Welcome to Crazyoginis

This is the blog of three crazyoginis. We hope to be able to share our love for yoga and our thoughts, ideas and experiences. We wish to spread yoga to all corners of the world, as we truly believe anyone will benefit from practising yoga. The crazyoginis consists of Purna (from Costa Rica) who lives in London, Europe. Rakhi who lives in Mumbai, India and Savitra (from Norway) who lives in Australia.

Thursday 25 August 2011

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is a yogic practice created by Swami Satyananda. It is based on traditional tantric practices, niyasa, appropriately made for todays society. Yoga can be translated to one-pointed awareness and nidra means sleep, so yoga nidra is deep relaxation with inner awareness. It’s a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. You get into a state of consciousness where you no longer identify by mind, senses or emotions. This stage is called pratyahara, which is generally translated as withdrawal of the senses, meaning the awareness is internalized. Without the sensatory input one become aware of more subtle states of the mind. The process of yoga nidra takes you deeper and deeper into this state of pratyahara. In this state samskaras (which are impressions left on the mind stream) are revealed and removed by witnessing thoughts, emotions. This is why yoga nidra is such an excellent practice as it allows changes on a subconscious and unconscious level. This is where change needs to take place to change habitual thought patterns and to transform one’s nature. Yoga Nidra is also used for relaxation and to increase knowledge and creativity as well as increasing memory capacity. 
 
A yoga nidra session lasts between 20 to 40 minutes and it is conducted lying down on the floor in shavasana (lying on the back with legs and feet naturally placed a little away from the body). A guiding voice will generally guide you through the practice, but when you are well established in the practice you can perform the practice yourself. There are eight stages to a yoga nidra.

1. Settling the body. 

In the posture of shavasana you should lie completely still for the time of the practice. It is important here that you cover yourself with a blanket as the body temperature often fall a couple of degrees when lying still for an extended period. In this stage the awareness is internalized through a number of stages – awareness of the alignment of the body, the gross breath, and then the environment – specifically by listening to sounds outside. Then your attention is guided back into the room and to sounds from your own body and breath. Allowing the mind to hear sounds eventually makes the mind disinterested in the sounds and one becomes more internalized. The state of pratyahara starts here. 

2. Sankalpa

Sankalpa is made up of two words. San means true and kalpa means wish. It is often described as a positive resolution of something you want to achieve or become. The sankalpa stated at this stage is like ‘sowing a seed’ (Swami Satyananda Saraswati 2001:21). The mind is at this stage relaxed and the sankalpa can be firmly planted in the subconscious, where the change needs to take place for the personality to change. 

3. Rotation of consciousness

At this stage the leading voice will systematically guide you through the parts of the body following the neuronal circuit of the motor homunculus (motor cortex of the brain). As you mentally go to the part mentioned, visualize and relax it then move on to the next part as per the guiding voice. This clears nerve pathways to the brain and increases a flow of pranic energy within a specific neuronal circuit. It releases energy so that the body can heal. It also dissociates sensory and motor nerves and the ability to experience your body with total detachment as a witness is further induced here. The subconscious mind is further activated and pratyahara is increased.  

4. Awareness of breath

By focusing exclusively on the natural breath, often with the aid of counting, one awakens higher energies which can be directed to all the cells of the body. The mind is brought to one pointed focus thus increasing pratyahara. 

5. Opposites

In this stage you will be directed to feel opposites, as for example cold and hot and heavy and light. This is included to equalize the attachment and aversion to the duality of life experiences on a deep level of consciousness. This stage is working with the primary brain and is related to the physical pain and pleasure. By moving between the opposites you cultivate equanimity, as to not be a slave to your senses. Instead, quite on the contrary, you can train yourself to consciously determine what experience you want to feel. This is a very important aspect of yogic science.  

6. Vizualisations

At this stage of the practice you will be given images to create visualizations in the space of chidakasha (the area of the mind behind the closed eyes). The images brought to your attention may have emotions connected to them. By looking at these associations (samskaras) with equanimity (as a witness) the emotional response becomes lessened and a purification process happens. The thoughts, feelings and emotions that appear at this stage are of the higher mind (superconscious) and you can actually move from the state of pratyahara into the stages of dharana (concentration) and dhyana (deep meditation). Through this access and purification of the unconscious mind the gap between the conscious and the unconscious decreases and eventually one will have a better understanding of your own true nature.  

7. Sankalpa

The sankalpa that was stated at the beginning of the practice is now repeated in the mind. Swami Satyananda describes it like the seed being irrigated at this stage, as you are at a deeper level of consciousness. This is a very important stage of yoga nidra. When this is done with faith it strengthens the effect on the unconscious mind, and it has the ability to change your whole life pattern. 

8. Externalisation

You will be asked to become aware of your breath and body, then to the room where you are situated and then finally to the external environment. It is important to externalize gradually from the psychic sleep to the waking state.

The essential stages in Yoga Nidra are settling the body, rotation of conciousness, awareness of breath and externalization. It is important to perform a yoga nidra suited for one’s level of practice, to get the most out of it.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti... Hari Om. 

Saturday 20 August 2011

Knowledge from the Veda

'We are the birds of the same nest,
we may wear different skins,
We may speak different languages,
We may believe in different religions,
We may belong to different cultures,
Yet we share the same home 
- OUR EARTH.
Born on the same planet,
Covered by the same skies,
Gazing at the same stars,
Breathing the same air,
We must learn to happily progress together
Or miserably perish together,
For man can live individually,
But can only survive collectively'
Atharva Veda (c. 7000 BCE)
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.... Hari Om.

Friday 19 August 2011

Bhajan - Karo Rakshaa

One of my favorite bhajans that we chant in our morning sessions at the ashram is Saadhak Ke Svar, better known as Karo Rakshaa. I will not write the Sanskrit here, but the translation which I find so beautiful. I also find it a good description of what Yoga can provide for us if we practice with persistence, devotion and faith.

I do not pray for protection from difficulties, but instead that I may not fear difficulties.
I do not pray for relief from sorrow, but instead that I may conquer all sorrow.
I do not pray for someone to come and help me, but instead that my innate strength may not break.
I do not pray for you, Lord, to carry my burdens, but instead that I may become capable of carrying my burdens myself.
I do not pray for material fortune, but instead to maintain balanced and satisfied.
I do not pray to attain occult powers and siddhis, but instead that bhakti may give me strength.
I pray that I may chant Thy name in happy times, and also in the nights of sorrow and darkness.
Never may I doubt thee – Lord, this is my prayer.

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Satyananda Yoga Ashram

It was two months yesterday since I first arrived at Satyananda Ashram at Mangrove Mountain, Australia. I didn’t know then that I was to spend the next year here. As well as doing my Yogic studies, a two year program, I have now got a job mainly in reception. The ashram is a vibrant place with about 30 residents who runs this place. The ashram offers lots of different courses during the year as well as being a place where people can come for a personal retreat, just relaxing, eating beautiful vegetarian foods with mostly our own grown vegetables.
The daily program at the center is:
5.30 – 7.00am: Yoga class
7.00 – 7.30am: Breakfast
7.45 – 8.00am:Chanting
8.00 – 9.00am: Karma  Yoga (everyone in the ashram does daily chores)
10.30am: Morning Tea break
12.30pm: Lunch
1.00pm: Lunch cleanup
2.30pm: Yoga Nidra
3.00pm: Afternoon tea time
5.15pm: Some program; eg. Meditation, Yoga class, Havan.
6.00pm: Dinner
6.30pm: Dinner cleanup
7.15pm: Evening program; eg. Kirtan, Meditation, Satsang.
I work 5 days, having 6 shifts in the reception and 4 shifts around the place, example Housekeeping, Farm, kitchen, vegetable garden etc. It is as you can see a pretty full on program, and together with studying it is not much spare time, but I am enjoying every minute of the day. I feel so blessed to have ended up here, at the same time I thank myself for creating this for myself.

Sunday 31 July 2011

Meeting Guruji ......

Om

Wednesday, July 27, 2011 is forever etched in my memory...... I was very very lucky to meet Guruji....

I happened to go to the Iyengar centre in Pune for some work and thats when I got a chance to meet Guruji. Actually when the person said that I could meet Guruji, I was scared  & I declined.  but the person gently prodded me to meet him...

I gathered courage to face Guruji & went inside the library. He was sitting & working on Yoga Sutra's. I cannot describe my experience after that, actually I dont remember exactly what happenned. I was completely mesmerised looking at him.

I sat down falling at his feet & did a Namaskar to him. I was tongue tied.. speechless... enchanted by his sight....  He was wearing a white kurta & mundu... white hair on his shoulders & sharp eyes... I could not take my eyes off him... the Grand Young Man of 94, B K S Iyengar, Guruji for us, himself in front of me... I had to take in as much I could with my eyes...

He gently asked me if I was a yoga student & I nodded... still could not speak.. Then he said something which I cannot remember... I just kept looking at him spellbound.

After some time I got up & left taking his blessings with me & still remembering his sight.
I feel truly blessed that I got a chance to meet him. There was always a wish to meet him but I never knew that it would be fulfilled so suddenly. I am grateful very very grateful....

It is a day I shall always remember....

Om Shanti

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Grandma's Simple tips..

Ancient wisdom is truly amazing... does wonders to our common problems..


Here are some of the Grandma's tips passed on by my Ma !


Ginger juice + honey = Great cough syrup. Can be stored in fridge. To be had 2-3 times daily till you get relief.


Garlic, Raw or crushed & sauted in a bit of oil or ghee = Great for cholesterol, Cough.


Ginger, Raw = Chew a small piece for a bout of Cough. 


More tips later....


II Om Shanti II

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Splash water on Eyes to bring your BP down

Om

Yes, thats right. Splash water on your eyes to bring your blood pressure down.

How does one do it ?

Take a big mouthful of water & make a big O with  mouth closed. Now close your eyes & splash water - cool water - not very cold on the right eye 12 times & then repeat on left eye for 12 times. Then throw the water out of your mouth. To be done each time you pass urine & wash your hands.

Passing of urine releases the tension in your body & splashing of water calms the NS of body thus bringing the pressure down.

This has also helped people correct their vision & vision releated problems.

I have felt great relief from burning of my eyes & relax.

II Om Shanti II