Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of Devotion. Its focus is on community participation and service. While many branches of yoga emphasize ritual and practice, Bhakti Yoga encourages us to devote our efforts to others, at least symbolically.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to celebrate Bhakti Yoga. One way to do this, of course, is to volunteer your time at a shelter or soup kitchen.
Another, more subtle way to practice Bhakti Yoga is to actually practice hatha yoga, and to devote your practice away. Rusty Wells and growing legions of Bhakti Flow teachers regularly encourage students to "choose someone in your life" and "give your practice away to them." This is a beautiful way to instill your efforts with altruistic intentions, and also to put the Buddhist teachings on compassion into effect.
On Thanksgiving Day, here's a list of yoga classes in the San Francisco area that you can attend and simultaneously give back to the community in the form of a charity donation:
Iyengar Yoga Institute (San Francisco)
Thanksgiving Day Benefit
w/ Janet MacLeod
9:30 - 11:30am
$50 members | $60 nonmembers
The proceeds from this benefit are earmarked for a statue of Sage Patanjali which the Iyengar Yoga Institute has purchased from India. Sage Patanjali was the beginning of the Iyengar lineage. The workshop is open to all levels.
More information and location: www.iyisf.org
The Yoga Loft (San Francisco)
Thanksgiving Day Donation Classes
9-11:00am: All Levels Iyengar with Anne Saliou
9:30-11:30am: All Levels Vinyasa with Jennifer
All proceeds for the holiday classes will be used for studio improvements.
More information and location: www.theloftsf.com
Tone Studios (Santa Rosa)
108 Sun Salutations by Donation
Proceeds benefit BrightHaven Holistic Pet Sanctuary
8:30-10:30
Location and contact information: www.tonefitness.com
One Door Yoga (San Anselmo)
Mixed-level Hatha Yoga Class
with Sarah McGaffey
9:15-10:45am
By donation, proceeds go to maintaining the studio
More information and location: www.onedooryoga.com
Comments
I like the fact that Bhakti Yoga in this case has been used as a model to make the world a better place by offering service to humanity and directing your Hatha Yoga practice to a goal beyond yourself but not to forget the essence of Bhakti Yoga is to devote yourself to the ultimate highest goal which can be called in a myriad of ways but always comes back to the source of all that is spirit.
Karma Classes on an ongoing basis:
Thursdays in December (Dec 3, 10, 17): Bring 4 items of Non-Perishable food & your yoga class is FREE! Food to be donated to Marin Food Bank.
Bikram Yoga San Rafael (www.sanrafaelyoga.com) & Power Yoga San Rafael (www.poweryogasanrafael.com)
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