Yoga, Meditation & General Wellness

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Yoga Articles

Yoga is great for kids!  Once when I was little, 
my worried parents found me seemingly 
passed out on the floor in my room.  I was in 
"savasana," or the "dead man's pose," the 
closing asana in Lilias's show.  I was so relaxed 
I had fallen asleep.

        From following along as a little girl to reruns of public television yoga sessions taught by Lilias Folan, to spending time at a California ashram as an adult, to establishing and maintaining an ever-changing meditation practice, as well as studying Sanskrit and Vedanta alone and with teachers, different aspects of yoga always seemed to be a part of my life one way or another.

        Yoga is much more than doing a series of stretching postures.  It is an integrative, revitalizing system of living that will go with you, as far as you go with it.  It serves as a complement to, and need not be a substitute for, any (or no) spiritual path you undertake.  Though it is a practice with structure and a thousands-years-long tradition, it nevertheless doesn't assert its presence within your life.  Rather, it allows you to mold it into whatever supports the needs of your body and soul, hence it's longevity and continuing popularity.

        The Yoga Articles in this blog explore various physical and spiritual aspects of yoga practice.

Yoga Articles:

Where is Your Attention?

Psychic Ability and Yoga

Christian Yoga
A Simple Yoga Sequence for an Afternoon Break
Yoga for Singers

Ayurveda - Part 1  (Part 2 coming soon)

Meditation Articles

An example of a "gohonzon" (shrine).  
Ok, I admit to having eaten an orange 
or three from our gohonzon shrine 
when I was a little girl.  Sorry Buddha!

        My introduction to meditation came when my mother, born and raised in Japan, would take me as a little girl here in America to neighborhood Buddhist meditation sessions.  Perhaps she figured since I was already interested in yoga, I'd be interested in meditation too.  Or maybe she was just trying to keep me out of trouble.  Probably both, though the latter never worked.

        I thought it was odd that she never really explained anything, though now I appreciate the wisdom of that approach.  But, all I knew back then was that for some reason we sat uncomfortably on the floor for long periods of time, there was always this smelly smoke (incense) floating in the air, and people chanted so much it made me dizzy.  I wondered if they were on drugs or something.  And there was this little book of chants in Japanese that I was supposed to memorize and recite like everyone else.

Silent contemplation for kids should be more 

than punishment in a "time out" corner.

It's a skill that could be taught, and that 
could radically change the world one day!

 

         Later in my life, I happily discovered for myself the meaning and vital usefulness of a meditation practice.  The seed my mom planted grew, and I came to understand the wisdom of her cryptic approach.  It was totally in keeping with Buddha's admonition that we should discover our spiritual paths for ourselves, not pursue them because someone "made" us follow them (though someone may have introduced them to us, as my mom had).  Through actions and not words, my mom taught me that our spiritual pursuits should be volitional, voluntary, heart-felt aspects of our lives.  I discovered also that the little booklet of chants I had memorized was the Lotus Sutra ...and I even came to enjoy that smelly smoke. ;-)

        Meditation could be practiced as an adjunct to a hatha (physical) yoga practice, or as a stand-alone practice in itself.  Meditation, like yoga, doesn't have to be connected to a particular spiritual path, though coupling a meditation practice with one's spiritual beliefs may deepen it on an emotional level (we are emotional creatures, and emotions amplify everything).  However, as a stand-alone practice, meditation itself assists anyone's mind to arrive at peace and serenity.  It promotes focus and balance, and is a bridge helping one return one's awareness to the "center," who we really are, and what we really came here to do.

        The Meditation Articles on this blog site will present approaches to creating and maintaining a meditation practice, with my heartfelt hope you'll be inspired to gift yourself with a new meditation practice, or re-commmit to a meditation practice you've already begun in your life.  More articles will be added soon, so check back (or subscribe to the feed).

Meditation Articles:

Shikantaza, Just Sitting
Dealing with Restlessness During Meditation - Part 1
Dealing with Restlessness During Meditation - Part 2

Dealing with Restlessness During Meditation - Part 3
(these 3 articles also listed under "Guest Bloggers!" category) 

General Wellness Articles

        The General Wellness Articles are just things I come across that might help make your life more harmonious and healthy.  Some tips may be rather unconventional, but still work.  Anything that could help someone find a solution to a general wellness problem without resorting to pharmaceuticals, I'm all for!

General Wellness Articles:
6 Symptoms Men Should Never Ignore
Headache Cures
Holiday Stress: 6 Ways To Deal With Difficult Family Members During The Holidays
Train Your Brain to Crave Healthy Foods

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