Yoga of love

Love makes one glow. Somedays it is the boat on which eternity taps and rocks us into joyfulness. Next time you feel lonely start by loving yourself, then those close to you and then widen your heart to fill the whole world. If cant love yourself, you can love no one.

Profound Truth

Reflections of a wannabe Yogi

Raj wrote this...

By the time I got to the free class, it was pretty well jam packed. I found a spot to place my rented mat and laid my towel over it, and water bottle alongside, and stood facing the mirrored front wall. I was already sweating and we hadn't even started. It was Bikram yoga and the room was heated.

The instructor, a big guy welcomed us and told us that if we had to leave the room, we were to leave quietly. He started us off with the breathing exercise. Hey, this isn't too bad, I thought. Then we started the different poses or asanas and it got tougher. By now I was drenched, sweating pofusely, hands and feet were slippery. Fifteen minutes into the class, I looked towards the door. I was in the middle of the room. The mind game had begun, "To be or not to be a yogi." To leave now, I'd have to weave through too many people to get to the door. If I left, I'd always remain a wannabe yogi, besides something told me to stay. It was like a faraway (distant) voice, or even a whisper from the heavens. I'd always told my three children that most of life's battles are won and lost in the mind. I decided then that I would stay and win this one for her and her.

Every now and then I'd sneak a peek to the sides and couldn't help admiring some of the other yogis and yoginis, so majestic in their asanas.

I'll get there, too, InshAllah, I told myself. Believe you me, it wasn't easy but I hung in there. After each asana, I'd put my palms together and quietly give thanks. The instructors words, "Change and relax" were music to my ears. "Party time" as the instructor announced the first official water break. Water had never tasted sweeter than the sips I had that day. I savored each sip with gratitude.

As we progressed through the asanas, I began to love the word "Savasana," that's when we lay down on our backs and completely relaxed. The final pose of the evening, sitting Japanese style, and exhaling fast, getting rid of all the toxins. Finally, the most welcome words, "Lie down and completely relax." As I lay down, eyes closed, hands on my chest, joined in quiet thanksgiving. I had made it through my first ninety minutes of yoga with the feeling that there is hope yet! Praise the Lord!

Yoga with Khushboo!

Early this morning with the chill in the air, my young neighbour Khushboo came along to do Yoga with me. She is 25 and I see her slim flexible body against my somewhat stiff one... my knees are not as straight as hers, nor is my spine... she does not lose her breath as much as I do (huffing a puffing is common with me...) However I know that daily yoga will give me greater flexibilty within weeks.. I marvel at the body that has the intelligence to improve at any age!

We did a routine with standing postures (trikona asanas, the tree and 5 surya namaskars followed by sitting asanas and then the lying down ones...) I have decided to create a more intense routine for tomorrow.

Mom joined us for the pranayam.... I loved the togetherness.

Presence: Yoga of the Now specially for the anxious

Till about three years ago I had no clue to what being fully in the present moment meant. Of course I had experienced it many times while listening to music or reading something that absorbed my mind, but being present to every moment was a novelty. It began with Thich Nhat Hanh's visit to Delhi and the two processes we did with the Master in the lawns of IIC and Lodi Garden...

The first was a 10 minute walk with full attention on every movement of the foot and the surroundings.. For a few minutes it was easy to do, then came thoughts and I was gone from the present moment... Pulling my mind back to the present is one heck of a job. All that has happened three years hence is an increase in awareness of my flighty mind. A mind filled with thoughts of the future, full of anxiety... I almost never recognized what an anxiety prone person I am....but if i was really present as I am right now punching in these words, there is no anxiety.... and that is how I got hooked to Present moment awareness.

Recently I stumbled onto The Presence Process, a book by Michael Brown that actually is a 10 week course in Presence. I am in week 2 and the perspective I am getting is quite special:

There is a living Presence within me. Something strong and alive and peaceful. My contact with it is a bit like touching a soap bubble. But in the fraction of a moment, a thought less moment, there is a sense of something and it can be the greatest adventure...

So as I take baby steps in the Presence Process, I invite you to experience the Now... as often as you can... its the richest experience I know!

Welcome aboard Raj

So here we set sail on a journey of the spirit.
An adventure into the precepts of Yoga which believes that there are 8 steps to Truth/God.
We will expand this to include all the understandings that bring a Yogic celebration!

We have already begun the practice of asanas and pranayama...
There is such an energy in having a companion on any journey. Here's hoping our blog will enrich us and keep our discipline strong!

To us and our experiences...
(BTW, the picture is one i took at the entrance of Auroville- an experiment in Community living)