Category: Beautiful Rituals

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Beautiful Deeds Beautiful People Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals Healthy Living Yoga

Authentic 

Equipped with so much wisdom and knowledge ! That’s how I would describe Saraswathi Devi, who has been inspiring and teaching yoga for over 40 years. She is known in Berkeley as founder and lead instructor of CalStar Yoga program on UC Berkeley campus. 

Such a treat to learn from her this weekend at Niroga Institute with other Karma Yogis!  

One of the cohorts, always profound Ms. J, expressed our sentiment so well when she said

“Thank you for doing what you do.”

When we see a yogi in service, it’s instantly recognizable – that feeling of reverence we have when we are in presence before one who serves with love, compassion and equanimity even when faced with adversity. I can only hope to cultivate that kind of generosity in my service to others… besides, I appreciate the humor she shares with “unbridled joy”. (her words – ah… her voice has the deepest rich vibrations she could have been an opera singer; her flowing language so poetic, her humor so dead-on.)

Thank you for the training Niroga; thank you for the teachings Saraswathi Devi.
& Thank you for her students who came and shared their stories with us so that we know to recognize their whole being, their humanity – they are no different than us, just more brave, more patient, more …amazing!

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Anything Cute Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals Healthy Living

Mame Shiba Inu in Tokyo


On the topic of stress management as I commute to St Luke’s International Hospital. My aunt died at the hospice here but nothing depressing about this place. There are babies being delivered in their obstetrics ward while at oncology department, beds are readied for chemotherapy and radiation.  There’s great joy and there’s sadness. One cannot exist without the other … we know this but…

We make our way to their chapel with beautiful stained glass windows. So much is beyond one’s control and when that is recognized, what do you do?  Be broken and fall apart in despair or … pick yourself up and charge on.

Sometimes we can only:

  • Pray
  • Find a meditation practice
  • Some call it Mindfulness practice
  • To me, above are all YOGA made accessible to all people – works.
  • Find a puppy to care
  • In my case a mame= bean mini size Shiba inu puppy. Sweet.
  • reminded – Shiba sounds like Shiva, our higher consciousness … with Shakti, the energy, a transformative power is unleashed where there’s bliss and wisdom. It’s still possible.  We can all access it. That energy.

There’s many ways people cope with stress.  Yoga works to keep you healthy and happy (okay, admittedly I am not very happy at the moment – it’s rather rough – BUT – it does you keep you in better spirit – or at the very least … balanced) in spite of it all.  Namaste:)

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Beautiful People Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals

Rituals & Meditation

Rites of passage takes place in many forms. Here is a safe container each accepted and supported. This spring time on one’s lifeline for self study and exploration to find one’s purpose.  

Questioning what’s life about? Why am I here? What’s the meaning of life? Why suffer? How do I find happiness? What does it mean to be successful ? How do I define success ?  

Who am I ?

Each young adult explored what brings them joy and what is that gift he’d like to share with others. With the rest of the world …With the possibilities of gifts still undiscovered, untapped and unknown to them … there are seeds to be planted when there’s readiness of this fertile mind and body.  

Witnessed by the Compassionate One who sees the divine light in each and all and …judges none.

It’s a beautiful day when one cultivates acceptance and gratitude to see the beauty in the ordinary, infused with … loving intentions.
 Namaste.