Happy Valentine, Happy New Year, Flying Pig

Happy Valentine's and Happy Chinese New Year! Today Feb. 18 we enter the Chinese Year of the Purple Fire Boar, 4705. Fire - for dynamism, passion, energy, leadership. Pig - the happiest, most generous and idealistic of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. My heart overflows with joy and blessings for passion, peace, prosperity for this Boar Year!

A 1959 Earth Pig myself, I open my year flying to St. Lucia Feb. 24 to lead a week long Paradise Yoga Retreat. Will bring back photos and tales, and a booking for next winter, so start socking away dimes for a winter escape to the Caribbean this time next year! Next winter I will bring my hubby and son. This year they are bachelors for the week while I soar off with my little piggy wings to explore.

Turquoise Throat Chakra: Speak Your Truth

Blue-green waters filtering the light; the waters and sky I will salute are also the colors of Vissudha, 5th, Throat Chakra. "Vissudha" means Purification in Sanskrit, and specifies the thyroid gland, purifying center in the throat, but also the purifying affirmation for this Communication Chakra: "I have the right to speak, and hear, the Truth." Which truth is that? Our deepest personal truth, creativity, self-expression.

Turquoise is ambiguous in its tints and hues: How much blue? How much green? Your turquoise is not my turquoise. Vissudha is creative in its very elusiveness. Speak my Truth means to find my own truest, purest, honest voice. Follow Your Bliss: find it, purify it, shape it, "speak" it to the world. See Martha Graham quote at sidebar.

To keep this issue clean and short, I provide below the link to last February's Vissudha Issue, with yogic tips for this Chakra so crucial for artists, teachers, and communicators.

Mary's Yoga Web Pages Are Up And Growing!

Mary Yoga Web Page is up! You can open previous ENewsletter issues; and I shall be continually adding links to resources, so it should be useful as well as fun. Brand new and growing ... I welcome feedback and comments on the Webpage, as always for ENewsletters, classes, retreats, etc.

Quick Easy ENews Archive

Here's a link to quickly and easily access any prior ENews issues ....

2 Weeks Class Subs

My next 2 weeks of classes will be subbed by:
* NYHRC Tues. 2/20 & 2/27 Naomi Aborn
* Yoga Works Thurs/Fri 2/22, 23; 3/1, 2 Anna Dioguardi & Patricia Smith - Check Webscheduler.

Yoga Works ES

Martha Graham to Agnes DeMille

I quote this in classes for Vissudha:

"There is vitality, a life force. A quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all time. This expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine: how good it is … nor how valuable it is … nor how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly. To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open…."

Mantra to A Muse

Saraswati is a Hindu goddess who presides over learning, arts, science, and creativity. This chant can help awaken our inner muse, our Saraswati energy.

"Om Eim Saraswatiyei Swaha"

Thomas Ashley-Ferrand on mantras