Temple of Joy & Happiness

"To enter the temple of JOY & HAPPINESS, you must first face the monsters blocking your way and deal with your fears." ~ Oracle Cards.

Sometimes the monsters are from our past, sitting deep withing our unconscious, not made of anything but wounds and past traumatic events.  These wounds are barriers and in many ways they allow us to "react" in a protective way.  Soon, they become patterns, in our relationships, and in our yoga practice.

I just returned from an incredible weekend of meditation and enlightenment in NYC.  I am grateful to have learned and shared so much with an incredible group under the brilliant sunny sky.  Even as a teacher, we learn how we ourselves have our own barriers, and when we recognize them and accept, so much liberation takes place.  Can we come to the understanding that our JOY & Happiness is actually our creation, that everything, good & bad is our creation.  This Universe is just a reflection, like a mirror of our thoughts.  The monsters & Temple of Joy are all part of our unconscious belief system.  While the goal of our practice is to elevate our consicousness, do we take the time to observe our unconsciousness?

Though I was scheduled to go straight from NYC to LA, to be a guest Instructor for a month long Training, I had to rush after news of my Aunty's rapidly declining health.  At her bedside, I took all the revelations of my magnificent weekend in NYC and applied them with her.  Yoga off the mat.

I learned that this existence is all a mirror.  Once I used to think....why would someone lie?  why would someone allow greed to dictate their choices?  I would think that way, because I don't do that.....But I learned to ask.....why would I allow this energy into my vibrational circle.  And most important, why would I ignore my intuition over charming words, or the facade of the title of Yogi.  It is balance.  Now, another revelation......Stop asking why......and instead learn to accept.

And perhaps the person who is the liar may see it is perfectly fine, that is their Karma, their pattern.  It could be from lifetimes prior.  The beauty is when we can Dance in these patterns, face these patterns and evolve.

It is much like when we practice, and there is someone who is talking.  It is our choice to focus on them or focus on our breath.  That being said, what is it deep within that makes us focus on the other, rather than our breath? What allows us to enable the hurt, enable the fear?  Sometimes, we must take the time to dig deep, and discover the root of these patterns.  In order for us to listen, we must learn to be silent.  And in those silent moments, on and off the mat, we discover the path to our Temple of JOY & HAPPINESS.

Much like our yoga practice, we must learn to take responsibilities and face our fears.  Like Sri Dharma says to approach some asana with  "Angry Determination".  If not, we just continue to repeat patterns, cycles, blaming everyone and everything but ourselves.  In fact, it is never an issue of blame, but rather acceptance of balance.  It is the dance of Lord Shiva.....Dancing in a Ring of Fire, never to be burned, and shinning in both masculine & feminin energy, united with all patterns and evolved without being burned.

Next time you go to your yoga mat, ask yourself what is the monster in the way to your Temple of JOY & Happiness?  Are you allowing a person to occupy space in your heart, to bully you, to lie to you......perhaps the real monsters, are you allowing these things to go on.  Love yourself, and let every breath be one of gratitude. 

Autism, Ayurveda and Ignorance

Recently I came across a photo on Facebook that depicted the incredible changes to vaccines for kids in the past decades.  When I saw this picture, I clicked "Share" because I found the picture informative, and I think it is important to be informed.  Much like "meat eaters" do not always like to be informed of the topic of factory farming, the topic of vaccines can easily stir up an emotional reaction in people, in parents, and health care professionals.  On FB people can click "Like" or "Share" or "comment" and it allows people to be respectful and share, since it is an open forum.

Usually I post motivational quotes, comics, or upcoming yoga events of my fellow yogis or myself, but this particular post was different.  I was very proud of my beautiful cousin, who immediately wrote an eloquent response, which in my view takes more courage than speaking behind someone's back.  If only we take the time to calmly communicate, to respect and listen to each other, then and only then, can we learn and grow together.  Being that she is studying to be a health care professional, she was very quick to point out the endless hours of research, medical studies, and medical articles on this topic. 

While I agree that there may be no evidence linking infant mortality rates to vaccines, I also believe that their is no substantial evidence linking the incredibly high doses of vaccines that are administered by mandate today, for better health and disease prevention of kids.  If a new vaccine is administered nearly every year, how much sufficient testing has truly been done?

WHAT does this have to do with yoga?  Well it has to do with our body, our sense of unity, and Ayurveda.  For those who study Ayurveda, an ancient science, that inspired modern day medicine, they will understand how each unique body is diagnosed by it's individual prakriti or constitution.  When the individual is out of balance it is treated according to its dosha type.  For me, this makes me question the concept of mandating tremendous doses of vaccines in every child, when every child is different, unique and therefore has the propensity to react differently.  Much like various people react different to different antibiotics, Much like in Yoga certain dosha types resonate better with certain styles of yoga, because each of us are unique.....if we are in fact unique, why should we assume that it is appropriate to administer 3 times the amount of vaccines in 2012 as opposed to a few decades ago?

I did share a story of two of my yoga students in NYC who had healthy, vibrant children and immediately after they had their vaccination, their children reacted and had a form of autism.  There are a growing number of cases like this that spark the debate today about vaccines, and concern in parents.  Does this mean that Autism is caused by vaccines? I am no one to say so, but from an Ayurveda perspective, it is possible that not every child will react the same to each vaccine.  I also shared the story of my Godmother/aunt who took the flu shot and is now slowly becoming paralyzed.  Every vaccine comes with a disclaimer of potential harm to a small percentage of people, in her case potential paralysis, she is now that 2%, and yet we administer these shots & promote them.  These are not in medical journals, these are personal stories of people close to me.

Today a lovely fellow yogi and former student posted a brilliant post, "Autism is not a Tragedy, Ignorance is"...This is true.  It is sad when people would look at autism as a tragedy, but then again everyone reacts to situations different, and for some parents of Autistic children, they may view it different, especially depending on the place on the spectrum that the child is on.  I have been blessed to share yoga & work with Kids with Autism, Aspergers, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Willams Syndrome in India, NYC and Canada extensively, and they teach me more about JOY and Yoga than anyone I have encountered in my life.  The only tragedy is when people fail to realize how AMAZING these kids are!  Ignorance is a tragedy, so stay informed....Ask Questions.

It doesn't matter if Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Jenny McCarthy, Popular Medical Journals, Famous Yogis, Brand New Yogis, myself, my cousin or anyone online says a perspective about something, it DOES matter if we as individuals inform ourselves, educate ourselves, especially if the topic is of debate and affects our health and the health of the future generations.

Bikram Yoga @ The Solstice 2009

The longest day of sunshine, Sunday June 21st, 2009, only today the sun hid behind many clouds and rain poured off and on.  It was still the Solstice.  Not only is today Fathers' Day (Happy Fathers' Day Daddy), it is also that time when Yogis gather in Times Square to do YOGA.  After teaching some morning Yoga classes, I decided to check it out.  There was a brilliant Sitar player playing, a sea of people carrying Yoga mat Bags.  I decided to join.  The session I signed up for was the afternoon Bikram class.  In the past my experience with Bikram Yoga was not so pleasant, but being that this was outdoors and not a hot day, I was ready to try Bikram Yoga again.  Our instructor stood at the front with Tiger mini shorts on and guided us through the poses.  In Bikram every pose is done twice except for the seated twist.  We were all given great goody bags which included a T-shirt and Yoga Mat.  It was a wonderful experience to practice Yoga with a large group of people in the heart of Manhattan.  With onlookers watching and taking photos, cars zooming by, and even a wedding party that decided to take photos behind us, this was an amazing experience of focus and inner peace.  This free event attracts a wide variety of participants and even draws in people new to yoga.  The energy was great!  The sun peaked through the clouds a few times and luckily it did not rain till I went home.  I hope to continue participate in the Solstice and maybe next year teach one of the classes.

Summer Solstice - Yoga in Times Square NYC

It is that time of year again when Yogis from all over New York gather to do Yoga, in Times Square.  The Summer Solstice, Sunday June 21st, will be a chance for people to enjoy the experience of Sun Salutations, and much more in the heart of this amazing city.  Finding focus and inner peace in the busiest part of Manhattan, making new friends, and sharing amazing energy with fellow yoga enthusiasts.  Last year was a blast!  Hopefully, the weather will be sunny and beautiful this year too!!!  For more information about this event visit http://www.timessquarenyc.org/about_us/events_solstice.html

Aerial Yoga in NYC

As a child I used to spend hours on my backyard swing set on the rings, and hanging upside down on the bar, which led to gymnastics and to the horror of my daddy no "Olympic Gold"  Not even more than 2 cherished 2nd place ribbons, which made me dive deeper into my music and ignore the gymnastic life except as a memory.  Tonight was my time to shine and revisit that lost childhood love with Aerial Yoga in NYC.

I enter into a lovely studio in Bedford, Brooklyn.  Lovely trapeze swings in vibrant colors cascade from the ceiling.  The lush fabric is attached by a giant hook and attached to another giant hook in the ceiling.  Two friendly girls are swinging and chatting away, sharing the same excitement that I have for this new experience.  

Our lovely instructor Michelle, greets me, has me fill out my waiver, and I quickly rest my mat beneath a gorgeous blue swing that reminds me of the beach.  I look up and question "Is this going to hold me?".  I remind myself that this is still a Yoga experience and I need to surrender my fears and just breathe.

Three other veteran aerial Yoga chicks enter the room and we are a class of 6 ladies swinging from the ceiling.  Like most Yoga classes we begin with Om.  Michelle reminds us of the need to breathe throughout the practice.  We proceed into amazing warm ups with the swing that rip my biceps and remind me of the work I need to do on my upper body strength.

Now, WE SWING!  We are taught headstand, handstand, pigeon, and more.  For those with a minimal inversion practice (upside down postures) well....let's just say the swing helps a ton, however eating before an Aerial Yoga class.....NOT THE BEST IDEA.  I did feel a little dizzy and was told my third time doing upside down pigeon may have been a little over ambitious, but it was soooooo fun and Michelle managed to turn me mid pose while my neighbor captured a picture.  On occasion I bumped into my neighbor (A fellow Aerial Yoga Newbie), like Trapeze bumper cars.

We gravitate to our Yoga Mats and flow through some amazing twists.  Class ends with savasana done hanging in the trapeze swings.  This savasana takes me to thoughts of how it must have felt swinging in the typical baby swing when I went to India as an infant.  Every Indian baby usually swings in a hammock-style swing made of fabric and akin to the Aerial Yoga swing.  So I guess this may not have been my first time at Aerial Yoga!!!

This experience was tons of fun, definitely physically challenging, and again tons of fun!!!!  For more information about participating in Aerial Yoga visit: http://www.aerialyoga.com

~Namaste

Yoga Rush Hour Commute

" You must be the change you want to see in the world" ~ Mahatma Gandhi

We all dream of changes.  Most changes incorporate the Mind, Body, and Spirit.  Yoga is a chance to manifest these changes.  Taking the time to sit on your mat in meditation, flow through your asana practice, and even go through some breathing exercises (pranayama) are all little changes that inevitably can change your individual world and the world at large. Extending your Yoga practice beyond the mat, beyond the peace of your favorite Yoga studio, and even beyond the comfort of your most treasured place of tranquility and then taking it out onto the NYC subway...that is a way to make your Yoga practice an extension of your soul.

A Meditation (Dhyana) practice can uncover peace and serenity in a busy city like NYC.  On a crowded, rush hour subway, take a minute to change your outlook from within.  With focus on your silent breath, cultivating an inner state of gratitude, and being thoughtful of fellow commuters we can extend our meditation practice beyond the mat.  The peace we find within can change the entire experience.

Asana practice can also be taken on the crowded subway.  Focus on a single point (drishti), rooting your feet down, engaging your abdominal (locks/bandhas) and allowing yourself to BALANCE.  On your feet and not on your hands or head of course.  But this is taking your Yoga beyond the mat to create change in an otherwise frustrating experience.

Finally, regardless of religion, Love is the common thread of our universal fabric.  Love is found in compassion to a pregnant woman in need of a seat, in gratitude when thanking a fellow rider who makes space for you, in charity when sharing some pocket change with a person less fortunate, and in humility when we apologize in the event we step on another commuters feet.

Our Yoga practice can inspire the change we wish to see in the world.  It can be as simple changing our thoughts.  It is more than achieving the most fierce Yoga Pose (Asana).  It is an inner peace, a kind perspective, and joy that begins within and extends beyond the mat.