Pose of Infinity

This is a pose that illuminates the first, secon and third chakra points. The vayus of samana and vyana are also activated. It is a powerful stretch for the groin and leg muscles, balances the immune system and rejuvenates the nervous system.

Key Points:

• Support the head by placing hand just above the ear
• Supporting arm should be in one straight line with the body
• Engage bandhas
• Hold on to lifted leg with hand or strap at any point that feels comfortable
• Open deeply through the lifted leg
• Draw the breath through the soles of the feet
• Exhale (samana vayu ) to massage the pelvic area and organs
• Let the mind be still
• Release slowly back to center and repeat opposite side

Om!

Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Runner Pose

Ashwa Sanchalasana or runner pose is one of the most common poses in yoga practice. It naturally activates the first, second and sixth chakra. It strengthens and aligns the legs, opens the hip joints in extension and flexion, helpful for sciatica and massages the digestive and reproductive organs. Here are a few tips to consider for this pose.

• Make sure the front foot is positioned between the hands and knee is in alignment with the ankle.
• Hug muscle to bone as you extend the back leg lifting the knee from the earth.
• Lift up through the fingertips or rest hands on blocks.
• Check the pelvis is square and level in relation to the torso.
• Create a straight line of energy from the back heel through the spine to the crown of the head.
• Stretch the body in opposite directions - front shin forward and back heel backward.
• With each inhalation, draw the breath up through the sole of the back foot into the hips and pelvis, with each exhalation allow the breath to open and expand and open the pelvic area.
• Soften and relax the mind.

Om!

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

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Be Happy!

"The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters."

I love this quote by Audrey Hepburn. It's short, sweet and to the point. This is just one of the many quotes you can find in the Happiness Chronicles - Short Stories and Recipes for a Happy Life. It is a unique collective experience of eight energy healing practitioners known as the Wisdom Buffet Writers. Here's a little sampling from my chapter; The Happiness Cookbook.

The Daily Sweetener  presented to me by my meditation teacher Anmol Mehta, this recipe offer 10 simple ingredients for daily happiness.

Ingredients:

• Wake up early
• Move the body enough to break a sweat
• Regular meditation
• Time in nature
• Completion of daily affairs
• Alone time
• Daily accounting
• One good deed a day
• Healthy entertainment
• A daily Challenge

Directions:

Begin by rising early and get in tough with yourself. Simmer, and feel more focused throughout the day. Add a healthy portion of exercise to release toxins and keep your body in shape. Bring to a low boil while slowly adding daily meditation to cultivate a peaceful and open mind; strengthen the connection to your spirit. Let these ingredients cultivate your love for creation. Spend time in nature. Complete daily affairs by replacing procrastination with alone time without distractions of your cell phone, computer, or TV.

As you bring the ingredients to a second boil, do some daily accounting. Reflect on your actions, words, and thoughts, especially in trying moments. Add a double serving of good deeds for others, and let it set for several minutes before adding entertainment. Finally, take on a new challenge. Consume daily, and this recipe will serve you for a lifetime.

Read more satisfying recipes and short stories by visiting Amazon for your copy!

Mary Jane Kasliner

Discover Your Own Truth

No truth is ours until we make it our own. All the truths in the world don't matter unless and until we discover them to be true for ourselves. That's what the journey is about. The lesson we are seeking comes from inside us, from our hearts, from our deep abiding connection to consciousness and the truth.

Today, in your yoga practice think about heart and throat opening asanas like camel and cobra. Let the sound mantra "Yam" and "Ham" reverberate through the heart and throat respectively. Get in touch with your authentic self and your truth.

Om!

Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Trimurti Hand Mudra

Trimurti hand mudra is a powerful sacred symbol. As you create a triangle with your hands on your navel, you are invoking ‘Trimurti’, the three energies of life: creation, sustenance and transformation. A very soothing mudra, Trimurti can help you to tune in to feel and awaken your inner healing source. This is one of the best mudras to practice during times of transition and change.

Om!

MJ Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Marichi Pose!

This asana, named after the sage Marichi (son of the creator Brahma and grandfather of the Sun of God, Surya), is excellent for the abdominal region as it causes those organs to contract, thereby increasing circulation.

Steps:

1. Start in Dandasana, sitting with your legs straight in front of you. You can fold a blanket underneath your hips, or roll half of the yoga mat to bring your hips a bit higher.
2. Bend your right knee, and bring the heel as close to the sitting bone as feels possible. Your right foot is flat on the ground, and the left foot is straight, left knee and toes are pointing up. Press the heel of the left leg onto the floor to activate the back of the leg.
3. You can keep a slight internal rotation in the left leg, while the right, bent leg has a slight external rotation. Turn your upper body gently towards the left, so that the right shoulder rotates towards the left leg, and the left shoulder rotates back.
4. Inhale your right arm up to shoulder level, and turn the thumb down. Exhale, start folding forward, and bring the right arm from outside your bent leg towards the right outer thigh.
5. Inhale, and with an exhalation bring your left arm behind your back, and take a hold of your wrists or fingers behind your back.
6. Keeping your back long, and keeping space between your pubic bone and navel, fold more forward. Draw your shoulder blades back towards your hands.
7. Stay for 3-6 long breaths.
8. To come out, release the hands first, sit up slowly, straighten the leg and take a few breaths before you repeat on the other side.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Fire

What can we learn from the element of fire? In nature it represents the largest star in our solar system - the sun, that provides the planet earth with life force energy. Fire illuminates so we can see clearly and become the creator of our own destiny. It helps us to remain present, in the "here and now" reminding us to filter through the endless information that can fill our days with nothingness. Fire represents the joy of summer, a time of year where everything comes out to play, flowers are in bloom, and laughter is in the air. It is the element of the heart, the flame within that reminds us to give as much as we take. It is the element of power that implores us to move beyond reactive and destructive ways to settle conflicts. The more consciously aware we become the greater our understanding of what true power is. Build fire today in your yoga practice with sun salutations. Start with 5 and continue until you build that spark of life - agni within.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Follow the Tao

Tao is a Chinese word, meaning "the way" or "the path". Taoism is an Eastern philosophy based on the principle that life involves a ceaseless movement and flow from one form to another. Problems arise when we attempt to resist or control the natural pattern of change. Harmony can be restored by following the Tao  or going with the flow and accepting the ever-changing pattern of life without judgment or resistance.

In your yoga practice today, let your  asanas unfold, flow and naturally take shape. Don't push or get stuck in the outer layer of your body (annamaykosha). Instead, follow the path of your breath and let your intuitive body flow.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Early Morning Yoga Practice

I'm not one that generally likes to wake up early for anything, but this one morning while on vacation at Prince Edward Island, I did just that. There is a very distinct difference in the feel of the atmosphere. The ions are freshly imbued with the sun in its' ascent position. It's amazing how energized you feel at the end of your yoga practice. If you never have rolled out your mat and practiced in the early morning hours, I suggest you give it a try. Perhaps commit to setting your alarm for those early morning hours and force yourself to get up and practice. When your done take a few moments to journal your thoughts and see what comes up.

Om,

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Ashwa Sanchalasana - Runner

This is an excellent grounding pose for excessive air or vatta. The chakras that illuminate with this pose are the first, second and sixth. The breath concentration is samana (belly circular), prana (chest) and apana (downward). Key points to remember in this pose is to align knee and ankle of forward leg while hugging muscle to bone. The pelvis should remain square while creating a straight line of energy from the back heel through the spine to the crown of the head. With each inhalation visualize a spiral of energy moving into the chest through the crown of the head. With each exhalation, feel apana vayu cleansing and purifying as it moves down and out of the base of the body. This pose is very helpful for sciatica and digestive issues.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Manomayakosha!

The 3rd sheath or layer of the body is revealed - manomayaksha. It is the mental and emotional body that reveals a basis for clear perception and skillful action. It is a gross expression of the mind where we relate mentally and emotionally with the world. It is comprised of four aspects of cognition; mind (manas), ego (ahankara), intellect (Buddhi), and mind stuff. Moving through this layer allows us to get to the good stuff, our intuition and higher thinking abilities. Daily meditation practice helps to clear the excess to help free up the mind so we are better able to discern what is real.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Daily Energy!

Yin fire rabbit is a combination of wood and fire; two very aggressive elements. You'll want to get rolling on any unfinished projects or business dealing today. Marketing is another interesting component to this combination. When is the last time you looked at your business cards or website? Today may be the day to make some changes in these areas.

The fire rabbit combination responds well to new ideas because there is a natural ability to express them well. This is also a great energy combination for leading others. Avoidance of confrontations is a must for the fire rabbit. Use intuition wisely today for best outcome in whatever you are doing.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Daily Astrology - Yin Fire Rabbit

Yin fire rabbit is a combination of wood and fire; two very aggressive elements. You'll want to get rolling on any unfinished projects or business dealing today. Marketing is another interesting component to this combination. When is the last time you looked at your business cards or website? Today may be the day to make some changes in these areas.

The fire rabbit combination responds well to new ideas because there is a natural ability to express them well. This is also a great energy combination for leading others. Avoidance of confrontations is a must for the fire rabbit. Use intuition wisely today for best outcome in whatever you are doing.

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

What Are You Resisting Most?

Olympic National Park - 2011

What are you resisting most is the question for today? What matters is to be open to the whole journey and not just parts of it. In your yoga practice today, explore if there is a feeling, a person, a thought, a project that you have been avoiding. Is there something you are refusing to deal with, something you are resisting. Ignore the voice that is resisting and be open to everything. Your greatest lesson may come from those things you are resisting the most.

Yoga Practice Suggestions:

Try long deep hip openers like lizard or pigeon pose. Stay in the pose for at least 5 full minutes and resist the urge to release from the pose. See what comes us when you ask yourself the question; "What are you resisting most?"

                                                                      Lizard Pose

                                                           

                                                                     Pigeon Pose

                                                                  Mary Jane Kasliner

                                                             www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Sometimes our Hips Just Feel Tight!

Arizona Airport

Let's face it, sometimes our hips just feel tight. It's so important however to maintain flexibility in the hip joint for lower back health and the ability to sit for long periods of time. Here is a good standing routine that I read about in Yoga Journal. I included only the standing poses of this sequence. 

• Sit in easy pose and lengthen your spine with every inhalation. Straighten your arms and lean forward, staying on the fingertips for 5 breaths.
• Downward Facing Dog - Work on straightening your legs and moving your heels towards the earth. Stay for several breaths.
• Forward Fold - From down dog, walk your feet up between your hands to forward fold. Stay in forward fold (with bent knees if need be), for 5 breaths.
• Extended Side Angle - Lengthen your torso and open your hip (bent knee leg), by using your arm to press you knee open. Hold for several breaths and repeat opposite side.
• Tree Pose - Make sure your pelvis is even in all direction, as you hug the outer hip in toward the mid-line (standing leg), Connect your eyes to one point and grow your hands overhead. Stay for 5 breaths and repeat opposite side.
• Warrior 2 - From down dog move your right foot between your hands and turn your back toes in slightly toward the left side of your mat, then rise to stand and bring both arms parallel to the earth. Root down through the back leg, squeeze the pelvic floor, lift the lower belly slightly. Move the right knee towards the 2nd and 3rd toe and continue to root down. Build a strong foundation hugging muscle to bone and let the upper body float into grace. Hold for 5 breaths and repeat opposite side.
• Triangle Pose - From warrior 2, straightened your front leg and shift the front hip back as you reach forward and grab your right ankle with your right hand (right side perspective). If props are needed by all means go for it. Float your spine over the front leg and open your chest. Let your heart shine towards the heavens. Send your gaze upward or if any neck tension look down towards the earth.
• Standing Half Moon - From triangle pose, look down and slide your right hand about a foot in front of you, a little to the right of your right foot. Step the left leg up and hug your right hip toward the mid-line. Stack your shoulders and lengthen both sides of your waist, draw the ribs and navel inward. Take your gaze to the mat, to the side or upward. Hold for several breaths.
• Horse Stance- Place your feet 3-4 feet apart, with toes turned out at 45 degrees. Squat down so your knees track towards the second toes. With af lat back, extend your chest as you pull your hips back. You can take any arm position that feels comfortable to you while in this pose. Hold for 5 - 8 breaths. 
• Bound Side Angle - From down dog, place your right foot between your hand and turn your back toes slightly inward, bend your right knee, place your right elbow on your right knee, and lift your arm skyward. Internally rotate the top arm and bring it behind your back, then bring your right arm under your right leg to bind. Get long in the spine and pull the right hip underneath you. Hold the pose for 5 breaths and repeat other side.

Other hips release ideas:

• Butterfly pose
• Head of the knee pose
• Seated forward bend
• One legged king pigeon

Here's to happy hips!Mary Jane Kasliner
www.fengshuiyoganj.com