Welcome friends! OM Shanti!

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Monday, September 20, 2010

Sunday at Noon ~ Level One Yoga ~ Starseed Yoga in Montclair

9-19-10 Day of Peace - Global Mala NJ 2010

In celebration of International Day of Peace (9-21), yoga studios all over NJ united to celebrate peace this past Sunday.  For the students who chose to celebrate at Starseed, together we joined in the cosmic consciousness, focused our attention and raised awareness.  Keeping with the theme of peace we began class with an explanation of Hari OM and OM chants, followed by joining our voices as one to chant together.  Mantras (literally translated as protection for the mind) are sounds that were heard in meditation 10,000 + years ago by sages who were in a deeply focused state.  We repeat these mantras to bring ourselves back to a specific state of consciousness.
 
Hari OM has no translation, it is simply working with sound.  It brings energy up:  "Ha" originates in the solar plexus (abdomen) hard sound - a little snap, "Ri" is a sound produced in the throat with a rolled "r", and "OM" is found in the crown and above with emphasis on the "m" sound. 

OM also has no translation.  It is comprised of three letters: A, U, M.  In Sanskrit, when the letter A and U are found together, the sound produced is O.  But we should not forget the A when chanting.  It is the most basic sound, a primodial sound, which all other sounds and mantras come from.  It is a sound always vibrating within us that belongs to the whole world.  "A" is pronounced as "Ah", a sign, just open your mouth and make a sound, then the "U" sound comes forward in the mouth, creating the "O" sound, followed by "M" which continues to bring the sound forward and up.  "A" refers to creation, outer consciousness, and the waking state.  "U" refers to evolution, inner consciousness, and a dream-like state.  "M" refers to dissolution, Divine consciousness, and a dream-less state.  Find a place to practice this at home, become comfortable with the sound and confident producing it.

OM Hari OM chant, Sukhasana/Virasana hip opener, body circles, shoulder rolls, neck rolls, Balasana, Table-Cat/Cow, Adho Mukha Svanasana- first peddle the feet out, then find stillness.  Vinyasa of Adho Mukha Svanasana > Table > Balasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana > Plank 3x, Three legged Dog > Three legged Plank 3x ea side, Balasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana > Lunge > turn knee/toe to corner of mat and come down in lunge - back knee can be down as an option, opening hip (low lunge) > Reverse lunge > High lunge > Anjainasana.  Sun Salutations.  Virabhadrasana II > Virabhadrasana I > Vira II > Trikonasana.  Dandasana, Paschimottonasana, Janu Sirsasana, Bharavajdrasana, Ankle-Knee pose, Happy Baby, Savasana. 

Class ended with a brief five minute sitting meditation, chanting OM Shanti (peace) several rounds out loud, then several rounds silently.  Students brought back with the sound of the heart chakra crystal singing bowl.  Meditation is a blending into the stream of Divine consciousness.  It is awareness that is clear, still and focused which brings deepened vision.  When the mind is peaceful, clear, and one-pointed on anything, you are meditating.  The mind is like a bottle of soda.  When the bottle is closed you do not see the bubbles, but they are there.  When you open the bottle, the bubbles rise to the top.  The subconscious is the bubbles, and when we meditate, we bring the subconscious up.

~ Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu ~ May all beings everywhere be free and happy.
Namaste.

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