Peace of Mind For Super-Consciousness (Samadhi)

Peace of mind is a way of zoning in during zen!  After rest put bliss to the test with zest.  Wage peace while celebrating life; tuning in and turning on!  

According to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali written over 2500 years ago and translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda, "Yogas citta vrtti nirodah”, yoga is the ending of mindless chatter, or peace of mind!  Classic Yoga also known as Astanga or Raja Yoga has eight ways or steps for cultivating peace of mind known as the eight limbs of yoga.  Peace of mind is super consciousness; absorbing (samadhi) beneficial effects! 

The eight “limbs” or steps include, 1.) Ethic (Yama), 2.) Moral (Niyams) 3.) Pose (Asana), 4.) Breath (Pranayama), 5.) Relaxation (Pratiyahara) 6.) Focus (Dhyarna), 7.) Meditation (Dhyana) and 8.) Absorption or Super-Consciousness (Samadhi)!  According to some styles the eight limbs do not have to be followed in any particular order; the first two limbs, one and two, are ways of leading a principled life the next two limbs, three and four, prepare us for, five and six, further development and the seventh limb culminates the eighth, a reward.  The reward of super-consciousness from practice, on the mat, into our daily lives and vice versa!

The ten responsibilities of the yamas and niyamas, or principles mentioned in Patanjali's Sutras are:  1.) not harming 2.) honesty 3.) not taking 4.) not addicted (resisting) 5.) not possessive 6.) clean 7.) content 8.) disciplined 9.) studious and 10.) faithful!  Preparing ourselves with 1.) standing, 2.) prone, 3.) hand/forearm-balancing, 4.) sitting, 5.) supine/inverted poses (asana) for strength, balance, and flexibility.  Asanas are correlated with breaths (pranayama) for 1.) strength, balance, flexibility, relaxation (pratyahara) and focus (dharana).  Development of relaxation eases us towards greater focus of mind, body, and spirit.  Culminating as one from the eight limbs of yoga practice meditation (dhyana) is perfecting super-consciousness, absorbing (samadhi) the effects!

Samadhi can be a state of bliss (anandamayakosha), our most core, inner True Self (Atman)!  The whole package includes physical (annamaya), energetic (pranamya), mental (manomaya) and intellectual (vijnamaya) as well as blissful protections (koshas).  Samadhi, heaven on Earth, may be comparable to Nirvana; simple consciousness, being present in the moment is a gift of Love (God), for inner peace and harmony!

Reuse, Refurbish and Recycle

Go green by reusing, refurbish and recycle; tread lightly and be environmentally consciousness!  A smaller footprint with less impact is compassionately caring for the Earth.  Many things can be recycled, reused and refurbished let your imagination run and creativity flow in finding and fixing items!

I am often handed clothing from friends and family! I feel excited to have something 'new to me'.  Regifting is another way to go green and be a giver!

Make another person’s trash your treasure!  Shop for bargains, antiques and one of a kind items when giving to second hand stores.  Go the environmental way and visit and or prepare for a garage/lawn sale today!

The Miracle is You - Kute Blackson (OFFICIAL Music Video)

Longevity

At a party a new acquaintance mentioned she is pre-diabetic.  Confused by the diagnosis, she claims she was never told by her Doctor that she is obese.  Obesity is a precursor of Type II Diabetes.

Later, when having the chance to speak with an MD friend I told her about the surprise diagnosis.  My friend, the MD claimed, people know when they're obese and said it has to do with carbohydrate loading.  I knew through my experience with Alternative Healing as an E-RYT that people may not know they're obese, mistaking themselves to be overweight and a healthy balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is key to feeling at home in your body (temple) along with healthy food choices (fresh is best), portions (less loading) and daily movement (intensity inclusive).

The MD stated any BMI over 30 is considered obese.  A BMI is a person's weight to height ratio when multiplying weight times 703/height.  For example a BMI of 18 is found by w(703/h)/h = 115 lbs x 703/5'7"(5x12+7)/67.  Furthermore, research indicates the less a person weighs, in their healthy range, the greater the person's longevity (healthy life expectancy)!

Kids!

Kids yoga is a fun and interesting way to learn yoga; adults who try often giggle about with intermittent bursts of laughter.  Kid Group Sessions are conducive to social expression and can bring a smile to someone shy.  Poses (asana) from nature, specifically animal poses, are of great interest.

Children naturally feel good about themselves and enjoy sharing with one another.  Learning (svadhyaya) about our bodies through yoga develops strength, balance, flexibility and relaxation.  Being a yogin, person who practices yoga, has benefits off the mat and into society.

Conscious practitioners like learning, and having fun helps children's (and adult's) awareness towards caring, compass and kindness.  "Kid" poses remind us to be respectful of our animal friends, nature and interconnection.  The benefits of practicing Kids Yoga are bountiful!