All - Sat Nam!
I've started to merge my love for music, dance and Djing with my yoga teaching and voila have come up with this event... Please join me and my dear friend and fellow yoga teacher Bhagvati Kaur for an evening of yoga, dance and lots of fun.
love, gratitude and light,
Jiwan Shakti Kaur
-----------------------------
Summer Solstice Celebration in SF - Yoga dance party!
with Jiwan Shakti Kaur (Sariah Sizemore) and
Bhagvati Kaur (Iris Lange)
Saturday, June 13th 2009
7pm - 10:00
$15 suggested donation
@ The James Howell Studio
Join us for an evening of Kundalini yoga, music, ecstatic dance, laughter and fun!
Vibrate the Cosmos. The Cosmos shall clear the path.
~Yogi Bhajan
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Human Sustainability
Every day I listen to National Public Radio when I'm driving in my car to and from work. I find that I'm quite addicted to it since I don't watch television and it's become my main source of news. The good thing is that it's pretty neutral in the delivery of things and I like that. Just as any news station, however, it really does drive home the current hot topics. This past week it's been the Swine Flu and in a few more weeks it will probably be something else. I find that no matter what it is, underlying tone seems to be the generation of fear and worry.
I realize that any time you tune in to the mainstream media you are exposing yourself to a certain reality or non-reality that will stir up concern, worry, and for some fear, and for others, loads of fear and then that becomes anxiety and then that anxiety turns in to poor attitude and depression and wow, the cycle can be endless. However, we need it, we feed on it and we want more of it no matter how it makes us feel. I've found myself at times in a shocking state of despair after taking in some of the information that is out there. I've proclaimed that I won't listen to NPR anymore! But I keep going back.. and I would like to think it's just for the book reviews and interviews which I am very much in to. But I have to admit that part of it is that I need to gauge the level of despair, chaos and fear in the world each day. I choose to shake it off the best I can each time. That is my choice but I'm not sure how many actually make that choice. Do you?
There are also positive hot topics that are being driven home by organizations and media. Take the Green movement and Sustainability for instance. The words and the concepts that back them up have been slowly but surely creeping in more and more to our every day lives. We are even finally to the point where things like smart grid technology are being implemented across the US. I find that if I go in to the grocery store and I don't have my "green" cloth sustainable bag that the checker and the people around me are looking at me like you BAD nongreen consumer! It's true, we are coming a long way. As I write this I remind myself that I am in California, however, and this is how we roll. In San Francisco we go beyond rolling with it, we are becoming it. That is so cool! But SF is a small slice of the rest of America and it seems the rock needs to roll out in to the middle and spread this mentality a bit more.
I remember being in Indiana visiting my dad and being surrounded by farm land and crops. Do you know that I could not find one place easily accessible to buy organic produce?! I was forced to buy vegetables at Walmart! I found a few organic things but they were questionable. Similar to this, I drive down to Los Angeles often from San Francisco and am frequently aghast at the fact that you can't find any nutritional snacks on the road. Most of the restaurants, gas stations and convenient stores are stocked with food that have things like corn syrup and preservatives in them. Why does corn syrup need to be on potato salad!? WHY? It's just wrong.
I was searching for images to portray human sustainability and I came across this one on the Pepsico web site that is really scary!
It is a woman in a labratory with test tubes on one side and then a mom and son laughing and eating their own individual bags of cheetos! IS THAT HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY? No, I think not. It's no new news to those who keep up with this sort of things and choose to be aware of what's going on around you, however, this is a big reminder that shit aint right in corporate land. ;)
You see, I wasn't born and raised in California so I'm not coming from a long life of activism or hippie california parents. I was raised in Louisiana where the eating habits I grew up with were less than healthy. I abused my body all through my teens and early twenties with a variety of substances fueled by sheer ignorance about what I was really doing to myself. I can tell you the path to where I am now, practicing yoga, teaching others, blogging, committing to a healthy life has been a long one filled with lessons and resistance at times. It's a real challenge to get yourself out of the grid and the structure we are forced to live in growing up.
I wonder sometimes why it has to be so hard to tune back in to your natural cycles and reclaim your life and your health! It should not be so difficult. Lately I often find myself feeling like the news caster from the 1976 film Network. I've been getting "Mad as hell" about the current state of things and am being moved with out choice into a place of activism and with out question am becoming more and more willing to do what it takes to help promote peace, health, wholeness and progress in our society. We do not have to take this anymore!
So the more we hear about green and sustainability of the earth, do you think about how you fit in to that equation? Do you really connect with the fact that you too are part of the earth and just like we have been polluting the earth we have been polluting ourselves. If we are feeling down, we drink, if we are hungover and tired we have caffeine, if we crash from the caffeine and get a headache we take an ibuprofen. If we are depressed from drinking too much we take antidepressants, those aren't working we try some more self medication. Not only do many put toxic substances in to our bodies, what about the toxic thought patterns that we are plagued with?
What we really need to be thinking about his how we can also make ourselves "green". What about renewable clean energy for our body, minds and souls? Take the time to get out of the fog, clear your head, peel back the layers of covering up your true self, crawl out from under there and fight for your right to be healthy and happy and at peace! It is your birthright! Do it.
Human sustainability - let's not forget about ourselves. The better we treat ourselves the more awake we are so we can uplift, contribute and inspire in this current climate. The better we treat ourselves and take care of ourselves the better we treat the people around us.
I can tell you that it's challenging but not impossible. Trying to be perfect and dropping all old habits is not realistic but we can adopt new ways of thinking and practices that will allow us to get there bit by bit and layer by layer we can connect with our truth and our purpose in life. It is possible but first I think you might have to get Mad as hell!
love,
Sariah Jiwan Shakti
I realize that any time you tune in to the mainstream media you are exposing yourself to a certain reality or non-reality that will stir up concern, worry, and for some fear, and for others, loads of fear and then that becomes anxiety and then that anxiety turns in to poor attitude and depression and wow, the cycle can be endless. However, we need it, we feed on it and we want more of it no matter how it makes us feel. I've found myself at times in a shocking state of despair after taking in some of the information that is out there. I've proclaimed that I won't listen to NPR anymore! But I keep going back.. and I would like to think it's just for the book reviews and interviews which I am very much in to. But I have to admit that part of it is that I need to gauge the level of despair, chaos and fear in the world each day. I choose to shake it off the best I can each time. That is my choice but I'm not sure how many actually make that choice. Do you?
There are also positive hot topics that are being driven home by organizations and media. Take the Green movement and Sustainability for instance. The words and the concepts that back them up have been slowly but surely creeping in more and more to our every day lives. We are even finally to the point where things like smart grid technology are being implemented across the US. I find that if I go in to the grocery store and I don't have my "green" cloth sustainable bag that the checker and the people around me are looking at me like you BAD nongreen consumer! It's true, we are coming a long way. As I write this I remind myself that I am in California, however, and this is how we roll. In San Francisco we go beyond rolling with it, we are becoming it. That is so cool! But SF is a small slice of the rest of America and it seems the rock needs to roll out in to the middle and spread this mentality a bit more.
I remember being in Indiana visiting my dad and being surrounded by farm land and crops. Do you know that I could not find one place easily accessible to buy organic produce?! I was forced to buy vegetables at Walmart! I found a few organic things but they were questionable. Similar to this, I drive down to Los Angeles often from San Francisco and am frequently aghast at the fact that you can't find any nutritional snacks on the road. Most of the restaurants, gas stations and convenient stores are stocked with food that have things like corn syrup and preservatives in them. Why does corn syrup need to be on potato salad!? WHY? It's just wrong.
I was searching for images to portray human sustainability and I came across this one on the Pepsico web site that is really scary!
It is a woman in a labratory with test tubes on one side and then a mom and son laughing and eating their own individual bags of cheetos! IS THAT HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY? No, I think not. It's no new news to those who keep up with this sort of things and choose to be aware of what's going on around you, however, this is a big reminder that shit aint right in corporate land. ;)
You see, I wasn't born and raised in California so I'm not coming from a long life of activism or hippie california parents. I was raised in Louisiana where the eating habits I grew up with were less than healthy. I abused my body all through my teens and early twenties with a variety of substances fueled by sheer ignorance about what I was really doing to myself. I can tell you the path to where I am now, practicing yoga, teaching others, blogging, committing to a healthy life has been a long one filled with lessons and resistance at times. It's a real challenge to get yourself out of the grid and the structure we are forced to live in growing up.
I wonder sometimes why it has to be so hard to tune back in to your natural cycles and reclaim your life and your health! It should not be so difficult. Lately I often find myself feeling like the news caster from the 1976 film Network. I've been getting "Mad as hell" about the current state of things and am being moved with out choice into a place of activism and with out question am becoming more and more willing to do what it takes to help promote peace, health, wholeness and progress in our society. We do not have to take this anymore!
So the more we hear about green and sustainability of the earth, do you think about how you fit in to that equation? Do you really connect with the fact that you too are part of the earth and just like we have been polluting the earth we have been polluting ourselves. If we are feeling down, we drink, if we are hungover and tired we have caffeine, if we crash from the caffeine and get a headache we take an ibuprofen. If we are depressed from drinking too much we take antidepressants, those aren't working we try some more self medication. Not only do many put toxic substances in to our bodies, what about the toxic thought patterns that we are plagued with?
What we really need to be thinking about his how we can also make ourselves "green". What about renewable clean energy for our body, minds and souls? Take the time to get out of the fog, clear your head, peel back the layers of covering up your true self, crawl out from under there and fight for your right to be healthy and happy and at peace! It is your birthright! Do it.
Human sustainability - let's not forget about ourselves. The better we treat ourselves the more awake we are so we can uplift, contribute and inspire in this current climate. The better we treat ourselves and take care of ourselves the better we treat the people around us.
I can tell you that it's challenging but not impossible. Trying to be perfect and dropping all old habits is not realistic but we can adopt new ways of thinking and practices that will allow us to get there bit by bit and layer by layer we can connect with our truth and our purpose in life. It is possible but first I think you might have to get Mad as hell!
love,
Sariah Jiwan Shakti
Saturday, May 2, 2009
New Class in San Bruno
Sat Nam,
I'm starting up a new class in San Bruno for those of you who live near the area. I'm super excited about it and hope to see some of you there. Please spread the word! Click on the image above to enlarge and read all the info.
More soon.. I've been out working my magic.
love,
Sariah
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Gratitude, Appreciation and Thank you cards
Growing up my grandmother always stressed to me the importance of writing thank you cards and many times would hand me the stationary and pen when necessary. Although I always enjoyed writing notes of appreciation, it's not something that really stuck with me through my teens and early adulthood. For instance, I never wrote a thank you card to my best friend who would drive to my house and pick me up for school every morning. I don't even remember ever truly thanking her. I'm sure I did but hey, I think I just expected that it was the thing for her to do. If I had a car I would do it for her right? As I moved in to my early adulthood, the focus more and more was on me, myself, my future, my relationships, my this and my that. The focus was definitely not on thanking and being grateful for the many forces that were helping me along. It's not like I wasn't thankful in my heart, I just don't think that I truly recognized the importance of thanking people sincerely and often for the things they do for me by taking the time out to recognize and do something special.
This behavior lasted all through my early 20's. I learned how to wield my power to gather people around me to accomplish great creative tasks, events, projects, you name it. I learned how to get what I needed out of the community around me and usually for not only myself but with the mindset that it was for the good of others. However, the one very important thing that I was missing again was to thank often, sincerely and with unique gestures such as a thank you card, a time out, a lunch, some flowers, etc.
Through a combination of experiences, consequences from strained friendships and love relationships, self exploration and my yoga practice I've found the absolute value and necessity in thanking myself and the people around me often. Everyone one of us has so much we are thinking about, trying to do, balancing the plates filled with work, creativity, relationships, and most important dinner, that we don't take the time out sometimes to receive gratitude and give it. It's not that we don't want to, we just don't think about it.
I've recently developed a habit of writing thank you cards. I've invested in a few different sets of stationary and when I run out, I buy a new box immediately. I like to have them on hand at all times so in a moments notice I can pull one out and tell a friend, associate or even a stranger how much what they've done has helped me and how grateful I am for their kindness. This really goes a long way. Not only does it make someone feel wonderful but in giving gratitude to the people around us we complete the cycle of give and take removing any blocks from more to come and flow out.
All of this being said, I invite you to let someone know that you appreciate them today or maybe write a note to someone who has done something nice for you or who you really appreciate. Perhaps even take a time out to thank and honor yourself for all of the hard work you do, progress you are making and determination you have towards achieving your hopes and dreams. If you can't think of something to thank yourself for, dig deeper, it's there.
Bless you
Peace to you
Prosperity
Happiness
Health
Sat Nam
This behavior lasted all through my early 20's. I learned how to wield my power to gather people around me to accomplish great creative tasks, events, projects, you name it. I learned how to get what I needed out of the community around me and usually for not only myself but with the mindset that it was for the good of others. However, the one very important thing that I was missing again was to thank often, sincerely and with unique gestures such as a thank you card, a time out, a lunch, some flowers, etc.
Through a combination of experiences, consequences from strained friendships and love relationships, self exploration and my yoga practice I've found the absolute value and necessity in thanking myself and the people around me often. Everyone one of us has so much we are thinking about, trying to do, balancing the plates filled with work, creativity, relationships, and most important dinner, that we don't take the time out sometimes to receive gratitude and give it. It's not that we don't want to, we just don't think about it.
I've recently developed a habit of writing thank you cards. I've invested in a few different sets of stationary and when I run out, I buy a new box immediately. I like to have them on hand at all times so in a moments notice I can pull one out and tell a friend, associate or even a stranger how much what they've done has helped me and how grateful I am for their kindness. This really goes a long way. Not only does it make someone feel wonderful but in giving gratitude to the people around us we complete the cycle of give and take removing any blocks from more to come and flow out.
All of this being said, I invite you to let someone know that you appreciate them today or maybe write a note to someone who has done something nice for you or who you really appreciate. Perhaps even take a time out to thank and honor yourself for all of the hard work you do, progress you are making and determination you have towards achieving your hopes and dreams. If you can't think of something to thank yourself for, dig deeper, it's there.
Bless you
Peace to you
Prosperity
Happiness
Health
Sat Nam
17 Days and Counting
So I'm on my 17th day of Sadhana and I have to say that I'm finally feeling as though I'm settling in. I'm still having days where I'm tired from not getting as much rest but by now getting up at 4am seems more like a routine than a burden. It's good. I do have to admit that I am looking forward to sleeping in, but here's the thing, the mental process I've been having about it is this: I'm seeing so much positive change and movement happen since engaging in sadhana every morning, do I really want to give it up? Ultimately, I think I will go back to my regular schedule with doing a regular practice just not the morning 4:30 am Aquarian Sadhana. It's good to know, however, that it's a powerful tool in my pocket for when I need it.
I mentioned in my last post that I was going to White Tantric yoga. Did any of you check out that link? I'm sure if you've never done Kundalini yoga and are not familiar with the practices the pictures of a room full of yogas all dressed in white with their heads covered may even seem a bit cultish! Please rest assured that none of us are even remotely interested in drinking the purple kool-aid and beaming off in to the 4th comsic dimension. Ultimately it is just a massive room of human beings tapping in to the pure power and potential within themselvs by clearing and cleansing their subconsious and setting intention to effect change within and with in the world.
I can tell you that doing that in conjuction with the morning practice was a pretty exhausting experience but powerful nonetheless. I haven't had a meditation hang over in a while but Sunday it was full on but by the time Monday rolled around I felt quite renewed and full of energy. YAY.
I mentioned in my last post that I was going to White Tantric yoga. Did any of you check out that link? I'm sure if you've never done Kundalini yoga and are not familiar with the practices the pictures of a room full of yogas all dressed in white with their heads covered may even seem a bit cultish! Please rest assured that none of us are even remotely interested in drinking the purple kool-aid and beaming off in to the 4th comsic dimension. Ultimately it is just a massive room of human beings tapping in to the pure power and potential within themselvs by clearing and cleansing their subconsious and setting intention to effect change within and with in the world.
I can tell you that doing that in conjuction with the morning practice was a pretty exhausting experience but powerful nonetheless. I haven't had a meditation hang over in a while but Sunday it was full on but by the time Monday rolled around I felt quite renewed and full of energy. YAY.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Yoga, Meditation, Yoga, Meditation, Yoga, Meditation
Sat Nam Ya'll,
I've been dreaming of blogging for the past couple of weeks but have not found the time. It's been a complete yoga mediation fest over here in Jshakti land and I'll have to tell you, it's been quite the journey. Yoga and mediation do cultivate peace and tranquility but the discipline, dedication, and clearing work it takes to get there can be a challenge. Now, unfortunately none of us are yogis and yoginis who can take time out from our lives, sit in a cave and devote ourselves to self-mastery sipping herbal tea and chanting for days on end. At times, especially, in this "climate" oh and what does that really mean anyway.. but I'll get back to that one. But at times, it's fun to fantasize about escaping it all, holing up and being alone, away from it all, a place where you can find solitude. Then you are jolted awake by a honking horn, alarm clock, cell phone chime, or your beloved calling from the other room. The truth is, one must find their solitude and bliss in the moment, right here, right now, whereever you may be. For me, the more clear my subconscious is, the easier it is for me to find my bliss amidst the chaos of this current "climate" or "environment" or whatever.. the fact is there will always be some interesting description for the current state of things. The question is how can we remain solid, neutral, like a tree with deep roots as things change around us with the hustle and bustle of things.. so how?
I think the how is different for different people and that is based on life experience. For me, I must at times and sometimes with great resistence take a time out and committ to an intense practice of clearing the funk from my windows so I can see clearly, think clearly and remain calm no matter what the environment. Baby steps can be the key.. so think about that one, what would you do to clean your windows so you can see more clearly? What is your how?
Morning Sadhana - Day 10 (Sandblasting my subconscious)
I've started a 4o day morning sadhana practice about 10 days ago with my fellow yoga teacher and dear friend Bhagvati Kaur (Iris). She's a pretty amazing person, friend, teacher and you know that tree I was talking about a minute ago.. she reminds me of that tree. Very stable, strong and consistent. I feel blessed to have her to practice with every morning. In case you dont' know what morning Sadhana is..
What is Sadhana?
"Getting up for sadhana in the morning is a totally selfish act- for personal strength, for personal intuition, for personal sharpness, for personal discipline, and overall for absolute personal prosperity." --Yogi Bhajan
Group Aquarian Sadhana entails about 20 minutes of Japji, a meditative prayer by Guru Nanak (done in chant), 20 to 40 minutes of Kundalini Yoga, followed by 62 minutes of mantra/ chanting meditation.
Done regularly, it can be highly transformative, expansive and elevating.
While sadhana can be done individually, doing sadhana in a group develops group consciousness. By the end of morning sadhana, when everyoe's energy has intermingled and merged, it is easy to communicate and be on the same wave length. We experience this effect throughout the day. There will be fewer misunderstandings in the area of communications.
See next comment for difference between Aquarian Sadhana and a Kundalini Yoga class.
Taken directly from The Aquarian Teacher: KRI International Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Level 1 by Yogi Bhajan, PhD, Master of Kundalini Yoga, 2005...
Sadhana means a practice of self-discipline that allows one to express the Infinite within one’s self. It is a time each day to notice the patterns that lead away from higher consciousness and to transcend those patterns.
Morning Sadhana – Cleaning the Subconscious
The 108 yogic scriptures called the Kundalini Upanishads, call for at least two-and-a-half hours of sadhana before the rising of the sun. The duration of two-and-a-half hours is determined by the law of karma: everything you give, you receive back ten-fold. So if you dedicate one-tenth of each day to your higher consciousness, your whole day is covered by the returning energy.
To exercise before sunrise is important because the angle of the sun to the Earth is very good for meditation. Also there is much prana in these hours, and the body rhythms are more set to support physical cleansing than during the rest of the day. Few people are awake and busy, so the clutter and bustle of daily activities does not interfere with your practice.
Though many challenges may come to stop this constant early morning practice, as we conquer each one, we will build our willpower, confidence, and ability to concentrate. This is no small accomplishment. If at the same time each day, we tune all of our mental and physical rhythms to each other, then the entire day flows better. Besides this, if we learn to meditate at the same time every day, this natural rhythm will make it easier and easier.
In meditation, we are clearing the subconscious of fears. As each fear comes up and we look upon it neutrally, the fear loses its power over us. We become more flexible and feel more free. Most fears were learned at a particular time of day. So these fears tend to occur most intensely at the time of day they were originally experienced. By meditating at sadhana time, we slowly attract the anxieties from all other parts of the day. Normally we react to anxieties on their time and conditions. In meditation, the effects of old fears come to us on our time and under our conditions. Since they come at the same time each day, it becomes easier and easier to deal with each one. Eventually the mind is cleared of the clouds of fear and begins to see the light and power of creative consciousness. Then the morning meditation clears out the daily worries and projections so no further long-term subconscious fears can accumulate.
After practicing a regular sadhana for some time, the effect begins to seep into the deeper parts of the mind. This might take 40 days or one and a half years. It depends on the individual, the intensity of the effort, and the starting condition. The subconscious mind finally gets the message. It understands that we are sincere, that meditation is a priority, that every day at this time we begin to wake up automatically without the aid of an alarm, and that even when traveling we will meditate every day on time. The subconscious begins to support us, and sadhana begins to feel effortless. The subconscious, which directs about 60 percent of our activities and responses by habit, has now acquired a habit to have the consciousness of sadhana.
Overcoming the Duality of the Mind: Yogi Bhajan: “When I tell you to get up and meditate in the ambrosial hours, it seems odd. Why should you get up at 3:30 am? Because you require those two hours to work out your own mind, so that the rest of the day you can work out your life. Amrit vela naam jaap. Rise in the ambrosial hours and meditate. Be with God. Whenever your mind will be in duality, you will be in trouble. There is no way you can function. ‘Should I go north? Should I go south?’ If you can’t decide which way you are going to go, you are going to sit right there. You’ll neither go north nor south. That’s called duality. Life is a gift of God, and duality is a waste of that life….Whenever you have duality, you will be in trouble. That’s the law. Nobody can change it. To have no duality and to have oneness and clarity of mind, you have to keep your mind clean, smart and healthy.
Spiritual Fitness: In terms of the body and posture there is one law for sadhana: “Get up, set up, and keep up.” If you don’t set up for the day, if you don’t posture yourself, ready to engage the day, how are you going to keep up? And how are you going to have a set up if things are already happening before you even get up? So, first you have to get up before things are happening. Then you can set yourself in a posture, attitude, and commitment: ready to engage. Then you have the potential to keep up. If you keep up, you will start having a momentum above Time.
Integration & Commitment: Another element in the sadhana process is commitment. Yogi Bhajan once said that 90 percent of today’s insanity comes from a lack of commitment and the lack of a capacity to commit. Commitments set the values of the self. The values of the self allow you to subject the power of the self to create. Creativity allows detachment. Detachment allows judgment. Judgment plus forgiveness give progress in the process of expansion of the self. Sadhana acts as a counselor to the two sides of the self. It encourages a central self to become bilingual and translate the languages of the two sides. Sadhana creates a meditative mind which can absorb all the stimuli in the environment, compute it, and then act wisely instead of just reacting. The inner observer can understand logic as well as intuition, activity as well as rest, science as well as art. We must develop the bilingual self, fully prepared with a clean sense of values and a deep capacity for commitment. This capacity comes through sadhana.
----------------
So, I was thinking that I should start keeping a journal of my morning sadhana exprience and decided that I would take a very bold step in sharing some of my experiences with you on this blog. I think it's important for me to express that I'm very human, as we all are, and getting up in the morning at 4am sounds just as crazy to me as it may to someone who hasn't done it before. However, my first go around with a 40 day sadhana was so transformative, I have to come back to drink from the well. That's the best way to describe it. I want people to know that if I can do this, anyone can. That its about starting small and working your way up.. starting to scratch the funk off your windows and eventually cleaning with big, bold strokes and then when one layer is gone, you can go deeper and deeper. Its a beautiful thing.. but I will tell you,
I've cried, been scared, moved through anger and been sick for the past 3 days! Ha! Now I know that doesn't really entice anyone to do this. haha.. BUT I want to be real, real, raw.. this is my yogic experience, no BS. :) Why? Because I feel its important for us all to identify with the fact that it takes work, committment and the ability to dig inside, find your power, find your peace and find your resolve to truly transform your life. So you can be the tree and in turn provide shade for those around you. I've also had some of the most blissful, beautiful and peaceful moments I've had in a while since engaging in this next round of 40 days. I move, I grow, I share and I observe myself. This is all I can do for now. Sat Nam!
Tomorrow - White Tantric Yoga!
http://www.whitetantricyoga.com/
I've been dreaming of blogging for the past couple of weeks but have not found the time. It's been a complete yoga mediation fest over here in Jshakti land and I'll have to tell you, it's been quite the journey. Yoga and mediation do cultivate peace and tranquility but the discipline, dedication, and clearing work it takes to get there can be a challenge. Now, unfortunately none of us are yogis and yoginis who can take time out from our lives, sit in a cave and devote ourselves to self-mastery sipping herbal tea and chanting for days on end. At times, especially, in this "climate" oh and what does that really mean anyway.. but I'll get back to that one. But at times, it's fun to fantasize about escaping it all, holing up and being alone, away from it all, a place where you can find solitude. Then you are jolted awake by a honking horn, alarm clock, cell phone chime, or your beloved calling from the other room. The truth is, one must find their solitude and bliss in the moment, right here, right now, whereever you may be. For me, the more clear my subconscious is, the easier it is for me to find my bliss amidst the chaos of this current "climate" or "environment" or whatever.. the fact is there will always be some interesting description for the current state of things. The question is how can we remain solid, neutral, like a tree with deep roots as things change around us with the hustle and bustle of things.. so how?
I think the how is different for different people and that is based on life experience. For me, I must at times and sometimes with great resistence take a time out and committ to an intense practice of clearing the funk from my windows so I can see clearly, think clearly and remain calm no matter what the environment. Baby steps can be the key.. so think about that one, what would you do to clean your windows so you can see more clearly? What is your how?
Morning Sadhana - Day 10 (Sandblasting my subconscious)
I've started a 4o day morning sadhana practice about 10 days ago with my fellow yoga teacher and dear friend Bhagvati Kaur (Iris). She's a pretty amazing person, friend, teacher and you know that tree I was talking about a minute ago.. she reminds me of that tree. Very stable, strong and consistent. I feel blessed to have her to practice with every morning. In case you dont' know what morning Sadhana is..
What is Sadhana?
"Getting up for sadhana in the morning is a totally selfish act- for personal strength, for personal intuition, for personal sharpness, for personal discipline, and overall for absolute personal prosperity." --Yogi Bhajan
Group Aquarian Sadhana entails about 20 minutes of Japji, a meditative prayer by Guru Nanak (done in chant), 20 to 40 minutes of Kundalini Yoga, followed by 62 minutes of mantra/ chanting meditation.
Done regularly, it can be highly transformative, expansive and elevating.
While sadhana can be done individually, doing sadhana in a group develops group consciousness. By the end of morning sadhana, when everyoe's energy has intermingled and merged, it is easy to communicate and be on the same wave length. We experience this effect throughout the day. There will be fewer misunderstandings in the area of communications.
See next comment for difference between Aquarian Sadhana and a Kundalini Yoga class.
Taken directly from The Aquarian Teacher: KRI International Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Level 1 by Yogi Bhajan, PhD, Master of Kundalini Yoga, 2005...
Sadhana means a practice of self-discipline that allows one to express the Infinite within one’s self. It is a time each day to notice the patterns that lead away from higher consciousness and to transcend those patterns.
Morning Sadhana – Cleaning the Subconscious
The 108 yogic scriptures called the Kundalini Upanishads, call for at least two-and-a-half hours of sadhana before the rising of the sun. The duration of two-and-a-half hours is determined by the law of karma: everything you give, you receive back ten-fold. So if you dedicate one-tenth of each day to your higher consciousness, your whole day is covered by the returning energy.
To exercise before sunrise is important because the angle of the sun to the Earth is very good for meditation. Also there is much prana in these hours, and the body rhythms are more set to support physical cleansing than during the rest of the day. Few people are awake and busy, so the clutter and bustle of daily activities does not interfere with your practice.
Though many challenges may come to stop this constant early morning practice, as we conquer each one, we will build our willpower, confidence, and ability to concentrate. This is no small accomplishment. If at the same time each day, we tune all of our mental and physical rhythms to each other, then the entire day flows better. Besides this, if we learn to meditate at the same time every day, this natural rhythm will make it easier and easier.
In meditation, we are clearing the subconscious of fears. As each fear comes up and we look upon it neutrally, the fear loses its power over us. We become more flexible and feel more free. Most fears were learned at a particular time of day. So these fears tend to occur most intensely at the time of day they were originally experienced. By meditating at sadhana time, we slowly attract the anxieties from all other parts of the day. Normally we react to anxieties on their time and conditions. In meditation, the effects of old fears come to us on our time and under our conditions. Since they come at the same time each day, it becomes easier and easier to deal with each one. Eventually the mind is cleared of the clouds of fear and begins to see the light and power of creative consciousness. Then the morning meditation clears out the daily worries and projections so no further long-term subconscious fears can accumulate.
After practicing a regular sadhana for some time, the effect begins to seep into the deeper parts of the mind. This might take 40 days or one and a half years. It depends on the individual, the intensity of the effort, and the starting condition. The subconscious mind finally gets the message. It understands that we are sincere, that meditation is a priority, that every day at this time we begin to wake up automatically without the aid of an alarm, and that even when traveling we will meditate every day on time. The subconscious begins to support us, and sadhana begins to feel effortless. The subconscious, which directs about 60 percent of our activities and responses by habit, has now acquired a habit to have the consciousness of sadhana.
Overcoming the Duality of the Mind: Yogi Bhajan: “When I tell you to get up and meditate in the ambrosial hours, it seems odd. Why should you get up at 3:30 am? Because you require those two hours to work out your own mind, so that the rest of the day you can work out your life. Amrit vela naam jaap. Rise in the ambrosial hours and meditate. Be with God. Whenever your mind will be in duality, you will be in trouble. There is no way you can function. ‘Should I go north? Should I go south?’ If you can’t decide which way you are going to go, you are going to sit right there. You’ll neither go north nor south. That’s called duality. Life is a gift of God, and duality is a waste of that life….Whenever you have duality, you will be in trouble. That’s the law. Nobody can change it. To have no duality and to have oneness and clarity of mind, you have to keep your mind clean, smart and healthy.
Spiritual Fitness: In terms of the body and posture there is one law for sadhana: “Get up, set up, and keep up.” If you don’t set up for the day, if you don’t posture yourself, ready to engage the day, how are you going to keep up? And how are you going to have a set up if things are already happening before you even get up? So, first you have to get up before things are happening. Then you can set yourself in a posture, attitude, and commitment: ready to engage. Then you have the potential to keep up. If you keep up, you will start having a momentum above Time.
Integration & Commitment: Another element in the sadhana process is commitment. Yogi Bhajan once said that 90 percent of today’s insanity comes from a lack of commitment and the lack of a capacity to commit. Commitments set the values of the self. The values of the self allow you to subject the power of the self to create. Creativity allows detachment. Detachment allows judgment. Judgment plus forgiveness give progress in the process of expansion of the self. Sadhana acts as a counselor to the two sides of the self. It encourages a central self to become bilingual and translate the languages of the two sides. Sadhana creates a meditative mind which can absorb all the stimuli in the environment, compute it, and then act wisely instead of just reacting. The inner observer can understand logic as well as intuition, activity as well as rest, science as well as art. We must develop the bilingual self, fully prepared with a clean sense of values and a deep capacity for commitment. This capacity comes through sadhana.
----------------
So, I was thinking that I should start keeping a journal of my morning sadhana exprience and decided that I would take a very bold step in sharing some of my experiences with you on this blog. I think it's important for me to express that I'm very human, as we all are, and getting up in the morning at 4am sounds just as crazy to me as it may to someone who hasn't done it before. However, my first go around with a 40 day sadhana was so transformative, I have to come back to drink from the well. That's the best way to describe it. I want people to know that if I can do this, anyone can. That its about starting small and working your way up.. starting to scratch the funk off your windows and eventually cleaning with big, bold strokes and then when one layer is gone, you can go deeper and deeper. Its a beautiful thing.. but I will tell you,
I've cried, been scared, moved through anger and been sick for the past 3 days! Ha! Now I know that doesn't really entice anyone to do this. haha.. BUT I want to be real, real, raw.. this is my yogic experience, no BS. :) Why? Because I feel its important for us all to identify with the fact that it takes work, committment and the ability to dig inside, find your power, find your peace and find your resolve to truly transform your life. So you can be the tree and in turn provide shade for those around you. I've also had some of the most blissful, beautiful and peaceful moments I've had in a while since engaging in this next round of 40 days. I move, I grow, I share and I observe myself. This is all I can do for now. Sat Nam!
Tomorrow - White Tantric Yoga!
http://www.whitetantricyoga.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
