Happy New Yoga Year 2015 - The Journey gets accelerated now

My master in Gurukulam (Yogic Monastery) used to say on the day of new year celebrations that every time we step into new year, it should remind us how stupid we were and how matured we would have become. It should not go other way around. He has always stressed about "INTROSPECTION" during the new year celebrations. 

Here are a few steps I was told by my master and hope helps you too. 

1. INTROSPECT

Meditate an hour the least after your celebrations and just think about the whole year that has passed. The best incidents, the turning points, happy moments, the lessons learnt and so on. Just a deep "look-back" helps a lot to get the clarity over your own thoughts. 

2. SET A ROAD-MAP

I am not asking you to set your goals and work on to get it every day just like every life coach asks you to do it.  I am just asking you to think briefly about how would you like to see this year in terms of bringing life to your dreams. This helps you in setting the day to day life clearly. 

3. BE PASSIONATE 

Let's be sure this year. You will not do something that doesn't interest you, something to make others happy. If you do it, do it passionately. Be passionate about your work. If you are already into something which isn't your passion, but you can't turn back (your profession, most often) work on finding the ways to make it interesting. I know its harder, but you don't want to live any more for the sake of anything but of you. 

4. GIFT TIME TO PEOPLE AROUND YOU

Be attentive to others around you, listen to them and love them. Find the crazy, creative ways to tell them how much you love them. Yes, its important to tell them that you love them. Spend some time and most often this is what they need. It might be your kids, parents or friends. 

5. FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Find ways to follow what you love. Do something that drives you crazy, something that makes you forget everything in the world. Laugh so loudly that you tear your chest apart and cheeks get painful. Find ways to get excited for tomorrow and beware, nobody except you can find out this for you. 

6. HONOUR THE BODY, HONOUR THE MIND

Honour yourself, shed some sweat and keep your physical body fit and sit silently (or meditate) for at least five minutes to keep the mind fit. Honour the body-mind fir helping you everyday. 

7. BE PRESENT, ENJOY EVERY MOMENT

Yesterday and tomorrow are merely the conceptual existence. Everything comes in the form of present moment. The best present in the world is present moment. ENJOY every moment as if this is the last moment. 

8. EARN MONEY, EARN MATURITY

If you are a good person, its your responsibility to get rich and use it in a proper way. Money is energy and you need it in different forms. Earn enough money so that you can live your life fully and can extend the helping hand to the people who need it. Earn Maturity by reading good, fascinating books and approaching wise people. Maturity doesn't depend on the age, but the wisdom. Go to wiser people and try to learn to get wise. 

9. BE GRATEFUL TO BE GREAT

Be grateful for the beautiful life, for things you have, for people around you, for nature and for everything. When you look at the things to be grateful, life appears to be exciting and makes every second happier. 

10. HAPPILY DISSATISFIED

Be happy with what you have. Be grateful for the life. But this should not stop you in the path of getting better. Contentment shouldn't be the reason for stagnation. Be dis-satisfied with what you are to get better everyday. There is a thin line between both of them. Be happy with who you are and dis-satisfied to get better. Happily dissatisfied. 

Wish you all a beautiful Year ahead...

Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Bali - Reflections

I have always believed that the reflections on the past be it actions or incidents give you a briefing on lessons of self improvements. We at Samyak Yoga after every teacher training sit for REFLECTIONS so that we can find ways to improve the quality in everything that we do. Here are my reflections about the course we completed in Bali. Perhaps, Bali training and the group took a long time to allow me for objective reflections. Finally I am ready and here are my thoughts.

Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Bali

We have completed Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali in October 2014. The whole month was an amazing experience in many aspects. 

It was a first time experience for us in Bali. The entire crew led by Marlinda and Steve was just amazing. Often, you will be in uncomfortable if your food and accommodation are not up to the mark. From the very first day, we just had to focus on teaching and everything else was in place every single day without a miss. 

Yoga Teachers from India

We, the Yoga Teachers from India are guided in a Gurukula system of education (Indian system, which influenced the Buddhist Monasteries) which does not just teach you, but gives you an insight, asks you to analyze, allows you to practice and find the need of it and finally, you will practice what you preach. Hence, this Yoga Philosophy bears a lot of weight, put forth out of passion and supported by perosnal practice of the teacher. In Bali, the entire team of students and teachers had a beautiful time with philosophical discussions. 

Traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Primary Series Practice

We practiced Asanas twice a day which was intensive. Besides, there was group classes, preparation for the classes every day. The morning ashtanga practice with its Mysore style, every one was fascinated by their own potentialities which weren't explored. Mysore style brings the meditation within and tell you "you can do more than what you think you can do"

Meditation leading to Light within

The entire training was transformational. I give credits to every one who played roles in different ways. The major credit goes to the students who were always supportive to each other. It is one thing that fascinates me that we always get the best students.. :) They were always there to care, to love, to help, to assist, to listen as if they knew each other for a very long time. The group never took the discussions or the practice just as they are. They tried to practice, explore and implemented them in their hearts. That's where a teacher feels fulfilled!

Teach not only Asanas but Pranayama too!

Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training also gives an opportunity to teach EVERY DAY. Students unlike in most of the schools, here get the opportunity to teach Pranayama too. By the end of the course, the Prana was back in the mainstream of their every day practice of Yoga. It was no more just a breathing technique.

Meditation on Universal Consciousness

Throughout the course, we all consciously and unconsciously worked on universal energy, the cosmic web which connects every one, the divine light within. The students were able to get the sparks of their divinity, their own light and their own master inside. This is the goal of Yoga, the union within. And we were happy, connected and rejuvenated. Once again, I fell in love with what I do and thanked God for giving this opportunity to be a part of many spiritual energies.

I am Responsible of My Universe Inside Out

Our generation has been tremendously successful in understanding some of the most subtle secrets of nature and have benefited out of them. In the journey, often we might have thought that we are so independent, capable of achieving so many things that our ancestors have never thought off. 

But often, the chaos in life, helplessness at different situations have led us to feel more dependent and weak. Often in the race of achieving and being independent, we have achieved less and become more dependent. Hence, what is the secret of nature? who and how are we? are we independent and can make our own choices in the life or is it just an illusion of freedom? Does fate decide everything?

In the context of Karma, a beautiful metaphor of cow is often used to explain the subject we are discussing now. A cow is tied to a tree with a long rope and allowed to eat the beautiful grass that is grown near by the tree. The Cow can make all the choices on how and what to eat and the way to enjoy. But it has to be within the specified boundary of tied rope. It can roam everywhere within the radius and can't go out of the radius. 

AREN'T WE INDEPENDENT THEN?

No! Absolutely not. The idea of complete independence in the way we most often understand is an illusion. We are not independent at all. A simple example shows it clear. I bought a new phone and it's beautiful and I own it. But the bitter reality is "It is not mine". The payment I made is to use the phone forever. I own the phone I bought can be explained that I have the right to use it forever. 

The idea of using the waves to talk to each other was an imagination of a mind which was the foundation of the phones. Then comes the transformation in mettlurgy science which has contributed in the creation of different metals. Then, the network towers, so on and so forth. My few bucks can't really pay for all these ideas, efforts and dreams. Hence, I do not own my phone in a literal way, but I own it to use it, of course forever. 

ARE WE DEPENDENT ON OTHERS 

This too is a an illusion. Nobody is dependent on others. We are born to be free and absolute freedom finds it hard to be dependent on anything. 

I am Responsible of My Universe

SO, WHAT'S THE TRUTH?

My search for Spiritual Guru in India

The human mind is in quest of finding the real purpose of being here on the planet earth. It has always been our endeavor, be it in any civilization to know the root, the source of happiness, the reason behind all the miseries and to make the lives better every day. In this journey, India being one of the oldest civilizations has been pioneer in finding answers which seem to be more closer to the reality. With its different perspectives, popularly known as "schools of Philosophies" India has been trying to explore the reality behind the fabric of the world in deeper ways. 

All the explorations, the religious or spiritual texts when they are trying to put forth the fabric of the universe, the understanding does not seem to be easier. Hence, the journey of finding "the Guru" begins. A guru, the master who might have known, experienced better than the us would explain, show and guide us in the path. The position of a "Guru" in the path of spirituality plays a larger role than anything else. 

Hence, the path of spirituality or otherwise can be termed as "path of inner journey" needs a Guru. 

Follow your heart to find your Light - Samyak Yoga

But, here comes the thin line and the danger of losing the whole essence of the practice. 

To feel what you have missed, step out from what you have

I arrived yesterday in Bali for Yoga Teacher Training with Arvind, another Yoga teacher from Samyak Yoga. The training starts tomorrow and these two days are for us to settle down.. A new place, a different society, different set of people with their own culture and lifestyles is something that amuses me all the time. Bali did the same too. We were comparing our villages and cities of India, the other cities that we have been to that of Bali, trying to figure out the differences and similarities. It led me to a deep introspection and that led me to the following thoughts... 

Desa Mungu Village Entrance

Pregnancy Yoga: Pregnant with Enlightenment

When there is a new poetry striving to be born, to take form a poet experiences a feeling of richness, a fullness, an expansion and an extension about to take shape. He feels feminine. It happens with all the creative arts. It is exactly like a pregnancy of a woman. 

Pregnancy is more than just carrying a baby

Pregnancy is an expansion, a richness that takes its space with the new life taking shape in you. There is a fullness where there was an emptiness. Where there was a poverty now it is filled with richness. It is an extension of your own existence that you can nurture, nourish and awaken your own love and affection. Women feel completeness which can not be compared to anything with the pregnancy. It is carrying a baby. It is a process of transformation that slowly develops a new being in you. The existence of a new life in you has the ability to build awareness in you, to transform you and infuse positivity in you. It brings the life in your life. 

Women, Yoga, Equality and Cosmic Shakti

This is one of the most controversial and misunderstood by the majority of the society. We, as a society have been fighting a long battle for the equal rights for every one and avoiding extra favors, suppression only because some people have different color, caste or gender. And now the world has reached to a state wherein a civilized society people are treated equally. 

Is there any gender equality? I really think NO! Before all the feminists get angry on me, I would like to make it clear. Do not claim equal rights based on genders. When you ask for equal rights, that itself is unconsciously explaining that you do not have it. Mother nature treats all living beings equal, not just males and females. Then what is the concept of male and female genders... 

1. Male and Female are not genders, but energies. 

Everything in the cosmic structure has three different layers. One is its real state i.e. Consciousness. The second one is its existence in energy-form and the last one is the manifestation with physical framework. Apart from the consciousness state, we all are energy species. Male and females are different energies. Based on the domination of male/female energies, we are formed male or female physically. Often, energy domination may not be same as physical one. Do not get confused with the energy-state and the physical frame. Try to perceive human beings as the manifestation of energies in the physical form. 

Who can be a Yoga Teacher?

Can I be a Yoga Teacher? Should I perform handstand to become a Yoga Teacher? Should I be super-flexible? I do not know Sanskrit names of the postures... I don't even know the philosophy of it... But I love practicing Yoga... I am passionate to teach and spread Yoga. I practice what I teach. I am introduced to Yoga recently. Do I need to wait for a few years to be a proper yoga teacher? 

These are a few questions that arise in the minds of people when they start practicing yoga.

I don't mind to be hated... Difficulty of Being Good

You read it right. I don't mind to be hated and I do not want to be remembered as one of the good people by everybody. The reason is to be good to everybody, all the time is impossible....

As you all know, we all the three male teachers here at Samyak Yoga were fortunate enough to study in an ancient system of education "Gurukula System of Education" prevailed during the time of Buddha, Patanjali etc. The replica of the same education system is created in the outskirts of Bangalore, South India. During our studies there, my master used to tell me "it is your main problem that you want to be good to everybody, every time and that leads to chaos". I took much time to understand the essence of his teaching. What I understood later as time passed was very interesting and made my life comfortable and less-complicated. 

What should my students carry after attending my Yoga Class?

Yes... ! You read it write. What should my students be carrying after attending your yoga class? Should it be "feeling happy", "Feeling Flexible" "Feeling not flexible, like my teacher", "I respect my body", "Wow, Yoga is too good" or anything else...

What would you like your students to feel at the end of the class? The outcome of your teaching. You have invested your time, money, energy to build this career for those a few hours wherein you are passionate to teach and spread Yoga. And you love the process of teaching where in you get opportunities to share the wisdom of yoga life. It feels great. But Have you ever thought how should they feel? 

Practical ways to recharge your Yoga Life...

We had  a series of Yoga Teacher Training Courses until the end of July 2014 for four months. And now it is a break time. This is the time to recharge our spiritual batteries and rejuvenate ourselves. Hence I would love to share the way we use this quality time. 

You give more when you have more!

That's right. You can give more only when you take more. If you remember your first few months of being yoga teacher, you were so enthusiastic about your career and were into everything that was related to teaching and practicing yoga.

The only thing I need for Yoga Life

There are only a few fields wherein this beautiful word "Practice" is used. For example, Doctors do not say that they work, but they practice. It is a profession which requires every day practice. The same is applied for the law experts too. 

The beauty is here. This is the same word used for yoga too. It's Yoga practice (abhyaasa in Sanskrit)! Even if you teach, in the reality, you practice the teaching of Yoga.