***image1***January is a month of new beginnings. In this newsletter we’ll talk about forward movement to help keep our lives fluid and expansive. The meditation of the month will help us to shine like the sun and be conduits for miracles of healing and grace. Now the news:We’re off to Amsterdam today to conduct a Teacher Training/Yoga Weekend. Our good friends and magnificent hosts, Helen and Anil, have found a space for a Kundalini Yoga / Raw Food Center there to open by March. Congratulations! The Florida tour promises to be fun and exciting. Thanks to Burton and Jamie at www.mindbodybliss.com for their invaluable help in coordinating this event. Why not get out of the cold and join us in Puerto Rico. Sat. Feb. 19th to Sun. Feb. 20th – San Juan, Puerto Rico787.379.2865 www.homyoga.com

ALIGNMENT & THE CHAKRAS – PART 2

This month we’ll focus on the 2nd Chakra, svhadistana chakra and its element water relating to fluidity and movement. The second chakra is located in the pelvic area and houses powerful reserves of creative energy and the spark that informs your own personal flair or style. It is also, physically speaking, home to our most important alignment muscle – the psoas. The psoas is a Y shaped muscle that connects the lumbar spine and the thigh bones.

A well balanced psoas increases physical grace. Every great athlete or dancer is very aware of this very important muscle. When you hear someone speak of core strength they are refering to the psoas muscle. Core strength frees our hips and pelvic region and gives us fluidity and forward momentum in our lives!Here is what we call Kundalini Sun Salutation. You will experience a nice warmth and opening of the hips immediately following these exercises.***image2***Begin on your hands and knees. Arch your tailbone and press up into Down Dog Pose(Triangle). Try to feel 2 straight lines: one from the fingertips to the tailbone and the other from the tailbone to the heels. Stretch! Do Breath of Fire for 1 minute. Then Inhale through your nose as you raise your right leg high up behind you. Exhale, curl the right knee in towards your chest and step the right foot up between your hands. Lower the left knee to the floor into lunge.

Eyes open, gaze straight ahead, Long Deep Breathing. Keep your sternum lifted and your tail bone dropped (to modify this pose place your hands just above the right knee). Focus on releasing any gripping in the outer musculature surrounding your pelvis so you can access and stretch the deep psoas muscle. 2 min.Tuck your back toes under and straighten your front leg. Keep your hips facing forward as bring your back foot forward about 18 in. Now your legs are 2 1/2 to 3 feet apart, still hip width apart (think parallel train tracks). Deepen the right hip crease (think soften) and roll the left hip bone forward to even out your hips. Breath of fire. 2 minutes.

Come sitting on your heels with hands on hips. Take some deep breaths and repeat this sequence on the other side. After you complete the second side, sit and bring the soles of the feet together(Butterfly pose) hold onto your ankles and lengthen your spine forward. Long Deep breathing. 1 l/2 – 2 minutes.

A strong and resilient psoas muscle is the foundation of proper alignment. When this area is allowed to release we are free to go forward towards fulfillment. Moving forward in your life is a hip thing to do!

MEDITATION OF THE MONTH

The meditation below is the perfect technique to practice in 2005.Sit with a straight spine. Inhale in 4 sniffs as you turn your head left, right, left, right. Bring head center and in a monotone chant (1 beat per word) Guru Guru Wha Hay Guru Ram Das Guru (chant this twice before you inhale again left, right, left, right).The hands are in prayer pose at sternum level away from the body. Thumbs pulled away from the other fingers. Elbows gently hug the ribs. Eyes are 1/10th open looking down towards the tip of the nose. The ideal time for this is 11-31 min.2005 is a 7 year (Radiance). This meditation, according to yoga, brings white light into your aura and will engender miracles of healing and grace, for you and through you. Mantras are coded sounds with unique vibratory effects. When you align yourself with these exalted frequencies the Universe quickens on your behalf and for all beings.

Keep up good cheer!Ravi Singh & Ana Bretthttp://www.raviana.com / 1.800.243.9642

Ravi and Ana are in the forefront of bringing the ancient art of Kundalini Yoga into our world. Ravi was one of the first Americans to be authorized by the Kundalini Master, Yogi Bhajan, to teach Kundalini Yoga in the West. Their client list includes Olympic athletes and celebrities. Ravi and Ana have taught in many diverse contexts: from Canada to Costa Rica, from boardrooms and Park Avenue Penthouses, to scientists at Bell Labs and opera singers at the Aspen Music Festival. They’ve even taught street kids in Los Angeles. Ravi and Ana are the authors of the Fat Free Yoga DVD series and the forthcoming book Fat Free Yoga.

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