Namaste Yogis and Yogins

You can stretch your love muscles! Science confirms what many of us already know; a regular practice of meditation can actually increase your brain’s capacity to exercise patience, acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. In fact, a new study from Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which shows that meditation helps to positively change areas of the brain that are important for sensory, cognitive and emotional processing. And, what’s most fascinating is that the study participants were “regular” people with jobs, families, and stress (not monks!). The only difference was that they meditated on average 40 minutes each day.

Okay, so maybe 40 minutes a day is a lofty goal for most of us, but reports also prove that even a few minutes a day can yield great results. So this issue of Yogalicious is filled with articles, audio meditation down loads, great books, heart-opening inspirations and fun-loving events to fit into even the busiest schedule. So lets all stretch our love muscles together!

With great joy, Jillian

“It is not how much you do, but how much Love you put into the doing that matters.” —Mother Teresa   back to top

Tuesday and Thursday mornings, I attend playschool with my 2 year-old son William. From day one William adored his teacher Suzy. Her eyes glow, her smile is contagious and her patience infinite. But most impressive is the quality of attention she offers 20 or more children and their parent/caregiver and her ability to command their interest. Perhaps they are just mirroring back her quality of presence? While there seems to be an organic cyclical loving relationship between her and her students, she is particularly skillful at creating the conditions for it. Delighted to be in her presence myself, I inquired where she found the inspiration to show up so unconditionally, even after sleepless nights with her own two young children. She thinks maybe what I’m picking up on is her love for her work. She feels privileged, humble and grateful to be working with children and their parents. She has a clear intention at the opening of each class, which sets the tone for the next couple of hours. “Every morning I try to say hello to the children individually and as much as possible look deep into there eyes and say hello. This usually means I get on my knees or squat because of course they are so little! The thing is I want to see them and I want them to see me and know they are safe and can be open in the space they are coming into. Then we play and have fun because that is how kids learn. This welcome period, is probably a very critical time, stepping into that role requires letting go of anything else and really being there. As soon as I do, the response in the children’s eyes calms me down too- and allows me to be there for them in the way they need me. It is very rewarding.”

Like all of us, she doesn’t feel ‘compassionate and present’ all the time. She explained, “It has been a great learning experience for me because I can step into that kind of calm and presence in other places and with other people now. If I remember to pause- look deeply into the eyes of another and think we are here together, safe, and open - we will be o.k. We will have fun, we will learn. It is a divine thing to connect like that and live with that sort of energy. This is very powerful and yet easy to forget... it is important not to forget.”  back to top

People will forget what you said, will forget what you did, but will never forget how you made them feel." --Author unknown   back to top

Sandalwood essential oil is not only so used for calming, centering, grounding, and relaxing. It is an aphrodisiac too!  back to top