I'll get into the science behind chanting later, but suffice to say: I just had a mystical chanting experience! Think of chanting as singing a prayer or an affirmation. I either haven't had an experience like this one before, or it's been so long I have forgotten it. I have definitely felt group energy and divine presence when chanting in the past, but I don't recall ever having the physical feeling I just experienced in the session we just had! We were chanting the Peace (Santi) mantra, although in my other traditions we called it by a different name. I've been practicing this mantra for over a decade, so know it well. Plus, it is what is chanted as prayer prior to every meal at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville in Virginia, USA. There were two new people at the ashram today, so first we practiced pronouncing the Sanskrit and saying parts of the mantra over and over. Toward the end, we built up to phrases, then the full mantra. We sang it over and over and I began to notice a lightness in my cranium--a floating sensation. I can only describe the incident as a sensation akin to the one you feel when you hyperventilate to the point of feeling lightheaded; however, lightheadedness implies a loss of control and vertigo, whereas I felt completely empowered and aware. Really, it can be best characterized by a sense of lightness or floating in my head, as though my very Being was levitating. And it was definitely accompanied by a sense of ease, joy, and peace! Asato ma sad gamaya Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya Mryitor ma amritam gamaya Lead us from unreal to real Lead us from darkness to light Lead us from death to immortality
0 Comments
Photo Credit: Yoga Anatomy, www.yoganatomy.com/psoas-resources-old__trashed/ It's seems that every move I make in yoga class causes tension and pain in my ilopsoas muscle; this is the muscle that runs down the front of the groin --from stomach to leg-- in laymen's terms, on both sides. Simplified, It connects backbone to leg bone. This muscle helps contract the body into the fetal position - used when crying or scared, for protection or comfort. It fiercely engages during the Fight-or-Flight and Fear Responses; the psoas strongly contracts the body to "duck and cover". Because it contracts and is activated during emotional turmoil, the psoas can hold deep psychic and emotional tension from trauma for long periods, even after the trauma has ended*. With that said, it is understandable that my psoas is tense and tight. As I stretch and strengthen, it resists. Not only am I releasing muscle tension on the physical plane, I am releasing years of emotional tension held there.
I sit cross-legged all the time, so it is surprising to me that it is so hard to sit cross-legged for long periods. Perhaps because I am more aware of my posture. This is one of my goals during this trip: to regain and rebuild my strong, straight posture! I have always had such excellent posture-- from a strict upbringing where I was constantly reminded to "sit up straight" and "hold your shoulders back", to years of yoga training where I was constantly aware of my body posture and actions. Slowly, over the past few years, my shoulders have rounded, I slump most of the time, and I look down. Slumping, looking down, and rounded shoulders are all ways to self-protect: protect the heart from pain, protect the body from suffering, protect one's Self from the dangers of the outside world. My poor posture is a physical manifestation of fear and anxiety-- an obvious result of trauma that has reinforced itself over time. Doesn't mean it can't be undone, though! This self-protection mechanism of my psoas is one reason my posture is so bad; I have been in "protection mode" for a few years now: feeling unsafe, unsettled, lacking security, and so forth. I've been walking around in an emotional fetal position, and as Dr. Van Der Kolk repeats again and again my body is keeping the score of the hits I take emotionally, physically (sports injuries), mentally (stress and worry), professionally (jobs and money), spiritually (all of the above)... have I missed anything? Within 3 days, my posture is already realigning. I am sitting straighter and breathing deeper. I am following Dr. Raj's instruction: "Smile and Let Go!" I have forgotten how cardinal is the psoas to my overall posture. I am recalling and re-learning so much of the yoga science and practices I have forgotten from disuse. Instead of beating myself up too hard for letting my body and my heart reach this state of disuse and ill-repair, pain and isolation, I am remembering that I have done the best I could do the past few years. I survived remarkable trauma and hardship and I have come through relatively sane and broken only to the point that is reparable. If I look upon myself with compassion, and I look back at the past few years with compassion, I have done remarkably well. I have faltered, I have fallen (literally and figuratively), but I pull myself hand-over-hand back up. Here I am, in Rishikesh, healing my body, my soul, and my heart. My psoas is releasing, as I release. The asana classes, pranayama, meditation, healing food, treatments, medicines, environs... they are all working to heal and undo, to create and build. As I "Smile and Let Go", I am released from so many shackles of the past. I will continue to unbind myself, stretch my muscles and my mind, build my willpower and determination, and create the Gina that is strong enough--more than strong enough!-- to leap toward the future I want for myself, and into the next transition ahead...! See you there! Additional psoas info: yogainternational.com/article/view/how-to-stretch-and-strengthen-the-psoas www.drnorthrup.com/psoas-muscle-vital-muscle-body/ *Reference "The Body Keeps the Score" by Vessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. besselvanderkolk.net/the-body-keeps-the-score.html Evening yoga class turned out to be Astanga, which I strongly dislike. But I stuck with it, swearing I'd not take another night class... slowly swearing I'd only come once a week... turning into maybe every 3 days. Astanga is a very fast paced yoga class, in which, a decade back, I progressively tore both of my rotator cuffs. You move through poses so fast and do so many down dogs, it just rips your shoulders to shreds if you don't move into every posture perfectly. That means you can't get tired and hang while in down dog, and must maintain precise control when moving through this fast-paced sequence. Despite hating Astanga, I felt good at the end of class, and as the evening progressed, I noticed a lot of energy. In fact, my energy has been increasing hour-by-hour, day-by-day. All due to Ayurvedic treatments and herbal medicine, healing vegetarian food, a calm and happy atmosphere, cows, asana classes, meditation classes, and the healing vibe of Rishikesh! Yay! Yes, cows... they pass by, ambling down the dirt road in front of the ashram, several times each day! Photo courtesy: maayogashram.com/ayurvedic-treatments-rishikesh.html Pancha Karma means "Five Actions" in Sanskrit. Back in 2006, I first discovered Ayurveda while residing at the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Pennsylvania. During that time, I began studying Ayurvedic medicine along with my studies of yoga science and philosophy as I began moving deeper into the spiritual practices of yoga. Since then, I've had a few individual treatments both at the Institute and Satchidananda's Ashram - Yogaville, in Virginia. Yet, I have really wanted to experience a long term panchakarma retreat, consisting of a specified diet, yoga practice (asana, pranayama, and meditation) and daily treatments for several weeks. Finally, I am doing just that here in home city of yoga, Rishikesh, India! And for a full 17 days! Below is my daily treatment regimen. I will probably describe the asana, pranayama, meditation, and food in another article. Explanations of the treatments follow, courtesy Dr. Amrit Raj, of maayogashram.com/ayurvedic-treatments-rishikesh.html
(Week 1) Monday, January 28 My first set of treatments include an Ayurvedic massage with herbal oils and packets of black gram flour and herbs, followed by Shirodhara oil treatment, and lastly a camphor steam sauna. Shirodara consists of a continuous stream of herbal Ayurvedic oil streamed down onto the forehead and scalp. The steam sauna is an box built for an individual to sit and absorb the herbal vapours. Tuesday, January 29 On Day 2, I luxuriate in a second massage treatment with Ayurvedic oils and herbs, followed by vhasti oil treatment at my naval center, and finishing with the camphor steam sauna. I believe I will receive an Ayurvedic massage each day! I am considering extending my stay to benefit from an additional 4 days of treatment. I'd rather spend those days here than in Chengdu! Wednesday, January 30 Massage, Shirodhara, steam box Thursday, January 31 Massage, Vhasti on my back, steam box Thursday, January 1 Massage and steam box Friday, January 2 Today I had my first bhasti treatment, which is an enema with herbal oil. I thought it would be more rigorous, but it was quick and easy, and I barely felt anything. This is a seasonal cleansing technique especially good to get rid of toxins in the mind and body. www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/blog-banyan-vine/details/basti-the-primary-treatment-for-vata/ When I was avidly practicing yoga cleaning techniques, I did this at home one time. It rids the body of vata, which can greatly aggravate pitta. Pitta is my primary dosha, along with kapha. The bhasti was preceded by Massage and Shirodhara, then followed by the steam box. I thought I would feel very tired and worn out, but I actually feel energetic and invigorated. I had eaten a light dinner of kitchari and soup last night (Bharendar gave me some ghee, too, yum!) and for breakfast, only half my noodles and spicy soup broth. I feel alert , thirsty, and notice a slight sense of hunger. This is the first of my daily treatments of bhasti. I forgot to hold the oil in for any length of time; I'll try to remember tomorrow. Saturday, January 3 My Ayurvedic massage today was followed by a new treatment: vhasti eye treatment, which was very unique! After the vasthi, I had another bhasti oil enema, and finished with steam bath. The eye treatemnt is similar to the other vhasti treatments, where a circle of dough is molded to the skin in a specific area--this time around my eyes-- and very warm oil is poured into the ring. After a few moments, Santosh (my treatment specialist) instructed me to begin blinking. I thought it would be uncomfortable, but the oil did not really irritate my eyes, although it was difficult to open my eyes for any length of time. After blinking, she told me to roll my eyes in circles in both directions. Now as I rest in my room after treatment, my eyes feel a little foggy and I'm concentrating on holding this bhasti in a little longer so it will have more effect today. Asana class this morning was seriously hard, even the strong guy next to me said the same; my muscles are sore and I feel tired. But it's a beautiful sunny day and I want to finally walk into town, get some rupees, and check out the market. I sure do want a nap though! Click "Read More" to the right, to discover details of each panchakarma treatment! I have a very busy schedule at the ashram.
They are always surprised when I know something of yoga and ayurveda. Ayurvedic Consultation Due to the airline's plane problems and then missing my next flight, I arrived very late on Saturday. Slept for an hour before dinner. (notes in phone) Post in Progress! The Morning Sun rises over the mountains of Tapovan, sitting atop the ashram-- where the sun god Ra takes a rest. Monday, February 4
We chanted Gayatri Mantra today during afternoon session; it was wonderful. The cadence and rhythm built and built until there was a hum of energy surrounding me (us). My fingers tingled, and I felt love. I brought my laundry into town yesterday. It's a drop off service and will cost around 400 rupees for my 1/2 load of clothes. Yes, that's wash, dry, and fold for about $5! I had my first fresh Amla fruit yesterday! These ping-pong ball size fruits are also known as Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry. I believe they have the highest amount of Vitamin C of all fruits. There taste is hard to describe: good, but astringent maybe, sour, tart... appealing but not to all tastes buds. I have been eating Amla on and off for over a decade, but in the powdered form of Triphala and the sweet jam of Chyawanprash. I was so excited to experience the fresh taste of this rare-to-me fruit-- and the sour pungency of that first bite was definitely a surprise! Especially since it looks like a baby potato--which is exactly what I thought it was until that first eye-opening, taste-bud-startling bite! Banyan Botanicals provides an excellent article with related scientific studies in the footnotes, for you Geeks like me! www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/herbs/amalaki-amla/ It was a dark and stormy night...
So this cow walked into a bar... But in reality, I was enjoying a quiet dinner in the solitude of Indian pipe music, the occasional shout of a neighbor or a yelping dog or a rabid scooter. The food at the ashram is amazing--so flavorful and full of healthy spices and... health. Period. Then this dusty black bull calf trods into the garden, full of self-confidence and ownership, immediately razing the flowerbed. Amused, I watched him for several minutes until one of our yogi hosts, Mahesh, shooed him away with a hiss and a spit of the teeth. Cows wander the streets here, crowding out the cars, scooters, and three-wheeled toy trucks. The cows and monkeys number an equal proportion, though the monkeys appear cleaner. Stray dogs are ramshackle beasts of bamboo bones tossing together beneath scraggly mange. Side roads are well-maintained grey pavement, while smaller roads into smaller towns are pocked with sinkholes and pot-holes of meteoric size. The meteor dented roads give way to mud, and narrow into a gauntlet of horns and give-way. The cows traipse along, unhurried, unbothered; showing by example the life we should lead. Sat Jan 26
What do I hope to accomplish and change in the next 18 days at the yoga ashram? Start journey back to regular exercise Lose weight Get healthy again Clear all mental emotional and physical blockage and toxins so I can move forward Rebuild good habits Clarity on what I want to do for work cartwheel breathe deeply equanamity at work, until i leave Relaxation and exploration, sightseeing, visit home ashrams establish a routine, reset, reclaim, |
Gina is......meditating on the banks of Mother Ganges! Archives
February 2019
Categories |
|