It is a nice way to see the different breathing ratios and what their influence is.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Breath Ratio Chart: Relaxing, Balancing, Energizing
This chart was in the renewal packet for my Yoga Teacher Insurance (Yoga Benefits Plus)
It is a nice way to see the different breathing ratios and what their influence is.
It is a nice way to see the different breathing ratios and what their influence is.
How I got my Start: Denise Austin Yoga
My first experience with yoga was during the summer before I left for college. I purchased 2 Denise Austin Video Tapes to use in my dorm room to keep the freshman 15 away. After getting half way through the first tape I stopped it thinking how strange this exercise was. But when I woke up the next day I could feel that it had done something to muscles in my hips and legs that I had never felt before. I decided to give the tapes another try. Before long I was using the tapes 3x/week for several months. By that point I was hooked. Like most Yogis I started my Journey into Yoga for the physical aspect and I wasnt really aware of the other parts of Yoga. It wasnt until I started a serious practice in a studio setting that I began to discover how much more a yoga practice has to offer.
But after 9 years as a yogi I have Denise Austin to thank for my first exposure to yoga! Thanks Denise!
But after 9 years as a yogi I have Denise Austin to thank for my first exposure to yoga! Thanks Denise!
Exploring Mala Beads for Meditation
Mala Beads:
Each week (or two) I try to pick a new topic to explore further. During my travels west I spent a few hours in Sedona AZ - an area known for "new age" shops with crystals and psychics and every other sort of mystical item you could be in search of. One of the Items I was drawn to were the various mala beads. I never owned my own mala, mostly because I didnt know much beyond the concept that it was a meditation tool. So now I set out to explore what mala beads are, where they are from and how we use them in connection with our practice.
What are Prayer Beads?
A string of beads used to count and keep track of the repititions of chants/mantras/prayers completed. They may contain several different numbers of beads depending on the type, religion or origin of the beads. The beads are fingered automaticly to allow the practitioner to keep track of progress while allowing a deep meditative state to develop.
What Types of Prayer Beads are there?
1. Japa Mala: used in Hindu and Buddist traditions contain 108 beads (27x4 rounds)
2. Misbaha & Tasbih: Islamic traditions with 33 or 99 beads
3. komboloi: Greek tradition with odd numbered beads, usually 17 or 21
4. Baha'i: Persian tradition 95 or 19 beads with 5 at the end
6. Rosary beads: Roman Catholic tradition 54 +5 at the end
7. Rosary Knots: Eastern Orthadox tradition with 33, 50 or 100 knots on a prayer rope
8. "Pearls of Life: Swiss Lutheran Church bracelet of 18 beads
(www.wikipedia.com)
What parts make up a Mala?
- guru bead or buddha bead (sumeru) = a different or larger bead to mark the start and finish of a round secured by 3 holes
- counting beads- can be made from wood, stone or seeds, usually 8mm in diameter or larger
- marker beads- smaller or different colored beads used to break up sets of the counting beads, creating distinct areas
- the tassle- the ends of the string holding the beads together in a circle - the sign of infinity with no start and end
What are the variations of Mala Beads?
- 108 identical beads and one "guru" bead to mark the start and finish
- Tibetan Mala- 4 sets of 27 beads distinguished by a marker bead
- Buddist Mala-
- Mala Bracelet- contains 27 beads on a stretch cord to be used 4x over to reach 108
So why 108 beads on the Mala?
There are many different explainations for this...here are a few of my favorite:
- It is said if we are able to reach 108 breaths in a day we will attain enlightenment
- there are said to be 108 earthly desires, human lies, and forms of ignorance
- there are 108 energy lines leading into the heart chakra
- 1 stands for god, 0 stands for completeness, 8 for infinity
- harshad number: means ' great joy' - the number is divisable by the sum of the digits (9)
What do the different bead materials mean?
- Mala beads should always be made of a natural material ( no plastic beads)
- stone and crystal beads each have a different property or healing quality
- lotus seeds:spiritual cleansing and improved finances
- Tulsi: wood said to clear the aura, used in Bhakti traditions
- Sandal wood: creats calm and tranquility with cooling properties
- bhodi seeds: enhance concentration in medication as these seeds are from the tree under which buddha achieved Nirvana
- rosewood: for health, protection and improved aura
Using a mantra:
- repeat the selected mantra with feeling and attention
- repeat out loud or internally
- feel the sound and the feeling resonate through the body and the mind
- do not use the mantra to push out feelings or thoughts that need to be addressed
- allow the mantra to create a deep meditative state that gradually creates a feeling of calm, opening, stillness
What Mantra Should I use?
There are unlimited mantras that can be used, but here are a few suggestions:
- the mantra may be asigned by your teacher for specific purpose
- the name of god in any language
- Om
- Shanti (peace)
- Sa, Ta, Na, Ma
- select a word or feeling ( ex. tranquility, happiness, love, connection)
- Om mani padme hum (Om Jewel in the lotus) tibetan buddist tradition
- Om namah shivaya ( part of a hindu prayer - adoration to siva- later became the god shiva)
( more on mantras later)
How do I carry My Mala?
- in a protective pouch
- wrapped around the left wirst
- around the neck
Each week (or two) I try to pick a new topic to explore further. During my travels west I spent a few hours in Sedona AZ - an area known for "new age" shops with crystals and psychics and every other sort of mystical item you could be in search of. One of the Items I was drawn to were the various mala beads. I never owned my own mala, mostly because I didnt know much beyond the concept that it was a meditation tool. So now I set out to explore what mala beads are, where they are from and how we use them in connection with our practice.
What are Prayer Beads?
A string of beads used to count and keep track of the repititions of chants/mantras/prayers completed. They may contain several different numbers of beads depending on the type, religion or origin of the beads. The beads are fingered automaticly to allow the practitioner to keep track of progress while allowing a deep meditative state to develop.
What Types of Prayer Beads are there?
1. Japa Mala: used in Hindu and Buddist traditions contain 108 beads (27x4 rounds)
2. Misbaha & Tasbih: Islamic traditions with 33 or 99 beads
3. komboloi: Greek tradition with odd numbered beads, usually 17 or 21
4. Baha'i: Persian tradition 95 or 19 beads with 5 at the end
6. Rosary beads: Roman Catholic tradition 54 +5 at the end
7. Rosary Knots: Eastern Orthadox tradition with 33, 50 or 100 knots on a prayer rope
8. "Pearls of Life: Swiss Lutheran Church bracelet of 18 beads
(www.wikipedia.com)
What parts make up a Mala?
- guru bead or buddha bead (sumeru) = a different or larger bead to mark the start and finish of a round secured by 3 holes
- counting beads- can be made from wood, stone or seeds, usually 8mm in diameter or larger
- marker beads- smaller or different colored beads used to break up sets of the counting beads, creating distinct areas
- the tassle- the ends of the string holding the beads together in a circle - the sign of infinity with no start and end
What are the variations of Mala Beads?
- 108 identical beads and one "guru" bead to mark the start and finish
- Tibetan Mala- 4 sets of 27 beads distinguished by a marker bead
- Buddist Mala-
- Mala Bracelet- contains 27 beads on a stretch cord to be used 4x over to reach 108
So why 108 beads on the Mala?
There are many different explainations for this...here are a few of my favorite:
- It is said if we are able to reach 108 breaths in a day we will attain enlightenment
- there are said to be 108 earthly desires, human lies, and forms of ignorance
- there are 108 energy lines leading into the heart chakra
- 1 stands for god, 0 stands for completeness, 8 for infinity
- harshad number: means ' great joy' - the number is divisable by the sum of the digits (9)
What do the different bead materials mean?
- Mala beads should always be made of a natural material ( no plastic beads)
- stone and crystal beads each have a different property or healing quality
- lotus seeds:spiritual cleansing and improved finances
- Tulsi: wood said to clear the aura, used in Bhakti traditions
- Sandal wood: creats calm and tranquility with cooling properties
- bhodi seeds: enhance concentration in medication as these seeds are from the tree under which buddha achieved Nirvana
- rosewood: for health, protection and improved aura
Using a mantra:
- repeat the selected mantra with feeling and attention
- repeat out loud or internally
- feel the sound and the feeling resonate through the body and the mind
- do not use the mantra to push out feelings or thoughts that need to be addressed
- allow the mantra to create a deep meditative state that gradually creates a feeling of calm, opening, stillness
What Mantra Should I use?
There are unlimited mantras that can be used, but here are a few suggestions:
- the mantra may be asigned by your teacher for specific purpose
- the name of god in any language
- Om
- Shanti (peace)
- Sa, Ta, Na, Ma
- select a word or feeling ( ex. tranquility, happiness, love, connection)
- Om mani padme hum (Om Jewel in the lotus) tibetan buddist tradition
- Om namah shivaya ( part of a hindu prayer - adoration to siva- later became the god shiva)
( more on mantras later)
How do I carry My Mala?
- in a protective pouch
- wrapped around the left wirst
- around the neck
Friday, September 28, 2012
My Trip West: Part 1: Channel Islands National Park
Our Vacation This year was designed to let us visit as many national Parks as possible in 15 days. My second agenda was to take some fun yoga pics along the way :)
First Stop:
Channel Islands National Park
Santa Cruz Island
I hiked up to the North Bluff Trail where there are endless cliffs and overlooks above the rocky shore.
I spent most of my afternoon sitting on the cliffs watching kelp forests sway gently in the surf and listening to the sea lions play in the water. The clouds began to sweep over the top of the mountains as I made my way down the trail toward Potato harbor.
First Stop:
Channel Islands National Park
Santa Cruz Island
I hiked up to the North Bluff Trail where there are endless cliffs and overlooks above the rocky shore.
I spent most of my afternoon sitting on the cliffs watching kelp forests sway gently in the surf and listening to the sea lions play in the water. The clouds began to sweep over the top of the mountains as I made my way down the trail toward Potato harbor.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
My Moon Salutation: Chandra Namaskar
Here is my Moon Salutation Flow: Chandra Namaskar
Moon Salutations move more slowly and focus on deeper opening than the Sun Salutation.
The Focus is on Spine Movement in all directions and opening the lower Chakra.
My Sequence incorporates the Crescent Lunges as well as the Standing Version of Crescent moon and the Balance Version of Crescent Moon.
Moon Salutations move more slowly and focus on deeper opening than the Sun Salutation.
The Focus is on Spine Movement in all directions and opening the lower Chakra.
My Sequence incorporates the Crescent Lunges as well as the Standing Version of Crescent moon and the Balance Version of Crescent Moon.
The Meaning of Om
The Meaning Of Om
Om = a sacred mantra, represents the divine and the interconnection of all things in the universe, the creation of the universe came from the vibration of Om, infinity, eternity
It is the natural vibration of the universe from which all other sounds come, represents past, present, future and the infinite ( what has existed, what exists now and what will exist and that which transcends time)
There are 4 parts of Om: A, U, M, and Resonance in silence
We can chant an audible Om, or chant Om in the mind
To Chant Om:
1. Quiet the mind as you Concentrate on the 3rd eye, with thoughts of infinity, spaciousness, connection
2. Chant an internal om in the mind
3. Take a deep inhale:
4. Open the mouth, relax the throat creating the A from the belly
5. Mouth closes slightly as you transition to U from the throat
6. Mouth closes completely as the M vibrates from the nasal passages
7. As the lungs empty and the breath ends feel the peace in the silence after the sound ends
8. Feel the shift in energy and vibration in yourself and the room from the sacred mantra
The Parts of Om:
A: the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, represents the Awake state, our outward awareness and material world (Vaishvanara) - the past, what has existed – represented by the lower part of the “3”, voiced from the belly with an open mouth and relaxed throat, sounds like the A in “accounting”
U: represents the dream state (Taijasa) an inward focus of the mind - the present, what exists now - represented by the curl to the right coming from the center of the “3”, sound comes from the throat with mouth closed more, sounds like the U in ‘would”
M: represents deep dreamless sleep or deep meditation (Prajna), - what will exist, the future - represented by the top of the “3”, the sound comes from the nasal passages with the mouth closed, sounds like the m in “sum”
Resonance in silence: the silent vibration following the M sound (Turiya) is the indescribable state - combination of past present and future, all that has been, is now and will ever be – total peace and enlightenment total bliss, represented by the crescent and dot at the top of the symbol
In Conclusion: This is just a basic way to explain the meaning of Om
We can try to explain Om in words but it really has to be felt and experienced...
so get on your mat and enjoy your practice!
Article on Om: http://www.arthaonline.com/YogaOm.htm
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