Surfing the Milky Way

Summer Solstice Sat. June 21 in Times Square, flowing with hundreds of bodies on mats sandwiched between rushing cars and towering billboards, I loved the views of sky and skyscraper from between my toes and over my neighbors' shoulders. "Mind over Madness" the event is named. "Anyone can find tranquility on top of a mountain. Can you find it in the middle of Times Square?"

What I found in the quest for tranquility was joy. And what I found in the myriad of tourists, jackhammers, TV camera crews, amongst those who biked, skateboarded, drove, took train or bus or footed it there ~ what I found was, in the plenitude of all color sits and smiles the brilliant radiance of no color at all ~ the zen-like clarity of Sahasrara, of thousandfold white lotus, Crown Chakra. Amrita dripping down into us while in motion, and fully in the midst of life.

Meditation and prayer ~ in motion or stillness ~ bring us into the presence of divinity. Opening to grace, acknowledging our identity as the beloved, is receiving Amrita, ambrosial nectar. We can surrender deeper and invite Love to anoint us there where we stand in the river of our life. Like a white dove descending.

When we feel this glow, or flow, which I know as Holy Spirit, and yogis name Samadhi, it's as though we're surfing on a tide of power and love through our day. And we know when we step off it, too, boy we know it.

Tantra teaches us that in life's most mundane moments, divinity manifests. Let us find mind over madness in the busiest crossroads of our own lives. Surf the tidal wave of grace. Invite love in. Bliss and joy be on your trip.

Sun & Sand in February

Beaches, rainforests, friendly locals, fabulous Eurobbean fusion cuisine, and yoga with me and fantastic teachers in a week of fun and freedom in St. Lucia. This winter, come for Restorative yoga, Ishta yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and adding this year AcroYoga including Therapeutic and Flow and Thai Massage with certified Acro teachers, me included.

No partner or experience necessary; all partners and levels welcome. Join me and my team of loving yogis expressing Metta, loving-kindness, Valentine's Week in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia. Family and friends are welcome. Prices, amenities, and class offerings embrace a full range of tastes and levels ~ so come and play in paradise with us!

Maddalena Maresca: Yogic Mom

I discovered Yoga at age 36, after Raphael, my now twelve-year-old cool dude, was born. But since practicing Yoga I've gotten strangely younger. At 48 I am stronger than at 28. Discovering Acroyoga recently has reversed me even further, so that I am now at spiritual age 4 and rapidly in danger of disappearing altogether!

Signing on for immortality in the inner life does reflect in the exterior life. And it's extremely useful in the exterior life of a "householder", what the yogis call the phase of our lives when we are busily engaged in family and community responsibilities.

Yoga teacher and mom Maddalena Maresca can certainly identify. For Maddalena: "Becoming a yoga teacher has allowed me to find myself again. I had gotten lost in the corporate jungle, which eclipsed my authentic self. Before business school I taught high school, fitness, and languages, so teaching comes naturally to me. It is a blessing to come back to the things that feed my soul ~ theatre, yoga ~ and that give me satisfaction by helping others ~ and that are an entirely new joy ~ Yasmine." See baby Yasmine's picture below.

Maddalena and 9 other Yoga teachers are available for Yoga Housecalls tailored to your needs; see my website for details on her and them.

Amma in NYC

Affectionately known as Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi is dubbed "the hugging saint" for her unique and personal transmission of Darshan, or "wisdom" through a personal, individual embrace, millions of which she has imparted in her global journeys.

Amma's humanitarian efforts are worldwide. She truly exemplifies a flow of Amrita, divine ambrosia, that sweet "milk of human kindness" or anointing of bliss that blesses both giver and receiver. A once-in-a-lifetime experience if you are able to partake.

NYYTA Not Just For Teachers

I am a longtime fan and member of New York Yoga Teachers Association, a non-profit gathering of not just teachers, but students and friends of Yoga in NYC. $50 annual membership allows you to post and receive regular events listings, obtain discounts to services, stores, restaurants, and workshops ~ and for teachers, can offer access to group health insurance, as I have had the past 4 years.

Below is a current ongoing workshop of 5 Friday nights in July and August, that's free with NYYTA membership.

Photo Credits; Forward or Respond

Photos this issue courtesy of: NYHRC, FreeRice, NYYTA, the Amma site, Om Factory, Patricia Perkins, Maddalena Maresca, & baby Yasmincita.

Have a blessed summer filled with your favorite things. Look for my July ENews before I take off for California's August training, and plan now for Valentine's week play in the New Year, and lots of Restorative, Ishta, and Acro classes in the fall!

You honor me with feedback and comments and forwards of the email. My website always has the latest updates on schedules, links, and previous ENews issues.

Shanti, shanti, shalom,
om & amen ~

Mary

In This Issue:

Douglass, Mary, Dineen

Got to see so many yogi friends new and old at Mind over Madness in Time Square, none of whom I had arranged to meet! Sweet!

Three Ishta yogis reunite! Douglass Stewart and Dineen Viggiano flanking me.

Ishta Center

Anna, Mary, Sabrina

Sabrina Zimmerman met me years ago on a prayer retreat; now I find out she's become a yogini, lo these many years later, and apart! Yay, hi Sabrina!

Anna Dioguardi teaches several places I teach, including Yoga Works, a proud participating studio.

Yoga Works

Acro Training In August

I'm flying off in 1 month exactly for my Acroyoga teacher training in Santa Barbara CA! I'll come back end of August readier than ever to teach people to safely support each other in partner flows, flying therapeutics, and flying flows! Not to mention Thai Massage, which is one-third of the deliciousness that is Acroyoga!

Om Factory is NYC's Acro base, offering 4x weekly Acro classes, & my Sweat & Restore at lunchtime on Fridays!

Acroyogis are the playingest people I know. They're whom I'm playing with for a Fire Island weekend in July! So if you could use more love and play in your life, come see! Come play!

Om Factory - Acro plus!

Yachts, Pools, and Yoga

Health Club Yoga is as good as its teachers.

My first 2 Yoga teachers, Norma and Gina, taught Iyengar and Ashtanga
at my gym in 1996, and they were great.

NYHRC where I teach on Tuesdays, has teachers from top studios, a yacht that cruises around NYC, and were/are the first to have Acroyoga in a NY health club: watch for more in the fall.

Maryann Donner works hard to give members the best; let her have your thanks and feedback at MDonner@nyhrc.com.

NYHRC~23 St. Spa

A "Words Workout" for the World's Hungry

I have featured this charity before, but here is a possible summer vacation vocabulary builder for your off-from-school kids!

Courtesy of my pal Sarabeth "Ima", here is a site that rewards your erudition with corporate donations of rice to needy communities. Who wins? We all do.

The universe I choose is a win-win universe.

FreeRice: Thought for Food

Chakra Explorations

My students know I love to explore a Chakra per week, in mantra, yantra, on and off the mat.

For more reading, I always recommend Alan Finger and Anodea Judith.

My student Shyama suggests this Liz Simpson book which looks terrific. Thanks Shyama!

"Book of Chakra Healing"