August 30, 2010

Dear Friends on the Path of Light:

I hope this email finds you well and thriving. These last few days of summer have been extraordinarily precious, so bright, crisp and clear, so very beautiful. Last week was one of the most glorious weeks of weather I can ever remember with bright sunny clear days filled with the sweet, kind, gentle summer breezes. With summer coming to a close and fall about to start, I've been reflecting a lot lately on boundaries, limitations, endings and new beginnings. With an aquarian for a daughter, I am constantly reminded that a whole segment of our population does not understand the value and necessity and contribution and benefit of boundaries and limitations. In so many conversations and interactions with my daughter, I've been encouraged to really explore the nature of boundaries, and when limitations are and can be experienced as auspicious and when they are simply sources of constriction, tightness and challenge. When is a boundary necessary? When is it simply an ego response to feeling out of control? When is it simply a habit to choose "no" rather than "yes". If you're a parent, you're probably right there with me. You've gone down this route of examination countless times. The beauty of this contemplation is that life keeps bringing fresh circumstances for you to continuously refresh this contemplation.

One afternoon last week, my daughter and I laid on a blanket in the grass playing with a caterpillar all afternoon. I had taken the week off from work and designated the entire week to time together. The week literally had no boundaries, except that of the 7 day cycle. On this afternoon, she and I delighted in the tickling motion of the caterpillar as it inched up and down our arms and legs, necks and shoulders. It was only because of the boundary of our skin that we were given such pleasure though, because that very boundary allowed us to sense and feel the caterpillar's movement. Because we had been so busy all summer, last week was exquisitely precious to enjoy time out of time together, just talking, sharing, laughing, and enjoying nature's exquisite beauty. With the boundary around summer closing in, every moment that remains is so very precious. It seems to me that the boundary actually allows me/us to be more mindful of the exquisiteness of the moment. At other times, though, the constancy of the schedule with so many moments having boundaries starts to add up to increase such a feeling of stress and tension. So there must be an optimal usage of boundaries. What is the most auspicious way to experience and receive the boundary as a gift?

Recently, one of my former students died of cancer. Even though I knew she had been ill for a very long time and had fought a very brave, gracious fight, her death came as a shock to me. She was my age, maybe a year or two younger. Besides being a lovely, intelligent, fun, humorous, creative, vivacious human being in life, she continues to teach all who knew her in death. Her death has been such a gracious reminder of the absolute preciousness of this life. The boundary around our lives instills in us the remembrance that every moment truly is a gift and inspires in me the conviction to live every moment in the highest way possible, to stretch where I think I can't, to try where I want to give up, to offer when I think I have nothing to give.

Sometimes a boundary feels like a constriction, like someone telling you no when you really want to hear yes. But I've come to think that boundaries are auspicious when they help us to remember, when they help us to reawaken to the magic and mystery and abundance in life; a boundary is auspicious when it helps us to remember that our lives, the individual boundary around our life takes place within a much bigger context, that we swim within a bigger ocean. In truth, the boundary of our individuality has never separated us from the ocean of grace that we swim within, but rather serves to allow us to open to our full empowerment as alive, awake human beings. LIke muscular energy that helps to define the boundary of our individual form, the purpose of that containment is to allow the Prana Shakti within the vessel to swell to its full empowerment. Today I think that what makes a boundary auspicious is when it allows our essence inside the boundary to expand. The boundary is not life affirming when we feel inside, our own essence gets more and more constricted, tight, shut down and depleted. It is my prayer to allow the boundaries in my life to help me remember the preciousness of each moment. When I know the time of our being together will end, it reminds me to open my heart to all that the moment has to offer me. It is my prayer that each of us, together and individually, will be able to receive the boundary of the end of summer and the boundary of the beginning of fall as an opportunity to awaken to the highest. May the boundaries of time, space, abundance, and the movement of your life assist you in the expansion and evolution of your soul. I wish for each of you these things.

With the boundary of Fall opening, I invite each of you to consider joining me in some of the programs that I am very much looking forward to offering. My season begins by enjoying 5 days in Cambridge with our beloved teacher John Friend. From there I have the great honor of co-hosting Professor Paul Muller-Ortega, PHD in Worcester, MA. After having the great honor of being a student in the classrooms of both of these exquisite teachers, my family and I will travel together to Dublin and Amsterdam for a two week adventure of yoga and fun with our European friends. Please join us!

I'll end my fall season by offering two "Foundations of Anusara Yoga (tm)" courses in both Saratoga Springs, NY & Lebanon, NH, and a weekend workshop in Avon, CT.

2011 is gearing up to be very full with an Immersion in Montpelier, VT, Level 2 of the Immersion in Dublin, Ireland, and a three weekend Therapeutics Module in Saratoga Springs, NY, as well as weekend workshops in Wellesely, MA, New London, CT, Cambridge, MA, Laconia, NH, Morgantown, WV, Middlefield, RI and Atlanta, GA.

In the fall of 2011, I'll offer a full 100 hour Immersion followed by a full 100 hour teacher training in Saratoga Springs, NY. For more information about ALL these events, please visit my website at: www.anahatayogacenter.com.

I look forward to sharing the light of the teachings of our glorious path with you all.
Enjoy these last days of Summer.

Deb Neubauer