Taking a vow of Ahimsa - non violence

"Neither peace nor health can be gained without first cultivating inner harmony and health for all of humankind.  Food for one must be health for all.  Prosperity for one must be abundance for all.  Harmony cannot be achieved at any level while any form of life suffers."  Maya Tiwari

Ahimsa means non violence and taking a vow of ahimsa means it is not something to be achieved or pursued but simply a way of being, it is a state.  Being non violent in our hearts, hands and heads, in action, words and feelings, to all living entities and to ourselves, to all our fellow brother and sisters in the form of humanity, to all animals and to all plants, trees, the earth, water, fire, air and space.  

Making an intention to Ahimsa everyday - every morning and evening is going to help digest this state into every act you make, every word you say and every thought that pops into your head, and when it is not say a non violent act, word or thought - it will make you more aware of the negativity and help to turn it around to be gentle and positive.

You may approach this in different ways - by making a sankalpa or positive statement and mentally repeating it - sit or stand in a comfortable position and place the palms together infront of the heart center, take a deep breath to collect your spirit and repeat the vow of your choice - such as these below

I take the vow of Ahimsa - I make inner harmony my first priority

I take the vow of Ahimsa - In my thoughts, speech and actions

I take the vow of Ahimsa - To protect mother nature and my food source

I take the vow of Ahimsa - To preserve the heart of peace and love

I take the vow of Ahimsa - To strengthen my power of personnel awareness

I take the vow of Ahimsa - To invest in world peace and the protection of all beings

Or you may like to sit in a meditative pose and repeat with your breath -

Breathing in I calm my body

Breathing out I smile

Breathing in I calm my body

Breathing out I offer peace to the world

Breathing in I take strength from the great spirit

Breathing out a wonderful moment.

Ahimsa is a way of life, actually everything is rooted in Ahimsa - and all battles whatever they may be can be overcome and won by the practice of Ahimsa.

Let us bring positive vibrations of health, harmony and hope.

Wishing you all a mind of peace for the collective mind of peace of the whole universe "Yoga provides a real solution to our health problems, which is to return to oneness with both the universe and the Divine within.  This requires changing how we live, think and perceive." Dr David Frawley
Atha Yoga Anusanum - now you are ready for yoga

Have beautiful practice and beautiful days

Shanti shanti shanti

Mangala / Nicky

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

Finding Space

Creating space through your asana practice creates space within the body and allows internal cellular activity to flow.  Equally when we create space with the body it will bring more space or shall we say clarity to the mind.  And once there is space there is prana - the vital life force, once there is prana there is wellness.  Also once there is space there is room for the connections to become strong and information or chita also to flow for example the chemical information, neuro transmitters, magnetic energy and hormones etc to make YOGA happen in the body or union of that prana and chita.  Finding that space through asana practice allows healing to happen, not just for the physical body but for the whole uphadi - the body mind system.  Once healing has occurred we can start to go beyond, as essentially yoga is about the realization of the self, find space, heal and then continue to know the truth of who you are.  

The diagram above is beautifully demonstrating the Halasan or plough pose, it is an inverted forward bending position which as you can see stretches and creates space through the whole back and spine.  Increased flexibility is attained not only through the spine and back but also through the hamstrings, calf muscles and achilles and even the sole of the foot.  The spine and all the spinal nerves are nourished with richly oxygenated blood and there is a lot of tension released from the mid back or cervical region and the shoulder region.  As we find space through the back of the body there is a compression to the front - which gives a deep massage to the internal organs especially the digestive system allowing great regulation and therefore detoxing the system and releasing tensions held in the stomach - maybe accumulated through stress.  As the space increases the prana starts to flow without interruption and we can observe what happens to our thoughts.  I find halasan a deeply calming asana, I love the connection between my shoulders and the mat and then again the sense of flow through the back until there is connection again at the balls of my feet and my toes.  When I have become anxious it is this asana that really seems to soothe and bring clarity back as the breath deepens that sense of nurturing really increases, it is almost that I feel that those internal clouds that start to gather really do start to disperse and allow the flow that brings freshness and clarity back. It allows me to really take my attention internally and let go of the external experience.  Or if I find that sleeping has become difficult again this pose after holding some time and breathing deeply through the body allows me to climb back into a restful sleep without any internal disruptions.  All postures have their purpose and open up certain elements within us, and we find out over time when we have experience of our practice what we will need to nurture us at that moment, to form an intimate relationship with it to create space and become grounded, calm and with inner peace of mind, energy and body.  

Always practice under the guidance of a suitable teacher, with the suitable warm ups and sequence before attempting any challenging practice.  

Know what nurtures you, know what nourishes you, recognize what you need, your strengths, your weaknesses and how your strengths can help you overcome the weakness.  What are your aims and find in your practice that clarity that will take you there.

Enjoy, have beautiful practice and take care of yourselves always

AUM shanti shanti shanti

Mangala / Nicky

'A ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory'

Recently after teaching an asana class one student asked me 'Nicky, I have read many books but one day maybe you will share with us your secret as to you being like this?'  I replied eagerly back to her that there is absolutely no secret - it is just practice and dedication to your practice and in practice I don't just mean your asana's but also your meditations, pranayamas, diet, chanting, selfless service, self observation and complete lifestyle, being mindful and very aware of our thoughts and emotions, surrounding ourselves in positive natural environments and being able to step away from the material world even when we are caught in it.  Books are wonderful things and are to be treasured but there is nothing in comparison to actual practice, as Sri Swami Sivananda tells us 'an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory.'  We can sit and discuss theory and philosophies until it gives us brain ache or for me at least, however by actual experience of practice you can truly begin to feel positive change.  I am by no means always floating on clouds through rainbows, I have life to deal with just the same as everybody else, challenges, blockages, expectations put upon me, moods and emotional outbreaks - I am still contained within this human body and mind, and it is an amazing wonderful gift to have and what an opportunity to learn about humankind that to be able to truly observe yourself; what is the root of that particular worry, that little bout of anger, that moment of jealousy and this moment of joy, and how do I take myself out of those moments that would have negative effect on myself and others, and how to learn to love the moments of joy without attaching to them.  It is dedicated practice that allows us to be open, to love all living things and entities no matter what, it is dedicated practice that brings compassion and acceptance.  It is dedicated practice that prevents the self sabotage, the doubt the mistrust.  It is dedicated practice that prevents us from becoming caught in a sense of being stuck, it is dedicated practice that brings freedom.  In my little humble opinion there is nothing else that can take you there. 

So my response to the question is there is absolutely no secret - just whatever is manageable for you at present in terms of practice then be brave, no more excuses and dedicate yourself to it.

Make that step - you will embark on a gritty, amazing, demanding, transformative journey, Atha yoganusasanam - now you are ready for yoga, now you are ready for change.

Read your wonderful books, but the essence is practice - it is that which is going to make you free, able to approach every part of your being no matter how scary that may be,  but it is magical. 
Love your life, love your time and love you
Dedicate yourself - put yourself on that journey, no body can do that for you but you, be brave, be honest and just do it really.
Always from the heart - I wish you a beautiful journey
AUM shanti shanti shanti
In honor of Shakti the divine feminine energy on the last of the 9 days of celebrating Devi
love to you all
Mangala / Nicky

The magnitude of the Gayatri Mantra

The chanting of Mantra has a powerful and profound effect on the whole system, physically, energetically and mentally.  It starts to uplift our vibratory level and cleanse through our energy centers that will certainly be holding blockages from our life experiences.  Mantra - meaning Man or coming from manas - the mind and tra to free, the chanting of mantra is literally a way to free ourselves from the bondages of our mental waves, and physical limitations.  

The Gayatri Mantra is a universal mantra, a purposeful and powerful connection between divine intuition and awakening of our true intellect.  It first appeared in written form in the Rig Veda between 1100 - 1700 BCE.  It is stated that it is the poem of the divine and chanting this glorious enriching mantra firmly establishes the mind and brings joy and happiness.

Aum
Bhur Bhuvah Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yo nah Prachodayat

In meaning it is connecting to existence absolute, the creator of the three dimensions, that of past, present and future, or creation, destruction and preservation, or purity, movement and inertia.  We contemplate upon divine light that it stimulates our intellect and bestows on us true knowledge.  Or in other terms - O Divine Mother, we have darkness in our hearts, please make the darkness distant from us and bring illumination, wisdom and knowledge within us.

Aum, the vital vibration that feels the whole universe.  It is sum and substance of all the words that ever emanate from the human throat or all sounds of sounds.  It is sound symbol of the universal absolute.

Bhur Bhuvah Svah, literally means past, present and future - giving knowledge of the whole cosmos and illuminates the 3 regions of existence.  

Tat, that ultimate reality

Savitur, Divine sun - ultimate wisdom

Varenyam, to adore

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi, we ask for divine grace and contemplate the intellect 

Dhiyo yo nah Prachodayat, we are praying or urging that knowledge and intellect to be illuminated.

In greatness it is a prayer for final liberation through the awakening of our intelligence, it increases our learning power, concentration and brings inner prosperity, eternal power, peace guiding us toward divine intuition. 

As we chant we express our gratitude to the life giving light and by chanting it is an offering to grace and to inspire ourselves, chant from the heart, chant from the soul and feel the effect through each part of your existence, as you can see from the image above the vibration of each part of the mantra is stimulating through the energy channels at particular parts of the body.  

Breath through every pore of you body the light of intelligence and wisdom.

Have beautiful days and beautiful practice

AUM shanti shanti shanti

Mangala / Nicky

A New Dream

A New Dream by Don Miguel Ruiz

I want you fo forget everything you have learned in your whole life.  This is the beginning of a new understanding, a new dream.  The dream you are living is your creation.  It is your perception of reality that you can change at any time.  You have the power to create hell, and you have the power to create heaven.  Why not dream a different dream?  Why not use your mind, your imagination, and your emotions to dream heaven?

Just use your imagination and a tremendous thing will happen.  Imagine that you have the ability to see the world with different eyes, you see the world around you in a different way.  Close your eyes now and then open them and look outside.  What you will see is love coming out of the trees, love coming out of the sky, love coming out of the light.  This is the state of bliss.

Beautiful words shared,  why create a horror story or even a thriller, create a love story everyday.  If times are challenging or we are in times of rejection - it is painful but use it - be open to it, observe it and evolve, be yourself, be strong and find the depths within your heart, catch your lightness of being.  

Yoga Mangala is currently in Casablanca and is offering classes at my temporary home shala and also at Yogablanca - Val D'Anfa studio and Temps Danse - Bouskoura.  Kindly email me for details nickymangala@gmail.com

Also I have my little Ugandan Tribe based in Kampala running sessions around the city and at Boutabika Hospital.  Enquiries nickymangala@gmail.com

Find your lightness of being by giving yourself permission to be loved

shanti shanti shanti 

mangala / Nicky