October 01, 2007

Our Yoga Mats Are Connected.

After completing several days of yoga, meditation and dance at the Yoga Journal Conference a few things come to mind.

The conference was filled with people from all over the country, Mexico and Canada. From different backgrounds, sizes, ages, genders, with & without health problems, battling cancer, mental health issues, trying to learn how to prevent future illness, married, single, divorced, heart broken, happy, sad, you name it, they were there.

Looking around the room filled with hundreds of people doing downward dogs, the smell of incense, the faint sounds of drums and chanting, I thought about how when I have taught yoga classes in the past how I have noticed people sometimes get territorial even within the space they practice yoga. Almost as if their mat separates them from everyone else.

We are not separate, we are all very much connected. When I am out in the world it always strikes me how people tend to be competitive and almost welcome conflict. Wouldn’t it be great if we all took the time to compliment those we know, those we do not know and even those who may annoy us or have caused us hurt.

The conference seemed to evoke this beautiful behavior of being complimentary to one another. I watched strangers helping one another, teaching, crying, laughing, sharing stories, it was beautiful.

Our mats are connected, and so are we.
Gather hundreds of people together with the same intention, it WILL make change happen.

I felt it. I felt love. I felt a shift towards peace for our world. 

September 21, 2007

Breathe In & Breathe Out PEACE

Beginning September 21st through September 23rd,
more then 35 countries, hundreds of yoga studios and thousands of yoga practitioners worldwide will gather as a part of the GLOBAL MALA PROJECT!

Held in conjunction with the United Nations International Day of Peace, the event is part of a worldwide effort in which yoga communities will simultaneously form a “mala,” or prayer, around the earth.

Both locally and around the world, the event is tied to raising awareness and funding for important causes. Yogis around the world will not only unite in the practice of yoga, but will also contribute funds and prayer to common causes.

WILD DIVINE will be honoring these special days and we hope you will also join this worldwide movement to create a global ceasefire and day of peace and nonviolence.

Let us all take a moment to breathe in and breathe out peace for someone we care about, and even those we do not know. You will be surprised at how wonderful this small gesture will be for you and the world.

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, We make our world".
-Buddha

"In acceptance, there is peace".  -Ghandi 

September 12, 2007

Powerful Art, Meditation, Sprinkled with Beauty & Magic - What More Could One Ask For?

Wild Divine is proud to announce Corwin Bell’s exhibit opening at the Museum of Outdoor Arts, here in Colorado. Corwin is one of the original founders and the creative director of The Journey to Wild Divine. Corwin’s art installation is featured in the museum’s exhibit entitled, Sacred Water. The exhibit promotes awareness towards one of the world’s most valuable natural resources: water. It is creatively geared around the visualization of water and how it continues to stimulate modern culture. Corwin’s artwork includes animation, photography, ceramics, woodcarving, bronze work, and glass pieces that engage viewers and invite them to interact with the work on display. Visitors will enter a tranquil area that is secluded from the outside world - lending a moment for reverence and a connection to the sacred aspects of water. There is also a meditation space designed into the installation allowing viewers the opportunity to explore, examine and reflect upon the water from different perspectives. Corwin’s multidimensional exhibit was transported and unveiled last week in a sneak preview to over 50,000 attendees at Burning Man in the Nevada desert. It can now been seen in MOA's indoor galleries from September 14, 2007 - February 16, 2008.

Come and view this beautiful, thought provoking, magical exhibit and allow it to open your own doors of perception.

The museum opening is Friday, September 14th from 5- 9pm at the Museum of Outdoor Arts, Englewood, Colorado.
Show run is September 14, 2007 – February 16, 2008

Enjoy this amazing exhibit!

September 04, 2007

Stretching Into Change

“If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.” (unknown)

We all face change all of the time. Change can be as benign as noticing a new gray hair – or, as life-altering as the doctor telling you that you’re pregnant. Change can sneak up and knock you off your feet. Welcomed change can offer an opportunity to lean in to new beginnings. Other times, you might find that you resist change while trying to hold together what’s bound to fall apart.

During times of change, flexibility is crucial to help balance your mental health. Change often requires old patterns to fall away while budding new ones sprout. You grow from who you were to who you are yet to be. Clinging to past patterns can be physically and mentally demanding while you long to stretch and grow into new directions.

You might also consider adding an intention to your meditation practice. Intentions nourish and keep you on track. Each morning during your meditation, add an intention to face change with grace and flexibility. Then, notice how your day unfolds.  Remember: it is through nature’s intention that the chrysalis opens so that the butterfly can stretch its wings and fly.

August 27, 2007

The Importance of Consistent Practice

Too much stress hurts. Each cell in your body feels it. Not only is stress physically demanding, it can grind away at your mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder, such as depression, eating disorders, and anxiety.

Think about your life in this moment. If you had a meter to measure your stress level and your joy level, which reading would be higher? Consider the following questions when evaluating your overall mental wellness:

• Are you enjoying life?
• Do you bounce back from adversity?
• Do you balance social time and time spent alone? Work and play? Sleep and wakefulness?
• How satisfying are your relationships and sexuality?

These same masters and mystics would emphasize the importance of practicing consistently. Try it for yourself by simply practicing a deep breathing exercise each day. Allow your daily practice to be a sacred time for you to connect and tend to your overall well-being.

August 21, 2007

Sex. It’s About Time

Oprah’s talking about it. The blogs and magazines are on fire with it. The topic forced into the shadows for more than 2000 years is making an enthusiastic comeback.

Sex.

It directly connects to your overall wellness. Healthy sexuality is one of the basic ingredients defined for good mental health.

This is not new news. Long before the patriarchies stigmatized sex, cultures celebrated sexual union as a powerful expression of life force. Ancient cultures that honored the divine feminine understood a fundamental fact of life: sex is sacred. It unites you with another. It is also the creative force that channels the Divine and renews life.

In the frenzied pace many walk today, it’s difficult to find time for intimacy, much less time to explore the spiritual dimensions of sex. And, after a day packed with commitments and responsibilities, are you even in the mood?

Meditation and deep breathing exercises put you in the mood. Deep breathing exercises calm and center you. Learn to meditate on gratitude and notice how it enlivens your spirit and deepens your connection with your partner. Regular deep breathing and meditation practices alone and with your partner help deepen sexual pleasure, allowing the Divine to freely flow.

August 13, 2007

Dance, Sing, Share, and Meditate Joy into Life

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.” (Wayne Dyer)

Before diagnosing an illness, certain healers living in the Andes begin with their own biofeedback process by asking the following questions:

• When was the last time you danced?
• When was the last time you told your story?
• When was the last time you enjoyed a long period of solitude?
  

Experts agree that the ability to enjoy life is essential to good mental health. Dance, song, story, and solitude are sure ingredients to increase feelings of joy. Add gratitude to the mix and you have an effective remedy to energize, uplift, and restore a zest for living.

When you notice your temper flare or your emotions dip, connect with gratitude. And, finally, take time to enjoy solitude and meditate on all that you’re grateful for. The healing energy of gratitude dances joy back into your life.

August 06, 2007

Stress Relief through Meditation

Wellness means good health, both in body and mind. When our minds are plagued by daily stress, true wellness is not possible. One of the simplest and most effective ways to eliminate stress is through daily meditation.

Our minds can easily become cluttered with worries, “to do” lists, and other little chattering voices. The goal of meditation is to clear your mind of that clutter, so that you are better able to focus on what’s important.

Through meditation, your mind and body both become relaxed and focused. There are numerous techniques and styles of meditation. The basics, though, are the same:

• Sitting or standing in a comfortable position
• Loose-fitting, non-restrictive clothing
• Deep breathing
• Quiet, peaceful environment (silence or soft music are both fine)
• An object or mantra to focus on
  

Next time you feel stress creeping in, take a moment to close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and clear your mind of all thoughts. You’ll instantly feel better, and you’ll find that your mind is refreshed and invigorated.

July 25, 2007

4 Powerful Reasons to Meditate and How To Get Started

Having studied Hatha Yoga and Meditation, I have been asked numerous occasions if one has to be part of a certain religion to practice meditation. The beautiful answer is no.

Check out John Wesley’s , '4 Powerful Reasons to Meditate and How to Get Started' in which the author writes some basic tips on Meditation.

Anyone can meditate.

July 23, 2007

How Do YOU Deal With Anxiety?

Anxiety is a combination of emotions and physical reactions. Fears and worries combine to form the emotion, while physical symptoms include rapid heart beat, headaches, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, and nausea.

These physical reactions are our body’s way of preparing us for what it perceives as a threat. Something or someone is causing us such fear and apprehension that our body perceives it as an immediate danger.

Feelings of anxiety can be brought on by any number of things. Anxiety-inducing situations vary from person to person. Some people have to cope with chronic anxiety or some type of anxiety disorder. Each and every one of us, though, will experience anxiety at some point in our lives.

What’s important is developing mechanisms for coping with anxiety when it arises. Prolonged anxiety can have negative effects on both your mind and body.

There are, of course, medications available for treating anxiety. However, there are many effective techniques that can take the place of medication. We often forget that we can tap into our own inner reserves of healing powers.

Here are some simple methods for preventing anxiety or overcoming anxiety when it occurs:

• Learn various relaxation techniques
• Meditate
• Eat well and get plenty of exercise
• Develop positive thinking

Anxiety can be overcome. When you develop techniques that work for you, you’ll find in time that you are equipped to deal with any anxiety-provoking situation you face.