Yoga for Me and Yoga for you!

Yoga for Me and Yoga for you!

I LOVE YOGA!!!!
For me it is a journey, and I'm still right at the beginning...I feel.  I have the yoga adventure of a lifetime laid out in front of me.  I can't wait to explore, to find new asanas, practises, styles, philosophy, culture, meditations and mantras, and much more......every day for years to come. 

Yoga is a way of life (in it's fullest sense), a blended system of education for the mind, body, and spirit.  This way of life was perfected thousands of years ago, but is still as relevant today, as it was back then.  It is a tool, a practical aid, so therefore is not religious and can be practised by all people, regardless of their beliefs.  Yoga is union with all.

I practise Hatha Yoga once a week at class; I am lucky to have an amazing teacher who is very passionate about all things yoga.  From our class teachings, I then practise every day...at first it was just the asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques), then I started wanting to find out more about the philosophy.  Very soon after that I wanted to start bringing in other aspects too, such as meditation, and more recently, mantra. 

Hatha Yoga is a form of Raja Yoga....this is a system based on concentration and control of the mind. Healthy living, good morals and steady practise of poses and breath regulation are advocated, to achieve the understanding to tap into the latent abilities and energy that we do not use, that lay dormant in every one of us. 
Raja Yoga is known for observing 'The Eight Steps of Yoga', compiled by Patanjali over a thousand years ago.  It is known as the Yoga Sutras, and helps us to gain control of the inner workings of our minds.   These eight steps are -

1) Yamas (abstentions) -  non-violence, truth, non-stealing, chastity/moderation & non-covetousness.

2) Niyamas (observances) - purity, contentment, discipline/self-discipline, study, & devotion to god/source of all creation.

3) Asanas - Steady poses.

4) Pranayama - Control of vital energy.

5) Pratyahara - Withdrawal of senses.

6) Dharana - Concentration of the mind.

7) Dhyana - Meditation.

8) Samadhi - The super-conscious state.

There are different paths through yoga too, not just Raja.   There is also Karma Yoga (selfless service), Jnana Yoga (philosophical path), and Bhakti (devotional path); there are as many different paths of yoga, for as many different people.  Yoga is as diverse as the humans that practise it.

Of course, it's not to everyones liking to get involved at a deep level, and  many practise just the asanas and eat healthy, just for the benefits to the body alone. It's commonly understood that our body's are a vehicle for the mind and soul, so therefore it is important to look after it. 

Since taking up yoga, I've thought a lot about my lifestyle, and my thought processes....it's made me think more about a lot of things!!!!    My diet....I'm still trying to integrate more raw food into it and keep myself hydrated.   My thoughts.....trying to keep them positive, rather than allowing the negative ones to creep in.   Making sure that I get exercise,  practise the asanas, and get enough sleep too.  Relaxation....making sure that I meditate regularly and balance my activities, so I'm not on the go all the time. 
I know that I have a normal life enough western world life i.e.........fast paced, work, bills, etc......and also I'm no super bendy yogini, that lives off juices, and meditates in my very own ashram.  My way is integration of the two,  a blending of both worlds....it is my very own personal path, and it is a path that I am loving........for it's helping me learn about life and also myself. 
Love, life.....live yoga X

Moon - Waxing Crescent 41%

Yoga - Tadasana, Marjaryasana - Bitilasana - Adho Mukha Svanasana - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, Uttanasana, Virahadrasana Eka, Dvi & Tri, Goddess Sequence, Vasisthasana, trying my best at Hanamanasana, Janu Sirsasana, Baddhakonasana, Gomukhasana, Prayer Twist, Kneeling Mudra, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama & Mantra.

Card Message - Queen of Cups (Queens - creativity, compassion, awareness and nurturing) & (cups - Water, feeling, emotion and heart)
May signify you, your mother, a therapist, or a woman that inspires love in you, stirs the depths of your emotional nature.  The profession of acting or the world of theatre and film.  Work in the field of relationship counselling and healing.

17th January - Felicitas
A day sacred to the Roman goddess Felicitas, goddess of good luck and success.  She was an important figure in Rome's state religion, during the empire.  She became a popular symbol of Rome's wealth and fortune, frequently being depicted on coins.

Gratitude - Generosity

Here be Monsters and Mantras

Here be Monsters and Mantras

What a day, its been full of monsters!  When I say monsters, I mean issues, problems and stress!!

Ah, a poor night's sleep is never good, but nothing I could do about it...so on with the day.  Meditation is the first thing I do of a morning, today it was interrupted which wasn't great, but what was worse, was that the interruption became an argument.  Needless to say, it was not a great start.  The next monster was the issue of a tom cat that has decided to target our house in his scent marking rituals, now I'm a lover of animals, but not their smells....especially as it was managing to waft in through letterbox of our front door.  So very soon after getting up, I'm scrubbing the house walls down, inside and out...so I miss my window to do some 'very much needed' yoga.  I'm really feeling the stress now!!! A dog walk is the next job, during which Evie decides it would be great fun to roll in fox poo......yuk! Another clean up operation is needed!  To top it off, I have to deal with some teenage issues.....which always brings tension, as it often ends up with major arguments.  So that's 5 issues or monsters, before the day has even really begun, and I'm feeling frazzled!!!  I know I blog a lot about what I learn....non attachment, letting go, communication etc. etc.  I really, really try my best, but sometimes it gets at me too.  I didn't lose my temper, though at moments I felt like it was consuming me, and I know that it is better out than in, for suppression can cause all sorts of different nasty monsters to come and visit at a later date - better to deal with it all now and move on.


What I did have to release it and re balance it all, was a date with a Mantra group.  This group has been running for some time now, by my yoga teacher, but until now I've not been able to attend due to work commitments. 
Mantras are a word or group of sacred words that are chanted or sung as an incantation or prayer.
I've wanted to go for a long time now, and today was the day....although at this point, seeing people and singing was not where my head was at.  I went though,  and I'm so glad I did!!  Everyone there including the friend that took me, had been before and knew most of the mantras that were chosen, but the printed words were handed out for those who needed them, by our teacher.  All, except two mantras were sung in Sanskrit....which is tricky for pronunciation, but as they were sung in a 'lead and follow' style it was easy to pick them up.  We had the choice to accompany the mantras with percussion instruments, and once the mantras started rolling it was difficult not to start clapping, tapping, shaking, and beating to the rhythm.  The group were given choices about which mantras to sing, and those that were more experienced had an option to lead them too.  After each mantra, there was a short period of silence, so we could reflect and assimulate any feelings that the mantras had invoked, and a moment to share with each other too. Each mantra was beautiful in it's own way, different sounds, different feeling.  As I was new, it took a minute or so during each mantra, for me to settle into it and feel it flowing, but flow it did, and sing I did! 
One of the mantras that really got me singing was a goddess themed one.....the goddess Kali - the Hindu goddess of death, sexuality, black, mother goddess, time and change....she is also the consort of Shiva.

"Om Kali Om Mata Durga Devi Namo Namah"

It was so beautiful.....they all were! 
To finish...just like we had begun, prayers were said, and finally the peace chant which closes all of our yoga classes.  The air was thick with joy, peace, happiness and love.  It was a beautiful experience and certainly seemed to be so for all of us. 
I'm grateful that my yoga teacher offered me the chance to go and my friend for taking me....I'm so glad I went, it not only put my head straight, but taught me something new, and something that I now wish to do more of.  If anyone now asks about mantra I would encourage them to try it, for they will not look back. X


Moon - Waning Gibbous 89%

Yoga - none yet!

Card Message - Eight of Swords (thinking/intellect and mind)
You may feel that you are the victim of circumstances, or of another person.  Confusion, fear and loneliness.  Potential for completion.  Your sense of being trapped may stem from your beliefs or attitude - just as the mind imprisons, so it can set us free.  The hardest situations in life often offer the greatest spiritual rewards.

10th January - Geraint
A day sacred to ninth century bard Welsh bard Geraint, the blue bard of Wales

Gratitude - Mantras



I want to know more....

I eager to know more....

Today I'm filled with a desire to plan myself some goals for next year...there is so much I want to explore!

I would like to try dowsing, I have dabbled with it before, but I think I would like to explore it further.....definitely into the Earth energy side of things.  Living in The New Forest there is an absolute wealth of places to dowse in, and it would be very interesting in what it might turn up.

I would like to train with druid order, there are many courses out there that run as a correspondence course, and this seems just perfect.  I feel very close to the earth...always have done, and would like to understand the lessons that have been taught for millenia about the worlds around us.

I would like to read and become more familiar with the work of Dr Masuru Emoto.
http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/e_ome_home.html


I have already set in place, training with "The Healing Trust", so I will be able to heal all....people, animals, plants and land.

Yoga is definitely one route which I will be delving into on deeper levels, I have already been practising yoga for 18 months now, but only recently have I been practising everyday, and feeling so much better for it.  I would like to take this further in the next year, as there are many aspects of yoga which I can explore.

So far this seems enough, as it takes time to understand and practise many of the above activities and skills, so I don't want to overload myself.... and I'm sure as always other things will present themselves....as they often do.  X



Moon - Waxing Crescent 22%

Yoga - Surya Namaskara, Gate Sequence, Sarvangasana, Matsyendrasana

Card Message - Queen of Wands
A calling to voluntary or charitable work, or to working with the powers of the land - particularly those related to 'the fire in the earth' of dragon or ley lines.

28th December - Bairns' Day/ Holy Innocents' Day/ Runic half - month of Eoh commences.
Holy Innocents' Day or Bairns' Day, commemorates Herod's slaughter of infant boys under the age of two.  Folk tradition considers Bairns' Day by far the unluckiest day of the year, when no work should be started.  This is the month of rune Eoh, representing the dead, and the yew tree, sacred to winter shamanism.
(from "The Pagan Book of Days")

Gratitude - creativity

Dreaming.....the pregnancy and the headress

Dreaming.....the pregnancy and the headscarf & slippers

Well I've gone and done what I said I wouldn't......eat and drink all the wrong things to excess.  So it's time to redress the balance again!!!

Strangely enough whilst I sleeping off the effects of "too much"....I had a dream of being pregnant, I know that this does not indicate a pregnancy in real terms, but the birth of something.  So, maybe a new start, new project, new way of life?

The dream changed and I was part of a group of people readying for an Indian wedding, beautiful women in gaudy coloured sari's were everywhere, banners, scarves, flags and garlands hung from every available space...the colours were so vibrant, the opulence was breathtaking, the smell of incense was intoxicating.  I remember trying to find a headscarf and some jewelled slippers to match my outfit......then the dream ended.  Not entirely sure what the symbolic meaning of this dream is, maybe it's to do with the fact that I'm loving learning the yogic philosophy, the yogic way of life, as I'm journeying through the practical aspects of yoga.  Maybe, just maybe this dream and the last are connected, which would infer that something new will come out of the yoga.......how exciting that would be.

Who knows, but now it's written, I will always have something that I can refer back too  X

Moon - Waxing Crescent 16%

Yoga - Surya Namaskara

Card Message - Prince of Swords
A radical change in lifestyle or your routine: new friends may appear, or a whole new life may open up for you.  Impending air travel

27th December - St John the Evangelist.
A traditional feast day in freemasonry.

Gratitude - Dreams

Solstice Reflections

Solstice Reflections

Having spent a morning visiting family I decided to take the afternoon for myself, especially as it is now the Winter Solstice.  I took the time to do some yoga and was rewarded with birdsong throughout.  Having now peace in head and heart I decided to add a few more ribbons to the wishing tree.....it's a small plum tree that I planted a few years ago.  Whilst everyone else around has been busy putting more and more flashy lights up around the houses, I decided to do things differently....with more meaning, focus and intent...and when everyone has taken down their lights, the wish ribbons will still be there....I will only take them off as the tree needs to grow and then will replace them.  These ribbons...so far...are for the closest people to me...tied with love and blessings for their futures.

I then thought about the Ash tree (tree mother - I blogged about a while ago), and I thought it would be nice to go and visit it and reflect over the last year.  As I drew closer I could hear Robins, all singing for their territory....a very beautiful birdsong.  I stayed with the tree for some time but could not relax, as it's by a path often used...so I said my goodbyes and walked off to an area that has been deemed dangerous (on account that it's very steep), by the local authorities...here I knew I would get some peace.  The very short walk is not so dangerous unless you want to push through the fallen trees, and that was not my goal.  I stopped and sat in the hanging branch of a laurel tree, in the peace and tranquility of Solstice dusk to think over the past year.
It was brief and emotional, as there have been a lot of changes...

I have lost friends, but I'm grateful that they chose to spend some time with me before moving on.

I am grateful that I now understood my path the potential I have (as we all do), but this has come at a price...and I regret any hurt I have caused.

Through practising yoga this year my mind, body and spirit is finding balance.

I now know that I want to give (to the best of my abilities), to all...for the good of all.

I'm blessed with all that surrounds me. 



So blessings to you all, on this wonderous day   X

Moon - Waning Crescent 17%

Yoga - Gate Sequence, Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Uttanasana, Konasana, Kakasana, Gomukha Virasana, Sarvangasana, Matsyendrasana, Bhujangasana, Balasana, Baddhakonasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana & Pranayama Bhramari.

Card Message - Nine of Cups
A time for enjoyment and celebration.  A rewarding emotional life.  Someone maybe missing from your life or you may feel strangely lonely.  Having been through difficulties in the past, now close relationships and warmth abound.  Inspiration and creativity.  Any obstacles will easily be handled.  Make sure you appreciate your blessings.

22nd December -Winter Solstice 
Winter Solstice or Yule is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun child is reborn, an image of the return of all new life born through the love of the Gods. Within the Northern Tradition Yule is regarded as the New Year.

Gratitude - I have survived thus far in this harsh world and thrive still

Stay Grounded

Stay Grounded  

My yoga teacher often themes our yoga classes with a teaching or lesson which unfolds with the practise of the asanas and pranyama, and last weeks lesson was a gift.

Staying grounded!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its easy to get swept off your feet at a fast pace with all that life presents, especially at this time of year.  Christmas can be overwhelming to say the very least,  there is list upon endless list of things to do, presents to buy, dates to make, christmas cards to send, queues and queues of people in shops, food to prepare etc etc, its making me giddy just writing this blog!!  It can leave you feeling light headed, confused, tired and if this state of frenzy goes unchecked it can lead to tension and I know I can safely hold my hand up and say that I've been there.

So to counteract this the best thing to do is to ground yourself, feel your feet firmly planted on the ground and take your awareness to them.  Don't allow your awareness back up into the flighty, dizzy feeling in your head, but concentrate on your connection with the earth.  Slow down too, and take some deep slow breaths.  Or even imagine roots from the soles of your feet going deep down into the earth, deeper and deeper and then feel the earth energy coming back up through your feet into your whole body.

Yoga is great for grounding, it definitely works for me and I would recommend it for everyone x

Moon  - Waxing Gibbous 94%

Yoga - Konasana, Prasarita Paddotanasana, Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Gomukha Virasana, Kakasana, Urdhva Kapotasana, Jathara Parivartanasana, Navasana, Purvottanasana, Vat Nari Sansthan Shaktiva, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Balasana.

Card Message - Five of Swords (Air, thinking, intellect & mind)
Defeat, Blame  and Communication Breakdown
You may be involved in a quarrel and feel as if you're losing the battle.  Perhaps you've been subjected to humiliation, abuse of malicious gossip.  Use of underhand tactics.  You maybe blaming someone or they are blaming you, or jealousy and envy may be surfacing.  Some things need to get better before they get worse.
(Note to self - I always seem to pick up a lot of sword cards)

On this Day - The Jewish Festival of Hannukah begins today

Spirals

I love Spirals, its such a beautiful and kind of intuitive pattern and I know I'm not the only person to think so. So, inspired by this beautiful symbol, I created one of my own today down at the local beach, by the waters edge as an offering and recognition of the Full Moon tonight.

Spirals appear everywhere in nature, whirlpools and whirlwinds, galaxies, amonites and shells.  Climbing plants such as Ivy often create spirals ridges in Hazel trees, as they grow towards the light. Pine cones are a multitude of spirals, which open up to release their seeds.  In our body, the DNA helix structure is also spiral. Also in  yogic practices the kundalini (energy) lies coiled at the base of the spine, like a serpent and through various tecniques the kundalini rises up the 3 main Nadis - a central column called 'Sushumna' and 2 spiraled columns, 'Ida' the feminine channel and 'Pingala' the masculine channel. These columns cross over at the chakras and as the kundalini rises the chakras are energised.

Many cultures through the ages have used spirals to decorate and adorn monuments and themselves, all with meanings. The celtic spirals are probably the best known designs in Europe, many are found on tombs and megoliths. Its not really known what these symbolise, but it is widely accepted that it probably means eternal life, as in life, death and rebirth.

Spiral designs differ too, some have two arms representing the equinoxes and balance, three arms - trskele - indicates the feminine cycle, maiden and crone.

Moon - Full

Yoga - The Crow, Moon Dance Sequence, Hare and Crescent Moon Pose

Card Message - Princess of Swords
Inquisitive, Objective and Aloof