Yoga Teacher Training Vancouver,Yoga Classes North Vancouver,Yoga Studio North Vancouver
- Yoga Teacher Training Vancouver,Yoga Classes North Vancouver,Yoga Studio North Vancouver
- Tibetan Buddhist monks focus on sand – and sea
- Why We Don’t Meditate: And How We Can Change This
- Two really different Zens
- HURRICANE KATRINA BLEW A YOGA TREND INTO NEW OR LEANS
- Want to limit foreclosures? Try 'holistic' counseling
- Buddhist Meditation: Mindfulness
- Happiness inquiry reveals 'Blitz' spirit
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to Increase Your Happiness
- Mindfulness is the best antidote to stress
- The History of Bonsai in Buddhism
- New Yoga Studio Aims to Balance Spirituality, Exercise
- NamaSTAY hot yoga towels Manifesto: Change your choices change your life
- Beset by worries and stress, city follows in Buddha's steps
- Command Of SELF Facilitates Consciousness of BEING
- EmbodiWorks Features New Body, Mind, and Spirit Holistic Cancer Information
- Body Mind and Spirit Blog- A Review
- Stress Reduction Techniques
- The Many Faces of Yoga
- Mindfulness: The Power to Change
- Open Practice: Focus on Flow in Waking and Lucid Dreaming
- Benefits Of Meditation - Meditation For Mind And Body
- Improve Your Creativity Meditation - Meditation Advice
- A Quick Guide To Meditation - - Guide Meditation Meditation For Beginners Part One
- A Little Book of Love
| Yoga Teacher Training Vancouver,Yoga Classes North Vancouver,Yoga Studio North Vancouver Posted: 01 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST |
| Tibetan Buddhist monks focus on sand – and sea Posted: 01 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST
Southwest Florida residents have the chance to see something few westerners ever get the opportunity to see — the creation and blessing of a sand mandala by a group of Buddhist monks. Throughout the week, the group of five Tibetan monks will be at Unity of Naples building the Chenrezig mandala one grain of colored sand at a time. Once complete, the sand painting will be blessed and ritually dissolved to symbolize the impermanence of life. "This is the first time I've seen this being done live," said Susanna Tocco, 36, of Naples. "It's amazing — the precision, the patience. It's … Read the original article (includes image gallery) » Related posts:
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| Why We Don’t Meditate: And How We Can Change This Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Article by Dr. Robert Puff Let's explore why we don't meditate twice a day? Some of us do, but many of us don't meditate when we should. People come home after a long, hard day of work, finish their day and fall into bed without meditating. There's simply 'no time' for meditation. But why don't we find the time? There is so much proof of why meditation is good for you. If you were to visit some of the healthiest people on the planet you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't believe in, attest to, and practice meditation. So if so many people expound in the benefits of meditation, why don't we meditate? There may be many, many reasons why we don't meditate; but I think I can boil it down to two really specific things that keep us from meditating. I was exposed to meditation when I was 19 years old. I was studying psychology as an undergraduate in college and exploring the work of Herbert Benson out of Harvard. Herbert Benson really researched the benefits, physiologically, of meditation. I started meditating right away but there were gaps, breaks in my meditation. Why? Though I was very impressed with Dr. Benson's work, I was 19 years old and things like blood pressure and medical benefits weren't really an issue for me at that time. Dr. Benson talked a lot about the physiological effects that meditation had on your body. I was 19 and quite healthy. I wasn't concerned yet about my blood pressure or the medical benefits of meditation because I wasn't feeling any health problems at that time. I enjoyed meditation; I enjoyed relaxing and feeling very peaceful. Sometimes days, even weeks would go by without me meditating. Why? This is really the first reason many of us don't meditate. We really need a good reason to do something. We need a reason to meditate. If we're going to spend a half an hour a day doing something we need to know what we're doing really changes us or adds to our overall happiness. Our lives are busy and our time is precious so we don't want to 'waste' it doing somethi! ng that we don't know for sure is beneficial. We may think "yes, this makes me feel nice and relaxed but it doesn't' really change me or add to my overall happiness." What changed for me is that many years later I met people who I felt were very deep, very healthy, very emotionally and spiritually mature people. What I learned about them, pretty much across the board, was that they meditated. They attested to meditation, they practiced meditation and they encouraged me to meditate. Because I really love growth, once I really understood how important meditation was to my own personal growth I started to meditate regularly. Once I started meditating regularly I saw the change within me. I began to change, radically change, and people around me noticed it too. So the first thing that keeps us from meditating is that we really need a reason to meditate. As humans, we vacillate between two poles. At one end there is immediate gratification. "I'm tired, it was a long day and I'm going to have myself a few beers to relax." Or "When I go to Vegas I always have such a great time, even though I come back exhausted. It sure feels great while I'm there, so I go." So the first thing we do is look for something pleasurable. We want to feel good. Meditation can address this because once you start meditating on a regular basis you will begin to feel good. However, meditation takes time to work. You have to stick with it before you begin to really feel the deep affects of it. It will be better than having a few beers or going to Vegas, but it takes time. So the second aspect that affects our behavior is our goals. As a profession in general, surgeons make more money than any other profession out there. But, they have to go to college for four years, and do very well. Then they have to go to medical school for another four years and do very well. Then they go off to do a residency for anywhere from five to seven years, working sometimes 100 hours a week. So why would they do this? They do this because of! their g oals. They realize that in the end they will be working in a very lucrative profession and have a very secure job. So besides the immediate effects of mediation we also need a deep, heartfelt reason as to why we are going to meditate day after day, week after week, year after year. For me this reason came from learning from others; from people who taught me that meditation is truly the number one change agent on the planet. If you want to grow, if you want to wake up and have a beautiful life then meditation is the key factor to this. But you have to believe it at the core, because like the surgeons going through medical school can be hard sometimes; meditation can be hard sometimes. It's not a bad experience but sometimes we're just too tired, too busy to take the time to meditate. Until we reach a point where meditation really, really is something we are invested in and believe that it will radically change our lives for the better, we're probably not going to meditate on a regular basis. There are just too many things out there that are calling for our attention. Telling us to come do this, come do that, this is more important. I can absolutely guarantee you that meditation is truly the most important thing you can do in your life for creating a beautiful, important, wonderful life. But until you believe this, other things will get in the way and distract you. What you can do is to find someone that can really motivate you to meditate. I would love to be this person to you, but I also know that I cannot be all things to all people. Some of us are research minded; we want to see the facts. If that's you, then there are many research articles out there, on my website and in my podcasts even, which explain how beneficial meditation is to you. Over the years I've seen many hardcore professionals change their meditative ways drastically after attending a retreat with my partner and me. That's why retreats are very helpful in this sense. Or perhaps you can find a local group near your home to meditate! with ot hers. Sometimes, it's a lot like an exercise class; we are more inspired to attend regularly if there are others there to meditate with us. So there are really two main reasons why we don't meditate. One is that at first it may not give us enough pleasure to keep our attention. My response to that is to be patient, it will bring you pleasure if you hang in there. It's similar to exercise, at first we don't realize how good the exercise makes us feel until we've started doing it regularly and then our bodies actually crave that exercise. Your mind reacts in the same way. As you meditate regularly your mind too will crave those meditative states. It will grow to be the highlight of your day. The second thing that often keeps us from meditating is that we don't really believe that it's good for us. So if you want to meditate, make sure you're connected with someone or something that drives it deep down inside of you that you need to meditate, meditation is really good for you. Continue to listen to my podcasts online, meditate regularly, find someone or something that inspires you to continue to meditate and you will realize as time goes on that you feel the effects of the meditation. That person, that story, that connection that makes you realize the importance of meditation will also make you realize that meditation is a key part to your life. About the AuthorDr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com He has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness at http://www.HappinessPodcast.org He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com He also has a blog at http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net Guided Meditation for Spiritual Growth, Psychic Development, Healing, Relaxation Deep Meditation - Pathway to Personal Freedom (AYP Enlightenment Series) "Deep Meditation" is a concise step-by-step instruction book for a simple yet powerful method of daily meditation that will systematically unfold inner peace, creativity and energy in daily life. Whether you are seeking an effective tool for reducing stress, improving your relationships, achieving more success in your career, or for revealing the ultimate truth of life within yourself, "Deep Meditation" can be a vital resource for cultivating your personal freedom and enlightenment.Yogani is the author of two landmark books on the world's most effective spiritual practices: "Advanced Yoga Practices - Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living," a comprehensive user-friendly textbook, and "The Secrets of Wilder," a powerful spiritual novel. The AYP Enlightenment Series makes these profound practices available for the first time in a series of concise instruction books. "Deep Meditation" is the first in the series."Deep Meditation" is a concise step-by-step instruction book for a simple yet powerful method of daily meditation that will systematically unfold inner peace, creativity and energy in daily life. Whether you are seeking an effective tool for reducing stress, improving your relationships, achieving more success in your career, or for revealing the ultimate truth of life within yourself, "Deep Meditation" can be a vital resource for cultivating your personal freedom and enlightenment. Yogani is the author of two landmark books on the world's most effective spiritual practices: "Advanced Yoga Practices - Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living," a comprehensive user-friendly textbook, and "The Secrets of Wilder," a powerful spiritual novel. The AYP Enlightenment Series makes these profound practices available for the first time in a series of concise instruction books. "Deep Meditation" is the first in the series.
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| Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Was Dogen's strict form of zazen taught in the Sixth Patriarch Hui-neng's Platform Sutra? The correct answer is, no. To reiterate, the importance of physical sitting is nowhere taught in the the Sixth Patriarch's Platform Sutra while formal sitting (zazen) remains the alpha and omega of Soto Zen. In his book, Eloquent Zen, Kenneth Kraft observes: "Huineng, for example, criticized immobile sitting and redefined zazen without reference to any physical activity" (p. 97). Zazen for Hui-neng or tso-ch'an is treated much differently as compared with Dogen's grasp of it which is too literal. Sitting (tso) for Hui-neng is entirely symbolic. It "means without any obstruction anywhere, outwardly and under all circumstances, not to active thoughts" (trans. Yampolsky). Tied to this, "ch'an" (J., zen) according to Hui-neng "is internally to see the original nature and not become confused" (trans. Yampolsky). With Hui-neng's zazen or tso-ch'an it is not limited to formal sitting in which a certain posture has to maintained in a particular way for a certain period of time. Hui-neng's zazen can be practiced whether walking or sitting in a car commuting.  |
| HURRICANE KATRINA BLEW A YOGA TREND INTO NEW OR LEANS Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Article by Dew Drops Six years after Hurricane Katrina left a whole city in anxious need of mind-body-spirit therapy; there is increasing confirmation that New Orleans happened to one of the hottest yoga spots in America. Sean Johnson, organizer of Wild Lotus Yoga Uptown and in the Marigny, guesses the number of New Orleans studios has jumped from six pre Katrina to 22 nowadays. Yoga Journal, the largest-circulation yoga magazine in the country, mentions that figure when it featured New Orleans amongst its "10 Fantastically Yoga-Friendly Towns" earlier this summer. "We looked at an amount of factors -- great yoga instruction in a assortment of different manners and customs, a society of enthused practitioners, surroundings that are inviting and cheering to the yoga practitioner, " said Charity Ferreira, leading editor at the San Francisco-based magazine. "Fundamentally, we were looking at cities where yoga is flourishing in a particular manner." A 2008 revision by the magazine, the newest available showed that 6.9 percent of U.S. adults, or 15.8 million people, accomplished yoga; almost 8 percent, or 18.3 million, of those who didn't said they were "very" or "tremendously" interested in doing so. There's no study that measures New Orleans' partaking against the national standard, but Ferreira assumed the unreliable evidence is compelling as much as necessary. "What struck me was how much yoga had developed in New Orleans ever since Katrina," she said. "The people I talked to truly accentuate how much yoga had helped the district in the outcome of the squall." A case in point: Ann Yoachim, who said she measured yoga a opulence for hippie types or the wealthy until a friend convinced her to visit Wild Lotus in the fall of 2005. She memorizes being anxious, then enthused by yoga students who wept through classes. "I didn't assume yoga was for me until Katrina, " she believed. "It was a secure place to let sentiments flow." LIKE A COMMENTATOR Wild Lotus turn into a "r! eal refu ge" in October 2005 as one of the first studios to regenerate after the squall, Johnson said. Experienced persons reunited there, and new students, including reprieve workers, came looking for relief. "A lot of people said the mansion was like a commentator for them in a time when they had nothing to clasp on to," Johnson said. "I think people really found an intelligence of curing and the people through the yoga practice and through the connection with each other." Suzy Rivera, possessor of LIFE Yoga and Boutique in Uptown, said she used yoga to "maintain a stable mind" after trailing her year-old residence in Waveland, Miss. Rivera, who motivated back to New Orleans after the storm, said yoga accessible a crucial flight from insurance and FEMA exasperate. The practice of captivating one pose at a time, each pose flowing into the next, facilitated her to build up the emotional serene and mental regulation necessary to steer the healing process, she said. Yoga's attentive component also proved significant during those upsetting first several months later than the storm -- a dynamic Keith Porteous, co-owner of Swan River Yoga, observed once before, as a dweller of New York City after Sept. 11, 2001. "Rumination is the main influential mean to expand power of your mind," Porteous supposed. "Through the course of doing the poses, there is a variety of catharsis that transpires." INVASION OF NEW TECHNIQUES The social part of yoga also supply to the post-K boom, students and teachers assumed. After the storm, studios began offering more free or inexpensive classes as a population overhaul. At the same time, an influx of young people from other cities arrived; keen to donate different styles of yoga to the city's renewal. "Everybody can stumble on a method that works for them, " said Cheryl Golich, co-owner of stability Yoga and Wellness in Mid-City. The storm-inspired kindness endures. Studios here on average permit students to use mats without charge -- somethi! ng that doesn't take place far and wide and inexpensive or donation-based classes are planned somewhere in the city practically every night of the week, which is strange for a city of this magnitude. Katrina may have started the inclination but there have been no scarcity of other stresses to maintain stipulate. Kelley Hebert, a learner at Swan River, said yoga practice kept her from terrifying when her house was busted into this July. In its place, she pays attention on the positive: Her family unit was not home at the instant. Myra "Cissy" Burson, a coach at Wild Lotus, said she has used yoga to assist students at the city's public charter schools control growing pains. Its petition is not inadequate to its tension-fighting tendencies, nevertheless. Yoga is an ideal fitness fit for New Orleans, students and instructors declare. The city's social dynamism is imitated in the community-oriented outlook of the yoga studios here, which usually sustain one another and their neighborhoods. Trainers take classes at other studios, and students union through citywide occurrences like Festival. "You've never detoxed yet you've detoxed with your complete yoga class after Mardi Gras," said Nina McDaniel, a learner at LIFE Yoga. Yoga also lean to magnetize and raise creative types, as does New Orleans. "I believe the soulfulness of New Orleans, the music, the food, the carnivals, I think that energy in fact increase yoga practice now," said Johnson of Wild Lotus. Those who have experienced in other spaces, from yoga micas like New York to smaller cities like San Antonio, consent that New Orleans adds a special style to its variety of yoga. The words "optimistic," "laid-back" and "fun" pop up habitually in metaphors of yoga here, particularly in contrast to yoga away. Student's facade to the sounds of Rebirth Brass Band and experience comfort amalgamating yoga into lives that comprise, say, a career in mixology. Ferreira of Yoga magazine cites a connection among live musi! c and yo ga as special to New Orleans. Johnson demonstrates this merge with his keratin, or mantra, group, Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, which executed in yoga studios nationwide. Last year, the gang became the first kirtan band to amuse at the New Orleans Jazz Fest. "We merge the soul of our culture with the fortitude of yoga," he said. "I believe yoga and New Orleans go hand-in-hand. Yoga is an additional structure of celebrating existence." About the Authorhttp://www.healthparley.com/ Fat Burning YOGA BURPEE Holiday Workout - Bex Life The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice
In The Heart of Yoga Desikachar offers a distillation of his father's system as well as his own practical approach, which he describes as "a program for the spine at every level--physical, mental, and spiritual." This is the first yoga text to outline a step-by-step sequence for developing a complete practice according to the age-old principles of yoga. Desikachar discusses all the elements of yoga--poses and counterposes, conscious breathing, meditation, and philosophy--and shows how the yoga student may develop a practice tailored to his or her current state of health, age, occupation, and lifestyle. This is a revised edition of The Heart of Yoga.
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| Want to limit foreclosures? Try 'holistic' counseling Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST By Paul Owers December 1, 2011 06:15 AM
Basic financial guidance for struggling homeowners is good, but broader, "holistic" counseling is the way to go. That's the conclusion of research by STRATMOR Group, a Peachtree City, Ga.-based mortgage data provider. The study was sponsored by Outreach Financial Services, a servicer of distressed mortgages in Jacksonville. Holistic counseling endorsed by Outreach Financial helps borrowers reduce all kinds of debt – not just delinquent mortgage payments. It typically frees up hundreds of dollars a month, and the improved cash flow allows borrowers to pay modified loans on time and helps them stay in their homes, the company said. When homeowners receive counseling focused mainly on paying the monthly mortgage, lenders avoid annual losses estimated at nearly $ 3,900 per borrower (assuming an average loan balance of $ 210,000). But homeowners who receive instruction that also focuses on personal spending habits save lenders as much as $ 7,147 per borrower. In a portfolio of 10,000 loans, the savings for lenders could climb to more than $ 71 million. "It is clear from the research that using a holistic financial counseling approach, with a focus on spending reduction, improved financial behaviors and adherence to a budget, can significantly reduce foreclosures," Bill Magro, president of Outreach Financial, said in a statement. To follow Paul Owers on Twitter, click here. Photo Courtesy: Bloomberg News  Read More @ Source  |
| Buddhist Meditation: Mindfulness Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Article by Joe Taloe Buddhism Meditation: Mindfulness Mindfulness is a type of a meditation and a habit. In mindful meditation we pay attention to anything and everything. You learn to notice the kinds of different thoughts, desires... etc that roll around in your head. You notice how you react to different things. For example, you could be mindful while driving your car. As you drive, you pass by a sign, and because you are paying attention to your own mind, you notice that each time you pass by that specific sign, you feel nostalgic, angry, or happy. You may realize that the sign actually reminds you of something. This is being mindful. If you remain mindful as in the example above throughout your daily activities, mindfulness will eventually become a habit. Okay fine. So how will I feel better if I am mindful? It's pretty simple actually. The more aware you become of how things affect you, the more power you have to change them. Let me give you a personal example. One day I was driving while trying to remain mindful. I started noticing that I stare down other drivers. I realized that I was doing it because of my "must be macho and competitive!" influence. But the thing is that staring down other drivers was rather stressful. I felt tense, and aggressive. So, I started practicing NOT looking at other drivers. This way, I was more relaxed while in the car. Now, let me continue this example. So, that day I noticed one stressor in my daily grind. Now imagine that I found 200 other stressors over time, and make adjustments to relieve them in the same way that I relieved the driving stressor. Don't you think that these things would add up? After some time, and after identifying pointless stressors throughout my day, I feel better. Overall, I feel more relaxed, and so can you. Stay mindful! About the AuthorStudent of Buddhism and Mental Health Counseling at Columbia U. Visit http://buddhistmeditationforbeginners.blogspot.com for more information. One-Minute Mindfulness: 50 Simple Ways to Find Peace, Clarity, and New Possibilities in a Stressed-Out World Being fully in each moment leads to peace and well-being — but it's harder than it sounds, especially in a world with constant demands on our time and attention. How do you practice mindfulness when you're faced with difficult coworkers, overwhelming schedules, or stubborn kids? In this book, Donald Altman brings the benefits of mindfulness down to earth and into everyday life. With fifty exercises and practices to build awareness and center attention, you will discover how to savor routine pleasures, build fulfillment in your work, enhance and heal relationships, change unhealthy habits, and connect to peace even in the midst of chaos or uncertainty.
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| Happiness inquiry reveals 'Blitz' spirit Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Jonathan Prynn and Mark Prigg An official inquiry into happiness in Britain has revealed a new "Blitz spirit" with a remarkably contented and calm nation getting on with life amid the gloomy headlines. The biggest survey yet of "wellbeing" found that around three quarters of people felt happy, were satisfied with their lives and found them worthwhile. Only about a quarter said they had high levels of stress. Happiness levels were highest among teenagers, drop dramatically during the middle "engine room" years of employment and child rearing, and peak again during early retirement between the ages of 65 and 74. The latest results came from monthly questioning of about 1,100 adults over the age of 16 between April and August when the news was dominated by economic turmoil in Europe and the riots in Britain's cities. However, superb spring weather and the royal wedding in April could have boosted contentedness during the first phase of the survey. Government statisticians and civil servants have been attempting to "capture" in numbers how the nation feels about life after David Cameron last year launched a �2 million quest for a "happiness index" which could be used to frame government policy. When asked how "satisfied" people were with their lives, 76 per cent gave a rating of seven out of 10 or more. One person in 12 gave a rating below five. On a question about whether their lives were "worthwhile" 78 per cent rated it a seven or higher. Just six per cent said their "worthwhile" rating was below five out of 10. Asked how happy they felt yesterday, 73 per cent gave a response of seven or above with 36 per cent giving nine or 10 out of 10. On the fourth question on how "anxious" they felt, 57 per cent rated their stress levels less than four out of 10 and the average was 3.4. Only 27 per cent had ratings of above five. When people were asked how satisfied they were with different aspects of their lives, the highest scores were for their children's well-being (8.7 out of 10), followed by "personal relationships" and "mental well-being" (8.3). The lowest scores were for "financial situation" (6.2) and "work situation (6.7). Christine Northam, a counsellor for Relate, said: "People are being more realistic about what makes you happy - your family, friends and relationships. There is a swing away from materialistic things. "The economic doom and gloom is so strong in the media that it may be there is almost a Blitz sprit, with people wanting to be strong and see it through. "People are very sensible, people do count their blessings, maybe this is a sign people are getting more grown up instead of worrying about their next expensive holiday." Your say: on a scale of one to 10, what's your 'smile' rating?8 Fahrah Gulam-Husein, 30, management consultant. "I have a lovely family and I am three months pregnant so really have nothing to complain about. I have lots of hope for the future as I have been married three years and my mum and sister are both very well. However, I do worry about money. My husband and I are anxious about how we will cope financially." 8 Lola Ogunkya, 22, studies management at University College London and lives on Liverpool Street. "I have no problems, I am very lucky as I have a job for when I graduate at KPMG. My family and friends are all healthy and I am very happy in my long-term relationship but I am worried about the economy." 5 Antony Newton, 25, an administration worker from Lewisham: "I was made redundant from my job and I have had to take a lower salary at my new job. I have also lost a lot of money on spread betting. My personal life is dead at the moment too." 5 Matthew White, 36, a carpenter from Streatham: "The state of the country is a shambles and it is affecting my profession dramatically. For people like me, we're having to work harder and work longer hours but without being paid any more. I am moving to Australia as soon as I can afford it."  Read More @ Source  |
| Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to Increase Your Happiness Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Article by Laura Whitelaw When you are mindful, you step outside of the drama of your life and become an observer to the events that are occuring rather than a victim of them. You begin to slow your life down and take notice of things that you would normally take for granted. A sense of peacefulness takes over and you begin to feel gratitude for all that is. You can easily incorporate mindfulness based stress reduction into your daily life, it all begins with making a choice to be more aware of your surroundings and to get out of your head so that you begin to experience life through your senses. If you choose to practice mindfulness in a more formal way by taking a seated position, you need only bring your awareness to the current moment. Experience what is happening right now and allow any negative emotions of fear, anger or anxiety to dissolve. Mindfulness teaches you how to become conscious of what is happening around you, in your life and in your environment. You are able to take life in stride and respond to challenges in a more productive and positive way when you become an observer of your life. The major benefits of this type of meditation practice are that you will become less stressed thereby improving your overall sense of health and well-being. Our society is so caught up in the rush of moving from one activity to another while life is passing us by. By taking each moment at a time and becoming more mindful, you can begin to enjoy even the most mundane activities in your day. Remember, the past is gone, the future isn't here yet and the present is a gift! Try this type of meditation and see if it resonates with you. Life is full of choices and so you can choose to live in the present any time you notice that you are feeling stressed or depressed. In fact, any time that you notice that you are not feeling peace, joy or contentment, it's your cue to knowing that you are not experiencing the present moment. Stop for a moment and take a deep breath, slow down and begin to experience life through! your se nses. When you do, you will be practising mindfulness. All that it requires is for you to choose to slow down and relax your body and mind. Experience the world through your senses and let go of your to do list of things for a moment. If you practice this enough, you will be doing your health and peace of mind a huge favor. About the AuthorStress is the number one reason for serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. You can learn to reduce your stress and improve your health and well-being by visiting => http://www.squidoo.com/meditation-stress-relief Laura Whitelaw is a Certified ZPoint Practitioner and Meridian Tapping Coach at The Way To Bliss Now. Download a free prosperity consciousness audio at http://thewaytoblissnow.com. Stress Reduction  |
| Mindfulness is the best antidote to stress Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Washington, Nov 1 : The best antidote to stress is mindfulness, existing in the here and now, not in the past or future, suggest meditation gurus. Researchers have now drawn a framework of four key components to help explain these positive effects. Mindfulness, an essential part of Indian yoga traditions, has entered the mainstream as people try to find ways to combat stress and improve their quality of life. It is suggested the meditation can have benefits for health and performance, including improved immune function, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced cognitive function. But how is it that a single practice can have such wide-ranging effects on well-being? The study draws on the existing scientific literature to build a framework on explanation, reports the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, citing a Harvard University statement. Study author Britta Hölzel, of Justus Liebig University and Harvard Medical School, suggests the goal is to "unveil the conceptual and mechanistic complexity of mindfulness, providing the 'big picture' by arranging many findings like the pieces of a mosaic". Hölzel and co-authors point out that what we think of as mindfulness is not actually a single skill, but rather a multi-faceted mental practice that encompasses several mechanisms. They specifically identify four key components of mindfulness that may account for its effects: attention regulation, body awareness, emotion regulation, and sense of self. Together, these components help us attend to and deal with the mental and physiological effects of stress in ways that are non-judgmental. Although these components are theoretically distinct, they are closely intertwined. Improvement in attention regulation, for example, may directly facilitate our awareness of our physiological state. Body awareness, in turn, helps us to recognize the emotions we are experiencing. Effective mindfulness meditation requires training and practice and it has distinct measurable effects on our subjective experiences, our behaviour, and our brain function. Read More @ Source Buddhist Monks Of Tibet - Sand Chant For World Peace  |
| The History of Bonsai in Buddhism Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:00 AM PST Article by Andrew Kozlowski All over the world people have been growing and collecting bonsai trees as a hobby and a form of artwork. These tiny trees have long been cultivated in decorative containers, thus giving them their name; bonsai literally means tree in a pot. While many think of bonsai trees as Japanese, the art of bonsai originated in China as part of a spiritual practice linked first to Taoism, and later to Buddhism. Bonsai was part of the ancient Chinese art of "penjing," also know as "pun-sai," which means the practice of creating a miniature landscape in a container. Chinese artists used plants, rocks, and other natural materials to craft tiny landscapes, often resembling sacred mountains, brooks, and other natural scenes, as well as dragons and serpents, all arranged on trays or in pots. This practice of creating miniature landscapes and trees can be linked to China's philosophical tradition of Taoism. Taoism proposed that thinking and living in a natural way and letting go of rigid, conventional beliefs would help one's mind better tune in to the rhythm of nature. Being one with nature, going with the flow, and understanding how everything in life is interrelated are an integral part of Taoist teachings. The idea of yin and yang provide one example. Taoism also holds that even if something in nature is small, it will contain both power and strength if its age is advanced (and if it is confined to a small space). Bonsai trees become more valuable with age. Monks from India brought a new influence to the Chinese Taoist tradition that became known as Chan Buddhism. Chan Buddhists began to include seedling trees in their miniature mountain landscapes. While working with natural materials, pruning and clipping the dwarf trees was part of the creative process, and Buddhist monks found themselves absorbed in a form of meditation. Buddhism then advanced to Korea, and finally it made its way to Japan where it became known as Zen Buddhism. Diplomats traveling to China and Korea brought back ! Chinese art and culture to Japan, and the making of miniature landscapes, with its ties to Buddhist symbolism, was quickly adopted. At first, it was only Japanese Buddhist monks and scholars that cultivated bonsai trees and tiny landscapes. The core of the Zen philosophy was refined to represent beauty in austerity, with all but the essentials removed to reveal the true nature of something. Ancient Japanese scrolls reveal that bonsai represented a fusion of traditional beliefs blended with other Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul, and the natural world. By the fourteenth century bonsai was revered as an art form in Japan, and it is much represented in poetry and painting. At this point, bonsai trees were displayed indoors by the Japanese aristocracy, and the practice of creating bonsai became less associated with religion. A few centuries later, bonsais became commonplace amongst the general Japanese population as they are today. Want to learn more about bonsai history? Visit my website at http://www.bonsaitreeanswers.com to learn all about the origins of bonsai and how to buy, grow, and care for beautiful, healthy bonsai trees. About the AuthorAndrew Kozlowski has been dedicated to growing plants and trees for over 20 years, and has also worked as a professional fundraiser, project manager, and program director for a range of nature conservation programs in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Zen Buddhism Chop Wood, Carry Water 2 of 3 Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice (Reflections on Buddhism in the) This text explores the way of Zen and its inner truth. Each chapter includes a meditation practice.
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| New Yoga Studio Aims to Balance Spirituality, Exercise Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:00 AM PST Opening Saturday in the heart of the Commons, The Yoga School hopes to find its place in Ithaca's crowded yoga scene. The Yoga School will compete with three existing studios on the Commons, two studios within two miles of downtown, one studio in Collegetown and two more studios near Triphammer Mall. The Yoga School will predominately teach classes in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga — a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga — to beginner, intermediate and advanced students. The school will also offer a teacher-training course to certify yoga teachers. To differentiate her studio from the competition, Lennessa Shantaya, the owner of the new yoga studio, said she intends to focus on one type of yoga and on yoga's underpinning philosophy. "A lot of yoga studios downtown offer classes … but it is a new style every night," she said. "I want to streamline and focus the classes to allow for better yoga practice." She added she believes that the study of yogic philosophy will allow her students to live by its teachings. "Yoga is not just something you do in a studio," she said. "I really want to offer the opportunity for people to fully learn yoga — to incorporate yoga into every aspect of [their] lives." An individual's relationship with his or her world lies at the heart of yogic philosophy, she said. "Right away, I will teach the concept of focused breath," she said. "And through these … you begin to gain a greater sense of yourself and [your] place within the world." Shantaya criticized yoga classes that emphasize its physical practices over its spiritual benefits. "[Yogic philosophy] is not even introduced in yoga classes these days," she said. "But in India, to learn yoga, your fortitude is examined. You need to know how you relate to yourself and your world." The owner of Mighty Yoga, a nearby studio, acknowledged she does not place much emphasis on philosophy. "We blend yogic philosophy into the classes a little bit … But we focus more on the physical practice," Heather Healey, the studio's owner, said. "The philosophy can be intimidating, especially in the Western World … More people can connect to the physical practice more easily." Still, Healey said she is not worried that the opening of The Yoga School will hurt her business, citing a dramatic increase of interest in the field. "We have been open for two years, but we have grown really fast," she said. "I think we will continue to grow. I see more and more people over time becoming more and more open to yoga." Steven Valloney, owner of Sunrise Yoga on the Commons, said he was initially concerned about the competition, but that he ultimately came to believe a new yoga studio will benefit the local yoga community. "The first thought that came up was that there was going to more competition," he said. "But after I thought about it, I realized that this may be what it takes to get more people into yoga — and that's a good thing." Valloney added that his studio has nearly tripled the number of classes it offers, from 10 to 28 — an increase he said he sees as part of a long-term trend. "When I began teaching yoga at Sunrise twenty years ago, there was one other studio in Ithaca," Valloney said. "But since then, yoga has become much more mainstream." Read More @ Source  |
| NamaSTAY hot yoga towels Manifesto: Change your choices change your life Posted: 01 Dec 2011 03:00 AM PST Article by Lewis Pelletier Anderson Modern society is challenging. Back when people had to hike just to get anywhere, people had to be really fit. Granted in all other ways, we are much better off than primitive man. At the very least, primitive man was more active than people today. Friends meet virtually instead of in person, the sedentary aspect of middle class life is hazardous. Unhealthy food made more convenient than healthy and delicious choices make it easier to get rounder and weaker. Going for a walk nowadays is less frequent than surfing. 100 years ago, people would have thought that sentence described a semi aquatic way of life rather than the on the floor in the TV room environment. It is easier to sit around and do nothing than commit to an improved way of life? It is going to take something bigger than your back side to turn around life. It's going to take a paradigm shift. Do you want to strengthen your body so that it can withstand the daily pressures of life? Are you sick of daily exercises which are boring and which actually you want to avoid every morning? If your answer is a 'yes', then read on. And if it is a 'no', then I must say, there is something special for you too.One of the biggest drawbacks of typical American exercise is that it can provide fitness to your body only; what about your mind and soul? For the balance of both aspects, trythe age old practice of hot yoga. Yes, whatever you call it, yoga, dance yoga, kickboxing yoga, yoga workout or anything else, the point is that it can certainly work your body and mind. So,What you need is to} join a yoga class. You can go for a yoga centre or a yoga studio, whatever it is and start practicing. One advantage of joining such classes is that you can have the proper training from the yoga teachers. Once you have learned Ashtanga} Yoga you can easily practice it at your home. You just need to buy some equipment like a yoga DVD, a yoga bag and a mat to perform the exercise._Bikram's|No matter where you practice, at home or at a class, doing h! ot yoga correctly is very important for a positive outcome. Whereas a right posture can cure many diseases, a wrong one can create troubles too. Here are some types of yoga which are very popular nowadays.This method helps in the realignment of the spine, the detoxification of body, the building of strength and flexibility and also in strengthening of the nervous system.One of the biggest drawbacks of your regular exercises is that it can provide fitness to your body only; what about your mind and soul? One simple answer - Try the age-old practice of Yoga. Yes, whatever you call it, yoga, dance yoga, kickboxing yoga, yoga workout or anything else, the point is that it can certainly give you a solution.What you need is to join a yoga class. You can go for a yoga centre or a yoga studio, whatever it is and start practicing. One advantage to joining such classes is that you can have the proper training from the yoga teachers. Once you have learnt Ashtanga Yoga you can easily practice it at your home. You just need to buy some equipment like a yoga DVD, a yoga bag and a mat to perform the exercise.No matter where you practice, at home or at a class, doing the yoga correctly is very important for a positive outcome. Whereas a right posture can cure many diseases, a wrong one can create troubles too. Here are some types of yoga which are very popular nowadays.Pilates Yoga- Developed by George Pilates, this type of exercise is very popular in the United States. Though it is referred as yoga, actually it is not. The only resemblance is that it also gives an exercise to the mind. It can be referred to as a yoga with movement or yoga with machines. Bikram's Yoga- Bikram yoga is a more aerobic and a physical type of yoga. It was founded by Bikram Choudhry. This type of yoga is not meant for everyone. It is carried out in a warm room with a temperature around 90 to 100 degrees and therefore it is also called as hot yoga. Power Yoga- This is actually a modified version of Ashtanga yoga, which will be describedlater on. It is! a pract ice of doing 'yoga poses' in a continuous series of exercises. This type of yoga helps you to enhance your inner power and to make a connection with your soul. No matter what yoga discipline you choose, make NamaSTAY hot yoga towels and yoga mats your first choice for your spiritual and physical regimen. Follow us on Facebook and check out our various colors of hot yoga towels on our website. About the AuthorEmma Smith - About the Author: Yoga Class 39 - Santosa, Contentment - Special Series on Yamas and Niyamas ToeSox Half Toe Yoga/Pilates Toe Socks With Grips, Black, Medium
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| Beset by worries and stress, city follows in Buddha's steps Posted: 01 Dec 2011 03:05 AM PST NEW DELHI: No alcohol, cigarettes and sex. No reading and writing. Even talking and praying not allowed . The regimen would drive most people to despair in a day but, surprisingly, it's finding more and more converts in the city. Part of the 10-day initiation into the Buddhist practice of Vipassana, the strict routine teaches people to selfobserve and understand their nature. Experts say the quest for solace amid stressful routines is making people try not only Vipassana but other ancient Buddhist practices like Soka Gakkai as well. It's a surprising resurgence for Buddhism in the country 2,500 years after its inception. "We run four centres in Delhi, and each month about 500 people enroll in the course. Two years ago, the figure was between 250 and 300," says Prem Chauhan, secretary, Vipassana Centre Dhamma Sota. Even youngsters are now drawn to it, he says. Happy Tree Friends Ka-Pow! - Three Courses of Death  |
| Command Of SELF Facilitates Consciousness of BEING Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:00 AM PST Article by Janice Ervin, Spiritual Lecturer & Theorist I listened to a presentation on 'Emotional Vampires' recently, given by a well known psychologist. The purpose of the lecture was to provide a solution for the compassionate caring individual who finds himself drained of energy, when listening to a less-than-positive friend. The theory is that the upset friend attaches to and saps the emotion from the compassionate heart of the listener, leaving that empathetic party feeling exhausted, weak and powerless (hence the term 'emotional vampire'.) Sound familiar?The psychologist suggestion is for the kindly victim to inform the 'vampire' of the effect their diatribe is having. With empathy, they are to firmly explain that they will be available to discuss ONLY solutions from that point on, as hearing the same vocalized complaints again and again is unhealthy to their person. The psychologist also shared that such an action by the listener would have to be reiterated again and again. Apparently, 'emotional vampires' operate in a behavioral pattern, and fully enjoy the positive results achieved by procuring the aid of a listener. While this sounds like a fantastic, logical solution on the surface; it's not enough. Why? In the above case, what is truly being created is a struggle for power. The unhappy party seizes the power initially from the sympathetic party as their personal power is low, and the sympathetic party is being instructed as to how to reclaim their personal power. Yet...haven't we all been in a position where our power was low at some point? Haven't we all needed a caring friend to lean on - a safe place to fall? What is compassionate about the solutions offered above? When the solution to any difficult human interaction does not take into account the connective link found between all of us, it is sorely missing a key factor. In addition, are we not in a world with incalculable situations which sap our energy and leave us feeling weak and powerless? Can any human command wars to cease, interest rates to lower or pain to halt? ! What doe s anyone hear if they turn on the TV, or skim the front page of a national paper? We are in truth, bombarded with a plethora of 'vampire'-like situations at every turn. We certainly can't apply the same solution offered by the psychologist to all such instances. In fact, when it boils down to matters of control in our lives, OVER WHAT EXACTLY, DO WE HOLD DOMINION?And finally, the answer offered to the weakened listener, places unnecessary additional focus on the already over inflated ego center. It causes both parties to think in terms of 'I' or 'Me' and further identify the totality of who they are through the illusion of these ego states. Focus might instead be more advantageously applied, towards attempting to uncover the greater depths of this human experience. This in turn might reduce the import of the situation at hand and even splinter limited perceptions by connecting humans to possible greater realities.Where to begin? Consider the expression, 'It takes two to tango'. This implies that there must be two parties to create an interaction. There is no guarantee that any singular individual can control the actions of an 'emotional vampire' or the workings of the universe. However, individuals CAN maintain dominion over their personal behavior.One aspect always within our power is our free will choice pertaining to our level of allowance - in other words, we CHOOSE whether we allow an event to affect our emotions. You see, true power resides within each of us; no one can make another react or feel a certain way, without having given permission, albeit often unconsciously. So, the responsibility rests squarely on our shoulders to develop a finely tuned sensitivity for ALL non harmonious energy that enters into our lives.A second aspect ALWAYS within our power, is our free will choice to achieve a heightened awareness. So we begin by making the decision to set a mental 'alarm' to ring each time we feel not in control of our emotions. It won't take long before we become sensitive to the am! azing nu mber of times each day, when we allow unworthy external circumstances to 'press our buttons' and pull us off balance.Once awareness has been enhanced, the next step is to learn to emotionally pause and step back from these 'alarm' situations. Doing so offers the opportunity, however briefly, to disconnect from the personal ego self that always focuses on 'I'. At the same time, on a deeper level, it cracks the door to allow for the understanding that the essence actually stepping back is a separate facet to the totality known as YOU.In other words, when something occurs that causes you to feel angry, take that opportunity to make a conscious choice. Pause and remove yourself emotionally. You will become aware of the 'you' who is getting angry, and at the same time, be able to tap into the part of 'you' who is observing the incident.Through experience, you'll become more deeply aligned with the idea that there is more than one level to our multidimensionality from which we can receive information and dissect it. No longer a reactive individual, you'll find it easier to float above stormy energetic waves. Centered, you will be afforded the opportunity to hold dominion over all emotionally taxing situations. Your energy will not be easily sapped and 'vampires' will have no choice but to remain outside your personal space. Calm and controlled, you'll recognize that you are no longer a victim operating from within a messy fragile ego control center, subject to its shallow concerns and pettiness. And best yet, you'll be able to listen when another so desperately needs to confide, without their pain climbing inside of you. You will instead reach higher and connect with something much greater...an essence found within the space of your breath. Something that lets you know the immediate situation is transient and will one day be only a memory. Your personal sense of import alters when compared against the larger scope of BEING. About the AuthorJanice assists bereaved individuals find their way back to a place of hope. She is driven to offer her understandings so those seeking, might recognize seeds for cultivation within their personal repertoire for truth. An advocate for a more thinking, aware, discerning universe, Janice motivates individuals to experience a shift toward a perception rooted in compassion. Timeline To 2012 (Part 10 of 16) Conscious Evolution of Planet Earth The Perfume of Silence
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| EmbodiWorks Features New Body, Mind, and Spirit Holistic Cancer Information Posted: 01 Dec 2011 03:06 AM PST EmbodiWorks, a non-profit organization, features new body, mind, and spirit holistic cancer information through their educational website. Cancer patients and caregivers use reliable integrative, holistic cancer resources from EmbodiWorks to develop a plan to optimize their health and healing with body, mind, and spirit. Boulder, Colorado (PRWEB) December 01, 2011 EmbodiWorks, a non-profit organization, features new body, mind, and spirit holistic cancer information through their educational website.Cancer patients, cancer caregivers, and also health care providers need educational holistic cancer information to support whole person health and healing. EmbodiWorks features new body, mind, and spirit cancer resources across the United States. People with cancer often seek more holistic cancer care. Studies suggest that approximately 80 percent of cancer patients use these modalities. "Holistic cancer care of body, mind, and spirit addresses more than the cancer diagnosis and symptoms. With cancer patients often needing better holistic, integrative cancer care support and not knowing where to find it, more and more people benefit from EmbodiWorks," explains Jeannine Walston, co-founder and Executive Director of EmbodiWorks. Through body, mind, and spirit cancer information, EmbodiWorks helps educate and empower people in supporting and navigating through their cancer journey. Body, mind, and spirit in a holistic, integrative cancer care program help improve quality of life and even survival. New cancer care models are required to reverse the current statistics and trends. "Cancer care in the United States is highly sophisticated technologically, but the choices are at once unnecessarily limited and bewildering, and the implementation often fragmented. And far too many patients and their families receive minimal if any psychological support on the arduous journey of cancer treatment," says James S. Gordon, MD, founder and director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, co-author of Comprehensive Cancer Care, and creator of the CancerGuides training. Along with elaborate mind-body cancer resources, EmbodiWorks provides valuable and insightful cancer information about cancer and spirituality for cancer patients and caregivers. Topics include existential crisis and cancer, spirituality assessments, cancer and the soul, living, dying and cancer, prayer, ritual, and other spiritual holistic health information. "The powerful trauma of cancer can open people to really profound spiritual issues. Cancer creates the necessity that we confront our lack of security and certainty in the world. Suddenly needing to look at life from a much broader and wider perspective, the existential crisis is a turning point," says Lora Matz, MS, LICSW with expertise in supporting people affected by cancer and educating health providers. More and more cancer patients are creating a holistic, integrative cancer care program with a range of therapeutic approaches, providers, and disciplines. Cancer patients must be empowered with reliable cancer resources to develop a plan toward optimizing their integrative cancer treatments, health, and healing with body, mind, and spirit. EmbodiWorks helps to fill this gap. "EmbodiWorks educates and inspires so people become more empowered in body, mind, and spirit through their cancer journey. Our resources help cancer patients toward the best decisions and care for themselves," says Jeannine Walston. About EmbodiWorks
# # # Jeannine Walston "The Stress Reduction Attitude to Sensuality" by Ajahn Brahm  |
| Body Mind and Spirit Blog- A Review Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:01 AM PST Article by Jim Cassa The latest blog to enter the saturated and hard to rank Mind Body Spirit niche is Blogboogie.com the Health Mind Spirit News.A healthy lifestyle for an urban dweller is getting more challenging with each month. Stress, poor nutrition, and an inner discontent all contribute to our modern hectic madness.Body The body, mind, and spirit connection is one of balance. More and more people are becoming aware. The entwined relationship of our emotions, soul, and physical body show that all have equal importance.Good healthy habits are a worthy goal. Not always easy in our modern world. But worth striving for.A healthy person is someone with energy. This kind of individual is a delight to be around and has no desire to drain you of energy at all since they have plenty of their own.Mind Mind can make a hell out of heaven, or a heaven out of hell, as William Blake said. The human mind is truly a marvel of creativity and possibility.The modern conveniences that we enjoy all had their beginnings in mind. Mind is the master and makes our lives what we choose. The more aware of this fact the more self empowerment we have.Take care of the thoughts you have in mind. Select positive thinking over negative. Positive thoughts uplift and create opportunities but negative thoughts do the opposite.Spirit The spirit is the real part of a person. Personality is the social mask and is not real. It is more manufactured to get along in modern society.To live a happy and healthy lifestyle have a balance of mind, body, and spirit. Phone Australian psychic Jim Cassa for the best online reading please visit the value for money Melbourne medium in Australia. About the AuthorJim Cassa is a psychic medium and writer well known for being a top Australia psychic and shows methods of empowerment available to anyone. Jim's passion is clarity, insight, and giving the best value for money medium readings . The Healing Power of Mindfulness Part 1/5  |
| Posted: 01 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST Article by Sakthivel Perumal Hopefully, you have read the above articles before proceeding to the stress techniques below. Now that you have a basic understanding, it is paramount that you practice stress reduction techniques daily. We will cover breathing techniques and progressive relaxation in this article. Breathing properly is the most important thing one can do to alleviate tension in the body. The basic abdominal breath was mentioned in parts one and two. Practice this daily. Another breathing technique you can do to let go of tension is: sit in a chair and breathe into your abdomen deeply. As you breathe in, say in your mind the phrase "Breathe in peace and relaxation". Pause for a moment before you release your breath. Breathe out from your abdomen and say "Breathe out tension and stress". Pause momentarily before you again breathe in. Become aware of any stress or tension in your body. If you feel any tightness or soreness, this is where the stress is affecting your musculature. Visualize the relaxation coming in and the tension going out. Do this at least once a day, twice is better. Progressive Relaxation is a technique that is done to relax all the muscles of the body. It will teach you the difference between a relaxed body and a tense one. Many people do not realize when they have tension built up in their bodies. With practice you can become very good at knowing when you are stressed out to a point where you need to take some action to release the tension. You start from the feet and go up to the head in a progressive manner of tensing and relaxing the muscles. First start by lying on a bed or sofa. Get comfortable and tense your right foot by pulling the foot towards you, then release it and relax. Point the right foot down and hold for a few seconds, then relax. Push the heel down into the bed, hold and then release. Do the same thing on the left foot. Now tense your right calf. Hold, hold, hold then completely relax the muscle. Repeat on the left side. Notice the di! fference between a tense muscle and a relaxed muscle. Pay close attention to this feeling! Contract the right thigh, hold and release. Always do the other (left) side of the body automatically, to balance out the relaxation. Now squeeze your buttocks together, hold and release. Suck in your abdomen, hold and let go. Push out your abdomen, hold, release. Arch your back, hold and let go. Take a deep breath in and hold, breathe out. Feel the tension as the lungs expand versus when they exhale. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to feel the relaxation as you let go of the tension. Enjoy the feeling. It is a slow movement not a quick tense and release. Now clench your fist very tight and feel the tension this produces, then let go and feel the relaxation. Bend your elbow and squeeze your biceps, hold and feel the tension, now relax the biceps. Repeat the other side. Push the backs of your shoulders together and hold. Release. Shrug your shoulders up to your ears and hold. Let go! Scrunch up your face, hold and release. Smile widely, hold and relax. Frown your forehead, hold and release. Push your head into the pillow and then relax. Remember to breathe! Now drop your jaw and completely relax your entire body, totally. You should just sink into your bed and feel like mush! You may feel a warm, tingly feeling all over. Enjoy! Let go and be deeply relaxed. Breathe! What a feeling!! This is true relaxation! Do this before bed and it will help you fall asleep. A quicker version of this progressive relaxation technique if you want to relax but are short on time, is to tense and relax both sides of the body at the same time ( both feet, then both legs, then both arms, etc.), instead of just doing one side of the body and then the other. Do this technique daily! If you can master the above techniques you will be well on your way to recognizing the relaxation response. When you are at work and feel tension in your back or neck, tense up the area then let go a few times. Stretch and release. T! his will help you get through the day without developing headaches or sore muscles. Next month you will read more techniques you can use to get you to a level where you can better deal with the stress in your everyday life. Be happy!For more info please feel free to visit my web site at http://www.thehealthwealthhappiness.co.uk. Thank you. About the AuthorMotivational training site allows learning from well-known self-help and other celebrities as personal development coaches. Your Unique Personal Power To Magnetically Attract Abundant Health, Bountiful Wealth, At Health Wealth happiness we care deeply about your success. Have perfect life partner, Stress Reducing Exercise Guided Meditations for Stress Reduction Product Description: Mindfulness has been shown in clinical trials to be an effective way of reducing stress. It is a form of focused awareness that helps to prevent the runaway thinking that gives rise to physical and emotional hyper-arousal. The two meditations on this CD help us to develop this transformative quality of mindfulness, by means of which we practice acceptance of our present-moment experience in a non-judgmental way. Although the meditations on this CD are Buddhist in origin, they can be practiced by people who follow any spiritual tradition or none at all.
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| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 11:00 PM PST Article by Andy Bowen Inversion Essentials: Yoga Journal to Go Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners
Get that long, lean yoga look while centering your mind and improving posture and fl exibility. Yoga masters Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman demonstrate all the basic poses in a detailed 40-minute Pose Training session. Learn accurate alignment, technique and how to avoid the mistakes they see most often. Then, put those lessons into practice with two full-length workouts. The 20-minute Morning Workout will get your day off to a refreshing start, helping you awaken and energize. The 15-minute Evening Workout restores, relaxes and soothes. Choose full, in-depth guidance as you get familiar with the routine or opt for minimal conversation so you can take in the sights and sounds of beautiful Molokai, Hawaii.
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| Mindfulness: The Power to Change Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:00 PM PST Article by William R. Murray TEDxColumbus - Maryanna Klatt PhD - Mindfulness Matters Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness — walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task we're performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and an invaluable tool for change for both seasoned Buddhist practitioners and lay readers interested in bettering their lives through full awareness.
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| Open Practice: Focus on Flow in Waking and Lucid Dreaming Posted: 30 Nov 2011 10:00 PM PST  swimming: like being back in the womb In the spirit of #OpenPractice, below is my latest conversation with Shinzen Young regarding my chosen form of practice. I hope this will be of some use for others out there who have a similar form of practice.
Dear Shinzen, I just read your latest blog post on The Dark Night. As usual, I find your articulation very concise, crisp, and clear. So thanks for that. That said, I want to ask you some specific questions about my own experience with my practice which may or may not be related to the Dark Night phenomena as you define it. First of, let me describe to you my practice in detail... My favorite of the Five Ways is "Focus on Flow" or "The Way of Flow." It's my favorite because I've discovered that I have a "knack" for detecting the expansive, contractive, and flow aspects of "reality." In short, I can easily perceive "flow" as compared to say visualizing stuff, or coming up with positive feelings, etc. Also, I'm an experienced lucid dream practitioner, meaning I can induce a lucid dream state if I put my mind to it. But what I discovered was that I could fairly easily induce a lucid dream state if I use Focus on Flow in conjunction with my lucid dream practice! Your description of "vibratory flow," "scintillating myst," and "champagne bubbles" in your Science of Enlightenment audio series are just what I needed to connect Focus on Flow with my lucid dream practice! So thanks for that articulation. I find them very useful. 1) While lying in bed I relax my whole body and focus my attention to my breathing. I note "rising" and "falling" of the abdomen as I breathe. I continue this until my body and awareness are in a state of deep relaxation (or equanimity). 2) Sooner or later, when my body and mind are completely relaxed, I start to notice a shift in awareness. The experience varies but the essence is basically the same -- suddenly, everything is vibrating, undulating, flowing! Usually, I feel my body being molded or *kneaded* like a big piece of dough. The best tangible description is as if my body is like "a seaweed being blown by underwater currents." At this point, this is where I switch gears and use Focus on Flow. As best as I can, I note the movements/vibrations as "expansion", "contraction", or just "flow." Sometimes I feel my body is being violently ripped apart. Sometimes I feel as if my body is like a thin sheet of paper constantly being folded and rolled into a dynamic "Sine" curve. The experience is quite pleasant most of the time. But sometimes it could be a little scary. For example, there are times when I feel as if there are unseen creatures/monsters/zombies gnawing at my arms, stomach, legs, and neck. I believe that this is what is called the "Bhanga" state in Buddhism. I think that this state is also related to "hypnagogic" and "hypnopompic" states. During this time I start to see terrying images, or hear scary sounds and voices. In any case, I believe that I have already acclimatized to this state and recognized it as a *sign post* to a shift to deeper (sub)conscious awareness. 3) After noticing the vibrations and flow, sooner or later, another shift in awareness happens... At this point my awareness shifts into any of the following states: (or sometimes I maintain awareness as I shift sequentially or randomly among these states.) 3.1) Lucid dream -- wherein I know that I'm dreaming and I fly around like a juvenile superhero and do all sorts of cool stuff. 3.2) Non-lucid dream -- wherein my awareness blends into a new "reality" and get lost in the appearances and experiences in the dream. 3.3) False awakenings -- wherein I get stuck into a series of "Ground Hog Day" awakenings. 3.4) In-between -- wherein I stay half-asleep/half-awake that I can still hear what's happening around me including my own *snoring* and heavy breathing. 3.5) Normal waking consciousness -- wherein I jerk back into the waking state especially when the experience was scary. 3.6) Dreamless sleep -- wherein my awareness is snuffed out like a candle and my practice turns into a good night sleep. Ok. So that's how I do my meditation/lucid dream practice. I hope I have described it in enough detail so that my questions will have more context. Now here are my questions: 1) Am I doing it right when it comes to applying Focus on Flow? 2) What are the areas where I can improve Focus on Flow so that I can maintain more concentration, clarity, and equanimity as I shift to different states of awareness? 3) Any suggestions on how I can improve my overall practice? Or how can I reach a "critical mass" in my practice similar to a retreat setting? 4) In your opinion, should I just stick with my practice or should I practice traditional sitting meditation in conjunction with my preferred practice? 5) Do you lucid dream? How do you apply your years of practice within the dream state? 6) How do you relate with the dream state or lucid dream state based on the depth of your access to various states of conscious or subconscious awareness? 7) Anything you want to add, or any question that you wished I should've asked? Basically, my goal is to be proficient enough with lucid dream practice so that I can do the Five Ways *within* the lucid dream state. In short, I have more affinity with Tibetan Dream Yoga than with the Theravada or Zen samurai bootcamp style Thank you very much for your time and guidance. Take care and keep it flowing... Geekily Yours, a.k.a. ~C4Chaos
Hi Rommel, First, as always, feel free to blog or post this interchange. 3.1) Lucid dream -- wherein I know that I'm dreaming and I fly around like a juvenile superhero and do all sorts of cool stuff. I do a lot of flying in my dreams, too. And everytime I do, I tell myself in the dream "Now don't forget, you can do this the same way in waking life." But then inevitably I forget! 3.3) False awakenings -- wherein I get stuck into a series of "Ground Hog Day" awakenings. 1) Am I doing it right when it comes to applying Focus on Flow? Definitely. 2) What are the areas where I can improve Focus on Flow so that I can maintain more concentration, clarity, and equanimity as I shift to different states of awareness? Train yourself to maintain flow through a sequence of challenge exercises: Your goal is to be able to be in the deepest flow state you can experience in #1 while in #17. It's like weight training, you build it up gradually. It may seem like an awful big homework assignment but you have the rest of your life to turn it in. When you can do number whatever and be in pure flow with consistency, you're qualified to be called Roshi. 3) Any suggestions on how I can improve my overall practice? Or how can I reach a "critical mass" in my practice similar to a retreat setting? Do you do silent, intensive retreats? If not, you should be. The combination of day-to-day practice plus periodic retreat is a good predictor of success in the noble quest. 4) In your opinion, should I just stick with my practice or should I practice traditional sitting meditation in conjunction with my preferred practice? See answer to #2. 5) Do you lucid dream? How do you apply your years of practice within the dream state? I've never cultivated intentional lucid dreaming but it does sometimes happen to me spontaneously. I do the same practices in the dream that I would do in daily life. Basically, my goal is to be proficient enough with lucid dream practice so that I can do the Five Ways *within* the lucid dream state. In short, I have more affinity with Tibetan Dream Yoga than with the Theravada or Zen samurai bootcamp style Great. However, I prefer to do my dream yoga practice in the context of a more scientifically-oriented approach rather than the traditional Tibetan or Vajrayana approach. That makes sense. So I'm interested to hear your expert opinion and your suggestions on how I can further improve my practice. See above. : ) All the best, Shinzen
Thanks, Shinzen! Will put your injunctions to practice. But I don't cook! ~ Sent from my iPhone  |
| Benefits Of Meditation - Meditation For Mind And Body Posted: 30 Nov 2011 09:00 PM PST Article by Constantine George Meditation has been around for too long to be just another buzz word in the multi-billion dollars wellness industry. Meditation is indeed the method of choice for one's spiritual evolution but this is not the benefit discussed in this article. Rather the focus is on meditation immediate benefits for your mind and body. There is not only anecdotal but also more and more scientifical evidence that meditation benefits both your mind and body in a synergistic way: your mindset influences the body and at the same time your body helps your mind go further on its quest for evolution. Meditation benefits your mind by: Increasing your awareness in every moment, as opposite of living your life on autopilot, hence everyday seems to last longer and be filled with more noticeable experiences.Increasing your focus and concentration which in turn, like a magnifying glass, helps resolve the problems at hand faster and more profound.Raising your threshold of tolerance to stress inducing events therefore you become calmer, happier and more tolerant.Increasing your intelligence. During the process of meditation, new synapses (neural connections) are formed. There are an average 100 billions neurons in anyone's brain. What differentiates us from an IQ standpoint though, is the number of neural connections. As simple as this.From a physiological perspective, your body benefits as well. This is easier to demonstrate by science. Measurable markers of meditation positive effects on one's body include: Reduced blood lactate and Cortisol, known markers of stress, depression and anxiety.Reduced blood pressure.Increased number of longevity and youthfulness hormones as Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Meditation is subsequently a less expensive and natural alternative to provide our bodies with these essential hormones.Increased number of wellbeing and happiness related hormones: Serotonin and Melatonin. It is common knowledge that happier people live longer.There are simple way! s to inc lude meditation in your daily routine without impact on your schedule. Most of us spend a lot of time in the gym taking care of our bodies. And this is perfectly all right.Shouldn't we spend just a fraction of this time though to keep our mind in shape?. Well, meditation does just that. About the AuthorConstantine George is an accomplished yoga and meditation practitioner.For easy and efficient ways to meditate without affecting your schedule, please follow the link :Meditation Benefits Chakra Meditation Balancing & Healing  |
| Improve Your Creativity Meditation - Meditation Advice Posted: 30 Nov 2011 08:00 PM PST Article by Jamie Improving your creativity is an unbelievable method for accomplishing success in life. Most people discredit meditation right off as a crazy unreal and useless thing. Yet, meditation is fast becoming something that doctors and nurses are beginning to recommend to people in battling all sorts of illness. It can be difficult to start out in something like meditation if you have little or no experience. Yet there are some great new tools available these days provided by our ever loving Internet. The results you can get from meditating properly can amaze even the most skeptical person out there. Our brain works in mysterious ways and it should stand to reason that there are some strange and mysterious remedies to kick our brain into gear so to speak. Creativity does not come easy for most people. Inspiration can be hard to come by. There are some pretty cool techniques to get your brain going in a creative manner. Music and sound is probably the most important aspect of how our brain responds to stimulation. Hearing is attributed to spirit, and sound has always been a relatively keen way to remember things. However, it does not work like a switch you can just turn on and off, it just will not work like that. Using meditation to improve your creativity is more like a slow building up of energy until it breaks. Improving your creativity by Astral Projection is in my opinion one of the most sure fire ways of getting both energy and inspiration. Trouble is Astral Projection is probably one of the most difficult things to do in life. It starts with meditation though and the practice of meditating everyday not just when you feel like it. Once you get into the habit of meditating regularly you will find that your creativity and energy levels will increase to a noticeable jump in progress. It helps in a major way to reduce stress and helps to manage emotions as well as organize your thoughts. Some of the most peaceful and beautiful times in my life have come from meditating properly w! hich is no small task. The sound and vibrations delivered from particular sounds can be the most effective way to achieve peace of mind. In short music can take you places, music designed to take you places can bring an awesome serenity to your peace of mind. After you have had a week or two's worth of proper meditation, it can improve your creativity to levels you might not have thought possible. Meditation is not easy but it can be if you have the right methods and tools. Try out Binaural Beats and see what you think after you have had some really good meditations. You will be able to think clearly and you will accomplish a lot more with a lot less effort than before hand.Improve your creativity now and see what you have been missing in life. About the AuthorMeditation is not easy but it can be if you have the right methods and tools. Try out Binaural Beats and see what you think after you have had some really good meditations. You will be able to think clearly and you will accomplish a lot more with a lot less effort than before hand. Improve your creativity now and see what you have been missing in life. Opening to Meditation: A Gentle, Guided Approach (Book & CD) Over 50 million people seek to reduce stress, according to a Stanford Research Institute study. Opening to Meditation takes the mystery out of the popular practice of meditation, making it as easy as breathing with a user-friendly book and CD. The book unfolds in three sections: The Art of Meditation, How to Practice, and Common Questions. The inspirational CD, written from a Western perspective to appeal to the rapidly growing group of beginning meditators, features two guided meditations to "Open" and "Deepen" and is set to relaxing music and soothing nature sounds. Beginners and experienced alike will benefit from this innovative, easy-to-use title.
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| A Quick Guide To Meditation - - Guide Meditation Meditation For Beginners Part One Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:00 PM PST Article by GS Virk Tip 2 for How to Hear God's Voice by DavidPaul Doyle - Quieting the Mind in Meditation  |
| Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:00 PM PST A Little Book of Love: Heart Advice on Bringing Happiness to Ourselves and Our World by Related posts:
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