"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: The Summer Solstice Significance in Yoga.

Illustration: www.anncurchgaglianoillustrator.com

The summer solstice is a powerful time of the year and especially powerful for the fire element - the element associated with the solar plexus chakra (Manipura). A beautiful way to celebrate this time of year is through 108 sun salutations to open up the portal to higher self through the super-conscious layer or the tear-drop of the heart - Manipura.

Why 108? A japa mala or mala is an eastern rosary with 108 beads. The mala is used both in Hinduism and Buddhism for counting mantras, chants or prayers. 108 has been a sacred number for a long time, and this number is explained in many different ways. Here are a few explanations:

• Indian/Buddhist thought states that the outer universe is mirrored in the inner man. He is the microcosm and the objective universe is the macrocosm. The number 108 represents the distance between the devotee and the God within.
• The chain of 108 links is held together by 107 joints, the number of marmas, or weak spots, in the body according to the Ayurvedic way.
• The 108 sacred meridians points on the human body in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• The 108 Karanas of dance, with 108 movements.
• The Chinese, very aware of the esoteric and the use of this same symbolism employed it also in their various systems, Taoist and Buddhist. The Yang style form with 108 moves is an example.
• The 108 stations a candidate had to go through to leave the temple, the 108 steps through danger and death, which also signifies the level of the spiritual adept who must overcome on the spiritual planes the 108 intermediate regions of danger and trial.
• The distance between the earth and sun = 108 times the diameter of the sun.
• Distance between the earth and the moon = 108 times the moon's diameter
• The diameter of the sun = 108 times the diameter of the earth.

Lastly and most importantly, the beads represent, in a simple yet powerful way, the ideas of karma and reincarnation--a rarely disclosed fact. The thread that the beads are strung upon symbolizes the Sutratma, the Spirit or Thread Soul. This is the reincarnating Ego, our true Self, that dons a new garment, a new personality for each lifetime. Each bead strung on the thread is one of those lives that has served its purpose in the evolution of the Higher Self, our God within. We are supposed to join with that inner divinity by building a bridge, called Antahkarana, through meditation and other disciplines......this
is enlightenment.

Namaste,

Mary Jane
fengshuiyoganj.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Poses to Ease daily Anxiety!

Let's face it, who isn't anxious these days. Why not make a point of taking a few minutes to delve into some yoga poses that will ease your worries, quiet your mind, and put you in a better place.

1. Puppy Pose: Get on all fours - hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Bring your hands forward and place your forehead on the mat.Palms touching the ground in front of you, thighs vertical and top of feet on the ground with toes curled under. Lift your elbows slightly off the ground and rotate the eyes of your elbows slightly inward. Push your hands into the floor and feel the stretch in the arms. At the same time pull your butt backwards towards your knees. Soak in an entire stretch in your body.

2. Child's Pose is always a winner when it comes to releasing stress.Get on your hands and knees placing knees together and ease your rear back so you are sitting on your heels and your forehead is touching the floor. Extend your arms back towards your feet and just relax.

3. Seated Forward Bend: Sit with your legs together on the floor in front of you. Flex the feet so the toes point upward. Plant your tailbone into the earth and straighten the spine. Inhale and extend your arms overhead - elbows to ears. Exhale hinge from the hips and lead with your heart and fold. Lift the lower belly and get long on the side body. Feel the inner seams of your thighs melt down and continue to keep the feet active by flexing them. Relax your mind and your breath while enjoying this pose.

Of course doing any of these poses are fantastic but in order to keep your mind at peace you also need to make sure your environment is at peace. Check out my feng shui mini-series programs and create a nurturing and high vibrating environment!

~Om!

Mary Jane - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini; Walking Meditation

Meditation is very difficult to do. But here is a great way to tap into the quietude of meditation without having to sit! It's called walking meditation. Walking meditation clearly means practicing meditation while walking. Walking like a free person (free from the past, free from the future) is a powerful way to nourish an abundance of joy. Every step you take be mindful. Challenge yourself to concentrate on your mind and body. For example, when you take a step (breathing in), you may say "I have arrived." As you take another step (breathing out), you may say "I am home." The idea is that you create this mantra as you are walking and remain connected to the present moment. You are coming home to life, in the here and now.


~Om

Mary Jane - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Be Your Best Self!

How can you be your best self? Here are three simple steps to follow:

1. Continuously Learn: There is so much wisdom available to us, it is almost overwhelming. Every day there are new things to discover. If you continuously are eager to learn it is much easier to grow and develop into our best selves.

2. Implement Small Changes: Instead of trying to change everything all at once, choose different areas of your life, to focus on and implement small changes until they become habits.

3. Surround Yourself with Awesome People:  I think we can all identify with those people who suck the positive energy from you. It's time to remove those people from your life and focus on surrounding yourself with awesome people. You'll be amazed how much lighter you feel and how much you can learn.

~Om - Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Let your Body Lead You!

Our bodies can help provide us with direction. When we are centered and balanced, our body will help show us what we really want to do. We will literally lean toward or away from what we like or don't like. We tend to spend most of our lives forcing our body into situations, into energy fields and circumstances that it leaned away from, resisted, moved back from. Then we wondered why we hurt and felt uncomfortable.

The more we honor our body, the more it will help lead us. And the more it will become a natural guide helping us on our path, reflecting the desires of our heart and soul. The more we learn to trust our body, the more we will becomes in harmony with our natural rhythms, the cycles and movements of our lives.

Trust the wisdom of your body, for it often reflects the wisdom of your soul.

~Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Illustrator: www.anncurchgaglianoillustrator.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Tight Hamstrings!

Tight hamstrings in those forward folds? Seems like everyone has something to moan about when it comes to forward folds. But is it really your hamstrings or is it scarred fascia? Here are a few tips in getting those hamstrings "unstuck!"

• Try sitting in staff pose (dandasana) with a 1/2 rolled yoga mat beneath your knees. Press you feet against a wall and align your middle toes pointing upward with feet hip distance apart.
• Elongate the spine and gently curve your lower back towards your belly.
• Take the weight into your hands and track your knees carefully - hold for several minutes.
• Next, stand and come to 1/2 forward fold (ardha uttanasana) with hands on blocks and create a right angle between your spine and thighbones.
• Track the weight to your feet and hold for 2 minutes. Make sure your feet are well rooted so you don't feel pulling sensation in the buttock.
• You can practice going further in your forward folds once you have practiced the aforementioned points.

Ommm!

~Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Illustrator: www.anncurchgaglianoillustrator.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Ego Eradicator

This is such a great pose to help move from the ego state of mind. Sit in easy pose (sukasana) and apply chin lock (Jalandhara Bandha). Curl your fingertips onto the pads of the palms, with thumbs stretched back and aimed at each other above the head. Begin breath of fire. This is a rhythmic, continuous breath through the nostrils in which on each exhale you pull the navel point back and upward; breathe at roughly 40 - 60 breaths per minute. To end, take a big inhale, suspend the breath and touch your thumbs together above your head. Exhale and release your arms down and touch your fingertips to the ground.

Om~
Mary Jane
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: So True!

I love this quote - so true!

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.

If you are anxious you are living in the future.

If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

~ Lao Tzu

~<Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

"Pie in the Sky' Yogini: Supported Virasana (Hero Pose)

Virasana or hero's pose is wonderful to support with a block between your heels so the short edges of the block center on your ankles. Sit back and press the tops of your feet and toenails evenly into the ground. Inhale and lengthen the crown of your head upwards. Make sure the block evenly supports both sitting bones. Place your hands on your thighs or over your belly as you roll your shoulder heads back. Begin to cultivate the breath - the victorious breath (Ujjayi) by sweeping the breath along the back of your throat. Enjoy this asana with each breath and expand through the heart.

Omm - Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Illustrator: www.anncurchgaglianoillustrator.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Matsyasana - Fish Pose

Matsyasana or fish pose is an excellent shoulder and chest opener. It's fantastic if you are experiencing a tight middle back. It also stretches the neck and thyroid and offers a balance of opening without grasping, and relaxing without collapsing.

One of the most important things to remember, in terms of alignment, is not to let the feet flop out or collapse through the shoulders. You can avoid those pitfalls if you keep your legs active, hug muscle to bone, while flexing though the feet. In addition, allow the arms to extend by your sides and keep elbows lifted off the floor by walking your fingers towards your feet until your arms are straight. Place your focus on the sensation of your breath and relax.

~Mary Jane
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Illustrator: www.anncurchgaglianoillustrator.com

"Pie in the Sky" Yogini: Spring Clean Your Inner Life!

Ways to Spring Clean our Inner Lives:

1. Make time for mindful living.

Take time for a daily walk. Instead of going through a laundry list of things you need to do observe your surroundings, the colors, flowers, birds, sounds and smells.  Focus on opening your senses and enjoy the walk by being fully present in it.

2. Mindful living is a practice that can extend into all areas of our lives.

Being fully present strengthens our relationships and helps us prioritize our values. We can cook, clean, care for our children and work mindfully. By focusing on the here and now, we can clear out the clutter of worry and stress about the future.

3. Meditate.

Our lives often move along at a near-frantic pace, and meditation helps us slow down long enough to simply exist within our own bodies without being overrun by thoughts. It really doesn't matter how long you meditate for. It is more important to make the effort. Increasing the time you sit will come gradually and without effort.

4. Utilize positive affirmations.

There are a plethora of positive affirmations you can use throughout the day. Here's a simply one: "I'm enough".

5. Begin (or continue) a yoga practice.

You'll find this practice to clear your mind and open your body. As a yoga teacher, I find if I miss a day of practice things tend to get chaotic for me. Start slow with your practice and let it build with time. Trust me, you will feel the difference physically and mentally.

6. Create quiet spaces in your family routines.

Turn off your phone, computer and TV during meals, when your reading or meditating. Let that time be special without interruption.

7. Take time to be outdoors.

Taking mindful walks or just spending time outside can help de-clutter our lives. There is something so settling about spending time in nature. A breath of fresh air and a little sunshine can help restore our spirits and bring a sense of calm to our lives.

8. Donate an item each time you purchase a new one.

Rather than allowing your possessions to quickly take over your space, you can choose to give something away and make room for something new. By keeping your environment clear of additional clutter, you can help keep your inner life free of clutter as well.

9. Focus on gratitude.

When we count our blessings each day, we’re more likely to be content in our lives rather than dissatisfied. Gratitude helps us realize that what we have is enough and that we are blessed in so many ways. Difficult days make gratitude a challenge, but these days are the ones where it’s most important to find something we’re thankful for.

10. Make time to laugh daily.

This one speaks for itself...LAUGH!

11. Nurture the relationships in our lives that nurture us.

We need to stop giving our time to the relationships that drain us. Instead, we can focus on building up the relationships where we are loved and supported.

12. Commit our time only to the essentials.

This goes back to examining your priorities. Rather than choosing to overwhelm yourself with obligations, commit to less activity and participate in the activities you choose more fully because you have the time and energy to put into them.

This spring as you de-clutter your home think about de-cluttering your life also. This way both you and your environment will shine.

~Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Illustrator: www.anncurchgaglianoillustrator.com

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