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

The Zen of Running

I am trying to run. Actually I do run. But I am trying to run...well? Meaning I am trying to run and enjoy it and not hate it so much! In the past I have never really run for more than 3 miles so I decided to make a running "schedule" about a month ago and have stuck to it pretty well! Last week I finally got to my 4 miles -breaking 3 was a big deal. Since then I have only done it 2 other times but I'm slowly but surely working on it. Kim Kardashian has been extremely helpful in this as I watch Keeping up with the Kardashians while on the treadmill -Kardashian Dash if you will. My goal is an hour or 6 miles...but to be able to handle it every day at some point.

This whole running thing is a big mental challenge for me. First of all I get mentally obsessed -which was the reason for not being able to break 3 miles -I get bored and then convince myself I'm tired, my ankle feels weird, my legs hurt too much, I might get shin splints, etc. I keep looking at the time on the treadmill and 1 or 2 minutes is just torturous! HOW DO PEOPLE STAY ON A TREADMILL FOR AN HOUR?! Also when do your legs stop feeling so friggin sore? So that is the second part of the mental challenge -I'm not even running but I am thinking about my calves being tight and sore -when does it stop? Should I rest tomorrow or do a short run? If I do too many short runs will that make it hard to do 4 miles again? What is this stupid conversation I am having with myself about running all about? Why don't I just stop the conversation and run instead? Yes -good idea.

OK so besides Kim Kardashian, I also have Yoga -duh. So I can't do alternate nostril breathing while running, but I started using the mantra -Om nama shivaya along with the Chakras and there I am feeling all light, mentally letting go of my weird running conversation that goes no where, and just getting it done instead. Thank you, yoga and thank you, Kim. Stay tuned for progress on my running!

Kardashian dashing

Y'all need to read this book!

Spirit and Emotion

Today someone asked me..."how do you feel emotionally?" I felt pretty good. But then they asked "how do you feel spiritually?" Initially I wanted to put the two together but I realized....spiritually I felt off and disconnected. Mostly bc I slept weird and my neck and back was bothering me. I felt my back and spine were greatly out of alignment which made me feel like I was not in alignment with myself and had a harder time connecting with what was around me because I was kind of in pain. Though I am still feeling this I do have to say I got a 5-10 min massage and my neck sort of went back into its proper place and although I'm still hurting...it really improved my whole day by tenfold! The moral of the story is, when your stuff is not lined up properly, your spirit can suffer. Get a damn massage, yo! I am doing that manana...like STAT!

Heart and mind

Anahata -unstruck sound. It is the spiritual center of the Heart.
It is in our Heart Chakra when we begin to feel and tune into the vibration of life. This is where we feel our heart beat, where we feel emotions and where we perceive. We also begin to feel higher realms of consciousness here, aside from our egos. The heart is affected by all emotions and senses -physical and emotional. The more balanced your heart is, the better your perception. It is where you can transcend your material self. Where you can balance what is internal and external, physical and transient. Ignorance and illusion often entangle our emotions. We often allow our feelings to control our lives and  relationships. We allow our emotions to define our identity. This causes a blockage in our heart chakra. Its so important not to be blocked here because then your energy cannot go up to the places of higher consciousness. When we hold too tightly, are too over protective, we cave in and suffocate the Heart. This can affect our breathing, our communication and our thinking minds.

Meditation for pain

In yoga we're always talking about how we have to let go of attachments when we're meditating. But what if pain is the distraction?

As hard as that sounds...we have to let go of that too.

Picture this...maybe you're experiencing physical pain. And day to day in life...you are always thinking about your knee and how it hurts...maybe you've already been told you have to get surgery, maybe you are not sure but you're kind of freaked out that maybe its that bad. The more you're thinking about it, the more it might be hurting. In meditation...maybe you can sit comfortably in a chair so that you're knee doesn't hurt. Prop yourself up in the most comfortable position and instead of being the guy with the knee pain, for the next 15 minutes, you can just take a break from that. Take a break from wondering what happened to your knee, or wishing you hadn't played basketball so much without resting, or wishing you hadn't been so careless that day you climbed a ladder to fix the curtain rod.

And then there's emotional pain...maybe people have really hurt you, things have gone really bad no matter how nice, caring and giving of a person you have been. Sometimes you don't think about the past, but sometimes it creeps up on you and there it is....that hopeless pain in your chest that is keeping you from moving on, keeping you from having good relationships or keeping you from focusing on your job. You're attached to your pain. Easier said then done to let it go...no one knows what is about but you. But...imagine that for the next 15 minutes in meditation..you get to have a break from it. The more you give yourself time away from the pain, it just might get easier for you to begin a healing process from it, if you haven't already.

We all have different kinds of pain, and the most painful part of it is that no one can understand your pain that is unique to you and what happened to you...holding on to your pain sets us off of our balance. It prevents us from opening up our hearts, our minds and causes blockages in our Chakras.

Yoga is good for your Heart

According to Forbes...

Small Study Suggests Yoga May Benefit People With Irregular Heartbeats

Stay tune for more on the Heart Chakra...

The Root Chakra

Through this month's study of the Chakra system I've really thought a lot about Muladhara Chakra. The root is the foundation and comprises of your basic needs. I got to teach a workshop recently for people who's physical roots were so strong because their material roots were so chaotic. From that I learned the strength of Yoga really. Even though they did not formally practice "Yoga" they knew how to be proactive in their lives, adapt and make things work in order to have that root in life despite the chaos.

I've also been able to tap into the subtle energy flow that happens in Yoga. I've practiced Chakra meditation for the past 3 months consistently and WHOA! It has made a huge difference in my life. Just noticing how even keeled and rational I am despite how jam packed my day-to-day schedule is with working 3 part-time jobs, going to school full-time -is only one benefit. I don't feel drained or frustrated with stress. Meditation for 20 min once a week is AMAZING!

My teachers in Yoga and the people I teach have made a big impact on my life and learning process, really more than I'd even imagine.

A tree has roots in order to allow the branches to grow up and out. Yin is the root, anchor, substance and earth. Yang is the energy, the cosmic, the heavens and sky.

Come learn about Chakras at Jai!

Chakras! YAY!

I have been doing guided chakra meditations and also our monthly focus at Jai is now Chakras! The chakras and poses that I think connect with each.

1- Root -what grounds us. Earth energy. Its home base, basic needs for survival. Creating rooting or foundation. Practicing mulabhanda, pachimotanasana, tadasana.
2- Sacral -I like that sacral is sacred. The sacrum and hip bones surround and protect our reproductive organs. Sexual energy. But to me this is a lot about developing boundaries and what we keep protected. Bridge pose
3- Solar Plexus -Digestion and fire energy. Stomach and intestines. This is about differentiation. How we build our identity and ego. How we label ourselves. Side angle twist, any twists!
4- Heart -After differentiation we arrive at compassion. Oneness. This is how we start to become different from other animals. Upward facing dog, back bending
5- Throat -Communication, speech. This is what really makes us different from other animals. Also its how our internal body starts to have connection to the outside. Shoulderstand, bridge pose, camel
6- Ajna/third eye -Where we do our Yoga and meditation. Its our inward journey and our thinking mind. Balancing poses -tree, utitha hasta padagustasana. Or seated meditation, tratak.
7- Crown -Above the actual crown of the head, our spiritual connection. What connects us to the cosmic universe. Warrior 3, plank. Meditation.

I find a connection to this system with the nervous system. They align along with the spine and the brain. Our Yoga practice really opens up these chakras, especially because the stresses in life tend to cause us to create blockages.

When everything falls into place

I just taught the awesomest Yoga class this afternoon. My Dharma talk was about holding things (emotions, stress, tension) so tightly that we forget how to let go of them. Sometimes our bodies are still holding. Yoga and meditation helps us to release some of the holding and instead make space. I rarely do thorough, well thought out and fluid Dharma talks. Maybe that's my own story but whatever the case was today...everyone in class was super focused and super present that I felt it. The energy was still, and time stood still. During meditation and savasana there were loud motorcycles and an ice cream truck that kept driving up and down the street but nothing could break these Yogi's! They were so present, the whole room had lightness. I think this is the first time I've taught a class that really conveyed the "union" part of Yoga so successfully. It really made me appreciate my Yoga practice and also the people who come to my classes. Thanks for your support!

I like this photo because it looks like the crown of your head is a fountain. :)

Yoga for Thyroid

There are some cool events and workshops coming up at Prema Yoga. A very cute studio in Carroll Gardens where my very good friend Carol (HA!) teaches. She is amazing and everyone should take her class! I am planning to check out this class since I am one of the 30% of people that has a Thyroid problem. 

Yoga for Thyroid Balancing | Awakening 5th Chakra
with Sarah Willis
Saturday October 30, 2010 | 4:00 - 6:00pm
$35 early-bird (up to October 25) | $40 at the door
Please pre register for this event by emailing info@premayoganyc.com

Some studies indicate that up to 30% of the American population suffers from thyroid disease, ranging from mild hypo- or hyper-thyroidism, to Graves Disease, and Haschimotos. Commonly employed modern medical practices include taking synthetic thyroid hormone daily; introducing radioactive iodine into the system; and in some cases, surgical removal of the gland. The ancient science of Yoga tackles the problem from a more wholistic point of view. Very specific yoga postures, pranayamas (breathing exercises), and meditation, are incorporated into daily practice, along with diet modification. Following such a protocol can provide real and lasting results to people suffering from thyroid disease, because when followed faithfully over time, the work re-calibrates and revitalizes glandular, and immune system function.

This workshop is open to everyone, whether you are diagnosed with hypo- or hyper-thyroid conditions. You do not need prior Yoga experience, nor do you have to be currently afflicted with thyroid disease to participate. 5th Chakra (for which thyroid and parathyroid glands are the energetic center) work is also helpful for those who would like to improve their hearing, and singing voices.

2 hour workshop includes:
*learning 5 Tibetan Rites (asana)
*correct practice of Thyroid Balancing Yoga poses
*Pranayama
*discussion of anatomy & physiology of thyroid / parathyroid glands
*hand-outs with pertinent information for continuing study & practice
*nutrition / diet pointers
*a light healthy snack!