Sunday, September 15, 2013

We can't control the world around us

BUT we can control our breath, and with that, we can control ourselves. Is it interesting how we try to control things that are simply out of our reach. We try to control others to do what we want them to, we try to make things in our life go OUR way. It becomes a struggle at work, in our relationships, at home, with our friends, in any situation in which we want things to be easier for us. But when it doesn't work out we feel disappointed and frustrated. And this is because we were going about it in the wrong manner. We simply cannot control things that are so huge, we cannot control the universe or the world around us. We also cannot control people and/or our relationships! But in trying to do all of this control we easily forget about ourselves. We can control our own breath, we can retain it, we can elongate it, we can make it smoother -can we not? So with controlling the breath, we can notice that we can control our heart rate to some extent as well, we breath deeper and slower -the heart rate goes down. We can also control our bodies and our minds, instead of getting worried and preoccupied we can easily come back to our breath and keep ourselves from getting caught up in the emotions. Experiencing emotions is great but when it begins to hold us down its a whole different ball game.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Mantras

I didn't used to like chanting mantras...mostly because they are rarely explained and broken down. I felt like someone was forcing me into "church" when I just wanted to do yoga...at a gym, no less! I still have mixed feelings about that kind of thing, BUT I have learned to like mantras!

Mantra in sanskrit means manas -mind or consciousness; tra or trayate -to free. So, transcending the mind or creating transformation.

Another aspect of chanting mantras that I have come to like is that the sanskrit words and sounds activate and vibrate the chakras. We have all experienced this from chanting Om at the beginning and ending of Yoga class and though we may not always pay attention to it, we've all noticed its affects.

Favorite mantras:

Om namah shivaya
The chant for Shiva. Giving recognition to your true nature, and the true nature of the universe. 

Om gam ganapataye namaha
The chant for Ganesha. Removing obstacles from our path. 

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings be happy and free

Come to my class at Jai and get your chakras going! Jai Yoga Arts -Bushwick!

Ganesha, Guay Yin Temple in Koh Samui, Thailand

Friday, September 6, 2013

Its September again!

I felt the need to shut it down for a whole month -not just because I was away for most of it, but I just needed to take a little break. And now I'm back!

And because its Ganesh Chaturthi Mahotsav