Last weekend, December 6-8, we traveled to the great state of Colorado for five speaking engagements. Though it proved to be a particularly freezing weekend as far as the weather was concerned, the welcome from the Eagle, Avon and Boulder communities was warm and inviting.
The first event was titled "Conversations on the Spiritual Path" and took place on Friday evening at Yoga Off Broadway in Eagle, CO. The following day we did two workshops (morning and afternoon) that was held at the same studio. All workshops were open to the community and took place at this yoga studio where I first started teaching when I left the monastery.
Often times when one thinks of yoga, asana practice is immediately called to mind. And yet the act of living a yogic life is far more dimensional than the physical practice. During the workshops we delved into the first two limbs of Raja Yoga's 8 limb path, the Yamas and Niyamas. We looked at the way these character observances and restraints can be applied and practiced to access personal transformation. We also examined what it means to live a spiritual life as well as how to balance and sustain energy throughout daily life.
The weekend continued on Sunday with an event held at the Westin in Avon at the Spa Anjali. During the workshop, attended by guests of the Westin as well as the local community, we explored how the mind works, developing willpower and concentration. We then went through a very systematic approach to meditation, outlining steps one needs to take from setting up a space at home, to how to sit, hand and body positions, and of course the process of meditation itself.
Our last event on our spiritual marathon weekend was another live edition of Conversations on the Spiritual Path held at Radiance Power Yoga in Boulder. The intention of these open forums is to allow locals in various communities the opportunity to discuss issues and questions that are not so easily answered. It is a raw and safe space to ask any life-question, large or small.
All of our events were a great success and we look forward to returning to the great state of Colorado in the near future. Although hopefully next time it won't be twenty below freezing outside.
