TARA MITRA 2024
MORNING – PRANAYAMA & CHANTING
A brief introduction to Traditional Pranayama as taught by O.P. Tiwariij followed by chanting a series of stotrams and mantras to invoke the divine.
MYSORE MORNINGS
Moving through your personal ashtanga sequence, guiding you with tips and ideas to create ease and ensuring safety & longevity of your practice. Tara is fluent in Ashtanga through 2nd series and some of 3rd Series and can guide you safely and playfully through your practice. She is also a Yoga Therapist and can help modify to create ease, restore or relieve depending on the condition.
8 LIMBS IN DAILY LIFE
Ashtanga Yoga or 8-limbed yoga is an 8-part method as referenced in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Tara will move through each of these limbs discussing them from a philosophical lens while highlighting how you can integrate these eight limbs of ashtanga yoga into our modern daily life. Linking Traditional Yoga to Everyday Life.
PRANAYAMA I & II
Pranayama; experience the breath at a more subtle level – (2 days, 5 hours in total)
We will review…
• The Importance of The Breath
• How to Effectively Practice Pranayama Preparatory Practices
• 5 Fundamental Techniques & Their Benefits and Chanting as a Pranayama
• and of course, We Will Practice Together
OPENING & CLOSING CHANTS OF ASHTANGA
Chanting at the beginning of our practice helps focus our attention and bring ourselves into the present moment preparing the space to practice yoga, reminding us we are practicing something precious and sacred. In this workshop we will explore the history and significance of these two chants. Sharing correct pronunciation, its importance as well as a clear translation bringing deeper meanings behind these sacred words. The ancient practice of chanting works at a subconscious level and can be used to purify mental and physical blockages within in the body. Through continual practice of mantras (vibrational sounds) one can become energized and peaceful helping to maintain equilibrium within the self. From a scientific aspect it has been said that chanting holds several calming, therapeutic, psychological and spiritual benefits.
MY MIND & ME
We will explore several ideas from the shastras (sacred texts) to help us understand what influences our actions, ideas, responses, triggers, our decisions. Helping us to understand how we interact with the world outside through inside. The concepts shared are mainly coming from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. We will end with a small dhāranā practice, sharing ways to concentrate or hold the mind quiet. Only from this space of silence, moving inwards can hear clearly.
OPEN DISCUSSIONS (ASHTANGA, LIFE, Q&A)
To end this powerful weekend together. Tara will openly discuss her path to yoga, to living in Mysore for 5 years and assisting in the Shala daily for 4 of those years, and through injury and self-exploration. Sharing stories and allowing for questions to deeper our relationship and understanding of yoga through experience. Tara will guide us with a meditation and Healing Vedic Chant to complete the workshop.