Yoga
A Life-Changing Ripple Effect
After a visit to the doctor a friend of mine was told she needed to be more active. Her job requires her to travel, so not a lot time to work out. Her office job also doesn’t offer a lot of opportunity for her to move around and get that much needed muscle activity going in her body.
After a reading with me she said she was motivated to change her lifestyle and do something she hadn’t even thought of before, but loved the idea of it so much she decided to “take action.” Pun intended.
Her plan was to start a group exercise class that incorporated Yoga and some light callisthenic exercises using a chair, for those who couldn’t stand long. Her aim was to make it appropriate for all age brackets and all levels of fitness, so that anyone could participate. The key was to move!
The Season To Restore Harmony And Balance
The Wheel of the Year is turning again after last month’s Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. One can now feel a shift in the air. In both of these seasons I usually feel this change in my body, along with emotions of hope and excitement.
One of my favorite movies to watch again as Autumn approaches is, You’ve Got Mail. Yes, I’m a romantic. To quote the film, “Don’t you love New York in the Fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.”
In Astrology, most of the planets are now direct again, or moving forward, with the exception of Uranus and Neptune, and we are clear of Mercury Retrograde until mid-November. And Mars is getting back up to speed;, helping with the forward movement.
Meditation Is For Everyone
Meditation is a wonderful technique to reduce stress. It is commonly used with the aim of reducing anxiety, stress and depression. Reducing stress has the potential to improve your quality of life. It’s believed to improve health and that reduces healthcare costs.
Meditation is basically a spiritual practice to focus the mind on a object, activity or thought. The goal is to achieve a clear, calm and relaxed state. Meditation involves a state of awareness in which the stress activity of the mind is neutralized.
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in religious traditions and spiritual belief systems. Since the 19th century, it has spread from its mostly Eastern origins to other cultures, where it is practiced today in both personal and professional settings. Meditation is not a form or prayer. Meditation is awareness. Awareness is meditation.
Do You Also Remember Atlantis?
Are you an Atlantean? Since I was quite young, I have been able to remember some of my past lives. I was raised by atheist parents, so I didn’t call them past lives, since I had never heard that phrase before. I called them ‘the other times.’
In one such other time, I was an Atlantean. I have met many Atlanteans on my path in this life. Are you one of them? I remember being always dressed in white, like everyone else there (just like I do now as Kundalini Yoga instructor). White is cleansing and represents purity. More importantly, white deflects negative energy. Black absorbs it.
I have noticed, as technology began to evolve more in recent years, especially since 2000, that I became more nervous, because I remember how technology destroyed Atlantis. Technology is meant to be a good thing, but how it used is a potential danger.
We Are All Equally Spiritual
There is so much terminology and discussion about what it means to be ‘spiritual.’ There are both religious and other esoteric practices that people use, and entire languages developed around spirituality. While I personally believe that much of this is good, it can also often lead to things like elitism and greater polarization of people and groups.
So, the question today is: what does it mean to be spiritual? The answer is far simpler than some might believe, simply because of the original meaning of the term ‘spirit.’
In the Western world much of our religious tradition comes from Greek or Hebrew esoteric writings. In Greek the term for spirit is pneuma, and in Hebrew it is ruach. These are transliterations of the original words.
The Power Of Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini is known as the Energy Yoga which empowers us to release any stagnant energy sitting at the base of our spine, which is connected to the chakra system. When we are feeling anger or fear, Kundalini Yoga can release this tension with quick movements. The intention is to let go.
Typically, more sedate forms of the Yoga discipline is promoted in modern day practice, which tend to focus on deep breathing, flexibility and stretching of the muscles and joints. Kundalini is the polar opposite of this approach. It combines meditation with cardiovascular and muscle strength building exercises.
There is a major caution with this kind of Yoga, since it is best to avoid it if you have any serious back, brain, neck or shoulder conditions. Also, do not do Kundalini if your pregnant, unless the session is specifically geared towards this under the guidance of a reputable teacher. Always consult with a doctor if your unsure and be aware of what your body can do and can’t do in the present moment.
Crystal Singing Bowls
Crystal singing bowls, not to be confused with their similar cousins Tibetan prayer bowls, are made from various kinds of quartz crystal, or fossilized water. If one considers that a large percentage of our bodies also consist of water, it’s easy to see why crystal bowls can create a deeper resonance within us, compared to bowls made from other materials.
In our busy world it’s easy to ignore pure, natural sound – which is one of many benefits of crystal singing bowls. Cultures around the world have known for millennia about the therapeutic properties of music, and more specifically, unique notes or tones. In some Hindu and Buddhist traditions it is believed that the Universe begins and ends with the sacred sound Om.