The Magical Power of Giving Blessings
Picture taken by Harper Dill and Maggie Mull at Storm King.
It’ a new month and that means a new focus at Jivamukti. This month it’s “The Magical Power of Giving Blessings.” The beautiful essay, written by our beloved co-founder and resident Fairy Goddess Sharon Gannon perfectly communicates the magical alchemy of harnessing positive thinking and sending blessings. When we think of someone, when we say their name in our minds, it is a powerful practice for us and them. The more we can try to uplift others and create positivity in the world, the closer we are to knocking down the walls of separation between ourselves and others and to experiencing yoga. Yoga is union; the union of our own mind, body and spirit, and then of our small, individual self with all of creation.
I am you. You are me.
This is practical and tangible practice for making yourself feel better, like a soothing ointment for the mental ups and downs and the worry of life. And Sharon gives very practical instructions:
Here is how it works; I call it the “blessing meditation”: Sit comfortably, close your eyes and become aware of your breathing, feeling each time there is breathing in and breathing out. Start with the people you know and love, as it is easier to give blessings to them. Silently say the words, “Blessings to…” as you inhale, and as you exhale say the name of someone. Continue for several minutes, extending your blessings to include your family and friends; then move on to others, such as your past boy or girl friends, neighbors, bosses and co-workers. Make sure to include others with whom you have or in the past have had more difficult relationships.
If you can sit still for a few moments and go within, and make sincere offerings towards the people in your life you will feel the positive effects. I felt reenergized, grounded and happy after doing this for just a few minutes…
Teacher Spotlight: Zoe Silverman
Me, Zoe, and Jacob in the Hamptons.
I am so lucky to be traveling along this path of yoga with Zoe. She is an amazing yogi, teacher, singer and friend and the similar places we are in our lives, makes us well suited as partners in the yoga community. We are both teachers but even more so, together we are students, bowing down next to each other at the feet of our great teachers. Zoe teaches incredible sequencing (she in Narayani‘s student, so you can imagine) with deep spiritual teachings. If you are in the NYC you must take her class! She teaches at Yoga Vida Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7:30 and at the beginner vinyasa at Jivamukti, Tuesdays at 4:10. She you there! Love you, Zoe!
Setting an Intention
"Contortionist 1" by my dearest, beautiful and talented, Maggie Mull.
The way you approach coming to a yoga class definitely informs your experience in the class. When I am excited and energized by the prospect of taking class, I feel strong on the mat. When I am dreading class or my mind is whirling (chitta vritti), it is a struggle to practice. I love taking class at Jivamukti because the chanting and dharma talk at the beginning give me ample time to get my mind in the right place before starting the asana practice. Sharon and David always stress the importance of the intention behind every action. Asana practice is no different. You will get out of it what you want to get out of it, what you set your mind to getting out of it. And like that, practicing yoga has infinite possibilities.
Pictures From My Teacher
My beloved teacher Rima sent me pictures and precious words from India… so delightful and beautiful. I am so lucky she is my teacher! She took pictures at Sri K. Pattabhi Jois‘ old shala and Swami Nirmalananda‘s ashram. She is in India, studying, practicing, learning and being the most devoted yogini and I eagerly await her return. Love you, Rima.
The front of the Shala.
Best quote ever, at Swami Nirmalananda's ashram.
So cool!
Cooler Cleanse Conclusion
Looking at New Jersey from the West Side Highway... my favorite place in the city.
Doing the Cooler Cleanse was an amazing experience. It is such a functional, easy way to nourish your body. And that’s how I felt after day 5, not run down, starving or insane, but nourished and healthy. The juices are so packed with everything you need that you can thrive while on this cleanse.
The most important thing in preparing for a cleanse is just to think about it, to prepare yourself mentally for what might come up when your ultimate comfort, FOOD, is pulled out of the equation. The more time and energy you devote to preparing yourself, the easier it is to stay on track and stay positive during the cleanse. Setting an intention, or goal with the cleanse that is elevated (even just slightly) from the mundane and obvious “I want to drop lbs” can give the cleanse a greater meaning. Like setting an intention before an asana practice, you can infuse the cleanse with meaning and make it an even more cathartic experience.
Teaching in the Hamptons This Weekend!!
I am so excited to be teaching FREE classes this weekend at Prevention Magazine’s Yoga Studio!! To sign up call 212.808.1332 or click here. I hope to see you at the beach!
Cooler Cleanse: Day Three
Watercolor by my friend's mom, Kim McCarty... Love it!
What a manageable and doable cleanse this has been so far, no light-headedness, no freak outs, no break downs, and yet I definitely feel that I am doing something beneficial for my body and mind. Practicing is an absolute joy! You would think that I would feel tired and weak but instead I feel strong, capable and clear. Still loving the juices, especially the grapefruit and mint and the Essential Red, so delicious, and so long as I plan, plan, plan, it’s been no problem drinking one every 2-3 hours.
Been reading An Offering of Leaves by (Lady) Ruth Lauer-Manenti and it is so sweet and wonderful. If you have just 3 minutes before bed it’s lovely to read one of her teachings before drifting off. In her chapter called “Bending the Rules,” she translates verse 15, chapter one from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika beautifully:
These are the guidelines to help the yogi on their journey to enlightenment. Following an inner voice, the yogi travels to the heart of oneself. During this process, friendliness, silence, and love grow. One becomes sensitive to all of life, and the whole world becomes one’s family. This journey is blocked by keeping the stomach overfull, straining one’s self, overworking physically or mentally, constantly blabbering, following the rules blindly and rigidly, watching television, and lacking order, discipline, and routine in one’s life. These obstacles, or distractions, should be discarded, so that one’s energy can be used for spiritual purposes.
Easier said then done, but it’s definitely something to think about. Sweet dreams…
Cooler Cleanse: Day Two
My fridge, when the delivery first came Monday morning! Crazy, rt?
Today I have really been thinking about the power of intention. How sequencing and planning a series of events prepares you to move through anything with grace and ease. Sharon and David are always reminding us that the intention determines the outcome. If you set an intention beyond simply affecting your gross physical body, you can use a cleanse to go on a journey inside.
Vi= in order; Niyasa= to place consciously; Vinyasa= to consciously place in order
Like the beautiful progression of movements and connection between breath and movement that happens when we practice vinyasa, you can use this level of awareness to move through life, too. I feel prepared for the cleanse and energized. Practicing is an absolute pleasure right now because my body is flexible and light. I am loving the juices and drinking one every 2 hours keeps me from ever getting light-headed. Any times where I have wavered or questioned (chitta vritti), I have easily been able to resolve myself back to my intention and think clearly. Jai taught a beautiful class at Jivamukti this afternoon, that had us moving so consciously through time and space that it really brought everything together for me today. If you feel unsteady (ever), connect with someone and it can make you feel grounded again. So grateful my friend Kate is doing the cleanse with me, and for all of my friends, students, and teachers who support me every day.
Cooler Cleanse: Day One
Beloved, inspirational Sharon Gannon... in a tree.
“Kayendrh siddhir asuddhi ksayat tapasah. By austerity, impurities of body and senses are destroyed and occult powers gained.” -Yoga Sutra II:43, translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda
Tapas means heat, fire, austerity, sweat, a burning desire, and it is essential to advancing your yoga practice. How do you stay focused on your path, create a daily practice, develop and maintain steadiness of mind, by first wanting it really badly! This desire fuels you to come back to your intention and to go further inside yourself. The asana practice is designed to warm the body and create heat. In the physical release of your sweat you are burning away what you don’t need in the fire of your tapas, and moving past it. In this way tapas is both the fuel and the fire of your practice, and it is what keeps you moving further and deeper along the path.
As I took Rima’s incredible, magical class, filled with rows of mats with only a few inches between each other, all I could think of was the tapas in the room burning away all of our impurities. Everyone was working hard, earnestly seeking whatever their intention in practicing is. I am thinking of impurities, detox, purification, practice, and desire because it is day one of my Cooler Cleanse. As I write this, I am enjoying my 5th juice today, Essential Red, made of freshly pressed carrot, beet, fuji apple and lemon… it’s absolutely delicious!
I feel very good so far about this cleanse. I can already feel lightness developing in my body (probably thanks to {almost} following the pre-cleanse guidelines) and I am loving all the juices. Without having to spend time and energy thinking about and preparing (or ordering) food, I am freed up. Without having to process and digest heavy food, my body is energized. I have sequenced the following 5 days, thought about, ruminated over the possibilities, so I feel open and ready for the obstacles that are sure to rise as part of the cleansing process. Cleansing is a practice of austerity and dedication willingly undertaken as means of seeing what your made of and burning away what no longer serves you. Wish me good luck!
Reader Question
A truck in India... always trying to remember the magic of India.
Q: Hey Kyle,
I’m emailing as Im trying to find the motivation to start a committed daily practice. I’ve hummed and hawwed and analyzed about what I should do and how I should do it and on and on and on while my mat sits in the corner collecting dust. My question to you is whether you can share a similar experience? ARe you naturally flexible or did your amazing asanas come from dedication and commitment? ANd if so, what does that MEAN? 2 hours a day every day? 15 minutes every other day…
Im really struggling with wanting to see shifts on all levels and not being able to “just DO it.”
Warmly,
Eryn of Barrhaven Yoga
A: I struggled with committing to my practice for years! In high school, I would battle with myself, should I work out, should I not?, I want to, but I’m lazy/tired/busy/just washed my hair. As I started getting more and more into yoga and learning about it, I realized that I was only fighting with myself, that I wanted to be someone with a regular practice, that practicing always makes me feel grounded and happy, that this HAS to be a regular part of my life (etc.). Really noticing how I felt after practicing (especially compared to days I hadn’t practiced) helped me get there. In the beginning, I would come to class just for the feeling after.
Once I stopped fighting with “to practice or not to practice,” and committed myself to coming to yoga 5-7 days a week, the benefits started coming. First of all, you can go deep in your practice and notice improvement quickly. You can also see the practice as a refuge, as a safe haven, as a satsang. It doesn’t have to be the same everyday. And when you have a regular practice, you don’t have to do every class like it’s your last; just coming and taking it easy is ok. I definitely think its better to keep your momentum and take a restorative class rather than skipping all together.
As far as what actually defines a daily practice, it is up to the practicioner. For me, it is going to a studio and taking a class (I love not having to think about what to do and listening to the words of my teachers’), but doing a home-practice, or even a few rounds of sun salutations could also work. As long as you are going inside and challenging yourself, I think it can be your practice.
Oh, and all of my flexibility comes from my practice!!
