LOVE - Mind, Body & Soul
LOVE – Mind, Body & Soul
By Priya Singh
The vast magnificence of Love is a power that has never been fully understood or explained. It is an idea, a feeling, an ethos, a concept - and it is not tangible. Even though it is one of the most powerful emotions on the planet – it is not quantifiable. Not in actual scientific terms where a chemist could put your ‘love’ in his test tube and weigh and measure the love you feel for your partner, child, parents or anyone. You own your love. And that is why, even the person you profess to love has no idea of how much you love them. You own your love. It is your sorrow, your joy, your suffering and your delirium. It is your dragon to fly. It is your unicorn to ride.
Where does this love come from? Where does love exist in our body? Is it in the cells, tissues, muscles, nerves, organs, brain, skin? Where is it that I feel the impending loss of my daughter as she leaves home to start her own young beautiful life? Each morning I wake up and a different part of me is hurting. This morning was an ache in my chest, yesterday was my lower back; the day before that was muscular weakness all over my body, and so it goes. Am I just manifesting all these crazy symptoms because my mind is subconsciously telling me that I am untying trillions of knots that bind me to my baby girl? Each knot that is made of cells, tissue, blood and memory; it hurts even to approach the mammoth task of getting my hands bloody and starting the process of unraveling these ties that bind … my chest begins to hurt and my eyes begin to water.
Nothing prepared me for being a mother; I have just fumbled my way through this complicated labyrinth successfully and many times unsuccessfully by sheer luck. And more than the primal instinct of keeping my little cubs safe, I have been confounded, soaked, seared and stunned by the magnitude of the Love I feel for these creature that I birthed. There is nothing that I would not do to keep my babies safe and healthy. Personally for me something solidified when I became a mother, it’s a role that has let me explore the depth, height and width of this emotion being discussed – Love.
I have read enough Khalil Gibran and Rumi to be even romantic about the concept of my babies flying out of the nest. In the same spirit it is my unending love that wants my little girl to go out into the world and find her place, her identity. How do I quantify my limitless love for her? I want her to learn the ways of the world, explore her potential and become the woman I know lives in that young person. The woman I know I helped shape. I know she will be kind, savvy and magnificent. How do I explain to her that her she carries me along with her - that unconscious turn of her head, the thoughtful gestures she makes, and her smile - I am always there within her.
"It is a rite of passage – this leaving, this separation."
For me it just reinforces that I am going to wake up each morning and feel a vacuum in my home, mind and body. The physical emptiness of the presence of my lovely young girl with her long limbs sprawled about the home, or those middle of the night raids for a snack, walking into my room and regaling me with stories about her day, shopping with me for my make-up and clothes, advising me on ‘mom, ummm…maybe the other shoes’, correcting my use of current teen slang, reaching over and silently fixing the glitch on my laptop, or introducing me to my Bitemoji Avatar… just her presence that gives me my identity as her Mama - to date my favorite.
And as she goes off to join this world of bigotry and natural disasters, I wish I could protect her from every negative experience. However, both she and I have to learn. We have to understand that only out of change will there be growth; every new experience - good or bad - is going to reshape ideals; adversity will build character and failure will motivate; creating and maintaining new friendships will enrich; loneliness will enable the search within; curiosity will break boundaries - anything she wants to achieve is possible; there will be times of extreme joy and freedom, and there will be times of and sadness and isolation - both for her and me. And that is life. And this letting go is Love.
About The Author
Born and bought up in India, Priya has been entrenched in the practice, study, and teaching of classical Hatha and Kriya yoga for the past 30 years. Her passion and interest in Yoga encompasses the allied study of Ayurveda, Yoga therapy, Applied anatomy and Homeopathy. Priya is also a trained Integrative Health Coach from Duke University, NC, where she had the privilege of teaching yoga at some seminars. In addition, she has been teaching yoga fundamentals and anatomy at Yoga Teacher training programs in the Bay Area. Priya owes her love for yoga and healing to the blessings of all her teachers, mentors and Guru.
With an interesting blend of Eastern roots and Western sensibilities, Priya is uniquely qualified to engage her students in a style which empowers them to take steps towards achieving personal goals. She practices a synergetic approach to healing, taking into consideration the complete history, current health and long-term health targets of her clients.
The individual sessions begin with an assessment, and are personalized to the client’s preference; and can include a combination of Health Coaching, Asana, Pranayama, meditation, lifestyle conversation and nutritional guidance. The group classes are taught in an easy, non–competitive environment, keeping individual needs and constitutions in mind.
To contact Priya Singh please visit:
www.PriyaSinghYoga.com
Think Yourself Healthy & Happy
Think Yourself Healthy & Happy
We’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” While this certainly has some truth in it, an even deeper level of examination reveals that we are what we think. For thousands of years the great Yogis and Vaidyas (Ayurvedic physicians) have observed the nature of the mind-body relationship. What they analyzed, understood, and taught was the direct, undeniable, interconnected matrix of our thought process creating either health or dis-ease. Fast forward approximately 5000 years to today…here we are in a fast-paced, technologically-driven, goal-oriented, productivity-based society; striving to get ahead, make more money, look younger and feel more relaxed. Stress has an impact on our well being, on our nervous system, blood pressure, and every system of the body, not to mention it ages us faster and can leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and depressed.
Worry Free
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Stress Free Emotions
For natural resistance to emotional stress and fatigue; promotes emotional balance, positive feelings, and feelings of fulfillment.
Is there another way?
I talk to many people who believe that this is just the way life is and there isn’t much to do about it unless you’re lucky enough to win the lottery or get an upgrade to your DNA. Let us imagine for just a moment that we are creating the reality that we see, feel, and interact with. Let us suspend our disbelief for a tiny second and imagine that we manifest our life by sending out signals and invitations through the thoughts that we think and feelings that we feel. What if these thoughts and feelings set up an energetic loop that reflects back to us our “reality” based on the vibration that we are experiencing? For example when we are in a negative state of mind we look though the lens of negativity and see everything around us conspiring to make us suffer (so we amplify the experience of suffering).
The Real You - Alan Watts
Conversely, when we are in a positive, loving resonance our perspective is different and even when adversity comes we can navigate and deflect it more easily and gracefully (so we feel more love, gratitude, and peace). In Yoga and Ayurveda, the mind is called manas and is said to have a functional relationship with the entire body. The mind is not the same as the brain here. Manas has a presence on a cellular level, existing as an intelligence that is affecting all of the dhatus (tissue layers or systems) and chakras (energy centers), thereby giving information to the entire body about how to function.
Blissful Joy
To help uplift the emotions; helps balance emotional ups and downs; alleviates sadness and feelings of frustration.
Every thought we think has power.
Most of our thoughts are habitual and repetitive, they are old programs from the past, running the show. This happens without us even realizing it. We believe we are thinking new thoughts yet we wind up creating the same situations, experiences and circumstances over and over again. It may be a new relationship but over time we realize we’re dating the same guy, or are involved in another altercation with an unfair boss, or have another friend dumping all of their problems on us. Can you relate?
It may feel like life is happening to you, however your experience of life is a reflection of what signals are going out from your own personal generating station (the channel of the mind, manovaha srota). So, take time to observe and take charge! If you want to change anything in your life start by looking within by observing the subtle thoughts, reactions and feelings created from your thinking patterns.
Ask yourself:
1) Is there another perspective or point of view that I could take?
2) How am I contributing to the outcome of a situation (positively or negatively)?
3) What else is possible?
4) What would love do/ say/ think?
Don’t lollygag in a negative rut, as it will only bring you down and down and down. Notice any resistance you may have to thinking or feeling positively about something. I’m not talking about suppression here. Ahamkara is the sense of “I Am”, loosely translated as the ego. Whenever the sense of who we think we are is threatened, (i.e. moving beyond an old paradigm of thinking or being) the ahamkara will rear it’s ugly head, dig it’s heels in and convince you that it’s not safe to love, forgive, trust, relax, or accept.
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You may choose to stay small, stuck, and feel like a victim or you can choose to blast through the ceiling of suffering by embracing a new way of thinking, feeling, and looking at the world. This is incredibly empowering and puts the reins of your life back in your hands. Giddy-up! Yoga asana, pranayama, meditation, and chanting practices are also great tools to reprogram the neuro-pathways of your brain and influence the nervous system to operate from a more relaxed place.
Personally I love kirtan and chanting mantras as they have the power to bypass the intellect (buddhi) and go directly to the heart. Also, humming bee breath (brahmari pranayama) and alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) are at the top of my list for shifting out of a negative place and into a more centered and clear state of mind. Choose your thoughts and feelings wisely for they will create your future. As Allen Ginsberg said, “You are what you think about all day” and I’m going to have to say, I think he might be right.
About The Author - Madhuri Phillips
Between publishing books, making Ayurvedic yoga DVD's, touring for yoga and Ayurveda conferences, and teaching teachers about the Madhuri Method, Madhuri finds climbing rocks in really cool locations an exciting venture. She is based in Vancouver, BC. Learn more about Madhuri’s online Ayurvedic study and the Madhuri Method Ayurvedic Yoga training at: www.madhuriayurvedayoga.com
How To Reduce Stress & Improve The Sense Of Wellbeing
How To Reduce Stress
There is no event in life which is intrinsically stressful. However, stress by which we mean psychological stress may not be any more “real” than any other thought within the mind. Likewise, not all stress is considered equal and not all stress need be harmful. For example, it’s only natural to feel the excitement about an upcoming event [i.e. your wedding] while at the same time feel nervous. Interestingly, this motivated yet stressful state of the mind is sometimes referred to as eustress, or “good stress” which may be beneficial for meaningful and purposeful action. However, if this state of stress or heightened state of arousal goes unchecked - we often can feel stressed out!
“Wherever a thought goes, a chemical goes with it.”
- Deepak Chopra
Tulsi - The #1 Ayurvedic Herb For Stress By David Wolfe
Tulsi
Tulsi, also known as "Holy Basil," has been used by many cultures around the world for thousands of years. Described in the Vedas as the most sacred holy plant of India, it was traditionally used in religious ceremonies, ayurvedic formulas, and called "the wonder herb".
Ojas - The Chemical Of Bliss
According to Ayurveda, ojas is referred to as the source of vitality, immunity and provides the sense of well-being. Having strong ojas helps maintain optimum health and many diet and lifestyle factors can contribute to either depleting or nourishing one’s ojas. Low ojas and low immunity result from the same cause; excess physical and psychological stress. It is well established that the brain is the center for interpreting and integrating perception and that the autonomic nervous system modulates the stress response. Modern science also recognizes that chronic stress can cause cumulative effects of neural, endocrine, and immune stress mediators which may have adverse effects on various organ systems resulting in adverse health consequences.
Blissful Joy
Blissful Joy nourishes the mind-body connection by helping to remove toxins that make you feel dull or sad, by supporting the memory of bliss in your cells, and by helping to balance hormones that govern emotions. The result is a renewed feeling of energy and happiness — and an overall sense of well-being. Situations that used to cause stress will be easier to handle. You’ll find yourself responding to life’s challenges — big and small — with a new outlook.
"Too Blessed To Be Stressed" - Bliss
Calming The Restless Mind
Research strongly suggests that people who suffer from “hurry-sickness” which is the anxious feeling of always rushing as if there’s never enough time may be more likely to develop health related problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. According to Ayurveda, this sense of worry and stress arises because we lose connection with our true nature and innermost needs. The wisdom of Ayurveda states that once your body, mind, and heart all want the same things, a natural state of bliss and sense of wellbeing occurs spontaneously.
The Body
On the physical level, stress can generate free radicals. Free radicals are reactive, unstable, and damaging which can disrupt normal cellular activity. For example, free radicals can wreak havoc on the brain, nervous system, heart, and overall immunity. This stresses the importance and benefit of antioxidants!!
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Traditional ayurvedic formula of 13 herbs that supports the health of mind, brain, and nerves; increases vitality and inner strength; powerful antioxidant — research shows it to be up to 1,000 times more effective than vitamins C and E.
The Mind
The science of Ayurveda speaks of vata as being the basis of all movement of the body and mind. When vata is in excess [within the mind] it can result in anxiety, nervousness, depression, insomnia and many other forms of difficulty handling stress. With nearly eighty percent of all diseases in the west being attributed to stress, it is no wonder why Shirodhara has been considered one of the most popular Ayurvedic treatments of modern day.
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Stress Free Mind
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Nourishing The Brain
The human brain contains about 100 billion cells which continuously require oxygen. Because of this oxygen demand, the brain is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage; i.e. free radicals. Antioxidants are therefore crucial for longevity and continued effective functioning of the brain.
Herbs – Enhancing The Mind
Ayurveda talks highly about a special class of herbs called “Medhya” herbs. Ultimately, by providing nourishment to the brain, these herbs are especially useful for balancing the mind, reducing stress, and helps to enhance learning.
Intelligence Plus
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Mind Plus
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Organic Youthful Mind
Supports mental functioning as one ages; removes toxins that impede learning, memory, and recall; promotes the development of consciousness.
Benefits Of Meditation
It seems that research centered around the benefits of meditation have now been rolling in steadily validating the ancient wisdom common to both Ayurveda and Yoga. Ayurveda is an ancient science which literally means ‘the science of life’. A basic fundamental premise to both Ayurveda and Yoga is that – both a sound mind and sound body are integral to one’s overall health and well-being.
Just Some Of The Potential Benefits Of Meditation:
– greater clarity and inner calmness
– increased creativity and happiness
– improved sense of emotional stability
– reduced level of anxiety and depression
– improved brain function and memory
– reduced level of stress
… the list can go on and on …
Shirodhara – The Most Popular Ayurveda Treatment
Shirodhara is undoubtedly one of the most popular Ayurvedic treatments in the west. The word ‘shiro’ means head and ‘dhara’ means steady flow. Therefore, shirodhara involves pouring a steady stream of soothing oil over the forehead and acts as a method of relieving stress to the restless mind.
Oil Massage
Massage yourself with warm organic sesame oil. Sesame is warming and is generally considered beneficial to every body type for this time of year. Massaging oil on the body is a great way to keep the skin soft, supple and wrinkle free. It is a rejuvenating technique that improves circulation and, when done at night, induces sleep.
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Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained ayurvedic expert, call or e-mail us for the number of a physician in your area. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.