Devi Wears Prana

Why Do Yoga?

noreply@blogger.com (michellemmyhre@gmail.com) — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:30:00 +0000

What's the point?

The end result of doing this work is freedom from pain, suffering, and delusion. Yoga has an ultimate goal, that reaches beyond a "perfect" pose. It is the path embodiment, integration, vitality, and deep inner wisdom. It is the path of uncovering your perfect soul.

**The beautiful image above is Yogini Michelle Coleman, taken by her husband Yogi John Coleman. They own Fall River Yoga Center in Nova Scotia, Canada. They also perform at Bhaktifest in California each year with their kirtan band SuryaChandra.

Only You Can Change You

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:19:00 +0000

My father loves to remind me "You can't change other people, you can only change yourself." Thing is, I am in the business of transformation. Another name for Shiva, the God of yoga is "the transformer". When I really sat with my fathers words, they seemed to contradict my reality.

People come to me to work on themselves. They want to feel good and look good. They want to sweat. They notice openings of energy, shifts of perspective, and they come back for more. A friend who is amping up her yoga practice said to me today "This is working on me emotionally. Things are coming up! I expected my body to change, but emotionally everything is changing too, and I was not expecting that."

What I do for a living is change people. Or do I?

Tonight at dinner I ask two dynamic friends Alex and Beth Iglecia about my dads mantra "You cannot change people, you can only change yourelf." They reminded me that teachers hold space for people to change, but people must do the work themselves. "You can hold the door open for someone, but they must walk through on their own." said Alex. True, true.

Swami Satchidananda also agrees with my father.

“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy. If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing?”

–Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

I had to call my dad and tell him that my most conscious friends Beth and Alex, Patanjali and Swami Satchidananda all agree with him. It was good to hear him laugh like a happy Buddha. Best told-you-so ever!

Yoga: How to Burn Sweetly

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Fri, 03 May 2013 03:45:00 +0000

People may think that yoga is exercise, but asana is just one part of yoga. Yoga is a multi-limbed system and has so much more to offer. Yoga has unfathomable depth and beauty beyond asana.

The foundations of the practice are the first and second limbs (there are 8 limbs on this path), they are known as "the restraints" (yama) and "the observances" (niyama) . There are five restraints, and five observances. Restraints have to do with our behavior toward others. The observances are how we carry ourselves. Santosha and Tapas are "observances".

Santosha means contentment. Patanjali says (sutra 2.42) "Contentment leads to supreme joy." To experience santosha one must look for the good in people and situations. Santosha is acceptance. Santosha is a relaxed surrender to what is. Tapas, also a niyama, is the fire that transforms you. Tapas is discipline. Tapas gets you to class. Tapas is the burning you feel in a muscle that works hard. Tapas purifies you.

Santosha and Tapas need each other. Contentment without discipline turns you into a couch potato. "It's all good!" Discipline without contentment will make you brittle, anxious, perhaps even angry. But taken together these qualities turn you into a sattvic yogi, a pure, high being!

In classes this week my students explore their relationship to yoga through the lens of Santosha and Tapas. When does softening into the pose or letting go serve them? When do they need to burn it down? Once we figure it out on the mat, maybe we can harmonize these energies in other aspects of life? That is the higher goal. There are times to slow down and chill out, there are times we must jump into the fire so that we may be pure and strong.

Yogeswari in San Mateo!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:32:00 +0000

Saturday, May 4th, from 2:00-4:30 at Nandi Yoga Studio

SMALL SECRETS TO HAPPINESS:A Jivamukti Workshop to Benefit AZAHAR Foundation with Yogeswari.

The workshop will be accompanied by World Music, Sanskrit Mantras and Hip Indian beats, and will contain an introduction and a short movie about AZAHAR’s project. Minimum suggested donation $50 (cash or check goes directly to the Azahar Foundation - for more information, visit www.azaharfoundation.org. Please note that you can make a reservation for free for this workshop online, but will need to make the donation ahead of time in order to guarantee your spot).

www.nandiyoga.com

Earth Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:05:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970, when cars were still huge, color photography was new, and phones with rotary dials were plugged into walls. Humans have definitely advanced. We left the industrial age, entered the information age. But is driving a hybrid with bluetooth and using recyclable grocery at the farmers market enough?

This is an exciting moment to be alive. What will happen next? In 100 years when we are all gone what will humanity say about our actions now? What are we gonna do?

Here's my EarthDay Yoga Playlist:

Raindance 7:33 Maneesh De Moor Sadhana

Setira 4:15 Riccardo Eberspacher Buddha Bar XI CD 1 by Ravin

Roundrop 3:54 Mangaroka Nu Lounge Vibes

Big Yellow Taxi 2:16 Joni Mitchell

higher ground 3:37 Vitamin String Quartet

Kala Infinite 8:03 Asana Ohm Shanti

What Are We Gonna Do? 3:59 Dramarama

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) 3:16 Marvin Gaye

A Perfect Rain 4:31 Anoushka Shankar Breathing Under Water

Ocean Mist 5:55 Riley Lee Buddha's Dream

Bubbling Spring 2:15 Riley Lee Buddha's Dream

Yoga: Know (& Accept) Thy Self

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Have you heard about yoga? Everybody is doing it.

In the last 20 years yoga has left the fringe and finds itself happily entrenched and embraced by the mainstream. The word yoga implies community and connection. But being popular creates its own interesting dynamic. When teaching newer students in growing classes you learn fast that broad strokes appeal to a larger audience. Broad strokes do not allow for minute attention to detail. Finesse is lost.

As teachers, lets destroy the idea that we must be all things to all people. There are a thousand reasons a student may not love your class. Luckily, there are a thousand more classes that student can take. Be generous and send people to the teachers they will benefit the most from working with.

If you want to be a popular teacher, share your passion with your students. If alignment obsesses you, be the go-to alignment teacher. If you are an aspiring DJ, make your playlists extra nice. I love Chinese medicine, mythology, music and sequencing. What makes your class special?

Students, be honest! Do you practice yoga to learn or to be entertained? Not sure? What is more important to you? Your alignment or the playlist? Find the class that gives you what you need. Notice all side effects (Maybe a sore low-back is not worth the rockin' playlist and acrobatic vinyasa class? maybe it is!), and most importantly, practice! Practice a lot!

Acceptance (of both your strengths and limitations) is a foundation of yoga, related to asteya (non-stealing), santosha (contentment) and aparigraha (non-grasping). The best strategy for both teachers leading class and students taking class is to "follow your bliss". Find the classes and teachers who inspire you, and roll out your mat!

Pace: Make Easy Yoga Tough or Tough Yoga Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:38:00 +0000

Movement is married to breath in a strong yoga practice. Adept yogi's move fluidly and breathe deeply. When students tire, they tend to rush the breath and you see this in their movement patterns as tired yogis rush through their postures. Faster movements use less muscle, more momentum.

A body that moves slowly through a flow will actually recruit more of the individual motor units to coordinate a movement and therefore create more overall muscle contraction than a muscle that whips quickly through a motion. It’s called the force-velocity relationship curve- the faster a muscle contracts, the weaker it’s contraction force becomes.

Teachers: Bring new life into an old pose by teaching the pose at a snails pace, or you might create a repeating vinyasa with increasing speed. Play with pace of practice to illicit awareness, stability and strength!

Students: Play with your pace with awareness. Notice when you tend to "speed up" your practice. Does your breathing pattern also speed up?

While cueing your students, notice whether they are moving too quickly, blowing past the pose that you may be intending, or perhaps they are moving too slowly and taxing themselves unneccessarily.

Bunny Yoga

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 04:47:00 +0000

Men Of Yoga: Barry Au Yeung

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 04:40:00 +0000

Barry is teaching as many classes as he can handle on the Peninsula, which makes me very proud as he completed his teacher training with Keith Ericson and me. Barry's playful energy and commitment to the practice bring a lot of joy. Namaste!

An Intense Gaze

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 03:49:00 +0000

These are the 9 specific drishtis in Ashtanga Yoga:

Nasagrai – Tip of the nose.
Broomadhya – Ajna Chakra, third eye.
Nabi chakra – Navel.
Hastagrai – Hand.
Padhayoragrai – Toes.
Parsva Drishti – Far right.
Parsva Drishti – Far left.
Angustha Ma Dyai – Thumbs.
Urdhva Drishti Or Antara Drishti – Up to the sky!

Yoga Teacher Or Unicorn?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:05:00 +0000

Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers says that mastery and brilliance are attainable to most anyone who dedicates 10,000 hours of concentrated effort to their subject. It was true for Mozart, the Beatles and Steve Jobs. It is true for yoga teachers too.

Many teachers are out there teaching their hearts out, working their way toward the magical 10,000th hour. They travel from studio to gym, to private client. They may teach 20 classes in a week, living and breathing yoga. They are guileless and all their extra cash goes toward studying with the best teachers they can find. Other yoga teachers are subsidized. They have a spouse who does well, or they are "retired" from their previous high-finance career. These teachers are frequently my favorites. They are fresh-faced, relaxed, practice at their home studio, and have the time to make awesome playlists. Would you work as hard as they do if you didn't have to? There are new teachers who hit the ground running and immediately have a full schedule of classes. There are long-suffering teachers still searching for their niche.

But there are few teachers out there who come close to 10,000 hours. Ten thousand hours is a lot of training, a lot of classes, and years of focused time. If you teach ten classes a week in one year you will have taught 500 classes. At this rate it would take 20 years to teach ten thousand classes. Considering that yoga is not by definition a high paying profession, these people are unicorns.

There are amazing teachers most everywhere. If you want more than what is available at home, you can attend conferences and festivals with the Superstars. There are online communities too where students can "practice" weekly with their favorite unicorn. This is always fun. But the teacher who sees you regularly will impact you the most.

My point is this, appreciate the teachers you have who move you and help you. Teaching is a wonderful career, but not many people are set up to dedicate themselves yoga at the highest levels. When you find a teacher who does, love them. Tell them so. The best ones will make it look easy, but everyone is working hard out there.

Internet Freedom: Pay Attention!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:45:00 +0000

Does Your Mind Bully Your Body?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:40:00 +0000

Heyam Dukham Anagatam –Patanjali Yoga Sutras
When thinking a bad thought, think of its opposite.

Narayanan Krishnan

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:24:00 +0000

He feeds and loves humanity, and sees the humanity in everyone.

What Are Your Conditions For Happiness?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:19:00 +0000

The I Ching says "True and endearing happiness can be created by establishing the conditions which create it." Outwardly obvious, this aphorism gives pause for thought.

What makes you truly, sustainably happy? Where in your life do you support this? Where have you dropped the ball?

I teach yoga because yoga makes me happy. But the working paradigm is such that the more I teach the less I practice. I frequently teach or work for yoga in some capacity 7 days a week. Much of my "time off" is actually leading a yoga retreat or attending a teacher training function.

Teaching yoga is seva. Seva is a sanskrit word which means to be of universal service. Yoga teachers take care of others. The belief is that yoga teachers practice yoga all day. But it doesn't work that way for most of us. Skilled teachers are there for you. They observe you, help you, adjust you. One teacher on Maui told me she injured herself while teaching, and although she should have been on her way to the hospital, she finished leading the class while in a great deal of pain. The students had no idea. THe act of giving and serving, while beautiful, can lead to burn-out.

To create a daily practice when teaching full time means establishing a great many particular conditions. It is very easy for yoga to take over. Imagine being at work all the time. Full time teachers love yoga. Even love has its limits though.

Creating the conditions for happiness means taking the discipline of yoga to a new level. Go to bed early, then get up early and practice. It is as easy and as challenging as that! After taking 5 days off (writing you from the airport dear Prana Devi's) I am ready to make that shift. But to get there meant taking a step back to look at both what creates lasting happiness, and where life was not supporting that.

Upside Down (Boy You Turn Me)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:13:00 +0000

In India Django Sits In the Back of the Bus (So He Can Protect the Ladies)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:47:00 +0000

Two powerful new movies, Lincoln and Django Unchained, take a look at slavery in the U.S.A. These are stories that need to be told. They are riveting. Our country has wounds that need acknowledgment and healing.

Meanwhile, Quentin Tarrantino is being accused of "blaxpolitation" for Django. Huh? Yeah, the language is painful to hear, but that's how people talked. It happened, and it should not have, but pretending it didn't happen is a lie. Let's all agree that the abuse of power was terrible. Slavery existed in the U.S. from 1619 to 1865. This pain and anger at the injustice still manifests in high incarceration rates of American black men. These movies look at what we've averted our eyes from and are indicative of important healing that is now taking place. We still have a lot of work to do.

Django, fabulous Django Freeman, is a character who is very similar to another Tarantino character, The Bride. The Bride was exploited, betrayed and left for dead at her wedding. Then she was raped repeatedly while in a coma. Her revenge, like Djangos, was a balancing of the universe. Evil must be destroyed.

I don't remember a fuss being made over The Bride's terrible awful rape. Rape is common in movies. Google "rape in movies" and you get pages like:

IMDb: 15 best movies that have rape in them

As if it is perfectly normal and all right.

Apparently this attitude is common in India too. There are reasons for the brutal abuse toward women in India, and like all shadows, it is painful to reflect on.

In yoga class while adjusting a student in pigeon pose I asked a student "Is it sweet pain, or sharp pain?"

"Pain is pain!" She blurted out. She's right. Even pain that is good for us is hard sometimes, and those lines of distinction can be blurry. A steady diet of darkness will not nourish you. But to pretend there is only light is a lie.

What is happening in India? For one, there are a disproportionate number of men to women. The population of men ages 15-64 years is 63.6%. In addition to female infanticide, thousands of women disappear each year. Ergo, there are not enough women. At the same time women are entering the workforce. They are not home taking care of their husband, they are working and taking care of themselves. Women on their way to and from work are attacked in public by roaming groups of men in rape gangs. There has been another group rape on a bus. Yes, it happened again. These men are angry. Their rage is cultural and it is rampant. This is happening and it should not be.

Evil must be destroyed. But as yogi's we're not taking them out Tarantino style. I am very proud of my friend Palo Alto yoga teacher Srutih Colbert who raised $20,000 in 2012 for Off The Mat Into The Worlds Global Seva Challenge. This group focused on what they could do to end the female sex slave trade in India. From building schools to digging wells for fresh water, these yogi's made a difference.

We have to take care of each other. We must. "Trying to lift up when the down is so strong...I am looking for freedom."

Lion's Gaze

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:34:00 +0000

One of the most beautiful teachings in Buddhism is called “The Lion’s Gaze.”

The following example is given as an illustration: when we throw a stick around a dog, the dog runs after the stick, but when we throw a stick around a lion, the lion runs after us.

The throwing of the stick in this example represents when an uncomfortable, afflictive emotion inside of us gets triggered. When we are triggered, it is as if a button inside of us has been pushed which activates an unconscious, compulsive knee-jerk reflex. Running after the stick like the dog, which is to indulge in and “act out” being triggered, is to put our attention outside of ourselves. This is to relate to what is triggering us in the outside world as “the problem.” From this point of view, if only what was triggering us in the outside world would stop, we would feel better and the problem would be solved.

Having the gaze of the lion, however, if we become triggered by something, we turn our gaze within ourselves and self-reflect, looking at whatever it is within us that has gotten activated. The lion is not afraid to go right to the source of the trigger, which is never outside, but always within ourselves. Assuming the fearless gaze of the lion, we relate to the situation that has triggered us as a gift, as it has helped us access a part of ourselves that up until now has been unconscious, and hence hidden.

Thank you to Paul Levy for this beautiful teaching.
Link: Awaken In The Dream

Yoga: Flexibility Is Overrated

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 04:57:00 +0000

There is this idea that in order to do yoga a person has got to be flexible. The bendy people are admired. Willowy contortionists are believed to be yoga masters.

The real truth is, flexibility does not matter. I repeat: Flexibility does not matter. Not at all.

Flexible people lack muscle. How does a person with little muscle mass go deep into a pose? They could hang on their tendons and ligaments. This is an option a tighter person just does not have. Tighter people can push into the stretch, flexies can get away with this for awhile, but it's not their best strategy. Muscles contract. This contraction protects you. Tendons and ligaments are made of fascia, which can only lengthen and cannot contract. Keep stretching fascia and it will get long, it may tear, it can rip right off the bone.

Strength gives you handstand. Muscles make you stable. This is how it works, muscular people will lengthen. Flexible people will get strong. Yoga will give you what you need.

January Yoga Teachers Survival Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 23:23:00 +0000

From Sanjay Patel's Gods of Yoga exhibit at the Asian Art Museum, 2012

After the parties, delicious dinners, champagne and chocolate no one is fitting into their skinny jeans and all are making resolutions to be better, lighter, stronger, leaner beings. This may be why January is the busiest month for the health and fitness industry. Yoga studios and gyms are packed to the gills, to the rafters as people sweat, twist and detox it out. It's a 6 week season.

Get ready yoga teachers! A big wave is coming your way!

January brings many new students into yoga classes. This is a beautiful thing. It's an opportunity to change someones life, and they may just fall in love with the practice and commit to yoga forever. January is your month to bring it back to basics. Teach the foundations. Describe what ujjai breathing is. Let people know what a block, strap and bolster are and how to use them. Take balancing postures to the wall. Keep your classes fun, lighthearted and friendly.

Awesome arm balances will scare many newbies away. Get them hooked first and give them their foundations. January is the month to offer modifications. It is not the month for the craziest yoga pose ever.

Save this pose for another month

Tips:

Demo the easier versions. Newbies will do what they see, not what you say.
Spend more time on your mat. Newbies like to watch you.
Keep it simple, but never boring. Work on foundational sequences.
Warrior poses open tight hips. New students need these. Lots of them.
Let students know they can talk to you after class and ask questions.
Remember when YOU were a new student! We've all been there.
Let people know they are welcome and we are all glad to see them and have them in class.
Have fun!

From Buds To Blooms...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 01:34:00 +0000

Katrin Kuttner

Happy Holidays! Teacher training ended and while my grads toasted their new skills at an awesome party (the pics prove it) I was in Mexico leading my first yoga retreat, which was also awesome. It was thrilling to be in Mexico, but of course I missed celebrating the success of my trainees who devoted 3 months of their lives to learning the art of teaching yoga with our excellent Yoga Garden SF team (Thank you Owen, David, Marisa, Sean, and Bonnie!)

Winter Solstice Yoga Retreat was an epic way to celebrate the end of 2012 and the "closing of the circle" as the shaman said in our sacred sweat ceremony. I lived 10 days on a beautiful lush peninsula that has no cars! People get around by boat and horse. The sound of the ocean was our steady, soothing soundtrack. It is a warm, clean ocean and swimming in it blissed me out. Our private chef, Chef Felix, received three ovations from our group. Three. Surrounded by sparkling eyes, I observed and learned much from many new friends. We taught yoga in the most beautiful studio. The people were so nice. It was a magical 'end of time'.

Yes, we survived the apocalypse. Again.

As this new cycle begins, may you be satisfied with your life. Especially if it is an unconventional life! May your priorities be straight and clear. May love surround you. May you realize your highest dreams. May you be fruitful in your pursuits. May you have lots of fun too!

More than anything I want the people in my world to be happy. May you be happy! Happy does not mean you always get what you want, or that it's easy. When it's too easy people get bored. (This data has been compiled by teaching thousands of yoga classes!) So yes, may you work hard and stay focused, because that's what it takes to be successful at this most challenging game of life. People who work hard to make it look easy are the ones who see my eyes sparkle.

Lara Brecher, our graduate who's final class was OUTSTANDING (she gets an ovation from me) wrote this poem about teacher training:

On a sunny day in mid-September,
A misfit group of yogis came together,
To deepen their practice and learn to teach,
Which to David and Michelle may have seemed out of reach.

But this was no ordinary collection of students,
Their intentions clear, their focus prudent,
Headstands moved from the wall to the center of the room,
Practices sprouting from buds to blooms.

There was Erik who was a great model,
Hilary who took her practice full throttle,
Sweet Paulina always there for an adjust,
Erica owned a smile you could trust.

Chelsea and Robert made a great team,
And Ayumi made all heart centers beam,
Sisi who was nothing but positive,
Rita’s extensive knowledge so cognitive.

Caileen kept us calm, cool and collected,
Swagata, her downward dog nearly perfected,
Jean’s arm balances were so inspiring,
And Lara worked hard, often perspiring.

Each student grew in their own way,
And can now call themselves yoga teachers today,
But it’s two who are really responsible for this occasion,
So let’s give David and Michelle a standing ovation!

Katrin Kuttner (beautiful pic above) is leading a Master Class (free class for peeps interested in teacher training) on Saturday January 5th, 12-1:30PM at Yoga Garden SF. I'm assisting her. She and I lead the January - March 2013 teacher training! Katrin is one of my favorite teachers of all time, and I'm honored to be working with her. Master class is free. After class we hang out and talk story with grads. I stock up on tea, fruit and yummy things at Trader Joes. It's a yoga party. Please email me and I'll enroll you. michelle@yogagardensf.com

May Your Dreams Come True!

San Francisco Yoga Teacher Training Begins January 9th!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:25:00 +0000

For the courageous yogi's ready to commit to a yoga practice, and make a change, January 2013 it begins!

Details: Yoga Garden SF guides yogi's in the Krishnamacharya lineage, which is where Ashtanga, Iyengar and Vinny yoga were born. We marry the alignment of Iyengar yoga with the surya namaskars of Ashtanga Yoga. We teach an open system of sequencing which adapts to beginner or advanced classes. We train students to become teachers. To think like teachers. To speak consciously while leading yoga classes. We teach you how to pace and sequence your class. How to incorporate creative elements like music, chanting, themes and intentions to make strong impressions. Students learn to teach what they practice in your own authentic voice. We give you the skills to be successful and confident leading yoga classes. You will learn the essentials, including History of Yoga, Yoga Sutras, alignment, and adjustments. Trainees receive continuous feedback throughout.

This is a 12-week program and it begins January 9th.
We also offer a one month immersion February, 2013.

Click here for more details!

Saturday January 5th Katrin Kuttner is leading a Master Class at Yoga Garden SF, 12PM-1:30PM (I am assisting, so you get lots of adjustments, lots of attention from 2 strong teachers!). This is a free class for anyone interested in learning more about teacher training. Master Class embodies the elements we share in teacher training, and we invite our program alumni too. After class we drink tea, eat fruit, chocolate, and hang out. You can talk to people who have gone through training with us about their experience, and I'm there to answer questions too. Email me for an invite. Master Class is *FREE*.

michelle@yogagardensf.com

Shed Those Skins, Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 02:29:00 +0000

All the greatest and most important problems are fundamentally unsolvable. They can never be solved, but only outgrown. This out growing proves on further investigation to be a new level of consciousness. Some higher or wider interest appears on the horizon, and the unsolvable problem loses its urgency, fades out when confronted by a new and stronger life urge.

—Carl Jung

Samyama: The Power of Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:19:00 +0000

Samyama is a state of meditation described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as being a combination of the 6th, 7th and 8th limbs of yoga. In this state the mind is focused and clear. The third book of Patanjali's yoga sutras, the Book of Power, the Vibhuti Pada, describes the knowledge attained by focusing this powerful mind on the natural world.

Samyama on habits give knowledge of past lives.
Samyama on karmas give knowledge of the future.
Samyama on an elephant gives you the strength of an elephant.
Samyama on form and color of the body give the power to disappear.
Samyama on the sun gives knowledge of the universe.
Samyama on Polaris, the North str gives knowledge on movement of the stars.
Samyama on the naval gives knowledge of the organs.
Samyama on the throat gives control of thirst and hunger.
Samyama on the chest gives steadiness of consciousness.
Samyama on the heart gives qualities of mind.

The gifts of samyama are powers, also known as siddhis. Siddhis are pitfulls on the yogic path. They tell you you're on the right path, but become attached to them and your understandings stop.

Overcoming Distractions to Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Myhre) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 02:06:00 +0000

There are 5 ways the mind turns:

Comprehension, understanding
Misapprehension
Imagination
Deep (sleep)
Memory

Methods to Overcome Distractions to Practice:

Adopt a positive attitude.
Correct breathing.
Inquire into the role of the senses.
Inquire into the mysteries of life.
Ask the advice of someone who has had the same problem.
Inquire into dreams.

*If you want to know what someone thinks of you, inquire how they appear to you in your dreams.