Our next get together is today, February 8th at 7pm – our monthly group meets at Yoga Adobe, 924 Wilfred Road Berthoud, 80513. There is no obligation or expectation regarding a shift in your current beliefs or practices. This is an excellent opportunity to explore a potentially new path in meditation practices with an open-eye focus. We bring some movement into the practice through either a few simple yoga poses or a walking meditation. Please call for further info at 970-498-0490.
Author Archive for jseat
Meditation for this week:
Loving Kindness Meditation – Close your eyes and begin saying this mantra over and over, “May I dwell in my heart; may I be free from suffering; may I be healed; may I be at peace.” After a while move to someone quite close to you – a spouse, lover or close friend, and insert that person’s name, saying “May (name) dwell in their heart; may (name) be free from suffering; may (name) be healed; may (name) be at peace.” Next, move on to someone to whom you are not so close, but who is definitely part of your life, inserting their name into the exercise. Continue with someone who is in your life on a regular basis, but whose name you do not know; then work with a complete stranger, and finally the world.
Alan Seale, “Intuitive Living, A Sacred Path”
Ah yes, here we are on another fine Spring day with the grass getting greener by the minute as the wind whistles around the world carrying new energy and life. I suspect there are many fellow gardeners out there waiting (perhaps patiently) for their seedlings to sprout and fill their containers with new life or waiting for the ground to warm up enough to accept seeds directly. As we all ponder the wisdom of nature’s approach to our changing weather patterns it seems appropriate to remember that in the big picture we are all really just ants going about our business. Most of us are probably hoping for calmer days, more natural moisture and perhaps a sense of predictability regarding what’s going on with our planet. In fact, all we can really control is our reaction to our environment so in honor of the approaching Earth Day 2014 I invite you to join me in a renewed commitment to taking whatever small steps we can as human beings to sustain and regenerate Mother Earth. Remember this planet is only ours for a little while and then we’ll be passing it on to the next seven generations – let’s leave it better than we found it, if only in our own little anthill.
Allow yourself to enter a meditative state. After you have reached a deep state of consciousness, invite the Creative Energy of the Universe to manifest in some form behind you. Take your time, and let the images, feelings, or sounds of its manifestation take form. How does this Creative Energy come to you?
As you become comfortable with this energy, begin a dialogue with it. Ask this Creative Energy of the Universe what it has to say to you. How does it wish to move through you? How does it wish to help you in creating your life? Is there a larger plan for your life than you have been aware of up to this point? Work with the Creative Energy of the Universe for guidance and direction in further opening your second chakra and creative process. You may want to write in your journal as you go along with this exercise, or complete the exercise in a meditative state and then record your impressions afterward. Alan Seale – Intuitive Living, A Sacred Path
Did you know that there is some potential for relieving migraines through your yoga practice? This topic came up several times last week so I went to my primary source for therapeutic yoga poses – “Light on Yoga” by B.K.S. Iyengar – for some ideas.
You might try either the Nadi Sodhana breath – also known as Alternate Nostril Breath (no retention of breath for migraine sufferers); or Sitali breath – cooling breath. Yoga asana for migraines includes Paschimottanasana – Seated Forward Fold, Uttanasana – Standing Forward Fold and both Shoulderstand and Headstand.
If you are not familiar with these techniques we recommend you work with an experienced yoga teacher for best results.
Perhaps you’ve heard people in a class discussing the use and benefits of Mantras but have no idea where to start. A Mantra is a word or short phrase repeated either silently or outloud. This word/phrase can be something taken from an ancient tradition or religious practice or simply a word or words that resonate with you deeply. You might choose to repeat your chosen word/phrase while walking, meditating, cooking, gardening – choosing to deepen your connection to any activity through deeper focus on not only the words chosen, but on your breath, body language, heart rate or emotional state. You may find the Mantra calming and centering. Repeated use will deepen this sense of inner peace. It may help you to chose a particular time of day to work with your Mantra, at least in the beginning, to create the habit and enjoy the benefits. You may find yourself spontaneously using the Mantra when presented with a stressful situation, thus giving yourself the opportunity to react differently than you might have based on previous programming. This new reaction might simply be in the form of observation – noticing the situation but not reacting. I call this “staying out of the muck”. I sincerely hope this practice is of benefit to you and the people you interact with in the world.
Namaste, Vickie at Yoga Adobe
Having vision, creating vision, bringing your inner vision into the light – all potential ways to describe the process of visualization. If you’ve never practiced visualization you may be curious about the appropriate technique or even the reason for following such a process. Visualization can create powerful results in your life by focusing your attention and energy in a positive direction. To begin, choose a potential goal or endpoint you’d like to attain and begin to see all the details as vividly as possible. Since we can only begin from right where we are, begin to see the path towards your goal unfolding in your inner vision. Again, project loads of details; colors, patterns, people, events, etc. that will pave your way towards success. Be sure to feel the energy of moving along this path and the sweetness of achieving your goal to bring even more power into the process. Once you have the path laid out exactly as you wish, repeat following this vision daily. Perhaps you’ve created or chosen your personal mantra and can repeat that as you follow your path. However you chose to arrive at the completion of your goals, enjoy the process!
Do you or someone you know suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? Did you know that yoga can help you feel more energized and connected? Practice some simple inversions to get the blood back into your brain! Inversions do not have to mean standing on your head, although that’s very helpful – but Headstands are not appropriate for every neck. So, consider a simple Downward Facing Dog or Standing Forward Fold – either pose brings fresh blood to the brain without putting any pressure or strain on the neck. To make these poses even more relaxing try supporting your brain on a bolster or stack of blankets while you hang out. Or, you might try the Standing Forward Fold with your hips resting against a solid wall, add some support for the brain and you’re really in business 
Or practice Half Moon pose against the wall, using a block to lengthen your arm on the supporting side of the pose; bring both hips, your shoulders and head to the wall. As you elevate one leg and possible the same-side arm keep both those limbs against the wall as well. Now turn your gaze out across the room and feel the blues lift and fade away. Enjoy!!
We are excited to announce the new walking Labyrinth at Yoga Adobe! If you are not familiar with Labyrinths, they are an ancient tool used for personal transformation dating back thousands of years. The practice is simple, pause at the beginning of the path to set your intention; as you walk practice gratitude while the heart opens; pause in the center as long as you wish; walk out on the same path – experiencing a sense of well being, healing, calmness or peace. See you on the path.
Namaste, Vickie
Create the restorative version of Triangle Pose by adding a block next to the foot, either next to your big toe or outside next to your little toe.
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