Late
October’s 4th annual ascent intensive at Yasodhara
Ashram in B.C. had thirty energetic participants from
Canada and the US eagerly stretching beyond their limits.
After the first day of the five day workshop, Deborah
Pohorski, one of the participants, said that she could
feel parts of her body that she had forgotten existed. “By
making my practice an offering,” she said, “I
found I was able to overcome physical and mental obstacles
throughout the week.”
The intensive was led by Sharon Gannon, co-founder of New
York’s Jivamukti Yoga. Sharon has had years of experience
translating the yogic teachings into her own life and is
a wonderful example and inspiration for those who had the
opportunity to study with her. In the spirit of ascent
magazine, she entitled the workshop “how yoga really
works.”
Sharon knows how to make her students work. Throughout
the intensive she offered a variety of spiritual practices
including sitting meditation, hatha, pranayama and scriptural
study. And although the course is called an “intensive” there
was also time for walks along the beach and in the woods.
Each day ended with devotional Satsang in the Ashram’s
temple of Divine Light. Satsang included lots of bhajans
and devotional singing, but the main focus for the intensive
participants was having the opportunity to express gratitude
for all that the day had brought to them. Jan Klimek from
Invermere BC who recently celebrated her 52nd birthday,
gave herself a gift by coming to the Ashram for the first
time to practice with Sharon. Challenged and touched by
the workshop and the place, she expressed her gratitude
to Sharon, thanking her and the ashram for “…an
opening of heart and mind to what life could and should
be.”
Many people commented that Yasodhara Ashram was the perfect
place to take the time to go inside, experience the yoga
teachings at work and then reflect on how to put these
experiences into practice. Sharon described the ashram
as a very special place. “There is an even mindedness
and ease here with everyone doing the work that needs to
be done,” she said, “and we have a lot to be
grateful for.”
The 4th ascent intensive was an inspiring success. We’re
looking forward to number 5 in the spring of 2006. |
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Sharon inspired everybody
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A greatful group |
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