You Deserve a Break

In a culture that screams, “Push harder, take it to the limit,” even enlightened yogis sometimes forget to give themselves a break during their practice. Tax day is over, take it easy. When you need to relax into child’s pose, go ahead. No one’s watching and no one cares. When you’re in a challenging pose, ask yourself, “How can I make tiny adjustments that will help me ease into this pose without pain?” A blogger at The Everything Yoga Blog uses what Baron Baptiste once said during the blogger’s workshop with him: “You can try hard or you can try easy.” Another helpful quote came from a favorite teacher, Eoin Finn, who said, “Do without doing.” The the blogger’s thoughts on taking it easy can be found at www.itsallaboutyoga.com.

Do You Need a Guru?

A great complement to any yoga practice is a spiritual or philosophical component. In the tradition of mind-body-spirit, many of us tend to place the most emphasis on the physical. It’s easier to do asanas than to address the more illusive issues that intrigue us. But if you’re sensing that spiritual nudge for something deeper and don’t know where to turn, it may be time for a guru. The ancient saying that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear” is true but it doesn’t hurt to open your mind and physically put yourself into a position where that person can manifest. It may be a meditation retreat, a new yoga class, or even just accepting a lunch date with someone who could lead you to your guru. And for those who shun from the term “guru,” keep in mind that it simply means, “One who teaches truth.” It could be a career coach, Jesus, Buddha, or even your fourth-grade teacher. Here is an open and honest discussion on the topic between professor Harvey Cox of Harvard University, his students, and Subhananda dasa, a Hare Krishna devotee. See it at www.btg.krishna.com.

High-tech Body Work

When we think of body work, we usually picture a massage therapist, acupuncturist or maybe a reiki practitioner. But the Rudra Yoga Center in Long Beach, California has other ideas. In addition to the usual yoga classes, they have a center that focuses on Liberation Technology. These 21st-Century healing modalities include things vibrational therapy, electrical energy radiation, and other unique treatments that involve light, gas, coils, and pyramids. According to the center, these techniques rejuvenate and stimulate the body, strengthen joints and muscles, and open blockages. The center offers, “free healing, food, and spiritual teachings.” Even if you can’t get to the California center, you can watch this video with explanations of the techniques. Perhaps they will intrigue you enough to seek out one or more of these methods closer to home.