lesson from the bhagavad gita

lesson from the bhagavad gita: “yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self”

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the core texts in Hindu tradition. According to Mohandas K Gandhi, ” self-realization is the subject of the Gita, as it is of all scriptures. But its author surely did not write it to establish that doctrine. The object of the Gita appears to me to be that of showing the most excellent way to attain self-realization. That which is to be found, more or less clearly, spread out here and there in Hindu religious books, has been brought to the clearest language in the Gita…That matchless remedy is renunciation of the fruits of action”

All kinds of people “do” yoga for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes I see people fervently chasing flexibility as if it was something you could just get and that’s that. Yoga practice has a lot of aspects to it. We get into the body through postures but that isn’t the end of the journey. I wrote a blog on how to make self-reflection fun. One of the things I said was If you see only the small self, your journey can be mired by insecurities and stress. When you elevate and nourish the perception of self, you are likely to feel that everything on the journey happens for a reason. I call it “research and development.”

Getting to know who you are in your body will give you a sensitivity to yourself on your mat. If you take this skill-set with you, you are all the wiser off the mat as well

join the conversation on twitter : #liveyouryoga

 

bhagavad gita

Monday meaningful quotes

Monday meaningful quotes:  A precious human life by His Holiness the x1v th Dalai Lama

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry, or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can”

What I love about these words is the celebratory nature. we spend a lot of time evaluating the good and bad of each day, often times, focusing on the burden or stress of the day, the sloshing of the daily grind, and the tasks on our plate. This goes beyond that.

Who inspires and motivates you to stay uplifted and purposeful? Do you have a morning wake up routine that puts you in a positive frame of mind? I have developed a few practices that are stand-alone or add-on to your yoga practice, your coffee break, your commute. Check out my Yoga Mind cd for a portable window into peace and positivity, two building blocks of a purposeful day. And print a copy of this beautiful piece that is written by someone whose intention is to elevate.

meaningful quotes

Monday Punday

Too cute not to share.  Laughter is great medicine; contentment breeds calm ~ or here’s to hoping! Naturally, a balanced Yoga practice will stimulate the endorphins; you can also do a lot with breathing exercises.

A great yoga therapy technique to simulate laughter is Kapalabhati

Kapalabhati Pranayama (pronounced (kah-pah-lah-BAH-tee). Kapala = skull and bhati = light (implying perception, knowledge).
The effect of this energizing pranayama is to clear the mind, release emotional tensions, improve digestion, and leave you feeling “brighter,” almost as if your brain was standing in a warm and happy sunbeam.
Build up slowly!
Step by Step Guide:
Sit comfortably, using any support or props.  Try seated tadasana on a chair, if you like.
Focus on your lower abdomen, placing your hands there, one atop the other. Breathe in and then try laughing.
Notice the activity under your hands, as the belly contracts in short bursts.
Inhale, and as you exhale next time, repeat the same “ha ha ha” action but using short exhales through the nose.

Your inhales can be long, passive and slow, the exhales will be shorter bursts.  You can keep your hands on the belly and use them to pump the abdomen until you are comfortable and feel more adept at the rhythm.

Monday Punday

 

Menu of The Day : Health and Wellness

Let’s start with a balanced yoga class. I teach today in Tenafly at 10:30 ( we may actually do some balancing poses!)  ~ and/or

Add a balanced breathing practice from my Yoga Mind cd at the end of the day to unwind after being so busy ~ and/or

Book a private yoga class with me to assess your needs and assist you in creating a personal practice and a balanced you
Menu of the day