Why we chant

I often begin the classes I teach with the Anusara Invocation.  I've found in the past that if I try to use my brain to lead the chant I get lost and can't find the words.  Yesterday, while chanting, I let my mind wander and I was trying to remember a new student's name.  When I brought myself back to the present I found myself consciously thinking to remember the words that came next.  I stalled.  As I hesitated several others followed and stopped chanting. . . but one student continued the chant and, a moment later, the rest of us joined back in.  

This wasn't the first time this has happened in class.  Coming together to chant at the beginning of class whether it is the sound "OM," the Anusara Invocation, or another chant brings the group together as one.  

I learned in my teacher training that sound is rhythm or entrainment sped up.  When things come into line (or rhythm) with another.  The same thing happens with a grandfather clock, women's cycles, lovers, a mother & her baby.

As we tune into the breath, our self, the teacher and the kula a boundary is created.  A boundary between our practice and the rest of our day.  The cells of our body align with the sound, the vibration, and receive psychological benefit.

THE ANUSARA INVOCATION

OM

Namah Shivaya Gurave

I offer myself to the Light, the Auspicious One,

Who is the True Teacher within and without,

Saccidananda Murtaye

Who assumes the forms of Reality, Consciousness and Bliss,

Nisprapancaya Shantaya

Who is never absent and is full of peace,

Niralambaya Tejase

Independent in existence, the vital essence of illumination.

OM

Growth

I have been curious and a little confused over the resignation of two of Anusara's senior teachers: Christina Sell  http://christinasell.blogspot.com/2011/10/context-is-everything.html and Elena Brower  http://www.artofattention.com/announcement-of-gratitude/.

I've been juggling my feelings over this and the affect on my own path.  What I have found is that it is affecting me emotionally and not effecting my actions.  I just signed up for an Anusara Weekend Workshop in December.

What I see is two teachers that have grown in their practice to a place where the Anusara jumpsuit no longer fits.  I'm still sewing my jumpsuit and really enjoying the colors and stitches involved in the process.

Here is a reaction from another Anusara teacher that speaks well on the heart of Anusara:  http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/11/anusara--to-follow-your-heart/.


Last, Amy Ippoliti shares her raw-get real-perspective in Elephant Journal:  http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/11/a-letter-to-the-yoga-community-about-the-anusara-situation--amy-ippoliti/

To be your best self

I have a personal manifesto posted on the bulletin board in my office.  I got the idea from my sister and she got it from one of her college professors.  Included in my personal manifesto is:   

Do your best.  Keep making your best better.

A student came up to me after class yesterday and said, "You're a great teacher, Angela.  Stop apologizing."  Stop apologizing.  It hurt a little.  Not the feedback but the reflection that I was a person that was essentially apologizing for my offering.  Was I not offering my best?  I was.  So why the need to apologize?   

I attempted to bring the light of awareness to understand my habit of apologizing for an awkward transition or including abs or not including abs or being detailed enough in the alignment or not practicing enough myself.  The truth is. . . if I am offering my best there is nothing to apologize for.  

Stop apologizing.  Do your best.  It is enough.