What is GREEN YOGA ?

 

GREEN YOGA describes a contemporary movement based on the teachings of ancient yogic wisdom.

It is a calling to Yoga practitioners everywhere to acknowledge the world wide shift in the environment.

GREEN YOGA requires personal and community action to help restore the Earth's balance for future generations to come.

 

WHY?

Modern day living has polluted our air, water and land.

Lifestyles have demanded over-development and over-consumerism leading to poverty, hunger and obesity simultaneously.

Global warming has caused glaciers around the globe to melt, creating a rise in sea levels. Island populations and coastal areas are threatened with flooding. Global warming has directly affected the extinction of species and disrupted the natural patterns of Nature.

 

Yoga practitioners are being called to take 'Yoga off the mat and into your life'.

There is an obligation as yogis to change personal patterns of living for the greater benefit of All humanity

CONSIDER:

How much do you really need or want?  (practice 'asteya'  and 'aparigraha' )

Is your lifestyle harming to the air, water or land?   (practice 'ahimsa' )

Are you identifying with repetitive patterns of living, habits and tendencies? (practice the release of 'samskaras' )

 

 

Inner Vision Yoga, located in Chandler and Tempe is a founding member of the Green Yoga Association.

Maya Jones, 'greening consultant' for the Inner Vision Yoga studio holds a Master's degree in Deep Ecology.

She suggests these practical steps be introduced in studios as they have been at Inner Vision:

 * Replace paper towels with washable cloths

 * Utilize non-toxic cleaning supplies prepared by hand with natural products

 * Replace incandescent light bulbs with low-energy use light bulbs

 * Offer reusable  cups instead of paper cups                                                                

 * No-VOC paint, glue and sealant used in the modeling of the studio                             

 * Installed bamboo floors

 * Create teacher's schedules back-to-back to avoid extra driving to and from studio.

 * Encourage carpooling amongst students and teachers.

 

 

Yoga Connection, Tucson's only non-profit studio, also promotes 'going green' .

Priscilla Potter (Swami Maha-tarananda) is founder and director.

She recommends the following ways a studio can be more earth-friendly, implemented at Yoga Connection for years.

 * Cut down on paper usage- smaller flyers, postcards instead of brochures, email announcements

 * Use recycled paper for stationary and bathroom products

 * Pleace visable recycled bins throughout the studio

 * Recycle used paper for in-house notes and faxing

 * Recycling of printer and copier cartridges

 * Buy from local merchants offering eye bags, meditation cushions, bolsters, mat bags, etc.

 * Stock earth-friendly and organic yoga props and clothing

 * Encourage students to bring thier own water, walk or use a bicycle to get to class as an alternative to driving.

 

 

Traditional Yoga Studies is the website of internationally renowned master yoga scholar, Georg Feuerstein and his wife Brenda, yoga teacher and director of Traditional Yoga Studies. They authored the book 'Green Yoga' and a free pdf document, 'Green Dharma ' to promote awareness of the present day environmental challenge.

 

Traditional Yoga Studies (TYS) is dedicated to promoting authentic yogic teachings based on scriptural and oral transmission, as well as solid research, and to bringing out their relevance at the present time of severe environmental and social crisis.

 

 5 ¼ x 8 ¼ paperback, 164 pages                                                                     Free book offered as a pdf download   

                                                                                                                  

 

   “My heart was bleeding when reading 'Green Yoga'. I pray that everyone will read this book and start to serve Mother Earth, so that she may survive. I hope that at least Yoga practitioners, who have faith in the evolution of humankind, make it their mission to bring about the necessary transformation.” —B. K. S. Iyengar

 

'GREENING YOUR LIFE' ~ Read an excerpt from 'Green Dharma', providing numerous down-to-earth, practical things that you can do to make a significant difference. 

 

" Tread lightly on this Earth . Be kind to all creatures . Live simply . Consume less .  Avoid air travel . Find alternatives to car travel . Delight in a vegetarian diet . Grow your own food, if possible . Use water sparingly . Lobby for a saner, healthier world ". 

                                                               - Georg and Brenda Feuerstein -

 

                                 ~~~~  Join Brenda Feuerstein and friends in the on-line Green Yoga Facebook group. ~~~~~