When we sit a meditate, we are free. We release the attachment to pain. We let go of the idea of "no, I can't" and we become "yes, I can." Spiritual maturity means walking your own path and in doing so, we find bliss. True bliss. Not a cliche or wall street version of struggling for an idea that is supposed to be bliss, but the joy that is you. The real, actual you. The Self. 

Letting go is complete. It is an understanding that you are the creator of your own life. You do not need permission to be happy. No one - not me, not your family, not your friends - can tell you how to find happiness. It is already there within you, waiting to be rediscovered. Dream your dream. 

Shanti,
  S.

Concentration is a technique for balancing and centering the mind. Without concentration, there can not be meditation. And without meditation, one is inhibited from entering a state of quiet contemplation. Most human beings are out of balance with life. We may imagine that if our emotional state is all over the place then we are "really" experiencing life. From a yogic perspective, this is completely false.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna states, 'Arjuna, the practice of yoga is not for him that eats too much or eats too little; nor is it for him that sleeps to much or keeps awake excessively. He who moderates his eating, his work, his recreation, his sleep, he alone is capable of mastering yoga.'

There is a lovely book full of teaching stories from India that I would like to recommend. It is called: 

The Monkeys and the Mango Tree: Teaching Stories of the Saints and Sadhus of India by Harish Johari

The stories in this book are simple, yet profound and meant to be shared. I hope you will consider bringing a copy of this book home and sharing it w/ your family and loved ones.

Shanti,
  S.

This evening during the asana portion of our meeting, someone in our group remarked that she was having trouble executing a pose because she has tight quadriceps. I wanted to show her a pose that any beginner can do that has that issue, so I promised her that I would add it to my blog. Here are the step-by-step instructions for Half Cobra Pose (ardha-bhujangasan). In addition to being very beneficial for relaxing tight quads, this pose is an excellent pose for all muscles, ligaments, nerves of the legs, stomach, spine and arms. It is an easy pose to relax and stretch the entire body.

First, stretch your left leg back as far as possible. The right knee is bent w/ the foot flat on the floor. Place the right hand on the right knee, left hand and spine are bent slowly backward until left hand, spine and left leg look like a semicircle. Hold 3 seconds. Repeat w/ the left knee forward.

Yoga is about consciousness. In today's culture we spend a lot of time running, ranting and raving. We rarely allow ourselves one moment of "unproductive" time. And then we wonder why our bodies hurt, why we feel unhappy and why our lives are in a state of upheaval? We are completely distracted, therefore we can not truly understand who we are. How do we find balance? We. Stop. Running. To me, the single most important posture in all of yoga is Shavasana. Here's why:

Shavasana, aligns the spine. The brain and spinal column are command central for the entire body. Align the spine and the body begins to function properly. Shavasana can be performed by people of all ages, regardless of their level of fitness. We can all lay down. Shavasana is completely restorative. And it can be done almost anywhere.

Shavasana should always be done on a flat, level surface. Begin by slowly lowering the body from a sitting position with knees bent. Lower the spine one disc @ a time, with full conscious awareness of the way the body feels as it is rolling down toward the ground. Make certain that the shoulder blades are flat against the ground and that the spine is straight. Then lower the legs one @ a time. To perform Shavasana properly we must completely relax each and every part of the body. This takes practice. I recommend that you take time for total relaxation in Shavasana @ least once a day, preferably within minutes of returning home from work. I try to perform Shavasana anytime I notice an imbalance in the way my body feels. This means that I am usually on the floor several times a day. I always feel better immediately after.

Dharma Mittra, a modern yoga master, has this to say about Shavasana:

"All restorative poses can be held for 5 to 30 minutes since they don't create any undue tension, sensation, or strain. Shavasana, Corpse Pose, is the pose of total relaxation, and the only pose in which a yogi breathes through the mouth. Beginners often skip this pose @ the end of practice but they are missing one of yoga's most powerful moments. With every breathe you allow awareness to enter the deepest part of yourself. Resting, but with your mind fully aware, Shavasana calms the brain, relaxes the body, helps lower blood pressure, and rebalances the entire system. Ten minutes will bring you all these benefits; fifteen minutes is preferable, and corresponds to two or three hours of deep sleep."

The very first thing I ever teach any student new to Kriya Yoga is Shivasana. If you only have 10 minutes a day to dedicate to yoga, I would encourage each and everyone of you to practice this one pose. You will reap the benefits each and every time you do it. 

I had commitments after the last couple of group meditation lessons, so I neglected to make blog entries. To those of you that follow it, my apologies.