Category: Yoga

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Manupura Chakra

“Manupra” means “Jeweled City” and points to your solar plexus in your astral body. From the solar plexus, the region extends down to your your navel-belly area. It is our third chakra, an energy vortex, a third stopover on a passage, as our Kundalini (Shakti/prana/Chi/life-force energy) rises up our spine from the base root chakra, Muladhara. The color evoked at this third focus stop in the kundalini (Shakti energy) ascension is yellow … bright yellow like the sun.

And as evoked by such color, the element associated with this energy vortex is … Fire. Thus, it is also known as the Fire or Sun Centre. The fire element manifests in the body as heat in the Solar Plexus. The Manipura Chakra is the centre of vitality, a command center that controls our energy balance essential to our health. This Chakra is powerful like a magnet, attracting Prana or Chi, life force, from the Cosmos.

Regulating the digestive fire, blockages in this centre can cause many health problems such as digestive disorders, circulatory disease, diabetes and fluctuations in blood pressure. In contrast, when the energy of this Chakra flows freely, then we are assured this constant supply of vitality – that bestows balance and strength in our whole being.

Symbolically, Manipura Chakra is often pictured as Lotus with ten petals. These represent the ten Pranas, the vital forces, which control and nourish all functions of the human body. An additional symbol of the Manipura is that of a triangle with its tip pointing downward. This indicates the Apana spreading of energy, growth and development. Activation of the Manipura Chakra frees one from negative energies and purifies and strengthens one’s vitality.

Here’s a beautiful necklace that arrived from Munich, Germany 2 weeks ago that I just love…

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Here’s a description of this treasure:

“Jiva” and “Mukti” means liberated + soul. Embrace this aim with a reversible sterling silver pendant stamped with “jiva” on one side and “mukti” on the other. The chain is handmade in India and features diamond cut crystal accent beads and a large 7mm square Citrine endpoint. Designed to be worn in two ways: as a long single chain, or clasped close to the neck with a dangling accent towards the heart.”

– Lizzie Lasater

I fell in love with this necklace when I first saw it and read the description … the reversible touch is so cool, such an expression of the dualistic world we place ourselves in … but the pendant messages are “back to back”, the two are combined into one …ONENESS and it further links and pairs with the matching Jive+Mukti bracelet. For me, the Citrine accent is always going to be dangling towards the heart – my anahata chakra, full of love… as our soul, Jiva , one’s immortal essence, is housed in every heart.

Lizzie grew up with yoga (after all, her mom is that Judith Lasater…one of first American woman disciple of BKS Iyengar) and while she had one of the best teachers at home, Lizzie formally trained, her profile reads, with much revered Maty Ezraty. Lizzie now teaches in Germany, restorative yoga, a rejuvenating practice her mother helped to popularize from the Iyengar teachings, the therapeutic healing part of the great expanse of teachings, she felt was much needed in the modern world. Life her mom, Lizzie is creative and soulful… a Jiva who expresses her free and creative spirit through the beautiful designs… judging from all the beautiful jewelry she designs, her style is very elegant in a simple Zen ways. Check out her website – simple and elegant designs I find so beautiful.

In fact, I can imagine from her jewelry designs that her yoga practice must also be the same; crafted and sequenced in elegance with beautiful “lines” reflecting her creative spirit.

Citrine – an appropriate stone for me now as I was just embarking on how I can better bring about abundance… To do away the fear of scarcity, shortages and deficiencies – the feelings of small losses in our lives and sometimes there’s just “not enough”. Learned that Citrine is also a stone known as “success stone” with key words of “success, abundance, personal power” … and the fact that it dangles towards the heart … signifying all that success and abundance through faith in personal empowerment is not for ego’s sake but for … the heart … for love. I think it’s going to be one of my amulets going forth.

*** Fun “Facts” ***

Citrine is a solar plexus chakra stone used metaphysically to increase, magnify and clarify personal power and energy. This increased personal power can be used for the focused intent of the individual, as it brings will power as well.

Citrine is a fabulous stone to use to combat negative energy of any kind by breaking them up and dissipating them. It is helpful to clear unwanted energies from the environment, whether it be home, office, car, or other space indoors or out. Family issues caused by negative energies can also be cleared for resolution with citrine. Citrine is also a stone that brings hope. Since citrine eliminates negative energies, it is good for protection in general and helps bring stability energetically.

Citrine also does not absorb any negative energies from its surroundings, and thus never needs energetic clearing.

Because citrine can clear negative energy and influences from the aura, it is useful for meditation, psychic awareness, and spiritual development. By removing unwanted energies it paves the way for this spiritual and psychic growth. It is also excellent for dream recall and dream work.

excerpt from meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com
In other words, it’s just what I was looking for …a little treasure – and of course, I find “it” through my teachers.

Categories
Beautiful People Yoga

Monday Throwback

If I were to put some elements of this choreography in a yoga sequence for fun – would I be met with rolled eyes or … mirth? Things get too serious and intense sometimes. It’s just yoga – no wonder some flock to … Zumba ! for example. Where’s the fun? along the road on to transformation?
Actually love more her video on river boat going down the stream but… it was taken down…Isn’t UTUBE supposed to be a public domain?
This blog is a non-profit outlet (lol)…a travel log of a seeker on a journey to cultivate the extraordinary in the ordinary everyday…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-BIxL7gyYE
May need to just find a Karaoke box to get this out of my system …somethings Never End …the question is as always, can you ever schedule such a time to be “in a box” anymore? So trapped in an hour-glass, our daily structured schedule.

Those going ??? what does this have anything to do with YOGA … relating all back to it – the practice of “Prayyahara” is one of the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga:

V. Pratyahara (Control of the Senses)

Pratyahara means drawing back or retreat. The word ahara means “nourishment”; pratyahara translates as “to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses.” In yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. It can then be seen as the practice of non-attachment to sensorial distractions as we constantly return to the path of self realization and achievement of internal peace. It means our senses stop living off the things that stimulate; the senses no longer depend on these stimulants and are not fed by them any more.

In pratyahara we sever this link between mind and senses, and the senses withdraw. When the senses are no longer tied to external sources, the result is restraint or pratyahara. Now that the vital forces are flowing back to the Source within, one can concentrate without being distracted by externals or the temptation to cognize externals.

Pratyahara occurs almost automatically when we meditate because we are so absorbed in the object of meditation. Precisely because the mind is so focused, the senses follow it; it is not happening the other way around.

No longer functioning in their usual manner, the senses become extraordinarily sharp. Under normal circumstances the senses become our masters rather than being our servants. The senses entice us to develop cravings for all sorts of things. In pratyahara the opposite occurs: when we have to eat we eat, but not because we have a craving for food. In pratyahara we try to put the senses in their proper place, but not cut them out of our actions entirely.

Much of our emotional imbalance are our own creation. A person who is influenced by outside events and sensations can never achieve the inner peace and tranquility. This is because he or she will waste much mental and physical energy in trying to suppress unwanted sensations and to heighten other sensations. This will eventually result in a physical or mental imbalance, and will, in most instances, result in illness.

Patanjali says that the above process is at the root of human unhappiness and uneasiness. When people seek out yoga, hoping to find that inner peace which is so evasive, they find that it was theirs all along. In a sense, yoga is nothing more than a process which enables us to stop and look at the processes of our own minds; only in this way can we understand the nature of happiness and unhappiness, and thus transcend them both.

– William J.D. Doran

At first read, “Withdrawal” from what’s “nourishing” does not sound right, right? It’s more about outside triggers and stimuli that we are withdrawing from, which leads to a more NOURISHING care of what’s within us – it’s about the content of our vessel, not just the vessel, it’s that content we tend to neglect… the content that fills and enriches our vessel, our lives. It’s so much about the practice of restorative yoga that prepares us better. Judith as always guides us well in our understanding of this concept of “Pratyahara” from a perspective of a yogini who is in this world fully engaged. Here is the illumination. We are not checking out and taking off to retreats because we are needed around here. It’s in the ordinary everyday that’s lived with grace.
Namaste.

Categories
Beautiful Rituals Healthy Activities Healthy Living Yoga

A gift for EVERYONE… this practice.

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Okay … I’m late.
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Very late…
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The weekend was so compressed, I really needed to take my own class tonight (the shuttle does not come; long lines everywhere; unplanned hike in the hills of Saratoga on an empty stomach; mad rush to get to a place …) drama, drama, drama … Luckily, as an eternal student of yoga, I have a toolbox to not let the drama hijack my intentions. In a way, because of that need to take my own class I felt, ironically, I was so much more able to empathize with the students who showed up. I really saw them with tender eyes …we were on the same boat, floating down the same river, on the same journey.
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I had meant to read a passage on the New Moon vis-a-vis “us” but … time went by so fast (no worries – sharing at the end of this post), I cannot understand why there’s not enough time to do all intended as I have so much more to offer but then, that’s what it’s about. To know that there is actually more than enough time to do all – there is enough time. We have to stop replaying this feeling of “not enough” nagging at us. We create the scarcity sometimes – There’s not enough money; there’s not enough to share; there’s not enough energy; and, the most common, there’s not enough time … on and on with feelings of deprivation to the point of believing even this – I am not enough. That fear begins to take over sometimes – fear that perhaps it’s not the time or the money but maybe … I am not enough? Really? Make a shift in that mindset of scarcity … There’s enough. There is ENOUGH. In fact, we have so much, that’s more than enough. We have plenty. We are swimming in abundance – There is “abundance” if you tap into it. Time really is a weird concept – and we have enough. we are enough. You are enough. I am enough.

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I like to approach a group class for all-levels as just that – for everyone … For special needs, I rather customize and gear the class to serve that particular group’s specific needs but of course all are welcome. In a general group class (unlike say, specifically directed to students suffering from cancer or autoimmune disease such as MS or chronic fatigue … then, the practice lead would be more keenly nuanced and delicate), I have to assume that each student is listening to their own body and I too am there to help modify and bring comfort. If Yin yoga is about training and dealing with discomforts to have breakthroughs; Restorative yoga is about … Bliss – How can I find Bliss – in a yoga pose, really letting go. It’s also part a meditation practice if you so choose it to be.

In a general group class, then, Restorative Yoga class as the name “restorative” suggests, is for (1) the healthy and the vibrant to use the practice as preventative measure to maintain that health and ideally, have even more of a surge to attain “optimal” health; (2) and on the opposite end of the spectrum, for the suffering, to find healing and restoration… a renewal through acceptance and receptivity for better things to come; (3) and everyone in-between to find their balance and the inborn natural vibe … that harmonious rhythm, the riff you strum within. In other words, as Judith illuminates:

Restorative Yoga is for Everyone !

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– New Moon tonight so plant your “seeds” of intentions … wherever you direct your desires to, wherever you direct your energy to, the seeds will germinate and flower… yes, they blossom…
There are different kinds of lunar salutations (just as there are different variety of sun salutations) and the one practiced tonight is not actually the one that I practice at home – that’s a secret – haha – no I will share one of these days – but more resembles this one so thought to do together. It’s the more familiar if you are used to doing sun salutations during the day… Here’s my coverage of it from a previous post… Click Here.

It’s best not to exercise 2-4 hours prior to bedtime especially on a New & Full Moon evenings not that yoga is supposed to be just an exercise. So don’t let Chandra Namaskar to be energizing … instead, let it be soothing and dreamy …kind of like you are one with the air, the ether …wafting like the scent that surrounds you. Delicious deep sleep is the most anti-aging, anti-inflammatory elixir that can remedy so much… I bid “Good night” & wish all sentient beings “Sweet Dreams”… Here I share an affirmation good for the whole week post-new moon as we are still in that phase. Namaste.

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