My Yogi Lifestyle: The Power of OM

At the end of the yoga class I taught this weekend, I led everyone in one Om. The sound of Om always gives me goosebumps (in the good way!). It is said to be the sound of the Universe. But it is so much more than a sound. Its a feeling; a powerful vibration of all our shared energy. When chanted together in a group, our energies become one. At the end of practice this weekend, it felt as if the entire room shifted - rising and falling with the sound. Its evidence of how our energy, our souls, are connected. We are separated only by our physical bodies. Our very consciousness is part of the entire Universe. Skin and bone may shape what we look like on the outside but it is our energy and our spirit that defines who we are.

I try everyday to teach this to my daughter, to my students, and to remind myself to live by this. Its this understanding that gives me joy, faith, and peace. Its what reminds me that having faith is realizing that there is something more powerful, something bigger, and something greater beyond this life experience.

Remembering Your Roots

"To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul."  -Simone Weil

Our bodies are made up of energy. When any part of that energetic make up is disrupted, that disruption is manifested in various ways, including the way in which we live our lives and respond to our life's circumstances.  Addressing the chakras are but one way to return the free flow of energy back into our subtle body. The chakras are energy centers within the body. There are seven all together, each one corresponding to a specific position in the body and governing certain aspects of how we live our lives.  The chakras begin at the base of the spine, at the pelvic floor, and move up the spine ending with the crown of the head. 

It makes sense, of course, to begin at the beginning, with the base or earth chakra, the Muladhara chakra. The Muladhara chakra represents, as its nick name implies, the earth. Our Mother Earth, from which we came and to where we will eventually return. Usually, when I teach a yoga class, I begin in Child's pose, close to the earth, signifying our roots and our beginnings.  Muladhara represents our origins, our heritage. It is here where the seeds are planted that grow into the person we become. Because it is our roots, the Muladhara chakra relates to our stability, our balance, our feeling of grounded-ness and security. It affects how we deal with our relationships, friends, and family. 

When the Muladhara chakra is balanced and the energy is flowing freely through it, we have a sense of centeredness and stability. We recognize our lives as having a solid foundation and we find ourselves more content and at peace with what we have. Attachment to material belongings and expectations for how we think our lives should be going fade away. Grounded-ness brings us peace. 

Just as a tree needs strong roots to weather a storm, so too do we need a solid foundation to withstand any storms that come into our own lives. 

Contagious Energy

"In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself."
-Jiddu Krishnamurti

The entire universe consists of energy. And that energy is connected. From our inner selves to the exterior world, from the breath that leaves our lungs to the wind that blows through the air. From the words we speak to the actions we perform, to the state of the Universe. Thus, when one piece of this interwoven bond is imbalanced, that imbalance is manifested in other parts as well. In our physical body, for example, if one part of the body is not functioning or moving properly, it causes an imbalance, and often injury, in another part. Internally, if we are emotionally distressed, anxious, or depressed, that imbalance of negative over positive mental states causes physical illness. And externally, this connection is integrated into the type of energy we put into our actions, words, and interactions with others and with our surroundings. In other words, what you put out into the universe is felt, noticed, and experienced by others whether you realize it or not.

So when we practice yoga, we begin to understand that we have the key to change our lives and the lives of others. Through our practice, we learn to harness positive and meaningful energy. We learn that simply by practicing yoga, something in us changes. That change is a shift in energy. It is noticed, felt, and seen, if only subtly, by all those we encounter.

One way that we generate that shift is through the breath. Our breath is our live giving energy source. It is part of our connection to the universe. Breath is our reminder to respond, not react. The energy we harness with our breath has the power to transform a situation, our outlook, and even our life. Negative energy begets negativity. When we bring it into a situation, we receive negativity back. But when we bring positive energy, we receive positive energy, or we at least deflect the negative energy. The next time you face a challenging situation or person, come back to your breath and put all of your awareness on it. The sound it makes as it filters in through your nose and fills up your lungs, the way your chest and rib cage expand and relax. Notice the way your reactive thoughts begin to fade. Take that negative energy and transform it into a positive, peaceful response.

In the same way, the energy that you bring to your mat has the power to shape your practice. Before you come into even your first asana, you can determine what kind of practice you will have. A positive outlook, appreciation for your body and what it can do, gratitude for the uniqueness of your practice, and even a sense of humor when you slip out of a pose or loose your balance, are attitudes that bring positive energy to your space and the space around you. Energy is contagious, so spread the good instead of the bad. 

"Everything changes when you start to emit your own frequency rather than absorbing the frequencies around you, when you start imprinting your intent on the universe rather than receiving an imprint from existence."
-Unknown