Teaching Mantra as an Affirmation

By Kimaya Singh

A high level of positivity within your life is going to yield wonderfully beneficial results. However, in order to enjoy this positivity, you have to consciously work towards bringing this forth in a continuous and consistent fashion until it becomes almost habitual.

Nothing beats a positive outlook in life like positive thinking and there are tools to help you get yourself to this level. Mantras on affirmation are just one of the positive ways to achieve this. If you are able to call to mind and recite these various different positive mantras when you are feeling down, the sheer force of the positive messages it is based upon, will help you out of your negative state.

Research has continuously shown that filling the human mind with positive thoughts will successfully eventually create a mind-set that is able to face almost any adversity and thus overcome virtually any problem. Thoughts and emotions naturally create a chemical reaction within the body system which directly affects the way the system “performs”. Literally whatever you put into your mind is going to birth your actions and how you eventually cope with any and all situations. Therefore in the interest of keeping stress at bay and facing life with a “can do” attitude, instead of being resigned to failure, having a few mantras to affirm your mind is well worth keeping handy.

The following are some examples of mantras that can positively affirm you if regularly practice and recite them:

·      This too, shall pass

·      Make it work

·      Keep calm and carry on

·      Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened

·      Tomorrow is another new day

·      Don’t sweat the small stuff

·      Don’t worry, be happy

·      I will accept the things I cannot change

·      Life does not have to be perfect, to be wonderful

·      I have chosen to be happy, despite my circumstances

·      Today I am going to be excited about everything

·      Stop holding on to what hurts and make room for what feels good

The above are only some examples which can be used to give you an idea of how mantras can inject some positivity in an otherwise negative thought or situation.

In the end, it all comes down to how you are going to handle things that come your way. If you choose to look for the positive in everything, then you are more likely to get through each challenge better that the last one. Taking one challenge at a time and using the mantras for positive affirmation will help to make the journey to achieving victory much easier and certainly less painful.

Make it a habitual practice to recite a few positive and well-chosen mantras at the very beginning of your day. Infusing some positive thoughts the moment you awake will help you form a positive mind-set even before your feet hit the ground, and you are ready to face the new day and it’s certain challenges.

 

Reciting these specifically chosen mantras will create a phase where your mind is schooled to follow the words and think along the lines the words depict. This will eventually help your mind to only think and process information and circumstances according to the blueprint of the mantras. 

It is very important to find and recite mantras that you feel connected to on every level. Simply reciting a particular mantra because someone else does it, may not help you get the full benefit of its affirmation. This is especially possible, if the mantra you have chosen to recite has got nothing to do with what you would like to see unfolding in your life.

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Yoga for Cancer Recovery: Turning Within

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

There are many ways to incorporate the practice of Yoga during your recovery from cancer. Although this may seem counter-intuitive at first, setting aside time each day to focus on nurturing yourself through practicing Yoga postures, pranayama exercises and relaxation techniques, such as Yoga Nidra, will help to support your physical and emotional health during a very trying time. Sitting in an oncologist’s office and being told that you have cancer is clearly one of the most frightening times in a person’s life. In previous decades, only one in twenty people would be confronted with a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. 

Sadly, today the statistic is roughly one in two. This is an enormous increase over the last fifty years, and most experts agree that the level of carcinogenic chemicals in our water, food and air contribute substantially to the rise in cancer rates. In addition, the chemicals in common household cleaning products and personal care items are also believed to increase the chemical burden on our bodies, and therefor increase the possibility of developing cancer at some point in your lifetime. So, if you have received a cancer diagnosis and are in the process of learning how to mitigate the symptoms of your disease, while you eradicate cancer from your body, you are clearly not alone! 

Even those of us who have a very healthy lifestyle are vulnerable to developing cancer, especially if cancer runs in our family. Another clear contribution to cancer pathogenesis is stress. Unremittingly high levels of stress create havoc with the immune system and prevent the body from repairing itself naturally. A regular practice of Yoga poses, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques will help to balance the nervous system and lower adrenalin and cortisol levels, which will help your body to fight disease more effectively and will also improve the quality of your sleep. Sleeping deeply and restoratively every night is one of the primary ways of ensuring that your immune system is functioning as well as possible. 

Yoga can also help you to recover from cancer, because the practice allows you to drop into your own intuitive state of being from which the wisdom of what your body and mind truly need to recover will become apparent to you. If you are contending with a cancer diagnosis, the vast number of conventional and alternative treatments is only limited by how much time and money you have. Truly, the treatments that are available for cancer are almost endless. If you are under the care of a traditional oncologist, you may be feeling a bit intimidated by all of the experts who are telling you how to treat your cancer if you want to survive.

Researching all of your cancer treatment options is important, of course. In addition, by taking some time daily to nurture yourself through a balanced practice of Yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, you will provide yourself with a set amount of time to decompress your body and mind. In a way, your Yoga mat can be seen as your own portable meditation sanctuary where you can drop into your own being and check-in with yourself, in order to clarify what your body is telling you what it needs. This is the very essence of the ancient Yogic practice of pratyahara. 

Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses from all outside stimuli. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, many well-meaning friends, family members and doctors are probably offering you advice on a variety of cancer treatment options. However, by taking some time each day on your Yoga mat to decompress and allow your mind to calm down and rest in a place of stillness, the wisdom of what to do next will be more readily apparent to you. For instance, simply resting on a Yoga bolster in Supported Child’s Pose for five to ten minutes will help you to relax, which will allow your mind to clearly see the next steps to take in your cancer treatment and recovery process. 

Virginia Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an academic support specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related writing orders and may be contacted at: enchantress108@gmail.com. 

© Copyright 2015 – Virginia Iversen / Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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Romancing Divine Love with Yoga: Chanting

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

It is a cold and snowy Valentine’s evening in the Northeastern United States. This year, Valentine’s Day fell on a Saturday. Saturdays are traditionally viewed as “date night.” So, not only does Valentine’s Day fall on “date night” this year, it is also too snowy for many of Yogis and Yoginis in the Northeast to drive around safely on this evening! If you are a die-hard romantic and sentimental to boot, this combination of factors might bring on a degree of despair or frustration. If you are single but wish you had a date this evening, but you are spending the evening alone or with friends, you may also be struggling with feelings of loneliness and sadness. 

In the same vein, if you are involved in a romantic relationship that is not quite what you had hoped for, Valentine’s Day may generate ambiguous feelings in you. However, there are many different types of love. The ancient Greeks even had several words to describe some of these different types of love. One such word is “philia,” which refers to brotherhood, friendship or other non-sexually based love. The ancient Greek word for romantic love is “eros.” This is the form of love that most often comes to mind when we are thinking about Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Eros is also the kind of love that can bring great pleasure, beauty, happiness, and a sense of effervescent lightness of heart. However, doggedly being focused on acquiring and maintaining an erotically or romantically based connection, regardless of the consequences or the situation, can also cause great pain and frustration. In fact, by continuing to chase a romantic connection that may cause you distress, you are separating yourself further and further from the joy that lies at the heart of your own being. 

Another form of love that was well known to the Greeks and the early Christian Church is “agape.” This form of love refers to the divine love that flows unimpeded between God and humankind. It is considered to be the highest form of love and is based on a deep sense of awareness of God’s love for all of us and a humble state of gratitude for the grace that surrounds us when we connect to this unfathomable source of love - This form of love is also considered to be selfless and focused on the well-being of those around us, which is a wonderful virtue to aspire to if you are a Yoga teacher. 

In the 4th Chapter of the Gospel of John, John succinctly states, “God is love.” The form of the word love that John uses in this context is agape. By focusing on romancing divine love through Yoga, you will free yourself from constantly searching for a loving connection outside of yourself. The divine love that pulsates in the cave of everyone’s heart is the spark of divinity that animates each one of us - By romancing and deepening your connection with your own divinity, which lies at the very core of your being, you will be filled with the love and enthusiasm of God’s grace, in whatever form you conceive God to be. The practice of chanting the names of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, as well as the repetition of divine mantras and syllables, is an especially effective way of romancing divine love through Yoga. 

A well-known Christian author, Thomas Oord, has defined agape as an intentional response to nurture well-being in the face of that which has generated a state of ill being. On a day-to-day level, romancing divine love through Yoga has very practical applications. For instance, if you are commuting to work, and you are feeling rushed and frustrated by a long traffic jam, you can opt to chant along with a cd or your iPod, instead of steeping in an endless stream of negative thoughts. This will allow you to spend your time sitting in traffic in a productive and uplifting way, so that when you do arrive at your destination you will be able to offer your love and compassion to those around you, whether it is a Yoga class that you are scheduled to teach or a date with a potential new romantic partner.

Virginia Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an academic support specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related writing orders and may be contacted at: enchantress108@gmail.com. 

Yoga and the Christmas Spirit: Wonder

By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed

As I was watching a documentary about the Christmas Star last night, I began to contemplate the Christmas virtue of wonder. While I was viewing the film, it struck me how great the wonder must have been that filled the hearts of the three wise men as they witnessed such an immeasurably profound celestial event, known as the Christmas Star. According to some scientists, the Christmas Star may have been comprised of a comet. Other astronomers believe that the Christmas Star was actually a triple conjunction of three planets, which is a very rare occurrence. According to many people's beliefs, such awe-inspiring celestial events usually indicate the birth or the passing of a great ruler or king. 

Although the exact date of the celestial event marking the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is still of some debate, the fact that an such a incredible astronomical event occurred within a handful of years of the generally accepted birth date of Jesus, is without question. The sense of wonder that such an event must have generated in the hearts of those witnessing it is quite profound. Some astronomers postulate that the comet or conjunction was so illuminating that it filled up half of the night sky for several days. The appearance of the Christmas Star was documented by several different cultures, including ancient Chinese astrologers who kept meticulous records of such heavenly events. 

In terms of practicing and teaching Yoga, nurturing the sense of wonder is an important element in keeping your relationship with Yoga fresh and inspirational. This sense of wonder is defined in the dictionary as an emotional state filled with admiration, marvel, amazement, and awe. The same sense of wonder that filled the hearts of the three wise men, which found the baby Jesus as they followed the Christmas Star across the desert, can also fill your body and mind with the inherent wisdom of how to construct an optimal Yoga practice for you and for your Yoga students. The practice of Yoga includes many different tools and techniques for facilitating health, wisdom and well being. 

For those of us who practice or teach Yoga regularly, the sequence of postures and the way that we approach the practice itself may have become quite staid over time. For instance, you may find that you are falling into a predictable routine in the way that you sequence your Yoga classes, or in the array of postures that you offer to your Yoga students. By reconnecting with the inherent wisdom of your own body and mind through an intuitively-based practice of Yoga, you will be more able to address your own individual needs through your Yoga practice and to tailor your Yoga classes to the needs of each unique group of students. In doing so, you will be honoring one of the quintessential virtues of the Christmas spirit, wonder. 

One of the key elements to engaging in an intuitive, free form Yoga practice is to allow an open sense of wonder to arise from within your own heart. This is very similar to the Buddhist notion of the beginner’s’ mind. It is not uncommon for many of us, who have been practicing Yoga for some time, to repeat the same sequence of postures and pranayama exercises over and over again. The same may also be true for you in your own personal practice, or on a professional level, if you are working as a Yoga teacher. 

By occasionally spending an unstructured hour on your Yoga mat following the intimations of your own breath and body, you will be able to connect with the deeper intuition of what your body and mind truly need today in terms of your personal practice. In the same way, if you are teaching a Yoga class, allowing yourself the flexibility to modify the sequence of poses you have chosen, according to the needs of your students on any particular day, is one of the most important aspects of teaching a safe, challenging and inspiring Yoga class. 

Virginia Iversen, M.Ed, has been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty years. She lives in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an academic support specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related writing assignments and may be contacted at:enchantress108@gmail.com.