Sonic Bliss Yoga™

Namaste Friends,

How can we keep peace within when the world is being turned upside down, when the country and friends and family seem to be in a deep division? After my initial reactions to the elections, I find myself drawing inward more. First, I have to find my center, my connection to Ultimate Reality and then I can take that connection outward. At the basis of the yoga practice is the tenant that we are all sparks of divine light, it is this spark, this luminosity that we all share. Even when hate is being spewed, there is a light underneath. It's trying to shine but its so clouded: with hate, mistrust, fear and the list goes on.

I have thought about things I have never considered and about people that sadly have been left behind in this country. How can this even be when the country has so much wealth? I actually am not sure the President Elect's policy's will help these people but now I think about how I can. How can I be of service to these people and others? This is a call to action for me. To dedicate myself to healing lives, helping others, AND standing up for what I believe is right. 

But what I needed and what I continue to need is to come within, every day, every single day, multiple times a day, to remind myself that I can rest in the ground of all existance.  I am part of the universal light of love. To help remind ourselves of this, I am posting an 8 minute video on my members page that is part of my hour long video called "Yoga + Mantra = Sonic Bliss Yoga." In it we go through a series of movements with mantras to ground us into the sacred earth and then flow like water with what we have been given. 

Click HERE to go to the members page, sign up to be a member for free and get the 8 minute video and another free video download on the power of Om.

At first, my reaction was through the filter of anger. Now, my actions will be through the filter of love. When you put out hate, hate comes back to you. Your words carry energy. As I relearn these lessons, I pray that my elected leaders in government do the same or I will be resisting powerfully but lovingly. Namaste and Om.

What are the most powerful sound practices for you? Is it listening to music? Making music? Chanting Om or the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra? Share your journey with me. Namaste!! xoxo

As we shift into the winter season, its easy to want to run from the cold dark days and fill ourselves with activities and stimulation. However, this is a wonderful time to really look inside using your inner vision. Take a few moments or more to sit or even lie down to breathe and listen, use a mantra and listen. When you feel your mind quiet just be, when it gets active go back to a mantra...Om perhaps or even Peace or Love....Start this in the morning and then take meditation breaks of a few moments throughout the day. This will help you to reconnect to your spirit. You will be as the lotus flower, digging its roots deep into the earth and nourishing itself in order to reach and grow and bloom up to the light. This is a time to get closer to the mystery of life. Then, amidst the holiday busyness we can share with others true PEACE from within.

Do not go to the garden of flowers!

O friend! go not there;

In your body is the garden of flowers.

Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus

And  there gaze on the Infinite

Beauty.  (Kabir)

Peace Out and Happy Holidays!

As I ready for the delights of the holiday season, I notice that very early on my mind gets very very active with some anxiety over the "to do" list which includes preparing for a kirtan. All good things to come but soooo much to do. For others, the holidays can bring on sadness, missing people and assessing where you are in life as the year ends. Your mind is very powerful which is why Pantanjali says in his yoga sutras, "Yogas Cittas Vritti Nirodhah." Yoga is the ending of the flux in the mind. But how do we get to that point??

One of my favorite ways to cleanse my very active mind is mantra recitation and chanting in general. Choose something that feels right to you. Om Namah Shivaya (Bowing to the power of change) Om Dum Durgayai Namaha (bowing to your power) Om Sri Maha Lakshmiyai Namaha (invoking abundance) Om Shanti Om (invoking peace) as examples. But never underestimate the profoundness of the Om. Bask in the Om. Chant it aloud, Whisper it and take it internal. And then listen for your own internal sound uncovered under the chatter.

The Warrior

The warriors tame

The Beasts in their past.

So that the nights hoofs

Can no longer break the jeweled vision 

In the heart. 

The Intelligent and the brave

Open every closet to the future and evict

All the mind's ghosts who have the bad habit

Of barfing everywhere.

For a long time the Universe

Has been germinating in your spine.

But only a Pir has the talent,

The courage to slay

The past-giant, the future anxieties.

The warrior

Wisely sits in a circle

With other men

Gathering the strength to unmask

Himself.

Then

Sits, giving,

Like a great illumined planet on

The Earth.

- Hafiz

Not sure how to start meditating? Here is a simple yet powerful technique. Seated comfortably on the floor or a chair, touch your hands together at the heart and bow down to your beautiful life, to all of your gifts. Then bring your thumb and index fingers to touch and rest the backs of your hands on your knees. Deepen your eyes in their sockets, relax the muscles of your face, release your jaw and let your tongue soften. Surrender your body and your mind to a deeper presence. Follow your breath as it moves through you for a few moments and then on the exhale sound Om out loud and follow the sound to its silence, pause and repeat for 15 minutes or more or whatever time you have. You can also change to whispering the Om and then to internally chanting the Om. When you feel yourself at peace, your mind quiet or you begin to hear the inner sound, nada, let go of Om and be present to the space, sound or energy within you. The Om is a vehicle to the divine. Enjoy the ride. Yoga Sutra 1-27 Tasya Vacakah Pranavah, The word expressive of Ishvara(Universe/God) is the mystic sound Ommmm.

Welcome Spring! So happy to see you.

I have been using my practice to transition into Spring from Winter. Cleansing, warming, making space in my hips, heart and mind for creation to bloom. But sometimes, you need to take it to another level to release your patterned thinking that holds you back from embodying powerful creative divine forces, that holds you back from your creative potential. One fun way to find freedom, is to sing, dance and shake off your fears. Face the world with a wink and a laugh and swaying hips. And that's just what we did today at the 11AM class at Westchester Yoga Arts. Our joyful journey was soundtracked by Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament, James Brown and Stevie. Thanks for dancing with me, my sweet friends.

If God invited you to a party and said,

Everyone in the ballroom tonight will be my special guest,

How would you then treat them when you arrived.

Indeed, Indeed!

And Hafiz knows there is noone in the world

who is not upon

His Jeweled Dance Floor.

Hafiz