Category: Yoga

Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms.
– Khalil Gibran

And that changes from moment to moment. It is said that the above ability can aide in pain management. It might sound counter-intuitive as you hear often times – I keep my mind off – I keep busy – I ignore it and keep going – I distract myself with this or that – I pop some pills and I’m good to go … or the radical opposite of doing nothing, withdrawing because literally, can’t do anything – fear takes over – but we are talking PAIN. Get to know your enemy. Know yourself. Let’s heed it so we can mend it. There’s a way. Namaste:)

during this time of uncertainty and fear.

Beja Mantra …”seed” mantras plants a seed of vibration at key energy points/wheels/vortex running up from base of our spine to the crown of the head … for the thousand petal lotus to blossom (transformation and enlightenment). Practice … of not being defeated but strengthening first by the cleanse. Eliminating all the negativity, the toxic thoughts like fear, anger, insecurity… irritations, annoyance, frustrations. Sadness.

Last night I did a chakra clearing practice and this morning, teaching yoga. Actually, I don’t really see it as teaching but facilitating.
Facilitating and mirroring the beautiful beings, those who shows up to this morning class – Mirroring their authentic beauty. Their light.
Their willingness to shift out of the emotional state to find what anchors them to the present moment of effortless grace.
Thank you for showing up and hope you began the day better by having that tapas= discipline to care for yourself before going out into the world to care for others and fight your battles.

“LAM”- chakra 1 (root)
“VAM”- chakra 2 (sacral/navel)
“RAM”- chakra 3 (solar plexus)
“YAM”- chakra 4 (heart)
“HAM”- chakra 5 (throat)
“OM”- chakra 6 (third eye/brow)
“OM”- chakra 7 (crown)

Yes, it’s about that “MMMMMMMMM” sounds that create the vibration to affect our vagus nerve – the ancient fore-bearers were quite wise and every culture has something rather similar. I can recite the Japanese version – Yoga Therapy in action. It’s not some “woo whoo” stuff as Judith would say – it’s science. Let’s practice this Arts & Craft together through movement and breath… and then not being afraid of … stillness. The quiet.
You need to feel better after sleep deprivation of Tuesday night and the past weekend time change. We are strong but delicate. We are complex. Yet sometimes, it’s the simple things. That work.

After defogging the haze and quieting the “noise”, brighter colors and sharper lines and curves make a come back. It’s a shift in perspective based on a realization that we had not connected to the other side at all and that divisiveness caused a blind spot. “clarity” is restored, then, only then, take the action. Make changes. Fight if you have to. It’s not all peace and la la la, I know. Anger and stress can bring about a positive change if not chronic, if not repressed – let it air out, if heads explode with current events. RESTORE and know We are “big-hearted”. We go with the flow of the seasons, putting up resistance as needed. We don’t have to agree or approve or appease … but accept so that we can move on either to allow the takeover OR we can be a strategist for a change for the better. Spring will come again. Acceptance and surrendering is a little different, I think.

What do you think?

A setback maybe but not defeated.

Namaste 🙂

When it comes to Neuroscience, my FAV is Oxytocin ! It’s about cuddling, hugging and being … maternal? Whereas, dopamine for all the striving gym-rats and the Rajasic life …a bit too much of that around here. Left the corporate life of self-promotion, and ah, the politics … re-started yoga for stress-management back then. It was managed yes, that’s what I was good at … managing, controlling. But now it’s more about taming the fire, reductions … (cooking term yet again!) , i.e., for stress-“reduction” (note – not “management”), and optimal health. Teaching is an extension of that practice of resurgence, regeneration and the desire to share anything good with fellow human beings. It’s never been about thinner waist line but we know it just comes naturally when we take up this practice. So if the environment or the support system (nil) is stress causing, ironic? Why do it? For money? For ego? For approvals and validation? or Are you incessantly striving for the dopamine rush over other good feelings? Yoga teachers, if you are stressed yoga teachers, you are due for “self-study” session. Why this passion? Why do you “love” yoga so much? Do you love it just as much when it becomes the “business” of yoga? Check in with more experienced teachers with decades of teaching under their belt to get their perspective, so we can learn and grow – it’s all about the tapas?
What does Tapas have anything to do with this?

What do I walk away from this weekend besides Yoga For Digestion covered by Baxter Bell, Yoga Therapist first and MD second ? (besides importance of good dose of sense of humor:) I know as I am always talking about food, you might think I am referring to “Tapas” as in small dishes of savory Spanish foods but I will be talking about Yoga Philosophy and how that philosophy is not something obsolete but ever more applicable and relevant today as we navigate ourselves in today’s world.

Tapas – it’s about the discipline. The motivation to practice. The FIRE. That fire in the belly for some; for me, being a Kapha (okay, so with a little Pitta), it’s the illuminating light, a fire, no it’s not a bonfire, a single candle light lighting up the entire surface of the lake… with each ripple, shaken at the surface but the core is deep and all embracing body of water. Whether storm and tidewaters come upon this body of water, always, returning to reflecting that steady flame. Calibrating that BALANCE that allows us to do all that we want to do with more joy, less stress. More satisfaction, less agitation.

Subbing a Vinyasa class today. Vinyasa practice this morning – would it mirror my morning practice?

(I’m the first to) Find out !

Subbing gives me pleasure because it’s about helping someone; and double-whammy in that I am doing something that’s out of regularity and comfort zone. Got to do that sometimes … It’s about gaining more experience thrown into a new group, new set of needs. Thank you for the opportunity, fellow Yogi. My fire burns more like a candles burning in different fashion – like multiples of birthday candles, full of mirth and joy; and sometimes, a single candle at a vigil, reflective and finding the light from darkness. Thank you to my teachers, past and present. Lovely closure to a weekend in need of digestion so it may nourish us so that we may feed others hungry for knowledge and … betterment.