Cultivate Good (Tapas)

Tapas
Edited10-21-2019

❣️Hatha Yoga pronounced hah tah is a Physical Practice of uniting opposites; pose (asana) counterpose, standing and sitting, prone and supine asana and movements (vinyasa) of strength, balance and flexibility. Ashtanga or Eight Ways, of perfecting awareness, are Classical Practices including precepts (niyamas). Discipline (tapas) is a niyama of ashtanga. 

The language of Yoga is Sanskrit (to learn more read the "Sanskrit" Blog). A more literal translation of tapas is, “practice changing heat”¹. Many of us appreciate attending to our needs whether rest and relaxation (zen) or activation and movement (zest).Tapas is a way of regulating heat. 

Exercise, movement, work and play, dancing, prancing and sway are forms of tapas. Body Type (Dosha) responses to trainings are beneficial, for example Lift Sessions ground, center and improve bone density balancing vata's small build, Basic Sessions help balance pitta's medium build, and the extra flow and go of Power Sessions balance kapha. All Trainings have specific benefits helping improve more than a person's body type. People interested in the options available at Yoga Training (Touch) can find out more by visiting www.yogatrainingtouch.com  

Translating tapas as a way of cultivating good with optimistic discipline is acceptable. For example completing a Hatha yoga routine can be considered good while knowing the way of optimism, with a smile helps. Letting go of the illusions of immaturity for the protections of a wealthy mature mind (mano-maya-kosha) may initially feel difficult, yet being able to wait, reevaluate and follow-through with spiritual growth has greater amounts of freedom; tapas to the rescue❣️

1.) "The Language of Yoga" by Nicolai Bachman

Supported Piano Balance, Extending Torso Over One Leg Hand to Foot Pose (Utthita-hasta-padangusthasana)

Balance, Extending Torso Over One Leg Hand to Foot Pose (Utthita-hasta-padangusthasana), being supported by a piano is optional! Align (bandhas) of feet, pelvic floors, core, hands, and neck (leading with our hearts not our heads), energy rise (kundalini) from tailbone (muladhara chakra) to top of head (sahasrara chakra), energy rise (kundalini) from tailbone (muladhara chakra), to top of head (sahasrara chakra), hinge at hips, lengthen the spine. Breathe (pranayama), envision, imagine, and notice an holistic body, energy, mind, intellect, and spirit. Feel the integrated [skin (hair, nails)/bones (skeletal), cardiac/respiratory, muscular/reproductive (sexual), digestive/immune, nerve (neurological)/hormone (endocrine) effects!

Swan Feather (Pancha Hamshasana)

Practice Swan Feather (Pancha Hamshasana) from Plank/Hover (Caturanga Dandasana) by floating into Hovering Butterfly! Support the body, hugging upper arms (Biceps and Triceps) towards the ribcage by contracting Serratus muscles, under the armpits, and Pectorals muscles of the chest, lift the body by stacking bones, aligning wrists below elbows using Gecko fingers or Starfish hands (Hasta Bandha) to protect the wrists; lifting out of joints by engaging muscles abates arthritis. Squeeze low back muscles (Latissimus Dorsi) and buttox muscles (Gluteaus Maximus, Minimus, and Medius), lengthening legs upward contracting the muscles (Hamstrings and Quadriceps) of the back and front of the legs. Try throat breaths (Ujjayi Pranayama) to engage the parasympathetic, relaxation (Pratyahara) response to hold (santosha) the pose, focus (Dharana) on closing the throat slightly, keep focusing (Dhyana) on the eight limbs of responsibility (ethics, morals), pose (strength, balance, flexibility), breath (counting), relaxation (parasympathetic response/prefrontal cortex engagement), focus (one pointed), meditation (continual focus), perfection (keep practicing/upward spiral)!

Practicing Reverse Plank/Hover (Purvottanasana) helps build strength for perfecting (Samadhi) Panca Hamsasana. Yoga Planks known as Hovers in the Fitness Industry are excellent core strengtheners!  Practicing Hovers prone (caturanga dandasana), supine (Purvottanasana), and to each side (Vasisthasana) create cohesive body strength, balance, and flexibility.  Actively recover in Down Dog Pose (Adhomukha Svanasana) or Child/Wisdom Pose (Balasana) before your next set.  Look for the Plank (Chaturanga Dandasana) video to come!

Waging Peace (Ahimsa) With Environmental Justice

Interested in environmental justice?!  One of the best ways of helping the environment is valuing vegetables.  Eating plant based protein is the number one way of reducing green house gases while still an excellent way of improving muscle, collagen, and human growth hormone (HGH) function!

Replace eating animals with beans and quinoa, one of the grains highest in protein.  Edamame is a full protein without having to add grain.  Mix your favorite tasting grains and beans until you love the taste of your highest protein choice, I like adding curry making  a delicious Dahl!

Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are essential nutrients!  Edamame, beans and quinoa (traditionally beans and rice) are excellent protein choices.  Nuts and seeds are mostly fats.  Vegetables, fruits, and grains are carbohydrates (if you are underweight include more grains). Satiety, feeling satisfied, occurs when eating proteins, fats, and carbs together at one time.  Eating with gusto, enjoyment, and pleasure, is my favorite way, while curbing flatulence by eating slower!

Remember value vegetables!  If you are battling any bulge you can eat as many greens (think salad without sauce) as your snacking heart desires.  Fresh is best!

Your body will thank you!  Liver function improves, fat dissipates (remember to exercise daily with a good dose of Kriya (See Sessions and Pricing at the side bar of www.yogatrainingtouch.com). Good Luck!

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)