This is a news article about Sun Yoga (Sooryayog, or Suryayoga). Please follow the link to visit the site.
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The power of the mighty sun
by: Rajeev Prasad
KOCHI: In 1999 Sooryaji Jowell went to the Guru Dattatraya mountain peak in Girnar in Gujarat to meditate. There he met a tall, broad-shouldered sadhu who was covered in ash. “He stood in front of me and said, ‘Follow me’,” says Sooryaji. The young spiritual seeker meekly followed the sadhu to his underground cave. It was full of light inside. The sadhu told Sooryaji about the state of the world and concluded, “The sun will guide you.” Then he gave Sooryaji a dry fruit.
When he ate it, something happened.
“A force entered me,” he says.
Thereafter, Sooryaji went to Tapovan in the Himalayas and meditated in a cave for 18 days non-stop. “It was extremely cold. Every morning I had to break a sheet of ice at the entrance to go out.” One day, an intense desire arose in him to see the spiritual masters. Tears rolled down his face as he began an intensive meditation. “Then I saw two beautiful faces, with long hair. There was no doubt that I had seen Jesus Christ and Mahavatar Baba (the founder of Kriya Yoga). It was such a wonderful experience.” From the Himalayas Sooryaji went to Mumbai and started the Sooryayog Foundation in 2003 and the Kochi branch on LFC Road in 2005. And now there are centres all over India.
“If you eat and drink sunlight through the eyes, which are the windows of your spirit, all your problems will vanish. Plants absorb light through photosynthesis. Man can do the same with the help of Sooryayog.” To the sceptic, he says there is a scientific basis to what he is saying.
He shows two books, Light, Medicine of the future: How we can use it to heal ourselves now, by Jacob Liberman, and Sunlight and Health in the 21st century, by Richard Hobday.
“Sunlight is the basic component from which all life originates, develops, heals, and evolves,” says Liberman.
“It has been used for healing since the time of ancient Egypt.”
Incidentally, the famous Egyptian Queen, Nefertiti, was a sun worshipper.
In a review of Hobday’s book in Amazon, J. Hagg writes: “Sunlight can heal diseases like breast cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and osteoporosis.
Before antibiotics, sunlight was used successfully to speed up the healing of wounds.” Every day, Sooryaji and a group of people go to the Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium at Kaloor at 6.30 am before the sunrise. A silver coin is placed at the centre of the forehead.
“This will attract the cosmic consciousness,” says Sooryaji. “It will also activate the third eye.” Members are asked to look at the sun for five minutes. “After that, they have to close their eyes, bow down to earth, clap their hands vigorously for several moments and laugh. Your depression vanishes when you laugh.” The foundation members wax eloquent about him. Says Anita Madan, “He knows how to bring an awareness of the self. He is a friend in times of bliss and woe.” Adds Sajini Jacob, “Sooryaji has answers for everything.
I feel at peace when I am with him.” To all of them Sooryaji says, “Chant the name of HARI OM, acknowledge the short life he has given you. He wants you to HURRY HOME, to your real father, the eternal master.” ooryaji admits there are other methods to purify oneself but Sooryayog is the most powerful. “That is why Sri Ram, Krishna, Hanuman, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed, Raman Maharishi and Mahatma Gandhi all looked at the sun.” This son of Kerala was born in Thulasipara, Idukki, the eldest child of a farmer. From an early age, he had a spiritual bent. “I would have visions of planets and galaxies. Sometimes I drew them on paper, but I was afraid to tell anybody because I felt nobody would understand.” It was only when he finished his BA in Philosophy from SN College in Kollam that he felt this intense inner urge to seek God and set off on his travels.
Today, at 37, he smiles easily and speaks with deep emotion about Sooryayog. He says that most people are unhappy. “That is why I am giving them light. You have to get rid of the bad karma in your life. Discipline yourselves and purify your mind. Let Universal love flow into you.”
shevlins@gmal.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Green Yoga
What a great idea! Recycle your Yoga mat!
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle your Mat here:
http://recycleyourmat.com/
If you just toss your old mat then it goes into a landfill!
Yuck!
Instead, recycle your mat, and get a discount on a new one from Manduka:
http://manduka.com/
After all, being healthy and living healthy is very much a part of Yoga!
Om Green!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle your Mat here:
http://recycleyourmat.com/
If you just toss your old mat then it goes into a landfill!
Yuck!
Instead, recycle your mat, and get a discount on a new one from Manduka:
http://manduka.com/
After all, being healthy and living healthy is very much a part of Yoga!
Om Green!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Yoga is NOT scary!
Yea, yea .. all your friends are going it. At work people are talking about it .. even your mom took a class! So why havent you been yet?
Yoga can be scary sometimes when we look at Yoga books and see people twisted up like a pretzel. Honestly! Can that be healthy!
Well .. yes, actually, it can be!
Many people are reluctant about Yoga because they simply dont know what Yoga is. Its that 'fear of the unknown' thingie.
First off .. you do not have to be flexible to attend a Yoga class. In fact, as a Yogini I will tell you that "flexibility is a state of mind", and second, you come to Yoga to learn how to be flexible .. and strong .. and graceful .. and healthy .. and so much more!
Yoga is not a religion or a cult, but a fitness program that just happens to consider physical exercise and mental peace of mind as two sides of the same coin.
Yoga .. real Yoga (not gym yoga or community center yoga) .. has a different focus from other exercise programs. For example, in Yoga, we dont 'do' a pose, be we 'become' a pose (this is that whole body / mind connection again). And though it sounds mysterious, its really just another way of saying: When you do Yoga, you are thinking about Yoga (not your kids or your job, how many calories you are burning or whats for dinner).
So .. come take a Yoga class! And if your still not convinced .. come take a FREE Yoga class on Thursdays!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Yoga can be scary sometimes when we look at Yoga books and see people twisted up like a pretzel. Honestly! Can that be healthy!
Well .. yes, actually, it can be!
Many people are reluctant about Yoga because they simply dont know what Yoga is. Its that 'fear of the unknown' thingie.
First off .. you do not have to be flexible to attend a Yoga class. In fact, as a Yogini I will tell you that "flexibility is a state of mind", and second, you come to Yoga to learn how to be flexible .. and strong .. and graceful .. and healthy .. and so much more!
Yoga is not a religion or a cult, but a fitness program that just happens to consider physical exercise and mental peace of mind as two sides of the same coin.
Yoga .. real Yoga (not gym yoga or community center yoga) .. has a different focus from other exercise programs. For example, in Yoga, we dont 'do' a pose, be we 'become' a pose (this is that whole body / mind connection again). And though it sounds mysterious, its really just another way of saying: When you do Yoga, you are thinking about Yoga (not your kids or your job, how many calories you are burning or whats for dinner).
So .. come take a Yoga class! And if your still not convinced .. come take a FREE Yoga class on Thursdays!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Doctors Recommend Yoga
This is a news article. Click link above to goto site.
______
Jennifer Bockhorst leaves work a bit early most Wednesdays to drive from Abingdon, Va., to attend a yoga class in Kingsport. After suffering from migraine and tension headaches for years, Bockhorst decided to try yoga for the treatment and prevention of these headaches.
“I bought my first yoga video in 1997 and for about 10 years did yoga off and on with different videos. And though this did help my headaches, you never push yourself as hard with a video as you do in a class,” Bockhorst said.
She has since been regularly attending yoga classes at The Red Clover Wellness Spa and Yoga Studio in Kingsport and says the improvement in her headaches has “been really dramatic.”
“I still get migraines, but not nearly as often and they don’t last as long,” Bockhorst said.
At least two local physicians won’t dispute what Bockhorst’s yoga experience has brought her.
Dr. Reid Blackwelder is not only a physician at East Tennessee State University Family Physicians of Kingsport, he also practices yoga and teaches Bockhorst’s yoga class at The Red Clover and says he recommends it to his patients “all the time.”
Some recent studies conducted at Duke University and the University of North Carolina have shown that there are indeed proven health benefits for patients who practice yoga. Specifically, these studies have looked at patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, hot flashes, and sleep and energy levels for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.
But Blackwelder points out other studies show yoga can help people who also suffer a whole host of other ailments as well, including depression, hypertension, arthritis, chronic back pain, anxiety and stress.
And it’s this stress so many of us experience in our daily lives that can only exacerbate an already existing health condition.
Dr. Lisa Broyles, a family practice physician with Blue Ridge Primary Care in Johnson City, said the stress of medical school is what initially drew her to yoga. And today she does yoga on her lunch break, especially if she’s had a stressful morning or a difficult encounter with a patient. She said she keeps a yoga mat, yoga music and a lavender eye pillow in her office at all times.
“In so many ways, yoga is not only good for your physical body, but mentally, it teaches you to be calm in the midst of stressful situations,” Broyles said.
Because the health benefits yoga provides are numerous, Broyles said she does often recommend it to her patients.
“By becoming more in-tune with your body you are able to optimize your health. You begin to listen to your body. Women who take yoga have a better self-image and self-esteem. They have fewer eating disorders, less depression and anxiety. It also can improve obsessive-compulsive disorder because it teaches you to listen to your body. When there’s something out of harmony, it teaches you what’s going wrong and how you can fix it instead of having to rely on medications,” she said.
It’s been around for thousands of years, and though this ancient Hindu practice originated in India, yoga is becoming more and more popular with Westerners, with millions now taking part in what’s proving to be much more than just a “fad” or “trend.”
Most Westernized yoga is comprised of controlled breathing and poses that may often be named for mammals, fish or reptiles. Meditation may also be a third component of some types of yoga, bringing “harmony” to the body and mind, said Broyles.
“With each posture you take one breath in. When you take your deep breath as you’re doing a certain posture, you’re bringing in peace and when you exhale, you’re breathing out stress,” she said.
Improved flexibility is another bonus yoga brings.
As we age, we lose much of the flexibility in our joints and muscles, which can often lead to injuries and other aches and pains.
“Yoga lubricates the joints. It improves flexibility of the spine and strengthens muscles that help bones not rub on bones. It actually makes the body younger again,” said Broyles.
Blackwelder says, thanks to yoga, he has flexibility today at age 51 that he hasn’t had since his days in college.
And anyone of any age can do some sort of yoga, experts say.
“One of the most important treatments for depression, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity is exercise. And we all know that. But the reality is to get an out-of-shape 270-pound patient with heart disease and diabetes out exercising, whether it means going to the gym, riding a bike or even walking, may not be realistic. But yoga doesn’t require the same strength or cardiovascular level to jump in. Anybody can do some versions of yoga. It’s a great entry point [to exercise] for people with heart disease or diabetes,” Blackwelder said.
Broyles said she believes one reason the medical community is finally starting to come around on the issue of yoga and realize it can be a very real treatment option for many patients is because this is what patients want.
“The medical community is recognizing there’s more to us than our physical bodies and that people need something that blends their mental and spiritual health with their physical, and yoga is the perfect avenue for that,” said Broyles. “I think younger doctors are realizing a holistic approach to health is better. Medical schools are even starting to be more open-minded to teaching students and encouraging them to look into some alternative help and realizing that our patients are complete people. They’re encouraging a physical exam that encompasses knowing your patient’s hobbies, likes, dislikes and religion. Certainly a more holistic approach to medical training encourages a more holistic doctor in the future,” she said.
Because yoga did originate from Eastern culture, some Westerners may be reluctant to give it a try, fearing it goes against their own religious beliefs. But Broyles points out yoga can easily be individualized and may even make you feel closer to God.
“I think that certainly it did come from a Middle Eastern background, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adapt it to what you want it to be for you. You can even listen to Christian music as you do it. I would say that I am a Christian, but yet I really enjoy yoga. I admit that when I first heard about yoga, I was a little concerned about it, but after getting into it, I realized it actually improved my relationship with God in that I could really focus and meditate better. Your meditation is simply focusing on whatever you consider God to be for you,” Broyles said.
Blackwelder agrees and says because yoga is part of another culture it is readily associated with other beliefs, but is certainly not the basis of any religion or belief system.
“From a health perspective, yoga is an exercise program that can be used to improve strength, balance, muscle tone, flexibility and breathing. It can be a great time to pray, which transcends all religions,” he said.
To help minimize yoga-related injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends the following:
• If you have any medical conditions or injuries, speak to your doctor before participating in yoga.
• Work with a qualified yoga instructor. Ask about his or her experience and credentials.
• Warm up thoroughly before a yoga session — cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are vulnerable to injury.
• Wear appropriate clothing that allows for proper movement.
• Beginners should start slowly and learn the basics first — such as breathing — rather than trying to stretch too far.
• If you are unsure of a pose or movement, ask questions.
• Know your limits. Do not try positions beyond your experience or comfort level.
• Learn what type of yoga you are performing. There are hundreds of different forms of yoga, some more strenuous than others. It is important to learn which type of yoga will best suit your needs.
• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially if participating in Bikram or “hot” yoga.
• Listen to your body. If you are experiencing pain or exhaustion while participating in yoga, stop or take a break. If pain persists, speak with a physician.
Blackwelder hopes yoga will become more common in the Tri-Cities. With more and more yoga classes being offered locally, including some at the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA and the Kingsport Senior Center, patients have more options than ever to give this form of exercise a shot and experience the potential benefits for themselves.
For Bockhorst, the benefits are immeasurable. The time spent each week doing yoga is what she calls her “calm hour.”
“I feel calmer for days afterwards, and if I have to miss a class, I feel it the next week,” she said.
______
Jennifer Bockhorst leaves work a bit early most Wednesdays to drive from Abingdon, Va., to attend a yoga class in Kingsport. After suffering from migraine and tension headaches for years, Bockhorst decided to try yoga for the treatment and prevention of these headaches.
“I bought my first yoga video in 1997 and for about 10 years did yoga off and on with different videos. And though this did help my headaches, you never push yourself as hard with a video as you do in a class,” Bockhorst said.
She has since been regularly attending yoga classes at The Red Clover Wellness Spa and Yoga Studio in Kingsport and says the improvement in her headaches has “been really dramatic.”
“I still get migraines, but not nearly as often and they don’t last as long,” Bockhorst said.
At least two local physicians won’t dispute what Bockhorst’s yoga experience has brought her.
Dr. Reid Blackwelder is not only a physician at East Tennessee State University Family Physicians of Kingsport, he also practices yoga and teaches Bockhorst’s yoga class at The Red Clover and says he recommends it to his patients “all the time.”
Some recent studies conducted at Duke University and the University of North Carolina have shown that there are indeed proven health benefits for patients who practice yoga. Specifically, these studies have looked at patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, hot flashes, and sleep and energy levels for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.
But Blackwelder points out other studies show yoga can help people who also suffer a whole host of other ailments as well, including depression, hypertension, arthritis, chronic back pain, anxiety and stress.
And it’s this stress so many of us experience in our daily lives that can only exacerbate an already existing health condition.
Dr. Lisa Broyles, a family practice physician with Blue Ridge Primary Care in Johnson City, said the stress of medical school is what initially drew her to yoga. And today she does yoga on her lunch break, especially if she’s had a stressful morning or a difficult encounter with a patient. She said she keeps a yoga mat, yoga music and a lavender eye pillow in her office at all times.
“In so many ways, yoga is not only good for your physical body, but mentally, it teaches you to be calm in the midst of stressful situations,” Broyles said.
Because the health benefits yoga provides are numerous, Broyles said she does often recommend it to her patients.
“By becoming more in-tune with your body you are able to optimize your health. You begin to listen to your body. Women who take yoga have a better self-image and self-esteem. They have fewer eating disorders, less depression and anxiety. It also can improve obsessive-compulsive disorder because it teaches you to listen to your body. When there’s something out of harmony, it teaches you what’s going wrong and how you can fix it instead of having to rely on medications,” she said.
It’s been around for thousands of years, and though this ancient Hindu practice originated in India, yoga is becoming more and more popular with Westerners, with millions now taking part in what’s proving to be much more than just a “fad” or “trend.”
Most Westernized yoga is comprised of controlled breathing and poses that may often be named for mammals, fish or reptiles. Meditation may also be a third component of some types of yoga, bringing “harmony” to the body and mind, said Broyles.
“With each posture you take one breath in. When you take your deep breath as you’re doing a certain posture, you’re bringing in peace and when you exhale, you’re breathing out stress,” she said.
Improved flexibility is another bonus yoga brings.
As we age, we lose much of the flexibility in our joints and muscles, which can often lead to injuries and other aches and pains.
“Yoga lubricates the joints. It improves flexibility of the spine and strengthens muscles that help bones not rub on bones. It actually makes the body younger again,” said Broyles.
Blackwelder says, thanks to yoga, he has flexibility today at age 51 that he hasn’t had since his days in college.
And anyone of any age can do some sort of yoga, experts say.
“One of the most important treatments for depression, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity is exercise. And we all know that. But the reality is to get an out-of-shape 270-pound patient with heart disease and diabetes out exercising, whether it means going to the gym, riding a bike or even walking, may not be realistic. But yoga doesn’t require the same strength or cardiovascular level to jump in. Anybody can do some versions of yoga. It’s a great entry point [to exercise] for people with heart disease or diabetes,” Blackwelder said.
Broyles said she believes one reason the medical community is finally starting to come around on the issue of yoga and realize it can be a very real treatment option for many patients is because this is what patients want.
“The medical community is recognizing there’s more to us than our physical bodies and that people need something that blends their mental and spiritual health with their physical, and yoga is the perfect avenue for that,” said Broyles. “I think younger doctors are realizing a holistic approach to health is better. Medical schools are even starting to be more open-minded to teaching students and encouraging them to look into some alternative help and realizing that our patients are complete people. They’re encouraging a physical exam that encompasses knowing your patient’s hobbies, likes, dislikes and religion. Certainly a more holistic approach to medical training encourages a more holistic doctor in the future,” she said.
Because yoga did originate from Eastern culture, some Westerners may be reluctant to give it a try, fearing it goes against their own religious beliefs. But Broyles points out yoga can easily be individualized and may even make you feel closer to God.
“I think that certainly it did come from a Middle Eastern background, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adapt it to what you want it to be for you. You can even listen to Christian music as you do it. I would say that I am a Christian, but yet I really enjoy yoga. I admit that when I first heard about yoga, I was a little concerned about it, but after getting into it, I realized it actually improved my relationship with God in that I could really focus and meditate better. Your meditation is simply focusing on whatever you consider God to be for you,” Broyles said.
Blackwelder agrees and says because yoga is part of another culture it is readily associated with other beliefs, but is certainly not the basis of any religion or belief system.
“From a health perspective, yoga is an exercise program that can be used to improve strength, balance, muscle tone, flexibility and breathing. It can be a great time to pray, which transcends all religions,” he said.
To help minimize yoga-related injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends the following:
• If you have any medical conditions or injuries, speak to your doctor before participating in yoga.
• Work with a qualified yoga instructor. Ask about his or her experience and credentials.
• Warm up thoroughly before a yoga session — cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are vulnerable to injury.
• Wear appropriate clothing that allows for proper movement.
• Beginners should start slowly and learn the basics first — such as breathing — rather than trying to stretch too far.
• If you are unsure of a pose or movement, ask questions.
• Know your limits. Do not try positions beyond your experience or comfort level.
• Learn what type of yoga you are performing. There are hundreds of different forms of yoga, some more strenuous than others. It is important to learn which type of yoga will best suit your needs.
• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially if participating in Bikram or “hot” yoga.
• Listen to your body. If you are experiencing pain or exhaustion while participating in yoga, stop or take a break. If pain persists, speak with a physician.
Blackwelder hopes yoga will become more common in the Tri-Cities. With more and more yoga classes being offered locally, including some at the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA and the Kingsport Senior Center, patients have more options than ever to give this form of exercise a shot and experience the potential benefits for themselves.
For Bockhorst, the benefits are immeasurable. The time spent each week doing yoga is what she calls her “calm hour.”
“I feel calmer for days afterwards, and if I have to miss a class, I feel it the next week,” she said.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Stand on your Head!
Standing on your head is lots of fun! No .. really! Im serious!
:D
However, with that said, I do not recommend headstands unless you have a Yogin guiding you. This means, dont do a headstand in a gym class or a class taught at a community center. Find a qualified Yogin to help you with this powerful and extremely beneficial pose.
So .. why do a headstand?
Well, FIRST, it helps us see the world around us from a different perspective. A new perspective on life helps us change the way we think and do things - to find other solutions to the actions we currently take.
SECOND, headstands reduce facial wrinkles! Yes, its a natural face-lift! When we stand on our head the blood rushes to our head, revitalizing the facial skin, helping to remove toxins that reside there. Headstands make our skin glow, our hair thicker, with fewer gray hairs.
Number THREE: Headstands balance the hormones by stimulating the endocrine system by providing oxigenated blood to rush to the pituitary and hypothalamus glands. These glands are vital to our overall well-being because they regulate other body functions .. like our sex drive, for example. In a headstand, we actually stimulate the thyroid, adrenal and pineal glands, meaning we release stress, which improves our physical and emotional health.
FOURTH good reason: Headstands exercise the heart and encourage venous return. Standing up, the heart is constantly pumping blood upward to the brain, which takes a great deal of effort. In a headstand the heart actually takes a rest, and so reduces heart strain.
FIFTH: Increase your brain function! Headstands rush fresh blood to our brain, stimulating brain cells. This acts to improve our memory and concentration, our ability to think clearly and organize thoughts.
Number SIX: Medical studies have shown that people who do headstands regularly never suffer from an Ischemic Stroke, which is the result of a blockage in an artery that leads to the brain. Headstands have also proven to be good therapy for migraine and headache suffers, those with Parkinson's disease, senility and other nervous system disorders.
SEVENTH .. headstands make us feel good! Yes, they relieve stress and depression. Standing on your head is very calming and soothing.
Number EIGHT! Headstands encourage drainage of lymphatic fluid so the entire body experiences a regular detoxification! Why pay for an expensive detox when you can stand on your head!?
NINTH good reason: Headstands build a strong Immune System (this too is medically proven).
Wow .. number TEN: Respiration is improved, because headstands promote deep breathing which clears the lungs, creating healthy lung tissue.
ELEVENTH reason .. your Digestive System is cleansed of congested blood and matter, so toxins are flushed out of the body. All the fresh and oxigenated blood that gets moved around in a headstand invigorates the liver and kidneys, the stomach and intestines.
TWELVE! Our muscles and bones get stronger! Yes, headstands create musculoskeletal strength! Headstands strengthen our spine and neck, our shoulders and arms, also the abs and legs.
So .. what are you waiting for? Come to Hamsa Yogashala and learn how to get healthy by standing on your head!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
:D
However, with that said, I do not recommend headstands unless you have a Yogin guiding you. This means, dont do a headstand in a gym class or a class taught at a community center. Find a qualified Yogin to help you with this powerful and extremely beneficial pose.
So .. why do a headstand?
Well, FIRST, it helps us see the world around us from a different perspective. A new perspective on life helps us change the way we think and do things - to find other solutions to the actions we currently take.
SECOND, headstands reduce facial wrinkles! Yes, its a natural face-lift! When we stand on our head the blood rushes to our head, revitalizing the facial skin, helping to remove toxins that reside there. Headstands make our skin glow, our hair thicker, with fewer gray hairs.
Number THREE: Headstands balance the hormones by stimulating the endocrine system by providing oxigenated blood to rush to the pituitary and hypothalamus glands. These glands are vital to our overall well-being because they regulate other body functions .. like our sex drive, for example. In a headstand, we actually stimulate the thyroid, adrenal and pineal glands, meaning we release stress, which improves our physical and emotional health.
FOURTH good reason: Headstands exercise the heart and encourage venous return. Standing up, the heart is constantly pumping blood upward to the brain, which takes a great deal of effort. In a headstand the heart actually takes a rest, and so reduces heart strain.
FIFTH: Increase your brain function! Headstands rush fresh blood to our brain, stimulating brain cells. This acts to improve our memory and concentration, our ability to think clearly and organize thoughts.
Number SIX: Medical studies have shown that people who do headstands regularly never suffer from an Ischemic Stroke, which is the result of a blockage in an artery that leads to the brain. Headstands have also proven to be good therapy for migraine and headache suffers, those with Parkinson's disease, senility and other nervous system disorders.
SEVENTH .. headstands make us feel good! Yes, they relieve stress and depression. Standing on your head is very calming and soothing.
Number EIGHT! Headstands encourage drainage of lymphatic fluid so the entire body experiences a regular detoxification! Why pay for an expensive detox when you can stand on your head!?
NINTH good reason: Headstands build a strong Immune System (this too is medically proven).
Wow .. number TEN: Respiration is improved, because headstands promote deep breathing which clears the lungs, creating healthy lung tissue.
ELEVENTH reason .. your Digestive System is cleansed of congested blood and matter, so toxins are flushed out of the body. All the fresh and oxigenated blood that gets moved around in a headstand invigorates the liver and kidneys, the stomach and intestines.
TWELVE! Our muscles and bones get stronger! Yes, headstands create musculoskeletal strength! Headstands strengthen our spine and neck, our shoulders and arms, also the abs and legs.
So .. what are you waiting for? Come to Hamsa Yogashala and learn how to get healthy by standing on your head!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Monday, March 16, 2009
Ajna Chakra
The sixth chakra - our ability to perceive realms beyond, to transcend time.
Inner sight, intuition, clarity of mind and focus are found at the inner eye.
Inner sight, intuition, clarity of mind and focus are found at the inner eye.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Kriya Yoga
The Bhagavad Gita - an important Yoga text and considered one of the most important classics of the world - tells a story about a great battle; and though it depicts a historic event, it is actually a metaphor for the human bodymind and the higher self.
Briefly: The mind controls the five senses of sight and sound, touch, taste and smell. As such, the mind is often destracted by these things, like the sight of a action movie, or the sound of rock music, or the touch of a soft fabric, the taste of a delicious meal, or the smell of an intoxicating aroma.
At no time should these be considered 'bad' things, simply distracting ones, for they keep us from focusing on our breath and breathing. Thousands of years ago the ancient Yogins realize that the bodymind is linked to the higher self through the breath, so it is that this has become the cornerstone of Yoga.
The Bhagavad Gita talks a lot about Yoga .. like Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jhana Yoga and Kriya Yoga.
Kriya Yoga is the Yoga of action or 'taking charge' of our life. Specifically, in the Bhagavad Gita, this is done through the breath, utilizing breathing techniques. Kriya Yoga then, is a way to accelerate conscious development, and creating a profound sense of tranquility and union with your higher self.
In one example, Kriya Yoga explains the "Cave of Brahman", which is a poetic term for the creative lifeforce within the bodymind, and which radiates outwards into the twenty-four vital centers of the body via the medulla, the cerebellum and the spinal cord.
The pituitary and pineal glands - also inside the Cave - are polar opposites, such as male / female, hot / cold, night / day, morning / night, and the like. These opposites represent the duality we experience as humans, meaning how we feel 'alone' or 'isolated' or not connected to our higher self. Kriya Yoga regulates these opposites - through Yogic breathing techniques - to calm the entire nervous system, which regulates the bodymind fluctuations, and so helps us arrive at a place of self-realization. Which simply means that we realize our true or higher self.
In that peace [self-control and self awareness by mastering the breath] all pains [sense of seperateness] are destroyed, for the intellect of the tranquil-mind [those who meditate] soon becomes steady [calm, blissful, at peace].
-Bhagavad Gita, 2:65
In all, the Bhagavad Gita describes life as a journey of co-creation, where we travel from one breath to the next, learning to not pick-up more baggage - such as worries and concerns - then we can carry. Through Yoga we realize that life's journey can be a pilgrimage or a vacation, one that has a cherished and nurturing goal .. which is nothing less than self-realization.
In a Yoga class we learn that every pose has three parts: a beginning, a middle and an end. So when we reach the end of that pose, we return to the beginning. Yoga then, is a journey that, once achieved, we return to where our journey all began!
Yoga helps us become co-creators of our life, ever re-creating the moments of our existence, helping us choose wisely, consciously, our innate powers of creation.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Briefly: The mind controls the five senses of sight and sound, touch, taste and smell. As such, the mind is often destracted by these things, like the sight of a action movie, or the sound of rock music, or the touch of a soft fabric, the taste of a delicious meal, or the smell of an intoxicating aroma.
At no time should these be considered 'bad' things, simply distracting ones, for they keep us from focusing on our breath and breathing. Thousands of years ago the ancient Yogins realize that the bodymind is linked to the higher self through the breath, so it is that this has become the cornerstone of Yoga.
The Bhagavad Gita talks a lot about Yoga .. like Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jhana Yoga and Kriya Yoga.
Kriya Yoga is the Yoga of action or 'taking charge' of our life. Specifically, in the Bhagavad Gita, this is done through the breath, utilizing breathing techniques. Kriya Yoga then, is a way to accelerate conscious development, and creating a profound sense of tranquility and union with your higher self.
In one example, Kriya Yoga explains the "Cave of Brahman", which is a poetic term for the creative lifeforce within the bodymind, and which radiates outwards into the twenty-four vital centers of the body via the medulla, the cerebellum and the spinal cord.
The pituitary and pineal glands - also inside the Cave - are polar opposites, such as male / female, hot / cold, night / day, morning / night, and the like. These opposites represent the duality we experience as humans, meaning how we feel 'alone' or 'isolated' or not connected to our higher self. Kriya Yoga regulates these opposites - through Yogic breathing techniques - to calm the entire nervous system, which regulates the bodymind fluctuations, and so helps us arrive at a place of self-realization. Which simply means that we realize our true or higher self.
In that peace [self-control and self awareness by mastering the breath] all pains [sense of seperateness] are destroyed, for the intellect of the tranquil-mind [those who meditate] soon becomes steady [calm, blissful, at peace].
-Bhagavad Gita, 2:65
In all, the Bhagavad Gita describes life as a journey of co-creation, where we travel from one breath to the next, learning to not pick-up more baggage - such as worries and concerns - then we can carry. Through Yoga we realize that life's journey can be a pilgrimage or a vacation, one that has a cherished and nurturing goal .. which is nothing less than self-realization.
In a Yoga class we learn that every pose has three parts: a beginning, a middle and an end. So when we reach the end of that pose, we return to the beginning. Yoga then, is a journey that, once achieved, we return to where our journey all began!
Yoga helps us become co-creators of our life, ever re-creating the moments of our existence, helping us choose wisely, consciously, our innate powers of creation.
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Friday, March 13, 2009
Vishuddha Chakra
The fifth chakra is the sound of ether.
Our purpose becomes purified here, our resolve moves towards service to others.
Our purpose becomes purified here, our resolve moves towards service to others.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Yoga Tips
Yoga is the best way to relax both your body and mind while getting an excellent work-out. What a win-win situation!
Yoga has numerous health and well-being benefits, is cost- and time-effective, and can be practiced anywhere. So whats stopping you!?
In all, Yoga gives us back control of our body, mind and consciousness, while increasing flexibility, creating overall fitness, reducing stress, and promoting a healthy and natural lifestyle.
Below are some Yoga tips .. little things to know that will make you feel more comfortable before you begin a class.
-Find a good Yoga mat. The traditional word for this is "tapas". A Yoga tapas can be found almost anywhere today - from Target to Walmart. Make sure its not too thick, and should lay flat. Most tapas on the market today are clearly marked 'for yoga'.
-Learn Yoga from a Yogin, not a physical trainer. Gyms today have physical trainers, or those who are schooled in physical fitness, like weight-lifting and cardio machines. Generally, they take a 2-3 hour class in Yoga to be certified.
I am a Yogini who has been practicing and living my Yoga for 39 years. Over the years I have met many students who have taken 'gym yoga', so am confident when I say: to learn Yoga, learn from a Yogin!
-Free Yoga! Hamsa Yogashala has FREE Yoga classes EVERY Thursday. Healing Yoga is a great way to help you feel better. These classes are specially designed to restore health while gently detoxing the system.
There are THREE FREE Healing Yoga classes on Thursday:
7-8am
4:30-5:30pm, and
6:30-7:30pm.
Healing Yoga is more gentle than Gentle Yoga, so is a great way to introduce yourself to both a traditional Hatha Yoga class and get a quick-fix!
-Listen to Your Yogini! I will never ask you to push or strain, grunt or groan in a Yoga class. In fact, if you are doing these things, then you are not doing Yoga at all.
Yoga is natural bodily movement, and though your body no longer moves that way, it does know how to move. Reawakening our ability to move organically is one of the reasons we do Yoga.
-Dont eat (too much) before class. Or, eat a light meal about one hour before class. Bottom line: You know your body better than anyone, so decide what you should or should not eat so you dont get light-headed or feel too full.
-Arrive at least 10 minutes BEFORE class starts. Some students like to come 30 minutes early because Hamsa Yogashala is a REAL Yoga studio. Its atmosphere is peaceful and quiet, calming and .. well, very Yogic-like. So come early, lay down and relax, meditate or quietly chat with others, but please come before class starts.
-Where to sit? Many new students want to sit in the back of the class. Lots of times they will say its because they dont want the teacher to see them. A true Yogin - like myself - will walk the room, helping each student find the pose that is best for their body. So .. there is no 'back' or 'front' at Hamsa Yogashala.
-Wear Loose Clothing. Wear something comfortable, like those fun-colored pajama pants at Target, or stretchy pants and a baggy t-shirt. Sure, you can buy the expensive Yoga clothes, but more importantly, wear something you feel comfy in, that doesnt interfer with movement.
-Learn to Breath! Most of us think that, since we have been breathing since we were born, that we know how to breath. Even so, most of us breath too fast or too slow, too shallow or too uneven. The hardest thing you will ever learn in Yoga class is how to breathe - and it generally takes about two years to learn!
See you soon!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Yoga has numerous health and well-being benefits, is cost- and time-effective, and can be practiced anywhere. So whats stopping you!?
In all, Yoga gives us back control of our body, mind and consciousness, while increasing flexibility, creating overall fitness, reducing stress, and promoting a healthy and natural lifestyle.
Below are some Yoga tips .. little things to know that will make you feel more comfortable before you begin a class.
-Find a good Yoga mat. The traditional word for this is "tapas". A Yoga tapas can be found almost anywhere today - from Target to Walmart. Make sure its not too thick, and should lay flat. Most tapas on the market today are clearly marked 'for yoga'.
-Learn Yoga from a Yogin, not a physical trainer. Gyms today have physical trainers, or those who are schooled in physical fitness, like weight-lifting and cardio machines. Generally, they take a 2-3 hour class in Yoga to be certified.
I am a Yogini who has been practicing and living my Yoga for 39 years. Over the years I have met many students who have taken 'gym yoga', so am confident when I say: to learn Yoga, learn from a Yogin!
-Free Yoga! Hamsa Yogashala has FREE Yoga classes EVERY Thursday. Healing Yoga is a great way to help you feel better. These classes are specially designed to restore health while gently detoxing the system.
There are THREE FREE Healing Yoga classes on Thursday:
7-8am
4:30-5:30pm, and
6:30-7:30pm.
Healing Yoga is more gentle than Gentle Yoga, so is a great way to introduce yourself to both a traditional Hatha Yoga class and get a quick-fix!
-Listen to Your Yogini! I will never ask you to push or strain, grunt or groan in a Yoga class. In fact, if you are doing these things, then you are not doing Yoga at all.
Yoga is natural bodily movement, and though your body no longer moves that way, it does know how to move. Reawakening our ability to move organically is one of the reasons we do Yoga.
-Dont eat (too much) before class. Or, eat a light meal about one hour before class. Bottom line: You know your body better than anyone, so decide what you should or should not eat so you dont get light-headed or feel too full.
-Arrive at least 10 minutes BEFORE class starts. Some students like to come 30 minutes early because Hamsa Yogashala is a REAL Yoga studio. Its atmosphere is peaceful and quiet, calming and .. well, very Yogic-like. So come early, lay down and relax, meditate or quietly chat with others, but please come before class starts.
-Where to sit? Many new students want to sit in the back of the class. Lots of times they will say its because they dont want the teacher to see them. A true Yogin - like myself - will walk the room, helping each student find the pose that is best for their body. So .. there is no 'back' or 'front' at Hamsa Yogashala.
-Wear Loose Clothing. Wear something comfortable, like those fun-colored pajama pants at Target, or stretchy pants and a baggy t-shirt. Sure, you can buy the expensive Yoga clothes, but more importantly, wear something you feel comfy in, that doesnt interfer with movement.
-Learn to Breath! Most of us think that, since we have been breathing since we were born, that we know how to breath. Even so, most of us breath too fast or too slow, too shallow or too uneven. The hardest thing you will ever learn in Yoga class is how to breathe - and it generally takes about two years to learn!
See you soon!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Anahata Chakra
The fourth chakra is balance and expansiveness. It is our ability to love unconditionally.
Find your natural rhythm in the heart's center.
Find your natural rhythm in the heart's center.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Three Healthy Things
Being healthy is easier than you may think.
We all want to be healthy, to feel 'better', more energetic, less tired, to have a better body, and just feel good about ourselves. And there are loads of magazine articles and websites and friends who are quick to tell us how to be healthy. In fact, there is SOOO much information that it gets very confusing, or you dont know who is 'right' or who you should listen to.
There is no such thing as the 'perfect' diet or the 'perfect' food or the 'perfect exercise program, because each of us is different .. with different life experiences and ages and health conditions and outlooks. But, there are Three Healthy Things we ALL can do.
1. Sleep. We should sleep eight hours a night. Its really easy when we shutdown all our electronics for the night, drink a warm cup of tea - like chamomile or valerian - and focus on sleeping.
Sleep is important because it gives the body and mind an opportunity to restore itself. But i'll bet you didnt know that sleep determines your appetite, your attitude, your energy level and your immunity. And more importantly: diet. If, for example, you eat white flour, white sugar and milk, then you are disrupting your bodies ability to sleep and so self-heal.
2. Yoga, twice a week. Yes, you are probably thinking: "Well of course she said 'yoga', its a yoga blog!" But in truth, more and more medical universities are confirming that Yoga, twice a week, is healthy for the body and mind.
This is not too difficult to understand because Yoga is natural bodily movement, so when we move naturally, then the body is happy. And when the body is happy, the mind too is content and calm. Plus, a twice weekly Yoga class will help you sleep better because the body is doing the most organic exercise routine on the planet .. which means its health will be restored.
3. Meditate and / or practice Positive Thinking. Most of us have so much background chatter in our head - thinking about bills or work, kids or friends, worrying and judging and complaining and defending - that we think this is normal. In fact, all this chatter probably keeps you awake at night.
Calm the chatter with deep breathing and pleasant thinking. Take a slow and relaxing inhale and be grateful for something. Exhale deeply and completely and smile softly to yourself. In that 5-7 seconds you have been optimistic and so reduced stress. Baby steps are the most important ones! Eventually, you will be able to calm the body and mind for one minute, then three or fifteen.
So there you have it: Three Healthy Things. And the best part? They are free! No prescription required, no professional assistance needed.
If your not doing self-health, then what do you expect?
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
We all want to be healthy, to feel 'better', more energetic, less tired, to have a better body, and just feel good about ourselves. And there are loads of magazine articles and websites and friends who are quick to tell us how to be healthy. In fact, there is SOOO much information that it gets very confusing, or you dont know who is 'right' or who you should listen to.
There is no such thing as the 'perfect' diet or the 'perfect' food or the 'perfect exercise program, because each of us is different .. with different life experiences and ages and health conditions and outlooks. But, there are Three Healthy Things we ALL can do.
1. Sleep. We should sleep eight hours a night. Its really easy when we shutdown all our electronics for the night, drink a warm cup of tea - like chamomile or valerian - and focus on sleeping.
Sleep is important because it gives the body and mind an opportunity to restore itself. But i'll bet you didnt know that sleep determines your appetite, your attitude, your energy level and your immunity. And more importantly: diet. If, for example, you eat white flour, white sugar and milk, then you are disrupting your bodies ability to sleep and so self-heal.
2. Yoga, twice a week. Yes, you are probably thinking: "Well of course she said 'yoga', its a yoga blog!" But in truth, more and more medical universities are confirming that Yoga, twice a week, is healthy for the body and mind.
This is not too difficult to understand because Yoga is natural bodily movement, so when we move naturally, then the body is happy. And when the body is happy, the mind too is content and calm. Plus, a twice weekly Yoga class will help you sleep better because the body is doing the most organic exercise routine on the planet .. which means its health will be restored.
3. Meditate and / or practice Positive Thinking. Most of us have so much background chatter in our head - thinking about bills or work, kids or friends, worrying and judging and complaining and defending - that we think this is normal. In fact, all this chatter probably keeps you awake at night.
Calm the chatter with deep breathing and pleasant thinking. Take a slow and relaxing inhale and be grateful for something. Exhale deeply and completely and smile softly to yourself. In that 5-7 seconds you have been optimistic and so reduced stress. Baby steps are the most important ones! Eventually, you will be able to calm the body and mind for one minute, then three or fifteen.
So there you have it: Three Healthy Things. And the best part? They are free! No prescription required, no professional assistance needed.
If your not doing self-health, then what do you expect?
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Manipura Chakra
The third chakra is choice and action, vitality and will.
Achievement is found here, inspiration and self-worth.
Achievement is found here, inspiration and self-worth.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Can't Sleep?
Our body and mind have an 'internal clock', one that is often set, inadvertantly, by our environment.
This means that in our rush-a-day world, our body and mind are used to being hurried, so when it comes to the evening - even after work and dinner - they are not willing to slow down.
Yoga suggests we create an 'electronic sundown' to purposefully signal that evening is come and restorative sleep should follow.
Just as your body and mind have been trained to be awake and alert all day - sometimes with artificial aids like caffiene - so to must we train our body to let go and sleep.
A good way to do this is turn off the television, the computer and your cell phone at 10pm. Drap a light kercheif across your digital clock and/or any other blinking or glowing light source.
Light effects the melatonin levels in the brain, which has a direct impact on our ability to sleep at night.
So go to bed, do some light reading to relax, then turn off the light and do deep and slow breathing. Having turned off or down all the electronic sources that can disturb you, and having turned off the lights, the body will readily respond. After all, the body wants to be healthy, and it knows that sleep is very healing .. so help it out!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
This means that in our rush-a-day world, our body and mind are used to being hurried, so when it comes to the evening - even after work and dinner - they are not willing to slow down.
Yoga suggests we create an 'electronic sundown' to purposefully signal that evening is come and restorative sleep should follow.
Just as your body and mind have been trained to be awake and alert all day - sometimes with artificial aids like caffiene - so to must we train our body to let go and sleep.
A good way to do this is turn off the television, the computer and your cell phone at 10pm. Drap a light kercheif across your digital clock and/or any other blinking or glowing light source.
Light effects the melatonin levels in the brain, which has a direct impact on our ability to sleep at night.
So go to bed, do some light reading to relax, then turn off the light and do deep and slow breathing. Having turned off or down all the electronic sources that can disturb you, and having turned off the lights, the body will readily respond. After all, the body wants to be healthy, and it knows that sleep is very healing .. so help it out!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Svadhisthana Chakra
The second chakra - or ability to change, to flow.
Freedom and creativity, indulgence and desire.
Freedom and creativity, indulgence and desire.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Beautiful Music
Classes at Hamsa Yogashala are done to beautiful, relaxing and restorative music.
Hamsa Yogashala is not a gym class with the clanking of barbells in the background, and its not a school library with canned new age music. All our Yoga sessions have lovely chakra / energy music, or traditional Yoga music playing softly in the background.
Numerous studies have proven that gentle and relaxing music actual teaches the body to slow down.
The intennal rhythms of the body and mind will speed up or slow down to match our environment. So if we are in the gym and there is pounding music, then our body and mind will mirror that. No matter how hard we try to relax and strengthen.
A good example is at the beach, where our body and mind will naturally match the gentle sound of surf and wind, allowing us to release the stress of a busy and speeded up lifestyle. This science is called 'entrainment', and whether we walk in the wood, listening to birdsong or trickling water, or rush down a crowded city street, our surroundings directly impact our health and wellbeing.
Come to Hamsa Yogashala and experience Yoga to relaxing music and see for yourself what a difference it makes in your practice!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Hamsa Yogashala is not a gym class with the clanking of barbells in the background, and its not a school library with canned new age music. All our Yoga sessions have lovely chakra / energy music, or traditional Yoga music playing softly in the background.
Numerous studies have proven that gentle and relaxing music actual teaches the body to slow down.
The intennal rhythms of the body and mind will speed up or slow down to match our environment. So if we are in the gym and there is pounding music, then our body and mind will mirror that. No matter how hard we try to relax and strengthen.
A good example is at the beach, where our body and mind will naturally match the gentle sound of surf and wind, allowing us to release the stress of a busy and speeded up lifestyle. This science is called 'entrainment', and whether we walk in the wood, listening to birdsong or trickling water, or rush down a crowded city street, our surroundings directly impact our health and wellbeing.
Come to Hamsa Yogashala and experience Yoga to relaxing music and see for yourself what a difference it makes in your practice!
Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Muladhara Chakra
The first chakra, the foundation - the solid earth upon which we stand.
Safety and security, suvival and basic needs - these are Muladhara.
Safety and security, suvival and basic needs - these are Muladhara.
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