On Sunday, we held a Kirtan here at Vraie Nature Yoga in Chelsea. We sang five yoga mantras, and then chanted OM together 108 times. It was a special hour that stands out for me as I look back on my week. As I introduced the mantras, I offered a short translation and explanation of … [Read more…]
I’ve had a special request this week to write a few words about the harmonium. For those of you who don’t know, I now have one of these wonderful instruments, and I’ve been using it to accompany our kirtans at Vraie Nature Yoga. What is kirtan? It is a gathering of folks to sing yoga … [Read more…]
Shavasana (corpse pose): Lie down on your mat, on your back, arms and legs apart, palms turned upwards. Let the feet be as wide as your mat. Draw your shoulders away from your ears, and your tailbone toward your heels; this lengthens the spine on the mat. Close your eyes. Relax your body. Shava = corpse; Asana … [Read more…]
The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most ancient, sacred and revered mantras in the yogic tradition. Coming to us from the Rig Veda, one of the ancient scriptures of India (written ~1500BC), it is an affirmation of the Divine Light that permeates all things and gives life to all things; it is also a … [Read more…]
This weekend, I will be leading a kirtan with my friend and fellow yoga teacher Brendalee Wilson. I have participated in many kirtans, but this will be my first time taking lead. I am excited! It will take place on Saturday, December 1st, from 5-6pm, at Vraie Nature Yoga in Chelsea, QC. This is a … [Read more…]
October’s theme is “detachment,” and our affirmation this month is “I view my life/my situation from a new perspective.” I have two young children. Sometimes, when things are not going their way, they will say something like, “This is the worst day ever!” or “Mom, you have ruined my day!” From my perspective, their troubles … [Read more…]
In recent months, Ganesh has been showing up around here. A necklace given to me by a dear teacher, featuring this elephant-headed deity. A trip to the Sivananda Yoga Camp, where the morning and evening chants begin with “Jaya Ganesha” (“Praise to Ganesh”). Pictures of elephants that appear unexpectedly. Ganesh is the half-elephant, half-man deity … [Read more…]
Two weeks ago, we started our foray into what Patanjali calls “kriya yoga”, the yoga of action (Yoga Sutras, 2.1). Kriya yoga has three components: – “tapas”: self-discipline, self-restraint – “svadhyaya”: Self-inquiry, Self-study – “ishvarapranidhana”: devotion, surrender This week, we focus on svadhyaya. Svadhyaya is any form of “study that leads to knowledge of the … [Read more…]