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May Mantra
This month's mantra is actually the invocation for many yoga classes taught in the Anusara tradition. I personally love to chant this invocation and resonate deeply with the meaning behind it.
Om Namah Shivaya Gurave
I honor the essence of Being, the Auspicious One, the luminous teacher, within and without,
Sacchidananda Murtaye
Who assumes the forms of Truth, Consciousness and Bliss,
Nischprapanchaya Shantaya
Is never absent, full of peace,
Niralambaya Tejase
Ultimately free and sparkles with a divine luster.
Om
If these words resonate with you, try repeating this mantra to yourself several times; several times a day all month.
Remember, the word "mantra" literally means "mind protector."
Repeating a mantra is the first step towards training the mind, allowing positive, beneficial thoughts to permeate your being and will, if practiced regularly, truly transform your experience of life! | |
| We did it! We finally did it!
After ten years, we finally "bit the bullet" and paid for garbage pick-up! If I sound excited about this, it's because I am! I've been going to the dump with a van full of garbage and recycling (with two kids, mind you!) every week now for ten years and I feel like I've just won the lottery.
I literally cannot wait for Tuesday mornings when I get to wheel the giant green trash can with the bright blue top to the street alongside its little mate, the recycling bin. Then, later that day, I get the pleasure of returning the empty bins to their special spot in our garage. May sound crazy, but it's one of life's little luxuries that I do not take for granted!!
I remember as a child, being asked to take the garbage to the street and complaining the entire time as I obliged. It was a chore and at the time it felt like it was also a huge inconvenience. At that time I didn't even consider what the alternative was...to take all the garbage and recycling to the dump myself.
Hmmm, now I can see that particular obligation from a whole new perspective. It leads me to wonder how many other things I've ever complained about without ever even considering what the alternative might be.
We all have daily, weekly, monthly responsibilities that, at times, appear (depending on the circumstances in our lives at that moment) to be inconveniences. Let's face it, our lives are full, very full and adding one more responsibility, even one as small as rolling a garbage can to the street, can push us over the edge. But consider the alternative.
Everything has two sides or perspectives. If we can begin to shift our focus to see the bigger picture, then whatever the responsibility is that we are complaining about or resisting doing altogether, is seen as a gift that will ultimately serve us as well as others. It is only then that we will begin to live a life from the perspective of gratitude rather than one of resentment.
By paying for garbage pick-up, I not only lessoned my responsibility load, but I also am now contributing financially to someone else's well-being...and that feels good. Yes, I will always have to roll that garbage can to the street on Tuesday's, but I will never view that task as an inconvenience.
When we operate from a placed of gratitude, we then see the bigger picture which allows each task to become a privilege and the time spent doing it becomes delightful. Really, everything we do can be delightful if only we would allow that feeling to prevail.
We get caught up in the stories that run constantly through our head (most of which are unfortunately negative) and somehow allow ourselves to identify with them rather than simply enjoying whatever it is that we are doing at that moment.
Life is full of delights - we are surrounded by opportunity and beauty! We just have to choose to see it that way. So, next time you have to roll your garbage can to the street, enjoy the trip and try to appreciate the task for what it is rather than viewing it as "one more thing on your To Do list," and maybe, just maybe, you'll feel like you just won the lottery too! Love your life...it's only as delightful as you allow it to be! |  | |
Open House!!!
Save the Date: Saturday, June 19th from 9:30am-5:00pm
There will be free classes all day, chair massage available as well as booths set up for other local alternative healers in our community.
In addition light or'dherves will be served all day.
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Member Spotlight
Pam Foushee
If there were an underlying theme of this month's newsletter (and all my newsletters, for that matter) it would be that of trusting enough in the divine energy and order of the Universal to let go and simply ride the awesome wave of life! That's exactly what our Member Spotlight, Pam Foushee and her husband, Fred, did when they left their lives of many years in California to move to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina two years ago.  Pam was born in the San Francisco Bay area. She says she was blessed to have very loving parents and was surrounded by a large, also very loving family. Her mother worked full time and her father was in the Navy, so he was out on tour quite a bit, which usually left Pam with one of two sets of Grandparents on any given day. She says that was yet another blessing because they were always so kind and showered her with just as much love as her parents.
Years later, Pam moved away from the Bay area and worked as a Dental Assistant for 12 years. It's there that she met her husband, Fred. (Pam and Fred just celebrated their 25 year Anniversary!) Upon marrying Fred, Pam found herself in an instant family situation because Fred had four young children which they raised together for 20 of their 25 years together. Fred had gone to Dental School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and fallen in love with the state always hoping to return some day. Together, Pam and Fred began researching North Carolina on the internet and decided together that this is where they wanted to be. On their first visit together to NC, they found and purchased property in Laurel Park from local builder, Patrick Lang, who also ended up building their dream house for them.
From that point on everything just fell into place (Divine Order!!!!). Their house back in Mission Viejo, CA sold in just two days before even going on the market. They will have been here two years this July and, as Pam says, "are still living their dream every single day!" Fred is able to spend most of his days in his woodworking shop building the beautiful, custom furniture that fills their home and Pam spends most of her time (when she's not doing yoga) cooking and gardening. "You just have to trust and let it happen," beamed Pam. "If you over think things, they might not happen. We took a huge leap of faith and we're so grateful we did!!!"
When I asked Pam how she discovered Brightwater Yoga, she told me that her good friend, Constance (who we all know and love!!!) had been "on" her for a long time to come with her to a class. Pam kept the request at arms distance because of a previous yoga experience that had not been that positive. "When I finally consented and came to the top of those steps," Pam confided, "I just instantly felt like this is where I was meant to be...almost like this is why I came to NC because that's when everything really started to connect for me." "I loved the creak in the steps, the smell and the clean energy of the space," she delighted before adding, "It honestly reminded me of The Self Realization Fellowship (founded by Paramahansa Yogananda) in San Diego, CA."
Since that day, yoga has become a very important part of Pam's life. "I even plan my appointments around yoga," she giggled. Pam has become a monthly pass holder and attends classes regularly three to four times a week. "It's helped me peel away layers," she explained, "I feel lighter, more like myself, more grounded...it's easier to express myself and it seems like people accept me more for who I am." After a long pause she concluded that the latter is probably because she now truly accepts herself. She says that for a long time after she moved to NC, she only had one close friend, and now, thanks to Brightwater Yoga, she's got several close friends. Pam is so happy that she "trusted and just let go to ride that wave" and she just can't imagine she and Fred not being here now! She's truly found her home, both externally and internally. Pam exudes contentment and peace. You can tell she's not only happy in her life, but more importantly, she's also happy in her skin! Welcome home Pam!!! | |
Parighasana
(Par-ee-GOSS-anna)
Parhigha = an iron bar or beam used for locking or shutting a gate
"Gate Latch Pose"
Just as you open a gate by unlatching the cross bar; this pose can open the side ribs, side waist, the shoulders, the hips and the hamstrings with regular practice. Practicing this pose will enhance your ability to breath as well as enhancing your mobility and flexibility to practice backbends.
Step 1: Kneel on the floor with the knees hips width apart and hands on the hips. Extend the right leg out to the right with the ankle flexed so the toes face the ceiling and rest the center of the back right heel against the floor. Draw the tailbone down and externally rotate the right leg so the knee faces the ceiling and the right sits bone is perpendicular to the floor. Make sure the right foot is in line with the left knee and that the left hip remains over the left knee when you extend the right leg. (There's a tendency to allow the torso to move toward the right leg when you extend it. If that happens simply, slide your torso laterally back to the left until the hip is once again over the knee.) Draw the right side ribs and side chest forward to the torso is square to the wall you are facing.
Step 2: On an inhalation, extend your arms overhead and stretch actively through the sides of your torso, arms, wrists and fingers. With both arms still overhead, exhale and stretch over the right leg keeping the left hip over the left knee so the stretch will come from the side waist. Then place the back of the right hand on the top of the right leg and keep the left arm overhead by the left ear. You can contract the right side waist slightly to allow the left side ribs to open more efficiently. As the left side opens, the right hand will come closer and closer to the foot. Continue to draw the tailbone down and externally rotate the right leg. You are actively pressing out through the sole of your left foot and simultaneously drawing muscular energy back into the pelvis from that foot. 
Step 3: Bring your awareness to your left shoulder and press the outer shoulder blade deeply back as you roll the inner left deltoid back which will draw the arm pit back. Continue to actively stretch through the left arm. Take the chin down and back to keep the head back of the front chest, and direct your gaze straight ahead or turn the head and gaze toward the ceiling. As the left side torso rolls back, continue to bring the right side ribs and side chest toward the front wall.
Step 4: Stay in the pose for 30 seconds to a minute. Continue to deepen the expression of the pose through deep, yet soft, conscious breaths. When you are ready to come out, inhale and extend a little more deeply though the left arm to lift your torso upright again allowing the right arm to float up with you. Exhale the arms down, hands to the hips. Bend the right knee and place the knee on the floor beside the left.
Step 5: Repeat the above steps with the left leg extended.
Enjoy!!! | | |
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