This Month we are using 2 Themes: Niyama & 'The Centerline'

1st Theme: Niyama 

The Niyamas are the second limb of the 'Eight Limbs of Yoga' from the ancient Indian sage Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The Niyamas refer to duties directed towards ourselves - inner observances. They are intended to help us build character. When we work with the Niyamas, we're guided from the grossest aspects of ourselves to the truth deep within.

Niyamas include:

1. Saucha - Cleanliness
2. Santosha - Contentment, Modesty, Acceptance
3. Tapas - Purification, Discipline
4. Svadhyaya - Self-study, Witness Consciousness, Who am I?
5. Ishvara Pranidhana - Yield to Ultimate Reality, Non-attachment to the Benefits of Our Actions

2nd Theme: The Centerline

Through the principles of True North Alignment, students create the experience of their Centerline. The Centerline is not something you can see with the naked eye, rather something you activate and awaken by isometrically pulling into centre. Each of your limbs creates its own center by squeezing from the skin to the muscle to the bone and from there all of your limbs - the various parts of your body - orchestrate into a greater whole until you are left with the experience of being whole and complete, and connected with your center. As you create the physical experience of The Centerline with your students, they experience the action of physical integration and a sense of awakening that in turn allows them to expand out into the full expression of the pose. The work of the centerline creates the container through which all else is possible in this practice. 

The Centerline is the place between the right and left side of the body. From the skin to the muscle to the bone HUG IN to each bone. All the parts draw into the centerline, creating a container to EXPRESS OUT. 


Teaching and Practicing Tips

1. Practice discipline and diligence
2. Practice showing up
3. Practice staying true to your fullest expression of self on and off the mat
4. By putting into practice the first three pillars of Drishti, Ujjayi, and Bandhas, you get access to internal Tapas for an inner heat/fire
5. Tell your students to pull into The Centerline - The space between the right and left sides of the body
6. Total Body Integrity: PULL IN, PRESS DOWN, & LIFT UP to integrate... create muscle to bone connection (pull into centerline & core). Total Body Expression: PRESS, LIFT, MOVE & fully express out (move out from center & core). Creates Tapas.
7. While teaching meditation, you can use The Centerline as the theme or point of presence.