I was out on Halloween night with my master/teacher and we went to a party where everybody dressed up. He chose to be a monk & I chose a daredevil or a female evil keneival. As I pondered the process of picking out a costume, getting in costume and presenting yourself to others I realized this could be easy or difficult for a person. I got to thinking about why that might be and went on to observe what I thought of the night in a new paradigm. One that made me question: who we are, what we are made of and how comfortable we are in this process. The Halloween party was a unique experience because I felt like the hundred’s of people that were there had transformed themselves into a deeper version of themselves or brought out a hidden part of themselves. Either way the party was full on and everyone was in character. It was so great to see people living life and feeling free and happy!

As I thought of the act of transformation I decided that yoga was the catalyst for my most complete and significant transformation. I’m not sure if the people around me really know how different I feel in my same skin. I don’t know if others realize that while I am the same being; I do not resonant on the same channel, in the same vibration or in the same harmony. Much like music I have changed my tune. It is a subtle thing from the outside; it is the deep internal changes that make me feel like a slightly different person; oddly, more like the little girl I remember from childhood. Shedding layers of negativity and toxicity to shine as the person I had lost somewhere along the way. It has been several years since I felt whole and calm; but, I do notice the process continuing and that each new dimension continues to be significant as I continue on my path to be One with the Universe.

In yoga transformation comes as a byproduct of practicing yoga. The positive effects of yoga are so overwhelming that most who find that connection are like spokesperson for the cause. Yoga can take an old body and make it flexible and graceful, meet a rigid mind and make it more focused, clear and take a closed spirit and soften it.

Yoga can literally burn off layers of your former self in the form of physical, mental, spiritual toxicity. It is amazing to experience the process of change for yourself and in others. We hold old memories
In our bodies, spirits and minds. Eventually if a person has enough bad or negative experience their being shifts toward darkness. Once this happens it becomes more difficult to look for or believe in the light. Eventually life can become like a self-fulfilling prophecy never quite treating you right or turning out the best. On the other hand, if the cup is half full then life can keep getting better and better.

Transformation starts with feeling things could be better or they are not right, the action is change and the goal is transformation.

The Omega Institute has an annual Being Yoga Conference in late summer. I have attended for the last three years. It has moved from Ft Lauderdale to New York and this year it was held in Rhinebeck, NY. Rhinebeck is home to the Omega Institute campus. After having experienced the conference in various locations I feel the true spirit of Being Yoga and the best place to absorb the information of its teachings are at Omega’s home base. There is something to be said for the environment’s affect on the whole experience, no matter what you are doing and where you are in a particular circumstance. In practicing yoga, what better way to be open, receptive and excited about receiving knowledge about your mind, body and spirit than by being at a nature’s haven in the form of a long standing, well respected wellness camp?

Some of the most gifted teachers of yoga, healing and meditation come to Omega to participate in the Being Yoga Conference. There is a wealth of information being presented for each of us to receive and incorporate into our lives. Some of the students are actually teachers and we go there to educate ourselves for the benefit of others as well. We become better technically, anatomically, spiritually and energetically. Even if you are simply going there for your own personal development the effect you will have on others is almost undeniable. The soul will be different after a few days at Omega no matter what you go there for.

Yoga is truly a science and educating yourself in different dimensions of yoga, such as: philosophy, form, meditation, practice and self care are all layers that will meld into a deeper understanding of the profound shift yoga can bring to your life. Yoga is a catalyst for deep changes that are possible if you become a knowledge seeker for the enlightenment of your soul. When we move away from karma into dharma and become enlightened beings your existence will be more satisfying.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study with: Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Marla Apt, Mark Whitwell, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Marla Apt and Mark Whitwell. In the following weeks will be writing a post on the workshop I took at the conference. I will review their larger knowledge base, training and community that they have created or work in when not traveling around the world teaching others yoga.

For now, consider checking out the Omega Institute campus for it is a lush, green landscape equipped with lodging or camping, filled with friendly people, good, healthy, fresh vegetarian food, wellness services and never a dull moment due to the daily meditation, yoga, tai chi, and movement classes. At night they have special presentations like music. Most people go to the campus because they are interested in a particular offering of a specific subject or teacher; but even going for a stay at Omega will leave you refreshed, charged and ready to go back to life with new energy.

Omega offers an immense amount of diverse courses on spiritual awakening, development and transformation through work on the mind, body and spirit. The environment itself is very nurturing, comfortable and easy. This prepares the self for opening to the information you have come there to learn. Sometimes it is a lot more difficult to open up and connect to subjects that the soul has created barriers or blocks to for various reasons. In our life part of our work is to unlock the barriers to become free from the restrictions our lives’ circumstances, development or reaction has created with us. Omega campus and its staff and the other people youmeet there will show you that it is a safe, heart-felt community that will help you accelerate the process. You can feel good Omega has its intention in the right place.

Don’t forget to check back in soon and learn about some of the different schools of yoga and their teachings!

P E A C E                                          

More Truth Will Set You Free is a Transformational Healing workshop. I attended a session this week in Philadelphia that was facilitated by Toby Lerner. Toby is one of my yoga students, I have always been surprised by how connected and vocal she is about her connections to the light we cultivate in yoga practice and now I understand why.

One day after yoga, I saw this symbol Toby wears on a chain fall out of her shirt. I stopped her and asked her what it was she was wearing. The answers to that question lead me to the workshop.

Toby has been studying for two years under Derek O’Neill founder of SQ Wellness. He is her teacher and trainer. She is a certified practitioner and has now begun to step out and teach the workshop as a service to others. “Because service to man is service to G-d.” She told us that she feels she needs to reveal more about her spiritual side and nurture and develop its presence in her life.

The SQ Wellness system is “founded on the five human values of : Love, Truth, Peace, Right Conduct, and Non-Violence.” ” SQ Wellness can enable you to transform yourself spiritually, personally, and professionally and bring more self awareness into your life.”

“More Truth Will Set You Free workshops are a life changing event. The goal is to show you how to access your untapped potential, change things for the better, and discover how it all works in the mind, body and spirit. You will learn how old programs and beliefs keep you trapped and how to change these beliefs and programs with real healing techniques. You won’t be surprised at what you learn from these workshops, you will be transformed.”

Through this workshop Toby used stories, music, meditation and readings to invoke and reveal ourself to ourselves. The beautiful and powerful thing about healing is that it can happen and you can feel it happening in your mind, body and spirit. The road to spirit, the journey of healing and the path of transformation is a long one. It is continuous and changing if you want it to be lasting in effects and intensity.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Toby’s guidance and channeling of the healing spirit through her Masters system’s and traditions. It was truly a gift to share in the energy and force field that was present there for our time together. I felt my meditation growing deep and almost unwilling to come back from the place she helped me to reach in my meditation. This proved to me that her system was engaging and meaningful. I do believe and many others have said it is practice that is the key to tapping into this place within yourself that has the ability to unlock all that we hold on to that prevents love and light in our lives.

The end of the workshop finds you and the others learning how to draw the Prema Agni. It is a symbol that comes directly from the Masters. It contains several healing symbols whether implied or literally represented within its structure: the God’s head, the culmination of the five elements, the heart, Om, Ankh, The Lightening Bolt, The Caduceus, the cross, the Hindu Swastika, the Seal of Solomon, the Karmic Wheel of Life, the human figure and the five pointed star.           

“As you can imagine it is a perfect mandala to meditate on to open your heart center. Because when you open your heart to let love flow IN and OUT true healing. The symbol can be drawn on the back at the heart chakra and then the right hand is placed on the heart chakra and the left is placed on the left shoulder. Then repeat to yourself, ” Prema Agni, Prema Agni, Prema Agni.”"

Luckily, Toby will continue to teach these workshops and you can email her for more information and schedules at bucklern@earthlink.net.                                                    

ALL QUOTED MATERIAL was provided by  SQ Wellness system.

I have never written anything about politics and when I conceived the Totally Zen blog I made a mental note to avoid the subject. Now, a year later, it is election year; I find myself unable to withhold my opinion.

My motivation comes from watching part of the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night and because the current campaign is founded on an initiative of fundamental principals that I believe in and strive to make part of my world and this world I am putting forth in the form of Totally Zen.

Might I add, after I finished this post I went to You Tube & found the Hillary Clinton montage that had inspired me & while there I found the Bill Clinton speech which I saw by teleprompter while I worked out at the gym. I didn’t catch the beginning of his speech; so, I played it and I am floored to find that the sentiment in this post and his opening summary are one in the same. Bill Clinton’s speech was amazingly powerful and direct (you can find the links at the bottom of the page).

I feel as a collective Americans have been feeling: feel beat up, frustrated, helpless and hopeless. Our economy is in need of help, our country shows signs of being structurally unsound, our men are at war, the world is not our friend, we have given up our world power and world class reputation.

Who knows where our common sense and manners went when dealing with our own people and our global neighbors? How long did it take to create all our inefficiencies, lack of attention to detail, arrogance in how we deal with people, businesses and international relationships?

Can we be forgiven for our mistakes and rebuild a country that is respected and solid, intelligent and aware?

Is it possible to change that much and are we even going to try?                                                                               

The scary thing is our problems are so deep it almost seems impossible. Alas, hope and dedication, perseverance and determination in a person, in a leader, in a country can carry much weight on their shoulders. Why give up when you can fight for the American dream?

In fact, this is a great time to shape up. Much like a person who’s life, health, relationships start to fail them: our country needs a new attitude.

Changing our ways, instilling energy, motivation, passion, and desire to be better, live simpler and be more conscious are great transformers. Funny, the same qualities needed for change in an individual are the same for a country or a global initiative. Spiritual principle says you cannot change anything until you change yourself.

No matter who you feel is more experienced, has better policy, plans and is going to get the job done for you and the United States of America – it is important to know and feel your opinion matters to us! Get involved and take action.

Are you ready to act? Are you ready to vote?                                    

Express yourself!

Rock the Vote!

Register:

http://www.rockthevote.org/

Be Inspired:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaFduweUXmE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_6IXjUNP84&eurl=http://perezhilton.com/2008-08-27-first-hillary-now-bill