The Lion Pose in yoga is called Simhasana; simha meaning lion. This yogic asana or exercise is the so-called Lion Pose because of the power that is released from your core when you do it. The asana can release tension in the throat and stimulate the body. When you practice this pose, you will roar with a forceful exhalation, a “ha”, of air that should come freely from the contracting your abdominal area. It is about releasing anxiety and fear through breath. According to traditional texts Simhasana destroys disease and facilitates the three majors bandhas—Mula (pelvic floor) Jalandhara (abdominals), and Uddiyana (throat area).
The first of 2020 art exhibition and community events at GreenTARA Space take on this sense of Energetic Healing by showing work from three artists and creating a celebration of Flowing Compassion through the Memorial Day Weekend—this is a mix of Tara Circle Dance, access to the film Precious Guru, and a Mandala Painting Workshop. And the three participating artists are: Janice Walrafen with her Hidden Masks, work-in-clay derived from her seven-day walking fast in the desert; Diane Gayer with Ancestor Voices, a set of weavings dedicated to the Five Elements; and Melissa Forbes with her watercolour Yantra Paintings.
Collectively, and we are calling this the Lion Roar. However, in direct response to COVID-19 pandemic we are making several changes in how we socialize, how we present artists’ work, and how we offer our community programs. The Gallery will be closed to visitors (except by appointment), but the lion is a social animal after all. And we know the lion’s roar can be heard across great wide distances, so we are hoping that our efforts to offer events via Zoom, FB, vimeo, and the GreenTARA website will reach you too.
Additionally, some of the programs are a long-overdue celebration of Tara, the Tibetan Goddess of Compassion, and Green Tara being the Gallery namesake. To this end we have Janice Walrafen leading a special Tara Circle Dance offering. She is joined by Alexis Smith in the Gallery but you can join in on Dance from the security of your own safe space through Zoom. Please see the attached fliers and the website for details, including the Zoom access codes.
