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Has It Really Come to This?! Patenting Asanas

With yoga having become the big business that it has, I guess it should come as no surprise that the nation that brung it should take steps to preserve at least a little of the ancient art’s integrity.

According to the Times of India, India has made available a list of 1,300 newly registered yoga poses, compiled to prevent the ancient postures from being exploited for commercial purposes by patent pirates.

Scouring 16 ancient texts, including the Patanjali Yoga Sutra and Bhagwat Gita, scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR) have compiled a database of asanas consisting of video and text records in order to protect them from being patented elsewhere.  Already in the United States, the patent authorities have issued more than 130 yoga-related patents, 150 copyrights and 2,300 trademarks related to the ancient practice.

These asanas will all be included in the digitalised Traditional Knowledge Library (TKDL), set up by the council to collect and record traditional treatment therapy knowledge. Medicines and yoga asanas registered with it enjoy the status of being patented.  ”How can someone else patent these asanas which are a part of our traditional treatment therapy knowledge? They should not be allowed to use them for commercial purposes,” said Dr Gupta, of the TKDL.

In India, the centuries-old tradition is still being taught free in public parks and it comes as an outrage to Indians to see these ancient poses, marketed by “gurus” for commercial purposes, alleviating everything from back pain to stress to sexual dysfunction.

30-40 of the most popular asanas will remain in the public domain but poses from another 20 ancient texts will be added to the protected database.

Read more…

 

West Coast or East Coast… Pick Your Wanderlust!

Wanderlust is a retreat unlike any other… and it ain’t just for California gurls anymore.

The two-year-old yoga-slash-concert extravaganza will offer two locations for the summer of 2011, appealing to the green-, yogi-, and folk- hearted on both coasts.  If you can’t make it out to California, maybe you’ve a hankerin’ for maple syrup and an extra excuse to get to Vermont is in order!  An added bonus, they are a month apart, so you’ve plenty of time to save your pennies not missing one in favour of the other.

The details, instructors and musicians, are still to be announced next month, but if last year’s line-up is any indication (the likes of Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Doug Swenson and Moby, Bassnectar, Brazilian Girls, respectively) then these retreats will be sure NOT to disappoint.

The beautiful thing about Wanderlust, it isn’t just a retreat for yoga-loving singles.  Families are welcome and encouraged, with the Wanderkind Kids Program, presented last year by Om Kids Yoga, Truckee.  It was the number one spot on site for kids to have an exceptionally cool experience, custom tailored to the interests of Wanderlust families.

It’s That Time of Year! Wanderlust Festival Squaw Valley

Summer means sunshine, gardening, taking practice outdoors and, come July 29th, the annual Wanderlust Festival in Squaw Valley!

Yoga. Music. Nature.  That about sums up this amazing combination of landscape, live rock & roll with music greats Moby, Yard Dogs Road Show, Pretty Lights and others providing the soundtrack to the best in yoga led by such names as Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Doug Swenson, Elena Brower and so many more!

Wanderlust is a one-of-a-kind festival bringing together the world’s best yoga teachers and best performers in rock & roll, all in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty.

It is a place to relax, unwind, bend, dance, revel, and contemplate. It’s a community of like-minded people who share a common set of interests and values.

It’s a chance to escape the mundane and dwell in the extraordinary.

It’s healthy hedonism and spiritual exploration. Most of all, it’s a long weekend of satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs fun.

For families, another unique aspect to this wonderful festival:

The Wanderkind program, presented by Om Kids Yoga, Truckee, will be the number one spot on site for kids to have an exceptionally cool experience, custom tailored to the interests of Wanderlust families.

The program, held on site at Squaw Kids, will run from 9:30am-4pm Friday through Sunday, and include activities like kids’ yoga, music, henna tattoos, hula-hooping and crafts.

Kids and parents will be responsible for their own lunches, but can enjoy samples from kid-friendly snack sponsors and peruse offerings at kids’ vendor booths.

Drop your child off to hang with the other Wander-kids while you hit up yoga class, or stay and enjoy some of the awesome family activities.

Wanderlust/Kind tickets are available now!   Join us.

I’ve Found Shiva

I have made no bones about the fact that I am a Baron-o-phile. No doubt about it, when I was searching for a practice that worked for me- meaning I felt was accessible and that my body responded to, stumbling upon Baron Baptiste was a blessing.  OK… so it’s hard to stumble upon Baron, he’s pretty much everywhere.

For some reason, however, Baron hasn’t been speaking to me lately.  I live in the sticks and rely on books, CD’s and DVD’s for my yogic guidance… in addition to what I know and practice independently.  Rather than trying to fit in a class and the drive it requires to get to, I am more inclined to pop in a disc.

Recently, I climbed out of the shoe in which I must live and experienced for the first time the magic that is Shiva Reashiva rea fluid powerI had heard of her before certainly… open Yoga Journal and her name is nothing less than a fixture, from columns to advertisements to conferences.  But blinded as I was with all things Baron, I never really considered another teacher in my living room.  But after the need for something different, I took a leap of faith.

And a wonderful leap it was.  I am utterly entranced with her Fluid Power and the flexibility of the matrix approach to customizing my practice.

It’s been a wonderful, graceful addition to my existing practice. I’ll enjoy giving dear Baron a bit of a break.

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And So It Was…

Look… I take help where I can get it. And where I got it- where I needed to get it- was from my old stand-by when motivation is hiding somewhere under the carpet, Baron.  Baron and his Bootcamp in a Box.Baron Baptiste Bootcamp in a Box
I did not intend to rely on a CD.  However, I know myself… which is why I carry the Box with me– on most every trip!  Anyways, I never did get up early.  Husband was off golfing.  It was lunch time.  I set the kids up- yes, in front of the tube- so I could get an uninterrupted half hour.  While, perhaps not entirely uninterrupted, Baron’s 20 minute Core Flow CD followed by his guided meditation was what I needed.

Understand this is no paid plug.  While not a true devotee, I am partial to my own practice… when I do it, I do love his style of yoga and the way he teaches.

I also enjoy his guided meditation.  It’s only 10 minutes and perhaps tomorrow I will try to extend it on my own.  I swear, today I saw colours through my third eye this afternoon.  Colours, I say!  And tingly fingers….

Baptiste… When I’m Struggling With Motivation

When I’m having a little trouble getting a practice going myself, I turn to Baron.

I don’t have the benefit of a class nearby to depend on when I’m in need of guidance so this handy dandy set of CD’s is great in a pinch… and when I just want to merely follow rather than be thinking about what postures I want/need to come next. I just plain love this set of CD’s.

There is the 75 minute Vinyasa. It never seems like over an hour and I feel like I’ve touched on every muscle by the end.

There are a couple of shorty 20 minute practices for when I’m in need of just a little perk.

Now that I have something of a dedicated space, with a CD player, and as I continue training through the summer (after this next fun tri, half marathon second weekend in August) I plan to be using these more.

I get so tired of my own voice in my head I have to remember I’ve got a session with Baron I can always turn to….