Raise yourself out of your condition.

Sometimes it may feel that our suffering is surrounding us like an impenetrable wall - it may seem inescapable and overwhelming.  In this posting I don't want to go into too much detail - just outline some postures that really aim to give us a way out - a release and a breath of fresh air.   The following postures or asana highlight a certain energy that can combat a certain way we are feeling they become a vehicle for the cessation for suffering things such as a clouded mind or anxiety.  Of course all therapy should be undertaken under expert guidance and not just from blogposts, internet resources or books, it is the guru that can truly pass positive channels and health and uplift you, however if you are a regular practitioner you can begin with regular practice of these asanas for particular conditions and practiced with awareness of breath, for some time, every day and with the right integrity you will begin to see the difference.

For Anxiety, worry, restlessness and insomnia - Prasarita Padottasana and Padahastasana 

These postures help to reduce mental tensions, external distractions and soothe the nervous system with deep abdominal breathing.  They also regulate the hormonal system and massage the digestive tract.

For memory or clouded mind - inverted V pose and savasana

When we invert the body we naturally encourage focused and deep breathing sending the oxygenated blood directly to the brain, bringing a greater sense of clarity.  Within the inverted V a complete stretch through the body is given which can attain a sense of space.  Also complete rest in savasana helps to clear the mind.

For Fatigue - Supta Vajrasana

In this pose feelings of safety and nourishment and encouraged, it opens the chest, improves respiration, circulation and helps to lift the spirits.  Also by stretching out the thighs the stomach is soothed and digestion aided which can bring increase of energy instead of depleting the energy.

As we practice so we become, take time for you as well as all the commitments and demands that are placed on you - you are not a machine but a very delicate and precious part of life - so take care of yourself

AUM always from the heart

Mangala . / Nicky

Changing how we think when we can't change the situation.

There was once a farmer who lived in a house with two rooms.  The cattle and bulls were in one room and his family in the other.  Life was hard, cramped and miserable so he reached a point where he was truly fed up and went to seek help from a Guru to see what to do.  The Guru advised him to put all the cattle in the same room as the family and lock the door to the other room they had originally been kept in and come back in a week.  After a week he went back, he told the Guru that life was so much worse than before and the family were more miserable what should he do?  The Guru told him to go back and put the cattle back in the original room and come back in a week.  When that week passed he returned to see the Guru, he was most happy and explained that life had become much better not only for the family but also for the cows!

When things are appearing that they are not going the way we want - when we have a disturbance in our mind due to a situation sometimes all we need to do is alter the way we think or feel about it to be able to live in contentment with what is going on.  We have to realise that the universe has its ways and rhythms and we have to be able to recognise and go with them, paddling against them only rocks the boat.  A wise person will recognise every situation as an opportunity - what that opportunity is could be very different from situation to situation and could be just the chance to be able to live with something and gaining the strength and courage to be at one with it.  That in itself can be a very powerful thing and puts you in control.  Recognise your feelings and become friendly with them just by observation.  If you want to be happy which all of us do, you have to find that state of original nature - mediation can reduce and combat suffering.  Holidays can bring freedom from the normal stress of life, meditation can bring a holiday for the mind and ultimately liberation.  Meditation is a technique to detach or disengage from a situation that maybe causing a disturbance to you, give you space to watch or look into your thoughts and then the power to overcome them or accept.  Meditation is the royal road to freedom.  

You can begin today with this simple meditation to help bring you back to your true self - 

Sit in a quiet place free from distractions - no phones, no other disturbances, if sitting is uncomfortable then you can also lie in savasana.

Hold the back straight and the spine tall.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath in and a long exhalation - repeat two more times.

Then allow the breath to regulate and become smooth and natural, notice the length of the breath and the movement in the tummy, chest, throat and nostrils.

Allow yourself to naturally become a little quieter and calmer.

Once you feel settled then start to mentally repeat SO with the inhalation and HUM with the exhalation.  Continue for the time you have - even a few minutes a day will make a huge difference.  

SO with the inhalation HUM with the exhalation.

Before you leave that space to continue your day, just sit for a few moments without concentration and just observe your wonderful self, rub your palms together creating prana and then cup your hands over your closed eyes and allow the eyes to drink the energy you created.

When you are ready slowly release the hands and continue with your day.

SO HUM meaning - I am that.  (I am that of existence, awareness and consciousness.)

Enjoy a beautiful practice, begin today without excuse, create a good habit and begin to address how we think without expecting change from a situation, if we change how we think then we are in control.  

AUM shanti shanti shanti

Mangala / Nicky