November) - as a faculty member of Prana Yoga College - and planning for Mexico events is in progress. All in all, he will teach for seven weeks prior to his return to Thailand in November for the annual advanced teachings for teachers. Claudiu has also been invited to teach in North America; he will debut the Hridaya Retreat in Ontario, also in September.

An expanded roster of immersion workshops may also be requested in your area as part of the Agama Yoga International Teaching Initiative. In 2008, Mihaiela, Manu Mougenot, and Moses led six weeks of successful workshops in Europe by request. This initiative emerged in response to Swami's fuller schedule in recent years and subsequent inability to tour and present in all parts of the world. In 2009, the program expands, and students may request to host and organize any of the following workshops from May until December: Tantra 1 and 2, Art of Dying, Invoking Angels, Metaphysical Weekend, and a new workshop, Shiva / Shakti Weekend. Visit our website for complete details or contact Lori for any tour-related issues.

We'd like to dedicate this newsletter to our dear and beautiful friend, Tessa Pisani from Malta, a joyful, enthusiastic, and loving woman and, since 2006, one of Agama's teachers. Three weeks ago today, a dog ran into Tessa's path while she was driving and she had a tragic accident on her scooter. She is still in a coma at Bangkok-Samui Hospital on the adjacent island following two brain surgeries. Her sons came immediately to Thailand to care for her and they are close to securing her transportation to Malta for long-term intensive care. We invite you to join us in prayers, blessings, and meditation for Tessa. Here on Koh Phangan, we have established four daily half-hour meditations (Laya Yoga with Tara if you have the initiation or with the first mantra if you do not): 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, and 22:00. The last meditation each day is designated as a worldwide synchronized meditation. Thank you on Tessa's behalf for any positive energy you can contribute to help her healing and recovery.

Fortunately, Tessa had insurance, but this may also be a good time to mention the importance of having travel insurance for medical needs and accidents if you will be traveling abroad. We've found one option that seems very affordable for most people and covers what would be most helpful: www.worldnomads.com. We recommend factoring this small expense into your travel plans.

We invite you to join us in the upcoming season on Koh Phangan or elsewhere around the world. We take great joy in meeting you, seeing you again, or even hearing a hello!

We hope the Night of Shiva was a great occasion for all, and shepherds in a period of spiritual prosperity and renewal. May His Grace bless us all.

With love and a wish for inspiration and happiness!

Lori for Agama Yoga