My So-Called Yoga Life

Tag: meditation

• The Obligatory New Year’s Post: 2018

  Posted at 2:31 am by Lisa K, on January 1, 2018

  

  It seems that this year, I am so much more aware of the happenings over the last year than in those past. I started this blog this year and in preparing my writings for it, I suppose it has helped me to really put conscious memory into action as I ponder my thoughts and feelings. I have observed a great deal about my little life and noticed some wonderful things and also some places that could use some really overdue attention. I really love writing this blog, by the way;) There is far too much truth in the fact that we mostly, blindly, fail to acknowledge places in our lives that make us uncomfortable. For me, in the past it was a fear of failing to be my best all the time. I have managed to work quite a bit there and feel much better about this work in progress. This year I experienced some dark times in the beginning of it. Out of my control, but they quelled my growing ability to shine forth more confidently. Many steps back, I notice that I must draw attention once again to confidence in the radiance of my being.
  In 2018, I will take charge of old patterns rather than let them play out. I will speak from within and hold no expectation of how it will be interpreted by those around me. If I am true, I can’t be mistaken for anything other than the true intention that I really am. If negativity happens, it is not me but a reflection of others. I will be TRUE.  I also noticed that I live in a very regimented pattern in my life. Im an ashtangi and it is not difficult to see why I love the practice of Ashtanga yoga so much. It is also very disciplined. However, it impedes my social interactions with people. If time spent doesn’t fit into my comfortable schedule, I can get, well, agitated. I have been aware of this for some time, and have made some progress but it needs more.

  I also can’t cook. I don’t like holding meals because food doesn’t inspire me. I am also vegetarian, which doesn’t harmonize with people around me. Food is more of a subsistence of life for me. It seems to create issues for social gatherings because I don’t relate well to others in this way. I am good at doing activities with people or having a coffee and a chat. Evening visits with a glass of wine aren’t too shabby either, lol, right?? But in all seriousness, I want to connect again without fear of judgement. If I don’t fear it, it can’t burden me. I will practice my meditations, affirmations and general thoughts to help create new mental patterns. If you think it enough, it will become real.  I know my intentions are to relate to others, to feel them.

  The new year isn’t necessarily about changing things or becoming a new person. It is about reflecting on what works and what doesn’t. Realizing what could do with some improvement and what is working better than ever. I like the reset feeling. It reminds me of morning time. I love the feeling of waking up and being out before others. Everything is fresh, untouched by the essence of daytime and I get to see it. That is what the new year is akin to. A time to refresh, reflect and be a better version of me.

  I hope you enjoy this time of year and start off in 2018 with your best foot forward. Be fierce, be powerful, be You.

  Happy New Year my loves!! Best for the coming year to you!!

  Much Love,

  Lisa Michelle xo

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  Posted in Life & Yoga, Uncategorized | 16 Comments | Tagged beauty, communication, emotions, energy, gratitude, happy, healthy, heart, inspiration, joy, knowledge, life, lifestyle, love, meditation, motivation, release, wellness, Yoga

• Ashtanga Yoga: A Moving Meditation

  Posted at 4:03 pm by Lisa K, on September 17, 2017

  

  Ashtanga Yoga is known as a practice which follows the same sequence of poses every day. We build on more poses as strength and flexibility grow in our bodies and minds. The very first time I experienced an Ashtanga style class I thought it was unusual that between sun salutations there was a five breath hold in downward dog. All the vinyasa classes I was used to doing did all sorts of movements in the sun salutation and it was just so much different. I thought it was a bit boring to be honest. The difficulty level and the feeling I got after concentrating so much more on breathing still left me intrigued. Why the hell would anyone want to put themselves through this? I wanted to learn more about it and more strangely, I wanted to experience it further. That is how it began.

  So what is it about Ashtanga, why is it so captivating?

  I believe it is the Trishtana as it creates  harmony within, that grasps our desire to go further than dipping your toe in the water…

  The Tristhana in Ashtanga is a focus on three places of attention. These are breath, drishti and posture.

  Breath

  The breath literally guides movement in Ashtanga. Even moving between poses have assigned inhale or exhales to maintain the deep methodical breathing utilized, creating heat and focus. The breath is what gives rise to our ability to create effort. When I am doing a very difficult pose, my teacher will remind me to breathe so that I may continue to do the work necessary to continue on. On to discover the next place where I will challenge my limits.

  Drishti

  The drishti is the gazing point. Each pose has a gazing point but the eyes are not really focused on any particular place. There are nine different drishti and it depends on the pose as to which is used. As the pose sequence, the drishti do not change and are practiced with each pose daily. When I am using drishti, my attention turns inward and my meditation becomes firmly planted in that moment in time. I feel and hear my breath. I feel more deeply into my body. Where do I feel the earth beneath me? I notice the effort I am using. Gosh, I forget how much it takes until I bring it back into my awareness. As much as my practice can be physically exhausting, the soulful bond I restore with my internal being is continually nourished and invigorated with each and every breath I take.

  Posture

  The third of the Tristhana is posture and it includes the asana and also the bandhas or energy locks. Particularly mula bandha and uddiyana bandha. These refer to the muscles of the pelvic floor and the low belly. Mula bandha has often been described to me as the muscles which stop the flow of urine. My teacher has another way to describe it, which is to squeeze the anus. Graphic right? Honestly, I have been able to connect more with this squeezing than the pee thing, lol. The uddiyana bandha is activated by drawing the low belly in. The strength created by utilizing these two muscle locks is the seat of power for every pose. Having a background in ballet dancing, I recognized the same feeling in my body when I danced. It is like the entire inner line of the legs from the base of the big toe right up into the solar plexus is involved in this energetic synergy. The grace that is made to look so effortless in both ballet dancing and yoga comes from this place. Perhaps it is the familiarity of remembering something I loved very much that solidified my love for Yoga from the very beginning.

  Together these three points of attention are what bring Ashtanga Yoga practitioners into a state of moving meditation. Our gaze turns inward and the magical awareness of the moment in time being experienced ~ Right. Now.~ is sometimes like slow motion Matrix movie perception. Everything slows down, breath is deep and rhythmic, sweat drips slowly down onto the mat, muscles flex and the body moves through space like a graceful and perfectly orchestrated dance. It may not look as such but it can feel this way on the best of days. Other days, I can feel like an old rusty tin man trying desperately to locate the nearest oil can. But that is the nature of being human. We fluctuate, our bodies and minds fluctuate.

  The Yoga Sutras of Patanjail states in the Samadhi Pada:

  योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः॥२॥
  1.2 yogaḥ-cittavr̥tti-nirodhaḥ

  This is translated to mean that yoga is the removal of the fluctuations of the mind. This is really an ideal with which we are working towards by practicing yoga. For me, the seemingly short distance of just under ten years has already provided some impressive breakthroughs in my own personal journey. Knowing how tiny that really is actually serves as a motivation! If my experiences on this level have been so profound to me, I can only imagine what could be ahead for my soul in the wide expanse of time.

  Every day, when I step onto my mat and look down to my feet, I feel gratitude. I am grateful to be alive, a being on this earth. I have been fortunate enough to find the gift of Ashtanga Yoga among other powerful gifts in my life. It is a blessing to be here and it is a privilege for me to share this gift. I know now that I am truly ready to teach yoga. I want to create a place for others to see that glimpse of light that I caught and then watch them nurture it and see it grow.

  Taught my first class on Thursday in a few years and I’m in such a great place to teach from now. Years ago when I first taught, I thought about how difficult my class should be and if people will like me.  These were not the right things to be worrying about.  I then went to Thailand and learned so much that I felt humbled to the point of feeling like I should not teach. I felt that I knew so little that it would be wrong to try and teach anyone else. Now that I have had some years, around seven have passed, I am feeling more confident that I have something to share with others. It feels right and my first class back at it was totally fabulous! Wishing you all joy and happiness always😊

  Love & Light,

  Lisa xo

   

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  Posted in Life & Yoga, Uncategorized | 30 Comments | Tagged ashtanga, ballet, dance, inspiration, life, meditation, philosophy, trishtana, Yoga, yogainspiration

• An evening of Yin Yoga, Nada Yoga & Chakra Healing with the Sacred Sounds of the Sitar

  Posted at 8:04 pm by Lisa K, on August 20, 2017

  

  My Thursday evening was spent in a tranquil yoga studio called The Yoga Mat. I had the privilege of attending a yin yoga class taught by my very first yoga teacher ever, Tania. Her class immediately brought back many fond memories of which I had the pleasure of experiencing for the first time, many years ago. It was my introduction to yoga with Tania that got me hooked into this journey from the very beginning. Her ability to read her students and her overall energy captivated me as completely as I remember it happening those years ago. From the moment she began speaking I was taken away to yoga-land, to thoroughly enjoy each moment and movement on my mat. I don’t usually do yin style yoga classes or have someone speaking to me during my practice and haven’t for some time. I was sweetly reminded how comfortable and pleasurable the experience can be. And after the deep stretching we did in Tania’s beautifully crafted class, we were prepared to move into our Nada Yoga meditation with the one and only Ram Vakkalanka.

                                                ~Me in a yin pose breathing deeply~

  What is Nada Yoga?

  According to Ram, who is a teacher of yoga philosophy, Sanskrit, meditation, A Sitar performer and Kirtan singer, Nada Yoga is:

  “A combination of philosophy, medicine, metaphysics, and physical yoga, the premise of Nada Yoga is that all things in the Universe, including living beings, are made of sound vibrations, called Nada. It is believed that Nada is the building block of the cosmos and that this energy brings everything together. This connection with sound means that Nada Yoga is often associated with music, harmony, chanting, and how these things can bring beings closer to oneness with the cosmos. Nada is also often used to bring focus to ones energy centers, or Chakra. The use of sound in this way can have a vibrant healing effect as well as psychological benefits. It is believed that there two types of music: internal and external. External, of course, being the music that we consume through our sense of sound. Internal music, however, consists of the vibrations within us. With a strong focus, one can hear their own inner music. Additionally, when the internal and external come into harmony, the effects are beautiful”~ http://www.aksharayoga.com

  Ram used his sitar to bring mesmerizing melodies to our ears as we were lulled into a state of meditation.

  What is a sitar?

  The sitar is a sophisticated large and stringed instrument which is thought to have developed to its current state around the 1500s. When I first saw it, I was amazed at how detailed it is with lotus flowers on some of the tuning pegs or Kunti. In fact, Ram informed us that the sitar was created to resemble the human spinal column. The 7 Kunti which are found at the top of the instrument are meant to represent the 7 chakras or energy centres believed to exist along the spinal plane in human beings. There are variations of the instrument but Ram’s has 24 frets just as the human spine has 24 veterbrae. I think the symbolism of this instrument is artful and fascinating. If a string is bent down gently as it is played, it will be in tune with lower notes. This allows for the notes to be rolled and it makes for some very entrancing sounds ~ perfect for Nada Yoga.

  In his meditation, Ram uses particular tones which he improvises each time he plays them to bring about focus and healing to particular chakras in his sessions. In our session we worked on three chakras. We began with the first one which is the root chakra or Muladhara. It’s location is at the perineum and it is visualized as a red lotus flower with 4 petals. The seed sound associated with this Chakra is LAM. We chanted the seed sound before Ram began playing his sitar. We were also shown a mudra or hand position associated with the root chakra and we held this mudra gently in our laps during our musical meditation. We had a different seed sound and mudra for each of the chakras that we focused on.

  

  ~Learning mudras~

  The next meditation was on the third chakra which is called Manipura or the solar plexus chakra. The seed sound for this one is RAM and the colour is fire yellow. It is visualized as a yellow lotus at the solar plexus with 10 petals. The final meditation was on the heart chakra or Anahata. The seed sound is YAM and the colour is emerald green. This time we were instructed to lay down on our mats with our heads pointed towards Ram and his sitar.

  At the end of the session, we were all in such a state of peaceful relaxation. I remember getting up and wishing I could just curl up again with the blanket I had over me and go to sleep, LoL. I enjoyed the whole evening so much and I really look forward to the next time Ram and Tania will lead us again. I will be there, maybe you should come too☺️

  

  ~ Me with Ram & The Sitar~

   

  Websites for these soulful human beings

  http://www.theyogamat.ca

  The Yoga Mat has teacher trainings, workshops and retreats for students and teachers alike. Tania and her sister Samantha grew up practicing and living yoga from a young age. With many years of experience, these beautiful human beings teach straight from the heart. Tania’s studio has a very welcoming atmosphere and you will find yourself at home while you learn her many offerings.

   

  http://www.aksharayoga.com

  Ram Vakkalanka is a travelling teacher and if you check out his website, you may find a workshop in your neighbourhood. I highly recommend going to one or more of his sessions as his wisdom will assist any serious yoga practitioner in learning more about yoga, the supporting philosophical texts and much more.

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  Posted in Event Reviews, Uncategorized | 21 Comments | Tagged chakra, chant, meditation, mudra, music, nadayoga, philosophy, sitar, yinyoga, Yoga

• What is a Mala?

  Posted at 10:14 pm by Lisa K, on July 23, 2017

  

  If you have been to a few yoga classes you have probably seen or at least heard of mala beads. Maybe you have seen them at a metaphysical store or at a booth at the yoga conference. What are those beautiful bead necklaces and what are their significance in the practice of yoga?

  In Sanskrit, the term mala means ‘garland.’  They are usually made up of 108 beads and one larger central bead called a guru bead.  These are the type of prayer beads used by Buddhists and Hindus. When they are used, a mantra or intention word is repeated with each bead, starting at the guru bead and ending again at this central bead. If the user wishes to do more, the guru bead is never crossed over, rather the beads are flipped and counted away from the guru bead again. Mala beads date back to Hindu religious practices around the 8th century B.C.E.

  In Hinduism there are two main branches called Shaivism and Vishnuism. The former uses 32 to 108 rudraksha beads made of seeds from a unique Javan tree. The seeds are rough and separated into 5 sections to represent the 5 faces and personalities of Siva and also represent the rigid lifestyle required by worshippers. Vishnu mala are carved of tulsi wood and have 108 beads.

  Buddhist mala have 108 beads which represent the impurities that must be overcome to reach Nirvana. The beads were once only made of the sacred Bodhi tree but now are crafted from many other materials as well.  Healing Mala may be made of gemstones or crystals which have different energies, colours and properties that may aid in different healing practices.

  The crystal mala used in healing may use stones specific to correct an imbalance. For example, I went for an colour aura scan and had a slight imbalance in my solar plexus or third chakra.  A crystal used for healing this imbalance is citrine. I got a citrine mala bracelet to help me create balance here. It is very interesting to learn about crystals and how their properties may be used to help work with the subtle aspects of our energetic being. It is something that I am new to and wish to learn more about.

  A place to find some gorgeous mala beads is https://purplelotus.ca/

  Anyone may use mala beads and the meaning they will bring to each will be individual in their prayer and meditation practice. According to Hinduism, they are used by the right hand and the thumb is used to move from one bead to the next. The index finger should not touch the beads through the transfer and the beads are draped over the middle finger.

  To begin a meditation practice using a mantra or an affirmation is a great way to stay focused and really with your practice. Using a mala to help you count your repetitions will allow you to completely focus on your intention.  It is easy for the mind to wander sometimes, which is okay, but the mala is another helpful way to increase concentration.

  Here is a simple practice for you to use a mala:

  First decide on your mantra, affirmation or intention word. This will be what you repeat with each bead and the focus of your meditation.
  Sit as comfortably and as tall as you can. Take a few deep breaths by inhaling through the nose while letting your chest and belly open. Exhale through your nose equally and fully. Try closing your eyes and taking 5 deep breaths this way.

  Hold your mala in your right hand with the mala draped over your middle finger and in your palm. Bring your thumb to the bead just past the guru bead. Begin your mantra and use your thumb to move to the next bead with each repetition. Keep your eyes closed to enhance your focus. When you come around the mala and back to the guru bead you may finish or flip the mala to go back around again. When you have completed your meditation, sit and take a few more deep breaths before opening your eyes. Hopefully you will have a positive experience that will stay with you for the rest of your day:)

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  Posted in Meditations, Uncategorized | 26 Comments | Tagged happy, Mala, meditation, positive, Yoga

• Golden Ball of Light Meditation

  Posted at 10:57 am by Lisa K, on June 7, 2017

  

  This meditation is one that I learned years ago and practice often. It takes about 10 minutes, but the calming softness it leaves within me lasts much, much longer. If meditation is new to you, I promise that this one has just enough to focus on to help keep your mind from wandering. It is a good one to practice anytime, but I find it particularly helpful when I feel stressed or anxious.

  To start this meditation, find a comfortable place where your body doesn’t need to hold itself up. I like to prop pillows behind me while in bed. Relaxing on the couch is a good spot too. Make sure there are no noises you can control in the background, like the tv or music. Your arms and legs should not be crossed. Let your arms relax beside your body and your legs apart and relaxed at the knees. Closing your eyes will help with the visualization in this meditation as well. If it isn’t possible to meet all these recommendations, make yourself as comfortable as possible wherever you are. Years ago I did this meditation on the go-train so it can really be done anyplace.

  I have included a voice recording of this meditation below as well.  Have a listen:)

  Begin by taking a few deep breaths in through the nose and out through the nose. Try to relax the tummy and let it move freely with the breath. Then begin to envision a faint golden yellow ball up in the sky. As you breath, watch it slowly move down towards you and then settling under your feet. It is about the size of a basketball.

  Feel a gentle warmth coming from the orb of light on the bottoms of your feet. It is soft and comforting to you. The golden light is the hue of a beautiful morning sunrise in the middle of summertime. Feel the warmth begin to move into your whole feet up to your ankles. The golden ball has expanded and enveloped your feet. As you breath, feel into your feet. Let all the muscles, tendons, vessels and bones relax. If you feel anyplace that has tension or discomfort, invite the light into that place in your feet and feel it pass.

  Now feel the light permeate its way up inside your legs. The golden ball is embracing your legs to the level of your knees. Again, feel the light moving through the tissues in this part of your body. Let it soften you, release any tension. The light spirals over your upper legs to your hips. Your entire pelvis is now also bathing in the beautiful comforting warmth of the golden orb. Breathe into your pelvis, breathe into your legs. Let the light find its way into all the tissues and bones and structures of this deep root of your body. Find any areas that need the comfort of the warm light and breathe. Breathe in warm softness. Exhale tension and stress.

  The ball of light is expanding now to engulf your entire torso. Your abdomen, chest, back and organs. Your lungs feel the warmth. Your heart beats and brings with it healing light to your body. Take time to let go of stress, feel the shoulders release, the rhythm of your breathing is comforting. Now the light is spiraling out and around your arms down into your hands and out your fingertips. It is sparkling as it relaxes them. You feel warmth in your throat and softness permeating into your face and around your head. The golden ball is surrounding your entire being and you feel so content and calm. Breathe in warm softness. Exhale tension and stress. Sit and breathe as long as you wish or if you are doing this in bed, allow yourself to drift off to sleep.

  This visualization helps to reconnect with and relax the body and steady the mind. I enjoy it every time I do it. If your mind gets distracted at any time, just call it back and continue on. Some days I am more focused than others and that’s okay. Go with the flow of your breath and each time you use this calming meditation, you will feel soft and calmness come over your being. Enjoy!

  Voice Recording:

   

   

   

   

   

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  Posted in Meditations, Uncategorized | 31 Comments | Tagged energy, equanimity, inspiration, life, meditation, mindful, peaceful, Yoga

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