My trip to Portland, Oregon last week was awesome.  I’m so glad I got to go there.  I visited lifelong friends, explored the city and even got to go to the beautiful coast. (pictured here)  Portland is called the city of roses.  I thought that was awesome.  Roses are the flowers which are associated with Paramahansa Yogananda.  It felt like that was a reminder, while I was there, I was right where I needed to be and on the right path. 

Sometimes it’s hard to express in the written word everything I want to say.  That’s why, eventually, there will be online videos on the True Yoga Blog to be able to express in other ways, as well, everything that’s coming through for me.  I’m looking forward to sharing my Yoga practice with you through online videos, as well. That will all be coming in the next several months by the time the book I’m writing is published in early Spring of next year.  I’m really excited about the book.  I have begun writing it and I submitted my first chapter about a week ago and the editor liked it.  So, that’s good.  The book is about cleansing and healthy living practices.  Once we have a picture of the cover I’ll post it for you here.  I’ve received a couple of requests to share information on the True Yoga Blog, so, I’d like to start with those and then share with you the information about POWA: The Yoga of Death and Dying, which, I’ve been meaning to share with you for several weeks now.  It was such a powerful talk by the monk, Tashi Nyima, and I really believe you’ll find this information to be beneficial.  I know it’s not normally the most uplifting topic, but, it’s a good one to cover since it’s going to happen with all of us. 

A new cd being released by Putumayo features renowned Yoga musicians such as Krishna Das, who is the best-known US performer of traditional Indian kirtan-style music, demonstrates call-and-response chanting on “Hanuman Baba (Dub Farm Remix).” Costa Rican group Amounsulu create a serene atmosphere by blending sitars and glass bottles on the song “El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (Children’s Eternal Rainforest).” On “Bolo Ram” celebrated western devotional musician Wah! sings a tranquil verse that is believed to bring bliss to all who chant it. Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band are known for their beautiful, melodic chanting as displayed on “Om Hari Om/Sharanam Ganesha (Refuge).” 

If you would like to listen to samples of the music, just click here. 

This is fabulous.  I love spiritually inspired music and musicians.  Thank you for sharing this news with us Putumayo.

So, what can I share with you about POWA?  Well, there was a lot of information the monk Nyima gave to us, but, I’ll talk about the parts that resonated the most…

Let’ see, first of all, he said that it’s important to not touch a person’s hands or feet when they are dying.  It is best to place your hand at the crown of the head.   The reason for this is, by placing your hand on their head, it draws consciousness upward into the higher centers of awareness and away from the senses.  When my father was passing away, I did place my hand on the top of his head.  A friend suggested I do that.  I didn’t know why he had suggested that at the time, but it’s powerful to understand why that’s best now.

Also, they said it’s better to not be in the room if you are struggling with being able to let someone go.  In other words, if you are attached in a way where you are not able to peacefully release them.  Sometimes people struggle with that.  So, it would be better to not be in the room if someone is struggling with being able to let someone die.  When a person is passing away, it’s important to be able to encourage them energetically, or, with touch and the gentle caress of their head that it’s ok to pass on and let go.  Also, the monk said if you are the one passing away and someone is in the room you are attached to and are not able to be ok letting go of, it would also be a good idea to not have that person be in the room with you.  I think both of those examples are really for extreme situations.  We can all understand those situations where a family member or loved one is in extreme emotional distress over the passing away of someone they love.  In those moments, it would be better for a person who is having an experience like that to not be in the room, which, makes sense.  Obviously that could be upsetting to everyone. 

He also said if the person if receptive (if awake), or if unconscious, recite om mani padme humin the ear of the dying person as often as possible, with the intention of blocking unfavorable rebirths. 

Monk Nyima also said the time period for a soul to reincarnate is 49 days.  No, that doesn’t seem like long at all.  It is recommended to recite prayer every day for those 49 days to help the person’s soul transition into the pure land or heaven.  Here is more information on one of the prayers you can say.  And, here is the prayer. 

He also spoke about the afterlife.  He said many Christians (which I consider myself to be) believe they will automatically be with Jesus when they die.  But, he said the requirements to be in the pure land of Jesus are very high.  He said the enlightened being, Amitabha, visited all of the pure lands and created a pure land with the lowest requirements where all truth seeking souls can enter and know liberation from death, disease and suffering.  Monk Nyima said when a person dies it’s important they go into the brightest light of all.  He said the Bible even talks about this.  It talks about a terrible light.  He said the word terrible doesn’t mean ‘bad.’  It means, scary or terrifying.  The Bible also talks about ‘terrible’ sounds.  When a person dies it’s important they move toward these sounds and the brightest light of all, if there is more than just one bright light.  I hope I will get to be in the place where I’m surrounded by my loved ones and especially my father.  And, I would wish I would get to be near Jesus.  But, it’s good to know there is salvation for all of us, even if we don’t end up hanging out with Jesus right away or whatever your spiritual aspirations or visions might be. 

He said once death happens a person is in their astral or energetic body.  And, often, they do not even realize they have died.  This place is called bardo and this is the place where a soul can end up staying for 49 days if they do not move into the light.  He said bardo is not a place you want to be.  Apparently, there are 6 dimensions one can fall into in bardo.  I’m not sure what those are exactly, but, I’m sure you can research it if you are interested in learning more.  All I know is he said those are not the places you want to go. That’s why it’s important to say some kind of prayer and many faiths teach the importance of this including Judaism.  So, pray for your loved ones after they pass away that they will transition to the pure land or heaven where they are meant to be.  And, go into the light.  Even if it’s scary, go toward it.  It’s understandable a person would be afraid if they aren’t aware and could turn away from it because, apparently, it’s that unbelievably bright.  He said this is where people get stuck and if they don’t go into the light then they will end up in bardo and there soul will eventually reincarnate. 

Monk Nyima said in the pure land there is no sex.  He said it is sex which tangles people’s hair.  He also said there is no desire for sex even.  If you picture buddhist nuns and monks, often, you aren’t able to tell the men from the women.  Even the women have shaved heads.  In heaven, there is no identification with sexuality.  It is neutral, basically.  Everyone is beautiful but there are no distinguishing characteristics between men and women.  And, there is no death, disease or suffering.

He said many enlightened souls, or Buddhas, who have ascended and realized enlightenment will often choose to return to earth.  This is something I first heard several years ago from Master Yogi Sri Dharma Mittra.  He said he wants to come back as much as possible to help other souls realize enlightenment and the ascension of their soul.  Monk Nyima said sometimes an enlightened soul will return to earth to help only one person.  I asked how if how we help them to evolve and ascend is through unconditional love and compassion and he said yes.  Can you imagine a love so powerful?  I can.  Can you imagine that your unconditional love for another human being could be that powerful?  I can.  This is completely in alignment with the teachings of Jesus so keep loving…all of you Divinely-incarnated-Beings-of-Light.  Even when it’s difficult or even when you must have space or distance between you and someone you love, just keep loving.  That’s all there is to do.  Make sure you honor yourself, but find a way to keep your heart open and love EVERYONE unconditionally, those people you are challenged to love and those people it’s easy for you to love.  Love everyone.  Let loving-kindness be your religion. 

I love the song by Matisyahu called Warrior.  If you don’t have it, download it from itunes.  You’ll love it.  I am getting to know more and more of his music and it’s incredible.  The songs I’ve really connected with so far are Warrior, Sea to Sea, I Will Be Light, Lord Raise Me Up and One Day.  He also does a cover of S.O.S. by Sting which is awesome.  Here are the lyrics for Warrior.  Such an amazing song.  Matisyahu is absolutely a warrior of Light.  Here are the lyrics:

You’re a warrior fighting for your soul
Taken from the world above and brought down the world below
You’re the son of his majesty
Remember how it used to be
In the light of day it’s easy to see
Now it’s nighttime
You had to leave

Separated from the king
Now the water’s rushing and you keep trying to swim against the stream
And it seems, like your not moving the many water’s gushing you gasp for air
Almost drowning ears ringing, once upon a time we were singing
One day those trees will stand and clap hands
Stream of thought getting caught in the klipa, this place is just a shell, external
Egos swell, that one’ll burn ya, we fell a long way down, that eternal frown’ll get you down
You look vexed it’s the dregs, the yetzer hara’s lurking
Trying to make you forget we got a job to do
You’re a priest and a prince and you can’t be moved

[Chorus:]
You’re a warrior, Fighting for your soul
Taken from a world above, and brought down to a world below
Re-united, re-united return the princess to the king,
Re-united, re-united, she’s been taken for so long
Re-united, re-united and then she’ll be filled with joy
Re-united, re-united like the days of her youth

Descended to the pit
What’s this feeling can’t get rid of it
Soul sick
Can’t seem to shake it
When one retires at night weeping, joy will come in the morning
You made my mountain stand strong

[Chorus]

Like and ancient memory
Remember how it used to be
Close your eyes and breath in
That’s the scent of freedom
Ringing across the sea
Land of milk and honey
One day will wake up from this dream and we’ll stop dreaming,
Oh, yo, then we’ll see clearly

I love what he says in the live version of the song, too.  He says:

See like this, ya know.  Hasidics explain that everything in this world, everything in this life has an inner essence, an inner soul.  And, when it started out before the soul was reincarnated into this life, into this body and time and place that we find ourselves, it was basking above in the rays of Godliness.  And, it comes into this world for one reason, that it should transform the darkness into Light, it should take the darkness of this world and make it Light.  So, lift it up, lift it up, lift it up. 

Can you imagine that is your souls purpose, your purpose for being here?  Through our life experiences we become increasingly purified in our hearts and minds so we can love others purely, selflessly and unconditionally.  Selfless love is the only kind of love there is.  There’s a poem from Hafiz I’ve been reminded of recently called The Sun Never Says.

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe Me.”
Look what happens
with a love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky.”
~Hafiz

And, the Hafiz poem on my calendar for September 2010 is also incredibly beautiful and powerful.  (And, of course, there is, not coincidentally, a picture of a rose for this month.) 

I do not want to touch any object in this world

without my eyes testifying to the truth

that everything is my Beloved. – Hafiz

I love Hafiz, I love all, for everyone is my Beloved.  Everyone is my guru.  Everyone, even those I thought or felt had hurt me, were only always pointing me toward the Light of Consciousness/Love.  They were showing me the way to Love selflessly and unconditionally for the benefit of all beings.  The Dalai Lama says:

“Every day, think as you wake up.

Today I am fortunate

to have woken up.

I am alive.

I have a precious human life.

I am not going to waste it.

I am going to use

all of my energies to develop myself,

to expand my heart out to others,

to achieve enlightenment for

the benefit of all beings.

I am going to have

kind thoughts toward others.

I am not going to get angry

or think badly about others.

I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”

His Holiness The XIVth Dalai Lama

What will you do with your life?  How will you serve others, all, in the best way possible?Here are the lyrics from another Matisyahu song I love called I Will Be Light.  It’s so powerful also.  Even better, you can listen to it here on Youtube.com .  Also, the Dallas Free Day of Yoga is this Monday.  If you live in the area and will be in town, it’s definitely something to check out.  FREE Yoga classes all day long.  That’s awesome!  Alright, I’m off to write the book.  I’ll be back soon.  Infinite Light-filled Blessings to all of us.  Remember, whatever you wish for yourself, wish for EVERYONE else.  Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu.

May I be filled with joy, peace and love

May you be filled with joy, peace and love

Hello Friends   I hope this True Yoga Blog post finds you well.  I am writing a quick post before I head out of town this Wednesday morning.  I’ll be going to Portland, Oregon to visit a couple of friends.  They are longtime friends of mine from my childhood.  I’ve known them since I was only 6 years old.  That’s a long time.  What a blessing it is to have lifelong friends.  My friend Brinn and I took ballet together when we were in first grade.  We carpooled but we were also friends from school, too.  We were friends all the way throughout grade school and high school.  We lost touch a little bit in college but reconnected several years ago around the time of our ten year reunion from high school.  When she got married three years ago I went to her wedding in Portland and I reconnected with her older sister then, as well.  Her sister and I didn’t know each other really well in school, but we’ve become friends in the last couple of years.  I had a chance to hang out with her at the wedding and we had a lot of fun.  I’m really glad I’ll be getting to see them both.  It’s especially cathartic seeing them since my father passed away almost two years ago.  Our families went to the same church going up and her parents knew my parents pretty well.  Brinn also knew my father from spending so much time together when we were teenagers.  It’s really incredible to have people in our lives who have known us almost as long we have known ourselves.  What an amazing thing to think she’s been a part of my life since I was 6.  I’ve realized, in the last several years, how important it is to me to continue to nurture these relationships in my life.  I know many of us have discovered this, as well, especially with facebook and all of that these days.  As great as facebook is, it doesn’t comapre to real human connection.  The people I really care about seeing are the ones I make the effort to see and I can do that with or without facebook.   But, I do love that facebook can help people who have lost touch to find one another.  And, I also think it’s a good social networking platform.  Other than that, I think it can be a bit of a waste of time.  Write a blog instead…

I’ve been wanting to write more about POWA: The Yoga of Death and Dying.  It was such a powerful experience to listen to everything the monk had to say.  I’m not sure I’ll be able to post about it now, as it’s quite late and I need to get some rest, but please know I’ll be back again soon to share more about it. 

I’d like to give you some information that comes from a spiritual teacher of mine, ChiSing.  ChiSing is the spiritual teacher and director of the Dallas Meditation Center.  Since meeting him about three months ago my life has transformed and continues to transform in incredible and positive ways.  He is a true Light in our community and I feel grateful and blessed to know him.  I just attended a meditation there last night and it was so beautiful and fulfilling.  I hope you’ll get to attend a meditation service there soon.  There’s the most amazing music.  Last night Cornell played the the Native American flute before we meditated.  Gary Floyd sang some of his music.  We did a walking meditation and a sitting meditation and we chanted and sang.  Chanting and singing helps one to meditate.  Eventually, I intend to bring you videos of these services, which are amazing, online.  But, until then, I’d like to share some information from ChiSing whenever it feels like there is a message that’s meant to be shared.  This is something he calls 10*10*10* and it is to prepare yourself for the shift in consciousness which is happening individually and collectively as we grow into the transformational time of 2012.  All there is to know is this is a time of great spiritual change and awakening and cultivating spiritual practice in one’s life will support oneself tremendously in aligning with those changes in a positive way within yourself and with everything else.  If you have any questions about this, please feel free to email me at leanne@trueyogainc.com.  I hope this all makes sense to you.  It seems pretty self-explanatory, but again, please do not hesitate to ask.  As I grow spiritually, I’m realizing I can have my faith, which is really a mystical Christianity, but also be open to the wisdom that flows from all the teachings.   Did you know there are Buddhas in every religion, not just Buddhism?  A Buddha is someone who is awakened.  So, there are Christian Buddhas, Jewish Buddhas, Hindu Buddhas, and so on.  It was really powerful for me when I learned that.  That was a big light bulb moment.  There’s a song by Mason Jennings called I love You and Buddha Too.  I like that song.  Here are the lyrics.

Oh Jesus, I love You
And I love Buddha too
Ramakrishna, Guru Dev
Tao Te Ching and Mohammed

Why do some people say
That there is just one way
To love You, God, and come to You?
We are all a part of You

You are un-nameable
You are unknowable
All we have is metaphor
That’s what time and space are for

Is the universe Your thought?
You are and You are not
You are many, You are one
Ever ending, just begun

Alright, alright, alright
I love You and Buddha too

Oh Jesus, I love You
And I love Buddha too
Ramakrishna, Guru Dev
Tao Te Ching and Mohammed

Why do some people say
That there is just one way
To love You, God and come to You?
We are all a part of You

Alright, alright, alright
I love You and Buddha too

Oh Jesus, I love You
(I love You, Jesus)
And I love Buddha too
Ramakrishna, Guru Dev
Tao Te Ching and Mohammed

Why do some people say
(I love You, Jesus)
That there is just one way
To love You God and come to You?
We are all a part of You

You are un-nameable
(I love You, Jesus)
You are unknowable
All we have is metaphor
That’s what time and space are for

Is the universe Your thought?
(I love You, Jesus)
You are and You are not
You are many, You are one
Ever ending, just begun

Alright, alright, alright
(I love You, Jesus)
I love You and Buddha too
Alright, alright, alright
(I love You, Jesus)
I love You and Buddha too

Alright, I’m off to Portland soon and I’m looking forward to some beautiful and breath-giving Nature, but I’ll be back next week with lots more to share.  Blessings to all of us and everyone.   Here is ChiSing’s message.  I hope you find it to be positively powerful for you. 

I just sent this message out in the True Yoga Newsletter.  If you don’t currently receive the newsletter, you can sign up for it here.  I will be sending out the seasonal newsletter in about a month as we awaken to Fall.  I’m going to be doing my best to update the True Yoga Blog regularly.  As many of you know, I am writing a book which will be published in the Spring.  I was contacted by a reputable publisher to write a book about healthy living practices and I’m absolutely thrilled about it and completely grateful.  What a blessing to be able to express myself and share in this way with others.  I’m looking forward to sharing the powerful and profoundly positive teachings, wisdom and practices which have come into my life over the last 10 years since I began practicing Yoga.  My life has been blessed by all of the awesome teachers I’ve learned from along the way since I began the practice of Yoga and I hope this book will bless and enrich other people’s lives, as well, in every way.

So, if the posts on the True Yoga Blog are slightly less frequent for the next several months, it’s because I’m spending much of my time writing the book.  Although, I’m hopeful I’ll still be able to update it somewhat regularly, at least every week…

Also, there’s a product I tried recently and thought was great.  It’s called Ultima Replenisher.  If you like sports drinks, you’ll like this.  What I love about it, though, is it is the only 100% natural, non-GMO, gluten, sugar, and dye free electrolyte beverage on the market (you can find it in most Whole Food stores or visit the website at www.ultimareplenisher.com).

If you love drinking energy drinks when you are in a hot Yoga class, you’ll love this.  It isn’t too sweet, either, but I definitely felt energized after.  Thank you to the people at Ultima Replenisher for sharing this product with us. 

Here is the message from the newsletter.  Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll be back soon.  Jai guru-Victory to the Light. 

I really enjoyed being on the news last Friday and sharing about meditation. Thank you to Good Morning Texas for having us on the program. If you haven’t seen the segment, you can watch it here. Developing a consistent meditation practice is one of the most powerful tools for aligning with positive growth and change in our lives. One of the messages I felt was so important to share with everyone, when I was on the news, is the importance of meditating in a group. I’ve been meditating in a group consistently for over 2 years. I also study the meditation lessons from the Self-Realization Fellowship, which were written by Paramahansa Yogananda, a teacher to Gandhi, George Harrison and thousands and thousands of other spiritual seekers. The meditation lessons are about a 3-5 year course and they are mailed every two weeks to your home. Interestingly, I just received my most recent lessons in the mail today. I’d like to share with you what the message said because it seems this is a very important message for us to realize now, wherever we are in our spiritual journey. By meditating with a community in a group, you will find you are strengthened in amazing ways. Here is the message from the self-Realization Fellowship:

“Many followers of the Self-Realization teachings have found that there is great value in meditating together with others who are seeking God. In group meditation each individual is strengthened by the combined effort of the whole. “The proximity of others’ spiritual vibrations,” Paramahansa Yogananda said, “has the power of raising your own. Meditating with other devotees thus helps you to quicken your evolution. They inspire you on your climb up the ladder of Self-Realization; and you, by your example, can also be helpful to them.”

So, where can you go to meditate in a group? There are two incredible groups I am familiar with and have been practicing meditation with in Dallas. I attend meditations at both the Self-Realization Fellowship center in Irving and also at the Dallas Meditation Center in Richardson. Both of these centers have been really powerful in my life. I attribute many of the positive changes which have happened in the last couple of years to being a part of a spiritual community and meditation group. If you haven’t yet meditated in a group, or if you haven’t yet began your meditation journey, I really recommend attending one of these groups to learn more. If you have any question, please feel free to email me at leanne@trueyogainc.com

Also, I will be teaching a special 90 minute Yoga Flow class at Tsada Yoga this evening. Although I am not regularly on the schedule at Tsada, I’m really looking forward to teaching this class this evening. I love the community, energy and spiritual vibe at Tsada. It is such a positive community of spiritually-inspired people. I’m looking forward to teaching there and being connected to everyone through the positive power of the breath that unites us all. Here is a little description of tonight’s class:

WHAT? All levels yoga flow with guest teacher Leanne Hall
WHEN? Thursday, August 19 ~ 6:45 to 8:15 PM
WHERE?Tsada Yoga
WHO? Everyone! You, your friends and family! Everyone!
HOW MUCH? This class is part of our regular schedule. Monthly members, Tsada tickets, drop-ins and all intro specials welcome!

Soak yourself in Prana and the Divine current of Life, the breath. Realize the magnetic power of the mind and heart as it aligns with the breath to align you with your deepest wishes and desires as you offer to life the greatest offering of love, peace and healing in this moment, this breath. We will shaktify ourselves in delicious movement that will have your body, mind and heart/spirit feeling reborn and renewed with each inhale and exhale as we bow to life and all with gratitude in the soul.

Om namah shivaya gurave

Tsada Yoga
1409 South Lamar Loft 745
Dallas, Texas 75215
(214) 616 – 2450
www.tsadayogadallas.com
barb@tsadayoga.com

And, I hope you’ll join our incredible Dallas Yoga community this Saturday as we gather at Cowboys Stadium for a special Yoga event featuring spiritually-inspired musician Wade Morissette. (Alanis Morissette’s brother) All of the details are posted on the True Yoga Blog. It’s going to be an amazing event as we practice Yoga together and move to this amazing music. Part of the proceeds support the Susan G. Komen fund. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Have a wonderful weekend. I will be sending out the True Yoga Newsletter in about a month as we make another sacred seasonal transformation from Summer to Fall. May we know God’s abundance in our lives as the harvest of our souls devotion flows forth with every breath we breathe.

I loved this last sentence from the most recent SRF meditation lesson I received so I will share it with you here. May we feel the cosmic vibration of OM resonating in everyone and everything.

“May God and Guru guide all your spiritual efforts and bless your life with ever deeper realizations of Their presence.“- Self-Realization Fellowship

And so it is.

And, thank you to Tracy who is the owner of Yoga Balance Studio in McKinney, TX for sharing this quote with all of us, too. I love this…thank you, Tracy.

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”- Theodore Roosevelt

Oh, one more thing.  An awesome Yoga retreat being led by two Yoga teacher friends in the Dallas community.  Here is the info: 

(Picture of hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons practicing Yoga.  I read Russell’s book, Do You! a couple of years ago and it was awesome.  Russell has actually practiced Yoga at exhale spa in Dallas where I teach.  How awesome is that.  We love you Russell.  Thank you for being and sharing your Light in the world and reminding us we have it within ourselves to shine it, too.) 

I’ll be out of town this weekend visiting a friend.  But, just wanted to write a short post.  Also, I’m really looking forward to being on Good Morning Texas in the morning.  I’ll be appearing on Channel 8 in Dallas between 8:30 am and 10:00 am cst.  I’m sure the clip will be posted on their website and I will hopefully be able to post it here, too.  They are doing a segment related to meditation because of the new and highly anticipated movie Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts, as I’m sure we all know by now, that will be coming out this weekend.  Yea!  I’m really looking forward to seeing it.  Meditation is powerful.  Meditating in a group is even more powerful.  I’ve realized this over the last couple of years that I’ve been meditating regularly with a group of advanced meditators.  It’s amazing the powerful changes it’s supported me in making in my life and, also, how it’s allowed me, as Russell talks about, to transform my inner world to realize a better outer world.  One love.  Compassion.  Loving kindness with all beings.  This is the way of Yoga.  I hope you enjoy this video.  Much love to all of you.  Thank you for being in touch through the True Yoga Blog.  I feel and appreciate your support through this growing community of like-minded, spirited readers everyday, wherever you may be in the world.   Jai guru~Victory to the Light. 

Please click here for the video.

I’ll be back to write my own post shortly. Things have been busy. I am officially writing a book! I have signed the publishing contract and I will begin shortly.  The book will be published next Spring.  This is a dream come true.  Om namah shivaya gurave.  It reminds me of that song by Journey, Don’t Stop Believin.’  Anything really is possible and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise, because it is.  As Pattabhi Jois, the great Father of Ashtanga Yoga says, practice, and all is coming.   I often say the comma after the word practice is very important.  That’s where we take time to breathe and be patient in life.  I know we sometimes want it to all happen right away, but it happens when we are ready.  The poses come to us when we are ready to receive them.

So, anyhow, here’s another great Yoga article written by the beautiful Yogini Melina Meza.  I would love to share more with you about what I learned from the talk I went to about POWA: The Yoga of Death and Dying.  It was fascinating.  I’ll post something about that in the near future.  In the meantime, enjoy this article and I’ll be back soon.  This evening, I’ll be attending a Spiritweaves event here in Dallas.  I attended this conscious movement workshop last year and it was incredible.  I can feel the dance already moving in me and the Flow of life yearning to be free.  I will let it flow through me and I will let myself let go and flow freely.  Have a wonderful weekend… 

Sweet, sweet summertime—Balance the heat with a Yin practice
-Melina Meza, BS, Nutrition, RYT-500

In the summer, which is a Yang time of year from the Taoist perspective, we fill up on solar energy and re-charge our internal batteries. During the summer months, it is wise to highlight or guide attention to the heart, small intestines, stomach and spleen. These organs often work overtime in the summer, promoting efficient blood circulation, temperature regulation, digestion and hormone secretion as well as absorbing nutrients from what we bring into our body through food and the senses. 

With extra heat and longer days, it is easy to dry up, get angry, irritated or exhausted, especially if work and play are not in balance.  So, why not take time to complement what’s going on outside in nature with relaxed, slow, cooling movements, maintaining a playful attitude or even closing your eyes during your asana practice to avoid being competitive with others or yourself? Slow down and move from your intuition, listen from within, to grow and mature during this season of abundance. 

Dropping into the restorative aspect of a yoga practice during the summertime encourages us to let go of “trying” to do the pose a certain way and simply lets us be guided intuitively into the right shape or position in order to relax and breathe.

 Summer Yin Yoga Practice

This sequence I am suggesting is a balancing, yin practice in that it promotes easy, slow, quiet, movement that allows you to visualize and feel where your qi, prana or attention is at all times. With practice, your mind and breath come together to move qi or prana into specific places in your body such as the ligaments, connective issue, or organs, deep in the body.

Find a comfortable place to rest on your back before drawing your knees close to your belly. Take a few moments to close your eyes, relax and unwind, before starting the summer yin/restorative practice. 

• Pranayama with a bolster under your spine: pause and relax after each exhale
• Supine twist with bent knees
• Balasana (child’s pose) with forehead resting on hands
• “Reaching under the bed” pose
• Mandukasana (wide knee child’s pose with chest on the floor or bolster)
• Sphinx
• Virasana
• Ardha Matsyendrasana (mellow version)
• Sukhasana (meditation seat) 

 Additional asana sequences, information and products including Melina’s DVD, Yoga for the Seasons, Fall Vinyasa and book, Art of Sequencing can be found at www.melinameza.com

 Thank you for reading the True Yoga Blog.  Om shanti~

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I actually went to a 3 hour discussion on Saturday about death.  It’s  called POWA: The Yoga of Death and Dying.  Perhaps that sounds depressing.  But, it wasn’t.  It was actually fascinating, uplifting and enlightening.  If you are interested, I will share more about what the monk spoke to us about in the days to come.  Death is the number one fear.  And yet, there is no thing to fear, as we know, but fear itself. I did definitely learn, upon death, one should go toward the Light, which is apparently mind-blowingly bright.  The monk said that sometimes people get afraid and turn back or move away from it.  But, he is said it’s very important to go towards the Light, whichever one is the brightest of all, no matter how intense it is. It is important to not be afraid of that Light, but to move into it.  I thought that was helpful information.  And, that was only a small part of all of the incredible information he shared with us.

Also, here is another great Yoga article which was written and submitted by By Aadil Palkhivala,  www.yogacenters.com.  Thank you, Aadil, for sharing your wisdom and inspiration with us.  I hope readers of the True Yoga Blog enjoy this article.  I’ll be back soon to share more with you in the Divine days to come.  Blessings~

Sixty Times Per Second?   By Aadil Palkhivala

One night, Savitri and I were fast asleep in our home in Bellevue. Out of the blue, we both woke up at the same time and looked at each other.  

“Did you feel that? Do you feel peaceful suddenly?” I asked her.  

“What happened?” she asked me. I got out of bed to have a look around. It was then that we noticed why we suddenly felt so relaxed and peaceful. The power had gone out! It is so easy to forget how good it feels to be away from the influence of electricity, radiation waves, and magnetic fields.  

Remember how peaceful it feels to walk in a forest? This is in large part because the body is not being agitated by electromagnetic energy fields. The body responds to energy fields without interpretation: it cannot help but respond and cannot NOT be manipulated by the currents of electricity. When a wire passes close to me, it is sending out a magnetic field in a certain direction. When the electricity runs on an Alternating Current (“AC”), the direction of the movement alternates 60 times per second…

There are two dangerous responses to this current that happen in the body. The first is in the blood. Because of the iron molecules in our blood, the blood is forced to move in the direction of the electricity. That means my blood is also being forced to change “direction” 60 times per second! This is very agitating to the body.  

The second is the nerves. Our nervous system is electric and is directly affected by AC. The nervous system becomes exhausted and can no longer protect us from stress. The brain, which is the central nervous system, is being affected to the point that there are now more youth deaths from brain tumors than other forms of cancer. Brain tumors are on the rise in the last 10 years, immediately after cell phone use (which use microwave frequencies) has taken off.  

DC, or direct current, only moves in one direction and so does not agitate the blood and nerves like AC. However, DC does not travel as far along wires, and therefore cannot be turned into a marketable commodity in the way the AC has in this country! There is much more to this story, but consider this: the light bulbs that Edison created are still working in his home today – they have never run out and they run on, you guessed it, DC! Imagine the possibilities if our country was run on DC power instead of AC…. 

So, what do we do to protect ourselves against radiation, microwaves, electricity and magnetic fields?  First, we must NOT worry! In fact, worrying causes more damage than the EMFs!  Second, make sure you are safe, without worrying! One simple, effective, and free thing to do is to move your bed about 6-8 inches away from the walls. Since most homes have wires running in the walls, this will eliminate exposure to your head for the 6-9 hours a day you are sleeping. Also, in the bedroom, move any electric clocks away from your head – battery clocks are fine.  

Here are some other ways to protect yourself: 

• Of course, do not eat or use a microwave oven. Even electric ovens emit high amounts of EMFs, so try not to stand near them for too long when they are on.
• Don’t stand between a cordless phone and its receiver, so the transmitted waves do not move through your body.
• Unplug equipment you are not using.
• Use an air-tube head set on your cell phone. (See our recent article on cell phone dangers and the work of Dr. George Carlo: “What the Cell Phone Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know”)
• Exercise and deep breathing keep cells healthy by moving nutrients and oxygen into the body, and moving metabolic waste and old cells out of the body. Use cleansing nutrition like Fortune Delight and Calli.
• Visit the EMF Safety Superstore at www.lessemf.com for Trifield Meters, Faraday bed screens, and many other products that protect the body from EMFs.
• For more information, visit www.electropollution.org. I highly recommend this informative website.”

Hi…wow…so I’m catching up from my family having been in town for over a week.  It was really good to see them.  I’m grateful for all the time we got to spend together and the time I got to spend with my nieces and nephews, too.  They are really awesome.  They are 12, 13 and 15 and live in Ohio.  I hadn’t seen them in a year. It was really powerful for me to realize they are a connection to my father, also.  It’s almost like I had forgotten he had made such an impact on their lives, as well, until I saw them this last week.  I felt like my father’s spirit was with us and very much alive in my connection with them.  I felt like my dad lives on in their hearts and minds simply through their rememberance of him.  They are the children of my sister who is my half-sister through our mother.  So, while they are not related to my father in blood, I realized this doesn’t matter, at all.  They are completely related to him in Spirit. 

This was something my father reminded me of before he passed away.  We were having a discussion one day about raising children and what my life might look like.  I talked about the possibility of having a child versus adopting a child and he said to me that whether you adopt a child or have a child, the child becomes your own either way.  It’s not the blood that connects us, ultimately.  It’s the spirit.  It’s the spirit that unites us whether that’s in our families, our friends, our country or our world.  And, technically, if we trace it back far enough, we are all connected and related one way or another, I’m sure, I believe that’s true. 

I feel like I have a lot of stuff to share with you, but let’s start here.  Besides the book I’ll most likely be writing…yea…(which will be published in Spring 2011) I’ll also be adding the membership section to the True Yoga Blog and website soon.  (And it will be really affordable…probably like $5/month.)  With the membership section you’ll have access to online Yoga videos with me, and, eventually, other inspiring instructors, as well, plus so much other awesome information, too.  I’m looking forward to bringing you an online store with awesome and inspiring products I love, plus, recipes, wellness coaching and more.  I hope you will find the True Yoga blog and website a community that supports and inspires you in growing well in body, mind, heart and spirit and being the best you can be in every way…physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 

I mentioned I’ll be participating in a Yoga competition.  I didn’t ever think I would be involved in such a thing, but, I am going to participate in a way that’s healthy and balanced, rather than obsessive.  Sometimes I have the tendency to obsess about things, as I’m sure we all do.  When I decided to participate in the competition, I started thinking that meant I should practice Yoga everyday.  So, of course this week I was all inspired to get off the ground running with my Yoga regimen.  But, I realized that’s not healthy.  What’s healthy is to listen to my body and what it wants.  The attainment of perfection is an illusion.  None of us are perfect, that is why we are here.  To learn and grow and to understand how we can be healthier and better.  It’s an illusion to think we can reach some perfect destination.  I was reminded of this quote today while I was teaching Yoga class.  Although, I only knew the first part of this quote.  I didn’t realize there was more to it.  Apparently there is also a book called “Be Happy Without Being Perfect” by someone named Alice E. Domar.  That might be one to check out.  Anyhow, here is all of the quote:

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren’t even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they’re doing it.”
— Anne Lamott (Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life)

In Yoga the intention and direction of one’s practice is to move inward into communion with our Self and Highest Self/the Atman, which means the spirit within.  In fact, Self-Realization Fellowship just wrote about this in their newsletter…

A Simpler Life is a Happier Life

Happiness is not dependent on external circumstances; rather, it is to be found in the simpler joys of life, and most of all in the ever-new bliss of deep meditation….

Be happy by clinging to the simple, true, and lasting soul-joys. They come by deep thinking, introspection, spiritual inspiration, and meditation.

 Don’t Be Manipulated by False Desires

Some people are habitual impulse buyers of things they don’t need. They fritter away their funds. Get in the habit of shopping carefully and buying wisely. If you have some extra money, save it; don’t “hark to the shark” who is always tempting you to hand over your earnings for some new “must-have” gadget or “guaranteed” investment…. Never be cajoled by anybody’s attempt to manipulate you to desire something unnecessary to your real happiness and success.

Simple living and the acquirement of soul peace and joy bring an all-satisfying happiness undreamed-of by the materialist.

Simple Living Means Freedom, Not Deprivation 

Simple living does not mean poverty or poverty consciousness. There are destitute people whose lives are miserable; that is not the ideal of simple living. Simplicity means to be free of desires and attachments, and supremely happy within.  

When the spirit of man mentally renounces desire for objects of this world, knowing them to be illusory, perishable, misleading, and unbecoming to the soul, he begins to find true joy in acquiring permanently satisfying soul qualities. In humbly leading a life of outer simplicity and inner renunciation, steeped in the soul’s heavenly bliss and wisdom, the devotee ultimately inherits the lost kingdom of immortal blessedness. -The Art of Spiritual Living by Paramahansa Yogananda

I love that excerpt from his book.  I’m so glad they shared that in this month’s newsletter.  I also love this quote they shared:

“When you say to me that you can’t do this or that, I don’t believe it. Whatever you make up your mind to do, you can do. God is the sum total of everything, and His image is within you. He can do anything, and so can you, if you learn to identify yourself with His inexhaustible nature.” -Paramahansa Yogananda

So, here is some more fabulous news.  The Dallas Cowboys stadium will be hosting a Yoga event on August 21st and some of the proceeds go to support Susan G. Komen For the Cure.  You can also learn more here.  Basically, the class will be led by a Baron Baptiste trained Yoga instructor from Dallas.  And the music will be by Wade Morissette, who is Alanis Morissette’s brother, and he is awesome.  I love his music.  If you are not familiar with it, you’ve definitely gotta download some of his songs on iTunes.  Some of my favorite songs are Om Narayana, Om Namah Shivaya and Hanumana.  Also there is another great Yoga class and event happening this Saturday at Tsada Yoga.  The event is being led by Deanna Andersen and Steven Haun and it’s called Summer Lovin:  Groovy Yoga Flow and Raw Food Feast.  Sounds like a really fun event.  I may check it out.  We’ll see.   And, of course, I’m a big fan of the renowned motivational leader, Tony Robbins.  Did you know he has a new show called Breakthrough on NBC?  I only caught the last few minutes tonight.  This was the first episode.  Apparently, there will be 5 more episodes and I’ll be tuning into those for sure.  I love him.  He says to watch with your family and friends and remember what you know in your soul…that we are more than anything that can ever happen to us.  Also, this is  a great video to watch of Bob Proctor.  He is one of the contributors to the movie The Secret.  I’ll be back soon to share more with you, until then, have an excellent week.  May God’s grace illuminate our hearts and minds with each breath we breathe and may we know the abundant flow of His love and blessings into our lives.  Om shanti~

Also, here are a couple of quotes by Rev. Lee, the minister of Agape Center for Spiritual Living in Frisco, TX.  If you don’t get his daily thoughts, I highly recommend signing up for them by submitting your e-mail address to their website.  They are always incredibly consciously aligned with the vibration of the day.  I think you will find them relevant and beneficial to your spiritual growth and consciousness. 

This one is from today:

Given the choice of dreaming or worrying which one would you choose? - Rev. Lee

And this one is from yesterday:

In the silence there is peace. In the silence there is wisdom. Listen. - Rev. Lee

And, here is all the info for the Dallas Cowboys stadium Yoga event.  I will definitely be participating in this event

“We will make love an art and we will love like artists.” – Marianne Williamson

Hi   I’m glad I have a few minutes to write on the True Yoga Blog.  So many good things are happening and I love being able to share with you.  It’s amazing to feel all of the positive support from those of you I know and, also, those of you I don’t know or have yet to meet.

First of all, did you see that THE amazing Yogini goddess, Sharon Gannon, commented on the True Yoga Blog in the last post?  I’m so appreciative of and humbled by this gesture.  Thank you for your comment, Sharon, the Divinely inspired and sacred music you have created, and, for the blessings you offered.  Infinite blessings to you, all of us, and our planet, and the spiritually sacred work you are bringing into our world.  It’s amazing to feel connected to you and to feel your support, also.  I look forward to our paths crossing again, in person, in the not so distant future.  In the meantime, I’m grateful for the powerful energy and connection you have shared with all of us through your music, and also, your support of the True Yoga Blog and community.  We are all one…OM. 

So…what’s the good news?  Well…there’s a good chance I will be writing a book.  Yea!  I was contacted by a reputable publishing company last week and we are in the process of finalizing the publishing contract.  The book I’ll be writing is about cleansing, but, it’ll be about more than just that.  (If you want to know more, you’ll have to buy the book. )  I can’t believe I actually get to say that!  lol  For real, though, that’s really awesome.  It will be approximately 50,000 words, which is substantial but also feels manageable…which is good…since this is my first book.  The book will be published by Spring 2011.  What an amazing blessing.  How phenomenol that, just a week ago, I wrote on the True Yoga Blog that I’d like to write a book one day.  Well, it looks like that one day has arrived sooner rather than later.  I am incredibly grateful, humbled, thrilled and inspired with the potential of this vision and intention being realized.  Thanks be to God and guru.  Jai guru. 

A couple of weeks ago, when I was running, (I’ll talk more about running in another post and what the International Yoga Champions had to say about that…nothing bad…just that they felt like they could no longer do it anymore because it was too damaging for their body with where they had grown to in their Yoga practice.  I just attended a Yoga class with the International Yoga Champions, Brandy and Kasper, last week.  It was incredible.  I will share more about all of the inspirations which opened up from that experience, including, that I’ll be participating in the local Yoga competition here in Dallas in October.  The Yoga competition is not about competing with others…it’s about competing with oneself.  It’s about raising the bar for yourself to grow and improve in your practice in all areas of your life.  I finally realized this is what it’s about.  For the last couple of years I was somewhat critical of the idea of a Yoga competition, but, I feel like now I finally understand and get what it’s about.  So, I’m also really looking forward to that.) 

So, back to the incredible blessing of getting to write a book.  A couple of weeks ago I was running with my iPod on shuffle and this track from a talk, which was given by a monk from the Self-Realization Fellowship, came on my iPod.  This reminded me of and speaks to how miraculous God’s grace is in our lives, when, we are open to receiving it.  Do you realize we are living in a mysteriously-miraculous-Divinely Intelligent-molecular reality?  I do.  Well, I do now.  I suppose I always knew this, but now, I realize this.  As the amazing Yogi, Dharma Mittra, says…be receptive to the Grace of God.  Indeed. So, here is what a monk from the Self-Realization Fellowship has to say about that.  The title of this talk is called Faith:  A Cornerstone of Spiritual Living.  Faith is the first quality of enlightenment, also called, Sraddha, in the spiritually inspired and sacred language of Sanskrit.  By saying the wordSraddha, one can awaken faith within themselves.  Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages on the planet.  It is called the language of the Gods.  It was a seen language which invokes the vibrational experience of whatever one is seeking to align with in their hearts and minds.  In other words, the experience of peace carries a vibration, as does, faith, or any other energetic experience, i.e. love, joy, etc.  By saying the word shanti, which means peace, one can awaken to the vibrational experience of peace.  And so it is with faith/sraddha, etc.  It is definitely powerful to say Sanskrit words and mantras to align yourself with the positive vibrations you are seeking to realize physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 

Anyhow, back to the talk given by the monk from SRF.  Here is an excerpt from the CD. 

I’m going to kind of get off course a little bit here and talk about this relationship is not just a one way thing from us to God.  That we’re remembering this relationship.  God plays with us also.  And, I went to India in 1972 and lived there for about 4 years all together.  But, after I had been there for about 4 months, then another devotee arrived from the U.S. and he came to Ranchi where I was and the other monks decided wouldn’t it be nice to take him on an outing into the forest.  (Well, they never took me on an outing into the forest…we just got to working.)  So, we all went to the forest and we took our picnic lunch with us and we decided to, everybody go off on your own, meditate, refresh yourself, and then come back together and we’ll have lunch together.  Well, I was a little late getting back to lunch and they were already eating.  And, this visitor from the U.S.  said, ‘Oh, it’s too bad you are late because you missed the best part.  You missed the swiss cheese sandwiches.’  (laughter) And, I literally went into a state of shock.  I knew there were no swiss cheese sandwiches for hundreds of miles around.  But, it caught me by surprise so much and shock that my face registered real shock.  He was horrified that he had done that to me.  He said, ‘Forgive me, no look, this was just a joke, it’s alright, ya know.’ So, I got over it  (laughter) And, we went back to the ashram and several months went by and one morning about 10:30 in the morning, I was working there, alone, and a lady came in with a great big package about this big.  And, I didn’t know her.  She said, ‘I just came down from Nepal.  And, in Nepal they have wonderful dairies that were created by the Europeans who came to that area.  And, so I have brought from Nepal, all the way on the trains and everything, this for you.’  And, I knew she meant for the ashram but there wasn’t anyone else in the ashram, in the office.  And so I took it and opened it.  It was the biggest hunk of cheese I had ever seen.  Now, we’re talking about developing a relationship here.  And I was immediately embarassed and ashamed.  Because it felt to me that she was standing there, I was standing here, and, I didn’t see anything, but it felt to me as if Guruji (Paramahansa Yogananda) was standing here.  And that He was saying to me, ‘Do you think that if I want you to have cheese…I can’t give it to you?‘  And, so He says I want to hear that you are remembering this relationship that we have.  So, They work on it, too.

Somebody was going through some very heavy tests and he had to go to a meeting and he did not like what was going to be the result of the meeting.  He knew what was going to be ahead of time and God had been trying to tell him, ‘Surrender, surrender, surrender.’  And he slowed down to let a car come out of a shopping center and get in front of him and the sign on the back bumper said, ‘Surrender, let the river flow.‘  And he thought, isn’t that so touching.  God is working from His side on this relationship. 

Well, then, getting back to where we were with positive thinking.  Thinking there’s more, we need to develop a relationship with God.  Then, people can start to think about praying.  And guruji (Paramahansa Yogananda) says such radical changes are possible through prayer.  Because then prayer transcends law.   And God can intervene.  And faith healing, for example.  In faith healing, the person’s attena…guruji called faith an attena that is just reaching out there for the energy of God.  If the person thinks, oh God can’t heal me…it just closes it off.  But, if the antenna says, I know God can do anything that brings that, that allows that intercesion and that healing to take place.- Brother Anilananda

I love that excerpt from Brother Anilananda’s talk.  It really resonated with me when I heard it the other day and reminded me God is capable of anything, of causing any miracle to happen in our life.  But, we do have to do our part, too.  We must have faith and we must be willing to follow the Divine guidance we’re given. 

Also, here is an article I received in a newsletter from another Yogini, Dagmar Spremberg.  I met Dagmar when I led a Yoga retreat in the beautiful Montezuma, Costa Rica, in January 2009.  That was definitely a trip of a lifetime.  What an amazing experience.  If you haven’t ever been to Costa Rica, you’ve gotta go.  I look forward to going back again one day.  But, first, I hope to journey to Thailand and a few other places I’ve been inspired to visit.  This article reminded me to take it one step at a time and to appreciate the beauty in where we are, now, in the journey of life. 

Perfectionism– by Vidya Lahoti www.Vidya.TV

Trying. Striving. Working. Wanting. To become something else? Something better?  These words resonate through my mind over and over again these days. I find myself always making my effort 110%, trying so hard, even struggling at times to push myself to be better. Then a few days ago, as I found myself struggling to stay mindful – struggling to stay present, a small silent question popped into my mind: By striving for perfection, aren’t I assuming that, right now in this moment, I am imperfect? This question spiraled out into a series of mini breakthroughs. How can I truly be present and accept each moment completely if I am assuming that I will reach perfection sometime in the future? 

Even since I’ve arrived here in paradise, Costa Rica, I’ve kept on striving for something more, something even better. And since my surroundings are breathtakingly gorgeous and mother nature cannot be improved upon, my mind has taken on the task of improving myself. I started to examining each of the roles that I’m playing here in this life situation: yoga teacher, traveler, surfer, writer,vartist, friend, daughter, sister. And with each new role, a new and different ideal of perfection to strive for – better surfer, better teacher… better human. The only thing consistent here is the striving, the assumption that right NOW isn’t good enough. 

Self improvement is a way towards more, bigger better and faster – with discontent as our fuel. Spending a lot of time with people on vacation, I notice that they too are in the quest for more. Everyday, looking for more adventure, more luxury, more relaxation, more getaway. We are all in on this game together, each racing ourselves to the next level of achievement, even on vacation. Admittedly, there is a sweet sense of enthusiasm and excitement that flows up along with a new game to play – a new prospect of achieving something. A new excitement however oftener turns into a source of stress and anxiety. So there is a sweet spot to be found, a place between effort and surrender. Enjoy the motivation, enthusiasm of evolution while staying surrendered to the natural rhythmic flow of this evolution.

As a student of yoga, there are always asanas that we strive to achieve. If we let go of all effort, then the passion and excitement of moving forward into new expressions of our body will be lost. Balancing effort with surrender becomes an art form on the mat, dancing on either side to find the middle path. After years of fear and wonder, my first handstand was magic. Eventually I gave up trying so hard and fell into a playful practice – suddenly the handstand was me! It was a glorious afternoon, experiencing a new state of being – experiencing more freedom in my body. So the effort achieve transforms into a journey, marked by the satisfying thrill of discovering new ways of experiencing ourselves. Perfectionism is a creature that often changes shape, promising initially a fulfilling wholesome sense of satisfaction but quickly turning into a slave driver. Pushing  us to constantly dream of a “better” reality in the future. The mellow voice of reason kicks in at the perfect moment – just accept yourself where you are. It is always enough. Breathe a long deep breath. Take a moment to just see where you are, probably it is a place that you had already strived to reach. So breathe into it., accepting yourself exactly where you are. Count the sources of gratitude, recount the blessings that are abundant in your life.

With love

Vidya

In the end

these things matter most:

How well did you love?

How fully did you love?

How deeply

did you learn to let go?

– The Buddha

“If I could wish

for my life to be perfect,

it would be tempting,

but I would have to decline,

for life would no longer teach

me anything.”

– Allyson Jones

Speaking of taking it one step at a time and  enjoying each step fully…I was given a sample of a Yoga inspired product called Kushyfoot.  I love these and think they are a great enhancement to your Yoga practice, especially, if you are challenged with feeling like you slip and slide all over your Yoga mat.  These are toeless socks with traction to help you stay still and stick better in your Yoga poses.  I will definitely use these and they are really affordable.  Sometimes Yoga products can be a little pricey.  I love that Kushyfoot is a great deal.  What an awesome product to support you with finding greater stability and better form in your Yoga practice.  Even though it’s not all about being perfect, it’s still nice to have helpful and supportive tools to help us grow better.  Thanks, kushyfoot.    

I’m still spending all of my free time with my family and loving it.  We’ve enjoyed some really wonderful time together over the last several days.  They will head back to Ohio on Monday.  I may not be back to write before then, so if I’m not, have a wonderful weekend.  I look forward to sharing more soon. 

Blessings~

I could write a lot more, as usual, but I’m going to keep it short tonight.  My sister and her children are coming in a couple of days so I’m helping my mom get ready for their visit.  Her husband and three children will be here for about two weeks.  I’m really looking forward to them being here.  Although family can be stressful sometimes, all-in-all, it’s a blessing.    

What would it look like if every hour, on the hour, instead of worrying or lamenting, we turn out attention toward praying unceasingly for a resolution to the oil spill in the Gulf Coast?  The next time you have a conversation with someone about it, instead of talking about it, pray about it.  How often we talk about the world’s problems, but, how much more powerful it might be if we would simply pray for the resolve we wish to see.  In Yoga, the word Sankalpa means resolution.  The teaching is to ask for the resolution you are seeking and give thanks in advance for the already existant answer, knowing that whatever you have asked has been given in the best way it can be.  Parmahansa Yogananda, well and Jesus, too, and all the great saints and sages, say to pray unceasingly.  I hope you will join me in that. 

I was thrilled to find out that the beloved Yogini, Sharon Gannon, (a Yoga teacher to Sting), is releasing an album…how awesome and inspiring…she really is a goddess. 

“Produced by Ferenz Kallos, the album features eight epic tracks that swathe timeless, powerful mantras in sweeping widescreen settings. By eschewing traditional Indian instrumentation for a layered, ancient-to-the-future sound that crosses electric guitars, strings, electronics, flutes, woodwinds, Theremin, and exotic percussion with hip-hop beats, Sharanam (“refuge” in Sanskrit) offers a contemporary approach to the healing power of mantras— invoking a place of expansive awareness within the listener where the possibility of total acceptance, kindness and love arises, and is felt as totally possible. With Sharanam, Sharon Gannon shows that such a place is indeed real, that it exists within us all. And it sounds absolutely divine.

Sharon Gannon is an enchanting chantress with a celestial operatic soprano voice imbued with the kinetic, rock and roll grit of Siouxsie Sioux, as well as the elegance of Sarah McLachlan and Kate Bush with the experimentalism of Bjrok. Although she wouldn’t be comfortable saying it herself, some might call Sharon Gannon a rock star of the yoga world. The co-founder of the pivotal Jivamukti Yoga method, she’s known worldwide as an influential spiritual teacher. Sharon is a 21st-century Renaissance woman, one who excels in many disciplines, such as dance, writing, poetry, painting, cooking, and political activism. But before everything else—even yoga—her first medium is, and has always been, music.   

Creatively and musically Sharanam, her debut solo album is a milestone—the crossroads of kirtan and mainstream Pop where so many have tried to go—this record crosses the threshold appealing to both yoga practitioners and club DJs.  Sharon sings passionately and beautifully, with a deep, profound resonance that cuts across myriad genres; rock, trance/dance, electronica, New Age, underground/alternative, classical, experimental/avant-garde, world music, even opera. Sting calls the album “inspired, daring and essential.”-www.arielpublicity.com

Sting has this to say:

Of all human endeavors, music is perhaps closest to representing the world of the spirit. In music we attempt to render into form what is essentially formless, we attempt to describe what is beyond description, to frame silence, to measure infinity. This work has been Sharon’s mission not only in her practice of Yoga but also in the practice of music, where she applies the same dedication to the pursuit of the ineffable as she brings to her yoga practice, inspired, daring and essential.” – Sting, musician

I’ve been incredibly inspired by Sharon over the years and definitely consider her one of my teachers.  I’m friends with one of her dearest students, Deanna Andersen, who is an inspired and gifted Yoga teacher here in Dallas.  I’m so grateful to know her.  She has been a dear friend and an incredible teacher to me, as well.  I’ve been listening to some of the tracks from the album and I love them.  If you are a teacher, I highly recommend downloading this album.  And, if you are a practitioner or a lover of all things that are divinely inspired and spiritual, you will love this music.  Thank you, Sharon, for sharing your beautiful heart and spirit with us and for showing us how to live with that Divine Light of unconditional love, compassion and devotion in our hearts.  To listen to some of the tracks from Sharanam, please click here.

“Sharon Gannon has a heart that embraces the universe, and just as big. Emanating a boundless love and compassion for every living creature, she carries out her mission to heal the world every moment of every day through her yoga practice, her writing, her day to day living and through her music. Sharon believes in what she sings, and sings what she believes in-Love.” John Zorn, musician/ composer

The only life raft here is love and the Name.  Say it brother, O, say the divine Name, dear sister, silently as you walk. – Hafiz

I’ll be  back soon to share more with you on the True Yoga Blog.  Have a blessed rest of the week.  Om shanti, namaste~

(This pic of me was just taken last weekend at my friend Brianna’s going away party.  She will be managing the new exhale spa in Atlanta.  Yea Brianna.:)  I love that I’ve got a fork and a glass of wine in my hand…food and wine, in moderation, can also be helpful in spreading happiness, at times. )

Hi. How is everyone out there in the web of the wide world? So, I did indulge a little over 4th of July weekend and I spent the last week purifying myself from all of that. Can you believe I ate meat?  A big, smoked pork spare rib and some pork tenderloin.  I enjoyed it when I ate it but I felt really gross after.  I’ve been a vegetarian, basically, since 2003. I was inspired to go vegetarian by someone I was seeing at the time. My first ‘official’ boyfriend. Side note…I also didn’t have sex, officially, until I was 24. That’s also when I went to my first Tony Robbins seminar, perhaps these events are all connected in some way. I have a Tony Robbins story to share with you, but I’ll save that for another time.  I dated in high school and all that, and I had ‘experiences’ but I didn’t really have sex until just 8 years ago.  What a whirlwind it’s been in the last 8 years, too. I know being sexually involved with people definitely had a lot to do with that, some very healthy relationships and also some very dramatic relationship. I guess you gotta take the good, with all of it, to sort it all out and find out what’s best. A close friend of mine says he believes we all have to go through having that one, really bad, toxic relationship. By going through an experience like that it teaches us about what we really want and what is best for us. I agree with him. I had two really dramatic relationships. The rest were pretty balanced and healthy whether it was with a man or a woman, at the time. I’m committed to having only healthy, balanced relationships from this point forward, because life is too short for anything else.  I love that quote by Rev. Lee:

“Life is too short for drama and playing small.  So forgive quickly, laugh often and love deeply.”

Several posts back, I expressed that I was going to be letting myself open up and share with you, and obviously, I still intend to do so. I’m so inspired by the evolution of the True Yoga Blog…what it is now…and the potential I see for how it will grow to create this wonderful community of like-minded people who are inspired to be real and true and grow in positive ways with ourselves and with everyone else. Yea! Om namah shivaya gurave. (I offer myself to the goodness within the heart, the eternal teacher. It also means, I see the goodness in everyone and everything including myself.)

I also believe I will write a book. I’m getting inspired by ideas of what I would like to express and share. Much of it is related to my own life experience.  I dealt with some challenges as a child, as I’m sure many of us have, and I am still learning how and why it impacted me and my relationships with others.  When I was a child, I experienced, not sex, but, some inappropriate sexual touching, between myself and someone else, that was very difficult and confusing for me .  While it was innocent in nature, it was still difficult to process all of that and it’s been a journey over the last 8 years allowing myself to open up to love and intimacy and trust, in all of my relationships, and to let the people I love in, as I understood how all of that impacted me and the way I relate to others.  But, I have experienced much healing and I’m grateful for where I am today.  I have many perceptions about life and healing that I feel inspired to share with others, and perhaps, it will help others to understand their own struggle and journey of healing (learning how to let go of the shame, guilt and ugliness one feels from having gone through something like that) and discovering how to love and have respect for oneself.  That is the path I am on today, loving, not only my neighbor, but mySELF.  Thank you for allowing me to share all of that.  I still find I feel afraid at time of being judged, but gradually, I’m able to let that go more and more.  We are all healing from experiences we have gone through in life.  Before a person comes to understand themselves and has emotional awareness, they often suppress many of their emotions related to their experiences.  It doesn’t always have to be something that seems major.  As Rod Stryker would say, it can be something as seemingly insignificant as having gotten a B instead of an A on a paper in school.  Do you remember that feeling?  Perhaps feeling humiliation or sadness, but not wanting to show it or your classmates to see?  I remember feelings like that.  He says the 2nd Chakra (which is the center that’s connected to our reproductive organs) is the emotional storehouse of the body.  Yoga helps to open up and move those emotions through us, from the past and present, so we can heal and understand ourselves, which then allows us to relate to everyone else in a better way, including ourselves.  The great mystic poet Kabir says, take care of yourself, it is you who you have to know. I have been with women and with men.  I started dating women after my first boyfriend.  The spiritual teacher, Michael Brown, says sexual intimacy brings all of our emotions to the surface.  It is the unearthing of our emotional self.  All of our stuff comes up.  So, after experiencing that intimacy with my first boyfriend, I began to have realizations about myself and remembrances of things that had happened from my past, that I had suppressed and hadn’t ever spoken about.  I didn’t ever think I would be involved with a women, but when that possibility began to open up within me and around me, I allowed myself to explore the connection I was feeling.  And, I am grateful I did.  Although I have been seeing a man more recently in my life, the relationships I have had with women allowed me a space to be vulnerable and feel all of the emotions I needed to feel from the experiences of my past.  I can not say all of the emotions are gone, but I have experienced a tremendous amount of healing.  It was scary being with a woman, at first.  It’s hard to believe I actually went through having that experience.  But, coming out was the most liberating experience, because now I really do feel free to be me and I know I am loved and accepted for who I am, whether I am with a man or a woman.  That’s liberation.  I can follow my heart, thank God.   I have sought out counseling over the last several years.  One of my counselors, the one who helped me to understand I am bisexual, (for a long time I struggled with whether I was ‘gay’ or ’straight’) said one of her clients, who is bisexual, spent many years with a man, and then many years with a woman.  While maybe a lot of the world is used to this, I grew up with quite a sheltered life.  I was not exposed to sexual diversity until I was in college.  I believe our souls have seasons.  Over the years I have known, both men and women, who have gone from having been gay to being with someone of the opposite sex, and, vice versa, from being with someone of the opposite sex to being in a same-sex relationship.  Life is like a box of chocolates.  Although, I am looking forward to being in a long-term, committed relationship and, hopefully, raising a child one day.  I’m looking forward, now, to the opportunity to raise a family with someone I love.  I feel God is preparing me to bless my life with this.  All of my experiences have led me to here to be ready for that relationship I will really cherish with all of my heart.  And, I’m so grateful.  As that song by Lifehouse says, in the pain there is healing.  Indeed.  Again, sometimes it is a little scary to share all of this, still, but what am I supposed to write about…some poses?  Yoga is not poses…Yoga is life.  The Yoga poses are the expressions of all of the experiences of life we have grown through and are growing through being ever-ripened, along the way, to love ever-increasingly and selflessly everyone and everything, from our families, our lovers, our friends, our enemies, our animals, our planet and everything else in between. 

So, back to the meat eating, I have been a vegetarian for the past 8 years, occasionallly, here or there I would eat a bite of meat.  But, in general, I wouldn’t eat any meat at all, only fish.  There’s also been times where I’ve given up fish, too.  I find that very difficult, though. 

There are so many opinions about being a vegetarian and practicing Yoga.  I think a lot of Yoga practitioners go through a vegetarian phase.  Dharma Mittra and many other Yoga teachers believe we must practice vegetarianism for ethical reasons.  They believe that in order to practice Ahimsa (non-violence) it is best for one to not eat meat.   Ahimsa is one of the Universal Vows or Yamas, which is the first limb of the eight-limbed path of Yoga called Ashtanga Yoga.  The eight-limbed path of Yoga was prescribed by Patanjali, the Father of Yoga, around 500 BC.  You can learn more about that here.

But, there are many Yoga teachers like Shiva Rea or Rod Stryker who have different opinions about the vegetarian thing.  Shiva was a vegetarian, but when she became pregnant with her child Jai, which I believe was about 12 years ago, she realized her body was craving meat.  So, she started eating meat again.  I’m pretty sure she still does.  A friend of mine and she were hanging out in Brazil for Carnival about a year and a half ago, and apparently when they were out on the streets in their costumes, Shiva was running around saying, “Chicken on a stick, chicken on a stick, I gotta get some chicken on a stick.”  That’s funny.  She was eating salmon back in January when I attended a Yoga workshop with her in Austin.  I’m always interested in those things…what the person eats, drinks, does, etc.  When I attended a Yoga workshop with Dharma Mittra a couple of years ago I asked him what he eats and if he drinks alcohol.  He eats a lot of raw food.  He said he ate only raw food for a year once to see how he would feel and he said he felt incredible.  His skin glowed and was smooth like a baby.  He told me when he goes to Brazil, (which is where he is from although he has lived in Manhattan for a long time) he will sometimes drink just a little of an alcohol that comes from a fruit there.  (I’m not sure what it is, if you know, please post a comment and let us know.) He said he always feels it right away and then he just goes into a nice long Savasana.  I loved that.  So, ya, Dharma does drink a little alcohol, apparently. 

Rod Stryker also was a vegetarian.  He has been practicing Yoga for 30 years and he has been given the title of Yogarupa which means one who embodies Yoga.  When I attended a Yoga training with him last July, he said he was a vegetarian for a long time, but then it was too hard for him to practice that lifestyle with all of his work-related traveling.  So, he eats meat now and he says he sees all food, no matter what it is, as Light.  Because, in reality, everything is energy, ultimately and it’s neither created nor destroyed.  And, of course, all energy is Light.  So, the idea that something is killed and dies is really an illusion, ultimately.  Energy doesn’t ever die…we don’t every die. 

How Fascinating the idea of death can be. Too bad, though, because it just isn’t True. – Hafiz 

As for myself, I sometimes enjoy the taste of meat, but, I really don’t like how I feel when I eat it.  A bite or two is fine, but in larger quantities it has me feel bloated and lethargic.  When I ate meat over 4th of July weekend, I noticed my breath became shallow.  I was very aware of it when I was sleeping.  I didn’t associate it with having eaten meat at the time, but, a couple of days later I was talking with a student from class who mentioned she also notices it affects her breath when she eats meat.  I also feel like it just sticks in my body for a long time and takes a long time for my body to digest.  However, I understand the flavors can be desirable sometimes.  Even though I can sometimes understand that craving, other than a whimsical moment, meat doesn’t really appeal to me.  (I think sometimes those whimsical moments happen because I long to feel some kind of connection to familiar memories from my childhood when I did eat meat.  So, it brings back those warm feelings if I eat it.  My family loved pork spare ribs from this particular Chinese Food restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio.  So, at my father’s funeral reception my mom had gotten some of those spare ribs and I ate some and it did have me feel connected to my dad and memories of him.  It was comforting.)

My reasons for not eating meat are not because of ethical reasons.  They are more because I feel better and lighter when I don’t eat meat.  Although, the idea of eating an animal that has been killed isn’t particularly appealing.  They also say when we eat meat, we ingest the energy of the animal and all of its karma.  If the animal was feeling fear or anxiety when it died we consume that fear.  It really does make sense…even the idea that eating meat could affect one’s breath.  If everything is energy, and you consume that energy, beyond the cells, it’s, ultimately, the molecules that are respirating, on some level.  That’s sort of a deep thought, but I’m pretty sure you are following me.

However, if someone is going to eat meat, I think it is best they eat organic meat or meat that comes from humane animal practices.  I am completely against the inhumane treatment of animals.  That is heartbreaking.  It’s difficult to know what kind of meat you are eating when you eat out at a restaurant, but, if you are going to prepare meat at home, I believe it’s best to at least consume organic meat or meat that comes from humane farming practices. 

Beyond that, if you are going to eat meat, I suggest you eat it in moderation.  I’m hoping to learn more and more about vegan cuisine.  I would love to learn how to prepare vegan meals.  In time, you will be able to participate in an affordable online membership with the True Yoga Blog which will give you access to Yoga classes, health and wellness coaching, other inspirational online videos, nutrition, recipes, inspiration and much, much more.  I’m REALLY looking forward to the evolution of the True Yoga Blog.  I’m thrilled I get to share all of this incredible information and inspiration with you.  I will be recording incredible music and posting videos of that and so many other things.  I’m so grateful for all of you who continue to inspire me to grow in the best way possible, too.  Thank you for the Light you are reflecting back to me, my own potential and Truth, even through the world wide web. 

So, my mom was cleaning out some files and organizing some things because my sister and her family, who live in Columbus, Ohio are coming this Friday to visit for a couple of weeks.  As she was going through things, she found a video that had my father in it.  It was a video from 1988.  I’ve been missing my dad so much recently.  Something I’ve learned through the loss of my father is that grief is very unpredictable and the greatest strength comes from letting myself be vulnerable and real.  I used to feel like I had to cover up my emotions if I was feeling sad.  I used to think sadness or grief was ugly.  Now I see emotions as beautiful.  I’m no longer afraid to show my emotions to others.  If I’m feeling sad I will feel sad and I’ll let others see that.  That is also liberating and healing to just let myself be real and be myself.  I no longer feel like I have to cover up because I’m ashamed to feel what I feel, or, to have other people feel comfortable.  Michael Brown also talks about this:

After these crying sessions we are to nurture ourselves, actively confirming that this releasing experience is something wonderful, necessary, and liberating.

This is especially important when coming from a “children should be seen and not heard” environment.

Too often, during childhood, we are admonished for venting our grief, or given treats to sedate us from causing the adults around us to feel uncomfortable by reflecting their unresolved grief through the flow of our tears.

Or, we witnessed others treated this way when they exhibited their sorrows.

Because we are now in the process of neutralizing this negative programming, we are encouraged to let ourselves know that any crying we experience while cleansing our emotional body calls for celebration.

Through our crying, stagnant energy drains and makes room for a new flow of vibrant life force. – Michael Brown

It was good to see my dad on the video, but it was also sad.  It had me miss him even more in some ways.  Even though I know his spirit is with me, I miss his physical presence so much.  I would give anything to be able to see him, hug him, talk to him…he was the best.  In time, I’m also going to make a special section on the True Yoga Blog where you can see videos of my dad.  You’ll understand when you do.  He had an amazing spirit.  I would love to be able to share it with you in more ways than just through me.

Anyhow, my mom found this thing my dad had typed up.  Apparently, it’s something someone wrote, although I’m not sure who.  This is definitely something my dad lived by, though.  I know he practiced this in his company he had for over 30 years.  It was an advertising agency called Mills Hall Walborn or MHW.  Speaking of meat, one of their clients was Honeybaked Ham.  It’s kind of ironic his Yogi daughter grew up to be a vegetarian, for the most part.  My family loved the Honeybaked Hams.  We always had them at all the holidays.  The family who owns Honeybaked Ham were longtime friends of my father’s, obviously.  The son, who is also an owner, spoke at my father’s funeral.  It was amazing to hear how they credit much of the success of their company to my father.  Apparently, way back in the day, when Honeybaked Ham was just forming, my dad helped them to put together marketing plans.  My dad also flew airplanes, among many other things.  He was an incredible guy.  He lived life to the fullest for 81 years.  He is my role model and inspiration.  And, he was my best friend.   Anyhow, this was what my mom found.  I loved it.  So, I wanted to share it with you.

“So how do you go about becoming a good leader?  Professor Bennis’ short course:  “Be yourself.  Figure out what you’re good at.  Hire only good people who care.  Treat them just the way you want to be treated.  Switch from macro to maestro.  Identify your one or two key objectives or directions.  Ask your coworkers how to get there.  Listen hard.  Get out of their way.  Cheer them.  Count the gains.  Start right now.

Spread happiness WHERE you go, not when.” – Author unknown

That’s what my dad was, perhaps, most amazing at…spreading happiness wherever he went with his big, bright, beautiful, toothy grin smile.  I love you, Dad.  Thank you for everything you gave me and taught me and still teach me, but most of all, thank you for your Love. 

(Of course my family had no idea there was anything like that going on at all.  It happened between the ages of 4 and 6.  They would have stopped it if they had known.  It can cause a lot of confusion for a child, and even as an adolescent or adult. (as in my own experience)  I believe the best practice, as a parent, is to be able to talk to your children about these things.  Whether you suspect it could be a possibility or not, I would suggest asking a child if he/she has ever experienced any kind of inappropriate touching from anyone.  It’s important to be able to have open, honest, real communication with children and to let go of the fear of talking about things.  I believe it’s fear that causes things like this to continue to happen.)

I’ll be back soon with more to share.  I’m hoping the first online Yoga video with me will be available on the True Yoga Blog in the next couple of weeks.  Oh, there was a fabulous article that was published about underwater Yoga and me in a magazine in India called Waves Magazine, India’s only pool, spa, patio magazine.  The first issue will be released, internationally, later this month.  That’s me in those two small pictures.  (I’ll post a bigger picture of the article soon.)  I’m so grateful for this article and the people at Waves who found the underwater pictures that were taken of me (that I had posted on the True Yoga Blog), by the awesome photographer, Kathleen Wilke.  It’s pretty cool I get to be in their first issue.  Thank you to all of the people at Waves.  

Blessings and healing to all of us and to our planet, especially the waters in the Gulf.  Let us all pray for the resolution so the spill may be stopped completely.