A Joyful Practice

May the Fourth Strengthen Your Awareness *UPDATED* May 4, 2024

May the 4th be with you, especially to anyone who knows what that means, or is observing Great Lent on Great Saturday and/or Counting the Omer.

“It moves through and surrounds every living thing. Close your eyes…. Feel it….it’s always been there. It will guide you.”

— Maz Kanata quoted in The Force Awakens

During the 2024 Saturday practices, we have been exploring the chakra (energetic “wheel”) system as a way to better understand our lives. Today’s practice marks the beginning of our look at the fifth chakra, which is the throat chakra. While the Viśuddha is associated with will and determination, it is most commonly associated with all things related to sound, communication, and the ability to speak and be heard (as well as to hear what is being said).

In other words, it all comes down to vibration.

Every science, philosophy, and religion recognizes some Force as the foundation of everything. In yoga, that force it is commonly identified as AUM. Since the yoga path for the fifth chakra is mantra, we will be making some noise this month as we explore some of the different mantras associated with the chakras.

But, first, since May the 4^th is a special day for teachers like me (short, a little funny looking, with enormous eyes and/or glasses), we will strengthen our awareness of the Force.

“The act of living generates a force field, an energy. That energy surrounds us; when we die, that energy joins with all the other energy. There is a giant mass of energy in the universe that has a good side and a bad side. We are part of the Force because we generate the power that makes the Force live. When we die, we become part of that Force, so we never really die; we continue as part of the Force.”

— George Lucas explaining “The Force” in a production meeting for the Empire Strikes Back (quoted in Star Wars: The Anointed Screenplays by Laurent Bouzereau (1997)

Please join me today (Saturday, May the 4^th) at 12:00 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom if you are interested in a virtual yoga practice (in which the Force is strong). You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “May the 4th Be With You 2021”]

NOTE: This practice features poses described by Matthew Latkiewicz. If you are thinking, “This is not the class I’m looking for” or “I have a bad feeling about this,” please note that some of wisdom and information is available in pre-recorded practices from other dates.

“Yoda : Yes, run! Yes, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.

Luke : Vader… Is the dark side stronger?

Yoda : No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive.

Luke : But how am I to know the good side from the bad?

Yoda : You will know… when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, NEVER for attack.”

— quoted from The Empire Strikes Back

MAY THE FOURTH KISS MY ASANA: 2019 Offering #19

May the Fourth…

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).

You can still click here to Kiss My Asana Now! (Or, you can also click here to join my team and get people to kiss [your] asana!) 

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

### AUM ###