YOGA FOR THOUGHTS

image @themindsjournal.com These days, I find myself wondering what would the old Hindus that wrote the Vedas think about how people have been practising yoga nowadays.  I’ve seen beautiful things but also some “bizarre stuff” in the social media world. The last new way to do yoga I saw that shocked me was a class that mixed yoga with guns! I had a feeling that after seeing yoga with goats I would have seen it all, but apparently, I was wrong. Yoga as philosophy comes from the oldest Hindu sacred texts called 'The Vedas'. They are written in Sanskrit and originated in ancient India. They were written down thousands of years ago, but contain knowledge and wisdom that originated even long before then, passed down orally. The Sanskrit word, Veda, means "knowledge."  Also, they are considered to be the direct word of the Divine.   Yoga is simple. When I mean simple, I say you have to show up on your mat with consistency and frequency. Start from where you are...

Yesterday, I remembered that one day I was teaching in Brazil and a beloved friend and student of mine at that time came to me after class and said how much she loved to practice with music. And then she added: "Music is such a gateway to the Soul. Like Yoga". Wise comment, beautiful friend. And is precisely my understanding of yoga. Yoga is the gateway to the Soul. So during my walk as I reached the top of this amazing hill here in Gisborne, NZ; as I looked to the sky and to that incredible nature around me the words: I AM THE EYE IN THE SKY came to my Soul. And WOW. What a moment of complete connection and awakening that was. Thank you, Universe. I remembered the song from singer Alan Parsons. So, after I got home, I started to hear again. First time after many years. And for funnier it might sound today I felt that this song is probably registered in my DNA as my beloved father used to listen to it a lot when I was a kid. And then the gateway to the Soul was opened....

THANK YOU. Choose Love. Namaste _/\_

A film by www.innerworldsmovie.com SAMADHI is a word in Sanskrit that hasn't a proper translation. But Pantajali - the grand master and creator of the yoga philosophy - once said that Samadhi would be close for those who were committed to their meditation practice. As many yoga teachers mean, we need to have TAPAS. A discipline is an essential tool to a yogi since the very ancient times. Samadhi can be pure ENLIGHTENMENT. That moment of pure awakening that many of us felt before either during meditation or during 'real life' when sometimes that unexpected wisdom arise and pure love unfolds when we need it. And we feel that we are enough and have enough. No need for searching anything. Just being. Enough said. Watch this excellent movie and understand not only why we do yoga and meditation but also why we do every little thing we do. BE CAREFUL as we are talking about DANGEROUS CONTENT THAT MIGHT CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION FOREVER ;-) The big risk is that you can experie...

Image from www.shree-hanuman.blogspot.co.nz The inspiration for practice today is to salute the 12 names of the Sun while we move throughout the Surya Namaskar - the classical one as done in Hatha Yoga. 1 - om mitraya namah - the friend of all 2 - om ravaye namah - the shining one 3 - om  suryaya namah - the one that guides all 4 - om bhanave namah - the illuminator of all 5 - om  khagaya namah - the stimulator of the senses 6 - om pusne namah - the nourisher of all 7 - om hiranya garbhaya namah - the creator 8 - om maricaye namah - the destroyer of disease 9 - om adityaya namah - the inspirer 10 - om savitre namah - the purifier 11 - om arkaya namah - the radiant 12 - om bhaskaraya namah - the illuminator And have a nice practice, dear friends! Namaste, _/|\_

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The mantra is like music because it opens the door to our soul and is also pure vibration. Can be a prayer depending on the intention that one brings to it when chanting.  But not all of them are prayers related to the Hindu Gods or Goddess. Many mantras are songs related to nature and the abundant universe that surrounds us. Some are related to our consciousness. The mantra on this post is a simple one that salutes the Sun: "Om Suryaya Namaha." I feel a deep connection with this one as those words: salute to the sun; have been part of my everyday life since 1999. When I first stood on a yoga mat and did my first "Surya Namaskar." It says it's supposed to bring positive vibrations. And I can tell I'm a total life proof of it. "Om, dear Sun, I'm so thankful for the amount of joy and vitality you bring to my soul and my journey. It's been an honor, and many times a challenge keep saluting you 'pretty much' every damn day." W...

The new release from Donna De Lory "The Unchanging" is one of the Sutras from Patanjali and the translation means posture (asana); stable (sthira) and comfortable (sukha). Translated also as "resolutely abide in a safe space." Because Patanjali's primary intention was in developing the meditative mind, this sutra originally referred to the quality of practitioner's meditation pose or seated posture during meditation. It can also mean the source of valuable guidance for living in rhythm with our prana (life source). Good practice dear friends. On and Off the mat ;-) Namaste.

Saraswati  ( Sanskrit :  सरस्वती ,  Sarasvatī ) is the  Hindu   goddess   or Devi of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, and learning.  She is  worshipped throughout  Nepal  and  India . This mantra is one of many that salutes her presence. One of my favorites. 

Last Sunday around 1.45pm a group of cool yogis :-) got together for another chakra workshop with me. I was just making one of my dreams come true: to do a yoga moment on that spot right there. With stunning nature around us. Felt so "good" being there. One of those moments it seems that is meant to be. It was my fourth workshop about chakras this year. It was all about the AIR element and our heart center of energy. The Anahata chakra. It was an exceptional yoga moment. We started our practice 'off the mat' and completely emerged into nature. One of the suggestions to work with the heart chakra energy is to walk close to nature. And so we did. Our meeting point was at MAKORORI HEADLAND. Situated at the end of one of the gorgeous beaches here in Gisborne; called Wainui. Pure magic. It was an uphill walk towards the top of this incredible mountain. Not an easy one as we were mostly walking uphill, but it's just breathtaking. We were a group of 14 ...

The external sun and moon divide each twenty-four hours into night and day, and the internal sun and moon, i.e.; ida and pingala, are responsible for our perception of night and day; that is duality.  Ida nadhi predominates at night, the parasympathetic nervous system is active, there is a greater release of melatonin hormone within the brain and the subconscious mind is active. During the daylight hours pingala predominates, the sympathetic nervous system is more active and seratonin hormone is released within the brain which brings conscious functions to the fore and the subconscious mind submerges. The two nadis, ida and pingala, and the nervous systems, pull the awareness from one extreme to the other, binding us to the duality of mundane circumstances because of the interrelationship with the external force of the sun and moon. The entire biological system is programmed to the movements of the sun and moon cycles. However, a yogi c...

This mantra means "clear perception of what is important to preserve" and that it "links the essence of your purpose to the greater minds and souls in the cosmos."  Enjoy, Namaste :-) 

The 12 petals of the lotus, each has a Sanskrit symbol, surround two triangles superimposed on each other forming a hexagonal star.  The upward-pointing triangle represents Shiva (yang) and three higher chakras (anahata, vishuddha, and ajna) and the downward-pointing triangle, represents Shakti (yin)  and the three lower chakras (muladhara, svadhistana and manipura). They also indicate inhalation and exhalation.  A symbol of perfect balance, it is traditionally colored smoky gray, like incense rising in a draft of air. In the center is a bana linga like a crescent moon, to represent the psychic blockage within. It is set in a shinny golden triangle - showing the explosion of the divine light that can be seen when the vishnu granthi (knot) is untied and the heart chakra opens. The deer at the bottom refers to the lightness of physical substance in the air element. There are also the picture of two Deities: Isa and Kakini Isa is an aspect of Shiva , Lord of Sp...

The GRANTHIS, or knots, are significant blocks, or psychic hurdles, we must cross in order to raise energy. The knot or granthi that is located at ANAHATA CHAKRA, in the region of the heart, is called VISHNU GRANTHI. Vishnu is the Hindu God responsible to maintain the order is also known as the keeper of the good health. Untying the VISHNU GRANTHI frees us from worldly attachment to compassion and devotion, unities us with cosmic faith. It is related to the astral body and the world of emotions.  A recommended mantra to help us unblock the unstruck sound of compassion is the Guru mantra:  "Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshvara, Guru Sakshat, Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Guruvey Namaha."  A good book about chakras is the "CHAKRA WORKOUT" by Mary Horsley. Namaste :-)