It seems like such a long time since we were all able to get together as a group and share the teachings. And what a joy it was! Thanks to each and every one of you that came this evening. And a very special Thank You to our member who so graciously donated the office space where we gathered. Deepest gratitude!
Because it's been some time, I wanted to be prepared, so I did something that I haven't done in awhile. I made notes. I ask that each beginning meditator fill out some profile questions which help me understand which teachings might be of the most benefit. Some of this evening's members were seeking stress relief, relaxation, focus, soul healing, calmness. They said they wanted to "find themselves" and "understand themselves." A couple of us, myself included, have physical challenges. Can Kriya Yoga address all of these things? The answer is, yes, if we understand how the techniques work and which techniques to choose. And that is what I try to teach. It's up to the individual to utilize these teaching to do whatever it is they/we want to do in this life. Jumping around on a yoga mat doesn't do a darn thing if we don't understand the meaning of what we are doing.
Here's an example. First, I taught shivasana and a deep relaxation technique using visualization. These are tools that every single human can benefit from. Next we studied the Drawing Breath (Ujjaya) which has many benefits. Some of which are that it relieves excessive heat from the head and improves digestion. It is helpful for people with consumption, asthma, and other pulmonary diseases. It soothes the nerves and tones the entire body. It is excellent for helping people w/ high blood pressure. Ujjaya can be done sitting, standing or reclining. It can be done anywhere. This is a method of eminence among classical techniques. After this pranayama, we practiced the pose cat/cow to increase strength and flexibility in the spine. And we learned how to open the Heart Chakra with a technique that employs tapping that region in conjunction with an affirmation which lead us into our meditation. We meditated upon the feeling of Joy. Everlasting Joy.
You know, some people are waiting to be happy. They are waiting for circumstance to present an opportunity that will allow them to be free. The truth of the matter is, we are as free as we want to be. The only person that can allow you to be happy is you. The only person that can allow me to be happy is me. No one can do that for us. It's a decision we make every day. We may ask ourselves, "What do I want in my life?" "How do I get there?" We have the tools. Let's use them. What is the difference between an unhappy set of circumstances and opportunities for learning? Attitude. Practice. Diligence.
Shanti,
S.