Balance & Inspiration

6.5.11  Balance and Inspiration
Starseed Yoga and Wellness of Montclair, NJ

Fill your cup with passion and use it as inspiration.  When we talk about balance we usually think about our physical bodies during asana (the poses), but we also are balancing our emotional and spiritual selves as well.  Part of balance is surrending the intellect down to the heart.  To let go of fear, and just do it.  There are three general types of people, those that always say yes, those that tend to say no mostly, and those who find a balance between both.  Personally, I am a yes person, always agreeing to show up to an event, gathering, class, or just to help someone.  Sometimes I don't make it as I planned but I also try not to have an attachment to it either, I try to just live in the moment to be able to flow with what the universe is handing me at the time.  Believe it, everything happens for a reason and we are always where we are needed most.  Consider which of the three types of people you are.  Are you always saying yes and then not following through?  Are you usually saying no and then regretting that you lost out on an opportunity?  Or, are you able to accept everything that comes your way (even knowing how to take care of yourself when you need rest) and see it as a golden opportunity made only for you?  Use your passion to fuel a directed and balanced way towards your goal.

The second topic I'd like to address is inspiration.  When we are inspired and excited about something, we then have the passion and aspiration to complete a task.  What are some of the ways that inspire you?  If you are a yogi, perhaps you study with other yogis.  Or if you are a basketball player, maybe you look up to other basketball players who have paved the way before you.  Inspiration can be found in books, classes, other people.  Keep your eyes and hearts open.   Know that its ok to face obstacles, to fall away from the your path, and accept that its part of the journey.  Look to others for inspiration.  Look in your heart for inspiration. 

"Be careful what you meditate on.  You want it - You got it! As you train and then master the mind, gradually the mind absorbs the qualities of the object of meditation.  Think of God and you become Divine.  As you think, so you become.  If you meditate on a monkey, you know what will happen!  So be careful.  If you meditate on a world champion, slowly you will develop that inspiration, and one day you will become that.  That's why a person who wants to be a famous boxer has pictures of all the leading boxers around the room.  A person who wants to be a movie star has pictues of other stars all around the house.  If you want to be God-like, or even lose yourself in That, you should have the proper pictures and symbols.  The symbol you choose for mediation should also have meaning behind them.  Choose anything you want as an object of meditation as long as it has some elevating thoughts or ideas behind it.  Choose something to make you more open, more universal, and more loving; something to break you out of your shell."
- H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

Class began with breath awareness and centering in a cross legged position.   First just follow the breath.  Watch the inhalation and follow the exhalation.  Feel that the breath is cool as you inhale, and warm as you exhale.  Take joy in just breathing.  Breathe smoothly and evenly through the nose.  Begin to have body awareness now.  Feel the sit bones grounding down into the earth, growing roots down into the earth.  As you root down begin to rise up through the side body, like a tree trunk, growing taller and taller.  Strong and steady.  Feel that the head is floating directly above the spine.  3 OM's.

Sukhasana (easy seat), cross legged forward bend, Chakravakasana (cat/cow), Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog), lunge, plank, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (upward facing dog), Uttanasana (standing forward bend) Utkasana (awkward or chair pose), Virabhadrasana I (warrior I), Parsvottanasana (intense forward bend), Tadasana (mountain pose), Vrksasana (tree pose), Trikonasana (triangle pose), Prasarita Padottanasana (wide legged forward bend), Ardha Chandrasana (half moon pose), Balasana (child's pose), Bhujangasana (cobra pose), Shalabalasana (locust pose), Setubhandha Sarvangasana (bridge pose), Salamba Matsyana (supported fish pose - mild backbend over bolster), Savasana (corpse pose) with guided relaxation.  Played the heart chakra crystal singing bowl coming out of Savasana. 

"Be careful what you meditate on.  You want it - You got it! As you train and then master the mind, gradually the mind absorbs the qualities of the object of meditation.  Think of God and you become Divine.  As you think, so you become."  - H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda

Class ended with a short breath meditation of So-Hum.  As you inhale, silently say to yourself So, and as you exhale, silently say to yourself Hum.  Inhale So, exhale Hum.  So-Hum means I am that I am.  I am eternal.  I am Divine.  I am blissful.  I am all-knowing.  I am God consciousness.  I am the soul.  I am that I am.  So-Hum.  Inhale So, exhale Hum.

Ending Peace Chants
Asaato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Maa Amritam Gamaya
Lead us from unreal to Real. 
Lead us from darkness to the Light.
Lead us from the fear of death, to the knowledge of Immortality.
OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Lokaah Samastaah Sukhino Bhavantu
May the entire universe be filled with Peace and Joy, Love and Light.

Bring your palms in prayer position to the third eye and bow forward to seal in your practice.  Namaste.