Atmanada Yoga

Atmananda Yoga Studio located in New York City, is a world renowed yoga studio founded by Jhon Tamayo.

[atmanandayoga]

Finding Happiness in Unhappiness

By Kristen Hwang, 500hr certified yoga teacher 

(View Kristen’s Website: http://www.happygirlyoga.com) 

It’s important to understand what this loosely-coined, semi-annoying word “happiness” really is, and where we find it.  If you ask people where their happiness comes from, the answers will vary from things like “freedom to travel”, “my kids”, or “financial freedom.”  While these things could temporarily attribute to a person’s level of happiness, note the trend of how we rely this happiness on external circumstances that could quickly change, disappear, and is usually beyond our control.  Sure, our families and loved ones could elevate our happiness level, but to unknowingly rely on them to bring our personal happiness seems almost a bit unfair, as it could potentially lead to disappointment or frustration that has nothing to do with that person or the relationship.  

Maybe we are simply too lazy to rely on ourselves to find this happiness.   Or perhaps we play victim and expect the world to feed us a dose of happiness with a golden spoon, just because we know where to place the blame when we don’t feel happy.  Whatever the reasons are, how do we stop relying our happiness on the external circumstances and learn to shift this responsibility onto ourselves?

And yes…it is a responsibility.  Meaning, it’s something we must do.

No matter what religion we practice, it is our responsibility to take care of our own body and mind to experience true, lasting happiness.  It is our responsibility to understand how we can detach ourselves from harmful emotions that cling onto our monkey minds that causes us to perform less than what we are capable of.  We, as human beings have the responsibility to take the time in our hectic lives to discover this state of awareness.

Unlike what our society portrays, “being happy” is not just reserved for detached hippies that sleep on park benches.  Somehow our world has become so cynical and jaded to the point where the term “true happiness” is an innocent concept for folks who “just don’t know any better”.  But from my perspective, true happiness takes strong discipline and intelligence, as it is not an emotion or a feeling; it is a state of mind that is achieved by working the mechanism of the way we think.

This mechanism comes with the discipline and ability to start focusing our awareness and energy within to the present happenings and coming to accept and appreciate everything that truly “is” around us.   It is having the power to understand that we are purely made up of our thoughts and control that crazy voice in our heads that feeds unnecessary worries or anxieties of the past or the future.   That crazy voice also tells us what we need, who we need and what we must experience to feel “happy,” when in fact we are just trapping ourselves to a spinning hamster wheel of wanting and needing more.    It causes us to become helplessly attached to things or people, which is where suffering begins.

So how do we begin to re-program our minds to achieve this state of pure contentment? And what actions can we take to get there that doesn’t involve lying on some over-priced leather couch with a pricey psychiatrist?

1.  Make A 100 Item Gift List. (No, not the kind of list where you’re asking for stuff.)

I have a list on my computer of 100 things I have been gifted with when I entered this world, focusing on the physical body, mind and soul.  (Before you roll your eyes, give it a thought.)  We’ve become so calloused with wanting and longing random shit that we’ve come to accept that these “basic things” that we are born with is what we deserve, when they are absolutely not.  They are gifts, and we need to often remind ourselves to stay grateful for them, because not everyone is born equipped with proper body parts, health, and emotional well being to fight the same battles.

The first 10 things on my list include:

God gave me life.

I can breathe on my own

I have a working heartbeat.

I can walk, run, jump, skip.

I have eyesight to see everything I come to cross paths with.

I can see the people I love

I can feel and touch.

I can listen to music I love.

I am able to feel emotions, compassion, sympathy (be thankful you don’t have a brain wave of a psychopath)

My body is able to heal itself from wounds.

And the list goes on to include things like “I have a comfortable place to sleep”, and “I have the ability to make a decision on what I want to eat.”  Reading through this long list of things I have been gifted with, serves as a constant reminder that I am a person with many, many blessings, and that I have all of the necessary tools to live a life full of victory, success, and achievement.  Try making this list and keep it handy and read it out loud during times of sadness or longing.  Let every item sink into your deepest level of understanding and watch your perspective slowly shift to a place of gratitude and joy.  

2.  “Brain Exercise”.....…aka, Meditation For those who aren’t used to meditation, it could feel like an awkward and bizarre task that needs to be done while wearing some robe on a mountaintop overlooking somewhere super exotic.  Or maybe you think it’s some religious practice that involves strange chants where if done right, you’ll start levitating and float into crazytown.   If that’s your concept of the term “meditation”, then fine, feel free to call it a “brain exercise.”  Even though there are numerous controlled studies conducted all over the world to prove that meditation (excuse me, “brain exercise”) has its neurological health benefits, the ultimate effect is that we are able to control that crazy voice in our heads that keeps us from focusing on what is at the present moment. Through the process of meditation, we are able to identify the harmful emotions that cause us feelings of sadness, longing, anxiety or fear.  By acknowledging the presence of these emotions, we can identify, control and detach ourselves from these thoughts.  It’s a strategic approach to understanding the path to happiness and why we are programed to be the way we are.

If all of this is new to you, attend classes or workshops with guided meditations from an expert.  Just like any physical exercise, it may take awhile to build the strength and discipline to truly reap the benefits of meditation, but once you do, you will start noticing the positive changes in how you approach different elements of your life.

3.  Try A New Hobby. There is an inexplicable sense of joy that comes with pursuing something you enjoy, which makes you a fuller and a more well rounded person. Adding hobbies to your daily routine help you become more passionate, motivated and an interesting person, as you will foster and explore the creativity you may have lost.  It helps you to look within yourself to discover what makes you even more unique and special.  Maybe there is a hidden talent you have yet to discover, or a new passion waiting to be born.   It’s a great way to start a new chapter and meet some interesting people who will share that same passion through the process.

4.  Try To Surround Yourself With Positivity. Whatever we feed our brain is what produces our actions, words, and our decisions.  So why do we allow garbage of negativity, cynicism, or anger we see all over the media enter the most sacred place in our bodies?  Stay away from people that cause you to make bad decisions or harm your mind and body.  Instead, make sure to spend time with those who love you and care for you, who are able to feed you with the positivity that you need.  Though it’s very important to be aware of the present happenings around the world, when you’re not watching the news, turn off the TV shows that promote mindless living and materialistic desires. Listen to relaxing music and turn off anything that promotes a lifestyle of anger, violence or negativity.

5.  Take Care of Yourself.   It took me awhile to understand what that vague Hallmark-ish term “You can’t love someone until you love yourself” really meant.  If we don’t love and respect our own body, mind and spirit, we feel insecure, bitter, and sometimes depressed.  This makes it impossible to cultivate positive, independent and loving relationships, which is why so many of us walk away from relationships full of baggage, heartbreak and sadness.  (I myself have experienced this first-hand several times)  When we love ourselves, we treat our body, mind and even careers with the utmost care and respect.   Cultivating a loving & positive relationship with all of these elements in your life will no doubt bring a sense of joy, motivation and most importantly, love for yourself.

Coming to this state of contentment and happiness will take time and discipline, but taking the challenge to count your blessings, meditate, pursue hobbies, and stay in presence of positivity are all the right steps to take to get there.  Just like any challenging project or major obstacle in life, we can’t do this alone, so always accept help or guidance from close family, friends or spiritual leaders who will support you through the process. But most importantly, cultivate a strong, laser-focus discipline to achieve the steps to live the best life possible.  As my yoga guru Jhon Tamayo always says, “If you don’t have discipline, you’re just a worthless human that eats, walks, sleeps and shits.”

[atmanandayoga]

Why Do We Practice Yoga?

By Tim Moriarty, 200hr certified yoga instructor

“Why do you practice yoga?” If one asked this question to 10 different yoga practitioners in New York City you’re bound to get different answers. “I do yoga because I’m trying to lose weight.” “I do yoga because I have a hectic job and I need a way to de-stress.” “I do yoga because I suffer from chronic back pain and I’m seeking a natural remedy.” There is nothing wrong with any of these reasons! Indeed, many people join the Atmananda community with precisely these goals in mind. However, as one practices the Atmananda Sequence more and more, one slowly begins to realize that while exercise, relaxation and pain management are great byproducts of yoga, the practice is fundamentally about so much more. At Atmananda, we practice yoga to practice yoga. Wait…huh?

Living “For the Sake of”

Have you ever noticed how nearly everything we do in the course of a day is for the sake of something else? A current job is a stepping stone to a better job. This morning’s trip to the gym is for the sake of bigger biceps. Afternoon Happy Hour is for the sake of posting a picture of Happy Hour on Instagram. The evening’s subway ride is for the sake of getting home. Now I’ll admit, it’s difficult to view a subway ride as anything but a means to an end. But is the rest of our life that much different?

The future obsessed mindset was drilled into us at a very young age. The spontaneous joy of children is cut short as we began preparing them for the future. The purpose of grade school is to get into high school. The purpose of high school is to get a good GPA. The purpose of the high GPA is so that we could get into a good college. College is all about getting into Law School or Med School or securing a high paying internship. The purpose of these pursuits is to make a lot of money. The purpose of making money is so that we have money with which to invest and thus make more money. So it goes until we retire and can finally enjoy ourselves. The only problem with this situation however, is that once we “get there,” we’re old and senile. We have a few good years of golf and then into the grave.

The great 17th century scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal said it best:

“Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means; the future alone is our end. So we never live, but we hope to live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so.” 

Practice Yoga For the Sake of Practicing Yoga

When one practices Yoga at Atmananda, one enters into a radically different way of being. As we flow through the carefully designed series of postures arranged by Jhon T, we awaken to the fact that the only life we have to live is now. There is only this moment. There is only this breath, these sensations, and this deep Stillness which watches it all. The illusionary phantoms from which we flee day after day, and the idyllic life towards which we endlessly strive, disappear into a vast ocean of nothingness. As our practice deepens, we awaken to the further realization that this emptiness is nothing else but ourselves - our true nature.

When we live within this realization, we become aware that our perfect life does not exist “out there” in some place, or "eventually" in some future time. When we practice yoga at Atmananda, we give ourselves permission to enter into the still sanctuary that resides at the center of our being. And once there, there is no more "for the sake of." We’re free to practice yoga for the sake of simple joy of practicing yoga. In a word, we're home!

[atmanandayoga]

"THE PERFECT POSE"

By Tim Moriarty, 200hr certified yoga teacher 

The trademark at Atmananda is proper alignment. At first glance, alignment and freedom seem to have very little to do with one another. When I learned about Jhon T’s approach, the first image that popped into my head was of my mother telling me to sit up straight while at the dining room table. I didn’t like being told to sit up back then! Why would I like it now? I had tried Iyengar a few years ago and although I appreciated what it did for old people, I was young and athletic. Give me the fire of Ashtanga over “Nursing Home Yoga” any day!

Yoga is about alignment AND flowing with breath. For Jhon T, yoga is about integration. Everything is intimately interconnected. The aim of yoga is to dissolve the dissonance between the mind and the body so that whatever I do, I do with my entire being.

Subject/Object Split

According to all of the great wisdom traditions, the greatest human disease is the "dis-ease" we continually feel as we go about our daily lives. According to Pantanjali, this dis-ease is the result of our dualistic worldview. We mistakenly think that our true self resides in the mind. We believe that "I" exists inside this body and that everything else is "Other." Our experience of life is split between a subjective experience of consciousness and an objective experience of consciousness.

It follows that I must protect my "I" from all the dangers that exist out there in the world - i.e. "Otherness." My self-worth is dependent upon my being somehow better, more important, more special than everyone else. The world is something to conquer. Other human beings are my competitors. We ceaselessly seek to advance ourselves further and further and whenever we do attain something, we must fight to preserve it. This anxiety ridden existence is what Buddha called dukkha or suffering.

Where is the “I”?

Now, the problem with believing in the existence of this split between "I" and "Other" is that when we attempt to find the "I," we can't. It is as difficult for the self to locate itself as it is for the same tooth to bite itself. When we ask the question: "where did that thought come from?" we are thrown back into a mysterious void.

Most of us don't tread down this path of inquiry and instead, choose to identify with our thoughts. For us: "I am what I think." We cling to our thoughts even when the sensations and feelings of the body alert us to the fact that there may be more to reality. Rather than listening to the wisdom of the body however, we either force it into compliance or we ignore it through unhealthy eating, injury provoking exercise, the use of toxic substances, etc.

Uniting the Mind and the Body

Yoga means union. The purpose of taking the yogic path is to overcome the various divisions and attachments that create suffering. At Atmananda, Jhon T often says that the goal of practice is to arrive at “the perfect pose.” The “perfect pose” is the moment when a yogi experiences stillness and silence in an asana, fully realizing without judgement the simultaneous forces of groundedness and lightness within his/her self. While experiencing “the perfect pose,” the yogi’s mind and body become one. The idea of separation between the body that take the pose and the mind that judges vanish and in its place is simply the pose.

In learning about “the perfect pose,” I have realized that my previous approach to yoga was overwhelmingly idealistic. When I practiced in the past, I would continually seek an ideal (i.e. the external mechanics of a pose), or a feeling (i.e. the endorphin rush from a strenuous workout). In other words, my yoga practice was driven by my ego. My “task master” mind would often push my body beyond its limits resulting in injury and frustration.

Becoming the Pose

In Jhon T’s approach at Atmananda, the mind must respect the body. The mind likes to live in the past and the future. It loves to compare "my body" with "other bodies." It loves to doubt, scoff, praise, evaluate, analyze, etc. The body, however, just is. It always exists in the present. When I focus my attention entirely on the sensations of the body as I take a particular pose, my mind becomes quiet. I no longer need to force myself into a injury provoking posture in order to feel good about myself. I no longer need to compare myself with other practitioners.  I no longer need to take short cuts into the poses. My only task is to be present to what actually is. As Jhon T says, I become empty and thereby enter into the space of pure potentiality.

In striving to achieve the "perfect pose," I perform the postures in a way that honors my anatomical structure. In doing so I avoid the injuries that plague so many practitioners of yoga. It is important to note, however, that the perfection of the “perfect pose” is not simply found in “me” doing the pose “perfectly.” This is just the beginning. The true perfection of the "perfect pose" is in dissolving the difference between “me” and “the pose.”  Once a practitioner achieves (or non-achieves) the perfect pose, he/she become one with Creative Energy, the expression of which is this pose.

While this may take years to fully realize, I take heart in the realization that there is a kind of perfection that one experiences in surrendering to one's lack of perfection. In doing so I awake to the reality of the moment. From this perspective, perfection is possible at every step along the way.

[atmanandayoga]

There's the 45 degree line on the Atmananda mat, and there's the 720 degree Atmananda experience. If this studio reinforced 9 pointers of alignment to me, it's to: 1. align my passion with action 2. square my truth to expression 3. press into the outer edges of my comfort zone 4. Keep the heart soft 5. Spread my services wide 6. Squeeze out the lower bandhas that question self-worth and the right to good things 7. Engage my innate ability while lengthening my skill set 8. Focus on a single location - love. 9. Breathe deeply and fully. Breath is life and we are entitled to the best of it.

-Alex Rodriguez, 500hr certified yoga instructor

www.bodhisadhaka.com

[atmanandayoga]

"you are nothing but a thought..." Jhon Tamayo #tbt #meditation #jhont #atmanandayoga #wisdom #yoga #selfbliss (at Atmananda Yoga)

[atmanandayoga]

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Buddha #meditationmondays #nycyoga #consciousness

[atmanandayoga]

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Buddha #meditationmondays #consciousness #nycyoga

[atmanandayoga]

some of our biggest teachers in life come in the smallest packages💗 so proud of student and new mom Tamila for working towards her teaching certification @atmanandayoga after twins💙💙 #sirsasana #yogaeverywhere #nycyoga

[atmanandayoga]

find stillness in space; silence amid noise; balance above all.

[atmanandayoga]

Hasta Luego Miami! Back to NYC❤️✈️

[atmanandayoga]

View this post on Instagram

yoga everywhere. 
・・・
RG @davekyogi Más vídeos del taller @atmanandayoga con Jhon T, si te lo perdiste prepárate para su regreso ! #atmanandayogasequence #practicemakesprogress #mayurasana #peacockpose #davekyogi #practiceeveryday #yogaeveryday

[atmanandayoga]

Our teacher trainees are amazing. Watching their focus and dedication to improving their practice has been inspiring. Set your intentions and make them your reality 🌟 #mayurasana @atmanandayoga #Repost @kristen.hwang with @repostapp.
・・・
Whooohoo finally peacock with no straps! Thanks to Galina at Atmananda for providing the perfect alignment❤️❤️ #peacock #atmananda #love #yoga #teachertraining #training #newyork #nyc #goodlife #peacockpose (at Atmananda Yoga)

[atmanandayoga]

View this post on Instagram

So proud of and inspired by our new group of teacher trainers @atmanandayoga for working so hard and being amazing! 🙏 #Repost @bcbaby8585 with @repostapp.
・・・
Hilarious practice of #sidecrow @atmanandayoga today!!! Molly and Jhon T are the best for motivating and helping us teacher trainers today! #ytt #yoga #yogi #crow #asana #atmananda #flexibility #girlswithmuscles (at Atmananda Yoga)

[atmanandayoga]

are you ready to get sweaty? we are! @unionsquareny #USQSweatFest #nycyoga

[atmanandayoga]

Goodnight New York 🙏 #namaste (at Atmananda Yoga)

[atmanandayoga]

Trying to stay warm tonight? Come join us fireside @atmanandayoga for some Fiery Flow at 6:30 PM! 🔥 (at Atmananda Yoga)

[atmanandayoga]

View this post on Instagram

What's a Thursday morning at @atmanandayoga without a little peacock? Mayurasana beginner's variation with @rachlion (at Atmananda Yoga)