The Mantra
"Just by repeating the Name,
that which cannot be understood
will be understood
Just by repeating the Name,
that which cannot be seen
will be seen " -Janeshwar Maharaj
Mantra is sound, and sound is reverberating everywhere in the universe. When water flows it makes a gurgling sound. That is mantra. When the wind blows though the trees and makes a rustling sound, this is mantra. When we walk upon the earth, our footsteps produce a sound, this is also mantra. Within human beings as well, there is a self-born, indestructible sound which repeats itself constantly, along with our breathing.
Sound has enormous power; it can create an entire universe. In the Upanishads it says that "In the beginning there was sound, which reverberated as Om, and from that sound everything came into existence." In the chapter of Genesis in the Bible it states, "In the Beginning was the Word..."
This sound underlies all matter and is the substratum of everything. Just as it pulsates within all the objects of the universe, it also pulsates within us. That inner pulsation, which we can discover throbbing at the root of the mind, is the true mantra, and is in fact nothing but Kundalini, the divine energy.. From that inner pulsation, through the Matrika Shakti, infinite sound, letters and syllables arise, which give rise to inner and outer worlds" -excerpted from Swami Muktananda's book Where Are You Going?
Wed at 12 and Thursday eve at 8pm
Thursday classes will be held as flow of
pranayama, asana, and contemplation
at PRANA MANDIR Yoga Studio
4 West 43rd Street - Suite 501 - NY, NY 10036
(Between 5th and 6th Avenues)
212.803.5446 www.pranamandir.com
Love, Light, and Sound
Marianne
December 17, 2009
December 3, 2009
Blog from Marianne—please take her class on Weds at 12 and Thurs at 8!
In our asana practice we see the importance of posture and counter-posture to maintain balance, equanimity, and harmony. However, this morning I was contemplating something that I'd like to share with you...
I realized that at times my world appears absolutely
upside down and backwards!!! What do I mean by this? In one moment I was completely aware of a beautiful vision of my world and the grace that has been bestowed upon my life.. and in another moment, that which seemed so beautiful and grace filled could be swept away in a flurry of thoughts which was let's say...far from this reality. It appeared that the structures that seemingly allowed one to function or survive were almost in direct opposition or backwards from that which I thought of as grace-filled and beautiful! I then asked the question to myself...Where is my Alignment? and not just in a physical asana...but in Life? (it is the same you know)
The order in which we may perceive this world may not appear as Sat or Truth. We may look into our lives, the lives of others, politics, our daily survival at times we may experience pain and disillusion. Other times our lives may be an abode of pure Joy. This gave me another insight into the practice of inversions. Though practicing inversions, not only do we experience the direct physical benefits of the opposite direction of blood flow, we also shake up our habitual physical viewpoint of our world!. Here we are literally standing "upside down and backwards" Our center of perception is completely transformed for the length of time we our breathing in our inversion. We are literally "short circuiting" a pattern of perception.
So then this contemplation brings us to the next question..
What is the true vision ? AhhHa!
I ask you to explore this idea...if you feel inspired write it down and/or send me your comments. I'd love to hear from you! I would like to begin to build our own yoga journal /blog together.
I realized that at times my world appears absolutely
upside down and backwards!!! What do I mean by this? In one moment I was completely aware of a beautiful vision of my world and the grace that has been bestowed upon my life.. and in another moment, that which seemed so beautiful and grace filled could be swept away in a flurry of thoughts which was let's say...far from this reality. It appeared that the structures that seemingly allowed one to function or survive were almost in direct opposition or backwards from that which I thought of as grace-filled and beautiful! I then asked the question to myself...Where is my Alignment? and not just in a physical asana...but in Life? (it is the same you know)
The order in which we may perceive this world may not appear as Sat or Truth. We may look into our lives, the lives of others, politics, our daily survival at times we may experience pain and disillusion. Other times our lives may be an abode of pure Joy. This gave me another insight into the practice of inversions. Though practicing inversions, not only do we experience the direct physical benefits of the opposite direction of blood flow, we also shake up our habitual physical viewpoint of our world!. Here we are literally standing "upside down and backwards" Our center of perception is completely transformed for the length of time we our breathing in our inversion. We are literally "short circuiting" a pattern of perception.
So then this contemplation brings us to the next question..
What is the true vision ? AhhHa!
I ask you to explore this idea...if you feel inspired write it down and/or send me your comments. I'd love to hear from you! I would like to begin to build our own yoga journal /blog together.
November 20, 2009
11.13.09 Satsang on Chinese Medicine
Satsang with Julie Willimott
Julie Willimott practices Chinese medicine in Idaho and was at Prana Mandir for the week to give workshops on Chinese medicine for the Agni teacher training. She also dropped by for Satsang to give a Q&A on Friday night.
Chinese medicine treats the individual rather than the disease/illness. Lea made the point that Western doctors tend to take pulses with a stethoscope these days whereas Ayurvedic doctors listen to pulse and give readings based on the soul body, the pranic body, the emotional body, etc.
Julie has been practicing Chinese medicine in Idaho for seven years. She got her four years masters in Oregon and did a postgraduate in China. These days she tends to treat stiff cowboys. The consultations last 2 – 2 1/2 hours and she gets her readings of the patient based on their tongue, looking at the color coat and texture. She likes to educate her patients as they go along. As people get better they can self-monitor. She likes to give her patients homework and they have to be interactive and adjust their lifestyle.
How did she get cowboys to come to her practice?
She started out by treating her family members (who are still in Idaho) in her grandmother’s vibrantly pink living room. Her first patient was her grandfather who was blind but he understood the idea of chi and living in balance. After that the floodgates opened and Julie pointed out that Chinese medicine was originally designed to treat the rural farmer in China so it’s perfect for her mostly farm hand patients in the Midwest.
To build her practice she had to give away a lot for free at first. She advocates letting seniors and students pay what they can but also a barter system is extremely helpful. She has been paid with organic chickens and firewood. She also pointed out that the hospitals in Idaho are horrific and the community is distrustful of the healthcare system so are grateful to have an alternative.
Someone asked what she recommended to help balance the body in the winter season. She replied that it’s time to heal and replenish the kidneys. At this time of year we need to hibernate more and rest a lot. We also need to eat seasonally—lots of apples and pears, soups and stews. Now is not the time to eat cold and to also add sea salt to the diet because kidneys want salt. She also urged us, even though it’s holiday time, to try and do the best we can and not go overboard with eating and running around during the holiday season. Chinese medicine is about prevention rather than treating an ailment once it’s become something serious. Illness is manageable and it’s often just an imbalance.
Local is better, she said, but don’t freak out if you’re eating a pineapple in February because freaking out and getting uptight about food is an imbalance, too. If you’re going to have a brownie really take the time to enjoy it. Avoid processed foods, colorings and especially, artificial sweeteners. Keep the food as natural and boring as possible.
Dairy food is considered phlegm. Rice is a balanced food and is quinoa and it’s easy to make. She noted that eating locally in Idaho is not an issue. In fact, Costco is a 35-mile drive away so it’s easier to go local. She advised us to eat food that looks like food and to address things seasonally.
Fennel, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg are great teas at this time of year. She also advised cleaning out the fridge so nothing goes to waste and making big stews. If you do eat meat make sure it’s grass fed and organic. Try not to digest food from animals whose energy would have been unhappy. Any kind of food you get, try to get the best there is e.g. organic, fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate.
In terms of reading the tongue, she said looks at the color, the coat, the shape and evenness. The tongue should be clear, round, moist with no puffiness or swelling.
She advised we check out acupuncture student clinics in New York and specifically suggested the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-clinic/new-york.html.
To get in touch with Julie, her email is snakeriveracupuncture@yahoo.com.
—Marie Carter
Julie Willimott practices Chinese medicine in Idaho and was at Prana Mandir for the week to give workshops on Chinese medicine for the Agni teacher training. She also dropped by for Satsang to give a Q&A on Friday night.
Chinese medicine treats the individual rather than the disease/illness. Lea made the point that Western doctors tend to take pulses with a stethoscope these days whereas Ayurvedic doctors listen to pulse and give readings based on the soul body, the pranic body, the emotional body, etc.
Julie has been practicing Chinese medicine in Idaho for seven years. She got her four years masters in Oregon and did a postgraduate in China. These days she tends to treat stiff cowboys. The consultations last 2 – 2 1/2 hours and she gets her readings of the patient based on their tongue, looking at the color coat and texture. She likes to educate her patients as they go along. As people get better they can self-monitor. She likes to give her patients homework and they have to be interactive and adjust their lifestyle.
How did she get cowboys to come to her practice?
She started out by treating her family members (who are still in Idaho) in her grandmother’s vibrantly pink living room. Her first patient was her grandfather who was blind but he understood the idea of chi and living in balance. After that the floodgates opened and Julie pointed out that Chinese medicine was originally designed to treat the rural farmer in China so it’s perfect for her mostly farm hand patients in the Midwest.
To build her practice she had to give away a lot for free at first. She advocates letting seniors and students pay what they can but also a barter system is extremely helpful. She has been paid with organic chickens and firewood. She also pointed out that the hospitals in Idaho are horrific and the community is distrustful of the healthcare system so are grateful to have an alternative.
Someone asked what she recommended to help balance the body in the winter season. She replied that it’s time to heal and replenish the kidneys. At this time of year we need to hibernate more and rest a lot. We also need to eat seasonally—lots of apples and pears, soups and stews. Now is not the time to eat cold and to also add sea salt to the diet because kidneys want salt. She also urged us, even though it’s holiday time, to try and do the best we can and not go overboard with eating and running around during the holiday season. Chinese medicine is about prevention rather than treating an ailment once it’s become something serious. Illness is manageable and it’s often just an imbalance.
Local is better, she said, but don’t freak out if you’re eating a pineapple in February because freaking out and getting uptight about food is an imbalance, too. If you’re going to have a brownie really take the time to enjoy it. Avoid processed foods, colorings and especially, artificial sweeteners. Keep the food as natural and boring as possible.
Dairy food is considered phlegm. Rice is a balanced food and is quinoa and it’s easy to make. She noted that eating locally in Idaho is not an issue. In fact, Costco is a 35-mile drive away so it’s easier to go local. She advised us to eat food that looks like food and to address things seasonally.
Fennel, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg are great teas at this time of year. She also advised cleaning out the fridge so nothing goes to waste and making big stews. If you do eat meat make sure it’s grass fed and organic. Try not to digest food from animals whose energy would have been unhappy. Any kind of food you get, try to get the best there is e.g. organic, fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate.
In terms of reading the tongue, she said looks at the color, the coat, the shape and evenness. The tongue should be clear, round, moist with no puffiness or swelling.
She advised we check out acupuncture student clinics in New York and specifically suggested the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-clinic/new-york.html.
To get in touch with Julie, her email is snakeriveracupuncture@yahoo.com.
—Marie Carter
November 9, 2009
Wednesday at 12/Thursday at 8 PM
Thoughts from Marianne...
The world is how you see it. By your thoughts you create and determine all actions
"From the eye, seeing.
From seeing, thinking.
From thinking, reflection
The fruit of reflection
is the food of the mind.
Muktananda, care for your eye"
--Mukteshwari, Swami Muktananda
What world has your attitude created?
Wed at 12
Thursday at 8pm
Thursday classes will be held as a beautiful flowering flow of
pranayama, vinyasa, and contemplation
at PRANA MANDIR Yoga Studio
4 West 43rd Street - Suite 501 - NY, NY 10036
(Between 5th and 6th Avenues)
212.803.5446 www.pranamandir.com
Love, Light and Sound
Marianne
The world is how you see it. By your thoughts you create and determine all actions
"From the eye, seeing.
From seeing, thinking.
From thinking, reflection
The fruit of reflection
is the food of the mind.
Muktananda, care for your eye"
--Mukteshwari, Swami Muktananda
What world has your attitude created?
Wed at 12
Thursday at 8pm
Thursday classes will be held as a beautiful flowering flow of
pranayama, vinyasa, and contemplation
at PRANA MANDIR Yoga Studio
4 West 43rd Street - Suite 501 - NY, NY 10036
(Between 5th and 6th Avenues)
212.803.5446 www.pranamandir.com
Love, Light and Sound
Marianne
Kundalini Yoga 10.30.09
When I arrived in class on Friday, a beautiful mantra sung by Snatam Kaur was playing, “Aadays Tisai Adays / Aad aneel anaad anaahat, jug jug ayko vays” which translates as “I salute Thee, the Primal One, pure in the beginning, through all time, through all ages—the one.” It comes from Snatam’s album, “Meditations for Transformation” and is also aline in the famed Kundalini text, Jap Ji.
Lea began with announcements. There will be a one hour meditation every Friday after Kundalini and it’s by donation. Lea is also bringing her handmade malas for sale next week and Bhagavan Das is coming in January to have kirtan in the main hall downstairs.
Lea talked a bit about “shakti” before beginning the navel point kriya or nabhi kriya. Shakti is a feminine power, a wonderful, expressive energy that goes on ceaselessly expressing herself. It can’t be suppressed but it can be shaped and directed.
We warmed up with juicy hip circles and Sun Salutations.
The first pose was Janu Sirsasana on the left and right with breath of fire followed by a 2 minute Savasana.
Then we lifted our legs to 90 degrees and kicked our buttocks. There were two breath options: either breath of fire or inhale lift, exhale kick.
There was brief rest before moving onto leg pistons, exhaling sharply as the legs extended out.
Plank pose was held for several minutes with the most intense variation being tops of feet on floor and coming onto the fingertips with of course a breath of fire.
Stretch pose was then held for a couple of minutes before coming into Sukhasana holding the arms out wide then slowly pulling the fists into the chest. Finally we folded forward in Sukhasana, third eye to the floor.
Then Savasana.
To reinvigorate everyone for the meditation, Lea had us rock from plough pose to Pascimottanasana then eventually rocking from plough pose to standing.
In the seated meditation we were instructed to have our right hand face the heavens while our left hand faced the floor with elbows bent. We chanted “Aad such, jugaad such, haibhee such, naanak hosee bhee such” which translates as “True in the beginning, true throughout the ages, true at this moment, Nanaak says this Truth shall ever be.”
—Marie Carter
Lea began with announcements. There will be a one hour meditation every Friday after Kundalini and it’s by donation. Lea is also bringing her handmade malas for sale next week and Bhagavan Das is coming in January to have kirtan in the main hall downstairs.
Lea talked a bit about “shakti” before beginning the navel point kriya or nabhi kriya. Shakti is a feminine power, a wonderful, expressive energy that goes on ceaselessly expressing herself. It can’t be suppressed but it can be shaped and directed.
We warmed up with juicy hip circles and Sun Salutations.
The first pose was Janu Sirsasana on the left and right with breath of fire followed by a 2 minute Savasana.
Then we lifted our legs to 90 degrees and kicked our buttocks. There were two breath options: either breath of fire or inhale lift, exhale kick.
There was brief rest before moving onto leg pistons, exhaling sharply as the legs extended out.
Plank pose was held for several minutes with the most intense variation being tops of feet on floor and coming onto the fingertips with of course a breath of fire.
Stretch pose was then held for a couple of minutes before coming into Sukhasana holding the arms out wide then slowly pulling the fists into the chest. Finally we folded forward in Sukhasana, third eye to the floor.
Then Savasana.
To reinvigorate everyone for the meditation, Lea had us rock from plough pose to Pascimottanasana then eventually rocking from plough pose to standing.
In the seated meditation we were instructed to have our right hand face the heavens while our left hand faced the floor with elbows bent. We chanted “Aad such, jugaad such, haibhee such, naanak hosee bhee such” which translates as “True in the beginning, true throughout the ages, true at this moment, Nanaak says this Truth shall ever be.”
—Marie Carter
Partner Yoga/Flight 10/25/09
One of the beauties of practicing at Prana Mandir is the variety of classes one can attend and how some of these styles of yoga can intersect with one another. For example, this Sunday Lea combined elements of Kundalini yoga with partner yoga. Starting the class with chanting “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo” we did a partnered twist with breath of fire. A couple who were new to yoga visited this week and were able to learn a lot of the poses very quickly with a lot of attention. The class is really for all levels and you don’t have to come as a pair. This is also a great class to learn assists (especially if you’re a yoga teacher). We were learning how to properly adjust and assist a seated twist. In this case we were placing our hands on the front of our partner’s shoulder and from the lower side ribs. Lea observed it was better to move the person on their exhale and also to move the hands in toward our partner’s midline rather than turning them. Cobra is assisted by lifting the person first by their wrists, then trying to lift them from their upper arms. If your partner is flexible then you can lift them from the fronts of their shoulders. Down Dog was assisted by placing our hands on the partner’s upper thighs and pulling them back and not rotating their thighs inward or outward but up.
Fifteen minutes at the end were left for basing and flying. We did some very simple Superman’s since there were people new to flying.
The assisted Savasana involved taking hold of our partners’ ankles, lifting their legs then gently rocking them side-to-side.
—Marie Carter
Fifteen minutes at the end were left for basing and flying. We did some very simple Superman’s since there were people new to flying.
The assisted Savasana involved taking hold of our partners’ ankles, lifting their legs then gently rocking them side-to-side.
—Marie Carter
October 21, 2009
Review of RELAX AND RENEW
You may have noticed the mini store at the back of Prana Mandir studio with all kinds of Ayurveda goodies: teas, copper tongue scrapers and creams. We also have prayer shawls, messenger bags, jewelry and books. Frequently Lea has recommended the book Relax and Renew by Gururattan Kaur Khalsa, Ph.D. and Ann Marie Maxwell which is a terrific introduction to Kundalini and the yoga sets and meditations. Not only does the book give you the basic outlines of the kundalini practice such as tuning in with “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo,” it gives you warm-up exercises, how to conclude a set, wake up series and a 15 minute morning set in case you’re short on time in the morning. Even if you’re an “advanced” practitioner of kundalini yoga there are many wonderful sets included in here such as “Skull & Pelvic Bone Adjustment,” “Short Kriya to See Inner Beauty,” “Anger Set,” “Liver Set” including the dates each Kriya was taught. The book is also peppered with beautiful Yogi Bhajan quotes for example, “God consciousness is the freedom that you get from getting out of your fear complex. When your fear complex leaves you, you are God.” Or, “If you are not beautiful and graceful, there is nothing beautiful or graceful. There is a truth, for you are the universe and the universe is you.”
In addition there are detailed diagrams of the digestive system, spinal nerves, eye muscles and acupressure points. The book pretty much has everything. What to cook, food combinations, mudras, the bandhas, pranayama, further reading. For $25 you really get your money’s worth.
The book was published in December 1988 and is fun for its old type-written font and photocopied line drawings.
—Marie Carter
September 23, 2009
Partner Yoga/Flight on Sundays
Partner Yoga & Flight! Class on Sunday 11 AM – 1 PM
Some of you may have wondered what goes on in our partner yoga/flight class on Sundays. The first thing to know is you don’t need a partner to join in the fun or have experience with this kind of yoga. A willingness to have fun and work with others however is a prerequisite.
The teacher, Lea Kraemer, has a modern dance background and danced for Peter Pucci in the early 90's who comes from the Pilobolus tradition. And, she says, “for any modern dance companies that utilized my ability to lift and be lifted in almost any situation!” This week we looked at ways of moving each other and how to take another person’s weight, for example one person would stand in Tadasana while another person stood behind them shifting their ribs from side to side eventually helping their trunk move in a full circular rotation. We also worked on Marichyasana III aiding each other into deeper twists.
This class always involves the element of flight. Last Sunday we explored in partners and using each others’ weight rocking back into Plough pose and coming into a Squat then rocking backwards again and then coming into a flight position and fast as possible. In the flight position, the base is the floor with legs at a 90 degree angle supporting their partners’ weight by the hips. As one student observed partner yoga can stretch out the body and especially the spine in a way regular yoga never could. In addition we learned how to properly assist each other in Child’s pose and Downward Dog.
We hope to see you there some weekend.
—Marie Carter
September 10, 2009
The Bhagavad Gita: A Workshop
Save the Date!
Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27, 9:30 – 5:00
Please join Dr. Marcel Ringawa and Sujata Ringawa for a day of teachings on The Bhagavad Gita.
What is The Bhagavad Gita? The Bhagavad Gita translates as “Song of the Blessed One.” It is a beloved ancient text and was part of the Indian epic The Mahabharata. The story takes place on the battlefield of Kuru. Just before he is about to fight with the Pandavas against the Kauravas, the warrior Arjuna has a breakdown and it is up to his charioteer Krishna to persuade him to live his dharma and move forward with the fight. This beautiful and richly-layered poem can be read as a metaphor for the battle with the ego. Krishna offers Arjuna a philosophical perspective on how to live. Here are some lines from the Bhagavad Gita (translation by Stephen Mitchell):
2:47 You have a right to your actions,
but never to your actions’ fruits.
Act for the action’s sake.
And do not be attached to inaction.
Please take action and join us for this wonderful workshop. It will be a daylong teaching on the text. Dr. Marcel Ringawa and Sujata Ringawa are co-founders of Yoga Lifeworks www.yogalifeworks.com and will bring their humor, curiosity and excitement to the day.
$240 if you pre-register
$280 at the door
December 3, 2008
A Really Neat Gift Idea!
Hey all! Tis the season and this year instead of the usual gifts that often go forgotten just days later, why not consider sponsoring a cat or dog through the NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE?
~Prana Mandir
https://secure.ga4.org/01/sponsor_dog
~Prana Mandir
By sponsoring a cat you'll see some of the cats in our care who will probably never be adopted. Cats who desperately need someone like you to sponsor them. In addition to helping a cat that has been let down by humans, your sponsorship will also help other animals in need.
Some will be new arrivals requiring urgent veterinary attention, while others might be older animals needing a major operation, and still others who have problems socializing with people. You could make the difference right now by sponsoring a cat!
https://secure.ga4.org/01/sponsor_catBy sponsoring a dog you'll see some of the dogs in our care who will probably never be adopted. Dogs who desperately need someone like you to sponsor them. In addition to helping a dog that has been let down by humans, your sponsorship will also help other animals in need.
Some will be new arrivals requiring urgent veterinary attention, while others might be older animals needing a major operation, and still others who have problems socializing with people. You could make the difference right now by sponsoring a dog!
https://secure.ga4.org/01/sponsor_dog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
