exercise

Yoga as Ritual

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india-yoga_1666113iWe step into class.  We roll out our yoga mats.  We gather our tools: blocks, straps, blankets.  We set the tone for the journey that is about to unfold before us.  Yoga is a beautiful thing.  We each come to class for our own reasons, we set our individual intentions, and we bring the mystery of our lives to our mats.  As the class begins, we harmonize with others and begin to share our journey.  Yoga is community.  Yoga is much more than just physical movement.  Each time we do a downward dog, or take a deep breath we are breathing with everyone that has ever done those things, is doing those things.  Showing up is the first, and often the hardest step.  This is where the magic of your journey begins.

 

Yoga means to “yoke”, to unite, to bring together.  What in your life are you coming into union with?  What needs to be balanced?

One of the things that I hope to explore through this blog is how yoga can be used to enact magic in our everyday experience.  Yoga is breath, connected to movement, connected to energy, connected to will, engaging desire, and blessed with beautiful uncertainty.  Yoga is a lesson in learning to trust.  We learn to trust the instructor.  We learn to trust our own bodies.  We begin to step into a process that may be new and dangerous, but that is life… and what keeps us moving.

Our yoga mats are sacred space.   I often encourage my students to lay on their mats at home if they are facing struggle and uncertainty.  Our yoga mats are places of power, they hold the energy of our classes and are blessed by breath and sweat.  Just taking a moment outside of class to find where our practice intersects with our lives invites our practice into the other parts of self.

What is yoga to you?  What questions do you have?  Feel free to ask them below and I’ll try to address them in future posts.

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful. You are Divine.

Namaste 🙂

Mike Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.soulinteraction.com

www.facebook.com/soulintuitive

www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelbrazell

Pilgrimage to the Heart (Part 2)

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543428_10200973243806535_281176769_nI’ve really been taking my time writing this follow-up post.  There is a lot changing for me, not only in the way I am personally engaging my spirituality and path, but how I am relating to other.  Lots of wonderful movement is occurring, and my biggest lesson is stepping back and allowing the changes to take place.  I think too often I get in my own way, I feel that I “have to do”, rather than just hold presence.  Taking the trip to South Carolina opened me up to a lot of things that I needed to see.  I won’t be sharing all of the changes here, as those are meant just for me.  My journal is now my constant companion, as is a mala (I take different ones out depending on the day, my mood, and which one calls to me from my altar).

I had the opportunity to sit with my past in interesting ways.  I found a stack of my old journals.  Many of them leading up to my transition to DC, and I even found one that I kept for my first year in the Navy.  Seeing my personal transformation through these texts really brought me into a deep place of gratitude for where I am, and all the beautiful trials and tribulations along the way.  Getting to be with family helped me to root, to ground, and to just be me for a bit.  I didn’t have to be a teacher, a student, a psychic, a healer, and sometimes when we have the opportunity to step out of our roles we shake the wrinkles out–then we put our multicolored coats on once again.

Now that I am back into my routine, I am getting to live a lot of the changes that I experienced on my Pilgrimage.  I am in the process of de-cluttering my life on many levels (internally and externally).  I am looking at where I am and where I am going a bit differently, and am allowing the changes to take place through a place of deep and unconditional trust.  I am reconnecting to part of my path that are calling to me, and am being kind to myself a bit more.

Spiritual transformation takes many forms, and sometimes we have to step into and out of our lives to gain perspective.  One of the things I did when I went to on my trip was to ask the universe to give me clear signs as to the changes I needed to make… and so my perception opened, and I listened deeply.

I’m going to be writing a series of articles relating my processes moving forward and reflections on the deeper changes that are taking place.  Fasting, writing, loving, being, meditating, yoga, silence and a bit of solitude are now part of my experience.  My processes are mine, but it is my hope that we can share, learn from one another, and grow through the beauty of our shared experience.

 

What changes are you making, and what is changing you?

When you venture into a retreat, take a pilgrimage, or attend an event–how do you integrate what you bring back from the experience into your life?

 

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

Michael A Brazell

Michael@michaelbrazell.com

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

 

Fueling Practice with Intention

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yogablog2Most people come to yoga class for the physical workout.  The body feels alive after moving through the asanas, energy is raised, and we settle into meditation to close practice.

At the beginning of class I like to have my students take a moment to center on the breath and set an intention for their practice.  On the inhale we bring intention into alignment with the breath, on the exhale we extend intention out into the world around us.  Setting an intention as we go into our practice allows us to practice with purpose.  We can also dedicate the energy of our practice to a place in the world, or someone in our lives that might need a little extra energy.  When we move with purpose we have a greater connection to our bodies, our minds and our spirits.

I also recommend my students keep a yoga practice journal.  Writing down the intentions back into the world when we leave our mats.  With each breath we take we pull our intention down into our bodies.  Each out breath pushed intention into the world, and fueled with movement gives birth to creation.  Yoga means “to yoke” or “to unite”, but what are you yoking yourself to.  Often people come to class to escape, or they bring their problems to the mat hoping to work them out.  If you focus on a negative thought as you move through practice you’ll be breathing that thought into all aspects of your being.  Shifting to a positive affirmation allows us to align with purpose and not defeat.

You don’t have to wait for class to set and breathe in intentional space.  Take a moment right now and do this simple meditation:

  • Focus on an intention, a positive word, an affirmation
  • Take a deep breath into the body, down deep into the core of your being
  • Hold the breath for a count of 4
  • Exhale just as deeply as you inhaled, let your intention embrace the reality around you
  • Continue this process for as long as you need.
  • Even just doing this for a single round is powerful.

Doing this process at the start of the day allows you to bring connection into the start of your day, the same is true if you do this before bed and take intention into the dream world.

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine!

Namaste

Michael A Brazell

http://www.soulinteraction.com

http://www.facebook.com/yogawitch

http://www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

 

NaPoWriMo Poem

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I asked the moon to shine, she blushed bright beautiful golden yellow…  Her light kissing my cheek, sneaking trough the clouds, the stars, they danced a jig to the pitter patter pounding of my feet, I am a promise break dancing its way across he sky…Bright beautiful speck of start dust, spinning tornado of infinity… break me open like a piñata.. I am sugar sweets on the inside, hurry and get your fill… There isn’t much to go around, but my pieces if planted in a garden will grow roses… and thorns… Pricking fingers.. My petals kissing your nose… the Moon… she’s still blushing.. Beautiful

Day 9 NaPoWriMo Poem

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You were my sweetest mistake… Like forbidden chocolate when I am on a diet… you are the empty calories I’ve learned not to count on… I feed myself on your words, but the shards of your promises slice me open from the inside…  You and I feed of one another… Like Gods dining on used up souls… let us feast, pray, and be full.

Day 7 and Day 8 NaPoWriMo

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Ha, I seem to be doing a double dipping poetry day.

Day 7

You are oceans away from me,  the distance of our silence overwhelms me.  You are penny wishing well that takes my quarters and never gives any changes.. you sit statue against the sound of dripping tears, each one an echo of a prayer my heart never stops beating into me… One day you’ll look up to find me, and I’ll be an echo to the memory of a prayer you once said… because I’ve started tossing my quarters into my own well, and all I can see is change…

Day 8

Rose petals… whispers… rose petals… song… dance delicate lover, your scent is illuminating, I see who I am in your wonder… rose petals..and whispers lead me to your waiting arms… rose petals.. song.. the once we’ve been singing since our eyes first kissed… your lips are rose petals and song.. whispers I’m longing to hear… wrap your words around me like a love poem we never tire writing… and like this poem.. we, are, endless…

Engage Your Inner Warrior: Standing in Balance

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Many of us are entering this new year shedding off the old.  The dust is finally settling and it is time for us to move into greater states of connection with what we want from life.  So, here are a few questions to sit with:  What do you want from life?  What are you doing to achieve it?  What is your resistance to making these desires manifest?

As we move into this new year I want to bring a bit of warrior energy into our practice.  In yoga, warrior postures take us into places of strength, balance, focus.   I will however point out that too often we hold these posture with too much rigidity.  Warriors have to be flexible, they have to move with the elements, with life itself.   Engaging the practice of asana work helps us to embody the warrior.  When we move our bodies into a posture that represents our warrior nature we are calling that force into all of our parts.

Here is a quick and simple mediation that you can do to help you find balance.

Warrior 2-

Step one leg forward into a lunge.  Your back foot is at a slight 45 degree angle.  Your front knee is either above the ankle or slightly behind.  You can lessen the intensity of the lunge depending on your fitness level.  Your hips are turned outward.  One hand is moving forward, the other back.  Look forward and back and your hands should be aligned through the center plane.  Here is a video to help work your into the posture:

Once in the poster here is a meditation to help you get the most from the power of this posture:

This warrior posture represents standing in the center.  Being fully in balance and in control of our experience.

STR_Warr2

While standing in warrior two, listen to your body.   Where is your mind drifiting?  How does your body feel standing in the posture, do you feel strong, weak, small, big?  Sit with these thoughts as they come up.   Where do you need warrior energy in your life?

Now shift your focus to the rear hand:

STR_Warr2

What in your past is still binding you?   Do you find yourself drifting through the your past?   Where do you feel that you need balance in your past experience?   Send light and energy through your fingertips to those areas of your life.

Now Take your focus to the front hand:

STR_Warr2

Where in your current experience do you feel bound?  What do you feel about your future, does it bring fear or joy?   Where in your current experience do you need energy, balance, strength?  Send energy through your fingertips to those parts of your life that need it?

Switch sides and do the same thing with the opposite side forward.  This becomes a practice of balancing our bodies and engaging the mind/body/ and spirit connection.   After you do this practice, take a few moments to journal your experience.  What thoughts came to mind?  What came up for you?  Do you feel powerful, do you feel like a warrior?  If not, touch the solar plexus, ask the body what it needs in order to bring that energy into your life?

Blessed be warriors!   Practice, connect, love, and stand in your power!

and remember… You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

Michael A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.facebook.com/yogawitch

www.michaelbrazell.com

www.soulinteraction.com

theyogawitch@gmail.com

Daily Practice: Keep a Yoga Journal

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journalingWhen we head out for our yoga classes, we pack our mats, our bags and even blocks, but we often forget to pack our journals.   The practice of journaling your yoga experience can really help you to embody the practice of yoga.  There is a lot that happens during a yoga session, and regardless of the type or style of yoga you are engaging it is important to catalog and dialogue with our practice.

Yoga is also much more than what happens on the mat, and being able to harness the power of our practice to move through our “off-mat” lives helps us to be unified with our actions, intentions and emotions.

I have always found journaling to be a powerful tool for assessing and dealing with emotions that come up.   Having a journal is like having a trusted friend that is there to listen, to help us process, and to help us connect to something below the surface.   If you are not currently keeping a journal I would really encourage starting one.  I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of what type of journal you should carry with you, but I personally prefer hand writing out my journals.  If you are going to be using your journal in your yoga class, I would encourage a paper journal and then you can transfer to your e-device.

Here are some things to consider including in your yoga journal:

  • What postures challenge you?
  • What external challenges are reflected to you by the posture?
  • What postures feel really good?  (This one is especially good if you are feeling deep release or relax from a posture being able to re-create that out of class will be important.)
  • What intention are you bringing into your practice?
  • What is yoga doing for you during this session?
  • Are there things in your life that yoga helps you move through?  How?
  • What emotions are you feeling during the class?   Which postures evoke those emotions?
  • Are you currently using a mantra?  What have the effects of that mantra been on your life?
  • What is the hardest part about yoga for you?
  • What is the easiest?

These are just a few questions, and I’ll dissect some of these as blog posts in the future.  You can also just write a list of gratitude, or doodle, draw, etc there really is not a right or wrong way to journal… the idea is to get energy moving and to capture your progress on all levels.  One of the things that I love about my older journals is being able to see my growth, to see what yoga helped me work through.

Mantras are also powerful magical tools.   Choosing to engage and stick with a mantra practice, and then seeing what effect that mantra is having on your life will let you capture those experiences for reflection.

You can also write quotes, intentions and ideas that you want to take into your practice with you.  You can also dedicate the energy of your practice to individuals, places and things in the world that might need a little extra push of energy.  Writing those down helps us to solidify the dedication of energy, and then as we carry our journals with us we also carry those we care for.

What is your favorite type of journal?

What is your journaling process?

Do you have resistance to journaling?  Can you identify the resistance?

What do you journal about?

Feel free to share int the comments below!

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine.

Michael A. Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

www.michaelbrazell.com

michael@michaelbrazell.com

 

Move Your Body to Let Spirit Move You

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In yoga we often greet the rising sun with Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations).  This sequence of postures allows the body to move stagnant energy out of the joints.  The spine warms up, the body builds heat, and the heart center becomes more open.

Body movement is one of the easiest ways to engage spirit.  Movement is something we hear a lot about in most spiritual circles.  We talk about moving energy, energy moving during healing, movement of spirits between dimensions, but often we overlook the simplest….. moving our own bodies.

Physical body movement can be anything from drumming to dancing, yoga postures to QiGong, Circle Dancing, to free flow body movement.  You do not have to be a skillful dancer to put on a bit of music and let it take you to a meditative space… Move your voice, sing… Move your hands (mudras), move your thoughts (contemplation).  There are many ways to move, and when we move we invite spirit into the physical, the tangible, and we can deepen our connection this way.

What moves you?  Where do you find movement in your spiritual practice?

 

You are Loved, You are Beautiful, You are Divine!

Michael A Brazell CFT CSN MAT PAT

http://www.michaelbrazell.com