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Did you know...

...that "[i]n a joint resolution approved on May 11, 1950, Congress requested the president to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as "a day of prayer for permanent peace"? I read this this morning on Deseret News, an article titled, Memorial Day has a Spiritual Side, by Scott Taylor (May 29, 2010).

Every Memorial Day morning, I teach my usual morning classes, and this morning, we discussed what is prayer, exactly? Some answers: It's an ask. A desire. An intention. A thought.

At the beginning of my yoga journey, I read that...

Yoga prepares us for meditation, and
Meditation prepares us for prayer.

As a recovering Christian (I hope you know what I mean by this), this was really unsettling for me. What do you mean, prepares us for prayer?? I thought I moved away from that!

Let's take a look:

Yoga (movement) prepares our bodies to be focused, to be at ease and in stillness, even while moving. Our bodies are, in fact, the vehicles for our spirit. With our bodies primed, we can get better grounded and centered, with enhanced ability to open up our neutral mind, and connect with something greater than us.
That is meditation. It plugs us into the Divine.
And when that happens, we change our minds. Our small minds: the minds that project through the dramas of our lives and from our past, work from lack, and demolish our potential. An entire community of small minds... what can that create?

When the mind is changed, when we move away from the negative self-talk, we think differently. And we see differently. Which is the same thing as we pray differently. Our minds and thoughts, which turn into actions, then, project something different. Something much more whole, inclusive, expansive. Wanna change the world? Change your mind. Change your prayer.

In observance of this Day of Prayer for Permanent Peace, let us not react by pointing the finger at our politicians for their shortcomings, or to those that 'voted for the wrong person'. Because by doing so, we need to ask ourselves,how are we contributing towards Prayer for Permanent Peace? In hating the other side, and thinking how stupid they are, what prayers are we putting out there? Same within our own sphere of influence: in our families, our friendships, our workplace.

It starts with us. If we are [internally] at war against our opposition, then we are a part of the war.

Not being at war against the other doesn't mean we are saying that the wrong that's happening out there is okay. Just like if my child does something wrong, I don't go to war against him. But that's exactly what we are doing when we war against our opposition.

What is the solution? I believe in us. We can start with a more creative discussion. Like when I was younger, and we played games like, "how long can we go without using a contraction? We do not know, and it will sound really awkward, but let us try." 🤪
Let's humor ourselves. Create some discussion rules. Let's do it for Permanent Peace.

Want a mantra to help with this? Click here, and I'll share it with you!

Much love, grit and gratitude,

Savitree

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Kid's (and adult) Meditation: is taking the same series over and over again too repetitive?

5/17/2018

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by Savitree Kaur

Here is a question that comes up from time to time:

I've been very pleased with the classes so far, and [my child] really seems to be growing in his self awareness. I have not practiced meditation very much myself, so I was wondering if this class remains relevant to keep taking, or does it start to become too repetitive?

Repetition is key as the practice of it sinks deeper into the psyche of the student. It's the answer for both kids and adults, actually. We do vary it, but not too much, so they can experience becoming familiar, expert, and even the boredom of it.

The boredom of it often is the space where the shift (and the sh*&) happens. The space where ironically, we don't think anything is happening. It's when most adults tend to quit, and those who work through it transform.

We don't dwell for too long in that space with the kids, because it is a real work in progress balancing what we want to bring to them that is critical while we develop in them the love of meditation. But the point is, the repetition and familiarity allows the different stages to work the individual.

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How's it going with your 40 Days?

5/10/2018

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by Savitree Kaur

Here is a question that comes up around doing a 40, 90, 120 or 1000 day meditation:

What if I miss a day?
Do I have to start back on Day 1?

In class, I often distinguish between the ideal and the real. The ideal is the ideal version of what the posture or exercise should look like. The real is what your body can do at that moment, and as you may know, that can vary from day to day. As you practice regularly, your real generally moves towards the ideal, even if it's just barely noticeable. The important thing is that you know where you are in your own body, and that you are able to find that edge between going for the ideal and honoring your real. That edge should be outside the comfort zone, but not too far out, otherwise inviting injury or causing you to hate the practice so much you struggle to sustain it. Know what works for you.

So here is the ideal answer to that question:

Yes. Start back on Day 1.
While many of you may have committed to this 40 day for the benefits of the Mul Mantra, the most amazing benefit, really, is the practice of carving out time to gift and nourish yourself daily, for 40 days, no matter what. It's a real practice in making sure you are fed, and that you are doing this for yourself. No one else can truly feed you.

Think of the many things we do for others - employers, friends and family- no matter what. While we are sick, exhausted, while we are hosting in-town guests or are in the middle of another obligation; we just sandwich them all in, feeling ragged and tired, even when we think some of this stuff that we agree to are ridiculous. Yet for something we choose to do for ourselves - what we know will empower our core Being - even if it takes just 7 minutes of our time, we somehow allow it to fall off the moment those same circumstances come up for which we rally for others.

Starting back on day 1 is giving ourselves another practice at finding 40 consecutive days to hold something dear for ourselves. It's 40 days of Self-Love. And it takes 40 days to create a habit. In this case, we create a habit of Self-Love. {I'm a big fan of 1000 days to MASTER it}.

So now you might be wondering about the other numbers:
40 days to create a habit.
90 days to confirm it.
120 days to make it who you are.
1000 days to master it.

Here's the real:

If starting back on day 1 will cause you to drop your commitment to Self altogether, then start where you left off. It's your practice. Which means it can be at your own pace and on your own terms. Remember that what you put into anything is what you get out of it. And the most important thing to put into it is the practice of getting back on the horse over perfection.

So it's all good.

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Prayer for Permanent Peace

by Savitree Kaur

Kid's (and adult) Meditation: is taking the same series over and over again too repetitive?

How's it going with your 40 Days?

by Savitree Kaur

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Prayer for Permanent Peace

by Savitree Kaur​

Kid's (and adult) Meditation: is taking the same series over and over again too repetitive?

How's it going with your 40 Days?

by Savitree Kaur

Categories

Archives

Favorite Links

Kundalini Yoga Quotes:

by Savitree Kaur