healthy living! healthy living! - yoga living magazine

LOVELOVE

January/February 2007

Your Healthy Lifestyle Guide

www.yogalivingmagazine.com

Volume VIII, Issue IV

New Massage &Healing Arts Section � Aphrodisiac Menu in Recipes!

On:

HealthyLiving!

Local Resources for

HealthyLiving!

YOGA LIVING January/February 2007 3

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14

Psychology& Health

32| What is Real Love?By Rusty Stewart, PhD

34| Dreamer Dan, Loving Man By Ji, who helps those find their mission.

NEW!

Massage & Healing Arts36| Thai Yoga Massage

By Pheng H. Tang

40| Colluding to Not Heal: Or,A Deficiency of Self-LoveBy Michael Cheikin, MD

44| Personal Vitamin ProgramBy Lisa Beth Freedman, MD

28

36

Yoga Living Online! www.yogalivingmagazine.com

YogaTheory

8| Letter To Readers

10| Editorial on LoveBy Dr. Bob Butera

12| Yoga, Meditation, and Psychotherapy By Christine (Citrin¥) Ware, PhD, RYT

14| Love Through PrayerBy Carol Haytko

16| Finding Love in EverythingBy Erika Tennebaum

18| ChantingBy Linda Lyng

20| Transcending the Limits of MatterBy Toni Zuper, Alternative Healing

22| X & OBy Deborah Shipley

24| Make Love. Not War. By Gershon Levitt

26| Meditation and Love By Anthony Michael Rubbo, MHS

28| The Therapy of Movement By Katie Tandon

January/February 2007Local Resources for Healthy Living!

Healthy Home& Family 49| Yoga Off The Mat: Worked

By Love By Edie Weinstein-Moser

50| Making Peace with Global WarmingBy Lucille Balukian

52| Use Feng Shui to RealizeYour DreamsBy Martine Bloquiaux

73| Jina, Lotus and Wheel By Louise E. Wright

Directories54| Yoga Directory: Local places

by county for study/classes

58| Holistic Directory: Helpingyou find holistic practitioners for all needs

61| Green Business DirectoryLook up businesses that support the environment

62| Non-Profit Resource Directory: Encouraging your support of local non-profits

Events63| Events Listings

Join holistic events, retreats and on-going groups


52

47

Yoga Living... makingHolistic mainstream!

Recipes& FoodConsciousness43| Recipes: From Our Home

to YoursBy Carol Haykto

47| Are You in Love withYour Food?By Susie Beiler

48| Restaurant Directory Find restaurants that servehealthful and locally-grown foods.

Online Media Kitwww.yogalivingmagazine.com

ADVERTISERS ISSUE DEADLINE:

March/April 2007FEBRUARY 8 DEADLINE

Looking for a greatholistic audience?

CALL US TODAY!

610-688-7030

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49

� � ��

Deborah >>Shipley is aregistered yogateacher and afreelancer. You arewelcome to contact [email protected]. X & O, page 22

Doe r s | P laye r | Teache r | Rep resen ta t i ve | A Vo i ce | Impe tus | Ref l ec t i on | Lea r n ing | Imag ine


<< Christine (Citrin¥)Jeuland Ware |

PH.D | RYT

is a certified Kali RayTriYoga® instructor andlicensed clinical psychologistat RYAH Yoga and Health inConshohocken, PA. For more information, contact her at www.mindbody-services.com or [email protected]. Yoga, Meditation, & Psychotherapypage 12

Anthony >>MichaelRubbo | MHS

is a consultant toeducation andindustry, and the author ofbooks on personal leadershipand meditation. Spiritualityoccupies an important place inhis life, and he is currentlywriting a novel and collabor-ating on a production thatpromotes the spiritual lifestyle.If you have questions orcomments, or would just liketo talk about meditation, youcan contact him at [email protected] and Love, page 26<<

Toni Zuperis the owner of

Alternative Healing in CenterCity Philadelphia. Seewww.tonizuper.com for moreinformation. God Respects Me When I Work,and Loves Me When I Sing!,page 20

<< Carol Haytkois a writer,vegetarian, yogini,

and activist. She lives inMontgomery county,Pennsylvania, and can bereached [email protected] Through Prayer, page 14

Ji >>aids others inprocess throughthe vehicles ofDream & SpiritSessions. These interactivesessions allow participants tointegrate New Energy, cleardiscomfort, and embrace newdirections. Please contact Ji [email protected]. Dreamer Dan, Loving Man page 34

Martine >>Bloquiaux, ofEmpoweringEnergies,specializes incommercial and residentialFeng Shui. She is also aMedical Intuitive Healer andheals with specific vibrationsand energy methods. She canbe reached at 484-919-1488and at her website atwww.empoweringenergies.com.Use Feng Shui to Realize YourDreams, page 52

<< ErikaTenenbaumhas been

practicing yoga for five yearsand teaching for two. Whennot working as anAesthetician (skin-carespecialist) during the day,Erika is reading, and lookingfor ways to deepen herpractice.Finding Love in Everythingpage 16

>> Lisa BethFreedman | MD,is a HolisticMedical Doctorwho practices in Villanova,610-579-3797. She colla-borates with Chris Castagna,Pharm.D. She has beensuccessfully utilizing the FIAfor over three years for goodhealth, wellness, and thetreatment of disease. Seewww.LBFMD.com for moreinformation.Personal Vitamin Programpage 44

Michael >>Cheikin | MD, is aholistic physician,Board Certified inPhysical Medicineand Rehabilitation (Physiatry),Pain Management, Spinal CordMedicine and ElectrodiagnosticMedicine. He has providedleadership to several local medi-cal institutions. Dr. Cheikin uti-lizes conventional and “alter-native” modalities, includingspecial lab tests, medical nutri-tion, yoga and acupuncture toenhance the healing of obscure,chronic and severe problems.He accepts most insurance forconsultation. 610-239-9901 [email protected]. Colluding to Not Heal: Or, A Deficiency of Self-Lovepage 40

Ins ide YogaLiv ing | Contributors

Rusty >> Stewart | PH.DSee Rusty’s websitefor information atpersonalgrowthalternatives.comWhat is Real Love?, page 32

EdieWeinstein-Moser >>is a writer, speaker,reiki practitioner, inter-faith minister, socialworker, and one who relishestruth. She can be reached viawebsite at www.liveinjoy.com. Worked By Lovepage 49

Lucille >>Balukian co-founded Citizens’Alliance forProgressive HealthAwareness and served as itspresident for over 13 years.She welcomes readers com-ments at [email protected]. Making Peace with GlobalWarming, page 50

Susie >>Beiler is aCertified HolisticHealth Counselor,1:1 nutritional and lifestylecounseling classes and work-shops, speaking engagements,as well as preventative wellnessin corporations. Reach her at267-307-4224, [email protected], or www.spectrum-healthconsulting.com.Are You In Love... With Your Food?page 47

>>Lynda Dobrowolski-Lyngis a practicing Yoga Instructorand Reiki Practitioner.Chanting, page 18

YOGA-OFF-THE-MAT

�ove On

YOGA LIVING’s community focus now extends tothe images we use to enhance our magazine layout! As you read through this edition

of Yoga Living, you will see

photographs from our friends in

local holistic businesses –– read

the captions and you just might see

someone you know! We will continue to

accept submissions for upcoming

issues, and if you have a photograph of

an important event or “business-as-

usual” that you would like to share,

we would love to hear from you!

See our new Massage & Healing

Arts section in this edition of the

magazine. Our inaugural article


Letter to the Readers | Ins ide YogaLiv ing

come out to a local event, get to know

their contemporaries and exchange

business cards. This will result in a

stronger sense of community for us

all, and allow us to refer our clients to

complimentary services with

confidence. See the back cover for

more information.

Have a Great New Year! Bob

focuses on the finer points of Thai

Yoga Massage. Stay tuned to these

pages in the future, to learn about a

variety of practices in the growing field

of holistic arts.

Feel free to join us at one of our

community networking meetings as we

bring Yoga Living out to the people! We

are inviting holistic practitioners to

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3New Features from

Yoga Living

Yoga LivingYour Healthy Lifestyle Guide

On LoveJanuary/February

2007

��Volume VIII, Issue IV

Editor-in-ChiefROBERT J. BUTERA, Ph.D.

Art DirectorAMIE WOLFGANG

AdvertisingANGELA NEVIUS

Featured WritersCarol Haytko, Toni Zuper, GershonLevitt, Anthony Michael Rubbo, LindaLyng, Lucille Balukian, Ji, MichaelCheikin MD, Carmen ElizabethGreger, Edie Weinstein-Moser, MartineBloquiaux. See page 8 for more details.

Published by:The YogaLife Institute, Inc.821 W. Lancaster Avenue

Wayne, PA 19087610-688-7030

www.yogalivingmagazine.com

If you wish, continue this practice of

self-examination and forgiveness until

you have no negativity left. As you feel

resolution spread through your heart

and mind, you will experience a

tremendous amount of joy.

This is not to say that you

need to go around repairing

wrongs in your life. The

forgiveness exercise occurs

within your heart. You will feel a

relief like never before in your life. If

you have done this before, you realize

that you will in the future probably

need to forgive others and yourself

again!

You can trust that I am working on this

exercise daily with you. And if we ever

have the opportunity to meet, chances

are in your favor that I will have love

and positive feelings for you in my

heart!

TAKE SOME QUIET TIME

TODAY, PERHAPS EVEN

NOW AS YOU READ

THIS, TO THINK OF ONE

PERSON OR ONE SITUATION THAT

HAS BEEN DIFFICULT

FOR YOU. Examine

the source of the

negative feeling.

Once you can

identify the source,

replace that negative

feeling with love or another

positive feeling.

During this exercise, find forgiveness in

yourself for the person whom you have

identified as the cause of your trouble.

Then, look within to figure out why

you responded to the situation in a

negative manner. From there you will

be able to get the true root of the

feeling and ultimately forgive your own

part in creating the situation.

Today, I am compelled to write this editorial as a Call-to-Action.

Yoga Living, Your Healthy LifestyleGuide, promotes the field of Yoga asa healthy lifestyle. The practice of aTraditional Yoga program includeseach facet of life. This magazineintroduces readers to resources forhealthy living. Please share yourcopy of Yoga Living with your friends.Contact us at 610-688-7030 or [email protected] go to www.yogalivingmaga-zine.com for a media kit.


Ins ide YogaLiv ing | Editor’s Note

On�ove


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� Live with positive intention

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The Integration ofTherapy and Yoga*Yoga practitioners, mental health professionals,and researchers have become increasinglyaware of the health benefits of yoga practice,including stress-reduction, physical benefits,and mental health benefits. Although yoga isnot a substitute for professional psychologicaland psychiatric care, many mental health pro-fessionals will agree that yoga practices cangreatly benefit their clients in a number ofimportant ways (through exercise, relaxation,deep breathing, and the support of spiritualpractices, beliefs, and communities). Yoga is a

holistic practice that integrates anddevelops the mind, body, breath, and

spirit. For some clients, yoga prac-tice may be an important or

essential adjunctive treatment,complementing standardpsychotherapeutic andpsychiatric modalities. Forother clients, the integrationof yoga practices and psycho-

therapy may enhance thebenefits of talk-

therapy or medica-tion. Some clientsmay benefit morewhen traditionaltherapy andbodyoriented,nonverbal,intrapsychictherapies are

combined.

The word “yoga” is derived from the Sanskritroot yuj, which means to yoke, bind, unite,join, or harness. Yoga can be seen as aphilosophy and practice of connection, as anindividual develops his/her sense ofrelatedness to other people, other beings, theenvironment, and the universe. An individualalso develops his/her sense of connection tohim/herself through yoga, becoming more andmore aware of the links between mind, body,breath, feelings, memories, experiences,health, and states of consciousness. Thetechniques of yoga aim to uncover andhighlight these connections.

Yoga begins with the body and the breath, butalso develops the mind, awareness andconcentration, and levels of consciousness.Yoga practices are one way to integrate workwith the body, the breath, emotions, thoughts,interpersonal relationships, self-acceptance,healthy lifestyle choices, and self-awareness(emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, andspiritually/ existentially). In addition to bodilychanges, yoga practices involve behavioral,cognitive, and affective changes. Yoga mayhelp increase one’s self-awareness and insight,altering one’s relationship to others, theenvironment, and the universe. Yoga may helpcultivate and strengthen healthy attitudes andbehavior such as mindfulness, compassion,focus, generosity, equanimity, joy, and ethicalbehavior. Yoga may help one learn to bepresent and cope with anxiety, tension, anger,negative memories, and conflicts. In a worldwhere stress is so prevalent, yoga practicescan help reduce physical and mental tension.Although we are surrounded by messages toavoid pain and to seek pleasure andgratification, yoga may help teach clients tobe present with what is. Yoga practices canhelp one access one’s natural healing capacity.

Yoga can be a powerful tool when combinedwith psychotherapy. It can be a way to workwith clients who have more difficultyexpressing themselves and healing throughtraditional (talk) therapy. We are beings withbodies and experiences that are sometimes

difficult to describe through language.Emotions and sensations are often embodiedin physical experiences. Clients may beblocked or struggling with powerful physicalreactions and memories, such as those evokedby trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, or medicalconcerns. Physical work may assist therapeuticgoals such as helping clients feel morecomfortable in and accepting of their bodies,as well as helping clients who have problematicreactions to their bodies and bodily functions.Relaxation, deep breathing, and the release ofphysical tension may help clients, not only feelbetter and be more self-aware, but alter theirperspectives and patterns.

The definition of ideal psychological healthproposed by yoga psychology isenlightenment, awakening, or realization.Health is seen as more than being free ofsymptoms, or adjusting and compromising tolife’s constraints and difficulties. Yogapromotes physical and mental health, ratherthan being curative medicine or seekingphysical wellbeing alone (Singh, 1986). Yogapractice promotes physical and mental health,through “the maximization of joy and thecomplete unfolding of the human potential”(Ramaswami, 1989, p. 53). >>

Yoga Theor y | by Christine (Citrin¥) Jeuland Ware, Ph.D., RYT

REFERENCES1. Morse, D.R., Cohen, L., Furst, M.L., &

Martin, J.S. (1984). A physiologicalevaluation of the yoga concept of respiratorycontrol of autonomic nervous systemactivity. International Journal of Psychosomatics,31, 3-19.

2. Rama, Swami, Ballentine, R., & Ajaya,Swami. (1976). Yoga and Psychotherapy: TheEvolution of Consciousness. Honesdale, PA:Himalayan International Institute of YogaScience and Philosophy.

3. Ramaswami, S. (1989). Yoga and healing. InSheikh, A.A. & Sheikh, K.S. (Eds.), HealingEast and West: Ancient Wisdom and ModernPsychology (pp.33-63). New York: John Wiley& Sons.

4. Singh, R.H. (1986). Evaluation of someIndian traditional methods of promotion ofmental health. Activitas nervosa superior, 28,67-69.

Yoga, Meditation,and Psychotherapy

Yoga is a “potent tool of mental health promotion.” (Singh, 1986, p. 67)

Yoga practices encourage health by promotingphysical and mental suppleness, strength,endurance, balance, and relaxation. Workingwith the body can affect the mind. One of thegoals of physical postures is to gainperspective on the body by gaining distancefrom it, fostering neutral observation andpromoting higher levels of growth (Rama,Ballentine, & Ajaya, 1976). As the bodyreleases tension and postures becomeeffortless, the mind becomes calmer. Mentalconcentration and focused attention resultand one naturally becomes moreintrospective, allowing access to intuition andone’s inherent wisdom.

Because the breath is both a voluntary andinvoluntary function (regulated by mind andbody), it can be considered an intermediarybetween mind and body (Morse, Cohen,Furst, & Martin, 1984). The rhythm of thebreath is often one of the most obviousphysical indications of a person’s emotionaland mental state. Although mental andemotional states often feel difficult to control,the irregularities of the breath can be easilyobserved and controlled. Yogic breathingexercises (pranayama) teach awareness of thebreath, healthy breathing, and concentration.The breathing practices also teach one to beaware of and to control energy shifts.

In addition to promoting physical health, thephysical yoga practices release tension andcalm the body. The breathing andconcentration practices calm both the bodyand mind, increasing focus and naturallypromoting meditation. The mental andphysical benefits of meditation practices,such as mindfulness meditation, have beenvery well documented. Many mental healthpractitioners already incorporate meditationinto treatment. Yoga practices involving thephysical body, the breath, and concentrationprepare practitioners for meditation.Meditation ultimately leads to the experienceof higher states of consciousness. Thistranspersonal consciousness – in whichawareness is manifested as intuition andwisdom – must be directly experienced(Rama et al., 1976). The “witnessconsciousness” results in great bliss, joy, andpeace. Ultimately, the practices involve theexperience of universal awareness, in whichthe distinction between subject and object(knower and known) dissolves.

As we have seen, many psychotherapeuticgoals are identical to those of yoga practice:promoting health, regaining a sense of peaceand joy, balancing physical, mental, andenergetic imbalances, creating cognitive,behavioral, and affective change, promoting

introspection and self-awareness, coping withdifficult experiences and mental states (e.g.,anxiety), and developing self-acceptance andconnection with others. There are alsoelements of yoga practice that are beyond therealm of traditional psychotherapy, such asdiscussion of higher consciousness and theintegration of work with the physical body,breath, and mental experience. Likewise,traditional psychotherapy and medicationutilize different methods and well-documented ways to support clients andpromote mental health. Although it isimportant to remember that they may beappropriate in different combinations withdifferent clients, yoga, psychotherapy, andpsychiatric medication can be seen ascomplementary approaches that will certainlyenhance and inform one another. �

Note: The term, Yoga, is used broadly todenote all yogic practices, such as physicalflow and postures (asanas), breathingpractices (pranayama), cleansing practices(kriyas), concentration practices (dharana),meditation (dhyana), devotional practices(bhakti), and more.

Copyright © 2006. Christine (Citrin¥) Jeuland Ware,Ph.D., RYT, is a certified Kali Ray TriYoga® instructor,and licensed clinical psychologist at RYAH Yoga andHealth in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.


• There is wisdom inexperiencing, in being. Thereis wisdom in your experience.

• You are just right as youare. You have likely forgottenthis; all you have to do isremember or realize it.

• Your body-mind is right theway it is; you are full of light.

• Yoga (union) is your naturalstate. We are all interrelated.If everything is connected,you can watch the body-mind-breath to understand theself, the universe, and yourrelationship to the universe.

• Change is inevitable.Everything can and willchange, including your body,your thinking patterns, yourlifestyle, and your breath. Yogahelps prepare for changewhen and as it occurs. Yogateaches you to be mindful ofthe transitions in life.

• Yoga practices can help youbecome more aware of your body,breath, mind, spirit, and your linkto the universal.

• You are different from yourthoughts. Your mind is usually filledwith continually changing thoughts,images, internal commentary, andfantasies. It is possible to observeyour thoughts if you cultivate theability to separate yourself fromthem. Although you are likely toinitially experience your identity as astream of thoughts, emotions, andurges, you will eventually witnessthe stream of consciousness. Thisis the experience of the observer,the witness, or the witness-consciousness. Eventually, both thewitness and that which iswitnessed will dissolve into theexperience of pure consciousness.

• Yoga practices bring you into thepresent. Breath and movementare your connection to the presentmoment.

• Yoga practices bring calm,peace, and happiness to themoment.

• Yoga helps you acceptdifficulties, accept pleasureand pain. Yoga helps youexperience relaxation inaction – living life as free oftension as possible.

• Yoga encouragesmoderation (e.g., eating untilyou are satisfied; neithereating too much nor toolittle; eating in a way that ishealthy for your body andquestioning assumptionsthat we have about this)

• Yoga teaches you to be“where you are,” physically,mentally, spiritually. Ratherthan pushing, “flow.” Witnessyour experience – thoughts,feelings, sensations. Do thatfor which you are ready.Postures are not the goal –but mindfulness and flow.

• In terms of hatha yoga: youwill feel better if you physicallystrengthen, stretch, cleanse,and stabilize your body(muscles, joints, spine, skeletalsystem, internal organs, glands,and nerves). You will feel betterif you learn to tune in to yourenergy level and internal energyflow (prana). Yoga practices willhelp you revitalize, control, andenhance your energy.Meditation and concentrationpractices will increase yourpositive thinking, mental clarity,and focus. A conditioned,healthy body that holds as littletension as possible will helpyou be mindful, rest and watchthe mind/breath, and sit inmeditation more easily. Thebody moves to help calm themind. The movement is also apoint of focus for the mind,creating “meditation in motion.”

Yoga is based in a number of “principles” that may be useful psychotherapeutically

Yoga Theor y | by Carol Haytko

A family member is sickand a religious person says,“I’ll pray for him.”

A person of a faith differentfrom your own says, “I’llpray for you.”

An Atheist says, “Have yougiven this issue a great dealof thought?”

A well-meaning friend asks,“Have you prayed about it?”

These all come from a placeof love. A human being whocares about the suffering ofanother and sends a prayerto something Divine to ease

that pain... A religious person, convincedthat their path is the only right one, andis legitimately concerned about the soulof another, prays to their aspect of theDivine to open the lost person’s heart tothe truth... A person who wants foranother to have adequately weighed theirchoices in contemplation, using thevocabulary that defines their ownmediation with tough issues... All of thescenarios exist out of love.

But wait, you say. I can see the first and thelast, but the condescending person whodisrespects my faith – how is that love?

What they say may be, “(Deity ofchoice), allow (name) to accept your wayand find your truth. Let them become a(religion of choice).”

What they mean is, “Great Spirit, youhave given me so much peace that I canonly express my path as it relates to theyou I see. In that way, I ask that (name)be given that same peace.”

For many who have had negativeencounters with organized religion, theword, prayer, can bring negative feelings.Many have heard the patronizing, I’llpray for you, in response to not practicingthe same religion as another. I myselfhave had this encounter. Whenaddressing my spiritual practice, I’vebeen told, with a headshake, “I’ll pray foryou.”

So basically, you’re praying to your godthat I’ll abandon my heathen ways andcome around to your way of thinking.How very nice of you.

By contrast, when speaking about adifficult family situation with someone asthe same religion as the aforementionedhead shaker, I was met with, “I’ll keepyou in my thoughts.” To this, I wastouched and graciously thanked them. Ifshe’d said, in that same warm tone, I’llkeep you in my prayers, would I haveinwardly cringed?


Some, through blindness, believe theirview is right for everyone and, becausethey do love humankind, they desire thatall people worship their image of theDivine. After all, they do, and this pathresonates within them, so it must beright, right?

By nature, people speak with the wordsthey understand, that relate to them, andthat are readily understood by others. “I’llpray for you,” is as natural for a Christianas the Atheist’s, “You’re in my thoughts,”the Hindu who mediates, or the EarthWorshipper who casts a spell, all for thesame situation. We cannot seek to changethe mentalities of others. We can’t expectothers to use the jargon of our paths.What we can change is our reaction.

There will always be misplaced words oflove built on a base of fear. However, formany of us, the people who matter somuch give their words of encouragementand thoughtfulness with love correctlyplaced. We can accept that love withgraciousness and open arms, or we canignorantly refuse it because our languageis different.

Jalaluddin Rumi tells the story of fourtraveling companions, hungry and withonly one coin between them. The Persiantraveler wanted angur, while the Turkwanted uzum. Inab was desired by theArab and the Greek wanted stafil. A manof wisdom approached the four, claimingthat he could fulfill all of their fooddesires, if they trusted him and gave himtheir coin. The four agreed. Soon theman of wisdom returned, carrying a largebag of grapes. Among the five of them,only he knew that the words angur,uzum, inab, and stafil all meant grapes.

The road isn’t always easy. It is easy to letour negative thoughts impede ourpositive attitudes. But our attitude is ourchoice. We can choose to give – andreceive – love, unconditionally, or we canlet our ego get in the way.

Please keep me in your meditations, yourthoughts, your circles, and, yes, yourprayers. Namaste. �

Love Through Prayer“I’ll pray for you.” HOW OFTEN I’VE

HEARD THOSE WORDS AND HAD TO FIGHT AN EYE-ROLL. Yet, “I’ll keep you in my thoughts,” gets met with a

“thanks.” Keep me in your prayers, versus, Pray for me. Aren’t these two concepts exactly the same?


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Yoga Theor y | by Erika Tennebaum

Finding Love in Everything�in

TO CREATE A PRACTICE OF LOVE, WE FIRSTMUST ASK OURSELVES, WHAT DOES ITREALLY MEAN TO LOVE SOMEONE ORSOMETHING? What is it that we are really feeling in

our bodies and minds when we are with our children or withour parents and friends? How can we harness that feeling oflove and apply some of it to our daily lives?

As a society we have accepted that the opposite of love is hate.Of course now I am inclined to ask, what does it really mean tohate? What is at the core of our emotions when we feel hatred

towards someone or something? How can wewalk away from the emotional reaction

of hating even when we are in thethick of its seduction. Hate drawsus in, we feel its energyeverywhere. It can seem so

familiar. Our adrenaline beginsto flow, our heart ratesclimb, and our pupils dilate.Our minds are completelyconsumed at that momentof intense feeling. Somepeople seem to find hate to

be truly exhilarating. Thesephysical and mental reactions

are the same for us when we arein love. However, to feel love

deeply, we are inevitably faced with itstrue opposite – good, old-fashionedfear. It is fear which leads us into the

dangerous embrace of hate, which in turn makesus feel unworthy of love at its fullest.

Fear is the opposite of love. Fear is the rootcause of hate. All the upheaval in our worldtoday, indeed from the beginning ofmankind, has been caused by fear. Peopleare afraid of change, of differences in othersand their beliefs or practices. We are afraidof the other than I, the outsider. Ironically

enough, these two concepts are, and have always been, aconstant in our lives. People are different from one another and,quite frankly, “Thank God for that!” How boring it would all beif we had nothing new to offer each other. Wouldn’t it justmake sense to accept these intrinsically beautiful concepts andchange the face of human existence. It sounds nice and simple,but we know that nothing that big is that simple.

As the old saying goes “charity begins at home.” So doeschanging the course of humanity. Loving means accepting.

When we have fallen in love with someone, all the rules andregulations we had about our desired mate, or “perfect type,” flyout the window. We have learned to accept another and alltheir flaws. If we can let this acceptance trickle into our dailylives, we can find ourselves enjoying everything. We can seeannoyances – such as getting stuck in traffic – as anopportunity to listen to our favorite CD. It can also be anchance to shut off the cell phone, turn down the radio and geta moment of silence.

I am around a lot of people everyday in my business. Onephrase I hear all the time is, “Yeah, I am really busy. I’m so tired,but at least it makes the day go faster.” As I heard myselfmechanically agreeing with this concept, I realized how itsounds. We push our way through each day, watching the daysturn into weeks, months, then years. Before we know it, if we’refortunate enough, we are in our golden years. We look aroundand see that we never allowed ourselves to really appreciate ourprecious time here. We spent much of it unaware, running fromday to day, bulldozing through our duties, wishing they weredone before they even began. We should stop for a momentbefore each endeavor and find acceptance in the task at hand.It just may open the mind up and allow the beauty that lies ineverything we do to shine through.

In Eckhart Tolle’s book, The Power Of Now (Namaste Publishing,1999), he talks about how tender and fragile our lives truly are.He writes about how every second of our existence is worthcelebrating, simply because we are here to experience it, both thegood and the bad. The fact that we have survived this long onthis harsh rock is a miracle. That you are able to read this >>

16 YOGA LIVING January/February 2007continued on page 68

WE ARE TAUGHT FROM AN EARLY AGE TO UNCONDITIONALLY LOVE OUR

PARENTS, OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR FRIENDS. We even go so far, on occasion, as showingaffection for inanimate objects. When I think about this, some natural questions arise; How often arewe taught to find love in our everyday duties or actions? Do we perceive our workaday responsibilitiesas being worthy of our love?

Rabbi David A. Cooper writes, “EVEN THE MOST MUNDANE TASK – MAKING THE BED OR

WALKING THE DOG – CAN BE A MEANS OF AWAKENING.” (Yoga+ Joyful Living, pg. 22, Winter 2006.)


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sound. You may be familiar with Aum Namah Shivaya,ostensibly a chant honoring Shiva. The wonder of thesemantras is their multiple levels of interpretation as thesyllables na, ma, shi, va, ya, are the seed sounds for thefive elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether.

In my experience, chanting Sanskrit mantras with littleunderstanding but a lot of sincerity will eventually bring adeeper perception of the meaning, whether it is in theform of an explanatory book coming to your attention orsimply a knowing at the level of the heart. A little effort incorrect pronunciation and consistency is rewarded athousand-fold in bringing your consciousness into closerintimacy with the Divine. Existential longing is answeredwith a surging of the heart and an increased ability to loveand to feel love! Like mine, your singing voice may neverbe completely in tune, but its use at the service of love willsound sweet and clear those who can truly hear. �

OR ME, LISTENING TO MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN

AN INTENSELY PERSONAL AND JOYOUS EXPERIENCE.My musical tastes have changed and spanned many genres over

the years, but I was always attracted to sound that affected me in acertain way; that captured the existential longing that was always presentregardless of a roomful of friends or the presence of a loved one. Now Irealize that what I was always seeking was the call back to the Divinethrough the power of love, which as I discovered, is very bound up in thepower of sound; specifically, the sound of the human voice chanting thenames of God in Sanskrit either on my own or in a group.

But this was not a straightforward journey. Through discouragement inchildhood, I believed that I could not sing even though a part of mewanted to desperately. When introduced to chanting Aum during a fewyoga classes, it felt rather ‘safe’ as it was not really singing, rather acombination of speaking and singing. Who knew that this simple wordwould have the profound effect of opening my heart from the inside out?

In Vedic Cosmology, Aum is at the very root of creation, the primordialsound. Sounding Aum brings us back in touch with the part of ourselveswhich is closest to our creator. Chanting Aum alone is a powerful spiritualpractice, but for me, one chanting experience led to another as I learned tosound the bija or seed mantra for each chakra. You know you are chantingthe seed mantra in the right pitch when you can feel an echoing vibrationin the corresponding chakra. (From Muladhara to Sahasrara they are:Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, So Ham, Aum, and Ham Sah or Ah).

As I felt the openings available using these simple sounds, I becameinterested in Sanskrit mantras for specific uses. I have a personal mantra,but there are many ‘public’ mantras such as the Maha Mrtyunjaya and SriGayatri which are found in the Rig Veda. Anyone can learn these with alittle effort! Simply selecting one of the many names of God available inthe Hindu pantheon to use as a mantra is also a very powerful practice.

One may be thinking, why is it important to chant in Sanskrit? Can’t Ijust chant the names of God or a positive affirmation in my language?The answer is, absolutely yes, of course! However, while chanting in anylanguage has its own effects depending on the intention behind the words,chanting in Sanskrit has the special power of working on many levelswhether or not the full understanding of the words is present in thechanter. Why is this? First and foremost, Sanskrit is a sacred languagehanded down from the Rishis or ancient sages who codified the Vedas. Ofall the ancient languages, Sanskrit is the only one to have maintained itsstructure and vocabulary completely intact even though it is demonstrablythe world’s oldest known written language. Each letter, or akshara, vibratesin tune with the petals surrounding each chakra finding its echo withinthe human body.

Another quality of the language is that in any word, the aksharas retaintheir sound and their individual meanings as well. (For example, the word“guru” consisting of “gu” and “ru” stands for a teacher who dispelsdarkness (ignorance) of the mind. (“Gu” means darkness and “ru” meansthe act of removal). In Sanskrit, no sound is lost or subjugated to another


Reading Recommendations:• Ferrand, Thomas Ashley. Healing Mantras. Using Sound

Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing.New York: Ballantine Wellspring, 1999.

• Goldman, Jonathan. Healing Sounds. The Power ofHarmonics. Healing Arts Press, 2002.

Music Recommendations:• Goldman, Jonathan. Chakra Chants, Ultimate Om.

Etherean.• Uttal, Jai. Kirtan! The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant.

Sounds True.• Shankar, Ravi. Chants of India.

| by Linda Dobrowolski-Lyng

FChanting


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remember how that very first hathapractice felt?

After the voice experiences permission toplay, consider a bija mantra. Bija meansseed sound and consists of a single syllable.Aum is familiar to most. Sounding thevoice in Aum is also effective in calmingtrepidation. Other bijas relating todifferent chakras are a good way tocontinue the exploration. Considerresonating in Gum, Vam, Lam, Ram, Yamand Ham. If you practice each for severalrepetitions, you may notice differentqualities stirring within your body/ mindconnection. An immediate benefit tendsto be a stilling of the internal chatterwhich challenges meditation. Once thatstillness permeates, sitting in dhyana feelsincreasingly welcome.

After you feel comfortable practicing withsound, a longer mantra will find appeal as atool for specific intentions as well as rhythmand melody. A useful resource for selectinglonger mantras is a book called HealingMantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand. Thisresource is popular for its cultural diversity,spiritual translations, and gentle coaching.In other words, it’s not necessary to openthe Hindu pantheon to practice Nada yoga,the yoga of sound. Your own spiritualhistory may be celebrated in Hebrew, Latin,Japanese, Aramaic, etc...

Personally, I’ve found that a daily practiceoffers access to guidance and clarity. Myintentions, emotions, frustrations andconfusion are offered as fire wood for theburning of attachments. In repeated mantraall feelings both conscious and hidden aretouched by the vibration of my ownsinging. This ritual transmutes thatsymbolic wood into a process of seeing myown dance amidst the abundance of life’scharacters and dramas.

The willingness to participate in theresonance of chant enables this frontier oftime and space to yield its mask. Ourinfinite and eternal essence is the place fromwhich authentic love, unconditional andrelentless, connects with all creation. Nadayoga is one very intimate route between thisdimension and those beyond. Divinefairgrounds await your personal concert! �


limitations. Few of us would be confused asto their meaning, yet few of us couldsolidly define them. In seekingextraordinary experience, a mind expandingawareness, if you will, we find an invitationto chant. Like a calendar date for one’s firstgame of “spin the bottle”, the momentcarries intrigue as well as trepidation. Justwhere will this opening lead?

Although many embrace the pop versionsof devotional music in live kirtans andrecordings, there are common points ofresistance regarding actual practice. Thefirst tends to be, “I don’t sing well enough.”The second follows closely with, “Is it safeto invoke the unknown?” Consideringthese issues, where does one start?

First try to sit in a safe space. Allowyourself to experiment with your singingvoice in an environment free of criticismand risk. Finding a friend in your ownsound can take awhile. A vulnerability isexposed when the spoken voice shifts tosong. Once you’re sitting, attempt to tone,which means sustaining a vowel sound inyour singing voice. You may noticequalities of strain or strength. It may bethat vocal cords are too weak to reallyembrace a consistent pitch. You may findthat one single sound in a raised vibrationfrees several feelings from internal storage.This process is like the asana of sound;

WAY BACK IN TIME, MY

GODMOTHER WAS

CHAPERONE TO MY VERY

FIRST ROCK CONCERT. My life got largerwhen I saw the Fifth Dimension performat the Allentown Fairgrounds. Although Irecognized the music from radio and pianoscores, the implications of the band’s namewere lost on me. Decades later the Age ofAquarius would be a phrase that echoed infunctional description of career andpersonal philosophy. At the same time thethird dimension would account for theconventions called maya, or physical world.

Somewhere between these dimensions theworld’s unexplained phenomena isencountered. A reverent respect for life’sinherent mysteries requires a loosening ofperceptual and scientific certainties. Thesetoo are conventions of accepted thought,which help us to function in the denserealities of matter. Without much effort wecan find a poetic link between the thingswe physically hold and the intangibles thatmatter to us. Each may weigh us downwith unconscious attachment. Much of oureffort through yoga practice is to releasefrom unwanted attachment, that matterwhich no longer assists our growth.

Phrases including higher plane, good vibeand elevated thought are often employed tosuggest conscious activity beyond mundane

Transcending theLimits of Matter

SUSTAINING A VIBRATIONOF THE ‘ETERNAL NOW’

| by Toni Zuper

God Respects Me When I Work,& Loves Me When I Sing!

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE YOGA CENTER OF HADDONFIELD, NJ

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