InsightsfromtheMat

Most Yoga classes include some version of a Sun Salutation ( Surya Namaskar). These linked poses are a powerful warm-up but also serve another purpose. Surya Namaskar is a salute to the sun or a way to create a new and fresh beginning, hence why it is done at the beginning of a yoga class. Read on to learn why many yogis, including us at Island Movement , practice this tradition on the first of the New Year. Why 108 Sun Salutations? In Yoga, the number 108 is significant for many reasons. 108 is a common number in many sacred yogic texts, and added together, 1+0+8 = 9, which symbolizes universal love, eternity, and awakening. According to Ayurveda, there are 108 sacred points on the body. Traditionally, Sun Salutations honor the Winter & Summer Solstice and the Spring & Fall Equinox. Many Western Yogi's also use 108 Sun Salutations to mark the beginning of the New Year. The practice harnesses the power of rebirth and new beginnings to detoxify and shed the unw

A Perfect Sunset from the Ashram As you may know, I spent 2-Weeks at the b eginning of September at Yogi Hari's Ashram in Miramar Florida. It was an amazing experience where I had an opportunity to grow both emotionally and spiritually. I joined the Ashram and plan to make regular return trips.  I am returning on  January 25-27 2020  and invite you to join me.  The full itinerary is below. The Ashram prepares our meals which are primarily Vegan. They can accommodate gluten allergies. Meat and alcohol are not allowed at the Ashram. We will stay on the Ashram grounds, in rooms that sleep 4 - 6 people, with shared bathrooms. The cost is $200 and you pay through the FMB Yoga Project website. I will provide a packing list for anyone that signs up for the trip. Saturday                                               Sunday Yoga Day Leave Fort Myers @ 9am                     5:30 wake up Arrive at the Ashram @ 11                   Satsang @6 Settle in 

Guruji by C. Morgan I was taken aback on class on Wednesday. A seasonal visitor and a local resident both spoke to me about my time at the Ashram. I write this blog to share my experiences, but the conversation on Wednesday brought home the power of words. So, although later than I intended, I feel called to share my thoughts on Guruji. In Yoga Philosophy, a Guru is simply a teacher. Someone who has traveled a spiritual path and is offering instruction to you to as you walk the same path. Just as an Ashram is simply a place to learn. It is that simple. When I entered the Ashram, I felt that I knew about the physical practice of yoga, but I wanted to increase my knowledge about the spiritual side. At the end of my 2 week training, I learned A LOT about the physical practice and the spiritual practice of Yoga. I also learned A LOT about myself. The later was a bit of an eye opener. At the Ashram we spent about 4 hours a day in the presence of Yogi Hari. We chanted and