Not too long ago, Anne Phyfe came back from New Orleans raving about a bright green “Buddha Banks” her sister had. Literally, piggy-banks in the shape of Buddha! Well, we just got them in and they are wonderful! What a perfect gift. Not only are they cute, but each color has a different message and during this economy who isn’t saving? You can save $$ and be reminded of your own Buddha-nature at the same time.

While I was at it, I ordered Buddha lamps as well! Immediately my coworker and I plugged it in our office and we both felt a sense of calm! Not only is it perfect for our office, but what a sweet night light in your child’s room. Great find Anne Phyfe!

And y’all check out the canvas totes 8 Limbs member Van Ly printed that say “Namaste y’all.”

Posted by: Abigail Richardson, Boutique Manager

It may not seem like it today, but yesterday showed spring at its best: Mother Nature is busy unthawing from winter and growing new shoots. Guess what? Our bodies are doing the same thing! To help you release the winter (damp/cold) in your muscles considering adding these following asanas into your daily practice until the sun can warm your skin.

Prasarita Padottanasana (standing wide leg forward bend)
Virabhadrasana II (warrior 2)
Garudasana (eagle)
Parsva Utkatasana (revolved chair)
Upavista Konasana (seated wide leg forward bend)
Gomukasana (cow face)
The inner and outer leg muscles are addressed specifically as they relate to the organs most likely to be stressed; the liver and gallbladder. Hold each pose until you feel the muscles release heat.
Learn more about creating seasonal practices for your wellbeing on May 9th and June 13th at 8 Limbs Wedgwood.

Posted by: Melina Meza

This has been the topic around the 8 Limbs office the last few weeks. No, we aren’t talking about a retreat from taxes. Rather the ways that we, as busy human beings (or should we just say human doings?), can find refuge.
The pulls away from this are many. We live in a vibrant city with numerous activity options, amazing entertainment, and lots of wonderful people. We spend hours in front of our computers surfing the net (if only it was the ocean!), reading about our friends on Facebook (rather than hugging them), and, of course, working.
There are many ways of taking a retreat. You can take in a quiet art gallery, get on your yoga mat, or take a walk in the amazing green spaces in Seattle. My favorite nature spots in the city limits are close to our three studios: the Ravenna Park Ravine, the Arboretum, and Lincoln Park. While there is still a sense of city, one can really set the reset button deep in their woody bowels, especially on a rainy day.
Or you can literally retreat from the city. Our Teacher Training staff and recent graduates just returned from Breitenbush Hot Springs in Oregon, my all-time favorite place to take a personal retreat. Stripped from our usual daily distractions, and often stripped of all of our clothing (for the hot springs and sauna), we all got back to our true nature, bliss. It was amazing to watch everyone on the retreat drop our attachments, neuroses, fear, and hardness over the days we spent among the hot pools, moss, and old-growth trees.
For parents, finding space from the kids can be difficult. A few weekends ago, my husband and I took our first 2-night trip away from our lovely children. It was more amazing that I could have imagined. We holed up in a cabin at Moon Mountain Lodge with books and cards and spent two days watching the snow fall, reading, and walking in the woods. While I felt more connected to my husband, I also found a space of knowing myself that I hadn’t experienced in years. I wasn’t corralling, feeding, or attending to our sweet little people and I could listen my own needs, my own requests.
I recall studying with Sarah Powers for the first time. She brought to my attention this idea of taking personal retreats. I recall feeling regret, as at the time I had not attended to this need we all have to get space and reset the clock. This time when I see her it is on the heels of these two retreats, and I will be able to smile and say, yes, I have retreated.

Posted by: Anne Phyfe

Want to hear some great music while making a difference? Join the great folks who volunteer to make Yoga Behind Bars a reality on April 12th for a Benefit Concert at the Fremont Abby, 4272 Fremont Ave N. Doors open at 7:30pm. Music by Seattle Guitar Circle with selections from Tuning the Air. Yoga Behind Bars offers yoga classes to prisoners and “at risk” populations to specifically facilitate therapeutic, conscious, human development. 8 Limbs has donated the proceeds from Thanksgiving Benefit classes to YBB and will do so again this summer with our Karma Yoga in the Park class on August 8th. Your donations will go towards purchasing needed props for the classes they offer.
Also, for those who enjoy chanting and spending an evening with other yoga enthusiasts, join kirtan artists David Stringer and Steve Gold (who led kirtan at 8 Limbs for several years) for an evening of heart opening singing at Shakti Vinyasa in Ballard on April 18th. It’ll get you warmed up and excited for Sean Johnson to fill 8 Limbs Capitol Hill with his beautiful music on May 30th.

Posted by: 8 Limbs

Last weekend I had the serendipitous fortune to experience a couple of extraordinary balancing acts. My family watched the movie Man on Wire and took in Seattle’s own Moisture Festival, a Comedy and Variety Show with acrobats, jugglers and musicians. These performers practice “balance” in extreme conditions: walking on a wire thousands of feet from solid ground, practicing a handstand on top of a moving, breathing, mountain of people. When we place or find ourselves in challenging situations, we are given an opportunity to cultivate a deep steadiness. Our world is changing rapidly. There are no longer Twin Towers in Manhattan, our economy is no longer tearing skyward like those emblems of commerce, but the ancient practice of yoga is perfectly suited to help us to navigate this rapid change, which many say is leading us to a higher level of consciousness.

If you are looking for a state of balance in your busy life, try a post like vrksasana, tree pose, to help steady your center. Start by lifting your right knee up to your chest. Flex the foot and place your foot as high as you are able into your left inner thigh. Place your hands on your hips until you feel still and grounded, then move your hands into prayer position at your heart. Want to add more challenge to your balanced state? Lift the arms into prayer overhead. Another challenge option: release the foot behind you and your arms like wings into virabhadrasana III, warrior III. Keep your hips square and your legs active. You can put the hands back into one of the earlier tree positions (hands to hips or prayer to heart) to help you find balance, or take this even further with arms forward. Release back to tadasana and do the other side. When you return to tadasana after the second time, take a minute or so to really feel your feet on the ground and the energy in your body.

How have you found balance in the midst of challenge, or even chaos? Do you ever place yourself in an extreme position to go deeper into self-knowledge?

Posted by: Anne Phyfe