Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Kripalu Yoga Joining Forces
Intertwining the mind, body, and energy is the primary goal of Kripalu yoga. Those who practice it believe that the body contains energy pulsations in a flow that are called prana, which is sometimes referred to as life force. The idea is that the smallest thought or worry can cause problems with the prana in your physical body. That is why Kripalu is important; it is a way of being aware of the prana and using breathing with thought to prevent blockage or disturbance of the life force in your body. In turn, you will feel an increased level of mental clarity and emotional control. Boiled down to its essence, Kripalu yoga is about looking at yourself in order to free you. Kripallu yoga followers believe that by simply examining and experiencing physical, emotional, and mental processes, you begin to erase blockages in the prana. In turn, this creates a better flow of life force inside you and invokes a feeling of physical and mental well-being. Why Kripalu? Yoga, in all its forms, has been shown to be highly effective in honing the physical human body. This is much of the reason for yoga?s immense popularity. What Kripalu does, though, is use the physical body and yoga?s benefits to it as a vehicle for pursuing the greater good of mental and emotional stability and clarity. Hence, many believe it to be the most complete and beneficial form of yoga. The idea is that as you release your emotional and mental impurity, you increase the amount of prana in your system which in turn also helps with physical healing and performance. Of course, when all yoga practices and meditation are prefaced with techniques, such as the Maharic Seal (Azurite Press), that seal the body’s energy fields from external influences, the experience of self knowledge is both clearer and authentic. Kripalu yoga does not teach this, however. Many use this popular form of yoga to combine physical fitness with self growth and the empowerment of the self. In Kripalu, you will learn to lead yourself through self-examination rather than through a leader or instructor. In this form of yoga, leadership is there only to help you turn yourself into your own leader. Your sensitivity to self, others, and your own body will increase from the focus you will receive when you look inside. To take it deeper, many believe that you are using your body to as a temple to attract the presence of those powers greater than yourself. Though some may be skeptical, many more feel such presences when led there through their own self-examination. When you learn Kripalu from an instructor, you will find that it usually does not matter what your level is in yoga. The classes are generally conducted in the same way for new yoga practitioners and veterans alike. The emphasis, remember, is on looking inside yourself and seeing what is there. Though there are postures and a ?right? way to do them, you will likely be encouraged to concentrate on your mental state and on increasing the flow of your prana. Moreover, Kripalu is truly about life change. You will learn to focus on your spiritual well being outside of the classroom as well as while you’re on the yoga mat, contributing to your overall well being and helping you on your way to being the best person you can be. Kripalu is a unique form of yoga. With emphasis on looking at the self and ridding it of all that has gone awry, this form of yoga is about more than just fitness of the body. It is about fitness of emotions, spirit, and even a little bit of the soul. References: Rebecca Prescott presents many yoga articles at Yoga To Health, including these on yoga breathing dangers, and vinyasa yoga postures.
By: Rebecca Prescott
1. discoveryyoga.com/KripaluY.htm

Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Knowing More About Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti means devotion or faith. It can be devotion towards your fellow men as well as for the need we are living in this world. The devotion towards your god no matter which faith you are. It is the faith towards the Supreme Being which some may believe and some may not. The thought is about how devoted you are towards the path you have taken. It is the energy which denotes the path and how important is the path for you. It talks about your full devotion towards the direction you have taken and the values for which you are standing by. It is also a bond of love which grows between the one who prays to the one he prays to. It talks about love and devotion transcending all the boundaries you must have ever known about. It is not the physical attribute which creates the impact; it is spiritual, which creates unison of mind and soul. It is one of methods to gain your spiritual path and gaining immense self-awareness which would be very hard to find. Looking into your heart and soul just makes things crystal clear. Need for a mind which is clear from all worries and attachment, for undivided attention to the devoted path. It talks about love, devotion and knowledge in all forms which can bring a bright change in your life. It can create immense presence of your being in the beautiful world. It is beyond religion, a search for higher ground with your devotion (Bhakti). It is a form of love creating a merger between you and the outside world. It is a process to gather knowledge and also provide it to the one who needs it. Kevin Pederson, the webmaster for Yogawiz, http://www.yogawiz.com which gives you everything you wanted to know about yoga and also goes beyond exercise, breathing techniques and attain more than you seek. To learn about Bhakit yoga for devotion or complete faith click here ==>http://www.yogawiz.com
By: Kevin Pederson
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Kids Yoga Stress Management Sessions for Children
Let?s think about it: Being a kid these days is not what it used to be. If you grew up watching ?Leave it to Beaver,? you cannot really relate to the current peer pressure, multi-tasking, sub-par education programs, and daily distractions that our children and grandchildren accept as part of daily life. Family structure is not what it used to be either. Many children live in single parent households. This has become a painful fact of life for children to accept growing up without both of their parents. The family unit has changed and parents need practical solutions a lot more than criticism or a lecture. Peer pressure in school is much more than just drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. Children are harassed by their peers, over every issue, including the clothes they wear. These days, children are pressured into pretending they are rich or joining a gang. This causes children more stress, at an early age, than they need. So, what is a caring parent to do? Kids Yoga is one answer. Yoga classes for children offer a positive refuge from life outside the Yoga studio. Just by stretching muscles, deep breathing, laughing, getting proper exercise, learning how to relax, meditating, and playing ?Yoga games,? a child can be a kid again. Kids Yoga allows a child to deal with daily stress. Each time a child enters a Yoga class for kids, he or she can ?close the door? on negative feelings that stress overload brings. Children who attend Yoga classes have one common thread: Their parents care about their well being. It is not easy for children to socialize with other ?good kids,? at a time when physical education, recess, children?s programs, manners, and social skills are being placed ?on the back burner.? Yet the structure of a Yoga class allows children to bond, socialize, learn, and improve their lives, with new life skills. Yoga classes are usually non-competitive, but a parent can easily observe just to make sure. Competition is everywhere, but there is no need for it in Yoga or any form of Mind and Body health maintenance. Lastly, Yoga has many benefits for both genders. Yoga is good for both boys and girls to learn. The physical skills and knowledge will carry over into other hobbies and sports. Most of today?s elite athletes learn Yoga for cross training purposes. An athlete, who is flexible, strong, and calm under fire, is a formidable opponent. This is the reason why so many of the world?s professional sports teams cross train their players and teach them Yoga. ? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, Massachusetts. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
By: Paul Jerard

Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Kids Yoga Enhanced Goal Setting Techniques
Have you ever noticed what a monumental task goal setting is for anyone? Some adults have no goals at all. So, why should we expect children to constructively set goals, in the age of attention disorders? Parents know that children need the best possible ?head start? in the extremely competitive world of academics, athletics, and later on, in business. Hatha Yoga classes, for children, offers them a chance to set their own goals, without a strict measurement of success. Children do not have to worry about making the ?next cut? in their Yoga class. There is no worry about reaching the next level, but every child wants to perform better in his or her next Yoga class. A little competitive drive is healthy for all of us, and children are naturally competitive by nature. Keeping the above points in mind, Yoga teachers should design classes for children that contain ?Yoga Games.? Sure - parents are paying for Yoga classes, but how do you capture a child?s imagination for 45 minutes? Firstly, explain to parents what they should expect to see in a typical Kids Yoga class. If you are working with 45 minutes, you can easily split the class into three - fifteen minute segments. You could start with warm-ups, Sun Salutations, Vinyasa flow, or a standing sequence of Yoga postures. Then, you could introduce a Yoga game. Games create a little friendly competition and, eventually, goal setting skills start to ?take root.? Yoga card decks are good tools for children to learn postures. You could have them each randomly draw a card and perform the particular posture from the card deck. This is just one of many games that children will enjoy. Kundalini Yoga is quite active; and although it is not a game, a Kundalini Yoga segment will change the pace of your class. This change of pace is what you need to capture a child?s imagination. Finally, have them work off the floor - performing seated Yoga postures, table postures, other postures off the knees, prone postures, and finally, supine postures. At this point, children will look forward to meditation or relaxation. This is just one example of a way to arrange your lesson plan for children who attend Yoga classes. Children of various age groups will look at Yoga class differently. As a general guideline, children who are four to seven years of age should work well together. Older children from eight to twelve years of age will not be entertained by the behavior of younger children. Young teens will tend to be very serious, so they should also eventually have their own time, if Kids Yoga classes are full. Lastly, do not run Yoga classes much longer than an academic class in elementary school. Forty-five minutes to an hour is fine, but after that, you will lose the attention of your youngest Yoga students. ? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
By: Paul Jerard

Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Kids Yoga Dealing with Anger Management
How can Yoga help children deal with anger issues? What solutions can Kids Yoga offer to parents and emotional children? Let?s take a look at some solutions that your local Yoga teacher will have to offer in a Kids Yoga class. Children learn, at a very young age, that anger and tantrums can help them get their way. Parents naturally want to give a child the best of everything, but what was ?cute? at two years of age, may no longer be acceptable behavior for a child who is five years of age. The foundation of a child?s personality is created in the first seven years. Parents are looking for constructive activities for children, but where do they start? Kids Yoga offers children a chance to develop strength, flexibility, endurance, and to enjoy the companionship of other children, without a competitive mind-set that can cause aggression. Controlling aggression, by attending Yoga classes for kids, carries over into the competitive aspects of life. We know that our children are going to face athletic and academic competition. Children are naturally competitive, and they want to win every time. This is a basic component of human nature, but we also know that our children will not always win every contest. Yoga is the perfect outlet for children. For those who consider Yoga a ?feminine activity,? consider this: The National Football League teams have Yoga teachers train their players, and they teach ?Yoga.? Why? Have you ever noticed that football players are faster, bigger, more flexible, and more coordinated than they used to be? I can remember when a guy, over 300 pounds of body weight, was slow. It?s all about the cross-training and professional teams in all sports, incorporate Yoga to avoid injuring their multi-million dollar athletes. In the West, it is often forgotten that Indian males practiced Yoga for thousands of years. Many were from the Kshatriya caste. This was the Indian warrior caste and the people who turned back Alexander the Great. The Indians are a deeply spiritual people, but they have a proud history of military prowess. Do not forget about the Gurkas. Lastly, most of the Asian martial arts can trace their ancestry back to the Shaolin temple. The Shaolin monks credited an Indian sage by the name of Bodhidharma for passing on his knowledge of health maintenance. We do not know the exact specifics of what Bodhidharma taught, but you can be guaranteed a good part of it was Yoga. It is said Bodhidharma was from royalty, a Brahman at birth, studied under Buddha, and became a member of the Kshatriya caste. History has many ?twists and turns,? but the fact is - Yoga can make the weak strong and flexible. Kids Yoga enhances athletic performance, and it takes fortitude to be consistent in Yoga practice. Yoga for children is an activity with many rewards, including anger management. ? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
By: Paul Jerard

Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Kids Yoga A Solution to Global Obesity in Children
Two topics that most people are tired of hearing about are obesity and childhood obesity. The problem is we will not find solutions for these problems if we ?bury our heads in the sand.? Kids Yoga is a viable solution to obesity in children, but this requires schools and parents to take action now. Obesity has crept up on all age groups quickly; children in some countries need to change their lifestyles immediately. If not, there will be serious health repercussions that will shake our health systems and fragile economies. How did massive numbers of obesity get here? How can less physical activity in children be acceptable? How could Kids Yoga be a solution? Parents today have less buying power than our parents had. Many children are shifted from school to day care, while both parents are working extra hours to support the family. Many of today?s meals are composed of processed foods -whether they are store-bought, or bought for takeout, from a restaurant. Physical education has suffered serious cutbacks since the ?Cold War? ended. Back in the 1970?s, and before, children ran and played outside more often. The Yoga lifestyle helps parents and children manage diet in a very busy and stressful world. If you are conscious of it, there are wiser food choices, even from restaurants. When children practice Yoga, they become much more aware of their diet, posture, activities, and daily exercise routine. Educators, doctors, Yoga teachers, and parents cannot afford to wait until the next study on childhood obesity is completed to take action. Children are bigger than ever, due to inactivity and a high fat / carbohydrate diet. Large numbers of big children will become even bigger adults, who are at risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, various forms of cancer, and much more. Therefore, educators, doctors, Yoga teachers, and parents must be proactive. Do not expect grant money, government assistance, or any help from ?big brother.? Look at the reaction to global warming by the world?s governments and you see how long it takes to get a reaction. For parents with school-aged children, there has never been a better time for them to attend Yoga classes. Children consider Yoga an extension of other games and exercises they would normally do. Children will naturally jump, roll on the ground, run, and spin around, in the course of playing with their friends. With proper supervision from a certified Yoga teacher, children learn what they can and cannot do. Kids Yoga classes teach safe Hatha Yoga techniques for flexibility, strength and muscle tone. If a child is obese, parents should not expect instant miracles with weight loss, and parents would do well to learn the practice of Hatha Yoga. In this way, parents and children will both be aware of proper dieting and a much healthier lifestyle. ? Copyright 2006 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: “Yoga in Practice,” and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
By: Paul Jerard

Saturday, May 31st, 2008
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Keep on Laughing Inside the World of Laughter Yoga
?The entire world is an extended family; let us join through love and laughter? Dr. Madan Kataria. Dr. Kataria, Founder of the World Laughter Yoga movement practices what he preaches. He travels the world educating people on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of Laughter Yoga. A typical Laughter Yoga Session involves many educational and physical expeiences. When you attend your first Laughter Yoga session you will be greeted by the Laughter Yoga Leader or sometimes referred to as the ?Club Anchor?. Attendees are encouraged to leave their worries, both physical and emotional at the door and try to connect with their child-like playful sprit. This individual will ask all members to stand in a circle or semi-circle. He or she will then give commands to initiate different types of laughter and exercises, while maintaining eye contact and moving closer to interact with each other. This is done to create a sense of closeness or intimacy among the group members. Laughter Yoga has two components: 1) Laughter Yoga Exercises and 2) Laughter Meditation and there are some important guidelines one should follow to optimize the Laughter Yoga experience. They are: all participants should start laughing at the same time, when the anchorperson gives the command 1, 2? start because, when a group laughs at the same time, the effect is good. Do not apply too much force while laughing. It should be more of a feeling and enjoying of the process. The duration of Laughter Yoga Exercises is usually 20-30 minutes, that includes laughter, breathing and stretching exercises. The Laughter Exercises are suggested guidelines to get started, and it is not mandatory to follow the same sequence of Laughter Exercises every time. A group can develop their own unique Laughter Exercise to make the session more interesting and playful. Ideally, a group of 15-20 persons makes a good dynamic for an infectious Laughter Session. More people always help to create a better impact, but even 5-10 people can have a good Laughter Session, if they are committed. Each Laughter Exercise lasts for 30-45 seconds, or a maximum of one minute. After each bout of Laughter or sometimes after two bouts, two deep breaths are taken, in order to provide a break. This avoids exertion and tiredness. Sometimes, various neck, shoulder and arm stretching exercise are done in place of deep breathing, between Laughter Exercises. A typical Laughter Session is a perfect blend of various laughter techniques, interspersed with breathing, stretching, rhythmic clapping and chanting HO HO HA HA HA, in unison. The Laughter Yoga session starts to wind down with Laughter Meditation. After the Laughter Yoga exercises, we make an effort to laugh in a group, which soon becomes infectious. In Laughter Meditation one doesn?t have to make an effort to laugh, but laughter flows out like a fountain without any reason, much more spontaneous and deeper. The session then is complete; we end with some deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Doug Dvorak is the CEO of DMG Inc., a worldwide organization that assists clients with productivity training, corporate humor and workshops, as well as other aspects of sales and marketing management. Mr. Dvorak’s clients are characterized as Fortune 1000 companies, small to medium businesses, civic organizations and service businesses. Mr. Dvorak has earned an international reputation for his powerful educational methods and motivational techniques, as well as his experience in all levels of business, corporate education and success training. If you would like to experience the benefits of free flowing laughter, contact Doug Dvorak, Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Founder of the Chicago Live Life Laughing Club @ 847-359-6969 or http://www.dougdvorak.com
By: Doug Dvorak

Friday, May 30th, 2008
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Keep Fit With Yoga or Pilates for Maximum Spiritual and Physical Benefits
In the wake of films like Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me” and increasingly worrying figures on the level of global obesity, the world seems to have been delivered a swift electric shock and told to get back into shape - or else. But if you think that keeping fit is all about bench-pressing and weight-lifting in soulless gyms, you might be surprised to learn that you’re more suited to a comprehensive Yoga or Pilates regime. A dedicated stay fit routine has to involve a lot of effort if it’s going to work; but, if you choose to take up fitness regimes like Yoga or Pilates, you’ll be sure to have a fulfilling spiritual experience as well as a physical one. Yoga, for instance, has become an increasingly popular pastime of choice in America. Yoga itself is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy and refers to a particular set of ancient spiritual practices that originate in India. Today, in India and across the world, Yoga is seen as a challenging discipline that requires physical and spiritual mastery. The four main paths of Yoga are: Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action), Jnana Yoga (Yoga of Knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion) and Raja Yoga (Yoga of Meditation). The benefits of Yoga are far-reaching and lifelong: not only will Yogic practices help people maintain their physical well-being, but they will also help towards the path of contentment. As a physical fitness regime, Pilates has also become increasingly popular in recent years. While Pilates and Yoga are seen to have many similarities, Pilates was actually developed in the twentieth century by Joseph Pilates; the German physical fitness expert moved to New York in 1926 and began teaching his methods to dancers, including American ballet choreographer, George Balanchine. Pilates wrote at least two books on his method, including “Return to life Through Contrology” and “Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education”. Contrology is a method which refers to the way in which the mind is used to control the muscles; as a program, Pilates focuses on the way core postural muscles help keep the body balanced and how they are essential in providing support to the spine. Additionally, Pilates strengthens torso muscles and teaches good breathing techniques - so it’s is a fantastic exercise regime to take up if you suffer or are likely to suffer from back pain. The beauty of physical fitness techniques like Yoga and Pilates is that you don’t need heavy sets of equipment or expensive appliances in order to reap their physical and mental benefits. Yoga and Pilates even make it easy to stay in shape when you’re on holiday, and many hotels provide complementary stay fit kits complete with Yoga Mats and Pilates bands. So you can rest assured that, if you choose to take up Pilates or Yoga, you’ll not only be on your way to a better body - you’ll also be shaping a more rewarding lifestyle. Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist who enjoys keeping fit.
By: Andrew Regan
Friday, May 30th, 2008
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Karmic Yogathe Action Reflection Mode
There are many things necessary to improve the quality of life for all beings in the world and even the earth itself. Rabbi Cooper, a Cabbalist, in his book God is A verb wrote that the Kabala is based on the precept that we are all human beings sparks of the Divine embedded in us. These sparks are the higher self and our God nature. Not only human beings contain these sparks, plants do, animals do and even stones do. To reach a platitude of enlightenment we must connect with this spark, our higher self. When we do we embrace our responsibility, which is actually more of an opportunity, to help raise up and liberate those sparks, so they can return to a higher plane of existence in the universe when they are released, thus moving the universe to a higher and higher more complete form. The universe is still in the process of being created and none of us know for certain what it is becoming, according to Rabbi Cooper and also Ph. D. Brian Swimme.. Brian Swimme, physicist and cosmologist, spoke of something similar. He said that each human is like a piece of the universal puzzle. It is our duty, therefor, to develop ourselves as fully as possible and to cultivate our uniqueness. If we don?t do that our piece will never be placed into the whole and the universe will never be complete. No one can every take our place. For Swimme, if there is sin, this is the only one. As we do Karmic Yoga we should us these ideas, and those like them, as our guide. Many people go out into the world to help. Sometimes they get paid for it. Sometimes they feel a bit guilty and put in time as volunteers to relieve that guilt. It is even a power trip sometimes. Sometimes people help others so they can get a group together to help them reach their own goal and fulfill their self interest. This, though helpful in some cases, perpetuates the power-over mentality with all of the manipulation that goes with it. It is not Karmic Yoga. One might say that it is the opposite. The difference between the two is that Karmic Yoga works from an action reflection model. The other is from a reactive model, power-over band-aid model.. The first step in Karmic Yoga is knowing oneself and one?s core beliefs about the world. It is constantly examining the core of self and identifying one?s own thoughts and feelings, i.e., what one knows to be true. From that place, full knowledge of the self, one goes out into the world and acts to fulfill the need that presents itself. After doing the work one goes back to a quite place and considers one?s actions. One sits and thinks about their feelings during the work, the way they related to the population they are helping, and why the people are in need. If he is with a group of people working in similar surroundings or at the same place, he can do it with the group. In accordance with ones thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions, he changes the action as needed and does the inner work on whatever needs to be corrected, and then goes out and does the action again. There is a spiral that take place where the Karmic Yogini is actually learning, growing and expanding her spirituality through her actions. She is not only changing the world, but she is being changed. There is a dialectic taking place?an intimate dialogue between herself and her actions that promotes growth and enhances the quality of her enlightenment. She is involved in inner-work, outer-work and the work of transformation as she interacts with those with whom she is working, imparting knowledge and truth which she has learned from the great mystics and sages and through life experience. She is receiving knowledge and truth back from what they have learned through life, and the mystics and sages that they have read or learned from. In that way she is raising the sparks and helping our circle rise to a higher level. As we break down the walls between helper and those being helped and become one?one group working together to transform our communities and the world, we will never be alone. As the walls and artificial separation falls away like scales from our eyes we realize that we can never be alone, because we are all one family on this beloved earth. As we grow in grace, in love, in faith and in power-with we are never alone for we, as Krishna Marti theme went, ?are the world.? Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com Recommended book, On Being Love?s Warrior: A Warriors Manual on Becoming the Compassionate Warrior Within, Dr. Kendall Ronin.
By: John Gilmore
Friday, May 30th, 2008
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Karmic YogaEnlightenment Through Following Your Bliss
When you hit bottom what do you do? This is a very important question, especially for those who have. What happens when your life falls apart? What happens when all of your friends and family seem to betray you for something you haven?t done? Or because you have done something right? This happens, and has happened probably since the beginning of time. Every great human being that we can think of, and I don?t mean actors or sports figures, who have done something to make the world better have been persecuted. Everyone never agrees with a person who stands out and changes things. People like Ghandi, Jesus, Paul Robeson, Mother Jones, and many others were often persecuted by their contemporaries. We then hear about them and their lives and it sounds as if their lives were easy and glamorous. The truth is, however, that their lives weren?t. They were very hard. That is why it is important to learn how most of them dealt with stress and persecution before we decide to live you own lives fully. If we can learn what they did, we too can accomplish great things without having to worry about compromising our deeply held core beliefs. We can deal with the stress. The first step in following one?s bliss is to find out what our core beliefs are. Our core beliefs are associated with, not necessarily the same as, what gives us our bliss. What gives you your bliss? What is it that you?re doing, or would like to do, that makes you feel alive? All of the great people that I have referred to earlier didn?t buckle or fall under horrendous persecution because they found their bliss and were doing it. There bliss was aligned with their core beliefs about themselves and the way the universe works. I think that it is time for all of us to also find our bliss: one that is aligned with the way that we know the world is in our hearts. When we work at finding our bliss, and then trying to do whatever it is, we will be like the great people. We will have the strength to make it through the hard times and the lowest, darkest moments, so we can continue to reach for the heights. Firstly, however, if we don?t know what it is that gives us our bliss we have to find it. Secondly, we have to begin to do it. We have to do what makes us happy, if it is legal, healthy, and contributing something to the world and our community even if we don?t get paid very much, or not at all. Even if we try to perform some kind of art and we are not good at it, we must continue if it is our bliss. We must keep doing it, until we get good at it. When we stop and give up we will convince ourselves that we are not in control of our own lives and we will die on the inside. If you have found your bliss and you are not doing what makes it real in your life, it?s time for you to start. This is applied theology and spirituality. Sit down, make a plan, prepare yourself to be chastised. Be ready for someone that you love to put you down, or try to turn you away from your goal. As sure as day follows night this discouragement will come just as it came to those people who worked to make the human condition better and got persecuted. Isn?t it strange to think that one can be chastised and discouraged for following one?s bliss by friends and family, until some outsider recognizes the quality of what you are doing, or until you can make some money doing it? This is a very strange thing. We often get support after we don?t need it. That is why it is important to begin to support your self. Hold on to your dream. Meditate, stretch, do exercises, study, do whatever it is necessary to stay strong so you can persevere. If you want to make some type of contribution to the world, you must be diligent and consistent, doing your work little by little, moving forward step by step carefully and not carelessly, and finding joy in the process, the very act of becoming better and better, instead of in the outcome. If you can do this, you will attain your goals and your dreams. You will not have experiences where you feel that you have lost everything, because you will be aware that there is something inside of you, a loving and powerful spirit, that is connected to everything all around you. In the midst of the darkness the light of the universe will shine forth, and that light will be you, my friend?the awakened human spirit where God and humanity meet. You will also realize, as you work and are being yourself for the first time, that some people actually like you and your authenticity. These people will be your friends and your family?your true friends and family Until you find them, however, it is necessary for you to keep your stress level down. Bad health comes from too much stress. Do some type of meditation, develop a spiritual life, and stay healthy. If you can do these three things for health maintenance, and you refuse to stop following your bliss even if you think you are failing, you will have overcome the world. You will have succeeded already in life. For the living of one?s life, and contributing in some unique way to the world, is the calling of every human being. As you do what you are called to do and you feel fulfilled in life, you are changing yourself and the world, and living the way we were all meant to live. Dr. John W. Gilmore is a writer, a spiritual director, a certified healer, a martial arts instructor, and an ordained minister. To read more articles like this visit this ezine or our free Practical Spirituality Journal at http://www.dswellness.com. There you can explore our website in detail and our absolutely free Circle of Creation Spirituality and Stress Reduction 101 at our cyber school. Newly Published: Reclaiming the Religion of Jesus in a Modern Age: Called to the Sword of Truth, by Dr. John W. Gilmore
By: John Gilmore
