Practicing Yoga Off the Mat by Being:

• Grounded in your own body, w/nature, & the bigger universe

• Present moment- focus on the period of time now occurring

• Connected to the mind, body and spirit.

• Compassionate, Peaceful with an Open Heart

Yoga has a lot of terms, if you practice yoga, you might have heard the term” practicing off the mat.” One of the Greatest things about yoga is it Can Go EVERY WHERE w/you (& you can even practice any where ). Yoga is so exciting to me because it HELPS TREMENDOUSLY with living a better, more happy, balanced, fulfilled life.

Some people are in better balance before they begin yoga & others are striving to find the way to balance through the practice of yoga. Either way here is are some results you can incorporate into your daily life:

Grounded- While practicing yoga our feet in the Earth, equal weight placed in the ball, heel, left & right side of the foot we can quiet the mind and begin to pay attention to the Earth & our place of connection to the Earth. We settle the body and open ourselves to the miraculous wonder that is the Universe. We are lengthened to the Heavens through our strong, sturdy spine. As we expand our chest with new breath energy. We are where we are NOW.

Present- Being in the moment is -Totally Hard -in this crazed world, nuff said. If you apply yourself, stick with it and desire to receive the many benefits of yoga that it offers on the mat when you leave the mat you will slowly find yourself in the moment fully engaged and present. You will listen to what is being said, done and maybe even meant at the present time w/the present company (if you have any.) There is nothing like absorbing all the stimulus of the environment, the words, the expressions, your mind, your body and your soul on a constant basis. Find a way to Stay Present through yoga.

Connected- Yoga can help you find the connection to the mind, body and spirit. Then you can begin to monitor them. After you begin monitoring the mind for its business or emptiness at work, at play & at yoga you can evaluate where you are & where you want to be. The same goes with your body in terms of: strength, flexibility, connection to mind /body, openness to new postures, flows, teachers, theories your coordination, balance, etc. if you study with a teacher who incorporates a spiritual element into their teachings it is a perfect time and space to check out of your “normal existence” and cultivate the quiet and open spirit. A proper yoga practice can create a way to let your mind rest; so that your body can relax & then your spirit will be at peace. Just say, AHHHHHHHH!

Open- In life, some people grow up smelling roses & others feeling thorns. Some have it easy; others have it hard. Some people stay the same & others change. Whatever the case may be; you can find an open heart in and through yoga. I had to create mine through years of practice to be able to let go of my childhood difficulties that led me in search of spiritual enlightenment. The more we can cultivate peace and tranquility, steady and focused energy that is positive in nature the more we will be compassionate and understanding of others. It feels GREAT!!

No matter where you are in the scale of being happy, healthy & balanced in mind, body & spirit. Yoga practiced regularly will improve and strengthen these attributes and as the become part of you your yoga travels off the mat with you more and more each day. Trust me.

Your Health is Your Wealth. I think more people value and understand the meaning of this statement each day. Unfortunately, as we age it becomes more “work” to keep up with the preventative health maintenance we need to do to keep our bodies strong. There are many types of treatments and tons of herbs, vitamins, supplements you can take to maintain and improve your health. How do we find out what is right for us as individuals?

I have been interested in health & wellness since I was a teenager. Like any other subject you are an expert or want to become proficient in; you read lots, ask questions, discuss and experiment as to what works for you. Of course, this is with caution, and if there is nothing seriously wrong with you.

I find the NewLife Expo an excellent place to concentrate on learning and improving your health and mind, body, spirit wellness. You can spend hours talking to professionals in the industry. People there will have one on one conversations with you or you can listen to lectures to hear various “experts in the their field” opinions, information and strategies which helps other people create a program for themselves. At the expo you can sample a lot of different products, get a massage, foot reflexology, infrared ray treatment, sweat in a sauna, get light treatment, have a reading by a psychic or tarot card reader, eat macrobiotic food, try herbs, juice and get an energy treatment. There are so many different kinds of people who stroll through all in venue. It is totally fun and cool to walk around and get energized!

This was the 4th time I had attended a NewLife Expo. The event is a great excuse to go to New York for the weekend. I enjoy myself each time I attend the expo. The expo is a high energy and interesting representations of the modern spiritual world we live in. Here you will find all walks of life who know something about alternative health and wellness. Most people who attend are open and easy to talk to and it is great to hear of their knowledge, attitude and approach they take to getting healthier, developing their spirituality and taking care of themselves.

So, I must be called a “NewLifer” by now. The next expo is in June, 6/11-6/13, which features yoga and raw food. Maybe you will check it out yourself.

Moving through the Five Fundamentals of Yoga for a basic yoga practice: Posture, Breathing, Meditation, Intention and Repetition; we arrive at the idea of repetition. Repetition in yoga is necessary to: create a connection to what you are doing in the beginning, allow you to build your energy and find your way to a more advanced practice.

When you first begin, the postures are awkward, uncomfortable and you probably feel weird or bizarre for putting your body & your self in the positions, the class or the practice itself. Once you get past these obscurities the only thing that remains is to: keep exploring the openings, releases, intricacies, miraculous ness, awe inspiring system called yoga. Oddly, the only way you can get to that end is to take time to practice yoga.

We all practice yoga for different reasons and there may be many different things that you discover along “the way”. Whatever the reasons you are drawn to practice yoga you must continue to practice in order to get to the real beauty of yoga. Going deep has never felt so good or free!

All the other fundamentals we have discussed in the prior part of this series (Posture, Breathing, Meditation, Intention) are necessary and best when practiced, in repetition, to carve a pathway to the true meaning of each individual characteristic’s singular meaning(s). Then, we can begin to layer and combine the other elements in order to arrive at an honest, correct, meaningful yoga practice.

As with any skill we want to learn in life we will improve as we practice. We get better the more we repeat the undertaking. In yoga, repetition is your practice.

In the beginning of one’s yoga practice I recommend twice a week minimum. Three or more times a week being optimal and proactive in pursuit of a solid yogic connection. After some years it will begin to feel obvious that yoga practice has become embedded into your daily living. Then, it might not be a daily yoga session; but it might be 9 deep breaths, a deep stretch, a neck rotation, a pause, recognition of the light or a feeling of bliss. These limitless benefits begin to surround you and become part of you as you move through your day, night, and life.

Repetition is the manifestation of hard work, determination and perseverance. Working hard towards a goal is rewarding and fulfilling. Seeing change, feeling change, being change is a special reward. Yoga unlocks and leashes the mind, body and spirit. Once you begin to do this regularly you can definitely be a greater benefit to yourself and others.

The positive energy abounding yoga practice found through repetition is a worthwhile conquest and one that should be taken seriously as a definitive positive force and presence in your life and the lives of those you touch around you.

My appreciation of yoga continues to build with each new moon. The benefits of yoga in my world, in my soul and in all that is my life are new blessings that I value every day.

Repetiton can make a habit, a benefit, a world of change.      

Breathing allows us to live each and every day. But, did you know that the breath could train the mind? In meditation we train the breath to clear the mind. The first step is a strong, constant breath. Then, building your concentration to clear the mind by breathing white light or breath without thought. There are many forms of meditation but they are all tools to quiet the mind and be one with your true self.

Another concept for breath training that facilitates mind training is using the breath to create positive thought, intuition.

In a breath cycle we have an inhale and exhale. What if we used each part of the breath to create intention?

When we breathe deeply we send new oxygen, energy, and vitality to the whole body. If we attach a message to that breath the mind, body and sprit receive this message and can integrate it into your consciousness.

For example:

If you want to become aware of the energy you create, you can breathe in to receive energy and breathe out to give energy.

If you are feeling run down you can use a cleansing breath to renew your energy. Breath in white light and breath out grey light.

If you feel you need good things to enter your life. Try and breath in what is good and breath out what is bad.

If you want to be surrounded by positive energy; then, breathe in positivity and breathe out negativity.

To balance your energy, you can breathe in the force of yin and breathe out the force of yang.

To connect yourself with the Universal energy all around us, you can breathe in to absorb energy and breathe out to emit energy.

With all these slightly different messages you can send your brain to help develop and/or sustain a balanced, positive approach to life.

Most of us have become familiar with the concept of the laws of attraction. We can use our breath as a way to develop our mind. It will help to reinforce the positive forces you want or have in your life.

Breathing Exercise:

Take time in your daily life to breathe in one or all of these qualities.

It doesn’t matter where you are, if your eyes are open or closed or if you take 1 breathe or 15 minutes to breath in these powerful messages.

You can look at the list while you do your breathing exercise or learn the intentions and go through them in succession. This will build a balanced mind and energy field around you.

Try one round and then build up to 9 breaths of each. 9 is the number of completion in Chinese.

If you think one message serves you better focus to that repeteviily.
This will enhance the intention ad strength of this message.

You CANNOT go wrong with breath, mind training. In fact, the benefits are endless!

Breathe In:                                                      Breathe Out:
                 Receive energy                                                   Give energy
                 White light                                                          Grey light
                 What is good                                                      What is bad
                 Positivity                                                             Negativity
                 Force of yin                                                        Force of yang
                 Absorb energy                                                    Emit energy

Once you accept and realize healing of the mind, body or spirit is an interconnected and related process you can begin to see how to truly heal yourself, help others heal or heal that which needs attention in relationships. Therefore, we must not rush the healing process.

How many times have you been injured and then begun to live your “normal” life again only to fall back into the injured state or hurt something else as a result of your weakened state? Or ignored signs in relationships that might have allowed you to work things out before they were unrepairable? How long can you feel “not so great ” internally or externally before you do something about it?

We could look at wounds as blessings. This is a different kind of mentality and one that might not make sense at the beginning of moving from injured or hurt to well. But, wellness is a journey and not a destination just like life. If we have patience for the mind, body, and spirit when they are not well then we can learn how we are changing and transforming with each new experience good, bad and indifferent.

Once we are feeling off balance, isolated, injured, depressed, repressed, lonely, angry, sad or fearful we have an opportunity to go within. If we start to look at the cause and effect then we can make sense of our experience and reaction. There may or may not be a reason for everything that happens to us but we can choose to look at these experiences for the valuable lessons they provide us on our way.

I recently hurt my back and am on the mend. My body is “talking” to me and I am choosing to listen to it. I am caring for my back because it is necessary and important that I give it the love, support and attention it demands. I do not want to spend the rest of my life in back pain. I made a choice to listen, learn and act in a way to facilitate my healing path. Some might ignore the signs, not accept the seriousness of the incident or convince themselves there is no problem or blame or hate or be miserable due to their misfortune.

When something happens to you in one area of your life it can be a signal for something else. I try to find the relationship between the different facets of the self and life to fit them together so they may work more efficiently, openly and honestly in my total existence.

I look to my back injury I might be able to trace this to other parts of my world that were calling to me but I was too busy to hear. Stopping what is your routine, changing the way you think, act or live takes lots of time, patience, determination, love, respect and honesty.

If you cannot be honest with where you are, how you got there and how you want things to be then you cannot change with any real effect. I look at changing as healing. I change the way I lift heavy objects because I hurt my back. I change the way I feel when I Iook at the sunshine. I change the way I look at life when someone dies. I change the way I look at people differently when some one helps or hurts me. I look in my eyes to see that I am alive inside even when life gets hard.

Being healthy is a choice and it takes time, energy and effort. This week I made sure to indulge and educate myself by attending local events that are good for the mind, body and spirit.

Hanging around like-minded people has an energetic effect on the soul. Whenever you leave a gathering of people who join for a common purpose don’t you feel intensified? It is amazing how you can add strength, direction and commitment to your goals by being around others that feel the same way. Seek out publications, events, groups that promote the things that you want to exist and thrive in your world.

Brio Vim, a new health and community wellness center in Center City Philadelphia , hosted its First Sunday Vegan Brunch today. A few friends and I went over to check it out. Prana, one of the founders, greeted and served us. She was warm, friendly and didn’t let you wait until you needed something to bring it right over.

The food was fresh and the portion was hearty. They hydrated us with juice, cider, tea, coffee, H2O. It was great! The meal started with a pumpkin, white chocolate muffin or maple, nut bread that were both yum yum! They served vegan eggs w/ sun-dried tomatoes, grilled tempeh and a pear, cranberry, walnut salad they were all delicious.

Looking a bit ahead, they are hosting a vegan Thanksgiving Feast on Saturday, November 22 from 5-8pm. Everyone is encouraged to bring a beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. On New Years Day, Brio Vim is hosting a Hangover Yoga class from 2-3:30pm followed by Make Your Own Juice Cocktail Hour (hair of the dog optional) from 3:30-5pm.

Check out their website, briovim.com, for Pay What You Can Yoga schedule, Feel Great at Work Yoga and Wellness, sliding scale massage and bodywork and all other events. I think I will go back and try their yoga and massage services!

Then, my friend and I headed over to Voorhees, NJ to see what was happening at the Healthy Living Expo. They put together regional health fairs to help educate their communities. You could find practitioners and experts to educate you on healthy alternatives, yoga, wellness, natural products and sustainable living to name a few. I found out more about solar power, efficient light bulbs, aromatherapy, natural house cleaners, super foods. All in one location which helps makes it fun and hassle free!

Today, I did something good for my health and wellness. I was rewarded by meeting some good, knowledgeable, nice people who furthered my learning on the healing path.

VOTING PROCEDURES - something to remember before you go into the booth. REMEMBER TO VOTE AT ALL COSTS!! Bring your id & a HOPE for CHANGE!!!!

Voting a STRAIGHT TICKET information:

IF YOU Vote Choose a Presidential Candidate by name & then,                    

PRESS – STRAIGHT TICKET..                                         

YOU NEGATE YOUR VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                      

This is considered DOUBLE VOTING!!!

DO NOT DO BOTH!

EITHER:

Choose each candidate by hand

OR:

CHOOSE STRAIGHT TICKET

I repeat::::: DO NOT DO BOTH!

Check out the info here:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/straightticket.asp

Did anyone catch the rally in Philadelphia for Obama a few weeks ago??

I did & the energy, passion and enthusiasm for a new outlook was overwhelming!

Often times when you enter into a new situation you are met with a mix of excitement and anxiousness. Such was the case when I recently went to teach the girls from Philadelphia Dance Academy summer session. 

Here were teenage girls participating in a brand new activity; nonetheless, the girls seemed to be able to flow from dance to yoga almost effortlessly. Their yoga forms were as good as their dance moves I had just seen. They moved into the postures with ease and comfort. They seemed naturally able to understand the form.

I studied dance from 5 yrs. until about their age. It was something I loved and enjoyed thoroughly. I wasn’t the size of a traditional ballerina nor did I have the grace of one. I advanced more in jazz and modern dance. I was slightly frustrated by the fact that I wasn’t as expressive or advanced as some of my mates. I had no idea why, if I wanted to do something, I wasn’t able to fully engage in it. I think my level plateau and I never found a method or worked hard enough to excel past my natural talent.

Such as life; but, it is a good time to discuss the natural advantage that people would have in advancing their dancing skills with the addition of yoga or pilates to their regimen or vice versa. Joseph Pilates (1881-1967) knew this when he created a way to strengthen the body, elongate muscles, improve health while working the mind and body in harmony.

For me, learning yoga after I danced was very interesting and enlightening. I found it was the tool that could have advanced my dancing. When you practice yoga you learn how to concentrate, control, breath, engage in that moment in that form. This is very necessary to make each movement, pose, step, action a deliberate and artistic one in dance. The zest in a dance performance is the energy in the form.

In yoga I found my energy. I found my focus. I found my form. Slowing the mind down to control the body and emotions. While every person does not struggle with the same set of challenges I believe a true dancer must have high skill levels in these areas naturally or trained.

Beyond the immediate benefits to a dancer, anyone can benefit from these forms of exercise because they are mental and physical forms that help create grace and perspective in life. A free spirit will know how to release their body and mind and move to the rhythm thereby building a connection to their spirit. Let your spirit shine!

If you have a girl that wants to study dance, find out more by contacting:

Lori A. Lahnemann
Director
The Philadelphia Dance Academy
232 S. Fourth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.922.2422

Trying to describe the vast number of Qigong forms here could keep us here for a good, long while. There are said to be around 35,000 different forms of Qigong.

Even though there are many different forms of Qigong they all essentially use the same principle. The goal is to remove tension from the body and increase the energy flow.

If we focus on calming the mind then we can open the qi channels (or meridians) and direct our energy (qi) along these pathways. In essence you are directing oxygen, blood and new energy to increase the circulation and remove stagnation. This will ward off disease.

Qigong can be performed: standing, sitting, still, moving and lying down. In the still forms: seated still, lying down or standing still you begin with meditation and then possibly just use your mind and breath to channel the energy or you can place your hands in various postures to activate energy flow to that particular part of the body. 

In seated moving or standing moving qigong you use the pumping or expanding and contracting of form with breath to activate and strengthen the energy. You can create a connection to your energy and then begin to move it internally or externally over the body.      

Another way to differentiate Qigong is by the different types: Taoist, Confucian, Buddhist, martial and medical. The first history of Qigong exercises were recorded by Lao Tzu (premier Daoist philosopher) on pieces of silk dating back to the third and fourth centuries B.C.

The Chinese practiced Qigong to enhance their martial arts practice. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) utilizes the same pathways so when you practice a Qigong form you increase your vitality.

There are many schools of Qigong that strive for the same goal but through a very specific form and structure: Shaolin, Taiji ( Tai Chi), Jin Gong, Flying Crane, Shaolin Damo , Wu Qin Xi, Ba Duan Jin and Yi Jin Jing are just a few.