Karmic Seeds Body Mind & Spirit

Let's get down to the root of it all, and explore the powerful, grounding root chakra.  The chakras are the seven main energy centers in the  body where  we receive, absorb and distribute life energies. They are located along the spine, starting at the base and running upwards to the crown of the head. The chakras are described as “Whirling Wheels of light” and each chakra radiates a specific color and energy. Each chakra relates to specific spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical issues. Balancing these energy centers leads to our well-being. These seven chakras can become blocked through external situations and internal habits such as long-held tension in the body or staying stuck in our thoughts about things past or constant worry about the future. As a result, a chakra can become either deficient or excessive.  Therefore this chakra is imbalanced. Practicing mantras that correspond to each chakra can release these b...

We are multidimensional beings and our earthly aspects are a very small part of who we are. Many of us are familiar with the experience of waking up to the fact that our lives are no longer working the way we have set them up. Sometimes this is due to a shift occurring inside ourselves over time, and sometimes it is part of the larger shift that is currently affecting all humanity. Change is happening at such an increased rate that it is difficult to predict what the future holds. As a result, many of the old ways of planning out a life are no longer applicable, and if we cling to them we feel strangely out of tune with reality. If we are in tune with the energies around us, we will begin to question ideas that just a few years ago seemed sensible. In the simplest terms, the shift we are undergoing right now has to do with recognizing ourselves as being more than human, remembering that our earthly aspects are a very small part of who we are. In truth, we are multidimensional being...

What Your Malasana (Squat) Can Tell You About Your Body MAY 30, 2016       BY  JENNY THOMAS Note: While some schools of yoga differentiate between  malasana  and  upavesasana (depending on the width between your feet), for the purpose of this article malasana refers to a wide-footed, deep squat. Why is  malasana —also referred to as garland pose,  upavesasana  (“sitting down pose”), or a deep squat—much easier for some than for others? The answer isn’t simple, as we all have different body proportions, joint structures, strengths, weaknesses, areas of tension, and areas of mobility. Because malasana is a complex posture involving many joints and muscle groups, all of these factors play a role in how we look and feel in the pose. The good news is that by examining malasana, you can learn more about your body’s limitations and strengths, and then use this information to enhance your overall practice and postur...

Change What Isn’t Working Steps To Freedom by   Madisyn Taylor If we don't change what isn't working in our lives, we will continually have the same day over and over again. We have all had the experience of realizing that something in our lives is not working. This knowledge can come as a sudden realization or a nagging feeling of doubt that grows stronger, waking us up to the fact that something needs to change. Some people have a tendency to act rashly and make sweeping changes before even understanding what the problem is. Other people fear change, so they live with the uncomfortable awareness that something needs to shift but won’t do anything about it. Between these two extreme responses lies a middle way that can help us powerfully and gracefully change what isn’t working in our lives. The first step is remembering that your life is made up of parts that belong to an interconnected whole. Changing one thing can change everything. Because of this, small changes o...

3 Reasons to Curb Corrections in Yoga Class MAY 23, 2016       BY  ANNA DUBROVSKY           As yoga teachers, we exhort students to listen to their bodies. But let’s face it, we spend most of class telling them exactly what to do.  Tilt your chin like this. Hinge forward like that. Press out through the balls of your feet. Shift your weight to your heels.  When instructions don’t have the desired effect, we dole out verbal corrections and physical adjustments. The goal is to get students safely and more deeply into poses, and that’s a worthy endeavor. But there may be a better way, says Leslie Kaminoff, coauthor of  Yoga Anatomy  and founder of The Breathing Project in New York City.  For Kaminoff, the answer lies not in correcting students but in facilitating self-inquiry. The outspoken yoga educator has long been preoccupied with how to individualize instruction in a g...