. . . and experience deep rest. Wiped out? Tired? Looking for a reset? In pain? Listen to this guided meditation and experience deep rest. Set an intention stating what you’d like to manifest in your life and realize your heart’s deepest longing. It’s easy. All you have to do is lie down and listen.
Why are there 108 beads on a Mala? Why do we chant mantras (repetitive prayers) 108 times? Why in the most ancient traditions is 108 considered a holy number? There are many meanings describing the significance of the number 108. Some of the scientific, mathematical, astrological and spiritual explanations are: The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The average distance of the Moon from the Earth is 108 times the diameter of the Moon. There are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals. The first manned space flight lasted 108 minutes. The sacred River Ganga spans a longitude of 12 degrees (79 to 91), and a latitude of 9 degrees (22 to 31); 12 times 9 equals 108. There are 108 stitches on a regulation baseball. The list goes on.
Jo Kirsch leads a quiet, calming meditation recorded at the beach. The focus is on breathing in and breathing out while listening to the ebb and flow of the waves. Transport yourself to the seaside and unite your mind and body with your breath.
By Biff Mithoefer – The practice of yin yoga is a return to yoga’s ancient meditative roots. It’s a very simple practice; in its simplicity lies its quiet power. There are two things that make a yoga asana more yin. First, the posture must allow muscles to relax. It is only when the muscles relax that we may access the deep yin parts of the body, the connective tissue. Perhaps most importantly, the asana must be done with an attitude of yin acceptance. To understand what this means, we must have some understanding of the Taoist concepts of yin and yang. Yin Yoga Can Help Us Find Equanimity In Our Lives Taoist tradition speaks clearly of the unity of all things. From the Tao–that place before and beyond duality–came the whole manifested universe, the realm of yin and yang. The polarities of yin and yang began when the universe separated
Om is a sound and symbol, rich in meaning and depth, often chanted at the beginning and end of yoga classes. It appears at the beginning and end of most Sanskrit (ancient language originated in India) prayers. It is a mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra. Hindus believe that as creation began, the divine, all-encompassing consciousness took the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound “OM”. Hindus believe the mantra “OM” is the name of God, the vibration of the Supreme. It is sometimes chanted as three sounds, a-u-m, symbolic of the three major Hindu deities: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation) and Shiva Shakti (liberation, and/or destruction). Om reminds us that we have the ability to move past our physical and mental states of consciousness and connect with the divine – both in ourselves and others. It has been said that Om is the sound of
Counting on the fingers is an ancient Indian ritual used for breathing exercises and meditation. One does so by placing the thumb in various positions each time we breathe in. Move the thumb around the knuckles in a circular manner. See the diagram below. Doing so, you take 12 compete breaths. Consider that one round. You can keep track of your rounds with your other hand. When sitting down to meditate, I like to breathe 10 rounds of 12. When accessing this method to calm down, become centered and grounded anywhere, anytime, one complete round of 12 breaths can be practiced. Don’t worry if you lose count as you go around. Just begin again. If you can, practice this hand counting meditation every morning when you get up. If successful there, you may add it into your day at noontime and before bed. Set realistic goals. Start slowly. Soon you