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