Day 106: June in the Sutra Sangha: Facing the Klesha
The Klesha Monster
This June, our Sutra Sangha journey takes us deep into the roots of suffering - the kleśas - the inner obstacles that keep us stuck, reactive, and disconnected from our true Self.
Why focus on the kleśas now?
Because the path of yoga, and the path of sobriety, are ultimately about liberation. And to be free, we first need to understand what binds us.
The kleśas are like the hidden programs running in the background of your mind, influencing your cravings, your reactions, your fears, and even your sense of self. For women walking the path of recovery, the kleśas give us language and tools to understand what’s really going on under the urge to drink, people please, run away, or shut down.
When we see clearly, we can choose differently. That’s the heart of yoga.
Meet the KLESHA MONSTER
To make this journey more fun (and a little less terrifying), I’ve created a visual for this month’s theme:
The KLEŚHA MONSTER.
This creature has:
A core of Avidyā (Spiritual Ignorance),
Four arms:
Asmita – Ego/False Identity
Rāga – Grasping/Attachment
Dveṣa – Aversion/Avoidance
Abhiniveśa – Clinging to Life as We Know It (Fear of Change/Death)
Each week, we’ll face one aspect of the monster - and learn how to dance with it rather than be ruled by it.
June Class Schedule
Sundays 8:30 AM EDT TORONTO (8:30pm AWST BALI) - Asana Practice
A thematic flow to help you feel each klesha in your body. We’ll meet the monster on the mat and explore how these obstacles show up in sensation, resistance, and breath.
Mondays 7:30 AM EDT TORONTO (7:30pm AWST BALI) - Meditation Circle
We’ll sit together in guided meditation to observe the kleśa of the week, use inquiry prompts to witness how it manifests in our thoughts and emotions, and close with open sharing. These are cozy, community-centered circles to support self-study and sangha.
Thursdays 8:30 PM EDT TORONTO (Friday 8:30am AWST BALI) - Asana Practice
A flow designed to integrate the week’s teachings into the nervous system. Expect a mix of a gentle flow, Yoga Nidra, and mantra work, helping you end your day in a state of clarity and calm.
Weekly Themes
Week 1 – Avidyā (Spiritual Ignorance)
We’ll explore how misunderstanding our true nature is the root of all other suffering—and how to start remembering who we really are beneath the masks.Week 2 – Asmitā (Ego/False Identity)
This week is all about peeling away the layers of “I am not enough” or “I am only valuable when...” Let’s get intimate with the roles we cling to—and choose to let some go.Week 3 – Rāga & Dveṣa (Attachment & Aversion)
These two are two sides of the same coin. We chase what we think will save us. We run from what we think will hurt us. What if we could pause in the middle and simply be?Week 4 – Abhiniveśa (Fear of Change)
The most subtle and universal kleśa—our resistance to death, endings, and transformation. This week, we make peace with the unknown and find courage to let go.
The month of June with the Sutra Sangha is designed to help you name the inner barriers that keep you stuck, and gently guide you home to the place beyond them: the Self that is always whole, always steady, and always free.
Can’t wait to meet the Monster with you.
Love,
Alexandra