In the tales of the goddess Kali, and her slightly less fierce warrior incarnation Durga, the ‘demons’ she kills are the attachments that come from Ignorance and create Fear.
On the Yogi’s Path, each Deity teaches us about a different aspect of Consciousness. Durgamaa is my alter ego on Twitter because she has special significance in my life, so I especially loved receiving this video as a gift from a new friend. A great performance of traditional Indian dance…
I challenged a yogi a few months ago on the Yoga Journal Online Community, and he came through with flying colours…
Beauty in words.
MY question…
This is a quote from Yogi Bhajan and can be used interchangeably with the following one:
A relaxed mind is a receptive mind.
Do you know why?
Here was the yogi’s answer…
‘When the mind is tense or filled with something, it is focused on that thing and cannot be open to outside experiences or teachings. When the mind is relaxed it is open to experience all that is going on. It reaches into the experience and gleans the wisdom that the experience has for it. At least that’s my thoughts on it.’
‘The creative part is an extension of gleaning the wisdom from experiences and people. The Infinite flows through the relaxed mind in such a way that time, expereince, and mindfulness, come together in one point. Creation is the result of the mind being in oneness with the Infinite so that our natural being is expressed out into the universe. The tense mind is unable to do any of that, or to much degree, because it is so focued on itself that it cannot see.
Ah, the ramblings of a fool!’
Yogirev
Contemplating and meditating on the ‘real-self’ accelerates this process of self-development and makes Liberation possible.
~ Arthava Veda
Saraswati... goddess of secular and Divine Knowledge, the knowledge that leads to Liberation (moksha).
As yogis, we are training ourselves to be observers, observing the Self.
But what is the Self? It is NOT our thoughts, our bodies, our feelings, although they are all part of us.
It is the Awareness that is ABLE to Observe… the Peace that is our true Nature.
You can’t find it by talking, by writing, by constantly externalizing because it busies the Mind, disconnecting us further, from our Hearts and Truth. This is the doing that we do too much of.
You find it by going inward, by letting go, over and over and again, until there is nothing left to let go of.
Then you are Free…
(first published on Yoga Journal Online Community)
Start at the very beginning...
SvaroopaTM Yoga uses precise alignment and timing to cause spontaneous release of muscles along, and connected with, the spine. The goal is to get as much muscular tension out of the limbs as possible. For both chair postures, the first thing to do is sit way back in a chair (with your butt all the way to the back)…
Slow Motion Dive (Stage 1 - final alignment, side view)
SLOW MOTION DIVE ~ Root Chakra Muscles (Stage 1):
Make sure your femurs (thigh bones) are parallel with the floor, elevating the buttocks or feet as needed, with folded blankets. Bring your knees together, then let them fall apart naturally - this marks the spot where your knees should be.
Slow Motion Dive (Stage 1 - final alignment, front view)
Then shuffle/nudge your feet sideways until your ankles are directly under your knees. Shuffle/nudge your feet forward or backward until your lower legs are perpendicular (at a 90 degree angle) to the floor. Lean back into your chair, let your head roll gently forward, relax and allow yourself 5 natural, full breaths.
NOTE: use BARE FEET, ie. don’t wear heels, like me.
SLOW MOTION DIVE (Stage 2):
Slow Motion Dive (Stage 2)
From Stage 1, gently bring your elbows to rest on the fleshy part of your thighs just behind your knees.
Completely relax your arms and head, allow yourself 5 natural breaths before moving into Stage 3. If you are in any pain in Stage 3, stay in Stage 2 for the remaining time, ie. 4 & 1/2 minutes total for the whole sequence (this is to prevent relapse and prolong the opening).
Slow Motion Dive (Stage 3 - the FUN part)
SLOW MOTION DIVE (Stage 3):
Without moving your feet (tricky), gently allow your whole torso and shoulders to sink between your knees, hands resting on the floor palms up.
Allow your breath to flow naturally and stay here for most of the remaining time (4 & 1/2 mins TOTAL, over whole sequence).
After hanging out here for a bit, gently roll back up to Stage 2, relax for 5 natural breaths, then gently roll back up to Stage 1 and do same. To finish, gently roll your head back up, relax and allow a few minutes to observe and integrate the effects of the posture.
SACRAL OPENING (Stage 1):
Position yourself into all the same final alignments as for Slow Motion Dive (Stage 1), without separating your knees, ie. align buttocks, femurs, lower legs and feet. Keep your knees together along the center line of the body while you shuffle feet forward/backward to line up lower legs perpendicular with the floor.
Sacral Opening (Stage 2)
SACRAL OPENING (Stage 2):
Without moving your feet, gently use both hands to bring your ankle bone to rest on top of your femur, on the fleshy part of your thigh just behind your knee. Let your right arm rest on your knee, your left on your elevated ankle. Lean back into your chair, let your head relax forward completely, and allow yourself 5 natural, full breaths.
NOTE: this photo shows the ankle bone on the outside of the femur - the incorrect alignment.
SACRAL OPENING (Stage 3):
Sacral Opening (Stage 3)
Leading with your Heart, gently fold forward to rest your abdomen on your thighs and allow your arms to dangle over your elevated leg (without moving your feet). Relax and remain here most of the time you have left (TOTAL time for the whole sequence = 4 & 1/2 mins). If you feel any pain in Stage 3, return to Stage 2 (see following instructions) and stay there for the remaining time. From Stage 3, gently roll yourself (using your arms) back into Stage 2, then Stage 1, resting with 5 natural breaths at each point.
Relax and allow a few minutes to observe and integrate the effects of the posture. Repeat with the other leg.
NOTE: The order is important to get the effect of release along the spine - ALWAYS do SMD before Sacral Opening Sequence.
NAMASTE!
When the Ego comes into alignment with the Higher Self, it ‘disappears’.
It doesn’t just happen one day all at once, you don’t just suddenly realize that it’s gone. It happens moment by moment, one day at a time, one mini-realization after another… that it isn’t there when it has been in the past, struggling, forcing, trying to do instead of letting go. And in some moments you feel fear, find yourself wondering where it went and a little scared of this new place. This is actually the Mind, with its attachments to the past and ‘how it used to be’ inside You, trying to measure, process, describe, compartmentalize, define (and thereby limit) the experience. It can’t find the Ego, because it has merged with, and become indistiguishable from something bigger… the limitless Higher Self (the 
Soul), which is continuous with cosmic Consciousness, the Divine, Shiva.
But you sit with it and the fear goes away by itself - you fall back into the Flow. Because you’ve already had tastes of Bliss and know the rewards are AWESOME compared with what you knew and what you were before…
Om namah Shivaya!
NAMASTE
(an interview with UnitedYogis.com)
Yoga is a way of approaching life, of Being, of which asana is only a small (but important) part. Yoga allows us to shed the things that prevent us from knowing our True Essence, and our connection with the Divine. It’s a tool that removes stress from the body and mind, cultivates Peace and nurtures Consciousness – both in ourselves and the World.
When your consciousness starts to merge with cosmic Consciousness, you start to acquire the 5 energies of Shiva: cit-sakti (all-Consciousness), ananda-sakti (all-Bliss), jnana-sakti (all-Knowledge), kriya-sakti (all-Action), iccha-sakti (all-Will). This requires letting go of many things while building Peace in the body and mind. When it happens, there is no difference between manifestation and being in the Flow, between you as a creator and as an instrument of the Divine. I was going to jokingly say: ‘Do I really have to say just one thing?’, but the truth is, we create nothing alone… The Secret and the Law of Attraction don’t work because they don’t recognize this fundamental Truth, one that was known thousands of years ago by the yogic rishis. It is through our choices that we align ourselves with the Divine… and then everything becomes possible.
That yoga is about Being and the choices we make… more than any physical act. When that is understood, Peace arises, and what is possible becomes limitless.
I make the distinction between consciousness (little c, or citta) and Consciousness (big C, or Cit). Consciousness (little c) is the sum of our awareness and the product of our choices in life – what to think, what to do, how to be. Consciousness (big C) is beyond any definition or description our consciousness (little c) is capable of. It leaves you speechless, breathless. Pure awareness of Love, the Divine. Without Consciousness, nothing could exist. Our consciousness merges with Consciousness as we progress on our path. This is what we are designed on every level of our being to do.
It’s in everything I see, feel, hear, touch, taste and everything in between. It’s in the many miracles that happen everyday to nurture us, regardless of whether we live in harmony with the Divine or not. It is present in every moment of Bliss we experience.
My friend Steve, a yogi who lives yoga and has integrated its wisdom on every level of his being. It was his energy, his Being, not any one thing he said or did, but the sum of it all (especially the stuff between the lines). I don’t think he was aware of it when it first began, but I think he’s aware of it now.
Savasana – it’s the only posture in which it is safe for everyone to practice pranayam, anytime.
Yoga can be used in two ways – to destroy consciousness, or to nurture it.
I prefer the second option.
Yoga Journal blog post (12/2/08)
Apparently practicing while experiencing spells of vertigo isn’t such a good idea. Imagine that.
As loathe as I am to admit it, I am pretty type A when it comes to my physical fitness. (I was gonna say I’m a typical American, then I realized most of us ‘merikans think fitness is part of the following phrase: “How’m I gonna fit’n this?”) I tend to muscle through aches and pains, minor illnesses and headaches, and bouts of depression and anxiety. I used my cycling as a way to still my mind while I pedaled out my stress. Once I transitioned into a yoga practice I really felt like I’d found a way to use my body towards the end of calmness and peace of mind.
Last week I gave myself the Friday after Thanksgiving off (my first day off in I don’t know how long, after teaching a full 30-student class on Thanksgiving morning), so I opted to enjoy some free time with my better half instead of practicing. I felt obligated to practice Saturday morning to make up for that day off, even though I felt a little under the weather. Usually a practice makes me feel better.
Not this time.
My first transition from the floor to standing I thought I was going to fall over. Once we made our way to the floor series every sit-up made things worse. I went home after class wanting nothing more than to stay in bed for the rest of the day. I didn’t, though. The fellow and I went to a train show, then had an amazing Mexican lunch. Then I rested.
I wake up each morning still feeling these dizzy spells. I went to my doc’s office yesterday and she ruled out an ear infection, but she couldn’t pinpoint anything else that could cause the vertigo. She’s treating me for a cold, in hopes the vertigo is tied into the under-the-weather feeling. Now it’s wait and see. And no yoga until the dizzy spells pass.
I keep telling people yoga is so great for your immune system and overall physical function. Now look at me. Doc says yoga is great as a preventative measure, but sometimes you have to listen to your body and take a break.
What?
I reckon this is one of those teaching moments. Can I learn to let go and accept that I need to rest, that my body needs to rest? Can I find other ways to calm my mind? As I walked my dog this morning I realized I could use this as a perfect opportunity to deepen my meditation. It also doesn’t hurt that walking the dog feels good, and today the weather is spectacular.
If anyone has any experience with vertigo and can offer me any suggestions or whatever, I would certainly appreciate them.
Yoga is great for everything - your individual approach to practice is not. Yoga is a way of discovering and listening to your True Self, but our mind is not our true Self and in fact, separates us from it. Your approach to your practice has been governed by your mind - this evident in everything you’ve written in this blog, and in your body. What you have is a Vata imbalance caused by overexertion in your practice: too much Pitta and practicing without ahimsa (compassion). This is not something that yogis would know intuitively, but Ayurvedic practitioners would. It is not a neurologic virus, but in the off chance it was, it would not be able to take hold in a body with a healthy immune system - the immune system is worn down by excess Pitta and Vata, so same conclusion. Vertigo is caused by aggravated Vata, which means the degree of your imbalance is pretty serious, and if I were to do a full analysis, would most likely find your metabolic system out of whack (sugar and fat metabolism, for example).
The most immediate steps you can take to start moving toward balance are:
These steps are damage control - an Ayurvedic foods list and ritucharya (lifestyle guidelines) customized for your unique constitution will help you return to balance.
Anyone else have trouble with morning practice?
Mmmmmmm...
I am not a morning person. I admit it and my best friends can attest to it (one of them will only wake me up if she has a cup of coffee in her hand). Although I’m MUCH better than I used to be in the morning, I still have trouble finding the energy to do anything other than force myself out of bed and do my morning routine in a zombi-like state. I know a morning practice can influence your entire day for the positive and would love to have that, but it’s just so hard to get up and do it!
Does anyone else struggle in the mornings? Any suggestions?
- posted by altilden, today
Many - but that would be a consultation. The best way to get over the Kapha hump (6 - 10am, it makes us feel slow, lethargic and attached to our beds and comforts), is to synchronize our body clocks with the Sun’s movements. This is one of the most important ritucharya (rituals in harmony with the Divine) in Ayurvedic wisdom. Getting to sleep before 10 ensures your Pitta time of night is used for its best purpose - processing the thoughts, emotions and sensory inputs from your day (we are only consciously aware of 20% of what we take in). This, and minimizing Vata (so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble going back to sleep), gives you the clearest, most Peace-full mind for yoga and meditation in the early morning (the best prana time for practice). Other tools would be foods and habits that minimize Kapha and/or maximize the quality of sleep you get.
“Raw for 30 Days” is a documentary about an experimental project involving group of people with diabetes that decided to follow a raw/living foods diet for 30 days, to see if they could reverse their condition. Five of them did, but not in a sustainable way, because the source cause of their dis-ease was never addressed. There’s also an important reason that people in the program left before completing it (I applaud them) - because changes in their diet and lifestyle were not introduced gradually, gently or in a way customized for their elemental constitution (prakruti) and accumulated imbalances (vikriti), in harmony with Nature (ie. the daily, seasonal and aging cycles of the doshas), and because the goal was a 100% raw vegan diet.
The amazing gift of this film is that it showed the power food has to create or cure dis-ease. Ayurveda, because it has the most subtle knowledge of the body, mind and soul of any medicine on Earth, is the most holistic framework for curing dis-ease, maintaining health and realizing our full potential.
NAMASTE
Cleanses that actually detoxify the body are the ones that do not put more stress into the body than they remove from it… in other words, Ayurvedic cleanses. Ghee and Kichadi (kit-cha-ree) are the two most pure, sattvic and healing foods in Ayurveda and the tools you will find most useful on your first cleanse.
Ghee is used both internally and externally as a vehicle for removing toxins (ama) and excess doshas from the body and as a solvent for the active ingredients of many herbs and spices. It’s free of lactose and cholesterol and its pure nature attracts ama, which it carries through the digestive tract and out of the body. Ideal as a cooking oil, it also maintains its properties at any temperature and can be kept for weeks at room temperature in the dark. Cultured unsalted butter has the most agni (digestive fire) because of its abundance of short-chain fatty acids. You can find a recipe for making it here: BAB Recipes
Kichadi is a mixture of cleansing and healing spices, cooling mung beans and basmati rice, made with ghee. It’s like a vacation for your digestive system and its pure nature makes it a vehicle for removing ama from the body. You can use kichari as part of a seasonal cleanse (7 - 10 days at the change of a season) or for a weekly 1-day cleanse ritual. Here’s a recipe for White Basmati Kichadi, which is most appropriate for Pitta-dominant constitutions and Pitta/Vata mixed constitutions: WhiteBasmatiKichadi.pdf
