As humans, we all have our individual strengths and weaknesses. It is perhaps here that Yoga can be of the most benefit. Enhancing our strengths and helping us overcome our physical and spiritual vulnerabilities. Pun intended my “Achilles heel “has always been my knees. I suffered with severe knee problems as a child, and was diagnosed as having a patella (knee cap} instability and surgery recommended.
With advice from my yoga instructors to practice only standing postures and strengthening exercise for one year, my knee was stabilized and the surgery avoided. Personally, experiencing the powerful healingand spiritual benefits of yoga inspired me to become a teacher
to share these benefits with others.
Yoga is a vast subject encompassing many different approaches and avenues of thought.
This exemplifies yoga’s richness and appeals to our individuality, personal needs and desires.
Many paths and schools of thought lead us to the same “circle of transformation.” All roads lead to Rome or better said “all are welcome at my table.” Yoga can be all encompassing or narrowly defined. Arguments abound. What, how, when to practice this yoga or that style. All clamming to be the best. Regardless of approach or direction, at its core they are all part of the same spiritual journey and transformation.
All agreeing on the need for self-transcendence. This can best be summarized by the great Contemporary B. K. S. Iyengar, in The Tree of Yoga,
“In yoga …many may take one path as a key in order to experience self-realization while others take another path, but I say that there is absolutely no difference between the various practices of yoga”
To best understand the origin of Yoga then reading the four Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhavagad-gita are a must. The word Veda means wisdom, knowledge or vision. It is revered as the language of the Gods in human speech.
These works are the earliest and most sacred scriptures of Hinduism and the origin of yoga. In this early Vedic civilization, the rites of the Vedic priests had to be perfectly performed, demanding complete concentration. The keepers of the sacred lore had to undergo vigorous mental and physical training. The esoteric meditative teaching of the Upanishads combined with Vedic principles are the roots of yoga. The treasure trove of knowledge found within the Vedas have stood the test of time and are as valid and applicable today as they were several thousand years ago.
Yoga is a philosophy where art and science meet. It is a guide to self- knowledge. As Mukunda Stiles states “Yoga is a continuous process of stilling the mind-to merge into the true Self, and thus to be true to yourself in all thoughts words, and deeds.” The essence of Yoga is transformation. All life is Yoga. Yoga teaches us to gain harmony in a skillful and systematic way, acquiring knowledge through observation and experience.
Yoga encourages us to practice daily. The beauty is that we can incorporate its principles through the simplest actions throughout our day. Everything done with 100% concentration where self disappears, and only stillness, joy and bliss remain is yoga. The journey is as important as the destination. Each day we have the opportunity to refresh and begin anew.
For over 25 years, Ann Harrison’s passion for Ayurveda and Yoga stems from her commitment to the Vedas and to the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle embracing Yoga, Meditation, Holistic therapy and natural foods.
Ann learned the art of Ayurvedic cooking from Usha Lad and for several years served as the head cook for the monks of Kriya yoga meditation workshops throughout the southwest. Ann is an active practitioner of Kriya yoga and has trained intensively in Iyengar Yoga with many masters, including Ramanand Patel, Patricia Walden, and Rodney Yee. Ann graduated from Educating Hands in 1985 and received her license in Massage Therapy. She continued her studies in various types of massage for several years while establishing her private practice. In 1994 she moved to New Mexico to study Ayurveda where she received her certification in Ayurveda from Dr. Vasant Lad. Ann was then offered a staff position at the Ayurvedic Institute and soon after she became the assistant to the director of the Pancha Karma department. She continued her studies with Dr. Lad for several years, and was appointed director of the Yoga department, responsible for developing the Ayur-Yoga program for the institute.