Changing lives

I overheard some students talking after class yesterday.  One of them said, "This is the best thing I've ever done for myself.  Now i can get through another week"

I'm so grateful for those who show up each week, with mats in hand, to practice yoga with me.  They sometimes come stressed and worried, other times joy-filled; depending on the week.  And they take the hour to breath, to relax, to work hard. 

Yoga definitely changes lives.  Even those who practice only one day a week, like the student I mentioned above.  It's amazing just how much one class can change things for most.

I heard another say, "I'm far more flexible than the others my age.  And I know it's from this class.  I'm never giving it up!"

I really should be asking for testimonials.  LOL

But seriously, do yourself the favour - if you don't already do so.  Find a class and a teacher you enjoy and come to the mat....

Namaste,

Tammy

PS.  You can check out my schedule on my site:  www.reikiandyoga.com/schedule

Feeling lethargic?

Here's a technique for those days when you are feeling lethargic that you may or may not have heard of.  It's beginning to incorporate the Bhandhas throughout your day.

 

These are the internal locks applied similar to valves to direct the prana upward through the subtle energy system (nadis, chakras, meridians).

 

The bhandhas are mulabhandha (root lock), uddiyana bhandha (belly button lock) and jalandhara bhandha (neck or throat lock).

 

Like the breath they can be illusive as our focus slips away from them. Give it a try to see what I mean.  Begin to breathe deeply and evenly and allow the breath to be your sole focus for a least a minute.  If this practice is new to you it will be challenging as every 30 seconds or so we have a new thought to take our focus away. 

 

Traditionally they are used in a yoga practice which can deepen if the bhandhas are utilized. Apply them as you move through the asanas (physical postures).  However you need not be on the mat to apply them to your life.

 

Here’s how to apply the lower two:

At the end of the exhalation apply mulabhandha by drawing up on the muscles between the perineum and the anus. These are the same muscles that stop the flow of urination. Keep holding it.

Take a full breath at the end of the exhalation come to the belly button lock by drawing the abdomen in and up thereby applying uddiyana bhandha. It’s not a hard holding or crunch of the core, but rather a lifting … concentrated holding the abdomen up and in.

Here we’ll skip Jalandhara, but know it is mostly used for pranayama (loosely described breathing) practice. The bhandhas can significantly shift and change your yoga practice taking you to entirely new levels of concentration, focus and present moment awareness.

Give it a go even off the mat and see, sense and feel how your energy can & will change!

Let’ s begin to use them today. Here is link to a video I did awhile ago explaining locks further:
http://tinyurl.com/energylocks

Thanks for watching & reading!
Namaste,
Tammy






PS.  Joining in the energy today to honour our soldiers and give thanks for our freedom.  Lest we forget.

PPS.  Please subscribe to the youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ganesharocks
 & follow on twitter @tllc

Yoga Lag

Far too many of us suffer from it. But how many...exactly...give in?

I guarantee its happened to you before...you know you'll feel better if you go to class, so what is with the fight?

Sometimes its the weather (especially now when its so cold), sometimes its our personal lives (let's face it there is something else we can always find to do); the "Yeah but I could be _________ (fill in the blank)" type of thinking.

I know what's it all about. I used to suffer from yoga lag too. Far too often during my first year of teaching did I not want to go to class. I didn't want to deal with slowing down, breathing or even moving off the couch. But I always made myself and you know what I always felt better off for it.

The same thing happens with my personal practice, even now. Yoga will have an ebb and flow in your life; some years will be better than others.

Sometimes the best yoga I can do is to stop and be happy now.

So if you are having one of those days when going to class is the last thing you want to do, don't be hard on yourself. It happens to all of us. Make a decision and stand behind it (preferably in Tadasana).

PS. When you feel the yoga lag oncoming use it as a chance to delve deeper inside of yourself....what is the real issue? What is really stopping you from going? Why do you not want to go to class? You see where I'm going with this. It's another chance to check in and see where you are at today. Just like each posture, you'll find different reasons behind it & different layers will always come up

Dawning of the Age of Aquarius

Yogi Bhajan predicted back in '92 the dawning of the new Age would begin at 11:30am (PST) on Nov. 11th 2011. He left behind (which I say because he's dead) a meditation which is to begin on Feb. 14th. It is a 1,000 day meditation....meaning it will end on Nov. 10th 2011.

Now I'm pretty sure I won't be doing the entire thing...a 40 day commitment can be challenging let alone 1,000 days! But some people will.

It's an 11 or 31 minute chant.

I will introduce it to students this coming week.

Meditation for an Invincible Spirit in the Aquarian Age

A 1,000-Day Sadhana

We are quickly approaching the long awaited transition to the Aquarian Age. Much has been written about this. In essence it is humanity’s transition from adolescence to maturity. We leave behind the Piscean Era and enter into an age of global awareness, radiance, intuition and cooperation, an era that will usher in an age of equanimity and prosperity, accompanied by an evolution in our capacity to perceive, think, feel and sense. Such growth would mean that much would need to be left behind—old structures and ways of thinking, communicating and living will pass. Confusion, depression, and conflicts will increase as the old ways of holding power—politically, religiously, socially and personally—all fight their last fight. This period of testing and growth will last until 2038, when a new stewardship of this planet and our selves will be realized and peace will have an opportunity to prevail on Earth.
http://www.kundaliniresearchinstitute.org/1000day/1000_yrs_and_beyond.htm

PS. You will find the chant along with the word sheet located at the above site.

On Worrying

I just had another article published a few days ago on How to do things.com about Worry. It definitely isn't easy to stop the cycle of worry.

Just as me, I used to be an expert!

Today though I've cleared most of those out of my way; mostly by doing the work.


Wouldn't it be nice if someone else would do our push-ups for us though?