Posts Tagged ‘conscious living new york’
Om Sweet Om Yoga

Om Sweet Om Yoga is holding an evening program for the benefit of Haiti on February 5th 2010 at 8:00pm. Please join them to transform this devastating experience into a reason to cultivate compassion, generosity and love toward all beings. This will prove to be an inspired evening of mixed level eclectic vinyasa yoga and meditation.
Yoga Pose of the Month from Om Sweet Om Yoga
Begin this pose in standing in tadasana. Transfer weight to left side, find your dristi, connect to your bandhas, lift your right leg and bend at the knee and open the hip to the right. Place your right foot in the crease of your right leg and thigh. (IF this bothers your knee bring your foot over your thigh by the knee or come into tree pose). For more advanced students you may bind the right hand around your back and hold onto your right big tow in yogic toe-lock. If the bind is not to be leave the arm at your side. You may begin to fold forward bringing the unbound hand or both hands to the floor or a block for balance. You may also bring you hands to a wall folding at your waist body parallel to the floor arms straight, if folding to the floor feels precarious. Breath five or so long and deep breaths and then come back up to stand. Release your right foot to the floor and repeat on the other side.
Physical benefits: This is a balancing posture that is also a hip opener and in it’s advanced form a shoulder opener. It stretches the groin muscles in the bent leg and the hamstrings in the standing leg. It also builds strength in the core and the standing leg.
Spiritual benefits:Ardha Badha Padmottanasana is a balancing pose and as such helps to ground you and build focus (dharana). By challenging the mind/body to become still as the body bends and twists we learn to readily locate the inner focus.
Related Reading:
Chakrasambara Buddhist Center

Meditation and a Joyful Life
An Introduction to Buddhist Meditation
with Kadam Morten
(check out the online video teaching with Kadam Morten)
2 Free Talks at 2 Locations
Monday Jan. 18, 7 – 9 PM (free)
At New York New Church, 114 East 35th Street (between Park and Lex. Ave’s)
Please note: the address is East 35th St. and not West 35th St. as was mistakenly printed on the publicity cards.
Thursday Jan. 21, 7 – 9 PM (free)
At Chakrasambara Buddhist Center, 322 8th Ave. Suite 502 (entrance on 26th St.)
Is a joyful life possible? Yes, it is. Through training in the meditation practices taught by Buddha we can developing a peaceful, positive, and joyful mind, a relaxed body, and a flexible, optimistic and compassionate outlook on life. Through learning to meditate correctly we train our mind in letting go of present unhappiness and past hurts and in maintaining a peaceful and happy heart. Gradually we become less judgmental and more empathetic and we come to appreciate the beauty and potential in each moment of our life. In this talk Kadam Morten will explain the practice of meditation and guide us in simple but profound meditations that we can easily integrate into our daily life.
Everyone is welcome. Please note: the same talk will be given at both venues. Due to space considerations please just come to one or the other.
Visit the website at www.meditationinewyork.org.
A New Opportunity to Join the Teacher Training Program
with Kadam Morten
The Teacher Training Program (TTP) is an ongoing program of in-depth study and practice based on the study of 14 of Geshe Kelsang’s books on sutra and tantra.
The Program is designed for those who wish to train as teachers of Mahayana Buddhism and/or wish to gain a profound and comprehensive understanding of Dharma.
As the study of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s book Mahamudra Tantra is about to begin, now is an ideal time to join the TTP. Classes take place on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 6:30 to 9:00pm.
Introduction to the Teacher Training Program
Friday, Jan 22, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
For those who are considering joining, Kadam Morten will give an introduction to the TTP. He will explain the purpose and commitments of studying on the TTP, how the classes are structured, how best to prepare, and so on. Attending this introduction is essential if you wish to join.
The actual study of Mahamudra Tantra will then commence on Tuesday January 26 at 6:30 pm.
As the TTP is a big commitment, in general it is only open to those who already are studying on the Foundation Program, or have been attending General Program classes regularly for at least a year.
Pre-registration for the introduction is essential. Email Karla at epc@meditationinnewyork.org to discuss your eligibility and to receive the TTP guidelines
Related Reading:
East West Books Upcoming Events
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Yoga People Studio in Brooklyn, NYC
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Tried Yoga Before?
Get started with a Beginners Course at Yoga People!
~ Develop Strength, Flexibility & Balance ~
UPCOMING DATES:
Four Saturdays: 2:00-3:15
January 9th-January 30th
$100 Early Bird Registration (must register before January 2nd)
$115 Week Of The Course
This course is designed for those who are physically active but new to yoga.
Call YP to reserve at 718-522-YOGA or register now online.
EXTRA BENEFIT! All students who complete our Beginners Course are eligible to receive a 10% discount off their first class card.
Give Yoga & Massage. Give Love.
Discounted rates on Yoga Class Cards and Massage for all the loved ones on your list!
To purchase a Gift Certificate please call 718-522-9642.
Certificates avilable in any amount for any service.
For yoga and massage we are offering the following packages:
5 Class Yoga Card & 60min Massage $165 (save $10)
10 Class Yoga Card & 60min Massage $230 (save $20)
20 Class Yoga Card & 60min Massage $355 (save $35)
Yoga People RYTA Teacher Training Program ~
200 Hour Training, Spring 2010
Friday February 12th – Sunday May 23rd
Select Weekends
Fridays 8:00-10:00PM
Saturdays 12:30-8:30PM
Sundays 2:00-6:00PM
Learn more about the Teacher Training at our Open House:
Coming in January
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Announcing Yoga People’s 8th Teacher Training |
Sadhana Center for Yoga and Meditation

Sadhana Center for Yoga and Meditation, located in downtown New York City, offers classes that reveal the importance of building a strong foundation for a yoga practice that is stable and also allows freedom. Teachers at Sadhana bring to the studio a blend of Iyengar, Ashtanga, Sivenanda and Vinyasa yoga traditions in addition to meditation, chanting, and somatic investigation including dance, women’s health, anatomy and bodywork practices.
Sadhana, from the Sanskrit, means conscious spiritual practice. Our teachings reflect a philosophy that views oneself from the inside out, rather than from the outside in, cultivating fearlessness, awe and delight in the world around us.
Mingyur Rinpoche Meditation Group
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche possesses a rare ability to present the ancient wisdom of Tibet in a fresh, engaging manner. His profound yet accessible teachings and playful sense of humor have endeared him to students around the world. Most uniquely, Rinpoche’s teachings weave together his own personal experiences with modern scientific research, relating both to the practice of meditation. Please visit http://www.tergar.org for more information about Mingyur Rinpoche’s activities.
This ongoing group will be focusing on Mingyur Rinpoche’s meditation instructions as presented in his books “Joy of Living” and “Joyful Wisdom” and also his teachings on the Buddhist Mahamudra path. All are welcome to attend.
Starting Thursday September 10th
7:30 – 9pm by donation
Shanti Baby Yoga
Reiki Healing & TrainingReiki is one of the most ancient healing methods known. Its origin is ancient Tibet (2500-year old Sanscrit writings refer to it) and was rediscovered in the nineteenth century by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese monk. Reiki is a natural method of healing utilizing Universal Life Force Energy. The energy flows through the practitioner’s hands into the receiver’s body. A Reiki practitioner acts as a channel to this energy and directs it to the person or animal who desires healing, revitalization or clearing of negative energy.
When one’s energy or “ki,” “chi,” or “prana” is depleted or out of balance, illness and negativity have opportunity to enter the body, mind and/or spirit. Reiki revitalizes one’s own life force and balances energy within the body, mind, emotions and spirit. A balanced person is a healthy person.
Michelle is a Reiki Master Teacher certified to practice and teach all levels of Usui Reiki.
Appointments available for people and pets in the comfort of your home.
Level I Training
Sunday, December 8th at 11am – 5pm
Reiki Level I Training you will:
- Receive four attunements to open and enable your body to receive and transfer this Universal Life Force Energy to others for healing yourself, family, friends, pets, plantlife, food and water.
- Learn what Reiki is, the history of Reiki as well as its uses and benefits.
- Gain knowledge of Chakras and how they are linked to Reiki Healing.
- How to treat yourself and others with Reiki.
- Review the ethical responsibilities when using Reiki.
- How to stay “in-tune” with your attunement and Reiki healing power.
- Practice techniques and hand positions during a Reiki treatment or healing session.
- Be led through guided meditation to ready the body to receive attunements and Reiki energy.
Each student will receive a handbook and certificate at the end stating you are Reiki Level I Certified. Once attuned by a Reiki Master Teacher, you always have access to the Reiki Energy.
Pre-requisites for Reiki Training:
72 hours of cleansing your physical body to help receive the attunements and energy. This includes avoidance and removal of caffeine, alcohol, sugar (mainly sweets/white sugar) and meat (seafood and fish are acceptable, but it’s best to be completely flesh-free prior to attunement). Get a good night’s sleep 24-72 hours prior to attunement.
$175 includes all of the above, plus question and answers and full support as you enter into the world of Reiki Healing. This training is also the pre-requisite and beginning of preparation for Reiki Level II Training.
Space is limited, so please register early. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required.
Kadampa Thanksgiving Celebration
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Chakrasambara Buddhist Center Events
Thursday Nights
Healing the Past, Liberating the Present
Purification and Learning to Live Joyfully in the Moment
with Kadam Morten
Chakrasambara Buddhist Center, 322 8th Ave. Suite 502
7:00 – 9:00 pm ($15 per class/free for cardholders)
Often we feel trapped by the experiences we have had in the past. Our old hurts, feelings of betrayal, and resentments condition our present relationships and ways of acting. We find ourselves stuck in unhelpful, even hurtful, patterns of behavior. Instead of freeing ourselves from the past, we set ourselves up for further problems in the future. But our past is not fixed, and there is no need for us to feel stuck. Using Buddha’s teachings on karma and purification, Kadam Morten will show us how we can heal the wounds of the past, enabling us to live joyfully and creatively in the present, truly making the most of our lives.
Nov 19 Healing the Past, Liberating the Present
Nov 26 No Class – Thanksgiving
Dec 3 Karma and Purification
Dec 10 Living in the Moment
Dec 17 Creating the Future You Want
Followed by two Thursday evening special events:
Dec 24 Christmas Eve Special: Healing the World – a guided meditation on the Purification Buddha, Vajrasattva
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Special: Meditation on the Buddha of Compassion
Monday Nights
Transforming Fear into Courage
with Kadam Morten
New York New Church, 114 East 35th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues
7:00 – 9:00pm $15 per class/ free for cardholders
We fear so many things: rejection, failure, sickness, being hurt, death. In short, we fear taking full advantage of our life! These fears hold us back, emotionally, socially, professionally, but above all spiritually. However, by practicing the special sequence of Buddha’s teachings known as lam rim, or the stages of the path, we can transform our fear into a powerful encouragement to make the most of our human lives. By taking Buddha’s teachings to heart in meditation we let go of our irrational fears and replace them with a confident, solution-oriented approach based on an authentic understanding of reality. We begin to experience our life as a joyful path to enlightenment.
Nov 23 Transforming Fear into Courage
Nov 30 The Value and Joy of Life
Dec 7 Facing Death, Waking Up to Life
Dec 14 Transforming Insecurity into Confidence
Dec 21 Holiday Special: Refuge for the Heart
Special Event at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center
Pure Mind, Joyful Heart
Vajrasattava Empowerment
with Kadam Morten
Click here for on-line registration
Saturday, December 5
Empowerment: 4:00pm – 6:30pm
Commentary to practice* 7:30 – 9:30pm
at the New York New Church
Sunday, December 6
Further commentary and practice*
9:30 – 12:30pm
at Chakrasambara Center 322 8th Ave. Suite 502 (entrance on 26th St.)
Buddha Vajrasattva is the embodiment of the pure mind of all the Buddhas. The empowerment is a blessing ritual and guided meditation through which we make a deep connection with Buddha Vajrasattva and create the cause to actualize Vajrasattva’s enlightened state for ourselves. During the commentary Kadam Morten will teach the purification practice of Vajrasattva. This skillful and creative practice allows us to connect with the natural potential in our mind, to heal the wounds of the past, and to free ourselves from old and painful habits of thinking and acting. Consequently through purifying our mind we free ourselves to live a life based on wisdom and love. We begin to experience a truly joyful heart and feel ourselves becoming the person we really wish to be.

Everyone Welcome!
*Must have received empowerment to attend commentaries
Price $45 ($22.50 for monthly cardholders).
Your Contribution Matters!
Help us reach our goal of raising $40,000 by December 31st. A gift of any size makes an impact!
Please make your donation by December 31, 2009.
Your gift will directly support our 2010 operating costs as well as our effort to acquire a permanent home in New York City.
Save the Date!
Our Good Karma Holiday Party
At Judson Memorial Church
Tuesday December 15, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
(free)
Join us for our annual Holiday party, which this year will be held at the Judson Memorial Church by Washington Sq. Park to ensure that we can comfortably fit everyone in. Enjoy the companionship of your Sangha community with food, drinks, entertainments and an all new inspiring musical performance on The Birth of Buddha Tara, the Rescuer.
Everyone welcome.
New Year’s Eve Special
At Chakrasambara Buddhist Center
Wednesday December 31, 9:30pm – midnight,
$10 (free for cardholders)
Our annual New Year’s eve event. From 9:30 to 10:45pm there will be snacks. Then at 10:45 through to midnight there will be a brief introduction followed by Compassion Buddha practice with guided meditation, with plenty of time to develop heartfelt resolutions for the new year. Start the new year in the way you wish to continue it … with a peaceful, compassionate mind, dedicating for the welfare of the whole world. Followed by a non-alcoholic New Year’s toast.
9:30PM – 10:45PM : Snacks · 10:45PM – Midnight : Compassion Buddha practice and meditation.
Related Reading:
A.R.E. of New York Edgar Cayce Center

There are some amazing upcoming classes taking place at The A.R.E of New York Edgar Cayce Center located at 241 West 30th Street. A Meditation Practice Group meets Tuesday evenings from 6–7 p.m in the A.R.E. of New York Center. The group will meditate together primarily using the methods described within the Cayce readings. Please note that they will begin promptly at 6pm. Admission is Free. Here is what the A.R.E. Center says about their meditation group on their website:
Meditation Practice So many of us struggle to have greater depth and discipline in our experience with meditation. Oftentimes having group instruction once a week helps to keep our intention fresh and our practice consistent. The Edgar Cayce readings clearly present meditation as a foundation for spiritual growth and it is in fact the subject of the first chapter in the Search for God books upon which all the material following is built. The group will meditate together primarily using the methods described within the Cayce readings. This will be followed with a short session during which particular issues and individual problems associated with meditation can be brought forth and discussed. We will also look at other diverse meditation methods that could be of assistance to particular individuals.
WEEKLY KUNDALINI YOGA CLASS
The yoga of awareness and transformation
Weekly Class and Special Workshops with Monica Pineda
Thursdays, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
This ancient practice seeks to open the natural flow of life energy through the system of chakras.
Learn the basics of breath, posture, meditation, movement and mantra as they are woven together in ancient kriyas (sets) that invigorate muscular, glandular and nervous systems. Each week, Monica leads a kriya to benefit a specific system of the body, such as the immune system, heart, liver, etc. This ongoing class is an excellent way to practice Kundalini Yoga as brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan.
Single class: $15, Center Members $12,
10-Class Card: $135 Center Members $100
Related Reading:
Jivamukti Yoga Center
The Jivamukti Yoga Center offers their Focus of the Month:
Non-Violent Communication
The key to effective spiritual activism is non-violent communication. An activist is someone who actively works for change, and to be spiritual is to feel your connection to all living beings. Spiritual activism is working actively to further the conscious connection of oneself to others in a positive, life-affirming, mutually beneficial way. To be a spiritual activist is to be activated by spirit rather than by a skin-encapsulated ego. Through non-violent communication, a spiritual activist pursues liberation or enlightenment for the benefit of all.
The biggest obstacle to our spiritual evolution at this time is our perception and treatment of animals and the natural world. When people learn of the horrible animal abuse that goes on day after day, they often feel despairing, overwhelmed and helpless, or they get angry and want to attack the perpetrators. Neither one of these reactions will bring about a positive transformation that will benefit the animals. Only through active, conscious compassion can you affect people’s minds and hearts, with the result that they find it in themselves to be compassionate and to extend that compassion to all beings, including animals. In other words, change must start with you – you must become the embodiment of compassion. Patanjali advises: vitarka-badhane pratipaksha-bhavanam (PYS II.33) – when disturbed by disturbing thoughts, think of the opposite.
When destructive emotions like hate, anger, or the desire to do violence arise within you, cultivate the opposite state of mind. See the other person’s potential for kindness and bolster your own expression of kindness. View others with hope, seeing them as having overcome their own ignorance. If you see them in a negative way, the power of your perception will only help to keep them that way as you polarize yourself from them, assuming a superior role. You may at first encounter ridicule from others when you speak up for animals, but this ridicule can help you to hone your skills, enabling you to become better at articulating the message of veganism and animal rights in an informed and compassionate way. If you have a desire to be an effective speaker on the subject of yoga, animal rights and veganism – that is, if you have a desire to be a spiritual activist – then these ideas may help you achieve your goals:
1. Listening: The Heart of Communication. Be sure you want to communicate as opposed to merely expressing yourself. Strive to be a communicator not a professor. To communicate, one must be able to listen and to hear where the other is coming from. Through empathetic listening, you will be able to change underlying causes, not just outward symptoms. Non-violent communication with others whom you would like to inspire toward change will transform you in the process, as it will develop compassion, which dissolves differences and leads to an enlightened existence.
2. Feeling: The Means of Communication. Before you speak to others, ask yourself: How do I want them to feel about themselves when I talk to them? Martin Luther King, Jr. did not see African-Americans as victims, but as strong, whole, and complete. He didn’t have time for hate, recognizing that it would slow him down on his way to his goal. He envisioned a new world in which all people lived together in harmony, and he spoke from that elevated dream. Black people who heard him felt themselves to be as Dr. King saw them, empowered with vision and hope to take their rightful place in society rather than remain victims of an unjust racist system. Only through humility and respect will you be effective in communicating. When conveying the messages of yoga and vegetarianism to others, don’t make them feel condemned or judged, but rather empowered to make conscious choices that would lead to liberation.
3. Seeing: The Expression of Communication. To separate the world into good guys and bad guys or victims and perpetrators will only result in more division, not the peaceful unification we seek as yogis. When you speak to others about vegetarianism or animal rights, you must not view them as stupid, callous, or evil. Instead, see them through your eyes of compassion as holy beings, capable of kindness. If the person eats meat, why not view that as a temporary condition? If you can’t see others as potentially kind and compassionate beings, how can you ever expect them to see themselves that way?
4. Bliss: The Result of Successful Communication. Ecstasy is the true ground of being, and it pulsates within you at all times. Recognize it and celebrate it in others, and you will find it in yourself. By not trying to tame, enslave, and exploit others, you allow them the right to pursue their true natures and, in doing so, you allow yourself the same adventure into bliss. If we are to spiritually evolve and survive as a species, we must liberate ourselves from the lie that we are separate from the rest of life. Recognize the potential within yourself to become liberated and for your life to serve as an instrument of liberation for others. Cultivate your vision by infusing yourself with vast compassion that extends to include everyone. Liberation, or moksha, is the goal of yoga, and ecstasy, or bliss, is its experience.
-Sharon Gannon, adapted from Yoga and Vegetarianism
Here is the schedule of some upcoming events taking place at Jivamukti Yoga Center:
SUNRISE GITA
with Joshua Greene (Yogesvara) Tuition: $10
$8 for those with Unlimited and/or class packs.
Every Sunday: 9:30am-10:30am
Downtown Center:
841 Broadway, 2nd Floor , New York , NY 10003
Phone: (212) 353-0214
Launch your week with a refreshing Sunday morning service of chanting and study. Each program includes kirtan, verse-by-verse discussion of India’s sacred text Bhagavad Gita, and a personal quality to cultivate in the week ahead.
Nov 1
2.9 – “Govinda, I shall not fight.”
We humans are complicated: often we say the opposite of what we feel. Today’s talk explores how professing repulsion for the difficult journey to self-awareness belies our desire to begin.
Nov 8
Our Sunrise Gita gathering will have a special guest: Karnamrita. http://www.karnamrita.com.
She is coming with a musician accompanist, and we will take the opportunity to relish the sound of kirtan and delve into Gita verse 9.14:
“Bhakti-yogis are always chanting my names and offering me their love, for they have consecrated their lives to me in unceasing devotion.”
Nov 15 no class
Nov 22
2.10 – “Krishna smiled.”
Why? Because Arjuna, a beloved friend, was asking for help. Bhakti Yoga nurtures a healthy cooperation between ourselves and the Divine – a loving exchange that erases doubts and fear.
Nov 29
2.11 – “Wise souls mourn neither the living nor the dead.”
Compassion can be misplaced. Healthy compassion blends concern for others with knowledge of how and why we suffer. Without knowledge, compassion can be an excuse for avoiding our own inner work.
Dec 6
2.12 – “Never was there a time when we did not exist.” Special class on yoga and vegetarianism.
Today we explore the philosophical foundation of the yoga diet. It’s not just about avoiding cruelty. We will look at exceptions to the rule, the karmic consequences of eating out, and discuss tips for staying spiritually fit in a fast-food world.
Dec 11
Sunrise Gita Holiday celebration
Date to be confirmed
Dec 13
Sunrise Gita with special guest Shala Mattingly
Dec 20 no class
Dec 27 no class







































East West Events New York City
Jivamukti Yoga School New york
Om Yoga Classes in New York