Summer Solstice Celebration and End of 30 Day Challenge

First, I would like to congratulate everyone who joined and continued their 30 day challenges.  I must admit there were times when I felt very challenged with my Challenge and now, I can not believe we are nearing the end.

So, it is without coincidence the Summer Solstice begins the day after the 30 day Challenge ends.  I think this is a definite cause for celebration.

A traditional summer solstice practice (and definite tradition at Prana) is 108 sun salutations. If you've ever done them, you know that it is serious meditation in motion. After awhile, the body moves without the patterning of the mind and synchronizes with the breath.

For tomorrow, try the 108. It takes about 2hrs, taking breaks to meditate and breathe when needed, and doing sun salutations.

Let's Celebrate this beautiful, long day of sun and Challenges.

As Thich Nhat Hanh says, "Breathe! You are alive."

See You on Your Mat Soon!!  Kathleen

Where is Your voice? Where is my Voice?

Doing a focused meditation on your throat chakra, or energy center, could help you get your feelings across in a sincere and candid way.  Before revealing your feelings to others, you might bring your attention to your throat.

As you breathe into this area, imagine an indigo light growing brighter with each inhalation. As you continue to breathe, you may want to create the intention to speak lovingly and honestly. You might find that by doing this you are more able to align your words with your emotions.

Try this, it works.... 

See you on your mat soon!

Where is the Love?

Alright, so today I read Daily OM and boy did it resonate within me.  So as not to recreate the wheel, I am simply going to share it with you.


Develop Unconditional Love


Perhaps today you can do a loving-kindness meditation to further develop your loving nature. In loving-kindness meditation, you take a few minutes to first focus on yourself by wishing yourself love, peace, and happiness. Picturing your body becoming filled with love each time you inhale may increase your feelings of self-acceptance and well-being. As your love for yourself expands, you can then repeat the same process for the people in your life. Through this form of meditation you may notice that your ability to understand and love others grows.

Being able to extend full unconditional love to others is only possible when we already love ourselves. If we don’t have the same love for ourselves, we are simply projecting our need and desire to love onto the people in our lives and our love then becomes filled with restrictions. Loving-kindness meditation, however, is a way in which we can cultivate compassion, love, and tolerance for our own imperfections first, which makes it easier to then broaden our range of self-love to encompass others. By learning how to give yourself love first today, your love for others will be pure, honest, and unconditional.


Try this, it feels good.


See you on your mat soon!
Kathleen

When Life Pulls You in Every Direction

So these past few days I have been practicing meditation with grounding principles.  I try to sit with my eyes closed with one hand touching the earth and the other placed either on my heart or on my lap with the palm turned up.  The reason I do not mention left or right, is because there seems to be several versions of this grounding mudra.  And, if you ask me how i practice this mudra, i would tell you that when i am trying place my vision as an intention i have my right hand on my heart, and my left hand touching the earth.  When I am trying to connect to all that is above me, my left hand is on my lap with the palm up and the right hand touches the earth to help calm the mind.  

The feeling invoked by this simple gesture is that i am guided, protected and upheld in my path within this life.  Simply put, I feel more certain and grounded with my choices.

My affirmation for the past few days is the same:  "I feel myself guided, protected and supported on my path in this life"

See you on your mat soon.