Contemplations
Strengths & Weaknessesby Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
Your ability to use your strengths depends on your awareness of having them. Without an accurate assessment of your own abilities, you cannot get very far. This is one of the hardest things about updating your resume. You have to describe your abilities clearly, which means you have to recognize that you have them.
Free of Limitations
By Rama Berch, C.S.Y.T., E-RYT 500
You’ve had the experience of your own divine essence so many times. It happens when you hear a long high note on the flute or violin, or maybe for you it’s the cello - for me, the tamboura propels me deep inside. You’ve had a deep Shavasana, so deep inside that you didn’t know you were “there” until you came out, and then you wanted to go back in. Yoga says you must have this experience of your own Self or you will begin to wonder what the reason for life is. The experience of your own Self is the one essential ingredient in life - more essential than vitamins.
The Magic & Mystery of Ujjayi Pranayama
You need to breathe. Especially if you have any aches or pains, any injuries or illnesses, if your mind is racing much of the time or your anxiety and stress level is high - you need to do more breathing. Specifically, you need to do more yoga breathing. Ujjayi Pranayama is taught at the beginning of every Svaroopa® yoga class because it is the most important of yoga’s breathing practices. If you compare equal amounts of time in the poses to doing the breathing practice, you get more benefit from Ujjayi Pranayama (ood-jaw-yee praa-naa-yaa-ma).