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E W S L E T T E R.. A R C H I V E S
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O G A L I C I O U S #23
— AUGUST
/ 2002
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Namaste Yogis and Yoginis, Welcome to Yogalicious 23. Lately, the focus of my practice is meditation and using a more meditative approach in my classes. Therefore, the topic of meditation totally inspires this issue. In fact, I have so much stuff I want to share about meditation I cannot do it in one issue. So, this issue will serve as a sort of 101, and next month will continue where this one leaves off. Enjoy Your Labor Day Holiday! Shanti, |
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IN THIS ISSUE ——
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| BUDDHIST MEDITATION SITE |
| POWER OF PRAYER |
| WILLY WONKA |
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| WORDS OF WISDOM |
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"We are all like a well that has its source in common underground stream which supplies all. The deeper down I go, the closer I come to the source which puts me in contact with all other life." — John Welch |
| MEDITATION 101 |
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During our day, we are bombarded with sensory input and our minds are continuously thinking. We are perpetually engaged in "the Drama of Me." Usually, we are not aware of the ceaseless mental activity and distractions that prevent us from being fully present. Meditation allows us to see this more clearly and to quiet the "racket". Through practice, we teach the mind to become one-pointed and steady. As it stills, we naturally become less habitual, more open and clear minded. We begin to feel as though we've come out of a haze and at last see things clearly. back to top |
| TRANCE DANCE |
| Did you know that Asanas were developed by The Ancient Master Meditators? After hours in a meditative state, they would spontaneously move into a 'posture' to help relieve tension from sitting and to encourage the flow of prana (energy). Ultimately, they performed postures so they could sit in meditation longer. back to top |
| BENEFITS OF MEDITATION |
| Can you believe meditation does all this? ~ Stimulates/kicks in parasympathetic nervous system ~ Decreases stress, tension, depression, anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate, metabolic rate ~ Strengthens immune system, Sense of identity and connection, Improved confidence and concentration ~ Promotes peace of mind, optimism and self-worth. back to top |
| SIT UP AND TAKE NOTE |
| If you're having difficulty meditating because of back pain, you could be sitting incorrectly. http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/144_1.cfm back to top |
| STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS |
| The goal of meditation is not to eliminate thinking or emotions but instead to cultivate equanimity towards these ever changing experiences. A study of Modern Meditation Masters proved that they still experience all emotions - anxiety, anger, desire, grief, excitement. However, there were measurable changes in their reactions to these emotions while meditating. Their heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels did not fluctuate with the emotional energy passing through. They were able to stay in a relaxed state with the coming and going of emotions. back to top |
| A UNIFIED THEORY OF LOVE |
| Great article! Love is by its very nature unity, and if you have feelings of self-loathing, they inevitably become part of your relationship with the loved one. http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/138_1.cfm back to top |
| YOGA AS MEDITATION |
| Being present in Asana, is the basis of meditation. In Asana, the body becomes the backdrop against which you can clearly see the mind. We begin to become more aware of feelings, sensations, intentions, and attitudes through our practice. As we grow attentive to our breath and body, we develop the ability to be present during our lives -- off the mat. When we are present, we are not longing; we can then touch that place inside where true happiness is. Through yoga practice, we come to learn that you don't find true happiness in a job title, new clothes, or a new pants size. Instead, we find it through touching the deeper places inside. back to top |
| GREAT BOOK |
| Excerpt from Yoga and The
Quest for The True Self - by Stephen Cope "Because yoga asanas are not so much about exercise as they are about learning and unlearning, it is not the movement itself, but the quality of attention we bring to the moment that makes the postures qualify as yoga. Yoga actually begins to change the body by reeducating the brain. There is a particular way of moving, characteristic of classical posture practice that heightens our brain's capacity to draw areas of the body's unconscious up into consciousness. Slow, deliberate movement anchors the mind in sensation and allows a deep relearning to happen. Western science has now discovered why this is so. When muscles are moved slowly and consciously, the movement is brought under the control of the most refined aspect of the brain, the neocortex." "… When we're untying a complicated knot, we know enough to look carefully first, then gently undo the tangle. A hard yank on the cord will just make the knot tighter. So, too, with the body's knots. Slow, intentional movement creates a kind of absorption in the mind that allows precise internal sensations to be tracked very consciously. This kind of movement keeps awareness centered in the neocortex and works against the body being hijacked by the primitive brain." back to top |
| BUDDHIST MEDITATION SITE |
| http://www.wildmind.org.
is an extensive site teaching Buddhist meditation, with over 200 pages
of meditation guidance, including many guided meditations in RealAudio back to top |
| POWER OF PRAYER |
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"Prayer is the process by which we create our lives. It should be understood by anyone examining the subject of prayer that everything we think, see, and do is a prayer. Read more by Neale Donald Walsch. http://innerself.com/Spirituality/prayer.htm back to top |
| WILLY WONKA |
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If
you want to view paradise simply look around and view it |
| Thanks
for reading everyone! As always, I love to hear your comments. If
you need to update your email address or if you are receiving doubles
please let me know. I encourage you to share this email with friends,
or have them send me an email to be added to this distribution. May
you, and all beings, be happy. Namaste ~ Jillian |