Blogs

Back to the Beginning

Diane Cesa

A New World Balance

Tabby Biddle

Little by little people seem to be waking up to the fact that our society could in some way benefit from the ideals of compassion and connection, rather than competition and warfare. I have been a longtime believer in resolving conflict through discussion and negotiation, rather than through bombs and decimation. Finally, it seems that there are enough people out there willing to voice this belief that we are now experiencing a shift in how we handle conflict and how we will move forward as a culture and as a planet.

All of my life I have never understood the practicality of war. I have never understood why our country or any other country would choose to kill people who are in the end just like us – all wanting the same thing – safety, love and happiness…all humans, all connected.

There have been times in history when proponents of peace have been seen as impractical dreamers living in a fantasy world and in some cases even labeled as “ignorant.” But after all of this time spent in warfare, what have we learned. How have we benefited? And is there another possibility?

At this time in history when we are involved in two wars, there simultaneously seems to be an awakening of a new consciousness. Qualities that were once disregarded and disrespected in global politics such as compassion, cooperation and sharing are now gaining respect and honor in their rightful place alongside strategy and determination. These qualities, which have traditionally been considered feminine qualities, have been absent from decision-making processes for a very long time. Today, they are being examined as not only ideals for creating balance in our society, but as necessary for the survival of our planet.

Both women and men are claiming value in this new approach and new communities of thought have emerged highlighting the need to replace domination with partnership. Some are calling this shift in consciousness a re-awakening of the Divine Feminine where traditional feminine qualities are coming to play a respected role on the world stage.

I know for myself as I embrace with respect my own feminine qualities I find myself coming more into balance and am accessing a power and strength that I never knew before. Instead of trying to function in a patriarchal paradigm, I am awakening to a wisdom where the feminine and masculine can dance in divine partnership. It is through this partnership that I believe peace can truly come to our land.

What do think?

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06.18.08 Waves of Love Tour #4

govindas and radha

Jai Guru Ommmm!  Jai Shri RadheShyam!!! What a journey it has been! We must apologize for being inconsistent with our blogging over the past 3 weeks... probably because since the last time we wrote there has been so much movement and traveling in our schedule.  We have been driving  nonstop up and down the mid-atlantic/northeast for events, kirtans, and workshops... in Philly with SitaRam Das (Daniel Shankin) at Mainline Yoga... at Flow Yoga with Janaki Jill Abelson in Washington DC... at Baltimore Yoga Village with Michael Robinson and Anjali....at the grand opening of the Ananda Shala with Maria Garre in Frederick Md... then up to NYC for a kirtan at Sri Swami Satchidananda's Integral Yoga... with Tonya Zaloumis at Soma Yoga in Newport RI... a brief stay in the Hamptons for a nite and a day of surfing... then back to NYC with Elena Bower ViraYoga, a rooftop Bhakti Vinyasa practice with Libby Weintraub and friends, and a kirtan at Jivamukti Yoga... back down to Rockville Md for a kirtan and workshop at Thrive Yoga with Susan and Dave Bowen.... and lastly back up to NYC for a special father's day Bhakti Yoga workshop at Jivamukti Yoga again... As we write this we are now driving through Ohio on our way back to the west coast... From the depths of our hearts we want to sincerely thank all of the beautiful beings  who hosted us on this journey: your openheartedness and hospitality is a huge inspiration to us!!! And especially to all of the blessed souls who came out to sing and practice with us. Thank You!  It has been an absolute gift to share heartspace together... We love you and look forward to seeing you again very very soon...

with gratitude and respect,

govindas and radha

Yoga and AD/HD

Darlene DArezzo

Inattention, and/or impulsivity and hyperactivity – the hallmarks of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), a chronic, neurobehavioral condition affecting nearly four million children and young adults in the United States. Signs and symptoms also include, but are not limited to, poor concentration, poor coordination, and poor peer relations.

Although there is no simple medical test to diagnose AD/HD and the exact cause of AD/HD remains undetermined, a National Institute of Mental Health study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children with AD/HD have a brain about three to four percent smaller than that of a typically developing child. As expected, affected areas include those that govern sensory processing, motor planning, attention processes and impulsivity (frontal lobes of the cerebrum) and, equilibrium and coordination of movement (cerebellum).
  
It is also thought that the frontal lobes figure in our understanding of our body's orientation in space. It is also, now thought, that the cerebellum is linked to attention as well as sensory input and emotions.

While pharmacotherapy is the treatment of choice (most children are given stimulants and some, antidepressants), multimodal therapy is recommended. More and more, complementary treatments are prescribed. And, what better complimentary treatment than yoga? Whereas traditional therapies address specific issues, yoga addresses the whole child – it is a multimodal therapy in and of itself. Furthermore, yoga has been found an “effective complimentary treatment” according to a study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.

How might the tools of yoga – postures, breathing exercises and meditation techniques (to name just a few) – help?

Asana-s or Postures
The physical benefits of yoga practice include heightened body awareness and coordination. Static postures that challenge balance and require core stabilization stimulate the cerebellum while dynamic postures and the repetition of movements of the body in to and out of postures help to organize the brain and contribute to nerve growth.

In addition, children with AD/HD are usually right-brain dominant in their information processing and learning styles. Therefore, the kinesthetic nature of yoga asana-s is perfect for these types of learners.

Pranayama or Breath Awareness
Pranayama, control of the breath, is preparation for concentration, meditation.  And while classic pranayama exercises are inappropriate for children, teaching little ones to appreciate the breath is the first step in improving wellbeing. Depression, anxiety and distress often accompany AD/HD. Higher order thinking skills, such as analysis and evaluation, conscious thought and reasoning become further impaired when an AD/HDer (or anyone) is distressed. Distress is often reflected in our breath/ing – as we gaze into the looking glass, it appears rapid, short and shallow. Being aware of such and then, consciously breathing deeply helps to alleviate stress as well as worry and frustration.

Dhyana or Meditation
Meditation, or as sage Patanjali describes it “sustained concentration,” trains the mind. Its practice improves focus, concentration and memory.

So how might a child with AD/HD sit still and pay attention? With imaginative story and guided visualization exercises. These exercises develop listening and concentration skills and, alter the physical structure of our brains according to researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to their report, meditators have increased thickness in parts of the brain associated with attention and somatosensory, auditory and visual processing.

I asked Dr. Sara Lazar, who headed the study, if she thought meditation could help a child with AD/HD: “It seems reasonable that meditation may be helpful to increase attention and help with emotion regulation,” she responded.  And, “grow” the brain? “Our data suggest that it might grow the brain in four very small regions…The data are a comparison of meditators versus controls, so it could be that some other factor was responsible for the difference [such as] diet, exercise, etcetera,” she added.

Furthermore, through breathing exercises and meditation techniques, children also cultivate self-awareness and self-reflection and thus, self-discipline. Children learn how to curb impulsivity and hyperactivity on their own.

Overall, the most profound benefits of yoga practice are improved self-esteem and a greater sense of wellbeing. With newfound confidence, AD/HDers can make friends. After all, yoga is a process of not only learning about and finding peace in oneself, but of living harmoniously with others.

Family Legacy

Edie Weinstein-Moser

Just returned from a ‘girls’ weekend’ in the Poconos at which the only official ‘girl’, my 17 year old niece Rachael, was surrounded by the ‘elder women’ in the family, ranging from my 47 year old sister, to my lovely 84 year old mother, Selma. Mom had; with much coercion from the rest of us, ventured up from Florida to my cousin Renee’s oh- so- restful Pocono mountain home. I still have the feeling of ahhhh that arose from the hovering trees and the crystal clear away from light pollution star sparkled sky as we walked aging Golden Retriever Brandi and youthful, shy Pit Bull Suzie along meandering pathways. My cousin Jody (Renee’s sister who I sometimes refer to as "my older and wiser cousin") rounded out the gathering.

Part of the purpose of the weekend was a much needed pause from busy lives. Yoga with my cousin Jody while the others watched us as if we were from another planet, began our days. Quiet meditation, mindfulness walks, spontaneous laughter yoga, filled some of my time there.  

Magnetic Time : Gong Meditation with Harijiwan

MahaMondo

A Sat Kriya Odyssey

Sat Daya Singh

Having a constant in one's practice is a classic way of progressing down a path.  Take one kriya, asana, meditation, mantra, etc... and practice every day for an extended period of time.  Eastern traditions are full of holy people going into the mountains and spending years (or lifetimes) mastering one practice.

My constant is Sat Kriya.  A fusion of kriya and meditation, Sat Kriya is a cornerstone of Kundalini Yoga.  Sit on the heels and raise the arms in the air with the elbows straight.  Clasp the hands together with males placing the right thumb over left and females placing the left thumb over the right.  Pull the navel point in and up while chanting "Sat."  Release the navel and chant "Nam."

Yogi Bhajan taught that Sat Kriya cures "millions of things."  Among the many benefits are smooth digestion, a strong nervous system, a powerful navel point, and an overall ability to take control of one's life.

I started a practice of 31 minutes of Sat Kriya on December 25, 2005.  I was in the midst of a post-collegiate career malaise.  I had no personal or job goals aside from a desire to keep traveling aimlessly.  When I heard that Sat Kriya could bring order to a life, I was hooked.

The first few weeks were rough.  I was unaccustomed to sitting on my heels.  Discomfort resulted from any fidgeting of the legs.  Keeping my arms still and straight was even tougher.  Quite a bit of discipline was needed to keep upper body fidgets to a minimum.

I eased into it as time went progressed.  Sat Kriya became part of my being.  Missing a day seemed like missing a day of breath.  I became stronger and more confident in my identity.

Sat Kriya traveled with me on a three month journey around South America.  I was in the pose during snowstorms at 14,000 Andean campsites, in the wilderness of the Amazon rain forest, and on Brazilian beaches.

I was approaching my 500 day mark in April of 2007.  I went to a day of the Teacher Training Program at Golden Bridge.  Harijiwan was leading 62 minutes of Sat Kriya.  It was like putting my 31 minute practice on sub woofers.

I planned on doing a 62 minute practice for 40 days.  But the sensation is just too good to stop.  During the second half an intense peace radiates from my third eye.  I lose the ability to distinguish between different body parts.  My human body dissolves into a ball of energy.

I am approaching my 1000 days of Sat Kriya and I have no plans of stopping.  Some days are tough.  62 minutes will feel like hours, and my muscles will ache.  Other days are a smooth ride

Sat Kriya is my rock from which I roll... 
 

In August you will experience your spirit on a deeper level! Its a spirit over matter kind of month!

akiva satnarayan

In August you will experience your spirit on a deeper level! Its a spirit over matter kind of month!

New knowledge will come your way; Issues of trust (in self); recognition and mastery, kindness and forgiveness will be the key to move through daily circumstances.    

These times are internal - you are going to get to the bottom of your soul! Please take some responsibility!

Through August you will weigh your life purpose and opportunities. Why these events are happening?
What am I up to? Why am I here? Will be some of the themes that will fuel your being this August!

Give yourself the space and the time to tap into the reservoir of unconditional love and light.
Make an effort to take time off, time alone, listen to your soul – tap into your inner wisdom. Any inner work will do – yoga, long hikes, meditation and short trips – it will elevate your spirit and get you focused in pursuing your heart’s desires. You will need to make an effort to elevate your soul!

Good times to study something new, and to experience your inner wisdom. You’ll be attracted to the power and flow of music. Listen, go to live music performance (especially on 8/8/8). It will elevate your soul and get you connected to the whole.

There will be a strong Influence of feminine energy – listen to the goddess more intently this month – as intuition and intellect bland, the heart will be more receptive – let go of any past life grudges. Be kind to yourself and others.

Do your best not over-think and analyze your moves and motivations – try to flow with the spirit of the moment. It is a good time to sort things out without being too critical (of yourself and others). Internal analysis sometimes leads to finger pointing and blaming – be aware of that – it is us it is all in you!

It is a month that embodies the full spectrum of the rainbow, manifesting in white. Empty yourself so you can be present to the full spectrum of your capacity.

These are great times to study, to acquire some new practice, new knowledge. Some internal work
is needed, it doesn’t mean that you need to be alone; take care of your internal process.

The new moon will be a good time to get together, to share music and spoken word. Take yourself (and others) to a a chanting events, praying and getting other peoples advice – can be very helpful. Do not try to handle everything on your own.

In gratitude, love and peace
Akiva Satnarayan


What blessings will life bring you in 2008? What challenges will you be invited to dive into? To schedule an in depth personal numeric consultation go to http://satnarayan.com/numerology.html

Do Yoga Everywhere!

KaseySays

Did you know that doing yoga in random places is known to cause MORE yoga in random places? Watch the featured YogaTV segment this week and you will see thousands of Yogis practicing in the middle of Times Square in New York City. It was quite a site! It was not surprising that the Yogis had no problem staying focused while thousands and thousands of onlookers took part in every sort of distraction imaginable.
The most amazing part was to watch people walk by and literally stop and stare, some in awe, many in confusion. “Why are all those people doing that strange stretching form?” We all know what happened when we started practicing that strange stretching form! Something made you start, maybe it wasn’t thousands of people in Times Square, but you saw it somewhere and now you are a lifetime member!
So please, practice yoga in random places and not so random places. You could help increase the number of Yogis in the world. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Have a beautiful week.

Endless Peace and Love