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THE GANESHA STORY

The elephant faced God is one of the most popularly worshipped forms of divinity - as a remover of obstacles and the embodiment of good luck.

Ganesha is regarded as the son of Shiva and Parvati (Shakti), the Universal parents, and the brother of Skanda.

Legend has it that Parvati, created a beautiful boy from the dirt of her body, treated him as her son, and gave him the responsibility of guarding her home. Shiva, upon returning home was affronted by this lad, unknown to him. The lad refused to let Shiva into his own home.

An enraged Shiva sent his Bhuta Gana attendants to scare the lad and to obtain entry into his own home. The lad single handedly defeated the Bhuta Ganas in battle. A clash of egos followed, as Shiva sent several of the Gods, to fight against Ganesha and an equally enraged Parvati sent several of her attendants to fight them. In the resultant fight, the lad's head was chopped off by Nandi deva.

Parvati's grief knew no bounds, and Shiva sought to assuage her, by promising to bring the boy to life. Alas, his head could not be found in the battlefield. A quick fix was sought, and it was decided that the first available head would be used to bring the boy to life. Accordingly, the boy was fitted with the head of an elephant and brought back to life.

Even this did not placate Parvati, who sought that this boy now fitted with the head of an elephant, should be regarded by one and all, as the remover of obstacles, and should be offered worship first, before any form of worship was offered to any other manifestation of divinity.

This boon granted, Ganesha, the lord of the attendants of Parvati, came to be regarded as Vigneshwara the remover of obstacles.

 

 


1998-2007 © jonas westring/shantaya.org

 

  


AFFILIATIONS

Anusara Yoga® was established in 1997 by John Friend and is one of the fastest growing yoga systems. Its Universal Principles of Alignment offers a highly therapeutic approach and Anusara's remarkable popularity is due in large part to its uplifting philosophy, epitomized by a "celebration of the heart," that looks for the good in all people and all things. 

Jonas is a Certified Anusara Yoga instructor who has been studying with John Friend since 1999. He began teaching Anusara in 2003 and shares his passion for this path around the world.

The Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School was founded by Swami Janakananda Saraswati in 1970. Its teachings come directly from Swami Satyananda Saraswati, a most extraordinary Indian teacher and yogi, who founded the International Yoga Fellowship Movement in 1962 and the Bihar School of Yoga on 1964. Numerous important yoga teachings and books have been published and spread by the Bihar School of Yoga. 

Jonas began his first yoga studies here in 1981 and has completed numerous retreats at their retreat center in southern Sweden. In 2006 Jonas will have a 25th year reunion with this school by participating in their 29-day Kriya yoga course.

Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT) is a yoga school with a wide and inclusive approach that trains yoga instructors to bring the ancient insights of Yoga into mainstream wellness programs. As yoga is now taking on a wider role in modern life, it expands beyond the classroom into all areas of the community as a vehicle for wellness, healing and personal transformation.

 Between 1999-2004 Jonas was core faculty for the Integrative Yoga Therapy teacher training program and co-directed fifteen therapeutic yoga teacher trainings in the USA, Europe and Brazil, together with Joseph Le Page, the founder of Integrative Yoga Therapy. 

The Yoga Workshop is Richard Freeman's yoga studio in Boulder, Colorado. He teaches a unique and profound style within the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga tradition, and beautifully exemplifies how to live a yogic lifestyle in this modern age.

 Jonas began studies with Richard Freeman in 1999, took the teacher training in 2001, and have assisted many of his yoga workshops at Kripalu Center and Omega Institute..

The vision of the Yoga Alliance is to support yoga teachers and the diversity and integrity of yoga. Its mission is to lead the Yoga Community, set standards, foster integrity, provide resources and uphold the teachings of yoga. It registers both individual Yoga teachers and Yoga teacher training programs that have successfully demonstrated compliance with the minimum educational standards established by the organization.

 Jonas is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an "Experienced Yoga Teacher" (E-RYT 500) and Shantaya Yoga School's 200-hour yoga teacher training program is registered and approved by the Yoga Alliance.

The Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association (KYTA) is a professional association of certified Kripalu Yoga teachers and yoga teachers certified by schools recognized by the Yoga Alliance. KYTA’s mission is to foster an active network of teachers living and teaching the full depth of yoga. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is the largest Yoga Center in the USA and is dedicated to help produce thriving in the individual, the family, the institution, the business, the community, and society at large.

 Since 1998 Jonas have been a KYTA member and program director at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health.

The mission of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is to foster high standards of ethical and professional practice in the delivery of services through a recognized program that assures the competency of practitioners of therapeutic massage and bodywork.

Jonas Westring is registered with NCBTMB as a Continuing Education Provider under Category A.

We recommend our local yoga studios in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts:

Sara Rose is the founder of Yoga Sanctuary in Northampton
Deb Neubauer is the founder of Anahata Yoga Center in Northampton
Marilyn Hart is the founder of Green River Yoga in Greenfield
Patty Townsend is the founder of Yoga Center Amherst
Eileen Muir is the founder of Karuna Yoga in Northampton

 

 


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