Become a bee for a moment or Bhramari practise

One of my favourite pranayama (after kapalabhati :)  is Bhramari. It's quite funny, that's why it's also very good for the children (they like do it ) . Bhramari can be the first pranayama for them.
Bhramara means "bee" , because during exhale we are making the humming sound and it's really beautiful sound when 10 or more persons doing it.

There how Swami Sivananda writing "Sit on Padmasana or Siddhasana. Inhale rapidly through both nostrils making sound of Bhramara, the bee, and exhale rapidly through both nostrils, making the humming sound. You can carry the process till the body is bathed in respiration. In the and inhale through both nostrils, retain the breath as long as you can  do it comfortably and then axhale slowly through both nostrils(...)"

 Thanks to increased circulation of blood this pranayama heat the body, so it's very good exercise for this winter .

*Swami Sivananda "The science of pranayama"

Sarvangasana

 The shoulder stand (sarvangasana) is well known from the physical education in the school. 
In the beginning it can be difficult to raise your body (until the chest is close to the chin) and keep it straight. But as in all the asanas it comes with the time. There how Swami Sivananda describe the technics of sarvangasana: 

"Spread a blanket on the floor and lie on the back quite flat. Slowly raise the legs, hips and trunk. Support the back with the two hands and rest the elbows on the ground. Press the chin against the chest. Remain in the Asana for 5 seconds and slowly bring the legs to the ground. Gradually you can increase the period to 20 minutes. This Asana gives wonderful benefits. It keeps the spine elastic and helps you to maintain Brahmacharya. Elasticity of spine means everlasting youth. After performing this Asana, do Matsyasana. You can derive the maximum benefit of Sarvangasana"*

There are the most important elements in this position:

1. Keep straight the knees. Better to raise the hips less than bend the knees.

2. Relax the feet but keep them together. 

3. Close your eyes. Concentrate on your breath

4. If you feel the tiredness bend the knees and put them for the moment on your forehead. 

5. If you can't raise the hips ask your teacher to help you.

Hari Om Tat Sat

*"Easy steps to Yoga" Swami Sivananda

   The source of the photo www.vishnuyoga.org

Funny cat yoga

A little bit of fun for the beginning of the week because Yoga it's not only a serious concetration, it's also a laughing for relaxation. Enjoy, and remember: yoga is not inly for human ;) 

Does your pet also doing yoga?

Om shanti!

version française http://sourireduneyogi.blogspot.com/2012/11/un-peu-de-joie-pour-le-debut-de-la.html

Anger and its forms

"Anger is a negative Vritti, or whirpool in the mind-lake. It is born of ignorance. (...) Anger is often accompanied by a desire to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party.

It begins in folly and ends in repentance.

The fire you kindle for your enemy burns yourself.

When anger arises, think of the consequences. It will soon subside.

You think of objects of senses. Attachment to these objects develops. From attachment desire is born. From desire anger comes forth. From anger proceeds delusion; from delusion confused memory; from confused memory the destruction of reason; from destruction of reason you perish"

Swami Sivananada  "Conquest of Anger"

Hari Om Tat Sat

Devotional music- Krishna Das

Its've been a long time I was in the concert of american singer Krishna Das. He is known for his indian devotional music. For a long time he studied with Neem Karoli Baba, and now he is singing the kirtans and he released the CDs.
His voice is amazing, peaceful and deep.
I recommend his music for verybody who likes kirtans, or Indian music, or music for relax or just for everyone who wants leasten something new.

There you can leasten some albums of Krishna Das.

http://www.musicme.com/Krishna-Das/albums/

And there is his official website

http://www.krishnadas.com/

Om shanti!

"Wisdom in Humour"

There is one new book in my yoga-library writen by Swami Sivananda- "Wisdom in Humour".
There is a set of short stories, poems that give us a spiritual lessons. Numerous metaphors help to the reader easily learn the lesson.
There what Dr Frederick Spiegelberg (professor of Stanford University) said  after he heard some stories during the Satsang at Ananda Kutir: "Swamiji, this is just the thing wanted by people today. They would love the humour, but would unconsciously learn the spiritual lesson. The impression made by such teaching would be profound and lasting".

Tere is one of the stories.

An old lady and the needle

One old lady lost the needle in the house.
But she was searching for it outside
In the moon light.
One man asked her,
"O lady, what are you searching here?
She replied, "I lost a needle in the house;
There is a darkness in the house;
I am searching for it here
Because there is good moonlight here"
Wordly people are like this old lady.
They are searching for happiness in outside objects.
O man, look within; control the mind;
You will find bliss in your own Atman.

OM 

Vikalpa Vritti- the action of imagining

"This is one of the five kinds of Vrittis* according to Patanjali Maharshi in Raja Yoga. It does great havoc indeed.Vikalpa Vritti is imagination. Maya* havocs through this Vritti. Fear, worry, co-exist with this Vritti.
There is a rumour that there is cholera in George Town, Madras, the man in the Park Town falsely imagines that he will get cholera. He worries and actually gets cholera out of fear. Your friend did not talk to you, as he was running in haste to catch the train,You imagine that he was offended. There was a rumour that a riot broke out in London. You falsely imagine that your son who was studying in London, might have died. Eradicate these Vrittis thoughts Vichara. Do not identify yourself these Vrittis through Vichara*.
Do not identify yourself with any Vritti. Identify yourself with the Vritti-less Brahman*, and rest peacefully forever."

"Conquest of mind". Swami Sivananda. chapter 10.IV


When everything is good in our life naturally we are relaxed, the thoughts are calm, we have full concetration in what we do. In this moment the mind is getting dull by thinking "too much silence, too quiet, I have to show that I am still here" there the different "what if..." comes : "what if I loose my job tommorow?", "what if my son wouldn't back at home", "what if the rain doesn't stop".
 The mind is the master of imagination.  Dont fight with your thoughts. Let them go.

Hari Om Tat Sat


***Vritti- wave, action
      Maya- ulusion
      Vichara- inquiry (by seeking the real essence of the self, world )
      Brahman- the Absolute