Mantra

Let me just start out by saying, I cannot sing.


Okay, that is a complete lie. Let's put it this way: I tell myself that I "cannot" sing, because I'm not good at it and who wants to do anything they're not good at, right?


Right? A little habit I have that doesn't really serve me so well is my habit of avoiding things that I do not excel at. As fabulously ego-enlarging it was to only do things that I could do well, so that I would always appear on top of things and recieve praise, there is just one (in the ballpark of one) problem with this model. Aside from the trouble of my ego becoming terribly bloated and swollen, I also was not learning anything new. I was stagnant because I would not put myself out there and risk failure. The upside was that I DID NOT fail-ever. Unfortunately, I did not succeed either.


So, when my yoga instructor Syl Carson introduced us to mantra and chanting, I effectively closed my throat and refused to open it. In public. But one mantra in particular got stuck in my head and I found myself singing it in the car, naturally in the amazing accoustics of the shower, while vaccuuming and anytime that I thought no one could hear me.


This particular mantra goes as follows:
"Om Namah Shivaya"


There is no direct translation of this mantra. There are several ways of looking at it:

"Om and salutations to that which I am capable of becoming."


It is an invokation of God, calling God into your life and at the same time, moving toward the Lord. Therefore, it is a bowing to the Divinity outside of oneself and to the divinity and potential for divinity that is inside of oneself.


There are many mantras, with many meanings. I think of mantra and chanting as singing prayer and praises. It is devotion out loud.

The progression from my refusal to EVER sing or even chant in public to singing mantras and kirtan in front of groups of yoga students was so slow that I didn't even know it was happening. I just knew that it felt so good.

My very important busy life

Typically, I am very busy. My life is filled past the brim with deeply important things to fill every moment of my days. I am so busy, in fact, that if an entire day stretches before me, requiring nothing of me, I will make up errands to run. I will suddenly decide that it is absolutely imperative that I read the entire encyclopedia, run ten miles, get a massage to pamper myself, eat a granola bar and stand on my head for at least five minutes while chanting "Om Shanti." If I fail to complete any of these tasks, I will berate myself incessantly.
Then it occurs to me, "Wait, I didn't have to do ANY of that stuff!"

Ah. The things we do to avoid just sitting with ourselves.

gobodhiyoga.com

Blinded By Our Own Light

I believe we don't dare to experience ourselves as profound and beautiful, so we fall in love. Because through their eyes, we can begin to gaze upon our own beauty. It gives us a way to own up to our divine nature.

gobodhiyoga.com

Extended Hand to Big Toe Posture: How To

1. Stand in Mountain Pose, or Tadasana with the feet firmly grounded. The heel of the foot should be directly behind the second and third toes.

2. Bending the right knee, lift the right leg straight up towards the torso.

3. Hold on to your right big toe with your right hand.

4. Slowly extend the right leg out to your right side and straighten the leg as much as possible. Work on opening the hips.

5. Stretch the leg upwards. You may extend the right arm out to the side for balance, or leave it straight at your side.

6. To come out, bend the knee and slowly lower the foot.

7. Repeat on the other side.

gobodhiyoga.com

How To: Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

Dhanurasana, or Full Boat Pose, the Bodhi Yoga way provides a beneficial release in the shoulders. It strengthens the back, aids in digestion, improves posture, stimulates the thyroid and improves liver and kidney function.

1. Lie on your belly with your hip bones in the palms of the hands.

2. Bend the feet in towards the behind.

3. Stretch the arms back to grasp the feet, ankles or shins.

4. Use the strength of your core and quads to lift the head off of the ground.

5. As you inhale, raise the trunk and thighs. Stretch the shoulder blades back. The knees should be in line with the hips.

6. To work in the posture, reach the feet upwards. Allow the pull of the feet to lift the torso higher.

7. Release the legs and lower the body to the floor to come out.

Books Every Yogi Should Read

1. "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran
This beautiful book is one flowing song musing on a variety of subjects ranging from work to crime and punishment.
"Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed.
For love is sufficient unto love.
...Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself."

2. "Yoga: the Iyengar Way" by Silva, Mira and Shyam Mehta
While it is best to seek to learn from a guru, you could essentially teach yourself yoga with this comprehensive guide. This was recommended to me by my guru.

3. "Power Versus Force" by Doctor David Hawkins
A life philosophy on why things are the way they are and how to change the world. He believes that everything can be measured on a scale of conciousness. Dr. Hawkins also teaches techniques for muscle testing.

How To: Ustrasana or Camel Pose

Ustrasana, the Bodhi Yoga way, opens the heart.
Before attempting Ustrasana, one should already be comfortable in child's pose and in kneeling.

1. Begin by kneeling with the thighs vertical and the knees hip width apart. Inhale and lengthen through the spine and neck.
2. Make fists with your hands and place them on your back in the hip joint. Press your hips slightly forward and exhale as you slowly arch backwards. Slowly stretch as you feel the extension growing from the pelvis to the ribs to the sternum.
3. Reach the hands down to the heels and stretch the head fully back. Open through the chest. Flex the thighs as though you were trying to rip your mat in two with your knees. The tops of your feet should be pressing firmly into the mat, grounding you.
4. To come out, you may slowly roll up, shrugging the shoulders to protect the neck. You may also drop back into child's pose.