wayward yogi

When Two People Are At One – I Ching

ostii — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:49:02 +0000

When two people are at one in their inmost hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze. And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts, their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance . . . → Read More: When Two People Are At One – I Ching

Getting to the Core

ostii — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:37:38 +0000

In September this year, my beautiful friend, Heather Agnew will be hosting Core Yoga Instructor Training at Hepburn Retreat Centre.

The five day intensive training program offers the opportunity to study and learn to teach a full 75 minute Core Yoga class, blending the ancient principles of Yoga with the modern precision of Pilates for a dynamic and inspiring class that will strengthen and streamline the body, enhance posture and body awareness, reduce tension and stress, and build strength and support in the abdomen and low back for better overall health and wellbeing.

No way to self-realization is short or long

ostii — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 11:25:47 +0000

“No way to self-realization is short or long, but some people are more in earnest and some are less. I can tell you about myself. I was a simple man, but I trusted my teacher. What he told me to do, I did. He told me to concentrate on ‘I am’ – . . . → Read More: No way to self-realization is short or long

Balancing the Nervous System Through Hatha Yoga

ostii — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:10:15 +0000

Let us see the meaning of word Hatha, it is made up of Ha + Tha. “Ha” means Pingala Nadi (sun principle) or right nostril and “tha” means Ida nadi, (moon principle) or left nostril. Nadi means psychic passage of energy which can be compared with nerves in physical body. Hatha means balance of Ida and Pingala Nadis, or balancing of mental energy of Ida and Vital / physical energy of Pingala Nadi. Ida Nadi can be compared with Parasympathetic Nervous system and Pingala nadi can be compared with Sympathetic Nervous System. So Hatha Yoga practices results in balancing the entire nervous system resulting in balance of Body and Mind, physical energy and mental energy. The basic purpose of Hatha Yoga is to purify the Ida and Pingala Nadis and then uniting these 2 forces with the third Psychic Nadi Sushumna, which carries Kundalini at Ajna Chakra (eyebrow center).

Hatha Yoga Pradipika starts with the Shatkarmas or cleansing processes, these processes are to remove the blockages in Nadis (psychic / pranic energy channels). A particular disorder or disease is due to blockage in pranic channel supplying vital / bio energy to the particular organ related to disorder. Cleansing techniques removes this energy blocks and the pranic energy starts flowing without hurdles, thus balancing the entire body and mind. The purification is the first in Hatha Yoga, once the body is free of disease, the next step is recommended and that is asanas.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika is one of the most authentic text books on Hatha Yoga, written in 1200 AD by Swami Swatmarama, a great Yoga Guru who formulated the principles of Hatha Yoga and systematically explained various techniques, its effects on body, mind and states of consciousness. This is a comprehensive text on Asanas, Pranayama, Cleansing techniques, Mudras (Mental attitude or gestures), Bandhas (Energy locks), Nada (Sound) Meditation and many more guidelines for following the path of Yoga.

Swami Swatmarama was the follower of Natha Tradition, (followers of Adi Nath or Lord Shiva), taught by great Gurus like Gorakshanath and then Matsyendranath. This is the tradition of sages who live in caves or Himalayas and renounce material life adopting sanyasa.

the most ecologically virtuous way to read a book starts by walking to your local library

ostii — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:18:50 +0000

In their New York Times article, How Green Is My iPad?, DANIEL GOLEMAN and GREGORY NORRIS evaluate the ecological impact of e-readers versus the good old-fashioned book.

They finish the article…

So, how many volumes do you need to read on your e-reader to break even?

With respect to fossil fuels, water use and mineral consumption, the impact of one e-reader payback equals roughly 40 to 50 books. When it comes to global warming, though, it’s 100 books; with human health consequences, it’s somewhere in between.

All in all, the most ecologically virtuous way to read a book starts by walking to your local library.

To read the full article, go to http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/04/opinion/04opchart.html

All the world needs

ostii — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:42:13 +0000

The gift you carry for others is not an attempt to save the world but to fully belong to it. It’s not possible to save the world by trying to save it. You need to find what is genuinely yours to offer the world before you can make it a better place. Discovering your unique gift to bring to your community is your greatest opportunity and challenge. The offering of that gift – your true self – is the most you can do to love and serve the world. And it is all the world needs.
- from Soulcraft by Bill Plotkin

The moment I heard my first love song

ostii — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:37:48 +0000

The moment I heard my first love song I began searching for you, not knowing how blind I was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere; they are in each other . . . → Read More: The moment I heard my first love song

The small ruby everyone wants

ostii — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:50:09 +0000

The small ruby everyone wants has fallen out on the road.

Some think it is East of us, others West of us.

Some say among primitive earth rocks;

Others, in the deep waters.

Kabir’s instinct told him it was inside,

And what it was worth -

& he wrapped it up carefully in his . . . → Read More: The small ruby everyone wants

Love what you don’t understand

ostii — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:00:59 +0000

Your task is to love what you don’t understand.

Rainer . . . → Read More: Love what you don’t understand

no impact man

ostii — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:01:39 +0000