Summer Solstice

Thank you for all those who participated in the Challenge.  I hope you will continue with your meditation through the Summer.  We had a beautiful Yoga Evening at the Lavender Farm, Langley last night to celebrate the Solstice and enjoy the Healing Meditation of Ra Ma Da Sa.  We will continue with Yoga on Tuesday nights through July. 
May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your Way On
Sat Nam 

Bringing Meditation into the School System

Quick Stress Release for Emotional Balance

It has been easy to get caught up in the Emotions of the past week and I know some of you have struggled with Meditation and staying focussed.    It is important to take a break from watching the news, go for a walk or do something  to nurture yourself, and try the following Exercise.
First drink a glass of water. 
Sit in Easy Pose, place the arms across the chest and lock hands under the armpits, palms open and against the body.  Raise the shoulders up tight against the earlobes and apply Neck Lock, close the eyes. 
The breath will automatically become slow.  Continue for 3 minutes.

This meditation is very good when one is worried or upset and doesn't know what to do. 
When we feel emotional or out of focus we need to give attention to our body's water balance and breath.  Humans are approximately 70% water, and behaviour depends upon the relation of water and earth, air and ether.  Breath, representing air and ether is the rhythm of life.  Normally we breath 15 times a minute, but when we are able to rhythmically slow down the breath to only 4 breaths per minute, we have indirect control over our minds, promoting a calm mind regardless of the state of affairs. 
When there is a water imbalance in the system, and the kidneys are under pressure it can cause worry and upset.  Drinking water, pulling the shoulders up to the ears and tightly locking the entire area creates a solid break that can be applied to the four sides of the brain.  After 2 or 3 minutes, thoughts will be there, but one does not feel them.  This is a very effective metion of balancing the brain. 
After 2-5 minutes, relax the hands down and sit quietly and enjoy the inner space of peace.  You will notice that you have crated a space independent of your mind.  Your mind will still have thoughts and you can observe it but you can choose to be in your peaceful space.

Crystal Bowl Meditation

If you haven't seen Crystal Bowls being played have a look at this video.

Sanctuary in the Garden

Yesterday I was feeling a bit out of sorts.  On Thursday I had gone downtown to teach my Yoga Class and witnessed the many people writing messages of inspiration on the boarded up windows of The Bay, there hadn't been a window spared.  I saw a young boy writing on the concrete with chalk his message of hope and I wanted to reach out and give him a hug.   I continued down Granville Street and saw the many shops with their merchandise spread all over the  floor and the stunned, sad look of the owners and shop attendants.   

So I was still processing all this yesterday and I decided to go out into my garden.  Lately when I have gone out I have thought about all the things I need to do out there, all the weeds that need pulling and I've become overwhelmed.    This time I decided to let all that go and just sit on the steps and look at the beautiful flowers.  I saw quite a few bees, buzzing from flower to flower and became absorbed in watching them and as I sat there I marvelled at the wisdom of nature.  As I processed my thoughts and meditated on the beauty of life buzzing around me I started to feel very grateful that I had this place to just be. 

Alternate Nostril Breathing

Perhaps we are in need of some Perspective and Emotional Balance from the last couple of days in Vancouver.
This is a basic technique in Kundalini and Hatha Yoga.
Inhaling through the left nostril stimulates the brain's capacity to reset your framework of thinking and feeling, allowing new perspectives. Exhaling through the right nostril relaxes the constant computations of the brain, which helps to break automatic patterns. Regulating your breath pattern in this way sets a new level of brain functioning which establishes emotional balance and calmness after periods of intense stress or shock.

Here is how to do it:
Eyes - focus at the Brow Point
Mudra - Use the right thumb and right Mercury finger (pinkie) to close off alternate nostrils.
Breath Pattern - Close off the right nostril with the right thumb. Inhale deeply through the left nostril. When the breath is full, close off the left nostril with the little finger and exhale smoothly through the right nostril. The breath is complete, continuous and smooth. (If you are used to using the thumb and index or ring go with that)
Time - Continue with long, deep regular breaths for at least 3 minutes.
To End - Inhale, exhale completely, hold the breath out and apply mulbandh. Relax

Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse today

Full Moon is a great time for inner reflection, yoga, meditation and ritual. Light a candle, and especially for Moon in Gemini, work with chimes and bells to help clear your space and use an essential oil. Lavender is a lovely oil for stimulating and soothing the nervous system simultaneously. Hyssop oil will help open the lungs and allow your breath to be deep and strong. Peppermint and thyme oils are also wonderful for stimulating the best qualities in Gemini and releasing any stagnancy and confusion, replacing it with clarity.
In the middle ages local healers used astrological wisdom in performing treatments. The moon was believed to provide the greatest aid to healing, and often herbs would be gathered under the light of the Full Moon and medicinal plants would be grown and harvested only during certain lunar phases.
So take some time out today to re-centre and re-connect.

Har Har Mukanday

Check out Mirabai Ceiba's latest album called Awakened Earth with the mantra Har Har Mukanday. Har is the creative aspect of Infinity. Mukanday is the Liberating aspect of the self. This mantra turns obstacles into opportunities and helps remove fear.

Kirtan Kriya

Kirtan Kriya helps brings mental balance and is a great meditation for busy minds. 
Sit straight in easy pose.  Meditate at the brow point.
Chant the following mantra.
Sa - touch the first (index) finger and thumb - Sealing in Knowledge
Ta - touch the second (middle) finger and thumb - Sealing in Wisdom
Na - touch the third (ring) finger and thumb- Sealing in Vitality
Ma -touch the fourth (pinkie) finger and thumb - Sealing in the ability to Communicate

This Mantra represents the cycle of creation.   From the Infinite (Sa) comes life and individual existence.  From life (Ta) comes death or change.  From death (Na) comes rebirth (Ma) of consciousness to the joy of the infinite through which compassion leads back to life. 

Begin chanting Sa Ta Na Ma in a normal voice for 2 minutes, then whisper for 2 minutes and then go deep into the sound silently.  Vibrate in silence for 4 minutes, back to whisper for 2 minutes and aloud for 2 minutes. 
Inhale and Exhale.
To complete the meditation, stretch the hands up as far as possible and spread the fingers wide.  Stretch the spine and take several deep breaths.

Day 30 - Let's Re-commit!!!

We have 10 more days to go until Solstice!  I know some of you have missed some days but let's re-commit to allowing time each day for these last 10 days.   This time of year brings new opportunities and healing especially with a lunar eclipse of the moon on Wednesday the 15th in the astrological sign of Gemini - the sign of duality and the energy that represents opposite polarities.  This is a good time for integrating, coming together with our yin (female) and yang (male) sides and balancing our left analyzing, rational mind with our right intuitive, emotional side.
Have you tried meditating with your partner?  Sherry is practising Kirtan Kriya back to back with her partner and really enjoying it - she says it's good to have some back support as well!!

Sa Ta Na Ma Video

This is a beautiful video by Snatam Kaur with Sacred Geometry, Flower of Life and Fibonacci sequence. Enjoy!

Day 25 - Calm Heart Meditation

For all the hockey fans out there you may need to try the Meditation for a Calm Heart!!
Sit up tall, close the eyes or look straight ahead with the eyes 1/10th open.
Bring left hand on the centre of the chest at the Heart Centre.  The palm is against the chest, and the fingers are parallel to the ground, pointing to the right.
Make Gyan Mudra with the right hand (touch the tip of the index finger with the tip of the thumb)
Raise the right hand up to the right side as if giving a pledge.  The palm faces forward, the three fingers not in Gyan Mudra point up.  The elbow is relaxed near the side with the forearm perpendicular to the ground.
Concentrate on the flow of the breath.  Inhale slowly and deeply through both nostrils.  Then suspend the breath in and raise the chest.  Retain it as long as possible.
Then exhale smoothly, gradually and completely.  When the breath is totally out, lock the breath out for as long as possible - No GASPING!
Continue for 3 minutes.