More Then Simple Reflection

Meditation has become an increasingly valuable tool in managing my day. Balancing out my chakras has opened my horizons to just how powerful that this practice is. My thoughts are more clear, my day less stressful, and my goals seem that much more within reach; as if I can see the path ahead of me, the long stretching expanses and the obstacles that might arise along the way. Within my mind's eye I have become more alert, stronger, and self-assured. During my isochronic tone meditation, I started at the root chakra and could imagine the resonating red ball of energy stemming right from the base of my spinal column and radiating down to my toes. I could feel the energy stored there growing from the faint red that it used to be to a now larger glowing orb of light. I then moved to my sacral chakra region and the color orange sprung immediately to mind this time and filled my lower belly with it's soft brightness spinning in clockwise orientation. From there I progressed to the beaming lemon yellow that sat right between the upper swell of my ribs and spun around it's sunny rays showing even on the outside of my torso. At this point my body began to awaken and energize. As I had just completed an hour long session of Rodney Yee's Power Yoga, I really felt alive. As my mind accessed my heart chakra the whirl of color changed to a vibrant jungle green and in the center the vulnerable soft pink circle turning at the same speed clockwise. At each step as I progressed from chakra to chakra I would envision a white healing light that to me represented divinity, enclose each color completely and then cross it to bind it together with two bands of white energy. On to the throat chakra, a shade of turquoise turning slow and then faster and faster as it gained strength to open.Then I moved to the third eye, that confident dark hue of indigo swirling like a mysterious sea right in the middle of my forehead. Finally the crown chakra greeted my psyche strongly with vivid impressions of violet that intensified as I focused in on them. Then I saw all my chakras as spinning in harmony from bottom to top, and bathed them hot-white healing and crossed my body with that healing from top to bottom. That was today's meditation. I took the concepts from the book The Book of Chakras: Discover the Hidden Forces Within You by Ambika Wauters, and modified them to fit my own style of reflection. I received a tip from a close friend to not visually spin your chakras from top to bottom but actually across from let to right, and I find that the colors move more fully in their perspective places. It's a beautiful thing to know that your mind can transport you to an eternal destination of rest and regeneration that has no ticket fare. Within it you can train a place of sanctuary that is both priceless and rare. In an experience that is unique each time I try it I've found an immensely satisfying treasure if only for 15 minutes. Peace.

Photo Credits: Sura Nualpradid

Still Going...

Today I experienced unbelievable joy in just the simplicity of my practice. I'm getting into the rhythm of things and my practice is beginning to feel second nature to me. Kundalini was a challenge as always, but I seemed to welcome it even more this time. With each breathe and exercise a little bit more of the puzzle that is transcendence - me becoming more than I am, is being peeled way one session at a time. My energy level is through the roof, and it's no wonder with all the meditation and chakra work I've been doing. Who knew that this process would not only be enriching, and enlightening, but could also be a whole lot of fun. I laugh at myself and my weaknesses and failings each yoga practice, because at the end of the day that's all you can do. And then you stand up again and keep the faith in yourself. Like Gurmukh says "Keep it going...little bit more. Even when it gets hard to do, that is exactly where you wanna be. You want it to get hard. You want it to get challenging. And then you go through that challenge to what we call the other side. You go to your edge. You pass you edge.And in it you're able to live in that space in your life. You know what the going gets rough, you'll be able to keep up." Day 12 for me and I'm still going strong. Somewhere between Siddhasana and Sat Nam I've figured out that this is way more then just a 30 day test for me. I've found a way of being that will far outlast this month, this year, and this lifetime.

Photo Credits: Idea go

Meditations On Success

Today's lesson is that everyday is brand new and full of potential. With my yoga practice today I'm just having fun. I practiced for about 30 minutes; first with Rodney Yee's AB's Yoga For Beginners and lastly I just did 10 minutes of basic sun salutations to limber and warm up my body a bit more. Then I dedicated the remaining 30 minutes of practice time to meditation. 15 Mins of isochronic meditation was followed by Kundalini Fire Breathing techniques, and then the binaural meditation below. EFT tapping on my chakra points cleared away any negative energy still stuck within. The result is that I am moving ahead into the day with a bright smile on my face. After yesterday's chakra breakthrough I'll have to admit I feel pretty invincible. So I'm stopping for today, remembering to balance both on the mat and in life, and not to try too hard. I'm just going to bask in my success of the moment and let the joy from this accomplishment take me through clear until the sun sets. My horoscope today read, "Sagittarius, let other people do the driving while you sit back and enjoy the ride." I'm going to follow that advice for a time and just remain secure in the knowledge that each day I am becoming...more.

Photo Credits: Africa

Growing Pains

In life you trip, you fall down, you get back up. Well I didn't exactly fall down; tremble a little bit on a shaky pose maybe. This yoga practice I noticed a lot of things, like for instance, deep breathing isn't a trifling matter. The meditations seemed to be more taxing then the physical movements during today's practice. I could actually feel pain, but it wasn't anything tangible. Still it was there. Perhaps some bits of trapped negative energy from my many gloomy childhood memories, or maybe it was an old pre-programed thought process that needed to leave my body and mind. Whatever it was, it was reaching out for nourishment. I really had to pace myself during my Kundalini. I was definitely pushing my self-imposed boundaries today. I'm right at the edge of a precipice that I'll admit feels a little daunting. I can tell I'm headed for a breakthrough. I could actually feel my heart chakra opening up. It's an unusual sensation. I'm sure for everybody, releasing the holds on their chakras is a different experience. For me it was almost as if in the center of my chest there was this tired spot.And as I stretched further, and let healing light into it, it was expanding, being pried open just a bit more like a slow yawn. This is what it would feel like if my heart could yawn. When I think about it I guess my heart has went through a lot to make it weary. It's been hurt, broken, sad, confused, joyous, disillusioned, inspired, exercised, on various diets, discouraged, loved, warm, cold as ice, and a myriad other conditions. It's also been serving my body for 33 years of life, and I haven't always given it the pampering it deserves. So yeah it's a tired heart. It's entitled to a little TLC, a little space to sit back and say 'now I can just relax and let go'. Kundalini allowed me to do that today for which I'm eternally and divinely grateful. Each day yoga reminds me to be thankful for the little things and to cherish the gifts that I have right now, despite the hard times. This too is part of healing.

Slow And Steady...

Yoga, being the something like an extended marathon while other western exercises are sprints, has made me exercise patience. But as I breathe into each pose, I know that the long-term benefits are well worth it. Today I split up my workout into two parts. I used Comcast On Demand with their handy programs on Exercise TV. I've gotta love Tom Morley for taking yoga a bit out of it's breathe and chant routine to create Yoga For Abs. Jennifer Galardi's Zen In Your Den, rounded out the end of my 30 minute practice session with a more standard repertoire of movements. My focus today was more on meditation and Ho'oponopono though. Every challenge throughout the day was met with this mantra. 'I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.' I also experimented with manifestation methods. My favorite videos to this end are at www.visionboard.org.au. I love the one on Courage, it's perfect for when you are faced with an obstacle to your goals. Practicing the Kundalini 'Fire Breath' meditation pushed harder and harder against my willpower. It's amazing how just the art of breathing can try your endurance. The key word for today is 'exploration'. I sought to test my body and mind's limits, which as far as I can tell are endless. I'll keep simply looking ahead in Warrior 1 pose; standing strong and tall. I'm stretching, breathing with each arm opposing, chest jutted out proudly, fingers trembling a bit from the effort. Ahhh... There it is, just on the horizon. Nirvana.

Taming The Serpent With Kundalini Yoga

I feel a breathe of fresh air flowing through my entire spirit! Day 8. Outside there is a sunny and clear blue sky. It matches my optimism and the level of my enthusiasm to be present and awake with what I am bringing to this morning. I got an early start at 6:15 am with Kundalini Yoga With Gurmukh. Her yoga practice is absolutely incredible! Kundalini literally means "the coiled" or "Serpent Power". It challenges you to look beyond the part of yourself you thought wasn't capable, and see into the realm of life where everything is possible and your abilities are boundless. Imagine that the energy beginning at the base of your spine where the root chakra is located is spiraling up all the way to your crown chakra like a snaking cord. Kundalini explores the energetic mind-body-soul healing within you. This is no a yoga session for the faint of heart. Even so, anyone can participate if they are mindful of what their body is telling them. Gurmukh will push you to stop contemplating your limits and just do. Her soul is calm and her spirit wild as she executes a series of movements that awaken your inner child with abandon. You feel playful, light-hearted, yet grounded. Gurmukh says, "the most important thing to do each day is sweat and laugh." I can acknowledge the truth of her words as she guides me through a series of active poses. I certainly found myself hilarious while performing this unorthodox method of yoga. At times my body protested to the verge of giving up, but I did as Gurmukh said and worked through the difficulty to surpass myself. Towards the end of the practice I was panting heavily, but energized, awesomely alive and ready for the peaceful meditation  to the resonating sound of a gong which closed out the session The word for the day is 'perseverance', and it is really paying off in spades! To learn more about Gurmukh, watch the 'Visual Inspiration For The Day' below the postings, or visit her yoga studio The Golden Bridge's website.

3 More Weeks Of Yoga Challenge And Beyond...

My key word today is consistency. I've made it through an entire week of bends,twists, and adjustments to my body and posture. These last 7 days have been very eventful. They have changed the way I look at my personal goals, my body, my physical and mental health and my spirituality. My days are now less stressful, more focused, and by body feels at ease and beautiful within itself. I can't imagine how I ever let my yoga practice go astray. Even when I was practicing regularly before, my sessions were only 3-4 times a week, an adjunct to my "real" exercises such as the treadmill or the elliptical. Now I'm practicing about 1 hour of yoga per day, and I'm going to use my cardio as a 30 minute addition. I think I'm going to rediscover Billy Blanks. I've used his Focus Series - Abs & Glutes because even thought it's a VHS, it's arguably one of the best workouts I've ever done that targets the common problem areas of waist to hips. Tae Bo is always a tried, true and effective cardio routine that gives me endurance and burns a lot of calories. I will combine traditional training with yoga for even more results. I know that even after this month is over, I will continue my daily 60 minutes of mat time. I honestly don't remember how I used to get by without it. 20 minutes of chakra meditation each day goes a long way toward balancing out my body's systems and will only increase my mental and spiritual awareness. I couldn't be more pleased with the path I've chosen. My soul is smiling right now. The path ahead only becomes clearer and clearer with each passing sunset.