Happy Yoga Month!!

Namaste! September is National Yoga Month! SO this September I have decided to blog daily about yoga - what is is, the benefits, asanas, yoga events...all things yoga! I began my personal yoga practice when I was at home on summer break from college. My mom practices and invited me to attend some classes with her. I found them interesting, but it didn't hold my attention enough to practice when I went back to college. I remember New Years 2007 and declaring I would become a yoga teacher one day. I had no idea at that point how you became a yoga teacher or the work that yoga entails or the vast knowledge you begin to learn and confront in your practice. But something in me said "yoga teacher!" That February of 2007, I remember purchasing a 20 class pack from Life In Motion yoga studio. From then on, I built my practice, and today I am still practicing and enjoying the journey that yoga is taking me on. I enjoy sharing my practice and helping to break down the myths around yoga. What is Yoga?

Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means Union.  It comes from the Sanskrit, "yuj" meaning "to unite", "to yoke" or "to join".  Yoga aims to unite the body, mind and the spirit.  Yoga is not just about the body, nor is it just about wearing cute clothes and looking fit.  Yoga is a lifestyle of remaining present and maintaining a relationship of integration between your mind, body and spirit in the now.  Anytime that you do this, you are technically practicing yoga.

The physical aspect of yoga is Hatha Yoga.

What are some of the benefits of yoga?

The benefits of yoga are infinite and limitless.  They include physical increase of flexibility, muscle strengthening, and improved posture.  Because yoga uses breath and focuses on deep breathing, it helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which helps slow our heart rate, activate our adrenal glands, and help to relieve stress naturally and balance the natural state of the body.  Yoga may help you quiet your mind and enjoy living in the present, it may also help you to challenge the myths and beliefs you subconscious have about your body and health and begin to debunk those myths and realize that you have access to creating perfect health within you.

Who can do yoga?

Pretty much ANYONE!!  Yoga is for everyone.  While the physical aspect of yoga is very important the other aspects of yoga (breathing, devotion, selfless work) are important and part of yoga as well.  If you have limited range of motion in one body part, you can still practice yoga in another body part.  There are many types of yoga, yoga studios and yoga teachers, so you may have to find the best setting for you.  In some cases, you may be your best teacher!

How would a person start their yoga practice?

By starting!  The journey of 10,000 miles starts with one step.  If you are interested in practicing yoga, check out a local yoga studio.  Try a basics or a level 1 class.  Let the teacher know that you are new to yoga (this lifetime) and let them know any special needs you may have or injuries you may be recovering from.  Dive into it!

Feel free to email me soulistichealing@gmail.com with any questions about yoga!  I will address your questions in this blog all month!

Om Shanti!

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Namaste is a sanskrit word that is used usually at the end of a yoga practice.  It means my soul bows to your soul.  It is a word of respect and honoring the divine presence in all of humanity.

Om Shanti is a sanskrit term that means Eternal Peace.

New Moon in Leo::Aug 20, 2009 @6:01am EST

Today at 6:01am EST, a New Moon occurred in the sign of Leo. Perhaps today you woke up and felt anew or felt like you may have shed some fears away and are ready to approach the world and ready to be brave.

The New Moon is when the moon is going into its waxing stage (meaning in the sky it will appear to grow larger). For years the New Moon has been a time for people to plant seeds (literally and figuratively), so this is a great time to start new projects and to begin to intend or visualize new parts of your life that you are ready to grow. The sign Leo naturally rules the 5th house, house of creativity, children, love affairs, and romance. Leo also is the zodiac sign associated with the heart - both literally and figuratively.

Often when we think of the heart, we think of love and we think of courage. Today is going to be a day to be courageous in not only your actions but in your thoughts. A New Moon in Leo is setting the stage for us to be creative and to be bold in our creations. It is setting the scene for us "to have heart" and to "put our heart into it". If you want something, put your heart into it and go get it! Right now the sun is conjunct the moon in Leo, so we may be feeling extra creative and perhaps even more confident than usual. Here are some forecasts for today and the the next couple days:
Leo: This is your birthday season, let the energy you receive around your birthday be in the foundation of your new personal year. Perhaps you have been wanting to spice up your wardrobe of hairstyle - go for it!
Virgo: Tap into your inner courage, it is going to be called on, and you must remember that you are strong and bold and can solve any problem successfully that comes your way!
Libra: Nothing is too big, allow yourself to dream without limitations! Surround yourself by those who support you.
Scorpio: You have natural ability to take authority right now, use it to get things done and believe in yourself!
Sagittarius: You may have a trip ahead of you that will spark a lot of creativity and fun!
Capricorn: Let today's new moon put to rest any habits from the past that have not been serving you and your highest self. You have the power to create your best life now!
Aquarius: Continue to deal with people in an honest and sincere matter, and you will build some great partnerships. If you are interested in someone romantically, say something!
Pisces: Use this creativity at work to problem solve and to add value to your position at work!
Aries: You may be feeling quite playful lately, continue to radiate that love and let it shine...there is someone who is watching you and interested in playing with you!
Taurus: Take some time to clean house, get rid of old clothes, creatively re-arrange space - there are lots of new things coming to you, you have to create space for it!
Gemini: Be idealistic about what is happening in life, even if other's don't understand why, you know why and that is what counts!
Cancer: Use this time to be creative about how you earn your money, you have lots of potential right now to team up with new people and tap into creativity that will really "pay" off

I wish you all lots of LOVE...let this time be ruled by your heart. Listen to you heart's desire. Act on those desires with FAITH, and know that you deserve the BEST! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Full Moon Tonight 8/5/09 @ 8:54pm EST

Tonight we are in for a treat with a full moon to view in the sky at 8:54pm. Tonight's full moon will occur in the sign of Aquarius. Aquarius represents the ability to be ecclectic, unconventional, intellectual, progressive, yet at the same time detached. The sign of Aquarius is an air sign, and the air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) represent using mental power and the ability to think and rationalize (sometimes almost too well that we don't connect emotionally). Aquarius naturally rules the 11th house which is the house of friendship and socializing.

Tonight we will experience the full moon in this sign of Aquarius.
During this time, I encourage you all to to think about your thinking.

What are your habits regarding thinking?
If your mind is on automatic, does it default to negative thinking?
Do you expect the best or the worst?
What do you think about yourself?
What do you think that you deserve?

While these questions may seem quite general, I think that once you begin to think about them you may be surprised at what you find. I think that there is a serious epidemic of low self esteem on the rise, and by thinking about thinking I want to encourage us to all to all use our ability to be rational and stop rationalizing negative thinking, self doubt and esteeming low. Let us use the power of Aquarius to think and to also be progressive in our thinking.

Every single person is created in perfection and the labels that we use to describe ourselves and others are only that - LABELS. Labels are words, and to those words we ascribe values, which are simply thoughts. At any time that we choose, we can re-ascribe value to things in the past which we have not valued or which we have esteemed low. Labels and names just help to keep limits on people and keep limits on their physical beings. But are souls are LIMITLESS and cannot be limited. We are created within abundance and creativity, and let us use this time to receive it.

Tonight during this full moon, let us get rid of things that no longer serve us. Let us rid our mind of all the thoughts about ourselves and about others that are not serving us or helping us achieve our goals. The full moon is a great time to release thoughts and things that are no longer useful.

Perhaps tonight, make a list of all the negative thoughts that go through your mind when you think about yourself or others. BE honest. List and confront those words, and rip up that list and release it our of your system. Declare your perfection tonight. Declare the perfection of your existence. Declare that all is well.

As mentioned before, Aquarius is an air sign, so it is very mental and intellectual and is very humanitarian. Aquarius cares about humanity and about the overall being of people. This is a good time to spend caring for others in whatever that means to you - you might find that taking care of yourself is a good way to take care of others!

OM.2 - Day 19: Friendship

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. ~ Anais Nin

Everyone we meet is sent as a teacher; some lessons more challenging, and others more pleasant. There is a reason why we encounter every soul living as a person.

Sometimes we think of people and all of sudden we receive a phone call, email or bump into them on the street. If we know that we are truly spirit and therefore energy, we know that we attract energy/spirit back to us sometimes to remind us of something, other times to open a whole new phase of our lives. People open so much for one another.

Today, I encourage you to reach out to someone who has been on your mind lately. Maybe you miss someone, maybe you have to resolve an issue with someone, maybe someone's name has just been coming to your mind. Trust your instinct and reach out today via email, phone or text, and let a new world be born.

OM.2 - Day 18: Resting

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. - Sir John Lubbock

I am sending this message later in the day, as I hope to encourage you to deem yourself worthy of rest today.

Are you getting enought sleep? Are you getting enough rest each night? Have you prioritized resting and meditating and prayer into your life? What kind of rest do you need into your life? Today approach rest with new eyes. Refill your cup and pour rejuevenation and fresh energy into your cup with rest.

Sleep and rest is so important to our health and our ability to manifest. Sleep allows for the right side of our brain (intuition) to be fortified and to work.

As we abide in sleep, intuitively resonating with the sum of all our experiences - this life and beyond - we gain refreshing perspective on our efforts and have an opportunity to remember what we know. - Henry Reed

Sleep allows us to connect with our infitite intelligence and to work on a quantum level. Do you notice that while you are asleep, your dreams never say "hey you can't do that" or "no that is impossible". The brain only knows these messages when one is awake. When we sleep our brain knows that everything is possible.

So allow yourself to sleep and continue to build and connect to your infinite wisdom!

OM.2 - Day 17: THE BEST

It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. - Somerset Maugham

Yesterday I attended my cousin's wedding, and during the toasting ceremony, I was thankful that so many family member spoke about faith and trusting in God. I was thankful to be a witness to so much love, faith, and blessings.

Today I am encouraging you to expect and accept the best. Often we "settle" or feel like we are taking second place, but when we have faith and trust that as God's children, we are worthy of the best, then we begin to receive the best and except it.

Begin to develop your trust and confidence in yourself and believe that you deserve all of the best. Life is a blank piece of paper that is ready for you to draw, write, paint, doodle, and create on it. So create for yourself the best reality and experience! You deserve happiness and joy and fulfilling all of your highest callings!

OM.2 - Day 14 & 15

Day 14

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?? Would you know how to answer this question immediately or would you have to think about it?

Yesterday in astrology class, we discussed the planet Saturn. Saturn is the planet of limitations, tests, obstables, lessons learned and all that good stuff. Saturn often suggests an area where we may have fear or LIMITATION. At the same time, what Saturn offers is the ability to break through that limitation and fear and reach amazing and explosive breakthroughs in these areas.

We continued to speak about limitation and how sometimes we even feel safe in limiting ourselves. We begin to feel safe in the everyday limits we know.

This summer one of my 11 year old students said she was "bad" at visualizing becuase she doesn't have a "good imagination". I challenged this viewpoint and asked her to look beyond what she thinks is a good imagination.

I tie this all back to the initial question - if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? What do you want to dream about but I have felt limited in? What are you stopping yourself from dreaming/visualizing/imagining about?

Today I encourage you to dare to dream. Dream about where you will travel! Today take the steps to think about what you want. If you want to think about travelling, begin to perhaps research this place and look online or through magazines for images, and let yourself daydream and visualize the possibilities!

Day 15

“If you nurture your mind, body, and spirit, your time will expand. You will gain a new perspective that will allow you to accomplish much more.”

- Brian Koslow quotes

Today's word of the day in OM is: EXPAND.
Expand means many things but one of the definitions i like are:
-To open (something) up or out; spread out

What do you need to open up about or where do you want to spread out? Today challenge yourself to expand in an area that you usually do not.

Maybe begin a new book you have wanted to read, or perhaps have no TV for the day and do other things you think/daydream about. Expand yourself!!

Enjoy!