Lisette Cheresson - The Yoga Almanac: 52 Practices and Rituals to Stay Grounded Through the Astrological Seasons

Self-care is a survival skill thats required to navigate our stress-filled world. The Yoga Almanac turns the process into a modern daily practice that links us to the cycles of nature, weaving in the astrological calendar and fostering a connection to source energy. A gorgeous guide for reconnecting to the rhythms within ourselves and all around us.

Ophira and Tali Edut (The AstroTwins) , founders of www.astrostyle.com

An indispensable compendium of practical philosophy, thought-provoking rituals, and functional anatomy, The Yoga Almanac is a one-of-a-kind seasonal guide to developing a practice of clarity, presence, and alignment with integrity. Whether youre a student, teacher, or curious about what yoga and meditation might do for you, The Yoga Almanac is a key resource for us all.

Elena Brower , best-selling author of Practice You

As a voracious reader and longtime practitioner, Ive read a whole lot of books about the practice of yoga. But Ive never come across a book so unique in perspective combining the philosophy of yoga and of astrology. I was instantly inspired to dive deep into this book and its now a resource, and muse Ill always be returning to. I highly recommend this book to reinvigorate both your yoga practice and daily life.

Mary Beth LaRue , cofounder of Rock Your Bliss, and international yoga instructor

A contemporary, real-life, accessible, educational, all-inclusive masterpiece, The Yoga Almanac has become my go-to manual for creative inspiration, and a steady guide for staying focused on my personal spiritual journey. A timeless treasure that belongs on the bookshelves of students and seekers everywhere.

Robert Sturman , artist and photographer

We do yoga because we long to truly know and care for ourselves in a more loving way. But how can we do that in the middle of our crazy, busy lives? Lisette Cheresson and Andrea Rice show us how in The Yoga Almanac . They offer ritual, poses, stories, and weekly practices designed to wake us up, help us navigate the world with kindness and grace, and bring us home to our inner wisdom. Reading this book is like going on a self-care retreat, guided by two wise and loving teachers.

Linda Sparrowe , former editor of Yoga Journal and Yoga International ; and award-winning author of six books on yoga, including Yoga At Home

The Yoga Almanac is a creative perspective that provides a foundation for practitioners who are interested in understanding the ways in which our relationship to understanding astrology inform the relationship we cultivate with the physical body. This is a great resource for anyone looking for a fresh, innovative, and meaningful way to move deeper into a yoga practice.

Chelsea Jackson Roberts, PhD, E-RYT , cofounder of Red Clay Yoga

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2020 by Lisette Cheresson and Andrea Rice

Reveal Press

An imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

Cover design by Sara Christian; Cover background photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash; Cover geometric abstract shape by Freepik.com; Interior Illustrations by Ryan LeMere; Acquired by Ryan Buresh; Copy edited by Marisa Solis

The Astrological Wheel of Life is copyright Andrea Rice. Design by Mollie Earls.

Translation of Salutation to the Dawn by Kalidasa by W. S. Merwin, currently collected in SANSKRIT LOVE POEMS. Copyright 1977 by W. S. Merwin, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.

Lines from The Upanishads (translated by Eknath Easwaran, founder of the Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, copyright 1987, 2007) are reprinted by permission of Nilgiri Press, P. O. Box 256, Tomales, CA 94971; http://www.bmcm.org.

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

This book is dedicated to all the seekers on the journey of self-realization; to the students devoted to this lifelong practice and the teachers who help to guide us there.

Contents

Introduction

Human beings are governed, in ways subtle and obvious, by rhythms of the natural world. We rise with the sun and rest with the moon. We honor our familial and ancestral heritages with cultural occasions throughout the calendar year. Many of our emotional impulses are a response to the ebb and flow of the seasonswhether were conscious of it or not.

Spring is apt for renewal, for planting seeds of intention that take root in the soil of our personal inner gardens. Summer calls for cultivation, as those seeds begin to blossom, to celebrate the fruits of our labor with levity and play. In autumn, we begin to let things fall away as we harvest what was sown, share in abundance, and express gratitude. The quiet solitude of winter draws us inward to reflect, reintegrate, return, and release.

Becoming aware of seasonal cadence brings us closer to the natural world. By reintegrating with these rhythms, we deepen our shared connection and strengthen our bonds. Most important, we reconnect to primal wisdom and glean higher, spiritual insight. Through practice and ritual, we begin to harness this alchemical potential.

Whether youre new to yoga and meditation, a long-time practitioner, or an experienced teacher, The Yoga Almanac is a vehicle to navigate these continuing cycles of change. With weekly rituals, exercises, poses, and journaling prompts, all readersnew to yoga or notmay consider this book a cursory crash course in how to apply yogic wisdom and theory to daily, modern life.

For the yogi-curious, The Yoga Almanac serves as a comprehensive entry point to develop a self-study practice that will help you stay balanced as the world turns. For the seasoned practitioner, it is a foundation for furthering your knowledge of philosophy and spiritual sciences by viewing the effects of natures rhythms through a yogic lens. For the teacher, the fifty-two weekly explorations will serve as thematic fodder for your classes and writings, whichas has already been tested by us, your authorswill resonate on a universal level with your students.

The popularity of yoga asanaor physical yogahas exploded in recent years. But contrary to what many nonpractitioners may think, yoga asana is not an exercise fad geared toward a specific demographic or physicality. Yoga is for everyone, and any body can do yoga. Many people shy away from a yoga practice, believing that theyre not flexible or strong enough, because of what they see in mainstream advertising and on social media. If you ask just about anyone what yoga is, you would likely hear a slew of answersmany of which are far from the truth.

Put simply, yoga is the practice of knowing yourself and understanding your real nature through taking wise and skillful action in the present moment. It is learningor relearninghow to be here now. Yoga means union. It begins on a mat or seated on a cushion in meditation. In time and with practice, we learn how to incorporate this mind-body-spirit connection into our daily lives. Physical yoga is only one of eight limbs of the practice. You are a yogi when you consider your relationship to yourself and the world around younot necessarily when you perform superhuman feats of strength or flexibility.