The Sky Was the Limit
The Great OOM continues with the growing popularity of the CCC (Clarkstown Country Club) and its astounding offerings in entertainment and energy! Bernard was a master at moving with the times and being what he needed to be at any … Continue reading →
Breaking Ties and Tradition
What I have come to realize in this second reading of The Great OOM is that there really isn’t a lot of personal attention to the man himself. His story is merely told through the eyes and experiences of some … Continue reading →
Shoulderstand – The Mother
As yoga teachers, we don’t get the question about standing on the shoulders as much as on the head. For some reason, Sarvangasana – short form “shoulder stand” – seems more approachable and less intimidating. And, yes, it is an … Continue reading →
Why Would I Want to Stand on My Head?
As I am teaching the “Back to Basics” class for The Yoga Place, of course we touch on building the strong foundations needed to practice future inversions. One of the beautiful things about yoga is the way it changes your … Continue reading →
Tradition,Character and Imagination
Chapter 13 and 14 of The Great OOM brings us back to the foundations and tradition of Bernard and the Tantriks, and moves us forward into a new era introducing the next famous follower, a British spy named Sir Paul … Continue reading →
False Advertising and The Changing of Yoga for Social Norms
The next two chapters in The Great OOM really stand out to me as a turning point for the Tantriks, Bernard, and even yoga itself. As they move to Nyack and become more visible, the way Bernard begins to speak … Continue reading →
Millionaires, Marriages, Mansions and More
It seems that yoga has been tangled up with money and love/sex affairs since it hit the shores of America in the early 1900s – with some successful and some not so successful endeavors. Pierre Bernard seems to be one … Continue reading →
Transforming Consciousness, Transforming Matter
As we proceed through Chapter 3 of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, we are coming to realize the power harnessed by a changing consciousness. With the integration (samyama) of concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and ultimate freedom within the consciousness (samadhi) … Continue reading →
On Track or Off the Rails?
In Chapter 7 of The Great OOM I find myself intrigued and frankly wanting to have a replica of Bernard’s “New York Sanskrit College” in operation today! So much of what Homer Stansbury Leeds (his new alias) offered in 1911 … Continue reading →
The “New Normal” with Yoga
Well, here we are in summer 2021. The restrictions of COVID are easing and the sun and the temperatures are perfect to get out and explore what open society has to offer! We are an active group and I know … Continue reading →