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AGAMA YOGA MAY 2011 NEWSLETTER
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
The 14th Dalai Lama
Namaste aspirants and friends!
Compassion can be exercised in a very practical way. One interpretation of the word ‘Seva’ is 'together with' and describes actions that seek collective upliftment through understanding the needs of others. Seva is an expression of compassion, of the desire to uplift and assist others. Kahlil Gibhran said that ‘work is love made visible’. Agama has a tradition of Seva, (also known as Karma Yoga), where students actively practice compassionate service in our community in various ways – teaching, gardening, cleaning, administration and more. Each month, we hold a Seva Day, where students communally undertake Seva. Next month, we will hold Seva Day on 20 March at our Sri Thanu campus. Further, if your heart leads you, you may offer your energy to our school more regularly in a variety of ways. You can get more information by emailing info@agamayoga.com
We invite all our Yoga community and our local friends to join us for our Agama Open Day on Sunday April 3. This day is to celebrate the dedication of our beautiful new Ganesha Hall and to open our school to our local community. The day will start with Seva, followed by the official consecration of Ganesha Hall by Swami Vivekananda. After this, there will be a free Yoga class as well as unch and chai stand. We also invite performance offerings by our students. Anyone interested in assisting with the organisation of the day or performing may contact our Events Coordinator Maree on 0857 880 520.
As the season progresses, our calendar on Koh Phangan and internationally remains fuller and deeper than ever before. Our ‘Summer Agama Yoga Teacher Training Course’ starting on May 23 is nearly full. If you wish to check availability, please email ttc@agamayoga.com. Our currently running ‘winter’ ATTC is now in its final month and participants are full of aspiration and developing beautifully.
Our newest hall, Ganesha Hall is now being used for our Advanced Teachings and the Agama Teacher Training Course classes, and provides a very intimate space. Our recently rebuilt Green Hall is now in regular use and has a beautiful shanti energy and environment. For the last month, it has been home to the Mystical Dance Teacher Training Course and at the moment it hosts the Hridaya Teacher Training Course.
One of our Mystical Dance Teacher Training participants has shared her experience the following way: “And now I feel all the aspects of my nature integrated and shining brightly. The MDTTC as given me a unique joyous opportunity to journey deeply into my playful child, sensual maiden, unconditionally loving shakti, wise woman; and to embody the divine feminine in all these expressions - through dance, meditation, ritual and transfiguration. A five week intensive shakti group, lead by an amazing yogini, has brought consciousness and sacredness into our sisterhood, our brotherhood, into the dance of life. With gratitude....”
Mystical Dance Offering at the Arabian Nights Party, January 2011
This February we have offered two workshops new to our program on Koh Phangan – Practical Tantra Yoga 1 and 2, which were taught by Moses Maimon. Practical Tantra 1 was our biggest workshop ever, with over 80 participants! Previously offered with a slightly different syllabus in Europe, these workshops gave valuable insight to practical techniques from the Taoist and Tantric traditions. Information on further courses offered by Moses in Europe can be found on our website. To further deepen your tantric understanding, Antoaneta Gotea will debut the Introduction to Tantric Rituals in June. This workshop will explore the Tantric view of sexuality with a view toward understanding rituals as a means to inducing altered states of consciousness.
Partner exercises at the Practical Tantra Yoga Workshop, February 2011
Making a much welcome return is the transformational Hridaya Retreat – Revelation of the Spiritual Heart with Sahajananda, (Claudiu Trandafir’s spiritual name). The first retreat of the four offered this season is taking place at this very moment with an astonishing amount of participants - well over 90! The series will culminate in a 17 day Advanced retreat from 22 July to 7 August. For a different retreat focus, Heidrun Mueller will offer the ‘Third Eye Retreat’ to be held from 21 to 30 August. You may reserve in advance via paypal or at the Registration Office at Ananda to ensure your place in these retreats.
Our Satsang series with Swami Vivekananda continues his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Our website now features weekly uploads of this series, so you may participate in Swami’s lectures wherever you are! In a new addition for this year, our bhakti yogis are offering bhajan singing at the start of satsang to elevate the energy and prepare the space.
With nearly 300 teachers now, Agama’s international teachings are spreading farther and taking more roots around the globe! Newest branch Estonia (Talliin) recently hosted workshops for 60 people. The Bhairava Yoga Center in this capital city offers ongoing courses in Levels 1, 2, and 3, in addition to ‘Yoga for Tantra’ classes, weekend workshops, and other events. Agama – Amsterdam has just moved to a new location (De Waterval), where it holds ‘ABC of Yoga’ classes, ‘Cosmic Sunday’ workshop gatherings, and other events. Agama - Mexico (Mazunte) is going strong, with intensive-style daily teachings in Levels 1, 2, and 3, as well as workshops and retreats. Agama – Israel is now teaching Level 1 in Tel Aviv.
The Agama Center in British Columbia, Canada – Anuttara – is preparing already for its season from May-November. Contact Thomas or Ronela via email at anuttarayoga@gmail.com if you wish to come for a retreat or study, or to offer your help in building and other tasks as Karma Yoga. The Agama Rishikesh (India) branch is continuously offering courses in Levels 1, 2, and 3 through April, and Agama Dharamsala (India) reopens with Manu and Monika for its fifth season in the northern Himalayas of India. Join us at these centers and others for teachings in 2011. Also please stay tuned to our website for new features spotlighting our international centers and teachers!
Our Agama Healing Center, with the guidance of Dr Mihaela Pentiuc, continues to blossom. Currently the center is offering many healing therapies, ranging from alternative and homeopathic medicine through reiki, hypnotherapy and shiatsu and many more. Enquiries for both receiving and offering treatment can be directed to Anna, our Healing Center Coordinator on 0845 474 913 (if you are on the island).
In closing, we offer our thanks for your welcome support of Agama as we continue to develop, to grow and to evolve.
With love....