To Be Pure, To Be Clean.

In the Sanskrit language there is a the word, Sauca; {sow.cha} meaning, to be pure, to be clean The Bible mentions Jesus washing feet and receiving a foot wash as not only a nightly ritual, but an act of loving service. Showers, baths, brushing teeth, steam rooms, Hydocolonics, cleansing diets, these are the cleansing rituals of our modern culture. Cleaning our selves is part of being a living being because everyday,we get dirty. In Yoga teachings, we learn that being clean is part of the Yogic path. It is just as revered as breathing and the Asanas (Yoga Postures), or study of scriptures. What gets us dirty is a lot. First there is the environment. Walking to the bank this morning 5-6 people blew cigarette smoke in my face, 2 trucks released big bouts of engine smoke in my path, and I walked by a car with a gas leak that was creating some major smell pollution. These experiences have an effect on the health of our bodies.
We also have the pollution of what we put in our own bodies. Our food choices, non organic foods, packaged foods full of preservatives, meats with hormones and the outcome of miserable, suffering animals, alcohol, pills, chemical sweeteners, the list could go on and on. Not even to mention the harmful chemicals in beauty products and household cleaning products and laundry detergents. Then there is the deeper layer of dirt. The emotional stuff. The anger, fear, hate, sorrow, loneliness. These emotions can be cleaned out too. We don't have to carry them around, nor the other poisons.

There are ways, practices and techniques to rid ourselves of these impurities. In light of my upcoming Detox Yoga Workshop on August 22nd at COIL, I will be writing about the reasons and solutions for these cleansings and fresh starts for our bodies and souls.

If you have any information to share, or questions to ask, please share them here on Blogger, or email me at: sarahbadorineyoga@gmail.com For now, lets take a cleansing breath, long and slow in the nose, push from your belly, out the mouth. Now that is a good start.

Meditation, this Station, Feel the Vibration

"Meditation allows you to carve out a relationship with the inner presence that is the deepest part of yourself. Eventually, you find that you can rest in that presence through the storms of life and so that everything you do comes from the awareness of who you are." ~Sally Kepmton Multi-tasking, scatter brained, anxious, lots of energy, restless. This would be a good description of me before I started making Yoga and meditation a part of my life. I would even get panic attacks and have a hard time sleeping. The meditation practice, I always thought, would come after I had being doing Yoga for a while, when I was ready. But what I learned was that if one is focused in a Yoga practice, they are also practicing meditation; the beginning of it. It starts out as a natural high, where your sense of reality is a bit altered, and you feel as though you are hovering over the floor. My thought is that it is this feeling that Sages refer to as "levitating." My husband says it is human nature for us to want to alter our state of mind, showing an explanation for the high volume use of drugs, pills and alcohol in this world. Maybe our archaic desire stems from our brains wanting to go to that place meditation takes you. I think our minds crave it, but we don't always know how to feed that, so we grab what is easy. Meditation and Yoga are not activities I would call "easy." They do get easier in time, but I think it is also human nature to seek challenges and want to grow and change. This is not true for everyone, but that is a whole other topic that I may go into another time. But what I am trying to say is that when it does get "easier" most students seek a new challenge or learn something new to try and master. I feel that if something comes easily, it most likely isn't worth too much. Think about if you have ever wanted something really badly, but you couldn't afford it. Maybe you worked extra, went with out other stuff, saved and saved, and then you were able to buy it for yourself. To me that is a much bigger reward than if someone were to just buy it for you. You know what I am saying? One of the main reasons Yoga and meditation are so divine, amazing, powerful, life changing, is because it come with challenges that you learn to overcome. Getting to that magical place in meditation when not one single thought enters your mind, you are sitting in peace; in the space you created in and around you that is out of this world. To me, is a time of sitting right in the lap of God. What an amazing moment to experience. If you have ever thought about trying meditation blended with Yoga, there is an opportunity coming tomorrow night! At COIL Yoga Studio in Fresno, Ca July 23rd 6:45-8:45 www.coilyoga.com I hope you will come and try it out. You will be welcomed with love and gentle guiding. "Whether you are a Christian, a Buddhist, a Hindu, whether you belong to some other religion or to none at all, the source of meditation is always of a spiritual nature." ~Indra Devi

Yoga Pose of the Day -Child's Pose

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Sometimes the racket in my head is too much to handle. Last night I had a lot on my mind before bed and I felt restless. In moments like this, I take refuge in one of my favorite Yoga postures, Child's Pose.

This is a simple pose that you can try at home.
Why would one want to try it? Because just coming into this pose can free you from bothersome aspects of everyday life. For instance, taking deep breaths in Child's Pose for just 5 min. Can:

• stretch your hips, thighs, and ankles while lengthening the spine
  
• calm the brain and helps relieve stress and fatigue
• help relieve back and neck pain
  
• comfort you when feeling overwhelmed
  
• lower your blood pressure
• help get rid of a head-ache
• free you from menstrual pain across the low back
  

To get into Child's Pose, sit on the floor (or your bed) on your shins and tops of your feet, inhale, and as you exhale, reach your hands in front of you and rest your head on the ground.
Take slow, deep breaths, and focus your mind on that breath.

Try it and let me know how you feel, or if you have any questions.

A New York Yoga Experience

Maybe it was the challenge involved of getting through crowds, and dodging cabs to actually get to the yoga school. Maybe it was the heat and humidity of New York City, maybe it was the asanas, but my first class at Jivamukti Yoga School was the most challenging of my life thus far.

It was indeed intense. The teacher was a french man named Eddie, who studied directly under David Life. He has a good energy about him, and I felt I could trust his teachings and liked him right away.

The class started with Sanskrit chanting, which Eddie led with an accordion, a new experience for me, but what I gathered is standard for a Jivamukti class. This was followed by quick moving asanas, much quicker than I am used to, as a warm up. Then he began to go slower, holding the poses for ten breaths each. He covered everything from inversions so back bends. His adjustments were deliberate, yet gentle, taking me to such a deep place in the poses, I can barley explain with words. Trikonasana, or Triangle Pose is one of my more challenging poses, the adjustment he gave me there allowed me to feel light and bright in it.

The amount of sweat that poured out of me made the sweat of a Bikram Class seem like a mere glisten. I licked the salty drips off my lips, feeling clean and renewed on more than a physical level.

During meditation at the closing of class, the sound of honking and rushing of traffic coming from outside became a white noise. I sat, seeming to float over my mat, completely calm, yet totally exhilarated.

When I left I was still floating. In a daze I stepping out into the thick summer air and pulsing energy of the city. Quite a shift from the quite, cool School.

The first sound my ears absorbed was a woman shouting in anger to another woman,

“Do you want to get socked in the cunt?!” Wow, where am I? What is happening? I thought.

Here I was leaving this Holy, sacred place in the midst of the world as it can be, both mindful and unaware, beautiful and ugly, scary and safe.

I am still shaking and completely lifted, laughing and crying as I go over the experience with my husband, overwhelmed by joy and emotion and insight for both my Yoga practice and teaching.

How or why I can’t explain, but the main lesson I have learned from all of this is:

I now see how hard I am on myself as a woman, as a person and a Yogi. How much I “expect” from both myself and others, and how I could use a healthy dose of patience on every level. I saw how “tough” I have always tried to be, and how strong I expect myself, and others to be as well.

Be strong. What about being soft in a tough world? I know in my mind that God is my strength. I feel I need to bring that knowledge to my forebrain more, what will come of that, I can only observe and continue to learn.

If you are interested in learning what Jivamukti is see: www.jivamuktiyoga.com

Save the Date! Moonlight Meditation/Yin Yoga Night

Did you know that science has found that meditation does wonders for mental health?

"Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input." sited from, http://www.physorg.com/news10312.html

Meditation helps you to connect to your spirit. "Prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening to God."
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Personally, my most profound spiritual moments have been during meditation.

It is also good for marriage. When done together, meditation can help you to connect to your partner on a deeper level. That connection can lead to better communication and a greater understanding for one another.

Meditation also teaches us how to be fully aware in a moment.
Have you ever found yourself sitting in front of your child, a friend, or your spouse, when they are telling you something, only for you to realize moments later that you have not heard a word they said? Wouldn't you like to be fully present in the moment that you are in? Having the ability to give your full attention to one thing at a time can result in better finished projects, conversations and daily tasks, like driving.

Meditating leaves you feeling calm, relaxed, and grounded. It can move you from a scattered and over stimulated mind, to one that is clear and collected.

What does it mean to meditate? Setting an allotted amount of time in your day to sit, be still and not "do" anything. Not think about anything, or talk to anyone, to be still. In our multi-tasking culture, you may have to think back to the last time you were still or present.

If you are interested in trying meditation out for yourself, your chance is on it's way!

Friday July 23rd, 2010 at COIL Yoga Studio at 6:45pm-8:45pm

I will be leading students through a series of soft Yoga postures that prepare the body for sitting comfortably. Followed by assisting students to set up a seat to meditate on, using blankets and bolsters, or if you prefer a chair. Once we are settled, I will star by guiding you through a meditation Then together we will sit in silence to basque in the stillness we create. The room will be lit by candles and free from distractions.

You will be joined by people new to meditation, and those who are experienced as well. Everyone is welcome.

Cost is $35 per person.
You can sign up at: www.coilyoga.com by emailing the studio
or
email me at sarabadorineyoga@gmail.com

What's the Big Deal With Yoga?

Recently, my cousin said to me, describing a woman he had met, "She was one of those yoga-crazed people." Of course I had to laugh. He is right, Yogis (students of Yoga) can be a little obsessive, even in love with their Yoga. I certainly am not excluded from that group. I remember my first Yoga class, it was at a small gym in Fresno, and although it was very challenging, it was love at first forward fold. To this day, almost 12 years later, Yoga and I are still honeymooners. Though, only 3 years a go did I incorporate Yoga a part of my daily life. I have seen myself overcome many physical, emotional, and mental challenges since applying Yoga daily. For example, I used to suffer from panic attacks, I used to be anxious, daily headaches, have trouble focusing, trouble getting to sleep, and tingly legs while lying in bed Now, every single one of these problems are of the past. Yoga is an ancient practice, carried over from the East. There are many different types of Yoga, each has a different main focus and a different outcome. Some classes are gentle and slow, others are sweaty and intense. Of course your teachers personality, training and style will influence your class, making each Yoga experience unique and interesting. Here are just a few benefits that come from doing Yoga:

Yoga gives you tools to reduce stress
lowers your blood pressure
helps you to to sleep quicker, and sleep deeper
greatly reduces back pain
creates flexibility
builds strength sooths the Central Nervous System
shifts blood flow, sending nutrients to internal organs,resulting in healthier skin, and brain
gives you the tools to remain calm in challenging situations
helps you to digest your food
detoxifies the body
Plus many more
Yoga brings you closer to your spirituality, closer to yourself, and teaches a love and connection to all living beings.
 If you are thinking about trying Yoga for the first time, go to: www.coilyoga.com

We offer Yoga Basics classes and Yoga for Beginners.
The way I see it, everyone deserves to feel good in their body. The body is a temple, a vessel to carry us through this adventure of life. If we take the time and the effort to care for it properly, it will take care of us back. Plus, it is a good day to try something new. It is a good day to do show yourself some love.

Blog to Website to Facebook

The Internet helps us to connect, yoga helps us to connect, community helps us to connect.
Let's yolk the three here with me, Sarah Badorine as your willing guide. Many of my friends and students ask me about what I surround my life around; Yoga and living a healthy life. As a teacher it is important for me to guide my students in a natural, organic and positive way. That theme will continue here, all of your questions will be answered via these three strands: Facebook, my website and this blog.

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=759359058

WEBSITE: www.sarahbadorineyoga.com

Subscribe to this blog, and I will keep you in-the-know about Yoga, upcoming yoga events, meditation, natural health and beauty tips, amazing vegetarian recipes, what products are best for you and our Earth, what local businesses are up to concerning these subjects, and much, much more!
Thank you and Namaste'