Luli Chandra

2013-09-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

TMSYOGA Transformative Movement and Sound Yoga

Neuromuscular Integrative Movement

TMSYOGA PROTOCOLS What is Neuromuscular Integration?

Neuromuscular Integration is based on studies and practices on how the CNS central nervous system communicates with the body and the brain. It is a simple system, based on Applied Kinesiology which observes the firing patterns of the brain. Using designated patterns and activating large muscle groups stimulates motor responses of the muscles and brings correction to the nerve transmissions from the brain to the body and vice versa for ultimate healing potential. By reorganizing how the brain receives reactive highly charged information, the proven biological response induced by neuro integration neutralizes the negative reaction allowing the body to quiet the chemistry and the emotions, and give the cells an opportunity to remember their natural intelligence.

By using simple non-invasive movements we can help the brain stop firing the pathways that are overfiring and running the programs of negative self talk and chatter taking over our minds. The process is non-traumatic and gentle to promote the release of memories of both physical and emotional trauma. Yoga teaches us that the body and it's koshas (layers or levels of our soul-body) are the repository of past experiences. By freeing the body of negative memories, thoughts and ideas we open ourselves up for physical restoration and spiritual renewal.

Luli Rachel Chandra

What is Conscious Movement & Sound?

2012-04-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

A meadow lark giving his masterful sermon of song.

The practice of conscious movement transforms us. A new life begins to take shape internally as well as externally. Our physical bodies are not our property, it is a gift which must be appreciated and returned. If we remain sensitive to the needs of the body we can respect the vessel we were given in humility. It simply is not yours to destroy, abuse, or exploit. Walking, standing, sitting and moving with intent can refresh the mind the way a simple shower refreshes the body. When tension leaves the body natural re-balancing takes place. Relaxation is the absence of tension created by the body and caused by going against our own bodies and feelings. Health care professionals and providers are often tuning themselves out for the sake of their patients or clients. This is a symptom of unrestrained sharing which is itself un-balanced. Creating and maintaining healthy boundaries at work (and home) promotes healthy sharing and in the long run will prevent injury, loss of income and professional burn out. TMS teaches you to choose a mental projection point from within the body (drishti/focal point) in combination with primal sound scales. Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, PhD. writes in his book titled Breathwalk "There is also a reflex code that connects the movements of the tongue with the neural patterns of the brain." The simple units of primal speech which distinguish one utterance from another are called phonemes. They form the bedrock for all natural language. A sequence of primal sound scales have a universal character and patterns which activate our brains and evoke different states according to the patterns of the sounds. In Kundalini yoga as taught by my teacher, Yogi Bhajan, PhD. Sa Ta Na Ma is toned vocally while practising Kriyas (specific body postures). The sounds are not connected to a specific language or culture and may be used by all. I teach movement in combination with these types of sounds to promote well being. Whenever I fall out of balance I simply imitate the mastery of the meadowlark and sing my way back into harmony.

Luli Rochel

Eileen Escarda | See.Me

2011-06-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Check out the amazing photographs of Snatam Kaur Khalsa and family taken in Costa Rica recently. Enjoy... eileen escarda See.Me

What's Your Dosha Kenny?

2011-03-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

Winter and early spring are related to Kapha dosha. In Ayurveda the body is comprised of the five elements which form a specific body type or dosha. The dosha's are classified into three categories and manifest our physical constitution at birth. Our minds can also be reflected in the dosha's even though it is subject to change and fluctuation. Our body types may also be subjected to change when illness, or ageing takes place but our primary constitution remains intact.

This dosha evaluation is for Kenny. The physical characteristics of Kapha are that they are thick boned, medium to medium large muscular skeletal structure, oily, and soft. Kapha tends towards a slow and deliberate progression and is seldom in a hurry. They have a connection to Earth energies and have a reputation for being the very best hugger's! Typical maladies for Kapha's are fatigue, chronic upper respiratory congestion, poor circulation, grief, and attachment. When I first met Kenny I thought he had a head cold. I later learned that he was suffering from chronic nasal congestion and tinnitus.

Water is a vital element for sustaining life functions. A river has the ability to cut right through the earths core, produce powerful waterfalls, nourish and fertilize soil making regions productive of crops, and support animals and humans. Our oceans are teeming with life and fishing has been a part of humanity for thousands of years. Water also flows downwards into the depths and recesses of the earth where there is an element of mystery, danger, and negativity. Water goes everywhere and when water is stagnant it becomes a breeding pool for bacteria. Kenny when Kapha is out of balance, which may be the case for all of us during winter/early spring, we may experience melancholy, depression, an unconscious intake of food, and we may seek out increased visual, and sensual stimulation. Up north when people are snowed in on gray days...

The purpose of therapeutic yoga is to assist us in returning our bodies and minds to the balance of our individual dosha or constitution. We correct dosha imbalance by introducing the opposing qualities into our practice, diet, and environment so that you ( and us,we all have Kapha by varying degrees) can emulate the qualities of love, calm, strength, vigor, stability, and forgiveness that are inherent when Kapha is balanced.

Yoga for Kenny...consists of active Vinyasa practice, Sun Salutations, and Pranayama to promote movement, produce sweat, and prevent stagnation which could lead to depression. Body salt scrubs with essential oils such as grapefruit or citrus to uplift spirits and decrease edema (water retention in the body) and stimulate lymph function. Breath of Fire to cleanse Kapha and right nostril breathing for increasing heat in body and assist circulation. Because the dosha quiz for your current mental condition showed aggravated Pitta we will end the practice with abdominal diaphragmatic breathing.

It is advisable to assess your dosha quarterly and to practice with an experienced yoga teacher who can create a therapeutic yoga practice which will promote optimal health and well being. An Ayurvedic medical practitioner can evaluate specific health concerns, and create a plan for proper diet and nutrition based on your particular constitution. Always consult with your medical doctor prior to participating in any physical activity. Have your physician provide medical clearance prior to yoga or any other exercise which may result in injury.

"Nishmat": Ancient Hebrew Meditation at Sea

2011-03-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

Diane Bloomfield on Torah Yoga, yoga for Jews, yoga with Jewish teachings- Beliefnet.com

2010-11-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Diane Bloomfield on Torah Yoga, yoga for Jews, yoga with Jewish teachings- Beliefnet.com
Many of my students want to know how I reconcile yoga with being Jewish.

I would like to share this information with anyone who is Jewish and practicing yoga. In my own personal experience yoga has served as a foundation for the study of Torah. It has brought the experience of G-d inside my core self and assisted me in creating a personal relationship with the creator. Prior to the work of Diane Bloomfield, Audi Gozlan and others, it was difficult to reconcile both these rich traditions.

As a teacher I have always been careful to select the music of the Kundalini yoga as taught by my teacher Yogi Bhajan. In addition I use the Psalms of King David to inspire and uplift when it is appropriate. The choice is however, very personal and a student can always request to have a yoga teacher focus more on the body and its well being during a class with exclusion of all else. Our bodies are the repositories of old baggage and pain, simply performing the physical aspect of yoga can assist anyone in clearing their energy fields to promote harmony within their own bodies and minds. At that point your soul will naturally be attracted to exactly what it needs, so if you are Jewish you will be more able to fully live a Jewish life.

All The Best,

Luli Rochel

YOGA/MOVEMENT/SOUND

2010-09-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

"When one looks at movement and sound as vibration and considers them from the point of view of physics, there appears to be no distinct point at which movement becomes sound. The only difference between movement and sound is the velocity of the vibrations". Frick & Hacker, 2001, pp. 1-16

Worms will not eat living wood where the vital sap is flowing: rust will not hinder the the opening of a gate when the hinges are used each day. Movement gives health and life. Stagnation brings disease and death.
Proverb: Chinese Medicine

YOGA/MOVEMENT/SOUND

2010-09-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

A basic Tomatis law states that the voice only contains that which the ear can hear. By bringing the damaged ear lost or compromised frequencies, these are instantly and unconsciously restored in the vocal emission. Sufficient auditory stimulation will provide a lasting improvement of the ability to listen and consequently reproduce sound.

A recent study published in the current issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that hearing loss among teens is on the rise. The study was conducted by Joseph Shagorodsky, MD, MPH and colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston concluded the prevalence of hearing loss among a sample of US adolescents aged 12-19 was greater in 2005-2006 compared with 1998-2004.

One in out of five adolescents in America shows evidence of hearing loss! It’s not surprising considering their generation has been exposed to a lifetime of iPods, video games, mobile phones, and an increasingly noisy planet. A newsletter recently stated that “When kids are constantly plugged in they overload their auditory system, which loses its protective mechanism with sustained exposure to sound levels over 85dB.”

New events in a child’s life; growth spurts, puberty, family dynamics, grief, trauma or crisis within social or school structure may further compound problems with learning, attention, and communication. Auditory processing problems make it difficult for the brain to understand what it does hear. The TheraPeeds H.O.P.E. Academy curriculum utilizes the HOPE method to identify the specific areas of the brain in need of support with a multidisciplinary approach.

As the senior listening specialist at TheraPeeds I am fortunate to have access to the latest technology for sound intervention therapy. As a medical ultrasound technician (OB/GYN ARDMS) for more 10 years I became proficient in ultrasound physics (understanding how sound travels and affects our anatomy and physiology) as well as fetal development. When I attended my first training and learned of Dr. Tomatis and his research through Ron Minson, MD and Kate Minson of Integrated Listening Systems in Boulder, Colorado everything began to resonate for me.

In addition to working with listening I am creating a pediatric yoga model for the special needs child and a yoga teacher training curriculum. As with all things worth obtaining it will require effort and additional certifications on my part in order to realize this dream. By writing this paper today I am holding myself accountable to this goal.

Luli Chandra, CYT
Senior Listening Specialist

Snatam Kaur Video

2010-06-30T14:09:00.001-07:00

For Snatam Kaur Events & Kirtan visit http://www.snatamkaur.com/ You can download her music on itunes or from http://www.spiritvoyage.com/. Lyrics from http://www.lyricstime.com/

Jeff...Whats Your Dosha?

2010-06-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

This yoga dosha evaluation is for Jeff. Your scores are V2-P7-K1 a strong pitta profile for your physical constitution. The body/ mind scores are very even with only marginal variability or evidence of imbalance. I've been waiting for a profile like yours because it invites me to look introspectively. Those of us who share this type of profile know how important it is to take the time to nurture ourselves...but we seldom do anything about it. We are too busy being strong, helping others, doing more. With our pitta minds in a hyper rajasic state (that's the energy of "just do it" noted in a previous post on the gunas) we can fool ourselves into thinking more is more. The challenge for a balanced pitta is take his or her raw energy and harness it for a higher purpose. The method for achieving it is by injecting consciousness into everything you do.

In the summer time when it is especially hot pitta needs to avoid extended periods outdoors. Excessive heat and physical exertion aggravate pitta and can make your kapha (earth ) feel heavy. For yoga to be effective and therapeutic for you it should address langhana (cooling) poses with emphasis on grounding and centering. A series of invigorating Ashtanga Sun Salutations performed with ujjayi (victorious) breath where the exhalations are lengthened. This pranayama (breathing technique) has physiological benefits of reducing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and increasing tidal volume or capacity for respiration's. There are numerous videos on you tube you can practice with although a personal relationship with a qualified teacher is advisable whenever working with yoga's more subtle practices. Mentally focusing on the heart, both the physical and the emotional during the practice to help soften the sometimes harsh side of pitta.

A long savasana meditation utilizing tense/release to relax every part of the body systematically and in isolation. Accompanied by Gayatri mantra and chant...and many walks in the Moonlight with your beloved wife. Jeff is an outstanding certified personal trainer, contact him for safe, effective, one on one personalized training at 786.439.9498 http://www.chizeled.net/

"Thy Will Be Done"

Namaste,

Luli

Sources...

2010-06-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

The ultimate source of information compiled on this blog is attributed to the One primordial Light.

This blog is intended to be a general overview of the numerous yogic teachings and disciplines as they relate to teachers/students of yogasana. The science of AyurVeda is a holistic practice involving nutrition, therapeutic massage and oils, ritual purification processes, and yogasana (use of the yoga postures) to both achieve and maintain good health. The information I am presenting should serve as a guide for students to increase self awareness and help them select a competent teacher. Our western "one size fits all" approach to yoga at the gym may not always be the most beneficial model for the student on the physical, emotional, or spiritual levels.

I apologize in advance for any errors in omission (or otherwise) in any of the posts. I welcome and encourage dialog and correction from qualified sources. Some of the images on the blog are "royalty free" google images, if I have accidentally violated any copyright please inform me lulichandra@gmail.com and I will remove it.

Waiver
The yoga sessions, audio classes, or videos posted on this blog are intended for specific individuals. You must obtain medical clearance from your physician prior to embarking on any fitness program to ensure your safety. A certified yoga teacher is required to ensure proper form and alignment for protection from injury. The health or fitness advice published on this blog does not negate the need for the services of a qualified medical professional.

The Gunas

2010-06-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

According to the Hatha Pradipika guna represents a quality of nature, a threefold capacity of manifest Shakti (feminine principle or prakriti). The three gunas are tamas, rajas, and sattva reflecting the polarity in nature with one pole being static (tamas) a second being active (rajas) and the third representing a balance point. The gunas are archetypes of our mental state as well as our physical. The activity expressed in the natural world or earth is an expression of the gunas and our mood swings, ups and downs, and variable points of view from minute to minute, day to day and year to year. The purpose of yoga is to bring awareness of these fluctuations so we can control them.

Tamas is related to inertia, lack of movement, gross matter. It is required for manifestation of all material substance but it can also represent resistance, stubbornness, and apathy in the human mind. It is our fight or flight response where we close up and go under towards the shadow side of our repressed emotions.

Rajas represents movement, activity, productivity and drive. It is prevalent in our Western culture as we are encouraged to "just do it", go for it, and multitask in almost every aspect of our lives. Rajas is competition and win at any price. It is the fight aspect of fight or flight.

Sattva represents the central column energy which balances tamas and rajas. Where our desire to connect with ourselves, nature, and each other arises. It is the feeling of doing enough, having enough, and peace and harmony. There is no lack in sattva and as a result there is clarity, intuition and light.

When considering the doshas we must integrate knowledge of the gunas in order to assess the mind/body state of the student. We can then create a practice which will benefit the sincere practitioner on many levels.

Namaste,

Luli

Tamar...Whats Your Dosha ?

2010-06-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is a test. Our earthly physical experience is nothing more than a test of our spirit. We forget that we are more than our human experiences, our bodies, minds, and even the breath. We invest in agreements or relationships ( like our jobs) that no longer serve us out of resistance to change or fear; and when this happens we surely get our foundations rocked ! In one of Yogi Bhajan's lectures he pointed out how we all agree to the fact that we can not sustain life without oxygen or our breath. All yoga teachers say that breath is life and everyone agrees. He then skillfully reminds us of how we survived, grew, and thrived in our mothers womb without breathing for nine months.

Choose your agreements carefully and be willing to discard them.

Tamar your quiz indicates a need for grounding for greater stability. When we are fearful we are operating from the Muladhara or Earth Chakra. The physical area associated with this center is the sacral plexus and our sense of smell. When out of balance this chakra affects our sense of safety and survival and may cause adrenal fatigue. Come in for a session this week and receive your personalized class.

Om shanti shalOM,

Luli

Whats Your Dosha?

2010-06-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

When Tamar expressed some concern regarding her stressful work environment I suggested that she come in for an evaluation. By the time we both got around it she had left her job and was feeling anxious. Her quiz showed a bidoshic constitution Pitta Vata (PV) and a vata mind/body imbalance. Tamar has a tall, slender vata physique and a sharp pitta intellect. Language is a natural gift (both PV traits) for her and she speaks Russian, Italian, English, and conversational Portuguese. She has lived in various European countries and is adaptable to change.

Vata requires expansion and freedom as well as stability. Tamar's old job had become too confining for her spirit. She seldom got outside, was confined to an office most of the day, and the energy of her staff , with the exception of a few, was mostly negative provoking her pitta nature.

I will design a session focusing on the three lower chakras for grounding, ujayii pranayama, and Kundalini yoga mantra and chant. The practice will be adaptable for outdoors to foster a connection to nature and I will encourage Tamar to live fully, laugh often, and dance for artistic expression.

Sat Nam...

Whats Your Dosha?

2010-06-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Tamar...thank you for sending your dosha quiz results and visiting TheraPeeds with Alina today. I will review the results and post your assessment and suggested yoga routine designed to help bring you into balance and connection with yourself. I encourage you to come in and ensure that you are practising with the proper alignment and breathing technique for your specific dosha.

Look for additional pages to the blog soon which will include a contact page with services, fees, address, phone, fax etc...

Luli

What's Your Dosha?

2010-06-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

An Introduction To AyurVeda

Ayurvedah (Sanskrit) is the ancient Hindu science of natural health and medicine that has been practised for five thousand years. Ayuh, life, health + Veda, knowledge, lore... a part of the medical treatise summarized in the 5th Veda. The perfectly balanced human being does not experience disturbances in energy flow, since all levels function in harmony.

"According to the acharyas the mind of a person is qualified on the basis of the type of his repeated action; it is so because that quality must be predominating in him." Charaka Samhita Chapter 8:6 What we are wanting to know however, is how do we achieve balance in these modern times? The popularity of yoga is increasing rapidly in the West and just like everything else it is being packaged and in some cases diluted to a point where the very essence is absent. Yoga is an integrative technology and science of human development which provides a foundation for a spiritual journey and self awareness. This self awareness we speak of relates to your authentic self the Atman or soul.

Today we will begin an exploration of some of yoga's deeper practices that can help us to move closer to a state of balance, harmony, and well being. We will discuss the five elements, the three doshas, and langhana & brahmana.

The Five Elements: these are the building blocks of all matter including our physical bodies and they consist of; Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. Langhana in the context of yoga postures refers to poses that slow down metabolism, relax the nervous system and create parasympathetic dominance to cool the body and ease the mind. Brahmana refers to poses that speed up metabolism, stimulate the nervous system and create sympathetic dominance, warm the body and activate the mind.

The Three Doshas: are archetypes of a human being related to the five elements. They represent your physical, mental, and emotional constitution and characteristics. For yoga to be optimally beneficial the students dosha should be considered as well as many other factors including current health status, environment, emotional level, and even the climate. Doshas are classified as Vata; a combination of air and space. Pitta; mostly the fire element but with some water. And Kapha; a combination of earth and water.
This is a simplistic explanation of course and as a precursor to yoga I recommend all students to discover their own archetypes by filling out a questionnaire on http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/ The results will enable you to determine if you are tridoshic, bidoshic, or single.

The results are not static in that our bodies, emotions, and environments change frequently through out our lives. I encourage students to retest and consult with me 4 times per year or whenever a life changing event (joyous or stressful) takes place. On my next post I will share details of an actual consultation and the personalized  yoga routine I created for them.

Namaste,

Luli

Luli Chandra at TheraPeeds H.O.P.E. Center

2010-05-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

TheraPeeds H.O.P.E. Center is the location for the countries most outstanding pediatric therapeutic center, it is the brainchild of Julia Harper MS, OTR/L and her husband Miguel Corniel. It is a place of hope for parents who have struggled with their children being in and out of therapy ( but mostly in ) with minimal results. The primary objective of TheraPeeds is unique in that it strives to get children out of therapy so they can enjoy their lives with their families. By focusing on the brain and neuroplasticity ( the brains ability to rewire itself ) Julia has developed Harpers Optimal Protocols for Enrichment and is helping children to meet their potential in a safe, nurturing, and effective model. The practice is multidisciplinary offering Sensorimotor, OT, Physical Therapy, Speech & Language Pathology, Audiology, Psychology, & Special Education and more... Additional services include Sound / Music Intervention Therapy, Pilates, Therapeutic Yoga and Massage for both children and adults. The beautiful facility is located at 5700 Griffin Road #120 Davie, Florida 33314 on the first floor of an award winning environmentally green building.

Luli Chandra, CYT has been working with TheraPeeds as the senior Listening Specialist facilitating sound interventions such as Integrated Listening Systems, Interactive Metronome, Fast For Word, and others. Her healthcare background and training for more than 15 years performing OB/GYN ultrasound, infertility patient management, and medical office administration are a solid foundation for the sound and listening programs she is involved with at TheraPeeds. In addition Luli has studied and practised yoga for over ten years and opened Pure Yoga Studio in Davie, Florida after her certification in 2003. Her model was always a private one where personalized yoga instruction and spiritual connection was the priority. Teaching Classical Hatha Yoga as per the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, where the main focus is on strengthening the body and nervous system while stimulating the energetic centers to align chakras and arouse kundalini shakti. With proper consciousness yoga is highly effective but slow medicine. It requires discipline, consistency, and courage. Not on the physical level of how you perform a pose, but rather the courage it takes to come to the mat consistently regardless of how you are feeling.

Private Yoga Intensives with Luli exclusively at TheraPeeds...my connection to Julia and Cheryl Fernandez was immediate. It is still that way today. It is through that synergy that I began offering yoga at TheraPeeds. For the children I have developed KidCoreYoga because children do not practice yoga, they "play" yoga. In order to participate in the yoga intensive the children must be evaluated at TheraPeeds so they will receive a specific yoga routine that is both complimentary and wholly supportive of the work they are doing at TheraPeeds. The yoga intensives are offered for 1 hour for 5 days per week for 3 weeks or 1 hour 3 days per week for 5 weeks. Parents are also encouraged to participate and receive additional services of Pilates, Massage, Personal Training, and Sound Interventions.

Dear Julia,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve with such an amazing group of people. For the caring and compassion that I witness daily both for, and from, the parents of our special children. I was recently made aware of an interesting distinction. It is that people who "help" others were creating space between each other. If I am above you then I can "help" you, but if I serve you then we are one and the same. I feel that the children I serve are a gift and a blessing.

Luli