The Eight Limbs of Yoga practiced by you and I

According to Sage Patanjali, there are eight limbs of yoga. 

 

The eight limbs are interconnected, and not separate steps along this path. This sacred text teaches us how to become a complete person living in harmony, health and peace.  Follow these teachings with enthusiasm and faith as well as trust.  Trust that you are right where you are suppose to be today. 

Whether you start by practicing the physical postures, breath awareness, or mindfulness in the daily practice of the yamas and niyamas, each limb encourages growth in the others.  That is the exciting part....as you practice one path/limb it always leads or intertwines with another. 

All eight limbs are practiced by the yogi either consciously or unconsciously.  (Purposefully or aimlessly)....Each day as we move throughout our day.  The eight limbs practiced over time will guide you to a more whole, peaceful, fulfilled, happy life.  You can fill in your own blank there...A more _______ life. 

A yoga practice, specifically a vinyasa yoga practice is designed to incorporate all eight limbs.  We could practice all eight limbs separately but that means two hours of poses, another two for breath, another hour for meditation, mantras and self study...Do you have 7 or 8 hours a day to slip this into your day? 

So, the vinyasa flow practices brings the eight limbs together.  You gain all the benefits by combining all of the above separate practices into one, retaining the benefits and gain that peaceful loving state of mind that we are striving for as we grow and change each day.

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Janine is a Yoga Instructor and Life Coach practicing from her home studio. She invites students to her studio for personal sessions, as well as traveling to your home. She is teaching in a couple studios right now in the Wells/Ogunquit area, as well as at The Cancer Care Center of York County and York Hospital's Wellness Center.
If you are looking for gentle yoga to increase flexibility, strength and energy plus decrease stress and tension, this is the style of yoga that you want for your practice. As a life coach, she leads educational coaching series along with personal one on one life coaching using the Co-Active Coaching techniques and Ayurveda Science. You can reach her at 207-251-9577

Numerology & December 2012

You have everything you need...use your creativity and feel whole.

Lots of people are talking about December 21, 2012 and the galactic alignment.  The world is not ending, however there is going to be a shift as we continue to pass through the galactic equator.  Some believe that on December 21, the solstice sun will no longer be moving toward the galactic equator, but moving out/away from it.  (It has been moving towards it for 18 years and will now be moving away for the next 18 years).  So, we will be right at it's center in 12/21/2012, thus the shift, the change, 'end'...


 

According to many philosophers, there will be some shift in our world.  This is the time to gather together with friends, family and like minded people and start working together on bettering your life, your family relationships, the community and the world.  Begin with yourself.



 

If you believe in the power of prayer, channeling energy and the power of positive thinking, you will love this time of the year.  Make it happen.  Begin to create, make small changes in your life. 

 

I end with these two quotes:

 

“The problem is whether we are determined to go in the direction of compassion or not. If we are, then can we reduce the suffering to a minimum? If I lose my direction, I have to look for the North Star, and I go to the north. That does not mean I expect to arrive at the North Star. I just want to go in that direction.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

 

“WE ALREADY HAVE everything we need. There is no need for self-improvement. All these trips that we lay on ourselves—the heavy-duty fearing that we’re bad and hoping that we’re good, the identities that we so dearly cling to, the rage, the jealousy and the addictions of all kinds—never touch our basic wealth. They are like clouds that temporarily block the sun. But all the time our warmth and brilliance are right here. This is who we really are. We are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake.”
― Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living

Staying Involved

There are days that you feel overwhelmed with chores, work, school,  relationships and finances.  Probably lots of days lately.  We tend to overspend and over-obligate ourselves with gifts and activities during the last couple months of the year. 

The most important person during this time is you.  You must take care of yourself so that you can take care of the ones that you love. 
Let's take a look at how you can do this.

Focus, stay present.  Use your yoga practice to experiment on staying present.  Then, when you get the hang of it...take it off your mat.  Start with your breath.  Just getting more oxygen into your body, and recognizing the breath could be/might be/should be enough! 
Here are six ways to begin practicing this mindful practice and incorporating the breath into your meditation. 

1.  Mentally talk to yourself as you  inhale and exhale.  Inhale repeat a positive word, Exhale a word to de-stress.  Inhale:  Healthy - Exhale:  Relax

2.  Listen to music, the same music so that you get use to the rhythm, length of time and routine.  As your mind recognizes the song (instrumental music) you begin to let go of the wandering and find inner peace.

3.  Chant or repeat a mantra.  there are several good ones that can release stress and raise vibrations in your body to create harmony within.

4.  Use a candle, focus on the flame (focus on your flame..ok, off the subject)as it flickers with your inhales and exhales..

5.  Walking mindfully by the ocean, through the woods or a quiet neighbor

6.  Head or neck rolls that are slow and circular can be very calming to the mind and releases tension to boot.  A two for one.

By staying present in your practice teaches you to be present in your everyday life.  You begin to listen to others without your mind wandering, you begin completing projects, you begin tolerating negative people with ease, sleep becomes something you look forward to, and the pain you carry starts to diminish.
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Janine is a Yoga Instructor and Life Coach practicing from her home studio. She invites students to her studio for personal sessions, as well as traveling to your home. She is teaching in a couple studios right now in the Wells/Ogunquit area, as well as at The Cancer Care Center of York County and York Hospital's Wellness Center.
If you are looking for gentle yoga to increase flexibility, strength and energy plus decrease stress and tension, this is the style of yoga that you want for your practice. As a life coach, she leads educational coaching series along with personal one on one life coaching using the Co-Active Coaching techniques and Ayurveda Science. You can reach her at 207-251-9577