The Oy Way – Following the path of most resistance from the “Oy Way Master”, Khaym Leyb, aka Harvey Gotliffe, PhD. His heartfelt and funny book is a modern classic. The title says it all and is close to our hearts here at the Jewish Yoga Network: “Learn Yiddish expressions whilst engaging in a restorative, meditative, moving exercise experience”. What more could we ask for?

Harvey Gotliffe creates a beautiful experience through his book: introducing the yiddish language in a way that connects it with breath and movement. The photographs were primarily shot at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, and the handy-sized volume provides a lovely way to connect with the mameloshn.

This is certainly inspiring me to learn more yiddish. The journey of a 1000 miles need not be a such shlep after all.

You can buy your copy directly buy clicking here : https://www.createspace.com/3782405.

Check out some of the pictures and videos below.
​
Zay Gezunt.

WHAT DO YOGA AND MUSSAR—TWO POWERFUL SPIRITUAL TOOLS—HAVE IN COMMON?

As we continue to explore the conversation between Jewish wisdom and our physical body, the “Jewish Yoga” market continues to expand. The publication of Edith Brotman’s book Mussar Yoga – Blending an Ancient Jewish Spiritual Practice with Yoga to
Transform Body and Soul (Jewish Lights / July 2014) takes the bold move of pairing yogic practice with Mussar, with expansive results. The book is organised around 13 chapters that each address different character traits, including Humility, Order, Nonjudgment,  Zeal and Simplicity. We are taken through a yogic tour by Edith Brotman on how to self-improve these traits through asana and vinyasa.

The book provides an easy-to-use structure. Mussar is not an obvious area of Torah study to match with yoga practice, as it is traditionally a stricter form of Jewish teaching, primarily around character refinement. An early mention of Mussar is made by King Solomon when he wrote “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction (Mussar Avicha) and do not forsake your mother’s teaching (Torat Imecha)” (Proverbs 1:8). Mussar Yoga offers yoga practice as a basis for this character refinement, in keeping with the spirit of classic yogic texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

The Mussar movement gained speed in 19th Century Eastern Europe, often associated with refining character traits (middot) so that our body is a worthy and clear vessel to house our soul. Mussar Yoga made me think of both the teachings of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato in The Gates of the Just (Mesilat Yesharim) and of the late yogic guru BKS Iyengar, whose highly disciplined teaching style would certainly be well suited to followers of the Mussar movement.

We might take the first-ever Mussar Yoga lesson directly from Rabbi Yisroel Salanter (1819-1883), who in his Iggeret HaMussar www.aishdas.org/igeresHamussar.pdf (Letter of Instruction) wrote that “The two aspects of man, the physical and the animal, are in accordance with the two components of man’s creation – his body and soul”. The bodily aspects are apparent to the physical eye, whereas the aspects of the soul are known only from the functioning of the body. The strategies and designs to maintain the soul within the body are focused exclusively on the body”. From this we might consider how all of our physical yogic practice is directly integrated with our soul: this idea is frequently alluded
to in classics such as the Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita.

Mussar Yoga has an easy-to-read approach that is not dependent on any prior study of Jewish texts. There are photographs that clearly introduce the poses and an easy course of study and practice. Stand up straight in all your ways!

**
Marcus J Freed is former President of The Jewish Yoga Network and author of The Kosher Sutras: The Jewish Way in Yoga & Meditation (www.amazon.com/The-Kosher-Sutras-Marcus-Freed/dp/1624075886).
​
Mussar Yoga – Blending an Ancient Jewish Spiritual Practice with Yoga to
Transform Body and Soul

Rabbi Dr. Leslie Schotz has created a helpful guide for Jewish communities who are looking to develop their meditation practice. Shalom: A Congregational Guide to Jewish Meditation was launched in January 2014 and published as a resource for all true seekers.

Click here to see the book on Amazon.

The book consists of an introduction to Jewish meditational ideas, and a workbook-style format for meditating and mindfully reflecting upon each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
We read that “Shalom: A Congregational Guide to Jewish Meditation includes Jewish Meditation as a Heritage, Meditation: What Makes it Jewish? , and Educating the Congregation about Jewish Meditation. This includes: Chanting, Visualization, and Textual Meditations, Blessings & Spontaneous Response. Book includes Jewish Meditation Questionnaire with Responses, Bibliography and Additional Resources for further Study and Inspiration.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rabbi Dr. Leslie Schotz currently serves as Rabbi and Principal at the Jewish Centre of Bay Shore, an egalitarian Conservative congregation. She was ordained at the Academy for Jewish Religion as a rabbi and holds a Master of Library Science degree with both certifications in Public Libraries and as a School Library Media Specialist.

Rabbi Schotz’s learning has been extraordinarily broad, bringing her to the learning centers of every Jewish denomination. She has studied at Neve Yerushalayim (an Orthodox women’s yeshivah) in Israel, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. She was also certified as a Rabbinic Aide from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now known as URJ. Currently Rabbi Dr. Leslie Schotz is also a Spiritual Director (Mashpi’ah in Hebrew). She was ordained as Mashpi’ah through the Aleph Ordination Programs.
​
In conjunction with this program Rabbi Leslie Schotz completed a Doctorate in Ministry, in partnership with the New York Theological Seminary, earning the title Rabbi Dr. Leslie Schotz, D. Min. Her dissertation paper which is now a book is entitled Spiritual Direction for Jewish Children. She is looking to teach across the spectrum including undergraduate, graduate and on a doctorate level.