Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

Wishing you a beautiful, peaceful, obstacle-free day.!

In traditional yoga, malas (flower garlands) are used as offerings for revered teachers and in devotional rituals.  

Marigolds are popular as their bright color is reminiscent of the fires of transformation as well as the cheerfulness and resilience required on the path of self-realization.  

The seeds for these marigolds came from the Peace Garden at the Sivananda Ashram in Val Morin and have been empowered with decades of the mantra "Om Namo Narayanaya" and the wish for world peace.  

The perishable nature of a flower garland is a reminder of the fragility of beauty and life.  Nonetheless, the seeds can be saved, grown, and shared for generations to come.

OMG, Check out The Sanskrit Channel on YouTube

Namaste Yogis and Yoginis, I hope you and your yoga practice are thriving!

I'd like to bring your attention today to a priceless Sanskrit resource available on YouTube, The Sanskrit Channel.  This channel features a huge selection of Sankrit texts and mantras, all excellently chanted, transliterated and translated.

This particular video features all of the Bhagavad Gita quotes in the Hindi movie OMG Oh My God which is available on Netflix.  

Grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy! 

Happy Sattvic Movie Saturday!

Saturday, December 8: Yoga and Origami

Origami Lotus Candle Holder

I'm excited to be co-teaching at Yoga Within with Kundalini Yogini, Satwinder Sran of Yoga of Self Mastery just in time for Christmas!  It's the first time we've presented Yoga and Origami together and I'm confident that you will enjoy the experience.

We will be folding an easy Cup/treat pocket, the Lotus Candle Holder above and a pretty Jewel Box/ornament.  Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus!  Om Mani Padme Hum!

Please contact Yoga Within to register.

Yoga & Origami with Satwinder Sran & Tara Woltjen

Saturday, December 8 2:00pm - 3:30pm

$20/Adult $10/Child *Children must be accompanied by an adult

Yoga and Origami are peaceful, meditative arts of alignment and transformation.  Both enhance functional fitness at any age and encourage creativity and joy in the process.  In the folding of our bodies or a simple piece of paper, limitless possibilities unfold.

• Relax with soothing live music and sound
• Practice Kundalini Yoga for "Folding and Unfolding the Energy"
• Learn mudras that bring the heart into the hands
• Create your own origami treasures for holiday decorating and gift giving

 You do not need previous experience in Yoga or Origami to attend this family-friendly workshop.  All are welcome.  Supplies are included.  Additional paper and giftable items available for purchase.

Mantra Sangha with Sparrow

*Please note the change of venues below!

If you had a chance to attend a screening of the movie Mantra - Sounds into Silence recently, you may be as excited as I am to participate in a sangha or community of healing sound lovers.

Luckily, if you live in the Edmonton area, here is your opportunity!

Along with local music therapist, yogini and songwriter Sparrow (Tiffany Brulotte), I'm thrilled to be participating in a new project we call Mantra Sangha.

Weaving various forms of Japa, Kirtan, Meditation and Chanting into a tapestry of sound, silence, and spirit, Sparrow and I welcome you to experience for yourself the healing benefits of Mantra.

Currently, the dates are as follows:  October 19, November 2, November 30 and December 14, all at Shanti Yoga (10459 145 St) starting at 7 pm

Please note* We are adding and updating events so to confirm accurate dates, times and venues, you can check back here at Kali's Kitchen or visit Sparrow's Facebook page.

If you would like to book an event in your space, please contact either of us.  We will be happy to discuss it with you.

In the spirit of inclusivity and cultivating generosity, the fee for the events is based on Daana or "pay what you can".  We hope this will inspire you to come and bring your friends to share in the resonance of unity and harmony.

You do not need to be a singer or experienced meditator to join in.

"Come, come, whoever you are... Come, yet again, come." - Rumi

Turn up the Volume of Love

Image Source:  NDTV

Its been 50 years since The Beatles made their world famous trip to an ashram in Rishikesh, India.

Here are two short-but-sweet videos from UPLIFT TV highlighting the power of Love and the influence The Beatles had on Yoga in the west.

All You Need is Love

The Beatles and Mantra with Miten

Pavamana Mantra, the Chant for Enlightenment

At the end of every Yoga class, together we chant the Pavamana Mantra, from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

Despite being chanted in Sanskrit, it is relatively easy for most beginners to pronounce, with a universal, non-denominational appeal in the form of a simple imperative:

"May I be inspired to keep moving from the untruth (or misunderstanding) into the truth, from darkness (ignorance or fear) into the light, transforming suffering into bliss."

Please note that this is my liberal translation.  Feel free to compare with others to enhance your own interpretation.

We chant it very simply, in the style I learned in my Yoga Teacher Training at the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.

In my classes, we chant it accompanied only by the peaceful drone of the Shruti Box, but there are many other more orchestral versions which you may enjoy listening to or chanting along with.

Here are a couple to get you started:

The first version is an epic musical performance, most famous for appearing in the end credits of The Matrix and the second is a gentler, more traditional rendition from Ravi Shankar and George Harrison.

Jai!!!

Happy World Water Day

Image Source

We know, water is life.  And yet water is often taken for granted and worse, polluted and endangered.

Today let's join together in solidarity with those who are working hard to protect our planet's life blood.  

Honor, bless, and thank the water.

How? Here are just a few ways you can participate:

Register to watch the free UPLIFT film Water is Life on blessthewater.com

Make a donation to environmentaldefence.ca to help protect the Great Lakes.

Practice Pronoia Therapy with Rob Brezsny who asks,

What is the holiest river in the world? Some might say the Ganges in India. Others would propose the Jordan River or the River Nile. But I say the holiest river is the one that's closest to where you are right now.

Go to that river and commune with it. Throw a small treasure into it as an offering. Next, find a holy sidewalk to walk on, praise the holiness in a bus driver, kiss a holy tree, and shop at a holy store.

Awaken your second chakra, the swadisthana chakra through chanting the bija mantra Vam, embracing the juiciness of your own creativity and sense of play, and asanas for the pelvis and hips like Baddha Konasana (the Butterfly) and Bhujangasana (the Cobra).

And watch this video by my lovely friend Cindy Foley

Chant for World Peace: Om Namo Narayanaya

Swami Vishnudevananda chanting Om Namo Narayanaya

Chant the Gayatri Mantra for Enlightenment

As the solar energy approaches its peak for the year, it's the perfect time to chant mantras that salute the radiance, warmth and brilliance of the Sun... and of our own highest Selves.

I've featured the Gayatri Mantra previously here, but it's time to share a few new links to keep you shining.

Listening to them will brighten your day, singing along will illuminate your intellect and uplift the world.  Try it and see for your Self!

The ideal times for chanting the Gayatri are dawn, noon and sunset.  For maximum benefit, chant 108 times, and when pressed for time, 3, 9 or 12 times with devotion.

I recommend the first link in the morning, when your mind is bright and uncluttered, the second in the mid-day to maintain energy and enthusiasm, and the Deva Premal version to soothe you to sleep.

Enjoy!

Summer Yoga and Meditation Summary

Big thanks to all of you who attended my classes this summer at Yoga Within!

Here are a few links to past posts I mentioned in case you'd like to delve a little deeper.

In June: We practiced a Tibetan meditation of Taking and Giving known as Tong-Len which includes asanas and breathing to offer the six perfections or Paramitas for the benefit of others. (Ahem.. and ourselves!)

In July: We practiced a "loving-kindness" meditation and worked with the mantra Soham, I Am That.

And last Sunday: We practiced Sun Salutations, or Surya Namaskar.  I chanted the mantras as well as their translations and the affirmation poem my Mom and I composed a few years ago.  You can find it all here: Surya Namaskar - Salutation to the Sun.

I also introduced you to japa, or repetitive chanting of mantras using a mala, or string of 108 beads.  Curious about that sacred number?  Check out Kali's Kitchen's Post Number 108!

Om Shri Dhanvantre Namaha: Mantra for Healing

Click here to listen to this mantra by Deva Premal on YouTube.

"Salutations to Dhanvantari, the embodiment and power of healing!"

Dhanvantari is the 17th avatar of Vishnu, physician of the gods, and the father of Ayurveda. 

This mantra can help us find the path to healing and direct us to the best health practitioners for our situation.  It may be chanted during cooking to charge the food with healing vibrations, to prevent disease and benefit those who are ill.  In addition to physical dis-ease, this mantra can be chanted for any situation that needs to be healed. 

Remember that the path of healing is not always what we expect!

Om Namo Narayanaya: Chant for World Peace



Image Source: Sivananda Ashram, Uttarkashi

Raja Yogis and Yoginis!  Remember a couple of months ago when we gathered together to write the mantra for peace, Om Namo Narayanaya in Sanskrit?

Our friend Jenny was embarking on a voyage to the Himalayas and kindly agreed to deliver and "deposit" our prayers to the Swami Vishnudevananda Peace Bank near the Sivananda Ashram near Uttarkashi. 

Well, check out this beautiful update from Jenny!  Blessings from the Himalayas!



"Hope everything is going peaceful and smooth for you all <3 I have been thinking about you and our night writing Om Namo Narayanaya - the peace mantra - to send along to the Himalayas.  Here's a short story about the travel of our little love letter:) ...  

So when I left Edmonton there was snow across Canada and the flights were all delayed.  I missed every flight except the one out of Edmonton and got rerouted twice on the way to India.  My bag, which had the peace mantras in it (because Tara was totally right - they'd keep the bag safe) also went on its own adventure, spreading peace and harmony wherever it went... then it came to meet me in Montreal so we could travel together to India:)  

Made it to Uttarkashi and the little village Netala... along the Ganges... The energy at the ashram and in the Himalayas is amazing.  And Mathaji, the spiritual mother at the Sivanada ashram there loved to receive all our writings for the peace bank.  She collects them from all over the world and organizes them to be offered at the entrance to the cave outside of Gangotri (the end of the road heading toward the mouth of the Ganges) where they fly to spread the peace all over:)  

Anyways, I feel so blessed to take the Peace Mantras part of the way:)  Hope to see you soon! 

Much love and many blessings to you and yours!  

xxox

Om Shanti

Jenny"

Thank you Jenny!  We can hardly wait to hear more about your adventures in India! 

Om Namo Narayanaya!

May All Beings Be Happy

Detail of Illustration by Mayumi Oda

Never mind what the calendar says, May is the real beginning of spring in Alberta. 

Birds return, the grass turns green, buds start coming out on the trees.  Our gaze shifts from inside to out, and our mood lifts. 

We marvel at nature, the miracle of rebirth and new growth.  We think about planting, how we affect our surroundings and the beings with whom we share them.

The mantra Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu seems especially fitting at this time. 

It says, "May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering; may my actions contribute to the happiness and wellbeing of all."

You can read more about this mantra and its word by word translation in this article by Sharon Gannon of Jivamukti Yoga.

More about its meaning in this article by Amma, also known as the Hugging Mother.

And even more in these previous posts on Kali's Kitchen.

This is my wish and my focus this month,  "May" all beings be happy!