Dancing with the Divine John Friend Kick Off Workshop

Anusara, in Sanskrit, means “flowing with Grace.” This is the name given to master teacher, John Friend’s, style of yoga. I had the great opportunity of recently studying with John at his kick off workshop in San Francisco. It was the start of his 2011 global tour called Dancing with the Divine. Several hundred people congregated at the beautiful Jewish Community Center and delved into the practice and philosophy of Anusara Yoga.

John has an amazing gift for teaching. He has a way of offering deep philosophical ideas and distinct alignment principles in a way that is accessible to a wide variety of people and is very fun, playful, and humorous.

The main theme of the conference was that the practice of yoga is one of relationship. There are various relationships explored in yoga; the relationship one has with the physical body, the relationship one has with the people around them, such as family and friends, and the relationship ultimately with Divine spirit or Nature, depending on ones belief system. These relationships are a dance, a play within life and like dancing, can be fun and full of joy.

The overriding intention of the yoga practice as John teaches it, is to flow in a positive way with Nature. We choose to act in a way in the physical yoga practice and in the practice of life, in a way that is life affirming and looks for the good in all of what life has to offer. We commit to look for the divine beauty in all things, all situations, and all people and commit to totally serve that good.

During this workshop Johns spoke extensively on letting go of past grievances, not in a way that causes you to forget, but not letting that negative energy accumulate inside your body. Ultimately, it is you that is hurt by carrying those negative tensions. He reminded us that many people live their whole lives in this debilitating state of unforgiveness which often manifests into physical illness.

The highest intention of the practice is to align with the Divine. Each pose is both an offering of that divine energy and a celebration of it. In this connection, we as individuals can more fully radiate our light and love into the world to add more beauty and goodness to it. That is the ultimate purpose of the yoga practice.