PAC 156, Yoga and the Chakras

I'm honored to be a guest in your Yoga class today to introduce an asana practice which focuses on the pranamayakosha.

It is adapted from the "Yoga of Lady Niguma" which was taught to me directly by Geshe Michael Roach.  Through postures and meditation, we will concentrate on the movement of prana through the nadis and chakras.

According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, there are 72 000 channels in the body through which life energy flows.  They intersect at hubs referred to as chakras, meaning "wheels".  These chakras are knots which prevent the rising of Kundalini.

Tibetan Buddhist practitioners of Yoga have their own unique interpretation of this system of subtle channels which you can read about here, here and here.

Geshe Michael describes the history of this series and the life of Lady Niguma here.

And teaches the first series in full here.

I hope you learn something today which is of help to you in your studies and in your daily life.

I look forward to seeing you next month for an Introduction to the Language and Literature of Yoga.

Summer 2014 Workshops at Yoga Within

I'm looking forward to sharing two brand new workshops with you this weekend at Yoga Within: 

The Power of Sacred Sound and

 Aromatherapy and the Chakras 

Also, check out Yoga Within's July/August Workshop Schedule for more events including The Power of Sacred Sound, and a series of Friday night gatherings focusing on the Eight Limbs of Yoga, the "easy path to bliss" described in the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Wishing you an enlightening summer!

Namaste!

Aromatherapy and the Chakras, June 28, 2014

Wild Alberta Roses

Join me at Yoga Within this Saturday from 1-4pm for a fragrant journey through the chakras honoring the earth element with asanas and aromatherapy!

Incense, spices, herbs and flowers have all been used since ancient times to maintain physical health, elevate the mind, and connect to divine essence. 

Uplift and ground your energy through relaxing yoga postures and your sense of smell.  Practice beautiful "scent-ering" rituals, sample an all-natural "body incense", learn how essential oils can enhance your yoga and meditation practice, and more!



Seven Wheels: Free Music Download (4/9-4/22)

Hey, check it out!  MC Yogi has a new album called Mantras, Beats, & Meditations!

For a limited time, White Swan Records is offering a free download of the track "Seven Wheels".  Its a cool hip-hop trip up the spine through the seven chakras. 

Seven Wheels, Free Download

Who would enjoy this track? 

- Those of you in a Yoga Teacher Training course who are learning about the chakras, their related colors, elements, bija mantras and qualities. 

- Yogis and Yoginis who practice chakra-based yoga classes like Kundalini Yoga or my Sunday morning Intermediate Hatha Yoga based on the Yoga of Lady Niguma. 

- Anyone who likes hip hop beats with clever, clean, conscious rhymes!

Read this:

 Letter from MC Yogi: "Mantras, Beats & Meditations started as an simple idea: to make a record for yogis that would serve as a backdrop for the practices of yoga and meditation. At first the album was going to be an instrumental record that was more of a soundscape, but as the tracks started to take form it became clear that the teachings wanted to shine through . So, with a notebook full of lyrics I made a few calls and enlisted the help of three incredibly talented beat scientists.

First I called Jomial, whose Shaolin-influenced production style and bass heavy beats always make my head nod and entice me to rhyme.

Then I reached out to the Maestro and my right hand man, Robin Livingston, whose talents surpass any measuring devices. Robin's cosmic and brilliant mixing and production always bring out the best in me, and when he agreed I knew it was going to be magic.

Last but not least, we called up the Sound Ambassador himself, DJ Drez, whose beats have been knocking in my yoga classes for years. Drez often tours with us and always brings the best vibes.

Then, to deepen the sound, we brought in virtuoso Benjy Wertheimer on sarod, Michael Fecskes on cello and added the beautiful voice of Amanda Giacomini.

Together, we formed a divine alliance, mixing and blending different genres and styles but always pointing back to the golden age of hip hop that we all grew up listening to.

Taking a lot of inspiration from the Buddhist tradition, we also set the intention to lay down mantras that would serve as a daily reminder to connect with that inner space which has the power to satisfy the mind.

With great love we hope you enjoy these mantras beats and meditations."

Peace,
MC Yogi

Here's the link again, get it while its hot!  Only available until April 22!  

White Swan Records, Free Track Download, Seven Wheels by MC Yogi

What Deepak Chopra Wants You to Know About Your Chakras

Harmonize the Chakras with Meditation

According to a recent article by Deepak Chopra, each of the seven chakras are governed by spiritual laws, or principles of consciousness.  Understanding these, he says, can help you to achieve greater harmony and happiness in your life and in the world.

First Chakra, The Law of Karma:  Observe the signals your body gives you when considering choices.  Your physical reactions of comfort and discomfort can help you determine the potential nourishment or toxicity of your actions.

Second Chakra, The Law of Least Effort:  Like a musician using the same notes in new relationships to generate new melodies, co-create your life by viewing situations and circumstances as raw materials to be used in creative new ways.

Third Chakra, The Law of Intention and Desire:  Intention + Attention = Expression.  Manifesting your desires is a matter of applying attention to your intentions and then allowing space for the results.

Fourth Chakra, The Law of Giving and Receiving:  Like the physical heart circulates blood, being open to love in all its forms helps foster feelings of unity and lessen feelings of separation.

Fifth Chakra, The Law of Detachment:  When your intentions are clear and your heart is open you experience less anxiety about expressing your views and needs.

Sixth Chakra, The Law of Dharma:  To discover your purpose in life, learn to distinguish your own wise inner voice from the internal chatter of others. 

Seventh Chakra, The Law of Pure Potentiality:  Become as familiar with the inner domain through yoga and meditation as you are with your outer world.  Remember that you are not a body with a spirit, but a spirit with a body.

(Click here to read the article, "What Everyone Needs to Know About Their Chakras" by Deepak Chopra on mindbodygreen.com)

Gayatri Mantra and Sparrow's Noorish-ing Kirtan

Gayatri Devi, Image Source: Wikipedia

"May our intellects shine like the Sun. 

May we radiate enlightenment."

As the new school year and fall yoga sessions begin, it feels like time to set intentions.

Often refered to as the "Mother of the Vedas" Gayatri is a mantra for learning, teaching and healing.  It infuses all the chakras with Divine Light.

There are many beautiful melodies out there, but my new favorite is this one (click to watch full screen on YouTube) by local singer/songwriter Sparrow (Tiffany Brulotte). 

You can buy her cd here.  We are all invited to chant with her at Noorish every second Sunday.  Hope to see you there!

How Yoga Really Works

The Three Main Nadis and Seven Major Chakras

A Great Big Thank You to everyone at Yoga for Today who gathered for the first Yoga Teachers' Professional Development Weekend! 

It was such a joy to study with you again, I'm already looking forward to the next time!  Thank you all for your kindness and your ongoing enthusiasm!

Here is the free pamphlet I mentioned by Geshe Michael Roach.  It is a condensed version of two of his books, The Diamond Cutter and Karmic Management: 

Fearless Success in Work and Life by Geshe Michael Roach 

You can learn more about the Tong-len asana series we practiced on Saturday (Tibetan Heart Yoga, Series One) in The Tibetan Book of Yoga or you can register for my new Saturday morning Tibetan Heart Yoga class starting in January at Yoga for Today.

As you may already have guessed, at the very very top of my recommended reading list for yoga teachers is How Yoga Works.  It is a beautiful story by Geshe Michael and Lama Christie McNally that presents the philosophy of yoga and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in a way that is authentic, engaging and easy to relate to. 

For information about Geshe Michael Roach and a few of the organizations he has founded so far, check out the links on my Guru Parampara page.

And hey - congratulations!  You just earned five more hours toward an attendance certificate in Hatha or Raja Yoga in my Yoga Apprenticeship Program! 

It's easy to sign up and it's free!  I hope to hear from you soon!

Jai!

Yoga Within, Teacher Training Assignment

Practicing the
Yamas and Niyamas

It was wonderful to see you all on Saturday and voyage through the chakras together!

If you would like the words for the "Sun Salutation Prayer" my Mom and I wrote and shared, you can click here.

And you can find Mahatma Gandhi's "Namaste" by clicking here.

In our short time together, we explored the chakras in terms of location, associated elements, emotions, senses, bija mantras, and the colors of the rainbow. 

For the traditional colors and other details of each chakra, visit the Sanatan Society website.

You can also check out a great index of articles on prana, the nadis, and awakening kundalini on swamij.com.

When we meet again on November 25th we will complete our study of the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and discuss the Yamas and Niyamas homework assignment. 

Here is your assignment again:

From the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, please choose one of the Yamas:

1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा): non-violence.
2. Satya (सत्य): truth in word and thought, absence of falsehood or giving someone the wrong impression.
3. Asteya (अस्तेय): non-stealing.
4. Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy in case of unmarried people and faithfulness in action, words and thoughts in the case of married people.
5. Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): absence of avarice, not coveting or hoarding.

OR one of the Niyamas:

1. Shaucha: cleanliness of body and mind; purity.
2. Santosha: satisfaction with what one has; contentment.
3. Tapas: austerity.
4. Svādhyāya: study of the Vedic scriptures and the Self, which leads to introspection on a greater awakening to the soul and God within.
5. Ishvarapranidhana: surrender to, or worship of Ishwara (God).

Spend 24 hours consciously practicing your chosen Yama or Niyama or some aspect of it. 

For example:

• Practice ahimsa by not eating meat for the day. 
• Practice santosha by not complaining about work, your husband, or the weather.
• Practice satya by not exaggerating. ("I'm starving!"  or "I hit a million red lights on the way here!")
• Practice asteya by not making personal calls, surfing the net or texting on business time.
• Practice tapas by going on a one day "media fast", turning off the tv, radio, and internet gossip.
• Practice saucha and aparigraha at the same time by finally cleaning out the basement or the back closet and donating the clothes you're not wearing to someone else who can!

Get it?  It's challenging, but really fun!

If you find it helpful, jot notes down during the day about how it's going.  Maybe make a note every few hours about whether or not you were able to keep your committment to yourself during that time. 

Don't get discouraged - keep going! 

At the end of the 24 hours write approximately 1/2 to 1 page summary of the experience.  Please bring a copy to class with you and be prepared for a group discussion. 

Your best bet is to choose one and begin right now! 

Otherwise, the tendency is to "forget" indefinitely, or to make some small transgression of your committment and give up or start over with the illusion that getting it "right" and doing it "perfectly" is what will make your experiment and your Yoga "successful".

Please recall that this is a practice and each "mistake" helps us to grow in awareness.  In that sense, there is no such thing as a mistake.  Each lapse in awareness allows us to see ourselves more clearly.

Be warned:  Sometimes in the process of cleaning the mind we "kick up some dirt", but it's so worth the effort!

Have fun! 

New Session of Yoga and Meditation Starts Today!

It's time to start a new Yoga and Meditation Session at Yoga Within! 

Please join me for a moving meditation journey through the Chakras featuring a special asana series from Geshe Michael Roach known as The Yoga of Lady Niguma and a sampling of seated meditations including:

• Gentle Gazing Meditation, Tratak
• Meditation and the Voice, Chanting the Bija Mantras
• Meditation on the Breath
• Meditation and Visualization
• Mudras for Meditation
• and more!

See you there!  Namaste!