Yoga and the Magic of the Consicous Breath

April 10, 2017

Mantra Yoga

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. My apologies. Like every writer, I sometimes question the value of writing. I’d love to hear from you and hear your feedback about what subjects you’d like to see me tackle.

Anyway, Mantra!

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As I may have mentioned before, Sanskrit is the language of Yoga and Mantra. First and foremost, Sanskrit was designed as a vibrational language with an emphasis on how the sound quality of the syllables affect and influence human physiology and psychology. According the the Rishis (intuitive seers who received Sanskrit) the vibration of the syllables have frequencies that help us begin to resonate and align ourselves with Universal goodness and purpose.

Nikola Tesla, the man who single-handedly invented the modern age of electricity , said, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” This is right in line with what the Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts) and the Rishis have been saying for thousands of years.

I can personally testify that in the last six months, since I’ve been practicing a Lakshmi Mantra, my life has been changing in the most abundant ways. Not only have I received more material abundance, but my whole attitude about prosperity has changed significantly. I no longer look at prosperity as a struggle, but as a river into which I can immerse myself as I speak the powerful frequency-charged words of Sanskrit Mantra. What’s more, I can feel a stronger conviction about the person that I want to be.

While I do not relate to the ancient Hindu deities as gods, per se, I practice mantra to align myself with the frequency contained in their Sanskrit names. For me, it is about aligning my self with the goodness of Universal energy. Sanskrit Mantra helps us attune ourselves with that Universal goodness as we use those sounds to build our resonance with it.

Whatever your religious tradition, Sanskrit is available to help you super-charge your own path with the power of Universal Prana (Life Force).

So, if you’ve never used Sanskrit Mantra, I recommend its profound transformative power.

Two good books on the subject are : Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound by David Frawley and Shakti Mantras by the late Thomas Ashley Farrand. Frawley’s book delves into the roots of sound itself and Farrand’s work is full of illustrative stories and mantras to help you achieve your goals.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Peace,Peace, Peace.

Photo Credit

September 23, 2016

The Early Yield of the 40 Day Practice

One of the many things I notice when I am inconsistent with my meditation is that it takes me about twenty minutes to slog through the distractions and unconscious inattention to get to the clear, calm state of concentration. If this happens to you, simply persevere w/o judgement or frustration. With practice you’ll get there, I promise.

This is exactly why I’ve set myself the challenge of a 40 day practice. I’ve grown weary of of the faulty construction I’ve made of my life by inconsistent practice. Forty days of practice helps us to instill new habits, to compose a new song for our lives. As you may know, 40 is a significant number in spiritual traditions the world over.

Speaking of composing a new song for our lives, have you ever seen a metronome? It’s a simple time keeping device used by musicians to set the tempo for a certain time signature of music. The pendulum of the metronome sounds the beat as it sways back and forth according to the speed set by the practitioner.

The breath is the metronome of the human being. As we begin our meditation, we engage the breath not only physically but mentally, psychologically and emotionally as well. We settle into a tempo of slow, regular diaphragmatic rhythm. We sing the sensual song of the body and allow it to suffuse every cell of our anatomy. We find the natural cadence of being that lies in our souls beneath all the competing storms that disturb our peace.

The metronomic rhythm of the attentive breath sweeps away the seeds of potential disturbance before they sprout. We clean the soil of our minds so that we may sow the seeds of peace and steady attention that root and give rise to the creativity that invariably germinates from this fertile state of mind.

Now the garden of the mind is set to become absorbed in the neurochemistry that creates the deep foundational union of the human spirit with our cosmic origins. Persisting in meditation quite simply changes our brains. The work of Harvard neuroscientist, Sara Lazar, demonstrates how meditation stimulates growth in the hippo campus and parietal lobe where memory and empathy respectively reside. At the same time, the amygdala, the fear center of the brain, is soothed and pacified. When we develop a habit of starting our day with this kind of mindset, we open the doors of possibility to being the kinds of people we really want to be–the kinds of people who can make positive, permanent change in our lives and the lives of others.

Another wonderful benefit is the seeming contradiction between feeling elevated and grounded simultaneously. I love this so much because it gives me the assurance that I will be more likely to think, speak and act with greater awareness. I will be less likely to think unkind thoughts and speak and or act out of unconscious reaction.

I am only a four days into my devotional period of 40 days, and the results are already such a joyful relief.

Here’s a good example of how a clear, considered state of mind can make a big difference: I heard a story today on NPR about an airline pilot whose plane was disabled by a broken engine fan blade that tore a hole in the wing of the jet aircraft he was flying. His actions defied my comprehension. The report told of how he sat back, took his hands off the controls and closed his eyes. WOW! He meditated. The instant guidance he got for consciously controlling his response was to treat that big hulking jet like a small Cessna. Rather than reacting to all the alarms and warnings produced by multiple systems failures, he cut through all the noise and carried out the fundamental, necessary actions that saved over 400 passengers and crew.

We may never fly a jet aircraft in an emergency situation, but each day, we know there are triggers and traps that have the ability to make us lose our composure, depress us, or send us careening off into an emotional detour that may have significant consequences. By starting each day with the habit of meditation we reconstruct our minds so that we are able to set the stage for goodness before negative influences confront us. We are ready and equipped to overcome life’s challenges before they gain enough strength to defeat us. The habit of meditation is the guarantor of our ability to respond to life in victory.

December 9, 2014 Image

Healing a Groin Injury

From time to time physically active people, despite their best efforts, get injured. The occasional loss of concentration or an out break of ego that says, “I’ll bet I can do that”, or “Let me push past my body’s warning signals,” may very well lead to injuries of varying intensity and damage. Sometimes injuries can take us by surprise. On rare occasion a teacher performs an aggressive adjustment and causes injury. I’ve been there, too. Boy talk about learning to deal with anger and resentment.

Often, many injuries defy conventional medical methods like pain medications and physical therapy. They take time, experimentation and persistence. Without consistent work some injuries can become chronic and debilitating.

Let me tell you a dirty little secret about yoga teachers: Many of them are among the walking wounded. Chronic, nagging injury can become a feature of teaching yoga if we are not conscious and tuned-in when we demand so much of our bodies. Yoga means union. An injury is a message from your body that you are not balanced harmoniously in union. Pain is the body‘s way of asking for extraordinary care and loving attention.

Las Spring I attended a fellow-teacher’s class. He had us doing repetitions of deep squats. During the set I could really feel fatigue weakening my groin muscles (psoas, quadriceps and iliopsoas) but I decided to push myself a bit. That was ego, not the pursuit of union that prompted me to act so unskillfully. The next day I felt searing pain in my left groin, (most of my injuries seem occur on my left side.) The pain woke me at night, forced me to sleep in a very particular position, rendered me unable to sit in my regular meditation pose and drove me to get creative about just how to get into my car lest lowering myself into the seat shoot pain through my groin. Though this was mostly muscle pain, my inguinal ligament also suffered enough strain to start hurting frequently. I was angry at the teacher, but the truth of it is that the injury was my own damn fault. I behaved unconsciously. Pain pointed that out for me very quickly.

After several weeks of pain and anger I started to ask myself, “Okay when are going to quit the pity party, and what are you going to do to get better?” This is what I’ve come up with so far.

I began listening to my body more attentively. I’ve tried to watch each breath from ebb to flow as I practice. Experimenting, I worked with various poses to see what felt good. When I found a pose that felt safe and sound, I sustained the posture, attuned my attention even more acutely while I breathed deeply into the injury to use the massaging quality of the breath. I performed micro-movements within each pose to find the “sweet spot” of union where energy flows unimpeded and pain fades away. I never cease to marvel at the results of yoga asana performed with love and attention.

I began in Warrior I with the left leg in back: The left foot is placed between 45 and 90 degrees in relationship to the foreleg. To ground the foot effectively I pushed the outside rim of the foot into the floor by recruiting the long muscle on the on the outside of the calf, the fibularis longus. (A look at a good anatomy book will be most enlightening.) The right leg is bent according to your ability with the knee directly above the ankle. I centered my torso over the pelvis leaning neither toward the front nor back. The arms reach up actively. The simultaneous grounding and reaching (complimentary opposites) pulls and lengthens the quads and iliopsoas muscles. With deep breaths into my belly I could feel how the fingers of the breath massage and pull on the muscles with its rhythm. I slowly explored any micro-movements that made the pose feel centered in the sweet spot of prana flow. I kept grounding and reaching with determination until I felt fatigued. I slowly and mindfully came out of the pose and practice on the other side.

Warrior I can also be modified with a twist which will further lengthen the iliopsoas muscles.

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You can also practice Warrior I with the heel off the ground balancing on the ball of the rear foot. Remember, gentle persistent practice is the path to strength and recovery.

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Also, explore Reverse Warrior with all the same instructions as above.

Next, I got down on the ground in Child’s Pose. I found that the compression of the groin in Child’s Pose caused intolerable pain. I couldn’t maintain the pose. So, I grounded my hands into the floor to take just a wee bit of weight off the groin and was able to modulate the sensation to a tolerable level. This is where the breath works magic. Breathing deeply into my belly I could feel the penetrating massage directed perfectly into the pain. No massage therapist can do this.

Remember, your breath is your own personal massage therapist. As such, your breath helps you realize the most intimate knowledge of your condition and the unrivaled technical expertise in how to help you heal.

From there I thought a counter pose would be in order. I used a modified Camel Pose. (Note: Take this very slow. Opening the iliopsoas region after a deep compression can feel tender).Instead of standing on my knees in full camel, I simply leaned back from Rock Pose with knees bent, grounded my hands and pushed my booty off my legs, extended my pelvis forward a bit and arched my back to lengthen the iliopsoas region. Then, I sent the inhalation deeply into the sacrum and navel. This feels absolutely delicious. Again, the expanding breath opens the iliopsoas in a uniquely healing way.IMG_0534

I repeated Child’s Pose and Modified Camel Pose twice. I found that this alternating repetition massaged most of the pain out of my groin. My intuition was right on!

Next, I alternated between Swan Pose and the first stage of Pigeon. As with Child’s Pose and Modified Camel Pose, the alternate compression and lengthening reduces pain and massages in healing via the breath. Repeat this sequence as well if it feels good. As you progress you may also use full Camel Pose for further extension of the affected muscles.IMG_0531

When my forehead lay on the floor in both swan and Child’s Pose I focused the on Ajna Chakra brow point between the eyes. I envisioned drawing healing power from the earth and sending it to the injury site. This may sound a little “woo woo” or flaky, but any intention toward healing will be rewarded if practiced with persistence.

As I have been exploring this sequence my pain is greatly reduced, I can sleep in whatever position like, my regular sitting meditation pose is comfortable again and I can get into the car without having to hold on the door like an invalid. I look forward to complete recovery as I continue this sequence, and I’ve accomplished this without drugs or other risky procedures.

Remember, these are just guidelines. Your injury may be very different from mine. When you get past the acute period of pain, begin exploring your pain with some of these poses and see what happens. You may very well discover other poses that work well with your individual condition.

If and when youinjure yourself, listen to your intuition as it relates to your yoga practice. The answers are there. You have the capability to develop and direct your Prana (Universal Life Force) to heal yourself from injury and pain. Who knows what we can accomplish as we continue to reach into the rarely explored world of our own fathomless energy.

I would dearly love to hear your experiences in overcoming injury or disease with the help of your yoga practice.

Namaste

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2014

Uniting Our Energies with the Bandhas

This post is the fourth of perhaps five brief expositions of the bandhas or yogic locks.
Before I continue I’d like to say a few words about why I’m such an ardent advocate of these great yogic techniques. When I lived in Las Vegas, Nv. a dear friend of mine, Crispin Morrison, died at the age of 41 of ovarian cancer. My friends Emily, Jeanne, Helen and I watched helplessly as Crispin fought to avoid the “slow motion car wreck” of cancer (her words) from taking her life. Coupled with my own struggle with Crohn’s Disease I intuitively felt then, as I do now that Ashwini Mudra and the three bandhas have tremendous potential to cleanse and heal us from the inside out.
My practice and research of the bandhas began from my concern about the physical body as did my initial interest in yoga asana. As I soon learned the specific purpose of these techniques is to purify the astral body, unify our energies and direct them through the chakras toward the experience of samadhi or enlightenment. We can scarcely imagine what kind of world we might create if even a small percentage of humanity could attain this state. Our chances at peace, creativity and wise living would be greatly increased to say the least.
As an imperfect novice (I’m still a beginner) my practice of the bandhas began with the desire to heal myself from Crohn’s Disease. From the first time I exhaled and pulled Uddiyana Bandha (UB) I felt the power of this simple muscular contraction. I could feel the compression of my abdominal organs and immediately began to wonder at just what marvelous intestinal alchemy I’d initiated by this first intentional application of UB.
The word that comes to mind when I think of combining Jalandhara, Uddiyana and Mula Bandhas is vacuum. The combined muscular and mechanical contractions of Maha Bandha do indeed produce a strong vacuum action as the breath is suspended upon exhalation. The root lock is pulling up and down simultaneously as the anchoring sphincter muscles resist the upward pull of the lower abdominals. The upward pull continues with Uddiyana Bandha. Jalandhara Bandha causes a deep hollow at the base of the throat and is compressively dams up the energy as the chin is pressed firmly against the top of the sternum. The stretch and massage produced by applying maha bandha reaches into the deep cells of these tissues. This cleanses and purifies all the organs, glands, muscles, and nerves of the abdominal cavity. Not only are the abdominal organs fully massaged, the heart and lungs also receive a noticeable contractive vacuum. The application and release of Maha Bandha produce a physical, therapeutic wave of complimentary oppositional forces.
Additionally, as our awareness of our bodies’ increases with practice of the bandhas, we will be able to release unconscious stress that can take up residence in our organs. (Stress and tension hold toxins.) Indeed, this was one of the first things I noticed when I began my practice of the root lock. I was one of those proverbial “tight assed” guys who walked around with his sphincter in knot. This constant tension was a result of the worry, stress and anger I unconsciously carried around with me. I can remember feeling that tightness and releasing it consciously even before I knew about yoga, but I didn’t make the connection between that tension and my diseased mind and body.
I’m convinced that these techniques, when combined with asana, pranayama and a clean diet could decrease the incidence of many of our most deadly abdominal diseases like cancers of the colon, pancreas, liver, thyroid and stomach. The pulling, stretching, contraction and compression combined in Maha Bandha must surely deliver super oxygenating blood flow when contrasted to the comparatively stagnant state of our vital organs that we take to be normal.
Likewise, the subtle or astral body is being cleansed so our pranic energies can unite to flow through the chakra system. The union or yoga of these energies eventually creates a person who is balanced and able to access the entirety of human potential. These practices are the collective doorway to super humanity. They can help lift us out of the narrow, egocentric wallows that plague our species.
Study after study in recent decades has confirmed some of the many benefits of yoga. Alas, the bandhas have received little clinical examination. I hope this lack of research will be remedied in the near future.
I am sending out a call to yogis, medical practitioners and researchers alike to begin a thorough examination of these splendid techniques that have been handed down to us from antiquity. I would love to participate in such promising research.
Also, I would love to hear from yogis around the world about their personal experiences with the bandhas. Like me, I’m sure many of you can testify to the powerful effects of these ancient methods. I certainly owe much to the bandhas in helping me recover from and banish Crohn’s Disease from my life. Let me hear from you so that we may add our energy to what the yogis started so many thousands of years ago.

October 7, 2014

Jalandhara Bandha: Health for the Thyroid Gland

The past two posts have addressed Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha respectively. To finish off this trio of discussions on the main yogic locks, we’ll take a look at Jalandhara Bandha or the throat lock.
Two of the most common interpretations of jalandhara focus on the Sanskrit meaning of “jal” or “jalan”. Jal means water and thus the throat lock retains the water or nectar from bindu flowing to vishuddhi chakra and prevents it from descending into the digestive fire. Jalan means net and dhara is interpreted as stream or flow. This lock is said to control the nadis or subtle energy channels in the neck whose physical manifestation are the blood vessels and nerves in the neck.
Jalandhara Bandha (JB) can be performed either seated or standing with the breath retained or exhaled. It is often combined with the root and abdominal locks to create the powerful maha (great) bandha that retains and distributes prana throughout the major chakras (nerve centers), organs, and glands. JB can also be practiced by itself, and indeed should be practiced alone so the student can master this lock before combining it with the other two bandhas.
Begin seated. Brace the palms of the hands against the lower inside thighs above the knees and push the arms straight. Take a deep but easy three part breath, hold the breath momentarily and exhale completely by using the abdominal muscles to help empty the lungs. Lower the chin and press it firmly onto the top of the sternum (breast bone). Maintain the pressure as long as you comfortably can. Focus your attention on the throat with the intention that JB will provide perfect balance of the glands and structures of the throat and opening of vishuddhi chakra. Do not strain. Release throat lock and inhale deeply.
There is also a subtler form of JB practice in some traditions where the chin descends about an inch as the back of neck extends. This method of JB can be combined with various pranayama techniques.
As the student applies the full JB the cervical spine is lengthened and pressure on the disks is momentarily released. With the chin pushed firmly onto the top of the sternum the right and left carotid arteries, the thyroid, parathyroid and other vessels and their respective sinuses or channels are strongly compressed. According to Swami Saraswati this decreases the heart rate and allows for longer breath retention.
Compressing the thyroid and parathyroid glands provides an effective way to massage these glands to optimize their function. The thyroid gland produces thyroxin which helps the body absorb and use oxygen more efficiently. The parathyroid gland assists in regulating calcium and phosphate levels in a very narrow range to help the nervous system operate properly. This has tremendous implications for our over all well being.
Practice of JB may provide a powerful technique to combat hypo or hyper thyroidism.
Along with the separate practice of JB a yoga practitioner may also perform halasana (plow pose), sarvangasana (shoulder stand), setu bandhasasna (bridge pose) and sasangasaga (rabbit pose) to achieve throat lock. Each of these variations will alter JB in their own unique ways. When JB is achieved in these poses the power of the full yogic three-part breath is harnessed to further enhance the massaging effect and benefit of the combined pose, breath, gravity and bandha. The power of these combinations to balance the thyroid and parathyroid should not be discounted. Each variation of JB supplies another aspect of its beneficial effect.
While practicing JB along with the poses listed above one may also use sound to penetrate the cells of this region with active vibration. The practitioner simply produces a long, slow hum during the exhalation. This vibration will be powerfully felt throughout the throat and brain. As I mentioned in my post about Sonic Massage, vibration helps to optimize the operation and organization of all matter. Hum with healing intention as you focus on the throat region.
As with the other bandhas there are some conditions of the neck and spine where JB is contraindicated. Practitioners with cervical spondylosis, high intracranial pressure, vertigo, high blood pressure or heart disease should avoid Jalandhara Bandha until these conditions have been successfully alleviated. As always, if you have any doubts consult a medical professional.
In my next post we will put the three bandhas together for the practice of maha bandha and perhaps consider the crown jewel of Hatha Yoga, nauli kriya.

September 24, 2014

Uddiyana Bandha, the Internal Massage

In my last post I gave a brief overview of the root lock. This time we move up the chakra line for Uddiyana Bandha (UB). Uddiyana means to “fly up.” Uddiyana Bandha involves the entire abdomen from the top of the pubic bone to the solar plexus at the base of the sternum or breast bone. This is the territory of the second and third chakras. The effects of UB permeate all the abdominal organs and reach up into the heart, throat and head. It is a very powerful technique and must be accorded great respect. The basic technique is quite simple. One may either stand or sit to practice UB. Either way is effective. Let’s take standing first. Stand with hands above the knees leaning forward. Take some gentle, full, three part breaths and then exhale completely using your abdominal muscles and diaphragm to empty the lungs. Brace your hands above your knees for leverage. Hold the breath out. Pull the abdomen back and up as if you were drawing your navel toward your spine. The abdomen will have a deep concave shape. If you have a bit of belly fat you may not get the dramatic concave look, but you are still receiving the internal benefits. (Children often play with UB quite instinctively as they explore their bodies.) Hold the bandha as long as it is comfortable. Release and inhale slowly. This may leave you a bit short of breath for a few seconds but it’s nothing to worry about.

As you can feel this is a powerful contraction that provides a deep stretch and massage for the internal organs. As with root lock UB pulls the affected musculature up and down simultaneously. This internal massage increases circulation, cleanses and tones.  UB has a strong, direct effect on the intestines and encourages efficient digestion. It is also my firm personal belief that UB also helps prevent disease for the reasons I’ve listed above. Disease begins and takes hold in a stagnant atmosphere where circulation, and thus oxygenation are limited.

As your UB practice develops you will learn to pull and release the abdominal action several times without inhaling. This should be done slowly and gently. I practice three rounds of 15-20 abdominal pulls. Beginners may only manage just a few abdominal pulls per exhaled breath at the start. Be patient and build your capacity gradually. Because of UB’s potency I emphasize slow, deliberate action. A fast pumping can cause pranic derangement that could lead to injury or imbalance, so take care.

In addition to the physical benefits of cleansing, massage, and healing, UB also has strong psychological effects. I’m sure you’ve heard the terms “guts” or “intestinal fortitude” that indicate courage, bravery or total commitment. These common sayings show what people have long understood: that the second and third chakra sites govern attributes like resolution and determination. Consistent practice of UB helps clear away obstacles to making the commitments important to flourishing to our full potential. As we include UB into our Hatha Yoga practice we willfully engage the visceral, instinctive human motivation for action at the deepest, cellular gut level. We become the gutsy, fearless beings we’ve always hoped we could be.

Although I learned this technique from the Sivananda Yoga Companion book, I advise the supervision of a teacher well-versed in the bandhas to learn UB. Practice mindfully.

As with root lock, if you have any active disease conditions of the abdomen, high blood pressure or hernia do not practice UB until these conditions are resolved. If you have any doubts about the suitability of this technique for yourself consult your doctor.

Generally, UB can be practiced to great effect by most relatively healthy people.

Next time we will consider Jalandhara Bandha or the throat lock.

 

 

 

 

July 28, 2014

Unleashing The Power of Unlimited Creativity

Yoga is the uniting of our being—body, mind and soul—with the Creative Force of the universe. Achieving this union earns us access to the unlimited potential of the human being. The human being is a microcosm, or simply a smaller version of the infinite universe which gave birth to creation. We are quite literally made of the stars that once populated the cosmos. As such we contain the latent potential to create just as we have been created. This is heady stuff to be sure, but how do we bring the unitive force to bear and release the unlimited energy that resides dormant within us?

The process begins with focus, the focus of vibration to be more exact. Focus becomes concentration (dharana), concentration becomes pure essence (dhyana) and pure essence opens the door to boundless creativity (samadhi)—perhaps as the Big Bang did at the beginning of creation.

We can demonstrate concentration in the process of distillation. As heat, the focus of a vibratory force is applied to a fermented liquid, the water is driven off and we produce a concentrated “proof” of alcohol. This is one way concentration organizes matter into a purer form.

Perhaps a better illustration is the science of cymatics and cymatic music. Cymatics is the application of sound frequency to organize matter. Follow this URL to see this illustrative video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtiSCBXbHAg  The logical extension of this phenomenon is cymatic music—that is music that is composed in certain frequencies to influence the molecules of the human body into more harmonic operation. See John Tefler’s video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sThS9OfnM1s

After physically seeing how sound organizes matter, we can begin to understand the science behind chanting mantra and prayer. Chanting is the intentional use of frequency to concentrate vibration to elevate the human experience into unlimited creativity. (Chanting is native to all spiritual traditions. St. Augustine said, “When we sing, we pray twice.”) The vibration we emit during chanting directly effects the brain and the production of the “feel good” neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and the enkephalins. Endorphins are one type of enkaphalin.

Chanting directly effects the hypothalamus gland that helps control mood. Apparently, the meridians connected to the hard palate in the mouth are stimulated like a key board which is connected to the hypothalamus. These lines of transmission relay vibration to the brain in order to reduce stress, decrease cortisol production and induce a healing relaxation response.[1]

The icing on the cake of unifying the human being to the unlimited creative force of the universe is meditation. But where’s the vibration in that you might ask? Thought has vibration as well, albeit more subtle than music or vocalization. Masaru Emoto’s book “The Hidden Messages of Water” reveals how prayer can influence water molecules. Emoto froze water in various states and photographed the crystal formations that existed in the samples. Water that had been labeled with negative writing produced asymmetrical, disorganized shapes. Conversely, water that had positive affirmations written on the containers developed the beautiful architecture of snowflakes. Polluted water which produced distressed-looking shapes was subjected to the healing vibrations of prayer transformed into the beautiful uniform, snowflake designs.

The human body is over 70% water. The healing vibrations of chanting, prayer, mantra, and affirmation can help transform us, too. We can become healthier, more connected to our creative ability and more cohesive as communities.

Focusing our intention in meditation creates powerful, subtle mental vibrations that reach deeply into our brains to help us harmonize with the frequencies of the unlimited creative force of the universe.

I’ve often been puzzled by the Apostle Paul’s admonition (Romans 12:21) to “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” How is that possible? Violent, destructive ego-possessed people will stop at nothing to get their way. Now, with the tools of yoga, chanting and meditation we can raise our children to harmonize with goodness. We can transform illness into health; we can change our brains; we can lift our depression with the harmonics of the unlimited creative power unleashed by chanting, prayer and meditation.

A new world awaits our application of concentration. This why we’re here, to heal each other and the universe. Could there be any greater challenge or adventure?

 

 

[1] http://blogs.psychcentral.com/adhd-zoe/2010/06/mantra-meditation-an-adhd-panacea/

July 15, 2014

The Sonic Massage

Most of us are at least aware of the benefits of massage even if we don’t experience them directly. Massage increases circulation, enhances immune system function, can reduce blood pressure, relieves pain and generally improves mood. I like to speak of yoga in terms of massage as well. Movement is also massage. As we bend forwards, backwards, and to each side, we squeeze and stretch the musculature as well as our organs and glands. When we use diaphragmatic breathing in these active poses the breath massages the tissues within the architecture of the pose. This creates a specific template or circuitry through which prana (life force) moves in the body. This is why each pose has particular benefits. For instance, forward bends compress the abdominal organs while stretching the kidneys and adrenal glands. The reverse is true in a back bend.

We can compound the effectiveness of active massage in our asana or postures with another force of the breath, and that is the force of sound. I call it the “sonic massage.” Sound or sonic waves soothe, cleanse and clear obstructions. One good example is the sonic jewelry cleaners that we once saw in department stores. A piece of tarnished jewelry is placed in a cleansing solution and subjected to a constant stream of ultra sonic vibration. After a few minutes the vibrations have cleaned the surface of the jewelry to its original shine.

The combination of the architectural shape of the pose, combined with deep, penetrating inhalations and long vocal exhalations exert a very specific strong massage that cleanses and balances mind and bodily function at the cellular level.

This is a form of chanting which is similar to singing, except you don’t have be able to sing or memorize complex lyrics or musical structures. Deep breathing and chanting are also powerful keys to regulating and boosting the production of the feel good neurotransmitters like serotonin, enkephalins and dopamine. The hippocampus, the part of the brain that influences memory and navigation also receives benefit from the vibrations of chanting.

Poses that offer throat compression like plow, knee to ear pose, bridge, and shoulder stand are especially good for humming or chanting OM. The shapes of these poses compress the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are both critical to immune function. Combining these poses with vocalization helps us to cleanse these glands and balance these immune functions. This technique could be very useful for those afflicted with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, a disease caused by hypothyroidism or under active thyroid.

As we add up the many potential benefits of chanting to our physical and mental health, it is easy to see why humans have been utilizing this powerful force for millennia. So, whether you chant alone in your room, car, or in a group kirtan gathering, I hope you’ll use this dynamic technique to cleanse your body, mind and to expand your union with all the goodness of life.

Happy sonic massage!

 

 

June 6, 2014

Pratyahara: Key to Deep, Life-Changing Meditation

One of the eight limbs of yoga that doesn’t get a lot of attention is Pratyahara. TKV Desikachar in The Heart of Yoga defines Pratyahara: “to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses.”

Our world is designed in complete opposition to Pratyahara. We are constantly bidden to indulge all of our senses. Media, books, food, sex, music, exercise constantly vie for our attention. To be sure they can all be useful in their proper proportion and place.

As we seek to progress along the yogic path, the path to super consciousness and the development our full human potential, it is essential to cease nourishing the senses in order to still the fluctuations of the mind that keep us captive to the illusion that our senses are all that there is to life. It is not a matter of trying to avoid the other interesting parts of life that can be so wonderful, rather the practice of Pratyahara takes place during meditation. We become absorbed in concentration on the breath and mantra so that mental distraction is eliminated.

We close our eyes. We sit still. We listen inwardly. These are simple, profound and not altogether easy acts to accomplish. The mind whirls with activity; the body may fidget or feel uncomfortable causing us to move which breaks our concentration.

Consistent asana practice will allow us to sit motionless. Motionless sitting helps to calm the “ripples” of mental fluctuation. Absolute command of the body in stillness is key to developing one-pointed concentration. We are able to lose our constant sense of the body. It feels sort of like levitation or suspension of physical being.

Ambient noise can be a challenge to withdrawing our sense of hearing. A technique I’ve used recently is the use of ear plugs. Household noise, barking dogs, traffic and other common sounds are easily muted with a pair of simple foam earplugs. If you want to get fancy you can use some noise cancelling headphones.

When I began using ear plugs I became aware of the pace and quality of my breath. With the ears closed I could hear the noise of my breathing. I realized how loud and unrefined my breath normally is. I could hear the friction of air against my nostrils and the vacuum of my expanding lungs. I began to soften and lengthen my breath so that I could no longer hear my breath. I started to watch the wave of the breath created by the filling of my belly and rising through my torso into my heart. I felt the lovely massage of each breath. I followed each measure of breath with acute awareness. I gently paused at the top of my inhale and bottom of my exhale to reestablish my awareness of being here now. This absorption in the breath without sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch helps the aspirant to develop a reliable, consistent, deep meditation.

I commend you to your practice of Pratyahara. It will yield great results. Your meditation will become deeper. You will develop an awareness of your very soul. As you do you will experience the growing strength and stability of your character. The fluctuations that so often carry us away will begin to lose some of their pull. You will learn how to cultivate peace at will.

With such a practice many wonders await to be explored. The fulfillment of who we can be is calling us. Our destiny lies in the mastery that Pratyahara can give us.

 

 

 

May 30, 2014

Vicissitudes

tude:  a suffix denoting a condition or state of being.

 

vicissitude: abrupt or unexpected changes in one’s life

 

We are all subject to changes that are beyond our control. These changes that come, seemingly, out of nowhere, have a direct bearing on our moods which are temporary and on our outlook, which can be more long-term. These vicissitudes, turns or changes can be addressed with the regular use of some of the basic tools of Hatha Yoga. As we are whipped from one direction and then another, it is easy to get confused as to how we should deal with so many things coming at us from different directions.

I look at it like a tempestuous ocean torn and driven by strong winds that produce gigantic swells crashing in every direction all at once. The cosmic sailor’s dilemma is how to chart a course in such a chaotic environment. It seems that no matter which heading the sailor chooses, her craft is still beset by pounding seas that dwarf any effort to protect the occupants of the vessel. This is what the mind feels like when life gets to be just a little too much.

Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, says that “yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness.” Utter stillness.

One simple way to smooth out the fluctuations or vicissitudes of our consciousness is through our awareness and use of the breath. We can use the breath to probe the mysteries of life, to listen for the answers that lie ever within us and to use our intention to solve our reactions to life’s constant vacillations.

This is a rhythmic, steady breath. It is regular, stable, uninterrupted and unremitting. This breath asks and listens with the intention of calming the violent waves that heave through our consciousness. This is breath that must be trained by our will. In our training of the breath we learn to inhabit every milliliter, and perhaps every molecule of the prana (life force) that suffuses our being to keep us alive. In this type of realization of the breath we are not just keeping these meat bodies alive, we are connecting to and opening up the divine presence secreted within us. Whether you are a religious person or an atheist, it doesn’t matter. It is not a matter of belief, but a matter of practicing the coupling, the union or the yoga of our minds with the great inexhaustible source of all that is.

The result is a fortified consistency of mind. The fluctuating, gyrating, monstrous waves that threaten to engulf us flatten out to allow us a course of steady direction. Our grief may not be instantly turned to joy, our defeats may not instantly reverse themselves to victories, but we get the backing, the support and eternal providence of infinite grace to move beyond our storms.

Life will always change. Indeed it may be defined as change. Our connection to the divine, as we cultivate it with steadfastness, will establish us on unassailable terrain.