Windycityyogi

In honor of this month’s full moon I bring you an offer from Moon Fool, a UK performance group making a special Chicago visit.

Are you interested in putting your creativity and movement together?  You aren’t alone.  Theater practitioners the world over are finding new ways to express old ideas and old ways to find new ideas.  Anna-Helena McLean is coming to Chicago the end of April and bringing her one woman cabaret version ofA Midsummer Night’s Dreamto The Defibrillator Performance Art Gallery (on Milwaukee Ave).  Additionally she’s going to be conducting an amazing workshop on creating ensemble (for all performances theater, dance and other).

If you are interested in the performances they are on April 4 and 5.

If you are interested in moving and thinking and joining with other talented like-minded people, email moonfoolchicago@gmail.com and reference WINDYCITYYOGI for $50.00 the workshop fee.  The workshops are 3 days each (April 23-25 or April 26-28).

For more information check-out the Facebook event site: http://www.facebook.com/events/266713213373256/

1, 0, and 8: 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.

In Yoga practice as in many aspects of Indian Traditions 108 is considered a magic number.  While many references to 108 are created by Vedics for their spiritual practices, Vedics did derive the number 108 from somewhere.

In science: The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.  The distance between the Sun and the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Earth.  The distance between the Earth and the Moon is 108 times the diameter of the Moon.

In math: 108 is the hyperfactorial of 3 (which everyone knows is a very magic number): 1 time 1 * 2 times 2 * 3 times 3.

In body mechanics: There are 108 pressure points in the body.

Since the number was originally derived it has been adopted by countless ancient traditions.  It now is found in Islam, the Jain Religion, Sikhism, Chinese Buddhism and Chinese Taoism (or rather has been for many hundreds of years).

Whether there is real magic or only perceived magic in the number 108, like most things, when we as individuals alone or together as a society give power to something, even as simple as a number, it takes on that power.  As such during the season of the Spring Equinox many studios offer a “108” practice.  This practice allows students to practice 108 Surya Namaskara A’s (or Sun Salutations) together.

Even if you aren’t ready to salute the sun 108 times, it is fun to think about welcoming a season with such excitement, enthusiasm and love.

If the red slayer think he slays,

Or if the slain thin he is slain,

They now not well the subtle ways

I keep, and pass, and turn again

Far or forgot to me is near,

Shadow and sunlight are the same,

The vanished gods to me appear,

And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;

When me they fly, I am the wings;

I am the doubter and the doubt,

I am the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,

And pine in vain the sacred Seven;

But thou, meek lover of the good!

Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.