LOVE

I read a thought provoking quote recently from Dr Sue Morter: 

"Until we actually allow Love to vibrate at the core of our being, it remains just a theory.

Choose to be Loved. Choosing to Love is one thing, but choosing to be Loved lets Love land in your core. Feel the distinction and revel in it."

We so often speak of and focus on learning to Love others. I am learning that Love begins with self love. Jesus said "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark 12:31) and called it one of the two greatest commandments, right after loving God. I've been thinking about that a lot, and to me it means that as we expand our ability for self compassion and love, we also expand our ability to love others. 

I quote from our Restorative Partner Yoga manual: 

"In one tradition, monks used this practice as a basis that blended with the four divine states of Buddhism: Metta (loving kindness), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (sympathetic joy), Uppekha (non-prejudice). RPY is an opportunity for literal expression of these Divine states of awareness for both the giver and receiver. "

I see Restorative Partner Yoga as a beautiful form of love in action. This is easy to see when you are the giver. As the receiver you get to practice what Dr Morter talks about above: letting Love land in your core...feeling it and reveling in it! Absolutely yummy! Which has expanded my container and ability for self compassion and love, which hopefull will increase my ability to love and have compassion for all other beings. 

There is a beautiful Sanskrit Chant I love: 

"Loka Samastaa Sukhino Bhavantu"
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti"

It means: May all beings in all dimensions and time be happy and free, PEACE, PEACE, PEACE. 

My intent is that my thoughts, words and actions will contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.

Thank you Syl and Bodhi Yoga, for all you continue to teach me. Namaste. 

Sense Energy Lines

10-Sense Energy Lines

"While the Marma Point work is very visceral, and rooted in the physical body, the Sip Sen not only run along lymphatic, vein and arterial capillaries, but also run through the more etherial aspects of body and mind."

Threading and strumming the Sen lines warms the Prana (energy, life force), like warming honey so it will liquify and flow" Restorative Partner Yoga Manual-BodhiYoga

If we think of Marma points as pools or lakes of energy, the Sen lines would be the stream and rivers that connect these pools. Just as a lake without fresh water streaming in gets stagnant, free flow through the Sen lines help the Marmas stay vital.

My grandchildren seem to prefer Marma point work. They complain that strumming or threading of the Sen tickles them. It makes sense as I re read the first sentence, because children tend to be very rooted in the physical body. Maybe that is why being around children grounds me.

Interview with Bri

My grandchildren enjoy being interviewed, and I enjoy asking lots of questions to get to know them better. They call me Abi, short for abuela. The following is an interview of my oldest granddaughter, regarding her experience with Restorative Partner Yoga: 

1.  When did you first experience Restorative Partner Yoga?

"In the Spring of 2016, Abi had to practice and did it on us. (I love it)"

2. How do you feel about partner yoga?

"Ahhhhh! So relaxing"

3. What would you say are the best uses for RPY?

"Better sleeping, after a workout/sport, after school. Very useful for kids too, because life is long and stressful, but life is also amazing too"

4.  What parts of RPY do you enjoy most?

"Hands, face, arms, some back"

5.  Is there any part of partner yoga you do not enjoy?

"Sometimes the stretches and when we have to hold forearm to forearm because it hurts my arm"

6.  What would you think about being the giver in partner yoga?

"Sometimes, depending on who I give it to, but I like being the one to receive it more"

Play

I recently read a fascinating article by Joseph Pearce. When he was writing Magical Child, he did much research on the role of "play", but couldn't get a satisfactory understanding of why it was needed. In desperation he turned to God in prayer and asked about play. He tells what happened, "This great bolt of energy hit the soles of my feet and I found myself falling through the whole universe, stars and galaxies and everything else--this incredible, ecstatic joy feeling me. It went on and on and on. In fact I could hear myself calling out, 'God is playing with me!' Finally it began to fade and little by little I came back to my ordinary self. And I wept. I literally wept the rest of the night with this huge, joyful gratitude of what I had been given. It was such an ecstatic experience... I knew one thing: play is the whole purpose of life, it is the message of the heart and as long as we play fully and completely everything will work as it is supposed to". 

Immediately I thought of the scripture "Men are that they might have Joy". I believe my heart and spirit already know this, but there is much for my mind to ponder and learn.

I remember reading somewhere that "if you find something you love, and find a way to get paid for it, you'll never work a day in your life". In other words, your work will be play. 

Play vs Work. Doing RPY with an adult is lovely, but it takes effort, there is work involved. Restorative Partner Yoga with a child is pure PLAY and it is joy. I feel so blessed that this has been my experience.

Restorative Partner Yoga from Bodhi Yoga. 

Love Changes Perception

Don Miguel Ruiz, spiritual teacher, prays for love so we may find God in everything, seeing truth, beauty and creating our life into a masterpiece of art. 

“Today, Creator of the Universe, we ask that you open our heart and open our eyes so we can enjoy all of your creations and live in eternal love with you. Help us to see you in everything we perceive with our eyes, with our ears, with our heart, with all our senses. Let us perceive with eyes of love so that we find you wherever we go and see you in everything you create. Let us see you in every cell of our body, in every emotion of our mind, in every dream, in every flower, in every person we meet. You cannot hide from us because you are everywhere, and we are one with you. Let us be aware of this truth. Let us be aware of our power to create a dream of heaven where everything is possible. Help us to use our imagination to guide the dream of our life, the magic of our creation, so we can live without fear, without anger, without jealousy, without envy. Give us a light to follow, and let today be the day that our search for love and happiness is over. Today let something extraordinary happen that will change our life forever: Let everything we do and say be an expression of the beauty in our heart, always based on love. Help us to be the way you are, to love the way you love, to share the way you share, to create a masterpiece of beauty and love, the same way that all of your creations are masterpieces of beauty and love. Beginning today and gradually overtime, help us to increase the power of our love so that we may create a masterpiece of art - our own life. Today, Creator, we give you all of our gratitude and love because you have given us Life. Amen.” 
― Miguel Ruiz, The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship --Toltec Wisdom Book

In his book The Four Agreements, he suggests the following meditation to increase our awareness of love:

Restorative Partner Yoga is a physical infusion of love from the giver, by tending to the body. And also self love, as we make the space and time to receive it.  

So grateful for all I have learned from Syl Carson at Bodhi Yoga. 

Just Hands

We were at my 3 year old granddaughter's dance recital. She was adorable in her little costume and so excited for it to begin! 

Meanwhile, her older sister was not quite so happy. Things had not gone as she expected that day, and there were quite a few things "stressing her out". She was getting more and more upset by the minute, as she contemplated the passing of time, and how much homework she had to get done that day. I'm referring to one of the granddaughters who loves restorative partner yoga. 

I knew she was not in the frame of mind for being reminded to relax, or calm down, but I decided to take a chance and ask her if I could work on her hands. She hesitated a moment, ready to say no, but reluctantly allowed me to take her hand. I rubbed and patted Marma points, followed her Sen lines.

The recital began and I continued, then began work on the other hand. It was amazing to watch her calm down.  By the end her attitude had changed completely. She was herself again! 

I am so glad I took the chance. So grateful to have this tool available to assist my loved ones. 

A thousand thankyous to Bodhi Yoga!

In the zone

I love this quote from our Bodhi Yoga Restorative Partner Yoga manual:

"When our body, mind and spirit are working well together, our light-body is more activated. During the times this is happening, life seems lighter or easier; we are able to do more with less effort, time flies by, and things just seem to fall into place. We have a greater sense of value, well-being and how we belong in the world, without getting bogged down in the heavier parts of it. People who's light-bodies are more active, are able to effect a greater change in their world, body, mind and soul."

This is how I want to live my life and I see this state of being most readily in children. Yoga, in general, can assist us in  achieving this.

 

Marma Points

Ayurveda includes a type of acupressure that uses "marma points" as pressure or energy points. These points are located throughout the body and some people believe they are related to Chinese acupuncture points.

Our Bodhi Yoga Restorative Parnter Yoga manual explains it this way:

"A marma is a vital life force/energy point located on the surface of the body. Marmas are considered vital because they are infused with Prana (life force)...Within the physical body energy flows along an intricate series of channels called nadis, chakras, etc...the marma points are larger pools from which Prana both collects and springs out. "

There are marma points all over our bodies, from the toes to the top of the head. They are divided into 18 regions.

Palming releases tension and aids circulation.
Rubbing rebalances the Prana and doshas.
Holding soothes and grounds the energy.
Kneading, patting and cupping release buildup of Pranic congestions.

Marma work restores balance to the autonomic nervous system and can release endorphins.

My experience is that children love Marma point work.

More Practicing

At my second weekend of Restorative Parner Yoga at Bodhi, I learned about Sen lines. Every adult I have worked with (including myself) loves Sen line work, so very relaxing and energizing at the same time!

Soon after, I went to visit grandchildren once again, the same ones I had begun my practice sessions with. Once again they were very eager, "do yoga on me, Abi, do yoga on me!" was heard everynight and sometimes throughout the day! They were ok with my slowness, and the fact that I had to keep referring to my chart. They learned the sequence before I did, and would remind me what came next and if I forgot to do any of their favorite parts!

Something that was very interesting to me, the children didn't seem to appreciate the Sen line work as much as they liked Marma points and the various yoga poses and stretches. This is very curious and I will do some study to figure out why that might me.

Practicing Fun

Soon after I began my Restorative Partner Yoga training at Bodhi Yoga, I went to visit my son, daughter in law and their 4 beautiful children. When I told them about what I was studying, the children wanted to receive Restorative Yoga sessions! Their eagerness encouraged me to get going right away on giving practice sessions. I also worked on my son, but nothing compared to working with the children! It was fun, joyful, playful and they immediately had "favorite parts". It made learning the moves and steps much easier. 

Even this very funny 3 yr old clamored  "Abi, do yoga on me"! 

FLOATING

Today I got to go to the beach and float in the ocean, one of my most favorite things to do in the world! As I floated, allowing the water to hold me up and move me gently side to side, I looked up at the sky and realized how completely relaxed I felt. There was no effort required from me, just the willingness to relax and be carried and moved, and receive and be healed. I was transported as I watched the clouds in the sky,  felt the warm sun and the soft waves, listened to the children playing and the birds, smelled the salt and felt complete joy.

Being the receiver in a Restorative Partner Yoga session, feels somewhat like this. Especially at Bodhi Studio.

Restorative Partner Yoga

Practicing with my friend Renae

Restorative Partner Yoga, or Ayurvedic Restorative Marma Point Partner Yoga.  Or something like that. I will figure it out in time. 

This is the next adventure I've decided to pursue at Bodhi Yoga. Not sure why, I'm sure it will become clear at some point during the quest, but for now it is enough that we had an amazing 3.5 days of learning and enlightenment. With an amazing group of women. The first of 3 weekends. There are many, many hours of study and practice to come. I'm excited to learn to deepen my practice and assist others in doing the same. 

After this first workshop I felt physically tired and a bit overwhelmed with all the information. However, I experienced a clarity I had not expected. Some issues that had felt burdensome, became less important and I was able to see things with a new perspective. Participating in Restorative Partner Yoga cleared and balanced my chakras. Thank you, Syl and Bodhi Yoga!

Sahasrara-Crown Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga Website

The Seventh Chakra, Sahasrara or Crown Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It governs your thoughts and beliefs, it is the chakra of enlightenment. The color of this chakra is violet.

From Bodhi Yoga website:

Your Seventh Chakra rules the sealing connection between you to your Divine Source.  There are more neuro-connections in your brain than stars in the universe and more cells in your body, than grains of sand on the planet; so who is bigger? When your “crown chakra”, the top of the head, is healthy, it can witness your Essential Truths in every other center of the body, right down to the cellular level. Issues in the Crown Chakra usually surface to help you learn that it is your attachments that can distract you from what’s most important. When your crown is open, healing occurs at quantum speed; it feels like coming home to the essence of who you really are, with Grace pulsating through you, witnessing to you your Divine paths, realized potential and infinite value.

The shadow of this chakra is attachment. The second of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism says that the origin of suffering is attachment. Connecting with divine essence balances this chakra. Prayer, spiritual practices, fasting, chanting, meditation,

My affirmation for the 7th Chakra:

I am a child of God. 

Mudra for the Crown Chakra

Ajna-Third Eye Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga website

The Sixth Chakra, Ajna, or Third Eye Chakra is located in the center of the brow, slightly above the eyes. It governs our intuition and insight, our understanding of what's going on inside and outside of our beings. The color of this chakra is indigo.

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

This space element chakra is located between the brow center of the forehead, with the pineal gland, developing even before the brain in embryo, often called “the third eye”.  This center is where you learn how to “move mountains” with your inner vision; to create the most abundance with the least amount of effort. This center also governs your inner life cycle clock, triggering puberty, adulthood and eventually the timing of transitioning from your body into Spirit, through a process we call death.  Issues in the Brow Chakra usually surface to help you learn to trust your sixth-sense, and let go of illusions, as you discern the difference between the time being right as apposed to “RIPE”.

Illusions, what an interesting shadow. To balance the sixth chakra, we can use guided imagery, dream journaling, chanting, vision boards, memory games, color therapy, aromatherapy.

My affirmation for the Third Eye chakra:

I am wise. I see. I take in the symbolic meaning of life.

Mudra for the Third Eye Chakra

Visuddha-Throat Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga Website

The Fith Chakra, Visuddha or Throat Chakra, is located in the throat area, mouth and ears. It governs our ability to communicate, express the essential truth of who we are. The color of this chakra is azure blue.

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

A great communicator is someone who can both hear and be heard, as well as understand the “vibe” of any given experience.  This sound element chakra encompasses all the way down to the “vibrational” level of the bright blue color spectrum. Your surroundings also “say” a lot about who you are communicating yourself to be.  When you live in integrity with who you present yourself to be, your presence will have cleansing effect on others. When you enjoy a balanced Throat Chakra you can speak your truths, as well as listen to others truths of who you are to them.  Issues in the Throat Chakra usually surface to help you learn to live more honestly, to purify yourself from the lies or stories you’ve been telling yourself, and let the truth of who you are raise your “good vibrations” to the surface.

In other words, the shadow of this chakra is lies of any kind. We balance this chakra by communicating with others, Living Movement, chanting, listening to others, writing, neck massage, sighing, laughing, and singing!

My affirmation for the throat chakra:

I express myself fully and appropriately. I hear and speak my truth. 

Mudra of the Throat Chakra

Anahata-Heart Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga Website

The fourth Chakra, Anahata or Heart Chakra is located in the heart and extends to our arms and hands. It governs our ability to give and receive love. It is also where physical and spiritual come together, yin-yang, male-female relationships. The color of this chakra is green. 

From the Bodhi Yoga Website: 

The name Anahata means “un-struck sound” referencing the space for potential.  Your heart is the central hub for rhythms beating between your physical and spiritual life. A healthy “Heart Chakra” is where you find “middle ground” or balanced rhythms in your relationships, your surroundings, people, places and things. Issues in your Heart Chakra usually surface to help you learn to embrace all that life has to teach you more wholeheartedly and trade your grieving for an atmosphere of gratitude, respect and love with a capital “L”.

The shadow of this chakra is grief. Some things that help balance this chakra are:  practicing gratitude, forgiveness, heart opening yoga, hugging, rubbing the sternum, massage, laughing with friends. 

My affirmation for the Heart Chakra: 

I am filled with Love. I am a being of Light and Love. 

Or

I embrace all that life has to teach me, wholeheartedly. I am filled with gratitude, compassion and LOVE. 

Mudra of the Heart Chakra

Manipura-Solar Chakra

Image from Bodhi Yoga website

The third Chakra, Manipura or Solar Chakra is located in the upper abdomen, from the navel to the solar plexus, or core of the body. It has to do with our will, personal power, confidence and sense of self.  The color of this chakra is yellow.

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

Your third chakra governs your personal power to transform and empower your life to become the way you would choose.  When you have a healthy Solar Chakra, you are motivated to make great things happen for yourself and others. This fire element chakra... is the hub of the digestive processes, both physically and metaphorically, transforming raw material into empowering energy... things begin to heat up and get you motivated to shine on your potential.   Issues in your Solar Chakra usually arise for you to learn to take a stand, OWN who YOU are, BIG-TIME, and shed the shame in your life that arises from the distorted use of power.

Shame and pride are the shadow of this chakra, very interesting. We ignite our power center with Kapalabhati breathing, Yoga (specifically back bends and core work), walking, empowered action, sunshine, and laughing.

My affirmation for the Solar Chakra:

I accept myself completely. I fullfill my potential. I am..

Mudra for the Solar Chakra

Swadhisthana-Sacral Chakra

Sacral Chakra Image from Bodhi Yoga website

The second chakra, Swadhisthana or Sacral Chakra is located in the lower addomen and it has to do with sexuality, emotions and creativity. It is where we conceive and create, whether a human body or a blog post (well, not fully a blogpost, since this is mainly instinctual creativity and there's nothing instinctual about bloging...at least for me). The color of this chakra is orange.

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

When you have a healthy “Sacral Chakra”, you naturally enjoy life’s ebb and flow, and have a strong instinct for fun.  This water element chakra holds your instinctual emotions of creativity, movement and playfulness... The vibrational range of orange on the color spectrum, things begin to move in relation to others in your circle.   Issues in your Sacral Chakra usually arise for you to learn to play a more healthy balance between expression and repression of your emotions, sexuality and instinctual creativity, which can flow more easily when you let go of  those over doses of guilt in your life.

So guilt is the shadow, and we nourish the Sacral Chakra by recognizing and expressing our emotions, moving our bodies freely, sensual pleasures and creativity.

Here's my affirmation for the Sacral chakra:

My Life is a pleasure and delight, filled with fun and creativity! 

Mudra for the Sacral Chakra

Muladhara-Root Chakra

Root Chakra image from Bodhi Yoga 

The first Chakra, Muladhara or Root Chakra is found at the base of the spine, perineum, legs and feet.  It is the foundation or root of all the other chakras. It has to do with instinct, security, survival and potential. Red is the color for this chakra. 

From the Bodhi Yoga website:

Your first Chakra governs all beginnings in the physical world, including your money, health, family and survival issues.  When you have a healthy “Root Chakra”, you are grounded in all the goodness of mortality... It is considered the “sleeping place” of Kundalini Shakti—the awakening manifestation we call “Mother Nature”. Your Root holds all your potential in the raw.  

Fear is the shadow of the Root Chakra. How safe and secure do you feel? Do you take care of your basic needs? 

We can nourish our root chakra by attending to our basic physical needs, nourishing and nurturing ourselves. 

I pieced together this affirmation (most of it from the Bodhi Yoga Chakra Deck) for myself: 

"I attend to my body mind and spirit everyday. I rely on God to provide physical support and safety. I manifest blessings into my life continually. All that I need now is here" 

This is the mudra for the Root Chakra

The Chakras

I enjoy learning different languages. I speak English and Spanish fluently and understand a couple of other languages.  I believe languages assist us in understanding the world, they give us a frame of reference, allow us to perceive things in more ways than one, and understand things on different levels and from various perspectives. And it's not just speaking languages, there's computer languages, and the language of art, food, dance, etc, etc. 

I have been studying Chakras with Syl Carson at Bodhi Yoga, and it has been like learning a new language. It has given me a new way of understanding and explaining my experience on this earth. 

Chakra Yoga Therapy with Syl Carson

Chakra means "wheel", or circle. It refers to energy centers in the body. There are many centers of energy, with 7 main chakras. I will write a little about each one.