Yogarosa Blog

In the ancient treatise, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Sage Patanjali states an eight fold path of yoga, known as astanga yoga. This path begins with social and personal responsibilities. The first limb along the path of yoga is called Yama. Yama in Sanskrit means “taking a vow”. These 5 ethical principles are the basis for living a yogic lifestyle.   They are: Ahimsa, Non violence Satya, Truthfulness Asteya, Non-stealing Bramacharya, self restraint, or celibacy Aparigrahah, Non-hoarding, non attachment Ahimsa is the basis for all other yamas. If we think, act, and behave in such a way that doesn’t harm others, we will tell the truth, we won’t steal, we will not be promiscuous, and we will let go of attachments. Ghandi chose to only practice Ahimsa and Satya, and everything else fell into place.  Practicing Ahimsa can be challenging, because the world around us is a breeding ground for violence. For example, driving during rush hour, everyone is i...

So now even our holidays are practicing yoga. The word yoga, means to unite. So this year, Thanksgiving and Hannukah have come together on the same day. "Thanksgivukkah." As we continue to evolve as a human race, it seems we are having to reinvent our old paradigms. The beauty of our existence, is that we have an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to shed that which no longer serves us.  Two beautiful holidays merge, giving us the opportunity to have a different perspective. A new outlook. To gain a new understanding on two holidays that deep down represent freedom. As we gather around the table with our loved ones, let's all come together with the understanding that even though we may have different religions and beliefs, varied tastes and schooling, deep down we are all one. We all have mind chatter. We all cry at the loss of a loved one. We can all agree on the wonder of a new life. We all have a being of light that radiates inside of us. We all have th...

I am sorry. I will not wear a pink ribbon. I do not want to have anything to do with Breast Cancer. I refuse to pollute my consciousness with Breast Cancer Awareness. I believe we are not helping to "Save the Tatas" by posting ads everywhere with huge letters that highlight Breast Cancer. We are told there is no cure. I do admit it is a devastating disease. And many courageous women do survive it. I have seen women who have had one breast removed, and were left disfigured, because they did not have the resources to get implants. I also have friends who survived, and reluctantly hold up their new "shields", which protect their emotional scars. My big problem with the whole Breast Cancer Awareness proposition is that the main sponsors behind it all is the medical establishment. The medical establishment which has, for the most part, focused its efforts on its bottom line. Unfortunately, medicine is now a big business in treating symptoms. Mammograms are also big bu...

Patanjali: Do I Invoke or Do I Not Invoke? A the beginning of most Iyengar Yoga classes, there is a chant that is done in a call and response fashion. What is the purpose of this? I will share with you my thoughts on this subject.  When I was in India, and had the privilege of being in classes taught by BKS Iyengar, his daughter, Geeta, and his son Prashant. All the classes always began with this chant. At the time, I had no idea what the chant meant and what the purpose of it was. All I knew is that I was in India, being taught by the most knowledgeable authorities on  yoga, and I participated in the experience, even though for the most part I was inventing the words. After a few days of chanting the invocation, it became an essential part of my focal direction. My mind knew it was time for yoga, and it was almost like the cells of my body received the announcement that it was time to be in yoga mode. My body and my mind became accustomed to the foreshadowing of ...

PRESS RELEASE April 1, 2013 For Immediate Release Contact: Yogarosa (954) 456-6077 Want to own a Yoga Studio?       Yogarosa is for Sale! Hallandale Beach, FL Since 2002, Founder and Director of Yogarosa, Inc, Rosa Santana has been planting the seeds of Iyengar Yoga. It has grown into an amazing community of yogis and yoginis. After so many years of dedicating herself into this endeavor, Rosa has decided to relocate and spend some time writing, reflecting, practicing, studying, and pursuing other complementary modalities.    Before sharing the news with others, Rosa has decided to give her students first choice in carrying on her legacy. Please contact us at  yogarosa@msn.com  for details of this wonderful opportunity to own an established Iyengar Yoga Studio with a very positive international and of course, local reputation.   This was the email I sent out on  April Fool's Day. It was an...

On Friday, Dec. 14th, the day began with celebrations for the 94th birthday of BKS Iyengar. By lunchtime, celebrations were unimagineable as news of yet another senseless slaughter of innocent people. 6 and 7 year olds, and the teachers who protected them. We don't need to wait until Dec. 21st, 2012 to witness the end of the world. The world ended for the parents of those children. It ended for their siblings, their aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and grandfathers. It ended for the families of the heroes who shielded them. The world has ended when a parent goes to pick up a child at school, and finds out there is only a body. That the hugs will never be again. The only thing left is a memory. Pictures. Thoughts of what could have been. Perhaps the yearning to have uttered the words "I love you" more often, or at least one more time. As a community comes together in shock, to understand the madness, let us come together as a human race to support those grieving families. T...

As I sit here and ponder the meaning of gratitude, I go through the list of those that I love. The people that add meaning to my life, and for whom I would do anything. My loved ones who have shared many happy moments, and history with me. Then I start to think about all that has enriched my life, and has brought me to being the person I am today, right now. And it dawns on me that I wouldn't be who I am without the hard lessons, the suffering and the tears as well. The joyful experiences have made life worthwhile, but it's the hard knocks of life that help me to appreciate the happy times. I have grown the most in the most hurtful situations, and the difficult moments have forced me to evolve. To evolve into a person who can see the joys and sorrows of life, the successes and failures, and continue on with resilience, dignity, and some sort of grace. I am grateful for each experience, each person, that has marked my life, whether at the time I "labeled" the experien...