Welcome friends! OM Shanti!

People come together in all kinds of ways, what matters is that they get together.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Ahimsa

11-3-11 Sub for Amy's Mixed Level Hatha Flow
Starseed Yoga and Wellness of Montclair, NJ

OMkaraam Bindu Samyuktam
Nityam Dhyaayanti Yoginaha
Kaamadam Mokshadam Chaiva
OMkaaraaya Namo Namaha
OM, united with the source
On which the yogis ever dwell
Grants desires and liberation
Salutations to the OMkaram.

From the Bhagavad Gita, Ch 2, verse 20
nehabhikrama - naso sti praty avayo na vidyate svalpamapy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat
No effort on the yoga path is ever lost, nor can any obstacle ever hold one back forever.  Just a little progress on this path can protect one from the greatest fear.  No effort is ever wasted - every asana practiced, every mantra repeated, and every act of selfless service propels us away from ignorance, bringing us further on our yogic path.

Fear is a major obstacle.  When you are afraid of something, is it easy to do it?  When we fail to complete a project or a responsibility, it is natural for fear to creep in.  The best way to redirect this energy is to transform the fear into love.  Think about something you are afraid of, it could be something small or something big.  Think about how you can transform your fear into love.  I am terrified of spiders, but as I practice Ahimsa (non-violence), I will not intentionally harm even a bug.  As my knowledge increases on the subject of spiders, my fear is slowly changing into awe and wonder.  Another way to turn fear into love is to affirm our interconnectedness with all beings, all creatures, even spiders.  

Envision all of the inhabitants of the world linked together, hand-to-hand, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul.  There is a spiritual thread that runs through each of us, connecting us at a core level.  Living in a unified way empowers us with knowledge that our efforts to make a difference always benefit another.  Whether it be a gentle smile to a stranger, holding the door open for a friend, or cooking a lover a delicious meal, all acts of kindness are recognized and shared.  Extending love and compassion to anyone grows into love and compassion to people everywhere.  Every act of kindness impacts someone, who will then impact someone else, until the effects of our original action will have multiplied and spread around the world.  Consider the "pay it forward" slogan and movie from 2000.  The idea is that one act of kindness will encourage another to share another act of kindness.  As we help one person, we are helping people everywhere.  By honoring your connection with others and making a positive contribution today, your efforts will reach out and touch the multitude.

Acts of compassion heal the heart and melt away fear. 

Sequence: Viparita Karani for opening dharma talk.  Hip opener warm-up with one leg in Virasana and the other in Sukhasana, tabletop, cat/cow, table balance, Utthita Dhanurasana (extended bow pose), Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) - plank 3x, Balasana (child's pose) - Ashtangasana (eight pointed pose) 3x, Adho Mukha Svanasana, lunges, Uttanasana (standing forward bend), Ardha Uttanasana (halfway standing forward bend), Tadasana (mountain pose), Surya Namaskara (tadasana, urdhva hastasana, uttanasana, ardha uttanasana, plank, urdhva mukha svanasana, adho mukha svanasana, lunge, uttanasana, urdhva hastasana, tadasana) 4x, Virabhadrasana I (warrior I) - plank - urdhva mukha - adho mukha, Tadasana, Utthita Hasta Padasana (extended hands and feet pose), Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose) 3x at wall and on mat, Virabhadrasana II (warrior II) - Utthita Parsvakonasana (extended side angle pose) - Vira II - Trikonasana - Prasarita Padattonasana (wide legged forward bend), Ardha Adho Mukha Vrksasana (halfway handstand "L" shape at wall), Salamba Sarvangasana (supported shoulder-stand), Baddha Konasana (bound angle pose), Savasana (final relaxation pose).  Played the anja (third eye) chakra crystal singing bowl.

Every act of kindness impacts someone, who will then impact someone else, until the effects of our original action will have multiplied and spread around the world.  As we help one person, we are helping people everywhere. By honoring your connection with others and making a positive contribution today, your efforts will reach out and touch the multitude.

3 OM's closing chant.  The light in me honors the light in you.  May the light of Truth overcome all darkness.

Read more about Pay It Forward....

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