By Sekayi We've all heard this before. But, it doesn't make it any less powerful. Reputed to have been used in ancient Greece by sages who studied in ancient Kemet (Egypt), knowing oneself is the quintessential teaching. It's such a simple two word statement but it yields life changing effects. For women especially, I feel, this simple koan is crucial. What can be so difficult about knowing oneself? That depends... Whose interpretations of who you are have you been blindly accepting? Wife, mother, babysitter, CEO, sex worker... Whatever label has been assigned to you is not "you." It's a role you play. Remember to get space from it whenever possible to just sit with your true Self. The more you go into the silence of Self, the less you'll identity with labels and the various frustrations of life. And, the sooner you'll attain pure Self realization. I didn't hear this specific phrase in the dreamtime but I did receive a visual representation... The symbol of a fish following behind the Kemetic glyph for Neter. It means know and follow the word, know that you swim in a sea of self generated vibration. You always get to choose the direction of your own sail. It doesn't matter what occurs around you or to you.. Know Thyself. Always. By Sejal Shah Meditation, simply put, is nothing but mental hygiene: clearing out the daily mental garbage and junk so that you can get in touch with your real Self and tune up your talents and skills. Think about it--you shower every day and clean your body, but do you ever shower your mind? An unshowered mind can smell as filthy as an unshowered body, maybe even more. But if you shower your mind with meditation, you'll feel clearer and see things with a wider perspective and spread peaceful vibes. Although meditation has been around for centuries, it is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people discover its wide-ranging benefits. Meditation does everything from improving your health, helping you sleep better, and improving your mood to increasing emotional resilience and sharpening your focus. The purpose of meditation can be different for different individuals. In today’s fast-paced, modern world, when you already feel short of time, you might wonder why meditate, and whether meditation can help you. If you have been feeling in low spirits, or nothing seems to be going your way, your mind and body could be trying to tell you that meditation is needed in your life. Listen to your mind and body. If you’re receiving any of these 25 signs, it may be time to start, ramp up, or recommit to your meditation practice. 1. You feel exhausted and tired all the time.'Why am I so tired?' was one of the 10 most-Googled health questions in 2017. This hints to just how many of us feel dogged by fatigue. A few minutes of meditation can leave you feeling more energized and rejuvenated. Try one of these 12 online free guided meditationsand you’ll be feeling more energized in no time. 2. You have repeated attacks of colds and the flu.If you’re suffering from a lot of colds and flu, it’s a good indication that your immunity is low. According to research, meditation can help strengthen your immune system to help you fight infections better. 3. You’re constantly achy.Constant aches and pains without any pathological basis is a sign of tension and stress. You may not find relief from over-the-counter medications, but a few minutes of regular meditation can help you become pain-free. 4. It feels like you’re always short of time.If you keep feeling that you have too much in your hands, your calendar is always full, your day begins very early and ends too late, and there is very little time to do what you really want to do, meditation can help you find balance. While finding time to meditate may seem like an extra burden, the boost that meditation gives to your mental well-being may help you get everything else done faster and better. 5. You scowl a lot.“A child smiles naturally 400 times a day, an adolescent smiles 17 times, and an adult does not smile at all,” says meditation Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. This is because babies are stress-free. The purpose of yoga and meditation is to put a smile on our face, in spite of all the stress and tension we face in our day-to-day life. 6. You cry often.If you find yourself tearing up at the slightest provocation, small failure, or setback, work pressure, or somebody’s minor opinions or criticism of you, meditation can help you become more emotionally resilient. You might be wondering why certain people are always smiling and laughing when you seem to be sad all the time--maybe they’re practicing meditation! 7. You either brood and analyze or plan and fantasize too much.You find yourself caught up in past regrets or making future plans, either feeling bitter, angry, or anxious and worried. Overactive mind is a sign of stress. Meditation is known to bring the mind into the present moment and give you the ability to enjoy the moment as is. 8. You struggle even to make simple decisions.When you find yourself asking either your spouse or friend to take small everyday decisions like what to wear, which restaurant to go to, which coffee to order, or what food to make, meditation can help you become more confident in what you want. 9. You feel overwhelmed for no reason.Small things start overwhelming you, and you’re always worrying about how you’ll fit in everything you need to do today! Meditation helps calm your mind, organize your thoughts, and tackle your day with confidence. 10. You feel that there is a never ending workload.Every morning you wake up dreading your workload, and the pile of work on your desk or in your home seems to multiply no matter what you do. Your deadlines start scaring you and you feel that you can't cope. Meditation can help improve your ability to multitask, and also improve your observation, perception, and expressions, helping you be more efficient and effective in what you do. 11. You experience too many mood swings.You find yourself seated in the roller-coaster ride of your mind, rapidly going up and down, feeling very happy and excited and then suddenly sad and depressed the next moment. Meditation is great for emotional regulation and can help you manage your mood swings. 12. You’re easily distracted.In this era of social media, it is very easy to get distracted, and remaining focussed is a great challenge. If you find yourself having no control over your social media or any other such distractions, meditation can help you remained focused and centered. Meditation improves your focus to help you manage your life with peace of mind rather than pieces of mind scattered here and there. 13. You experience bouts of depression.If you very often feel a generalized low feeling, this could be a sign of non-clinical or clinical depression. Meditation can help alleviate symptoms of both. A simple and effortless technique of Sahaj Samadhi Meditation has proven to reduce late-life depression, according to CTV News. 14. You are anxious and worried most of the time.If you’re constantly being told that you need to calm down or relax, meditation can be a great chill pill to help you bring that nervous energy down a few notches. 15. You make quick judgments about people.It’s common courtesy to not judge others, but sometimes, even though we know that, it’s hard to put into practice. Meditation helps to keep your mind open and increases your empathy and compassion, so that you have better control over your instincts to quickly judge people. 16. You find that you’re lacking problem-solving skills.Meditation improves your ability to be creative and think outside the box. It also helps increase your self-awareness, and keeps your mind calm and collected, so that you can find new perspectives to look at your problem and solve it effectively. 17. You keep wondering “What’s the point of all this?”Life is complex and sometimes it feels like a constant struggle and you have no enthusiasm left. You start wondering whether all your painstaking efforts are even worthwhile! This is exactly a time to shut down everything and pause and just be and allow meditation to help bring back the spark and the joy. 18. You keep looking for a change.Do you find yourself bored with your daily routine? Add a few minutes of meditation to your day, and you may find that your schedule is more refreshing than ever before. 19. You get angry for no reason.Meditation puts you in better control of your anger and enables you to respond to triggering situations with mindfulness, rather than to impulsively react. 20. You're stressed out beyond your imagination.Sometimes you are put in a situation that demands that you’re on your toes constantly, and you're just plain stressed. One of meditation’s most famous and well-researched benefits is reduced stress. Making sure to spend just a few minutes meditating and taking care of your mind, body, and spirit will allow you to be more happy and energetic. 21. You have high blood pressure.Meditation has been proven to lower your blood pressure, says Joel Kahn, M.D.cardiologist and best-selling author. 22. You suffer from insomnia or sleeplessness.If you can’t get to bed on time, or find that you can’t fall asleep until late, or that your sleep quality is poor, you may want to start meditating. Meditation can help relax your body, releasing tension and placing you in a peaceful sleep. SKY meditation has shown to reduce insomnia significantly. 23. You feel lonely.You may think meditation is a solo activity. It may be solitary (unless you are meditating in a group), but it actually increases your sense of connection to others by nurturing emotional intelligence and social connection, improving your social life. 24. You suffer from PMS.90% of women during the days leading up to their menses report experiencing challenging physical and emotional changes, from increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, and appetite changes, to full-blown depression, fatigue, and anxiety. Luckily, meditation has been found to help women manage their symptoms. 25. Your sex life needs a boost.By improving empathy, meditation can help you to connect with your partner at a deeper level and thus improve your sexual relationship too. Meditation is something everyone can do to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. No wonder meditation retreats and meditation meetups are increasing in popularity every day. There is a great variety of styles, too, each with different strengths and benefits. Trying out a style of mediation suited to your goals is a great way to improve your quality of life, even if you only have a few minutes to do it each day. You can meditate anywhere, without special equipment or memberships, but if you need help overcoming resistance to meditation, getting started, feel supported by a big community of meditators or if you’re looking to enrich your established meditation practice, the Journey Web App offers an inspiring variety of guided meditations for all levels: there’s something for everyone, including a program to find your personal meditation technique. Sign up now and try out, it offers a limited time free trial. Make meditation part of your life, and start reaping the physical, mental and emotional benefits. Science says it takes only 40 days to develop new habits. For the next 40 days, commit yourself to daily meditation and see the difference for yourself. Happy Meditating! This article originally appeared on: https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/25-signs-for-you-to-start-meditating-for-the-next-40-days Author: Sejal ShahSejal Shah, E-YRT 500 Sri Sri Yoga Teacher, YACEP, Art of Living Teacher, NYU Post Graduate Medical School approved Yoga-CME retreat facilitator, Mind-Body Wellness Writer, Homeopath By Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D Wouldn’t you just love to jump out of bed every morning filled with fire and enthusiasm for something? Perhaps you have been searching for that something for years or have just settled for a more mundane life out of not knowing any better way. Perhaps you feel that you have too many responsibilities to change course, or that you don’t deserve anything greater or have a fear of the unknown. Finding & Following your passion and purpose can be a difficult journey but consider it a journey not an instant revelation. Go back in time…Consider taking an expedition into your past for starters. What life plan got you to where you are now? Did you even consciously have a plan? Were you driven by the desire to be a dad, mom, nurse, doctor, plumber, Indian chief, accountant because it was lucrative or ‘Cool’, to impress your family or friends, perhaps to pay the bills or was it something you really wanted to do? Did you choose a life of hiding your talents and brains so people wouldn’t expect too much of you? Were you afraid of success or did you have a fear of success or failure? What choices did you make that led you to your current job, personal /family situation, hobbies, what you do in your downtime, etc. Take some time to evaluate how you got where you are now so you can understand how you have been creating your life. Remember what Einstein said: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” To discover your passion you have to expand the way you think, recognize what you wish to eliminate or change in your life and have the motivation to do it. Your current thought process might have limited your options, to provide you with a certain level of security, comfort, survival and maybe has given you a comfortable enough box to nest in which you call “my life.” “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” –Confucius If you want to discover your true purpose in life, you must first rid your mind of all the parental and societal expectations that have filled your awareness since childhood. Sort out what is significant for you. To find your passion and purpose, recognize your gifts and abilitiesTeaching, coaching, selling, painting, listening? Figure out what are you good at and what you enjoy doing. Define your interests!What makes your heart sing? What have been your hobbies since childhood? Do they give you a hint as to what lights your fire? What have you been afraid to pursue because of money or other barriers that you always wanted to do? What do you love to research on the internet ? What section of the book store do you hang out in & which magazines do you enjoy reading? What inspires you? Bring all of this to mind and write it down and then refine the list after you review it in a few days. What have you fantasized about doing that seemed too crazy to pursue?Did you ever have a dream that you never realized such as being a writer, journalist, painter, which internal self-doubt or fear prevented you from pursuing? Take another look at your life dreams! It is never to late to create your self anew. If you have an inhibiting belief that limits you from moving forward in your life, we have tools to assist you with removing the obstacles that cause a sense of being ‘stuck’. Are you ready to find your passion and purpose, and create positive transformation in your life? Explore the roots of your self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors at Shift Your Life: Drop Your Baggage. Love Your Life, and Reach Beyond the Veil With Intuitive Art at the Art of Living Retreat Center from June 22nd-26th. This article originally appeared on https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/passion-and-purpose AuthorsTracy Latz, M.D., M.S. is an Integrative Psychiatrist, weaving together wisdom from Western medicine and alternative approaches to transforming anxiety, depression and emotional trauma. By Sophie Addison In today’s world, where people are prone to stress, anxiety, and depression, it’s more important than ever to search for ways to relax your mind. Relationships, work, school, and/or financial worries all take a toll on our bodies and minds, and yoga can be a welcome break from the pressures of everyday life. According to one study, a regular yoga practice may help you fight stress, anxiety, and depression. While yoga overall is very useful for calming the mind, we’ve selected five poses, which, when practiced mindfully, can make a big difference in your overall stress levels. Child’s PoseThis pose stretches your lower back and hips, which can be very relaxing and help decrease fatigue. To try out this pose, first sit on your heels, leaving a gap between your thighs. Then, extend your upper body on the floor, your midsection resting between your thighs, and your arms fully extended on the floor. Take several long, deep breaths in this position. This position can be held for up to five minutes, or longer if you wish. Cobra PoseThis pose is challenging, but it’s very effective at the same time. It enhances your energy level and mood, and strengthens your back. For the cobra pose, lie face down, position your palms on the floor shoulder width apart. Keep your lower body and pelvis grounded at all times, then inhale and lift your chest off the floor, while your lower body stays in place. Keep your attention on lifting from your core, rather than simply resting on your arms. You can hold the pose for a number of long, deep breaths, then let your body rest on the floor as you exhale. Warrior IIThere are three warrior poses. Warrior II Pose is a simple yoga pose, which can help release stress and tension. When doing this pose, let yourself be reminded of your inner strength and ability to stand strong against the challenges of life. Dancer’s PoseThis is a cool yoga pose, and it’s not only for dancers. Anyone can implement this pose into their yoga routine. It’s a beautiful pose that symbolizes grace and elegance. You can do this pose with a light and happy feeling, as though you were a dancer. Not only can it release stress, but it also opens up the chest. Crow PoseThis is a very effective pose, but it’s not an easy pose to try. Although it takes some time to master the crow pose, you will be proud of yourself when you finally get the hang of it. This pose can enhance your focus, strength, and concentration. When doing this pose, let the mind be happy and calm. In Sanskrit, this state of mind is called prasanna chetana, a pleasant, relaxed awareness. Having a strong mind can also help you overcome the symptoms of depression. Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health. When ignored, stress can affect our physical well-being, as well as our mental peace. Making yoga a regular part of your life can help you manage stress and lower the risk of stress-related health problems. This article originally appeared on: https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/yoga-poses-calm-your-mind Author: Sophie AddisonSophie Addison is a blogger and skincare expert, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge. She has written about everything from wrinkles to joint pain treatment, weight loss, and fitness news. She loves to garden and listen to music. Contact Sophie on Facebook or Pinterest. By Griffin Damron Although many don’t consciously realize it, sound holds the key to soothing our souls. The best musicians take us from the peaks of elation to the depths of sorrow. They can fire us up to dance or exercise and lull us into deep states of meditation and healing. For that reason, a great soundtrack is a perfect compliment to any yoga practice. Whether you’re working to cultivate strength, serenity, or everything in between, the proper playlist will help you to dig deeper and get the most from each asana. Here are some the best playlists on Youtube to aid in either your personal practice or yoga teaching. Relaxing Indian InstrumentalsIf you’re in the mood for something authentic, this nearly three-hour long mix of traditional Indian instruments, such as the bansuri flute, will lull you into a quiet state of tranquility. This peaceful soundscape is perfect for establishing stillness within. Embrace Calm SerenityTaking influence from all over the East, this playlist offers traditional tunes that will whisk you towards serenity. Embrace your practice as you listen to sounds from Arabia, Tibet, China, and India. Modern Vinyasa FlowThis playlist presents the grace of traditional music with a groovy modern twist. These spacy, etheric, and almost otherworldly soundscapes presented in this collection will have your mind soaring into introspection from the moment you press play. Mystical MantrasFor those whose practice is rooted in Hindu philosophy, this mantra music will perfectly accompany your yoga sessions. From the Gayatri Mantra to Om Namah Shivaya, you’ll find everything you need for a devotional practice here. Indie Yoga PlaylistIf you’re a fan of indie and alternative music, this chilled-out collection is the perfect addition to your practice. Find deep relaxation with the help of artists such as Bombay Bicycle Club, Milky Chance, and Bon Iver. Chilled Out Electronic MusicWhen most people think about electronic music, they instantly imagine raves, night clubs, or parties. However, the genre has a much more approachable incarnation as well that you’ll find in this playlist. These electronic soundscapes from artists like Emancipator, Tycho, and Phantogram connect us to our tribal roots with a modern flavor. Groovy Yoga BeatsFor those who desire a more upbeat, sweaty session, this funk-filled collection will have you grooving your way into each new pose. Once you’re stretched out, you’ll be ready for a full-on dance session. We hope these playlists are helpful in guiding you towards a more enjoyable practice that is authentic to both your personality and the tradition of yoga!
Want to learn more about the kind of retreats the Art of Living Retreat Center offers? Check out our calendar, or feel free to give us a call at 800-392-6870. We’re looking forward to chatting with you! This article originally appeared on https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/the-best-yoga-music-playlists-on-youtube By: Julia Cameron The main message of my work is that creativity and spirituality are intertwined. They each support the growth of the other. The basic tool of a creative recovery is something that I call morning pages. You’re probably familiar with them–they’re three pages of longhand morning writing that you do first thing upon awakening. They brush all of your mental dust to the center, where you can sweep it out through writing. How to do morning pagesThere’s really no wrong way to do morning pages. You write with a stream of consciousness, and your only goal is to fill those pages. What you’re really doing, in effect, is minimizing your censor, the one that tells you you’re not smart or good enough. I call my censor Nigel. With morning pages, you have the ability to just say, “Nigel, thank you for sharing your opinion. But I’m going to keep right on writing.” This ability to move past your censor is a portable skill that you can bring with you every time you move into creativity. The creativity mythI think people are afraid of being “too big for their britches”. We have a spirituality-creativity myth that is sort of punitive–it’s a nice day in paradise, Eve reaches for the apple, she hands it to Adam (who is a hopeless codependent). He takes a bite and the clouds spring open, and a mighty voice says, “You two won’t even get along anymore. You’ll bear your children in pain and suffering.” From this story, we learn that if we try to reach for something that seems a little beyond our reach, if we try to expand ourselves, we are in danger of being punished. But what if we had a different creativity myth? What if, when Eve reached for the apple, the voice from the clouds said, “Far out! I made that apple red for a reason!” If we had a creativity myth that said we would be rewarded and supported for reaching, it would be a lot different. So what we try to do with the Artist’s Way tools is to learn to be in touch with a benevolent higher force. Courage in creativityThe fruits of creative endeavor are many: a sense of well being, a sense of guidance, and the act of creativity in itself is a wonderful healing balm. There is no magic wand we can wave to become suddenly fearlessly creative, but the tools I teach, over time, create courage. Three creative toolsThere are three simple tools that, when used in conjunction, create a powerful spiritual awakening: morning pages, an artist date, which is a once-weekly solo expedition to do something that enchants or interests you, and walking. Morning pages are sending, artist dates are receiving. It’s like you’re building a radio kit. When you walk, you integrate the insights from the other two tools. People actually struggle with the idea of artist dates. We have no problem with work–we’re in America! We have a work ethic! But we have a problem with play. Don’t confuse spirituality with seriousness. The tools I teach are playful and joyful. Opening yourself to wonderWhen we do morning pages, we’re ventilating to the universe. We’re saying, “This is what I like, this is what I don’t like. This is what I want more of, this is what I want less of.” We learn to tap into our true feelings and become more authentic. As you write, you are setting yourself up for wonder. I recommend picking up a pen and starting with morning pages, no matter where you are in your current growth. This article originally appeared on: https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/creativity-spirituality-and-morning-pages Author: Julie CameronJulia Cameron has been an active artist for over four decades. She is the author of more than forty books, including such bestselling works on the creative process as The Artist’s Way, Walking in This World and Finding Water. Also a novelist, playwright, songwriter and poet, she has multiple credits in theater, film and television. 2017 marked the 25th anniversary of The Artist’s Way, with over five million copies sold. By Lucia Whalen The word “spirituality” means different things for different people. For some, spirituality is associated with religion and is tied to concrete rites and rituals. For others, meaningful activities like swimming, making art, and walking through the woods brings on a spiritual experience. For the most part, though, the word spirituality has become as ambiguous and vague as the word “the,” and is often stigmatized by associations to “hippy-dippy” new-age philosophies, patchouli, dreadlocks, and yoga pants. Spirituality seems to have become confused with religion, as it is common to now associate as “spiritual” or “not spiritual”. However, at its core, spirituality is a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and is not an ideology to believe or not believe in. Spirituality is, in fact, what gives life a sense of meaning and purpose. Practicing spirituality has scientifically-validated benefits, making it important for each and every person, not just yogis in the Himalayas. If you find yourself skeptical about the necessity of spirituality, check out these 10 reasons why spirituality matters for the average Jo(sephine): 1. Be PresentThe spiritual life is based in the present moment, as the present moment is the only real moment; the past and future are concepts in the mind. When living with our minds in the present moment, we function with greater focus, clarity, and spontaneity. We also feel greater levels of joy, as happiness is only accessible in the here and now. 2. Get SmartStudies show that many spiritual practices, especially meditation, result in increased grey matter area in the brain. Among its many benefits, regular meditation leads to increased cognition, improved focus, attention, and ability to perform under stress, and higher levels of emotional intelligence, all of which contribute to enhanced work performance. 3. Be HealthyMost spiritual paths and religious traditions recommend abstaining from behaviors and substances that are detrimental to health, such as drinking, smoking, using drugs, committing crimes, and harming others. Many paths, such as Ayurveda and Buddhism, even make dietary recommendations, which can lead to a lower body weight and lessened risk for chronic health problems. 4. Let Go of GrudgesA basic tenet of most spiritual paths and traditions is forgiveness. When we forgive ourselves and others, we are able to let go of blame, negative feelings, and anything else holding us back from moving forward in our lives. In fact, studies now show the positive health benefits of forgiveness, which include lowered risk of heart attack, lowered blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels, and reduced levels of pain, depression, anxiety, and stress. 5. Bounce Back FasterStudies show that people who feel a sense of spirituality have greater resilience to hardships. Those with a spiritual outlook have an easier time moving through challenges by finding meaning in difficult situations. High resiliency is also a trait associated with the most successful people in the world. 6. Make Better DecisionsDecision-making is an area that many people struggle with. By simply identifying a set of values that we feel aligned with, we can make decisions that help us feel connected to the greater whole and with a sense of purpose. Spiritual paths also tend to support the development of faith and trust, which helps with stress-reduction in times of uncertain decision-making. 7. Enjoy Amazing RelationshipsResearch in social science demonstrates that humans are neuroscientifically hardwired for connection, and that connection is what brings meaning to life. Interconnectedness, which is at the core of spirituality, helps us to recognize the shared human experience and feel compassion for others. And when we feel compassion, we enjoy the company of others more and find it easier to find common ground. 8. Release Stress and AnxietyWhen we feel a sense of connection to a higher power, we experience mental and emotional freedom. Personal spiritual practices, such as yoga, meditation, running, gardening, and other meaningful activities, are all correlated with lower levels of stress and tension. 9. Enhance CreativityMahatma Gandhi once said, “True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind.” Many of the great artists in history attribute their creations to a higher power. When we are relaxed and in the present moment we can more easily experience the state of flow, which leads to more spontaneous ideas and greater levels of creativity. 10. Be Happily AloneIn our modern day culture, it is all too easy to never be alone. If you walk into any restaurant or cafe and look for the people sitting by themselves, chances are they will be absentmindedly eating their food while scrolling through Instagram and sending snapchats to people in other locations. People in this day and age find it difficult and even painful to be alone, both metaphorically and physically. However, when armed with spirituality, being alone is a gift, offering an opportunity to look inward and know oneself. Because, as almost all spiritual traditions teach, our Self is all we truly have. Spirituality teaches us how to ENJOY being alone, so that we can truly enjoy being with others. This article originally appeared here: https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/why-spirituality-matters/ Interested in learning more about spirituality, Ayurveda, and the programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center? Check out our annual catalog here!
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1) Chanting and attaining liberation in this very lifetime
2) Embodying righteousness and loving compassion while wishing for the liberation and realization of all sentient beings (vegetarian lifestyle)
3) Giving general dakshina, a financial contribution, to help us further our mission.
4) Giving dakshina which supports establishing our ashram for private spiritual retreats and initiations.