HOME NEWS STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING ABOUT
Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio | 5324 Dundas Street West Etobicoke, Ontario M9B 1B4
     
Yoga Training Important Notice
 

Newsletter

If you are a yoga teacher, you may be interested in receiving our monthly newsletter. Click here to sign up!

If you are a student of yoga and would like to receive our Monthly Newsletter for Members of the Studio, please click here to sign up!

 

February 1st, 2010
Yoga Philosophy: Teaching of the Month.
Asmita - I-am-ness

Lonely. Separate. Disconnected. This is the feeling that is associated with the concept of Asmita. The ancient Sage Patanjali tells us that this feeling leads us to identify with the body, mind and possessions and keeps us apart from others. We begin to identify ourselves with our ego. We can create a self-image of ourselves that we believe is us, but it is not us. Yoga teaches us that the self is different from the ego. This self-image can contain both external (I am poor) or internal (I am a bad person) false projections.

In Indian philosophy, the true nature of man consists of a divine kernel, which is in itself pure and infinite. This true nature is called Atman, the world-soul, which all living beings share and which is the source of life.

As we experience life, we begin the journey through the senses - the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin - and this sensory world begins to drag us away from our true nature.. We begin to strive for more of what brings us pleasure - material things, pleasurable acts and thoughts. We begin to confuse this 'self' (really EGO) as the true self. In this ignorance we can easily lose our anchor and our foundation.

We can see Asmita acted out every day in ourselves, in our families, in our colleague, even in our studios. When people purport themselves to be something other than what they are, this is Asmita. They can either pump themselves up, or put themselves down. A false view of self.

Yoga teaches us that one of the ways in which to overcome Asmita is in the act of generous sharing. To give rather than to strive to acquire. What better month of the year - February - than to give from the heart?! The point isn't so much what we give or how much we give...the point is that we loose our habit of clinging - and acquiring. We reverse the process!

Yoga teaches us that we are not here on this planet to simply please ourselves. We are not meant to live in a vacuum. We are part of a much larger community. Tibetan Buddhism teaches us that we are here to ease the suffering of others. One of the ways that we can do this is by giving. At our studio during the month of February, students are asked to take part in a self-challenge of giving a gift every day of this month. More information on this wonderful practice can be had in Cami Walker's book entitled "29 Gifts. How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life."

Gifts need not be large and may be made to anyone - family, friend or a stranger - a simple smile, giving a dollar to a street person, holding the door for someone. Preparation of food, dusting furniture, washing dishes can all selfless acts of giving - when viewed in that way. Your full attention to someone while really listening to them is perhaps the most precious gift that you can give.

To participate in the self-challenge in a more formal way, please download the tracking form (Word, 1.5 Mb) which will allow you to note down what you freely gave away each day, and then to reflect on the feeling that giving engenders inside you. At the end of the month, you may wish to reflect on, and integrate the teachings of this practice. No one will see this form except for you!

Questions to ask at the end of the month:

  • What have I learned about myself as a result of this month-long practice?
  • What have I learned about others?
  • Is there a separation between the one who gives and the one who receives?
  • Is it possible to find the place where there is no sense of giver, receiver, or gift, but simply of giving and loving?

by Maureen Rae, RN, E-RYT

As always, we welcome your comments and stories. Sharing your experiences can often go a long way to helping others to ‘see.’ Please feel free to email us at info@mraesyogastudio.com

Click here to read Maureen's previous articles


Mo Teaching

 

MAKE IT A DATE NIGHT!
Whether you want to try Yoga for the first time or expand your knowledge of Yoga

We welcome you to a FREE SEMINAR on YOGA BASICS

Please join David here at the studio
on Friday, February 12th
From 7 – 8 pm

Find out more (PDF, 65kb)

***

Family Day, February 15, 2010

All regularly scheduled classes will run as usual.

***

Corporate Training

Did you know that our studio provides CORPORATE CLASSES AT YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS? Find out more.

***

Erich Schiffman
Erich Shiffman and Maureen Rae

***

Voted Etobicoke's Best Yoga Studio 2009!

***

Yoga In Motion

Yoga in Motion was fantastic. Lynda Cralli on the left, Maureen in the centre and Christine Ling on the right. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors – Dedicated Clothing (shirts) and lululemon (pants).

***

Congrats 100 Hour
Congratulations to our 100 Hour Intensive 2008-9 Graduating Class!

They are (Back row left to right) Anahita Khadivi holding Baby Malcolm), Christine Sauriol (Malcolm's mom!), Maureen, Christina Harvey, Jane Brooks, Anna Trotti, Rasha Salem. (Front row l - r) Joanna dela Cruz and Cathy Bertucca Dulder.

Missing....Olga Petrova and Ruby Bartlett.

Studio



Yoga Training



Maureen

Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio specializes in Yoga Teacher Training!

250 Hour Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Training and for those for whom time is a valuable commodity, spread out over 10 Sunday afternoons, 1 to 5 pm, from September to March, our 100 Hour Teacher Training Program is designed to accommodate most millennial schedules. Now in its 10th year, our training consists of:

  • a highly-respected teacher
  • in-class presentations
  • small groups
  • readings
  • home-assignments

Are you searching for a deeper practice? Many students complete our Yoga teacher training not to teach others but for their own spiritual development. Our curriculum fosters self-improvement, self-inquiry and self-knowledge. The companion manual serves as reference material long after the certificate is completed. Click here for testimonials.

It's not as expensive as you think. Our prices are quite reasonable, usually much more reasonable than the price of other studios in the Greater Toronto Area.

A Yoga Teacher Certificate is awarded after completion of our 100 hour program. Click here for more information on this program. For optional certification program once you've completed the 100 hour program, check out this page.

For other training sessions at our studio, have a look here.

Anytime during your training, feel free to join any regularly scheduled class for free!

at work

 

 

Mr. Pigeon Pose

Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio is owned and operated by Maureen Rae, Reg. N., E-RYT, Certified Nia Dance Instructor.

She has trained with Erich Schiffmann of Santa Monica, California, the Desikachars of India, and Angela Farmer of Greece, among others. Maureen teaches a flowing Vinyasa Style yoga class, integrating techniques from Viniyoga(henceforth to be known as Yoga in the style of Krishnamacharya) ...and favours function and feeling, over form.

She is known throughout the industry for innovative sequencing and she is now a new ambassador for lululemon athletica! (See www.lululemon.com.)

Find out more...

 
 
 
 
www.bringingconsciousness.com
www.injoyyogawear.com
www.jspa.com
www.looksimage.com
www.lululemon.com
www.nrg2go.net
www.palmermassage.com
www.shantiretreat.ca
www.towardstillness.com
goldy.toki@sympatico.ca
(henna artist)
 
Can-Fit-Pro
Yoga Alliance
 
spacer
c. 2007 Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio, all rights reserved.