Why Hurry Through?

New York State

     This week in my yoga classes the theme is "Why Hurry Through?" I realized, as I'm sure many of you have, that hurrying has become a way of life. Yes, even hurrying through a yoga class. But why? Why hurry through a day, an hour, a life? What's the point? 

     From the book Journey to the Heart, Melody Beattie discusses how hurrying never catches up with itself. It misses out. It strains. It stresses. It doesn't follow the natural rhythm, the natural order, of the universe. Perhaps it's time to slow down and tap into the rhythm of the world. It appears nature has figured this out very nicely. Now it's our turn to tap into our own rhythm as we dance through life. 

     Think about it for a moment. When you hurry, it is as if you are dancing out of step to the music. It feels awkward, doesn't it? You literally feel like you are stepping on your own feet. So why do it?When we hurry, it strains and stresses. We stop enjoying life. We are too busy hurrying, racing blindly to somewhere or anywhere for that matter. It's like a race to the next moment. It really is ridiculous when you stop to think about it. 

     What if  just for today you step in time to the music - the rhythm of the universe. This rhythm will lead you to where you want to go. It will take your through all the tasks that need doing. And, as a bonus, it will take you  down the road to spiritual growth, healing, fulfillment, and joy!

Om!

Mary Jane - Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Down Dogs and More Down DOgs...

Brooklyn, New York

     Do you ever get the urge to pop into a Downward Facing Dog? I know I do. I couldn't resist while walking through Brooklyn the other day to take a pause and move into a down dog. There is something about this asana that feels like coming home. Maybe it has something to do with its meaning.

     Think about household dogs. They are known to be loyal and unconditionally loving to their masters. In essence, this reflects our relationship with the Divine. Bhakti Yoga is a path where emotion is transformed to devotion. The Bhakti always has his/her mind focused on God, seeing the presence of the divine in all things. In the same way, the dog is ever watchful, giving loyalty and undying love and devotion to his master. 

     The geometrical shape of this asana mirrors the triangle. Our bodies support and hold this shape in order to transcend. Shapes, like asanas, are used to withdraw consciousness from outer to inner worlds. As your body takes the shape of this pose, there is an invocation to enter the field of higher consciousness. 

     In this pose, the buttock bones are the apex, drawing light to the lower limbs as well as into the upper body.There is a gateway portal at the heart center drawing the ch'i (energy) from the lower chakras towards the upper chakras for refinement. Prana naturally rises upward freeing the mind of chaos. This occurs when the navel is relaxed so ch'i can pass through the gateway of the heart. The heart offers itself to the head elongating the neck and bringing the chin to the chest. This initiates the third lock, activating the network to the brain. The throat lock also stimulates the thymus, thyroid and parathyroid endocrine glands. 

     Many times in this pose there is a tendency to arch the back. This only creates compression of the spine. To avoid this, concentrate on lifting the ribcage up off the pelvic region. If you do not the energy coagulates in the lower chakras. Furthermore, it is important to soften the navel center so prana can flow with ease. When energy flows upward we connect with the Divine will.

Om!

Mary Jane - Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Stepping Into The Unknown Can Be Exhilarating!

August 2019 Vol. 1, No. 2 Stepping Into the Unknown Can Be Exhilarating! Welcome to the Wisdom Buffet Writers Newsletter.  Each month I invite you to explore some of chapters from our six book series that focuses on topics such as Happiness, Health, Love, Harmony, Power, Strength, Perfection, and Wholeness. Let's begin with stepping into the unknown... Stepping into the unknown is a challenge, but it also can be exhilarating. Fighting for your dreams and pushing boundaries takes courage, strength, and commitment. When you approach life from a position of strength and integrity - real change and growth can happen. A critical process in stepping into the unknown is to engage in each moment and be in a state of gratitude for new skills and knowledge gained. When you are focused you become stronger, more courageous, encouraged and motivated. Experiencing each step - rickety or not - and accept it for what it is, makes all the difference. This process no doubt means taking risks. Risk is, by nature, scary. It is unpredictable and leads down a path of uncertainty, potential criticism and humiliation. No wonder so few actually blaze that path. But should criticism and humiliation matter? In actuality, what counts is if you are willing to do what it takes to achieve. Part of stepping into the unknown is to vividly imagine, believe, and enthusiastically act upon an idea. It is living creatively moment by moment. This is the difference between actualizing your life situation and sitting in the background waiting for things to change. Think about it, in each moment, you can redirect the scene according to your thoughts. The key is to imagine what you want as if it is presently happening - not a year from now or when you think you will have the resources. Otherwise , it will remain a dangling thought somewhere in the ether.   Think of your future...Chapter 1 Strong, Perfect, Whole: Becoming Who You Want to Be available on Amazon or visit: www.thewisdombuffet.com Tips To Mend Your Relationship with Perfection Write down the qualities you have you're grateful for. Put them on small pieces of paper in a jar on your desk or nightstand. After 27 days, read them all. Throw them away and start over. It's okay to repeat some of the things. After the first 27 days, your life will change dramatically. You will feel a renewed sense of yourself and your life. 2. Try Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), also known as tapping. It helps release blocks and you can do it on yourself. 3. Make a positive change in your life. It could be leaving a job, like I did, or cutting off communication from someone toxic. Change self-defeating beliefs by listening to motivational and inspirational speakers, like Abraham Hicks. 4. Identify habits that have evolved from...Chapter 4: Strong, Perfect, Whole: Becoming Who You Want to Be available on Amazon or visit www.the wisdombuffet.com What's Love Got To Do With It? When we're young, most of us don't give too much thought to our health, and then before we know it, and the older we become, it starts taking center stage. It seems everyone is talking about it; everyone is doing something about it. Whether joining some new cross-training fitness class, jumping onboard the juicing and cleansing craze, or following the diet du jour, everyone is trying some new prescriptions for better health. As the years rolled by and life became more demanding, good health meant more to me. I soon came to realize the benefits of stress reduction techniques such and meditation and yoga to improve my mental and emotional health. Many times however, I would repeatedly sabotage myself and slack off, waking up to bad habits instead of my crossed legs and meditation. It wasn't until I grasped the concept of Wabi Sabi, that I understood my life wasn't just about setting and meeting one goal after another. It was about living, loving, experimenting, learning, applying and sometimes, even discarding. And most importantly, I was told... Chapter 7 Journey to Health Living Well From the Inside Out available on Amazon or visit: www.thewisdombuffet.com The Wisdom Buffet Writers are eight individuals with a common thread - Feng Shui - the ancient Chinese Philosophy of living in harmony with the natural rhythm of the Universe. Each practices some form of energy healing including yoga, Tai Qi Gong, Life Coaching, Environmental Healing, Reiki, Massage Therapy, and Chinese Medicine. To learn more about the writers, their philosophy, and their other books in the series visit: www.thewisdombuffet.com.   Happiness Health Harmony Love Power Whole Copyright © 2019 Wisdom Buffet Writers, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to our newsletter at our website, or one of our live classes or seminars. Contact us: http://thewisdombuffet.com/about-our-authors/ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The Symbol of the Lotus and Padmasana Pose

Brooklyn, NY

     It is no coincidence that the seat for the creative sound "om" is the unstained flower of the lotus, which represents purity and perfection. Despite its regal blossom, the lotus comes from humble beginnings. It's seed is planted in muck at the bottom of a murky pond. Although far beneath the surface of the water, the lotus root takes hold, and the shoot starts to search for the sun. Symbolically the sun represents illuminated knowledge, or ultimate truth. Once on top of the water, the blooming lotus takes care that none of its petals touch the murky water. Looking at the flower, one would have no idea that it came from such murky beginnings.

     The journey of the sacred flower reflects the journey of the yogi. We are rooted in the earth, absorbed by the endless cycle of births, deaths, sicknesses, tragedies, celebrations, bills, and family relations. The yogi knows this muck as the dirt of avidya, the great mistake of identifying ourselves with something other then our divine nature. By sitting in this position, we are connected firmly to the earth and to our roots. As with the lotus, our humble beginnings need not prevent us from blossoming in purity.

Om!

Mary Jane - Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Beds and Borders in Your Garden

Louis Fusco - Landscape Architect Pound Ridge, NY

     Flowerbeds are an attractive feature in yards and gardens. The shape of flowerbeds has a tremendous impact on how energy moves. Generally speaking, the edges of beds and borders should follow gentle curves rather than straight lines. However, there is an exception to this rule.  Areas that are overly yin (shaded), can benefit from more chi (energy). A straight path will effectively encourage energy to flow faster in that direction. Homes that are positioned to the southwest do well with straight-line edges to flowerbeds since the chi wanes as the sun is in its descent. 

     A trellis, hedge, fence, shed or flowerbed can act as a border. Many times the back edge of the border will be straight and in need of softening. The best way to do this is to plant shrubs or bushy plants in varying heights. A line of fruit trees can also work to soften a rock wall border. The idea is to bring a balance between yin and yang factors for a particular area.

     Edging flowerbeds is a practical way to divide the point between the flowerbed and the path, paving, or lawn next to it with some kind of edging. This can take the form of a height differential, or it can be edging tiles, stones or railroad ties. When you change the height it encourages energy to flow from higher to lower parts of the landscape. Flowerbeds that are raised above the path will allow energy to spill onto the path below. You can also grow plants to trail over the edge of a border wall. This will effectively hold the flowerbed back. You can raise energy by planting tall plants with varying colors and width. Mixing up the foliage is not only appealing to the eye but extremely effective in moving energy through the beds.

   Organizing your outdoor environment is just as important as your indoor space. Explore the possibilities of creating an intriguing yard and garden. Reference a landscape architect for ideas and professional plans. The possibilities are endless in creating a haven for repose and harmony.

Mary Jane Kasliner

Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Think of Your Body as a Wave

Prince Edward Island, Canada

     As I was flowing through my sun salutations on the side-yard of a charming Bed and Breakfast located at Prince Edward Island, Canada, I realized my body felt like a wave of energy. The flow from upward - facing dog to downward facing dog evoked a sensation of a wave reaching its crest before crashing into the shoreline.

     Think about it for a moment, when you practice Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, your body curls up and forward like a wave, evoking the suspended moment just before a wave crashes. It's interesting how your body weight is balanced between your palms and the tops of your feet - two opposite ends of the body that work synergistically in this pose. Your collar bones are broad as your heart reaches up and forward towards the light - a reminder to lead with your heart as you walk through life. 

     In a brief moment, the wave of your body subsides as you release to the next pose. This is an important phase in the flowing process. In other words, in upward-facing dog, simply open and pause. Let the energy that surrounds your body in this pose be fully absorbed through your hands, feet, legs, torso, and through the third eye. Flow up and flow back and think of your body as a wave!

Om!

Mary Jane - Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Om Kali Ma

Babakishor - Rishikesh, India

I met Babakishor when I was in India. He has since passed. This pose amazed me and especially how he entered it with such ease, yet with a primal power. Today, in Yoga 365, the focus is about accessing your primal power - your ferocity. We contain both gentleness and ferocity. While ferocity may sometimes be an unattractive quality, it is essential to surviving in the world and to protecting those we love. Om Kali Ma is a mantra we can chant to invoke ferocity. Om evokes everything that exists, Kali is the most ferocious of goddesses, and Ma means divine mother. When we are pushed to our limit , when someone we love is imperiled, or when we need to defend ourselves, we can chant Om Kali Ma to access the primal power within.

Om!

Mary Jane Kasliner

Feng Shui Yoga Girl - www.fengshuiyoganj.com