Using stones to enhance sankalpa (intention) in yoga

Another great way to enhance your intention or prayer is by imploring the use of crystals or natural earth stones into your practice and into your teaching. a specific frequency of energy, or light, falls within a specific pattern and, therefore, emit a specific color. this phenomenon can be applied to earth stones in the study of metaphysics, loosely defined as the study of what is beyond physical form. beyond the physical properties of each stone lies a specific purpose. typically, a stone’s color will be a good indicator as to what its purpose is in relation to. when compared to the colors of the chakras, such as the royal blue stone lapis lazuli being good for clearing out and opening up the throat chakra.

Some good stones and their brief uses (for more info look to “the crystal bible”):

Volcanic rocks or rose quartz : grounding and balancing for the primal force
carnelian: calms temperament and balances ability to create with personal intention
citrine: promotes confidence and helps develop one’s personality
jade: healing for the heart and emotional matters
lapis lazuli: opens and promotes truth speaking and healing of the throat chakra
amethyst: opens third eye and enhances intuition
quartz : strengthens connection to spirit

What is Tarot and how can it enhance my sankalpa (intention) for yoga

Tarot cards depict a story and explain patterns we find in both the microcosm of ourselves and the macrocosm of the universe. within the cards, 21 major arcana cards depict a story of a young journeyer that evolves through overcoming first an earthly challenge followed by a spiritual challenge. like a deck of cards, 56 minor arcana cards are divided into four major suites (wands, swords, cups and pentacles, or disks) depict different types of challenges we overcome during different periods of our lives. Wands represent the nature of fire within and depict a story of overcoming challenges of the action and creation realm. cups represent the nature of water within us and depict a story of overcoming challenges of the emotional and spiritual realm. swords represent the nature of air within us and depict a story of overcoming challenges of the mind. pentacles, or disks, represent the nature of earth within us and depict a story of overcoming challenges of the material realm. certain card layouts can tell a specific story to answer a specific question, where each card represents a specific piece of the puzzle. You don’t have to be trained to read tarot cards, they are based on intuition. Where it is good to know the story of the major and minor arcana cards as well as the different suites and what they represent, it is not necessary. Having the foundational knowledge of the cards and their meaning can only enhance your readings, allowing one to extract even more meaning from them.

Reading cards, whether pulling a layout to answer a specific or general question or pulling a single card can help create a sankalpa (focus or intention) for each class. at the very least, pulling one card, meditating on the message in the card and allowing that message to be the focus of your class can help redirect your karma (actions) towards a more intentional purpose-fulfilling direction.

What is Reiki and how can it enhance teaching yoga?

Practicing Reiki is to use energy medicine by removing the ego and any attachment to outcome, opening up energetic pathways in the body to allowing universal healing energy to flow through the hand chakras and into the recipient. this is an extremely special gift to be able to share with your students as you adjust them deeper into poses. Healing will already be taking place, this will make it a smooth transition for them through this emotional, physical and spiritual release.

Bundhas or Energetic Locks

Here are a few bundhas or energetic locks used in a physical yoga practice that I have found to be very helpful, in fact they have revolutionized my yoga practice. I hope you enjoy them.

mula (root lock): appropriately named, this energetic lock is Located in the muladhara/root chakra. engagement of this bundha during asana and pranayama practices can help turn the normal downward, or apana, flowing energy in an upwards, or prana, flowing direction. it is this upward flowing energy that frees the latent, potential energy of the jiva, or soul, called kundalini. Unleashing the kundalini from the base of the spine upwards brings our consciousness closer to god, closer to reaching samadhi, or enlightenment. a bundha is an energetic lock and not an actual physical location in the body, however we can begin to feel its subtleties by accessing specific locations in the physical body. to find this bundha find your pelvic floor muscles and practice squeezing the genitals and the anus together and separately. notice a “pulling up” and in sensation and you lift the pelvic floor. then notice a more subtle energetic ring, or sphincter, about 3 inches up and in between the genitals and the anus, this is the mula bundha. Lift in and up on mula bundha to prevent the energy created in your yoga practice, and aimed at attaining enlightenment, from escaping out through the root chakra. at first you may want to work with engaging this bundha only on the exhales, and gradually evolve your yoga practice to involve mula bundha throughout the entire asana and pranayama portion of class. this bundahs physical purpose is to create strength and lightness in your physical practice, as well as supporting the length and structure of the lumbar spine.

uddiyana (abdominal lock): engaging this lock connects our emotions, and creativity towards our heart center, and physically it strengthens the abdominals and supports the thoracic spine. this energetic lock is also sometimes called “the flying up and in lock.” this description more accurately describes the action one takes to perform this lock. to engage this bundha pull the naval straight back towards the spine and lift it slightly up towards the rib cage. I like to envision a tiny little bird has flown into my naval and its destination is my rib cage.

jalandhara (chin lock): this energetic lock exists within the throat chakra and connects your ability to speak your truth with your heart center. This bundha also has the physical purpose of lengthening and supporting the cervical spine. to activate this bundha lengthen the base of your skull skyward and press your chin straight back into the front of your throat. Make it comfortable!

Maha (The great seal): is the engagement of the three previous bundhas all at once. Typically, multiple bundhas should be engaged from the bottom up and released from the top, down. engagement of the great seal brings the practitioner focus, allowing one to rest more fully into the present moment and into stillness of the mind. It also balances doshas (or aryuvedic constitutions), chakras (energy centers) as well as unties energetic granthis (knots). when the great seal is in place, the vayus (winds) within the body are directed through the nadis (energetic pathways) through muladhara (root) chakra and into the opening of the sushumna nadi (central energetic pathway from root to crown. when energy is running in this direction, enlightenment is a possibility.

hri bundha (heart or core lock): this energetic lock is to be obtained once mastery of maha bundha is attained. this lock allows for a soft open heart that is supported by a strong and lengthened spine. to activate the lock grow your spine up and out your pelvis, engage mula, uddiyana and jalandhara bundhas, pull your front and back ribs in and down, squeeze your lower tips of your shoulder blades into towards the kidneys and slide them down your back, inflate your chest, and lengthen up through all sides of your torso. imploring hri budha reverses a tendency to close down the heart, and lets us practice opening our hearts and share our love with the universe in a vulnerable and fearless way.

jivha (tongue lock): pressing the tip of your hardened front tip of your tongue onto the roof of your mouth, just behind the teeth. engagement of this bundha locks the throat chakra towards the anja & crown chakra, connecting the power of speaking your truth toward intuition and connection to spirit.

Inspiration

The more I watch my self, the more I take the role of the silent witness, and through this, can learn about my self. The more I learn about my self, the more I step into the role of my true, higher Self. The more I step into my higher Self, the more I accept my divinity, my connection to the Whole, my participation in Reality. The more I grow, the more I ascend and raise my vibration. The more I raise my vibration, the more I participate in raising the vibration of the Whole. The more I help raise the vibration of the Whole, the more power the Whole gives me to continue to raise the vibration and heal the Whole. When that is my highest intention, prayer and purpose I can do no wrong. The Universe responds and brings me more opportunity to continue the cycle of death and rebirth to ascend with the Universe and be a positive force of love, healing, compassion and truth. This growth is sustained by the Universe providing me the means to live and continue following my heart and letting it lead me towards abundance. Living this way is win-win. Surrendering judgements, labeling, and attachment to all outcome creates an even stronger connection to faith, and Spirit. Understanding that Spirit works in mysterious ways and so we must unveil or ideas of how we can experience a joyful, loving, blissful life. Life can be seen as a continual practice of falling gracefully through the layers of self to finally arrive at Self, if we are diligent in our living a life's message of integrity. Let go and let God. Live life fully without fear. Be a warrior of the light by committing to continually hunt down the darkness and making light of it. See every moment as an opportunity to live your deepest purpose. Follow your heart towards living a life of love and compassion, within and without. Connect to Spirit to walk in the light of Truth. Let the air calm the fluctuation of thought and bring you stillness of the mind. Let the firm, dynamic Earth beneath you teach you un-attachment and bring you strength, support, grounding and steadiness. Let the penetrating Sun warm your heart. Let the flowing waters bring you stillness. These are the medicines, both within and without. Aho! Mitakuye Oyasin. To all my relations. Misla aya kolo! I love you! I stand in your honor and intend positive change, healing, love, light, peace, Truth & Oneness. I vow to honor you always by following a Spiritual path led by the light. Ekae. It is good.