Draught of Amrita

Before we begin, let’s all get on the same page. Literally.

Open the cover of the October 2009 issue of Yoga Journal. Got the issue? Yes, it’s a couple months back, but I know you keep them around for reference.  I keep my back issues next to the toilet.

Cover open yet? OK, so what you see there is a two-page advertisement, bottles with labels on the left page, and on the right, a woman in white seated in lotus with hands in jnana-mudra, and the text below her urging you to FIND YOUR BALANCE WITH AVEDA’S CHAKRA™ BALANCING BODY MISTS.

The first time I noticed this ad, I cannot recall what made me exclaim OMG! (short for “OM Ganesha!”) first, but I’ll begin with this: Someone actually trademarked an ancient word that is likely no less than 6,000 years old? I believe Aveda has just broken some Cosmic Law by attempting to own the word CHAKRA™.  Does this mean yoga teachers in this country can no longer use the word in classes without permission? Imagine that, the teacher addresses the class during a sun salutation: “Inhale…open up that heart chakra™,  used with permission, to upward facing dog, and exhale….”

No, of course that’s not what it means because Aveda doesn’t own the word itself. I recently employed TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System), who works for the US Patent and Trademark Office. TESS , in a matter of seconds, found 144 records to my simple query: CHAKRA.

At this point I must note that the first record listed was a word mark for CHAKRA™ with a Goods & Services description of “Pesticides.” Yikes.

But back to Balancing Body Mists of the CHAKRA™ variety. The Aveda Corporation only owns the word’s use in relation to “personal hygiene products, namely total body cleaning preparations, perfumes, colognes, massage oils and lotions, skin lotion, and hydrating skin moisturizers.” It simply means I can’t concoct a lotion or perfume and call it CHAKRA™.  I’d run into legal problems, especially if I tried to sell my new perfume. As sad as it is, ALL words, even ancient spiritual words, are subject to legal scrutiny. We live in ridiculously litigious times, but understandably, if you don’t trademark a word first, someone else will, so then it becomes a necessity to protect yourself from getting screwed down the road.

Aveda’s CHAKRA™ Balancing Body Mists come in seven delectable scents, according to the advertisement. Makes sense: the seven major chakras™. (I am now in the habit of using ™ behind the word even if referring to the actual energy centers and not the body sprays, in case Aveda is feeling particularly litigious at any point.) According the labels on the bottles in the ad, word for word:

CHAKRA™ 1:  Grounded: what you feel when the root chakra is balanced.

CHAKRA™ 2:  Nourished: what you feel when the pleasure chakra is balanced.

CHAKRA™ 3:  Intention: what you feel when the power chakra is balanced.

CHAKRA™ 4:  Harmony: what you feel when the heart chakra is balanced.

CHAKRA™ 5:  Expressive: what you feel when the throat chakra is balanced.

CHAKRA™ 6:  Insight: what you feel when the intuition chakra is balanced.

CHAKRA™ 7:  Wisdom: what you feel when the crown chakra is balanced.

I have no worthwhile issues with Aveda’s descriptions. My main thought, initially, was: “What the f*%# am I practicing yoga for when all I have to do is pay $30.00 per 3.4 fluid ounce bottle and spritz myself every morning with each of the seven formulas to get all my energy centers in balance?” I wonder if any other YJ readers have asked themselves the same question, though maybe in a slightly gentler way. Why stand on my head when CHAKRA™ 7 Body Mist will put my crown in check?

Though I am aware of aromatherapy and its uses and effects, I was still curious how industrial cosmetics could wield so much pranic power. If only the ancient sages of India had those convenient little spritzer bottles…

I cautiously approached Aveda’s website, which explained that CHAKRA™ 1, for example, contains essences of olibanum, organic patchouli and vetiver that, according to Ayurveda (or is it Ayurveda™?), balance the root chakra™. The first customer review listed had this to report:

“I am new to yoga and the many different oils and sprays people use to enhance their yoga experience. The smell of the body mist is wonderful. I spray the room in which I do my yoga and I also spray some on my body. It is a very peaceful smell. I plan to try all the others. Thanks for a great product.”

I continued to read reviews of CHAKRA™ 1 and found myself dubiously shaking my head over people’s attachments to scent. Of course, we all can appreciate a whiff of something pleasant-smelling, but…well, here, another review: “This scent reminds me of whispering music. It fills my soul completely. The color red comes to mind when I spritz it onto my body and bask in its richness of the feeling I get when I walk through a rain filled forest.” Yes, that is an actual customer review on the website. It sounds like something I would write just to be a sarcastic jackass.

Makes you want to shell out 30 bucks for a hit off that spritzer, doesn’t it?

Many other reviews state that customers spray everything they can with the mists: sheets, towels, rooms in their homes, car interiors, clothes, their pets. This is the attachment to scent I’m talking about – everything has to be doused in the stuff.

Which brings me to a mention a short sidenote about Chakra 1 (the energy center, NOT the body mist, hence no ™ necessary): According to ancient texts and contemporary commentaries on ancient texts, individuals with unbalanced root chakras are prone to faulty senses of smell and often douse themselves profusely with perfumes or scented oils. These are the people who walk into a room and cause your eyes to burn, or place their mats next to yours in yoga class, wearing such strong perfume it is impossible to practice pranayama without gagging. (Most yoga studios suggest that students refrain from wearing perfumes or other scents when attending classes.) So I ask then, if you find you can’t help but spray yourself and everything round you with CHAKRA™ 1, is it truly balancing that chakra? Technically – or energetically, really – all seven of the CHAKRA™ sprays are working on that root chakra, as they all work through the sense of smell, which is the predominant sense associated with the Muladhara Chakra, that first chakra.

Please understand, I am in no way assaulting those of us who delight in the senses. Rather, I am volleying against those deviously clever marketers who take advantage of this. (I say this a bit hypocritically, as I will soon be releasing my new line of balancing sauces and tofu marinades, the first of which—Muladhara™ Marinade—will contain such pure essential, earthy ingredients as tree bark, organic potting soil and ostrich fern.)

Personally, I rarely wear any sort of scent aside from my daily ration of underarm deodorant, and I arrived at choosing that scent easily: it didn’t make me gag. Oh, and because, admittedly, I am no less subject to trendy marketing as anyone else despite this current rant of mine, I chose my deodorant due to its cool name: EXTREME BLAST™. Awesome, dude.

Returning once again from yet another tangent, I particularly appreciate this CHAKRA™ review: “If any one is new to this line, please realize that Aveda’s aromas are unique, and are not trying to be trendy and lolli-popish!” The practice of yoga and yogic philosophy are approximately 6,000 years old, but it is damn trendy at the moment, isn’t it? Six THOUSAND years it took just to arrive where it is today.

Ahhhh…Spray-on liberation of the soul from a company whose name in Sanskrit actually means “no knowledge” or “ignorance” as opposed to their claim translating it as “all knowledge.” Nevertheless, I’m off to the nearest Aveda Salon to get me some bottled bliss.

Swaha.

December 16th, 2009 | Tags: health, Well-Being, Yoga | Category: OMG | Leave a comment

Hatha yoga is the greatest secret of the yogis who wish to attain perfection (siddhi). Indeed, to be fruitful, it must be kept secret; revealed it becomes powerless.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika I:11

In her translation and commentary on the text, Swami Muktibodhananda Saraswati points out that in certain terms, if one talks about or displays one’s abilities, it is clearly an engagement of one’s ego. As the ego is one of the greatest barriers to experiencing inner peace, it would seem counterproductive to turn any yogic path, Hatha yoga included, into a competition.

With that said, you might be asking, “Yoga Olympics? Are you kidding?”

Unfortunately, no, I’m not. Several months ago, I was browsing through an older issue of a yoga magazine and saw an advertisement for the International Yoga Asana Championship (5th Annual Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup). I thought it was a joke. The words Yoga and Championship used in the same phrase threw me - you’re kidding, right?

No, it was not a joke.

The full-page ad also displayed photos of the 2007 Men’s and Women’s CHAMPIONS(!), both half-naked in an advanced standing posture. What’s worse was the subheading: “Introducing the Youth division (11-17).” Great - let’s show the kids what yoga was never meant to be - a showboating competition rooted in egoism.

According to the ad, the championship is sponsored by none other than Bikram’s Yoga ™. I just now came to discover, by visiting Bikram’s ™(r)(c) website, this year’s competition is Feb 6-8, once again in Los Angeles.

First of all, I’m not here to criticize or to glorify Bikram ™. Enough opinions have already been made regarding his vast yoga empire and his proclamations that he and his certified teachers are the only teachers of true hatha yoga in the United States. Bikram ™ has also made the suggestion that yoga asana should be an actual Olympic event. Make your own opinion after reading this Yoga Journal article.

I’m only simply trying to express my concern that this circus-act yoga showmanship is portraying yoga in a completely false light. (The previous sentence has just been self-edited to the more mild statement it is.) “HEY! Look what I can do! I’m AWESOME!” is NOT yoga.

The goal of yoga is individual self-realization, union with the divine, inner peace, connection with the cosmic consciousness. And Ego is one of the greatest barriers to this self-realization.

Review your Patanjali, champs:

The five kleshas, or obstacles to liberation, are: Avidya-ignorance or unreal cognition; Asmita-egoism; Raga-excessive attachment to pleasurable things; Dvesa-excessive aversion, hatred; and Abhinivesah-fear of death.

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, II:3

February 9th, 2009 | Tags: Yoga | Category: Yoga | Leave a comment

I have recently added a new page to this site - the Yantra Gallery. It can be accessed by clicking on the tab at the top of the current page.

The Yantra Gallery displays several of the yantras I’ve created over the past few years. Click on the thumbnails to get a closer look, and some of the thumbnails have dates below, indicating I have made a post about the yantra - click on the date to view the post.

Check the Gallery often, as I will continually update with more yantras!

November 10th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Ganesha Yantra

In India, Ganesha is the depicted as the rotund, elephant-headed deity who is appealed to before beginning any new undertaking, including travel, building homes or other structures, a new spiritual practice, a new job, writing a book - whatever task or project one wishes to vibe up with good energy and intentions, propitiating Ganesh will help clear the path to success as he is the Remover of Obstacles.

Meditating on the green color of the bhupur will actually produce red in one’s inner vision (gaze at the green for some time, then close your eyes - the green area is now red behind your closed eyes). The color red represents the root chakra. The eight lotus petals represent the five elements - ether, air, fire, water, earth - and the three qualities of passion, inertia and purity.

The upward-pointing triangle is the color of Ganesha’s skin, and raises spiritual energy by drawing one’s attention up away from the world. The six-pointed star contained within the triangle consists of both an upward and a downward triangle, representing balance between opposing forces, or between masculine and feminine.

Located inside the six-pointed star at the very center of the yantra is the bindu - the point of origin, the source, the core around which all else revolves.

Reciting the mantra Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha while gazing at this yantra increases its effect.

The particular yantra above was colored with dry water-soluble pencils, and I’ve taken a liking to this method of coloring yantras lately, the color gradually lightening and washing out towards the middle of each area instead of painting solid colors with gouache.

The script below the design is Ganesha in Sanskrit.

Ganesha is also an ideal ally in removing writer’s block, blogger’s block, or any number of mental obstacles. Hence, finally another post after a long dry spell! 

November 6th, 2008 | Tags: mandala, Meditation, sacred art, tantra, Yantra | Category: Yantra | Leave a comment

The feet are the body’s foundation, and once one has established a healthy, strong and supportive foundation, the rest of the structure comes together more easily.

Below are a few suggested poses to encourage revival and maintainence of healthy feet. Concerned about making this post too lengthy and technical, I’m passing the buck to Yoga Journal for the detailed instructions concerning these poses, including how to perform the posture and additional benefits and contraindications. Click on the asana name for more info.

Often considered the starting point of any hatha yoga practice, Mountain Pose (Tadasana), like most other standing poses, is extraordinarily beneficial to the feet. Standing, feeling the feet connected to the Earth, grounded, while extending upward through the body.

Wide-Leg Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana) is another great posture to connect with your feet as your feet connect with the ground. With the legs spread apart, toes facing forward, pressing through the outside edges of the feet, you can feel the arches of the feet coming off the ground, helping to strengthen those forgotten muscles, in addition to other benefits elsewhere in the body.

Since you are on your feet in standing poses - barefoot, I might add - these postures are generally beneficial. Ground yourself through the feet, and by pressing through the feet in standing postures, you establish the base, the solid foundation, that will engage and vitalize the rest of the body. Try the following poses:

• Warrior I, II, and III (Virabhadrasana I, II, and III).
• Tree Pose (Vrksasana).
• Triangle Pose (Trikonasana).
• Chair Pose (Utkatasana).

Another of my favorite foot-friendly asanas is Hero’s Pose (Virasana). The ankles and feet are stretched int this seated pose, helping to form proper arches. Pain in the heels can also be relieved, as well as calcaneal spurs. In addition, Hero’s Pose is conducive to meditation and pranayama practice, so while breathing or meditating, you can do something nice for your feet at the same time. 

 Happy feet will make for a happy being.

September 27th, 2008 | Tags: health, Well-Being, Yoga | Category: Well-Being, Yoga | Leave a comment

Nourishment Yantra

The soft, soothing, shimmering colors in this design are inspired by the Moon, whose nurturing qualities permeate this Yantra. The profusion of silver in this yantra makes it reflective, appearing to take on other colors and qualities.

The Moon (Chandra in Sanskrit) represents compassion, receptivity, and sensitivity. Working with this yantra as a meditation practice can bring about these qualities, as well as harmonizing the natural rhythms of life. Intuition can be developed and improved, in addition to bringing to light one’s sense of purpose. Moon and Mother are synomonous, the gentle nourishing and caring aspects, unconditional love and devotion. It is the energy that creates and preserves.

This Nourishment Design is best suited for hanging on a Northwest wall or corner, or otherwise displayed in that direction of room on a table or shelf wherever its energy is most needed or appreciated.

The coinciding mantra, or sound, to this yantra is OM CHAM CHANDRAYA NAMAHA.

September 8th, 2008 | Tags: mandala, Meditation, sacred art, tantra, Yantra | Category: Yantra | Leave a comment

Below is a list of songs on my iPod playlist, which was played throughout my classes last week. I’ve added brief personal notes with some of the songs, explaining why I thought it was ideal as a soundtrack to a yoga class. I intend to rotate playlists each week.

1. “Deep Spirit” : Adrian Ross - I bought this CD on a trip to Australia. Ross is an Aboriginal didgeridoo artist, and the droning sounds of the didgeridoo can be quite soothing and meditative. The didgeridoo is the ancient sacred instrument of the Australian Aborigines, and compliments the ancient practice of hatha yoga very well.
2. “Kali Bolo” : Jai Uttal - Kali is equated with the power of Transformation. Enough said.
3. “Breathing” : Anggun - This Indonesian singer’s voice is ethereal. And the title of the song is a reminder of the key component of Vinyasa.
4. “Durga Pahimam” : Jai Uttal - A deep, entracing chant.
5. “Three Little Birds” : Bob Marley and the Wailers - One of the better-known Bob Marley songs, this track is bright and uplifting in its melody and its message. “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing is gonna be all right…”
6. “Never Know” : Jack Johnson - The laid back, lighthearted tunes that Jack Johnson is known for are perfect for practicing asana. The beat adds a little bounce to your Down Dog, and the message in the lyrics cannot be overlooked, either.
7. “Hara Hara Mahaadeva” : Krishna Das
8. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” : Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole
9. “The Heart of Life” : John Mayer
10. “Little Wing” : Jimi Hendrix Experience - One of my absolute favorite Hendrix songs.
11. “Love is My Religion” (Acoustic) : Ziggy Marley - I first heard this song last year on the website for the Global Mala Project. This acoustic rendition is soulful and moving.
12. “Little Wonders” : Rob Thomas - The opening lyrics set the tone: “Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder / Don’t you know the hardest part is over.” Yoga is letting go. Yoga is finding the peace within yourself to stop worrying about things that are over with and gone, and to stop fretting over that which has yet to happen. Let it go.

September 1st, 2008 | Tags: Music, Yoga | Category: Playlists, Yoga | Leave a comment

Pain is not something one ought to experience while practicing yoga. A stretch, a slight pull, fine - but PAIN - absolutely not. Pain is an indication that something’s wrong, that you took something too far or in the wrong direction.

In a posture, you should be saying or feeling “aaahhhh….” as opposed to “owwww!” or “ouch!”

Part of the problem is trying to look exactly like the magazine photos or the experienced or flexible instructor leading the class. But the truth is that everyone is different - our bodies are not constructed the same as far as flexibility, bone structure, muscles, tissues and joints. Some people can bend in half easily because their joints are naturally more lubricated than others, and some people, no matter how long they practice poses, may never reach a so-called “perfect pose.”

First of all, there is no such thing as the perfect pose, because getting into a yoga posture is different for everyone, as I just stated. Even for the same person, from one day to the next, a pose can be different depending on a variety of factors, including mental state and physical complaints. Don’t force yourself or let anyone else force you into a position that is uncomfortable or painful. As far as you can take it is good enough, and eventually with practice you may be able to take the pose further, but don’t force it! That is how injuries occur. Have awareness of your own body and realize when something may be too much for you. 

All too often our egos override our senses, and we don’t listen to the warnings being issued by our intelligent bodies. Our egos tell us to GO GO GO even when our bodies are screaming to STOP! It is ingrained in some of us to push the limits, even at the expense of our own well-being.

Though often practiced in groups and class settings, yoga is an individual process that is continually evolving for each person at their own pace and in their own way. It is NOT a competition.

The other day, a beginning student told me before class, “Be sure to tell me if I’m doing a pose wrong.” I will never tell someone their pose is wrong - rather, I may suggest ways for them to improve the posture or make it easier. Rarely will I touch someone to make adjustments because most often verbal directions or demonstration are sufficient.

And I’ll never cinch a strap around someone’s arms to draw them closer towards each other in downward dog as I once had done to me. It was excruciating at the time, and my arms and shoulders were aching for days afterwards. Our bodies will move in the direction they need to when our bodies are ready to.

The point is: Yoga should be nourishing, not harmful.

Approach your practice in a way that benefits you most as an individual. It’s about you, where you feel most comfortable in your practice. Not where someone else thinks you should be. After all, who is more familiar with their own body and its limits than yourself?

So the old cliche does not apply here. In this case: No pain, MORE gain.

August 31st, 2008 | Tags: Well-Being, Yoga | Category: Well-Being, Yoga | Leave a comment

Being barefoot is an extraordinary joy.

Your feet are free and unrestricted. They are not shoved in, strapped in, elevated by spikes, cushioned by air pockets, wrapped in fabric or leather or sythetic fiber blend.

Bare feet BREATHE. The reason your feet stink after an entire day of wearing shoes and socks is due to the lack of air circulating around them - you are suffocating your feet. The sweat and toxins being released through the feet become trapped and stagnate there in your shoes. Yuk.

There are many more ills afoot that can be attributed to shoes, but I won’t get too much into that now - though I do encourage you to check out Take Off Your Shoes and Walk for more info.

Personally, I try to be barefoot as much as possible. This is not a problem when spending time at the yoga center, as barefooting is pretty much the norm, especially while practicing or teaching. But outside of that and the beach or home, the norm for the majority of the population is to don footwear most of the time in most places, even if it is merely a 50 cent pair of flip-flops.

But are shoes really necessary? Aren’t feet naturally shaped they way they are for a reason?

Not only are they essentially unnecessary, but they are a detriment to healthy feet.

First of all, let’s bust a few barefoot myths. One: It is NOT illegal in any state to drive barefoot. I’ve begun the habit of taking my shoes off upon getting in the car after work and driving barefoot. Feels better to get the stinky shoes off as soon as possible. Two: There are no health regulations requiring shoes to be worn by patrons of eating establishments, or any other establishments. Really. If you ate with your feet instead of your hands, that’s a different issue.

I do, of course, understand that it is quite uncomfortable to walk on broken glass, hot asphalt or goose poop, but walking barefoot can teach you to have more awareness of your environment, and so avoiding stepping on - or in - unpleasant things.

A Case for Bare Feet is a great resource for more barefoot facts and sound reasoning in support of being barefoot.

Take a walk barefoot, just around your neighborhood, for starters. Feel connected to the ground. Feel the feet spread out. It will be quite different than wearing shoes I can assure you. And to be honest, it might even feel strange. Your feet are not used to their NATURAL state, and it might take more barefoot walks to acclimate them back to that state more fully. Only to be reversed again by tying on a pair of shoes.

Last week I went for a walk barefoot in downtown South Bend. Even walking on concrete sidewalks without shoes felt great. I did receive a couple odd looks at my shoeless feet as I strolled by shoe-wearing walkers, but I didn’t mind. If only they knew. But we’re so accustomed to believing shoes are actually more helpful to our feet than harmful - a misconception.

UPCOMING POST: Yoga postures for healthy feet.

August 27th, 2008 | Tags: health, walking, Well-Being | Category: Well-Being | Leave a comment