Mantra

During a private yoga class yesterday, I was teaching a student the Maha Mrityunjaya -- a chant to Shiva -- and was surprised at how much I love working with Mantras! I know it sounds funny to be surprised at remembering activities I enjoy, but I often forget things that I like to do.

Perhaps my mind is so filled with activities that need to be done, like errands, taxes, work, obligations, and so on, that it "crowds" out the fun. Or it could be my ego flavor (I occasionally "do 9" for those of you familiar with the Enneagram). Regardless of the reason for my forgetfulness, I was happily caught in a joyful activity yesterday. What a great feeling to accidentally slip into one of my favorite pass-times!!

There are numerous translations of the word Mantra. A common practice in Tantra (a spiritual tradition that sees true divine nature in everything and everyone), the Sanskrit word mantra comes from man-, from manas or mind, and tra-, to transcend or protect. So, the translation I prefer is that a mantra helps to protect us from our minds, or helps us to transcend the mind. As should be clear from the fact that my mind often forgets enjoyable activities, I definitely need protection from it!

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Week 1 of Kundalini Teacher Training

You may have noticed that this May's retreat in Hawaii will include both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga practices. I have been practicing Kundalini Yoga for about three years now, and find that it really enhances my more established Hatha practices. It's also great for clearing the mind of self-imposed limitations, shifting energy levels, and -- in my experience -- occasionally invoking states of bliss. So, when one of my teachers (Sraddhasagar of 7 Centers Yoga Arts in Sedona) told me her center would be hosting an intensive Kundalini Teacher Training as part of a 500-hour Yoga Instructor credential, I was thrilled, and of course registered as a student. Having completed our first week of training, I have had some time to reflect upon a small portion of the wisdom inherent in the teachings of Yogi Bhajan (who brought Kundalini Yoga to the West in the 1960s and founded the Kundalini Yoga organization 3HO) and Swami Saraswati Satyananda (founder of the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger India, and author of one of our course texts: Kundalini Tantra). I have been inspired by both their teachings daily and hope that this quote from Yogi Bhajan will help to uplift you as well:

"If you are not beautiful and graceful, there is nothing beautiful or graceful. This is a truth, for you are the universe and the universe is you." (Sermon on Two Cushions, October 14, 1971)

We all have times in which our minds engage in negative self-talk, about all the ways we are not quite 'good enough'. Seeing this quote helped me quickly remind myself that when these thoughts arise, it is merely my perception that needs to change. When looking at the world, I can choose to focus on the positive (love, beauty, nature, grace) or the negative (hate, war, famine), and this will impact my experience. The same is true of looking at myself. Thinking of myself as a 'work in progress' feels much better than seeing only the flaws!

http://www.akuparayoga.com/