Day 301 Intention ~ Contribute In Some Way...

Day 301 Intention ~ Contribute In Some Way...

Lokah samastah sukinoh bhavantu

May all beings everywhere, be happy & free,

And may the thoughts, words & actions of my own life

Contribute in some way,

To that happiness and that freedom for all.

Shanti, shanti, shanti...ommmmmmmmmmmm

This is the Jivamukti invocation, it is also a mantra that is included in the closing Ashtanga prayer. It's a mantra that has been around for a very (to say the least) long time. 

Sometimes we all get so wrapped up in the little things in our daily lives, that we forget that part of this life is just about taking care of each other. 

I think about some of the negativity about some personal things that has been running through my mind the past couple of days and when I hear or chant this mantra, it makes me feel silly. Life is not about focusing on the negative, it's about bringing the good out of situations. Not wallowing in negativity and letting things just fester and grow. So, even though, right now, the things I am thinking about are personal, I want to contribute to the good and positive things in people's lives. Yes, all people. Sometimes the ones we miss are the ones closest to us. So, especially them. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 178 Intention ~ Relax In The Midst Of It All

Day 178 Intention ~ Relax in the midst of it all...

Today is a busy busy day for me, but with a break between the (yikes!) five classes that I am teaching today, I have found a chance to get back into teaching mode and not tired burned out mode. It's great to find little chances to take even a 5 minute break at times and allow your mind to let go of all the daily grind and concern that tends to make us wrinkle our faces, drink more coffee and stress out. 

Try this exercise next time you need a little break:

Sit in a comfortable seated position. It can be crossed legged or sitting on your heels. You can also use a blanket or block to get a little lift so that you don't dump down into your lower back. *This can even be done at your desk if getting away is not an option. 

Close your eyes. Relax your shoulders. Still sit up nice and tall. Rest your dominant hand in your less dominant hand and place them in your lap with your thumbs gently touching. 

Start to breathe in and out through the nose. Just the natural breath at first, just letting the body feel ease on the inhale and letting outside thoughts or stress flow out with the exhale. 

Start a mantra. Inhale, say to yourself, "relax" or "let". Exhale, say to yourself, "relax" or "go". If you have a mantra that puts you at ease besides relax or let go, feel free to use it. 

Once you feel more calm. Come back to the rest of your day. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 26 Intention ~ Know that I already have all the tools...

Day 26 Intention ~ Know that I (and you!) already have all the tools inside.

It's true. 

OM 
Namah Shivaya GuraveI honor the essence of Being, the Auspicious One, the luminous Teacher within and without,

Saccidananda Murtaye
Who assumes the forms of Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss,
Nisprapancaya ShantayaIs never absent, full of peace,
Niralambaya TejaseUltimately free and sparkles with a divine luster.
OM

This mantra rings in my head, especially if I am entering a new situation that I am not quite sure what to expect...especially a teaching situation. I interpret this mantra as the divine always being present in all of us and that we all already have everything we need. It's just a matter of uncovering that divine, that light in us all...the Self. The I-Am. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Patience

When you decided to add a mantra to your meditation practice it's easy to begin a quest trying to seek out the mantra that is right for you. By surfing the internet, reading books like "Mantras: Words of Power" by Swami Sivananda Radha, then you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of mantras out there for the taking.

Should it be in Sanskrit?

Should it be Buddhist?

Should it refer to the doctrine I was raised under?

This task can become daunting and that pressure may lead you to just give up all together. So simplicity is key. Just like all things in the Universe, when we are meant to have something - it will come to us. The Buddha stated that "Money is like water, try to grab it and it flows away, open your hands and it will move towards you." This is true with everything in life, not just money. The riches of love, happiness, companionship - patience is the key.

When you are seeking out your mantra and you are met with the myriad of questions from "Who is Lakshmi?" to what the intent is, is it the same as yours?

Just wait.

I find that when I feel it's time to find a new mantra, after looking and reading and researching - somewhere in the middle of my day I'll find it rolling around in my head, my own voice chanting the words.

In Catholic Doctrine they list 52 attributes known as virtues that range from Assertiveness to Unity, but while all of them server an important purpose in life - patience should always float to the top.

If we pause

If we breathe

If we wait

What we need will come to us, no, maybe not in the form we though it would - but it will be there, I can tell you that much.

Shuni Mudra "The Seal of Patience"

Formed by placing the thumb against the tip of the middle finger, the Shuni Mudra is said to prompt patience.

Shuni is translated to "Saturn" just as the middle finger is representation of the same planet, and Saturn is known as the Task Master. In charge of the Law of Karma, taking hold of responsibility, courage, duty. Saturn helps you to be disciplined. This mudra holds the ability to give you stability and strength.

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana "One Legged King Pigeon Pose"

This pose stretched out the thighs, groin, psoas, abdominal, chest, shoulders and neck. The first in a series of pigeon poses, beginning on the right with your shin parallel with the top of your mat and your left leg stretched out behind you - making sure your left foot is lying straight and not leaning to the right or left side. Breathing in and elongating the side bodies then folding over the front leg. Holding this pose on each side for a minute each.

Breathing into your groin and the psoas and letting go.

"We find that patience is the best means we have of defending ourselves internally from anger's destructive effects"

~ The Dalai Lama

May you have a beautiful week

~Namaste~

Why we meditate

What wise man is eaten up with doubts about happiness in this life and the next? Intelligent men make meditation the essential thing.

~ Atisa Dipankara Shrijnana

When we meditate we are taking a moment to clear out the mind, by silencing the voices in our head we open ourselves up to a whole new universe of possibilities and ideas. Yes, I'm sure you've heard this all before, and yes, it can be hard to take that time to get to a point where the clutter and clamoring noised in our heads cease - but once this has been accomplished... there is just so much more to come.

Meditation is an ancient practice that over time is still as relevant and important as it was when Siddhartha sat under the bodhi tree, and just as Siddhartha obtained enlightenment and became the "Buddha" ("Awakened One"), we can sit and take the path to enlighten even if we live in a one room apartment in the middle of an industrialized city.

Peace and understand is available for all.

Why do we meditate? Because it allows us to see what is around us, removing the distractions and obstacles we place in our own path, bringing us one step closer to peace of mind and relaxation.

Some disregard meditation as something only little men in orange robes sitting deep inside a damp cave somewhere in India or Tebet, but that is a fallacy brought on by miss communication and elitist attempting to keep to themselves. You can learn to meditate by sitting with a pet and merely petting them or cooking your favorite dish for the people you love.

The secret is this - breath and let go.

When I speak of mantras and mudras - these are things that fascinate me and that fascination and love drives me to share them with you - but you do not need to memorized the 216 verses of the Gurugita in order to let go and meditate. You're mantra can simply be, "Let go" or "Who am I?" or even "Today I will just be." And your mudra can be your hands placed at your heart, fingers buried in dirt as you weed your garden or brushing against the hair of your beloved cat/dog.

This week take 10 minutes for yourself and do something that you love. Whatever it may be remember to breath, to let go and to smile.

You're mantra for this week is: WHO AM I?

You're mudra is what ever feels right

and your asana is: FULL WHEEL

~namaste~

The Paradox that is Life

Actions are always more complex and nuanced than they seem. We have to be willing to wrestle with paradox in pursuing understanding.

 - Harold Evans

Sometimes living a paradoxical life is what we all do best. Saying one thing and doing another will always be one of the trials of our lives, because more times than not we believe both ideas to be truth and this can lead us to confusion.

We we choose to follow our own heart, rather than sleep walking through our lives - dancing to the beat of another man's drum - we have to accept the fact it will be paradoxical.

This is not an excuse to live in contradiction.

It is a simple fact that human nature is much more complex than we allow ourselves to believe. By taking notice and accepting the paradoxes we find in life, we can begin to walk a life filled with less confusion.

The Acceptance Mudra

The index finger is folded into the space between thumb and this finger, so that the nail touches the fold. The outer lower corner of the thumb's nail touches the inner lower corner of the pinky finger's nail.

This mudra is used to over come the unnecessary resistances in our lives, helping us find acceptance of ourselves.

Mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum

A mantra used by Tibetan Buddhists closest to the Dali Lama. Many stories are told of this mantra and how a disciple had been chanting it wrong only to show that it's the intent of the mantra and not the actual words.

The simplest translation is "Jewel of the Lotus" (Manipadme in Sanskrit). In a more deep translation it states that each part of the mantra will help you identify with yourself and then break down the walls of your life. Helping you achieve purity and wisdom, leading you to the path that is your truth.

Rabbit Pose

Rabbit Pose stretches out your back, neck and arms. It helps maintain a healthy balance of hormones, relieve insomnia and depression. As we curl into ourselves we release the tensions of our day in our back allowing us to see past the many nuances of our days and our lives.

May your week be filled with blessings and I hope to one day see you on the mat.

~Namaste

Mantras & Mudras

Life tends to move pretty fast. Before we even realize what's happening our weeks have turned into months and years, we find ourselves drifting out to sea - guideless - wish we could change the past but knowing we never can.

Each month I like to pick a theme for my yoga classes. I began with fear two months ago, then I moved on to the Self. This month, the month of July (and I'm beginning to think it will also be the theme for August) is "Mantra's and Mudras" two of my very favorite things about yoga, meditation and finding peace.

This week I would like to introduce to you the Lotus Mudra.

The gesture of the Lotus Mudra is to cup your hands together, having the heel of your palms, the edges of the pinkies and thumbs touch with the rest of the fingers opening wide in the shape of a Lotus Flower.

The mudra is to be held in front of the heart, as it's meant to work with the heart chakra - Anahata Chakra. With the Lotus Mudra you are to begin with the "petals" of your Lotus flower open, fingers spread wide. Take 4 deep inhalations and 4 deep exhalations. After the last exhalation draw the tips of your fingers together, touching, forming your hand into a Lotus Blossom.

Lower your blossom down towards your navel for a moment, the let it rise back towards your heart - and the petals open again.

Repeat this motion several times (carry it through your entire meditation).

The Mantra of the Heart Chakra is YAM, please feel free to change this mantra in correlation with the use of the Lotus Mudra, but that is not our Mantra for this week.

The Goddess Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth and Beauty of both physical and spiritual achievements.  The word "Lakshmi" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Laksme" which mean goal. So Goddess Lakshmi represents the "Goal of Life."

That is why I chose the Lotus Mudra - so you can cup your goal of life by your heart as you chant to the Goddess Lakshmi.

OH SHRIM MAHA LAKSHMIYEI SWAHA

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RrOdLVM_k0&hl=en_US&fs=1]

The balance of your heart and your hearts desires will help you bring forth balance in every aspect of your life. When you are opened to what you really want and who you really choose to be you can accomplish anything.

Finding the right yoga practice, meditation, mantra and mudra for your own life is a blissful way to help realize that balance.

Once you have sat with your Lotus Mudra, cupping your dreams at your heart as you listen and feel the words OH SHRIM MAHA LAKSHMIYEI SWAHA pour through your being - peace will fill you.

And once you have found peace I give you our pose of the week - Ardha Chandrasana (half moon pose)

Be happy.

Be free.

Be kind to yourself and others.

And most of all be the change you want to see in the world.

~Namaste~