The word trataka means a steady gaze. The yogic practice withdraws the senses from the external environment to the internal space within. It clears the mental space and uses an external flame to trigger the vision of the internal flame. Trataka is a soothing and comforting yoga meditation. Cancer patients and people with chronic illnesses... Continue Reading →
Yoga Nidra: Roles Played (5/7)
This is the fourth meditation in our series. We first became familiar with the process of witnessing. Then we began to look objectively at the programming and conditioning of the mind. The third meditation was about discarding negative conditioning and connecting with an inner source of strength. This fourth meditation is about looking at various... Continue Reading →
Yoga Nidra: Up to the Summit (4/7)
A mountain is a universal, spiritual symbol, just like light. It implies many aspects of existence. Temples, churches and mosques have mountain or hill-shaped domes and steeples. Ancient Egyptian pyramids, Aztec and Mayan temples, mimic mountains. Sometimes the entire structure is built like a mountain as in Egyptian pyramids as well as Mayan and Aztec... Continue Reading →
Yoga Nidra: Who Am “I”? (3/7)
This meditation reveals the perpetual and consequential programming, the conditioning process, of the mind that began at birth. Think of the body and mind as hardware and software that are constantly growing and being shaped and formed by everything the body-mind is exposed to. This body-mind complex absorbs, processes, and stores everything to create our... Continue Reading →
Yoga Nidra: Being a Witness (2/7)
In this practice, we will learn to be a witness, a neutral spectator, without actively participating in the physical breathing or mental processes. Simply being in the present moment, observing, has a significant effect in calming the body, mind, and emotions. You will feel it in this practice. Table of Contents Introduction Being a Witness... Continue Reading →
Yoga Nidra: Introduction (1/7)
Yoga Nidras are practices with directed awareness that prevent the mind from wandering into day dreams. Instead of losing ourselves in thoughts, the point of meditation is to be an objective observer of the mind and body. Understanding, clarity, wisdom come from deep observation with directed, focused awareness. The first four meditations are Yoga Nidras... Continue Reading →
Samavritti Pranayama (9/9)
Samavritti means equal or uniform movement. In this breathing the flows of inhaled and exhaled breaths are of equal duration and intensity. The breathing is paced, but it is paced to your own comfort and not to a given count--usually four to six seconds. As the breath is observed with uninterrupted awareness over an extended... Continue Reading →
Full Yogic Breath (8/9)
An energizing and soothing practice, full yogic breath is a basic core breath. It flushes out the entire respiratory system. The breath becomes deeper, more relaxed, and more efficient. The muscles of the belly, midriff, and chest are gently engaged. The breath is experienced in different parts of the torso. A gentle expansion of the... Continue Reading →
Belly Breath (7/9)
A deeply relaxing practice, the belly breath is one of the first breaths taught in yoga. Also known as abdominal breath, it is a simple and effective way to slow down the breath and mental activity. Awareness is shifted from the mind to the belly. The belly is a space of stillness, a vast ocean... Continue Reading →
Mahasri Yoga 