Yoga as Inspiration

Yoga for me is inspiration. It makes me stay positively connected to the joy that is part of my true nature. It makes me excited. It is life! The word inspiration means the act of breathing, which we definitely need to live.

To me yoga is like the water for a plant and if it does not get watered it dies. Or if you have a mirror and it is not cleaned periodically it gets dusty. Pretty soon it gets dull and not reflective, therefore one cannot see an image in it.

The mind is like a mirror and it can become dull as well. When one practices yoga , one keeps the mind clear of cobwebs and body fresh. I like to compare the body to a car. If you don't clean the air filter the car will literally stop and won't run. The same with the lungs. If we don't breathe full and deeply, we have low energy levels and become tired and lazy. Of course we know that if there is no oxygen within a few minutes the body dies.

According to Pantanjali there are eight limbs of yoga. Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras II - 29 "Yama Niyamaasana Pranayama Pratiyahara Dharana Dhyana Samadhayo 'Stavangani" translated as the eight limbs of yoga: 1. Yama (abstinence);2. Niyama (observance); 3. Asana (postures); 4. Pranayama (breath control); 5. pratyahara (sense withdrawal); 6. dharana (concentration); 7. dhyana (meditation); 8. samadhi (contemplation, absorption or super-conscious state).

As we become aware and study the many branches of yoga, we can use them accordingly. Like when one practices hatha yoga (asanas) everyday, one is tuning up the body, keeping the blood flowing and the joints lubricated. Or when one practices dhyana (meditation) regularly we can keep the mind clean. When yoga is practiced there is always inspiration and rejuvenation in more ways than one!

Stay tuned for more. You can check out http://www.bometernally.com/

Attention and Concentration

Do I have your attention? Attention can be defined as the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things.
William James, in his monumental Principles of Psychology (1890), remarked:“Everyone knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization, concentration, of consciousness are of its essence. It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal effectively with others, and is a condition which has a real opposite in the confused, dazed, scatterbrained state which in French is called distraction, and Zerstreutheit in German.[2]”

I am sure you have noticed the word concentration in attention's definition. And if you look up concentration as a noun, attention is one of the words used in its description as well. Paying attention and concentration is a very important part of life. If one does no concentrate one cannot accomplish even the simplest daily tasks. These days we multitask on a daily basis. There are so many distractions coming at us and it affects our relationships as well as our studies and our work. We can't achieve what we want with our minds scattered in so many directions.

In regard to yoga, if you look at book II -32 in the Yoga Sutras it is stated "Tat Pratisedhartham Eka Tattvabhyasah". The translation is "The practice of concentration on a single subject [or the use of one technique] is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniments." Swami Satchidananda's commentary on this sutra asks "Why do you want to have this one-pointed concentration? To make the mind clear so you can transcend it." And so if we can make the mind clear the internal dialogue disappears and we can focus on what we are doing. Thus making life less hectic and more peaceful. So starting with some yoga postures and meditation we can practice concentration.

Swadhyaya

We are all ultimately looking for that joy we have inside of ourselves. There are different things that we do that connect us to that joy. We might realize that is what we are doing especially when we start to ask the question 'Why am I here and what is the purpose of life?' Swadhyaya can lead us to that joy inside. Swadhyaya is a Sanskrit word and is translated as study, reciting aloud, or repeating or rehearsing to one self. It literally means study of the Self.

On the yogic path, which "I" define as a way of life, many tools are needed and we carry all of them. Swadhyaya is a tool in which language and sound becomes an important link to help release that joy we have inherently. It is from my experience of studying spiritual texts that I was introduced to accessing some of my inner joy. I remember one of the evening chants that I attended at the ashram. See the post on Yama and Discipline. I remember looking at a very long string of Sanskrit words for the Shiva Mahimnam Stotram. I was amazed that words could be so long and how was I going to pronounce them? As I attended more recitations of the chant, it began to give me an experience of joy. I could not explain the feeling. Just simply saying a more than mouthful of Sanskrit phrases could bring so much joy. It's like a revelation of "The kingdom of heaven is within".

Just looking at the words on the page could not reveal the depth of beginning to know my "Self" through this venue would reveal. Swadhyaya is a great tool of yoga to discover. There is so much more to say on this topic, however, I will pause here.

Until next time, stay tuned.

Bondage and Liberation (YS II - 25)

As human beings we perform actions on a daily basis that are either beneficial or detrimental to ourselves. Case in point is that we tend to have attachments to keeping things the same. You could call it our comfort zone. We like to go to the same places to eat, eat the same things, or watch television and/or movies. Or we stay in the same job for years because we are used to it. In today's society people want to keep the body from aging. So they might even have plastic surgery to "keep things the same". These actions of repetition could be referred to as a bondage.

On the other side of the coin, we don't perform the constant awareness of being fully present in each moment that we live. Somehow we do not become attached to just experiencing things as they are, especially without judgement. Like if I am rushing to a class I might not notice my peripheral surroundings as much as just focusing on the road to get to the destination. It is very easy to not "see and feel" as I drive along. Or I could give the example that I know that I am scheduled to teach a class at a certain time. Thoughts come in like:

• how will the class go?
• will there be many people in the class?
• I'm tired and I want to go home.

By becoming aware of this other side of the coin, I can take actions that can lead to liberation. Then when I am not rushing, taking it slower and make a conscious effort to just experience the drive or the walk fully, it feels liberating. Or what usually happens is when I am in the class I witness the flow of energy of the class and how it dictates the manner and what postures I teach. I further notice that I get energized doing the class and I share that enthusiasm with the class which is also liberating. It turns into me being fully present.

In Swami Satchidananda's commentary of The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali II- 25 "Without this ignorance, no such union occurs. This is the independence of the Seer" , he states "The cause of bandha and moksha (bondage and liberation) is our own minds. If we think we are bound, we are bound. If we think we are liberated, we are liberated......It is only when we transcend the mind that we are free from all these troubles."

So how do we transend the mind? We can begin to do so through the practice of yoga. Observing and using our bodies, mind and breath are valuable tools can start us on the road from bondage to liberation.

Stress and Rest

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal balance in some way. When faced with a threat, whether to our physical safety or emotional equilibrium, the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” response. We all know what this stress response feels like: heart pounding in the chest, muscles tensing up, breath coming faster, every sense on red alert. Stress is useful in our lives. However, in the times we are living in, this stress has become destructive in our lives as we live with it all the time. It is a major cause of ill health and death. We are doing too many things at a time 24/7.

Stress rhymes with the word rest. Actually they compliment each other. Without some sort of rest stress is not monitored. According to B.K.S. Iyengar, from 'Yoga The Path To Holistic Health', "Yoga minimizes the impact of stress on the individual.Yogic science believes that the regular practice of asanas and pranayama strengthens the nervous system and helps people face stressful situations positively."

Becoming conscious of how we breathe helps us to relieve stress. (See the link in next sentence for short video explaining the process.) It is found that slow diaphragmatic breathing (similar to the pranayama technique Deergha Swasam, or Three-Part Breathing, from the Integral Yoga tradition) is very helpful.

Iyengar points out that slow effortless exhalation during the practice of the postures brings serenity to body and the mind becomes still. This brings to mind the Yoga Sutras I-2 which defines yoga as stilling the mind modifications. So try it for yourself! BREATHE consciously and bring on that restful state of being.

Check out http://www.bometernally.com/ and stay tuned!

Taking Pictures

In the times we live in, everything is documented with pictures. Our phones have cameras, we look at moving pictures, paintings, artwork etc. The media bombards with pictures of people and places whether by television, movies or the Internet. "Celebrities" can't seem to go in public without being harassed by the paparazzi.

I, myself, love to take pictures. In fact I just had a dialogue with someone about it. It got me to think about what the pictures represented. I was looking at some pictures that were taken more than 20+ years ago of myself and family members. I realized that a picture freezes the moment in 'time'. It is amazing to see how the body was at the time - younger.

It is not surprising that we get 'stuck' in how we think. Our mind is filled with endless images. It's no wonder that we have a challenging time to keep the mind quiet or have a clear perspective on things. Then on the other hand, pictures can help us to study events, appreciate nature, can be very soothing to the eye of the soul.

What we have to remember is that "I" that is looking at these pictures, like the body changing, is unchanging. "We are not the body" and this is where yoga comes in as a handy tool to help us navigate through life. Through the discipline of practicing meditation, we can use discrimination as to what we look at and bring into our consciousness. Practicing asanas consciously can help us to move the body and mind from moment to moment. Studying the texts like Patanjali's Yoga Sutras helps us not to be "stuck" in the maze of images that bombard us. The practice can give a clearer, deeper picture of who we really are.

Thoughts As Eyeglasses - YS II - 33

In contemplating this post today I thought about eyeglasses or rather the lens of how we see. Think about your thoughts as eyeglasses in the sense that whatever thoughts you have is how you see your world. For example if your glasses are smudgy, you will not see clearly. Or if your glasses are colored yellow or red, then you will see those colors. If the eyeglasses are broken then your vision is even more impaired. In the same way if your thoughts are of a certain nature, it will affect your outlook. If happy thoughts it will affect how you see and do things. If you are having angry thoughts that will affect the different encounters you have during your day.

There is much value in staying positive with Pratipaksha Bhavana (a Sanskrit term)- When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite ones should be thought of. So in other words, change your glasses. If you cannot see out of the smudged one, clean it. In order to be aware of what thoughts you are wearing, the practice of dhyana or meditation comes in handy. Take the time to become mindful in order to see what thoughts are arising.

Become aware of the breath and to to learn how to sit and witness the process of the thoughts. This awareness can become our new lenses.

What is your Path?

What is your path in life? Which course, direction or roadway are you traveling? Everyone one is moving in some direction. Some are stuck at the crossroad not knowing which is the best way for them. So there is no movement, stagnation. Some people go down a path not to be alone so they follow others. Some just go down a path to keep it moving.

For some people singing is their path, others teaching, writing a book, having a family. For me my path is yoga. To me yoga is fascinating. Most people might think of physical postures or contortion when they hear the word yoga. There are different limbs of yoga. Yoga is the trunk of the tree and it has many branches. Major branches of yoga include Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga.[3][4][5] Raja Yoga, compiled in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

I find that the practice of yoga brings my attention to many topics like health, mental health , peace of mind, how to deal with stress, etc. People might be having symptoms that they believe are related to an illness when it might be a sign of an awakened kundalini. A definition of kun·da·lini as a noun is Hinduism a cosmic or divine energy in human beings located at the base of the spine and released upward by means of yogic techniques. Or another definition is the yogic life force that is held to lie coiled at the base of the spine until it is aroused and sent to the head to trigger enlightenment. According to Swami Muktananda in his book 'Where Are You Going?' he states "When the inner energy awakened and this spontaneous yoga begins, your entire body will be purified from within. Your awareness will be turned inside, and you will begin to see inner worlds."

I remember mentioning this topic in a class I was teaching one day. A student that I had not seen for a while came to me after the class. She told me she had stopped the yoga practice for a while because she had a couple of experiences that was a related to the kundalini awakening I had mentioned. She was relieved to find out what was happening to her.

So yoga for me has been a major path in my life that is leading me to a deeper awareness of my inner self, as well as outer self. It is definitely not boring and is full of revelations to waking up in this seemingly complicated world of illusions.

Your Body is a Reflection

Most people are not aware that when we look at them we actually can see their thoughts. It is reflected in the body, mind and spirit. The word reflection can be defined as the production of an image by or as if by a mirror; to show.

Are you attracted to people who seem to radiate energy and appear vibrate? Are you repelled or don't seem to notice people whose energy is low? Looking at their body language, even unconsciously on our part, we can see the reflection of their thoughts and habits.

The other day I had a person in my chair yoga class that looked dull. Her muscles were flaccid and her energy was low. At the end of the class she stated that she did not realize certain things about her body until completing the class. Frequently I have observed that people ignore their posture, their breath, their feet, whether they are focused or not, etc.

There are students who have the appearance of a frown all the time. Some of them don't notice it until it is pointed out to them. I had a young lady in my class recently who appeared angry. We talked after class and she did say she was under some stress. She also commented that other people have told her the same thing about looking angry. I told her to lighten up, smile more often and to practice the asanas. When I saw her the following week, she appeared lighter and was smiling more and frowning less.

This is why practicing yoga postures are valuable. It helps one to wake up to their body. They start to become more aware. Then the awareness, the practice starts to be reflected in the body. You can verbally say you are practicing, however if you are not it will be reflected in your body's appearance. The body does not lie.

Did you have your Cup today?

Most people drink a cup of coffee in the morning to wake up! Personally that is not my cup of tea. My caffeine in the morning is a "cup of music"! I use my chanting to uplift me! I use it throughout the day. It is a great boost to me and keeps me positive.

Check out Tina Turner's take about chanting. Her explanation is great as to how it is part of her life, just like one needs food for energy, shelter over our heads as well as clothes to wear. All of these items are neccessities.

As I was writing this, the realization came to me that everything on this plane, on the planet earth needs some kind of boost. And that boost is essential. I wrote about this earlier in the post on tune up. The plants need sunlight and water or it will die. As a seed it won't sprout. Babies , human beings, pets all need that nurturing contact. These forms can be likened to a cup of coffee. Did you have your cup today?

It's all about Energy!

I'm sure you have either stated at sometime or other that you don't have any energy. Or that your energy is low. Then at the same time on the other end of the spectrum you might have said that you are full of energy, or that you are bursting with energy. As a human being we have to have the energy to function in our life. If we didn't have that energy we could not walk, eat, take care of our bodies, much less go to school or work. In other words we could not live.

If you look up the word energy as a noun it is defined as: 1. capacity of intense activity; vigour. 2. intensity or vitality of action or expression; forcefulness. These definitions will in suffice for now. Check out the short video clip (3:19)on Energy that is, is energy which says we are energy like everything else is.

So what does energy have to do with yoga? According to B.K.S. Iyengar in Yoga the Path to Holistic Health 'Yoga generates energy and does not dissipate it.' He also says that 'When practicing yoga...' ; 'after such stimulating exercise, a sense of rejuvenation and a fresh surge of energy follow.' Prana is a Sanskrit word for breath, the vital life force, energy. In the Traditional Chinese culture Qi (pronounced ' chee') is commonly translated as " energy flow".

Whether one refers to energy as prana or qi, we want to keep our energy up and free flowing. When our energy is low it can affect our immune system. Low energy is also found in disease scenarios and depression. It is up to us to practice the asanas (physical postures), in addition to using the many tools we have within us, to prevent and or remove the obstructions which impede the flow of energy. By using these tools we can keep our being in optimum condition and health . We can accomplish more in our lives and be happy too.

Remember, it is all about the energy!

Staying Positive - YS II - 33

The statement 'Staying Positive' is easier said than done. Being aware of the news forecasts everyday telling us that people are losing their jobs and houses, rents are going up, the stock market is going up and down, morality declining. If one studies yogic terms in relation to the times we are living in, it is referred to as Kali Yuga. The energy of all these events affects us.

So this is where I talk about the use and the study of yoga. In book 2 of the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali, line 33 it is stated'Vitarka Badhane Pratipaksha Bhavanam'. The translation is When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite(positive) ones should be thought of. In the commentary section by Swami Satchidananda on this text, he states that "Pantanjali gives us a very nice clue on how to control the mind and obstruct thoughts we don't want. The best way , he says, is to invite opposite thoughts." Satchidananda goes on to illustrate situations ie. in a marriage; reading something inspiring, meeting a special person, or simply leaving the environment!
He also talks about thinking about the "after-effect" if one continues to let the negative thought or action continue, such as how the anger or negativity will affect you as well as others. I remember being impressed learning this sutra.

This made me think of when my children were smaller and one day we were walking in the street. I had one child in the stroller and the other walking with me. As we continued down the block, we were approaching a couple in a very loud argument with on-lookers present. I remember feeling very agitated as we got nearer and it was not convenient to cross the street. I then started to silently repeat my mantra (chanting, prayer) as I passed these people. It was after I had gotten further down the street that I realized how that focus, that shift of thought had somehow shielded me from the negativity I had just navigated through to pass them. It was amazing! I never forgot that experience. So of course the practice of pratipaksha bhavana - replacing negative thoughts with positive ones has become one of my tools that I carry.

So just take a deep breath which will help you to start observing quickly which way you can change your situation and stay positive.

Repetition vs. Repetition

A major reason the we are not in the present moment is because of repetitive habits of letting the mind wander here and there. Repetition is The act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated.

Have you tried to stay in the present moment? You might wonder what does that mean? Think about it.

• Have you attempted to watch and be fully conscious of everything that you do right now without other thoughts of the past or the future? Like right now you are reading this.
• Are you fully present?
• Are you the type of person who cuts off the other person in a conversation? Do you fully listen to what they are saying, or were you thinking about what to say in response to them before they were finished?
• Are you repeatedly unconscious of your everyday actions like how you sit, breathe, carry your posture?

Let's say for example you are washing the dishes. Are you fully present with the dishes? Are you looking at the dishes, noticing if they are getting clean, feeling the water and the soap . Or are you going through the motions of washing but your mind is someplace else? This process happens through repetition. Or maybe you are at the gym working out on the treadmill. Are you looking at a tv screen, reading a magazine, or listening to your ipod? Are you fully alert on that machine looking at your pace, how you are breathing or noticing your heart rate?

'Yogas citta vritti nirodhah ' sutra 1.2 defines yoga as when one has restrained or stilled the fluctuations of the mind. It is interesting to note that even doing this process of practicing yoga, whether the physical postures, concentration, meditation or chanting requires repetition.

Getting back to being present in the moment, it is paradoxical that repetition can be viewed as a practice to change the unconscious repetition that happens on daily basis. Repetition can be viewed as positive or negative depending on the circumstances. Of course we do need the repetition process for walking, exercising the body, breathing, keeping our hearts beating. But aside from those functions, which repetition are you doing or what repetition is doing you? What type of pattern is being created in your life? What kind of vibration is emanating from you?

Tune Up

I've been searching for a title to this post for a couple of days. I knew what I wanted to talk about, but couldn't quite put a title to it. At first I thought of a 'pick me up' or a 'quick fix' as appropriate. However, the title 'tune up' described more accurately my thoughts. When one hears of a tune up, one would think of a car tune up or adjusting a machine. A few definitions of tune up when used as a verb could be to adjust a (a musical instrument) to a particular pitch ; to adjust the engine of a car, etc., to improve its performance a car, or adjusting a machine. If one looks under the Thesaurus, words like adjust, correct, tweak, fine tune are given. You might wonder does a tune up relate to always be om or to yoga, or to you?

Sometimes when I am teaching a class, I tell my students that practicing the yoga postures, or any aspect of yoga is like tuning up your body, your vehicle, your instrument. We all need tune ups in the sense that just like a car won't run at its optimum or its best unless the oil is changed; the air filter is clean; new spark plugs. If you really think about it, everyday people are plugged into ipods, cds, the radio listening to their favorite songs or vocal artists. People use songs and music to tune up how they 'feel'.

So for me a great tool yoga to use for a tune up is chanting! One of the definitions of chanting from the Wikipedia is (from Old French chanter[1]) is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of notes to highly complex musical structures, often including a great deal of repetition of musical subphrases...

Chanting is magical. You can do it alone by yourself out loud or internally or with a group of people. My experience is that it is magnificient if one really studies and experiences it! Like the other day, I put on a chant by Alice Coltrane - Turiyasangitananda with a choir. It was off the hook (great)! I had not heard it in a long time and I was chanting, singing with the cd. From there I was singing in the shower, chanting driving to teach a class. It put me in such a great mood! It gave me a tune up!

These days listening to the news constantly can be a downer. For me chanting counteracts those effects by helping me to be focused and feeling great in the present moment! As a yoga instructor I use music that is meditative, calming or chanting in my classes. A lot of my students love it as well. This practice keeps me enthusiastic as well. It's magical in that there is no need to take a pill, drugs or a drink of alcohol. I remembered being in a group chant a long time ago and my spiritual teacher said 'if you are tired CHANT, if you feel down CHANT!'. I was tired at the time I went to the chant. I felt the tiredness leave me. I felt renewed, more energetic and happy! The chant gave me a great adjustment! It was an estatic experience.

WARNING: This tool can lead you to your inner joy in no time! If you don't believe try it for youself. Investigate for your self. Go inside your tool box (inside yourself) and use your voice to uplift yourself. It's always available and it is FREE!.

Staying Connected

"Staying connected "could mean anything these days from:

• being on your cell phone
• plugging in your appliance
• sending a text message
• to hugging and kissing
• going to events together like meetings
• tunning in to your favorite show
  

I believe you get my gist here. The word connected means joined or linked together; plugged in. Staying connected to thoughts; relationships; situations in your life; your bliss in these times that we live is easier said than done. There are so many distractions. Again this is where your tools come into play.

The other day, someone said something to me out of character. The person did not know me and was upset about something I said to her when she interrupted a yoga class I was teaching. I was totally surprised and attempted to explain the etiquette of the class. The person got very heated and I saw it was of no use to go any further with an explanantion. I also witnessed my heart had started to beat faster. I walked away telling myself that this incident was not going to upset my day. I proceeded to take deep breaths and go to my next yoga class.

For me practicing yoga on a regular basis helps me to stay connected; more centered. I notice that as I get involved with the alignment of the asanas, the physical postures, my mind becomes more focused on how the different parts of my body are moving. I become more aware of how my breathing affects the posture. Then I become aware of how 'I' feel when everything is aligned. I can feel the flow of energy in the body and the position begins to become effortless. There is even a type of euphoria during and after the practice. The mind becomes still. There becomes more of an awareness of a free flow of energy and an expansive feeling in my body. I become joined to that higher power or consciousness within. As stated in book one of the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali 'YOGAS CITTA VRTTI NIRODHAH - Yoga is the restraint of fluctuations of the mind'. That state consciousness stays with me as I continue in my day and gives me peace as well as enthusiasm about life. If I was feeling down or out of sorts before the practice, it dissipates naturally. So the incident earlier in the day did not have any power of 'ruining my day'. I also looked at that person as showing me where my center was. It was a reminder to be more vigilant in the moment.

So for me to stay connected I have to continually practice and use my tools; become a conduit so to speak, as I to strive to always be om.

Yama and Discipline

Yama is a sanskrit word which has many meanings in different contexts. It could mean restraint and discipline which is what I am referring to here. Yama is the first limb of yoga as defined in the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali It explains the codes of ethical behavior to be looked at and followed daily. Yama has five principles which I will go into another time.

Then there is the word discipline which has various meanings. For most of us, according to our perspective, it could have negative and or positive connotations. The discipline I am referring to is regularity; following a certain order. Discipline is important in practicing the many aspects of yoga. In fact it is the key in mastering yoga.

I remember many years ago, when I first stayed at an ashram for a couple of weeks. An ashram is an abode of spiritual teacher; a place for disciplined community living. There was a certain time to get up, to do spiritual practices- like meditation, chanting, seva (selfless service), eating and going to bed. It was very new to me. Learning to sit in a crossed leg posture with lots of other people, eating in a huge dining room, taking turns using the restrooms. It was surprising with so many people living together that everything could go so smoothly. Everyone followed the schedule.

When I finally came home, I noticed that I missed the schedule, the regularity that I had become accustomed to for those two weeks. That was surprising to me. It made me realize that yama, discipline could actually be a positive thing. It was through the discipline that things actually became easier. Previously I felt that I did not like discipline and thought that doing things when I wanted to was freedom. But ironically in being undisciplined things are actually harder and erratic.

Through the years of practicing yoga, whether it be the asanas (physical postures), the meditation, the contemplation of life, I have come to see the value in yama and how it applies to everyday life. Looking at nature like the sunrise and sunset; the waxing and waning of the moon; the change of seasons it becomes obvious that there is a certain discipline on a grander scale. And it is that discipline, that yama that allows us to always be om, to be at peace and present in our live.

Distractions and Dharana

There are so many distractions today in our lives. Cell phones, ipods, the television, the internet, loud sounds from the airplanes, buses and trains. Especially living in the city. If you happen to live in the surburbs and the country, it might be a little quieter outside, but there still all the gadgets we have to keep us distracted. Distractions can be defined as inattentiveness, misdirection, confusedness.

Many people are stressed out due to the many distractions on a daily basis. This is why we do not experience constantly being present or at peace with ourselves. It becomes too much when there is no mindfulness. So this is where a tool comes into play here. In order to survive the many distractions we need dharana. Dharana is a sanskrit word, which basically means concentration or focus in one direction. Dharana is the sixth limb of yoga as defined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali I will delve into this work periodically in future posts.

So getting back to the tools we have, concentration on specific tasks and or object can help us with the many distractions in our modern life. And the best way to deal with distractions is to begin to practice meditation or dhyana. Dhyana is an essential part of practicing asanas (yogic postures). Dhyana is essential to every day life.

To be continued...

Practice as a Tool YS I - 1, YS I - 2

Practice is a tool we all utilize it to some degree everyday of our lives. We might not readily acknowledge or view the word practice as tool .

Some definitions of practice are : 'Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.' Another definition is 'Practice (learning method), a method of learning by repetition'. Other examples of our 'habitual performance' or practice used everyday are brushing our teeth, walking, breathing, thinking, disagreeing, being fearful, arguing, being lazy, being a workaholic, cooking, drawing, playing an instrument etc.

The word practice can pertain to positive and negative habits in our life, or as two sides of the same coin. So in this post I am focusing on practice as a tool of yoga. So now I will refer to the word sutra : (Sanskrit) "Thread." An aphoristic verse; the literary style consisting of such maxims. From 500 bce, this style was widely adopted by Indian philosophical systems and eventually employed in works on law, grammar, medicine, poetry, crafts, etc. Each sutra is often accompanied by a commentary called bhashya and sometimes subcommentary called tika, vyakhyana or tippani.

In the Yoga Sutras (YS) of Pantanjali- YS I-1 is ATHA YOGAANUSAASANAM

It means " Now the exposition of Yoga is being made" as translated and commented on by Swami Satchidananda . In his commentary, he says we cannot reach the goal (yoga) by mere words alone. Without practice, nothing can be achieved.

The second YS I-2. YOGAS CITTA VRTTI NIRODHAH

The meaning here is "The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga". Basically what is being said here is if the restraint of the mental chatter is achieved, or if the mind becomes quiet, the goal of yoga would be obtained. In a nutshell, it goes back to the word practice.

So when we are having a "bad "day, when things are not going the way we want, instead of letting it sap our energy, or making us unhappy, we need to practice being present. We can start paying attention to our breath. We can stretch our bodies consciously. We can practice mindfulness. We can get in the habit of using this tool day by day, until it becomes automatic and natural. And it is a tool that is accessible all the time.

Yoga As a Tool

I wrote in my journal this morning that I am grateful for my love of yoga. I am grateful for the practice of the asanas (physical postures) as a tool. It is in the practice of the asanas that the laziness, stiffness and the feeling or thought of not wanting to do things fall away. Practicing backbends, headstands, handstands, arm balances are invigorating! Just doing the Surya Namaskar (Salutations to the Sun) wakes you up and gives me enthusiasm! It is so simple to rejuevenate oneself through the physical postures of yoga.

It is also in the practice of teaching yoga that I learn alot as well. Like the other day while I was teaching a yoga class and instructing them to breath fully and fill their lungs like balloons, I was struck with a profound thought. To be aware of their breathing helps to keep them in the present moment. And as we use balloons to celebrate, in the same way by expanding our lungs (as balloons) we too celebrate the present which is the biggest party there is - life!

Again yoga to me is a great tool in everyday life and helps me to always be om! Start practicing yoga today and see for your self.

Until next time

Gratitude

Yesterday I spoke about the idea of tools we have inside of us. Gratitude can be viewed as another great tool we have within us. I am so grateful to the Divine Creator. I have found that being grateful connects me to 'Always Be Om'. With gratitude my heart opens up. Gratitude is like a magnet that draws even more positive things into your life.

I was moved by the beauty of the trees as I drove along the Bronx River Parkway. It was so amazing to see the glorious colors and the light the leaves emanate. When I look at the trees in the fall I veiw it as an analogy of how we should be, or can be. That as we grow, mature, like the trees that become resplendent in color, the leaves fall away and become bare, the tree continues to live. And in the same way the different phases of our lives are like the changing leaves, like the waxing and waning of the moon, the ebb and flow of the tides. We should be like that (the trees, or nature) knowing that we are still alive and not get attached the leaves in wanting them to stay in full bloom forever.

Later on in the day with a friend, I had the opportunity to do some yoga postures in the park. It felt so good to be among the beautiful, colorful trees. I could literally feel the light from the leaves of the trees. It again brought up that feeling of gratitude for the divine beauty. If you don't believe me , try it for yourself.

Until next time, start to cultivate gratitude as a useful tool inside of you to keep you always being present. Always be Om.

Tools that Keep Us Centered

Yesterday I spoke about chanting as a tool that keeps me centered. One of the definitions for the word tool is a thing made to help people do work. Another definition is a device that is used to facilitate or perform manual or mechanical work. The latter definition is more suited for this post on tools.
I find I (we) need a tool to stay centered. That centering I call an anchor - a source of security or stability- in life. If there is no anchor one just drifts. We are like ships on the sea and if there is no course of action, no plan, we just wonder here and there with no real purpose or destination. Just like one needs the sun, or light to see, one must have a plan, a goal or one will go nowhere.

Just as there are many tools that one can carry on a tool belt or a tool box, there are many tools that we possess inside of us. For me practicing yoga helps one to access those tools that we don't easily know about as our attention is always directed outside ourselves on material objects. In that myriad of objects bombarding us, we need to access those inner tools to anchor and guide us.

Stay tuned. You can go to http://www.bometernally.com/ and read up on yoga