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Sun vs. Moon….YOU Decide!

Young child sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, meditating in a gym

Election! Election!
Left Versus Right
Moon Versus Sun
Both shining bright!

What serves, what honors
the United States of YOU?
Tune into your breath~
Tune into your view~

Do you need more strength?
more power? more fire?
Then, Sun is your canidate
you most admire~

Children in a school gym reaching their arms overhead in a side stretch on yoga mats

Or more sweetness?
More flow? More balance
and wisdom?
Moon is the vote to
cast for your system~

Sun represents your right,
and Moon, your left~
Both equally qualified
to heal and heft~

Each one has a Salutation~
a platform of poses
Practice each one
No need for opposes!

Decide on your term;
May be minutes or years!
and what gets to vote!
Chakras or Ears?

Smiling children lying on yoga mats in a school gym, lifting into cobra pose

Who has a voice
in the United States of YOU?
Muscles or bones~
Organs or goo?

And where is the
capital of your nation?
Your Heart? Your head?
Third Chakra vibration?

Choose what qualities
serve your union as a whole~
What is right for your body,
your mind and your soul?

Fernbank Yoga Club voted today. 43 unions saluted the Moon. 27 unions saluted the sun. The rest are undecided. 

“It was interesting to watch the grounded students take their time in each posture of the sun and moon salutations. This fact-finding process took longer for some than others, and a few students needed to revisit certain postures to see what their body thought. The votes were taken, first internally, and then announced to the group. I look forward to hearing how the first days of each parties term goes. Term lengths varied from one week to one year. The excitement was palpable as the students began to brainstorm their new nations flags and colors.”

Mary Quinn Templeton, Elevated Grounded Teacher

More to Explore

  • The Light Within – Yoga & Art Activity

    This activity came out of a need to define shinning inner light. The
    concept seems vague to some kids so I wanted to find a way to connect
    emotions with yoga movements in a concrete way. Doing this activity is a
    way for kids to verbalize their good qualities. Some kids are very familiar
    with their dark sides, and they only hear adults point out what they do
    wrong. They have to be able to identify their light sides and what they do
    right before they can shine their inner lights. Once they have a few
    concrete images to focus on, I think they can shine these attributes as they
    do the yoga poses.

  • Sweeping Breath- Dr. Seuss Style (Siva Sutra 1.2 jnānam bandhaḥ)

    Bondage and ignorance and limitation!
    Oh my!
    We contract like a sneeze~
    You want to know why?
    These are the roots of our issues,
    You see~
    Unworthiness, insecurity, feeling un-free.
    These deep darkened roots,
    known as Anava Mala,
    cloak our awareness
    like pollen all upon ‘ya.
    This pollen of unworthiness
    Helps us forget~
    How miraculous we are~
    We recoil ~we regret.
    We regret and we doubt.
    We feel separate and small.
    Our pimples and frizzes
    Keep us enthralled.
    How, do we, how do we
    How DO we re-remember?
    Our goodness, our freedom
    From here to September?
    Good question, my dear!
    So at your request~
    I’ll teach you the tools
    To elevate your quest!
    Your breath is the broom
    that sweeps away pollen,
    Shines light on the ignorance
    Which is hidden and smallen.
    Sit tall, close your eyes,
    Tune into your spine.
    Inhale your breath
    Down the left side line
    Sweep your breath out~
    On the same side,
    From bottom to top~
    Deep inside.
    Sweep your breath in,
    Down the right side this time.
    Get real close and real low~
    To release dust and grime.
    Sweep your breath out~
    From bottom to top.
    Keep sweeping your spine~
    No reason to stop!
    No reason to stop~
    Till you feel lighter and free!
    Relieved of unworthy
    Pollen and debris.
    The pollen of ignorance~
    And debris of limitation~
    Can be swept to the surface
    For expansive illumination.
    Each time we remember,
    We grow and expand~
    We become more real!
    And that is quite grand!.

  • Roadmap to Lucidity

    Or
    The map to LUCIDITY
    Inspired by Yoga Sutra 1.33 which reads:
    maitri karuna mudita upeksanam sukha duhkha punya apunya
    visayanam bhavanatah cittaprasadanam
    The map to LUCIDITY?
    YES! Have you heard?
    Takes four states to get there~
    Not that absurd.
    The first is of FRIENDSHIP
    toward those who are happy.
    Even when you feel distant,
    resistance and slappy.
    The second is of COMPASSION
    toward those in distress.
    Tough when annoyed,
    imposed on and stressed.
    The third is of JOY
    toward those who are good
    through roadblocks of useless
    and misunderstood.
    The fourth is of EQUANIMITY
    toward those who are foul
    who are lacking in virtue,
    and react with a growl.
    Here in our mapping
    Four residents are mentioned.
    How we perceive them
    Is our fierce contention.
    Our attitudes we go for
    From composure to kind~
    Get us closer to LUCIDITY
    Where we STABILIZE our mind.
    Memorize these four~
    And observe in daily life.
    During times of quiet,
    Noise, and even strife.
    So buckle up~
    And prepare for a ride~
    To align your attitude,
    And try the untried.
    Close your eyes~
    Feel the state you are in~
    Soften your heart~
    your throat, and your skin.
    Drop your breath
    right into your heart~
    It’s made up of LOVE~
    And that’s where you start.
    Inhale with the thought~
    May I be friendly~
    Exhale with the thought~
    May I give friendship.
    .
    May I be COMPASSIONATE
    with your next inhale
    May I give COMPASSION
    with your next exhale.
    Inhale with the thought~
    May I have JOY~
    Exhale with the thought~
    May I give JOY.
    May I have EQUANIMITY
    with your inhale.
    May I give CALMNESS
    with your exhale.
    When someone comes to mind
    Offer these prayers
    No matter their issues,
    Their stains, or their stares.
    May you be LOVING~
    May you be LOVED ~
    May you be PEACEFUL~
    May you give PEACE~
    Your states of envy and mean
    Get smaller each time~
    Intolerance is removed
    You get closer to SUBLIME.
    Once your mind is CLEAR,
    And you’re CENTERED and FREE
    Skillfulness in ACTION
    Will be … Will be~