Yoga Untwisted

It always seems that when I need inspiration the most, it finds me. This morning I was browsing around and found this article.  In it was a mudra that I had never come across before, Shankh (Shell) Mudra.  As I explored the Mudra, I realized just how perfect it fits into my life right now, and perhaps yours as well.

So lifting the hands, and wrapping the right hand around the left thumb.  {Notice that while we can no longer see the thumb we know that it is still there and feel the comfort of the right hand embracing that which we can no longer see.}  Lifting the right thumb to connect with the left fingertips.  Placing our Mudra close to our heart and breath deeply, closing the eyes and breathe as if we were going to blow into a conch shell.  Notice how this Mudra feels.

As I prepare to say Om Shanti Shanti Shanti to fellow Yogis and begin a new adventure in this journey called life, I want to say Thank you for all the love, support and laughter that I have been so blessed with in the Queen City.  It’s never really good-bye tho, right?

Thank you for being the right hand in my mudra, and embracing my heart!

Namaste’

Carrisa

my answer: Nope.
As many of you know, I am technologically impaired. So my email has been MIA for a wee bit. If you have sent me a message, Thank you!! I promise I am not ignoring anyone. But if you could kindly resent to Yogalvr@hotmail.com I would greatly appreciate it!! At least until I get up and running again.
I love to hear from each of you!!!
Namaste’
Carrisa

My phone and email is blowing up because of this article.  So if you haven’t read it yet, take a moment. 

There will always be evidence to support any beliefs and experiences.  However, my rebuttal is this:

The article is describing (in dramatic detail, I might add!) a couple of injuries that are extreme cases.   According to statistics, over 14.3 million people practiced yoga in 2010, and there are over 70,000 teachers registered to teach these Yogis.  Add in the various styles of Yoga to the equation, and well, our chances of strokes or other life altering (mostly temporarily) injuries are quite rare.

What it all boils down to is a wee bit of common sense.  We are quick to blame someone or something else for our current situation… it’s human nature.  But the fact of the matter is, we are the only one that can feel the signals that our body is sending to us;  it is imperative that we pay attention to our bodies as we enjoy our practice.  If we are in doubt, err on the side of caution.  If we are not 100% confident in our instructor, there are 69,999 more to explore.  For those that I have had the pleasure to practice with, you know one of my favorite sayings “If you can sleep like this, then we can think about adding on.  If not, stay where you are… enjoy that expression of the posture!”  Pretty Please!!!

I’d love to hear your success stories!  How has Yoga helped you?  Please take a few moments to help squelch this article….

Namaste’

Carrisa

ok.  so I have been working on the blog post about my new Manduka for over a week now. Thanks for waiting. 

I just deleted the draft that was full of heartfelt descriptive words like beautiful, loving, embracing, etc.  While I meant every word, there is really just one that sums it up… Om-azing!!!

I never in a million years would have thought that a mat <said sarcastically> would change my practice.  I love my practice.  While there is always room for improvement, I never thought it would pertain to the the rectangle that I sweat, curse, and rest upon.  Now I understand why people rave about their ‘overpriced piece of equipment’,  that is what I used to call a Manduka.  Now I know and understand that it is worth every. single. penny.  It comes with a Lifetime Guarantee, so it will be the last mat that I’ll ever need, and if my calculations are correct, I’d actually save money in the long run plus less wasted, shredded cheap mats in the landfills.  Sounds Great to me!    I’m VERY frugal, so it takes a lot for me to justify spending money on something that I can find for less, but even if we put the cost aside, the mat is perfect.  In every way!  If anyone is teetering on the idea, DO IT!  You will not be disappointed!  Words simply can not express my love affair with my new Manduka….

But Om-azing comes close!

Namaste’

Carrisa

I usually  post Monday Mudras on my Facebook page, but this morning Meredith asked which Mudras we were enjoying, when I replied I thought ‘this is blog worthy’.  For anyone who isn’t familiar with Mudras, these are Yoga poses for the hands.

With the holidays quickly approaching, our stress levels tend to escalate.  Whether it is because of finances, shopping, family or cooking, the urge to bite our tongue or remove fistfuls of hair increases.  This year, instead of doing the Midde-Finger Mudra under the dining room table, try the Mantangi (aka Matangi) Mudra.

Start by folding the hands with the left thumb over the right.  Extend the middle fingers so that the tips of the fingers touch and the palms open slightly, making the hands look like an elephant.  Hey, look at that, it’s still a middle-finger mudra  LOL   However, this one induces feelings of peace and patience, and it’s okay if someone else sees it. 

Of course, we don’t have to wait for a stressful situation to arise to try it.  Start practicing it now, so when we need it, we’ll be ready.

While we tend to dwell on the chaos, remember to take time to truly give thanks this year, even for the crazy relative, annoying sibling, nosy neighbor and/or denture removing grandparent… our lives just wouldn’t be the same without them!

Thank you for reading this blog and sharing it with others!!  I am soo thankful for YOU!

Namaste’

Carrisa