One of my favorite examples of meditational art is of the wrathful Buddhist deity, Chakrasamvara and his consort Vajravahar. The deities are part of the highest yoga tantric traditions.

Chakrasamvara tantra is frequently painted as a visual tool for transformative meditative practices according to Professor John C. Huntington in The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art.

Although it’s not feasible for me to go into depth about the iconography of Chakrasamvara within the scope of this blog, here is a cursory study of this visual tool used for meditation.

The 2 figures are surrounded by a sacred orange fire in an eternal embrace with Vajravahar’s legs tightly wrapped around Chakrasamvara’s waist in sexual union. The joining of the female and male entities is intended to show the blissful yoking of compassion and wisdom. Chakrasamvara’s right foot stands atop Kalaratri, the slayer of evil spirits. Crushed under his left foot is Bhairava who represents samsara or the repeated cycles of birth, misery, and death. A garland of 50 human heads hangs from his body depicting dozens of emotional barriers obliterated on the path to nirvana.

The four-headed, twelve-armed Chakrasamvara holds a specific object in each hand signifying an implement used in reaching spiritual truth and triumphing over obstacles to enlightenment.

Right hands:
1) The ghanta or bell for the divine primordial sound used to chase away demons.
2) The left-front foot of the elephant hide illustrating the end of delusions and ignorance.
3) The damaru, an hourglass-shaped drum typifying the sound that began and sustains the universe.
4) The vajra chopper or kartri cleaving away defects such as anger, envy, greed, pride, and ignorance.
5) The ax for cutting off birth and death at the roots.
6) The trident standing for the destruction of ignorance, desire, and aggression.

Left hands:
1) The vajra (thunderbolt) for the destruction of the ego.
2) The left-back foot of the blood-stained elephant hide embodying the cloak of ignorance.
3) The severed four-faced head of Brahma denoting victory over the temptation to become a god.
4) The vajra lasso binding beings to wisdom from life to life.
5) The skull cup filled with blood suggesting any discrimination towards existence and nonexistence has been detached.
6) The khatvanga staff indicative of the blissful thought of enlightenment.

Continued meditation on Chakrasamvara aids in overcoming the specific obstructions fixed in a self-centered consciousness to achieve the ultimate liberation from the desire manifested by this individual consciousness.

Additional resources: Yoga, Power, and Spirit

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Many yoga studios focus extensively on asana practice. Asanas help the body become strong, limber, and tone. Yet simply practicing the postures does not mean that you will achieve the same physique as a runway model. A balance of a healthy diet and a sufficient amount of cardiovascular exercise is still necessary.

Yoga is not just about physical development; the original purpose of yoga was to use the body and mind as a vehicle to follow a spiritual path to enlightenment. The yoga postures grew out of meditation. Performing asanas aid with the meditation practice by making it possible to sit comfortably for longer periods of time. Asanas are only one of the eight limbs of yoga. By learning to control the body, it becomes easier to control the mind through improved concentration and focus.

According to Richard Freeman, director of The Yoga Workshop in Boulder, a good yoga posture spontaneously induces a meditative state.

Additional resources: The Yoga Matrix: The Body as a Gateway to Freedom, Studio Talks: The Process of Yoga

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Chanting is intended to calm the body and mind. The vibration created by the sound joins together the voice, body, and mind. Through chanting, it is possible to filter out thoughts, sensations, or other sounds that interfere with the experience or seeking of stillness that lies deep within our being.

Honestly, I still struggle with chanting and feel a certain level of discomfort when chanting in a yoga class. The repetitive mantras are sung to create distinct vibrations in the body and mind. But I am not a good singer and can’t carry a tune to save my life. Perhaps I am overly concerned about doing it correctly, how my voice sounds, or if I am harmonizing well with the rest of the chanters. Chanting with my fellow yogis is still a source of anxiety for me.

Yet I intuitively know that because of this outward focus on my part, I am missing the point of chanting. This sound vibration is intended to harmonize the body and mind, thereby both expressing and creating an inner state of consciousness. Chanting is meant to sharpen the mind and senses to the higher source from which this sound originates. With continued practice, I hope to free my mind from the mental chatter and surrender to the vibrational sound that will lead me to the ultimate silence within and peace that I am seeking.

Extra
Here are a few respected chants believed to contain powerful healing and transformational energies:

• Om Mani Padme Hum (Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus)
• Om Namah Shivaya (I Bow to Shiva)
• Om Shanti Om (Peace to All)
• Hari Om Tatsat (Hari, the Lord, is Infinite Spirit – that is the Truth)

On November 7, 2003, UNESCO declared Vedic chants to be “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

Additional resources: Chants of a Lifetime, Following Sound into Silence, Yoga Chants, The Divine Name, Sound Relaxation


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Yogis don’t get angry, right? Maybe you think that a true yogi has transcended this base human emotion. Even if you have been practicing yoga for decades, it does not mean that you will never experience anger.
Anger is a natural human emotion stemming from frustration or resentment.

When you become angry the mind is sending warning signals to the body initiating the “fight or flight” response. Ideally, you want to wait out this biochemical surge until the anger has faded. Just start to breathe slowly and deeply. The breath unites the mind and body. In as much, the breath can have an incredible influence on your well-being. Short and choppy breathing will only fuel the anger. Slow and long, purposeful breaths will restore a sense of calm and tranquility to the physical and mental constitution.

Don’t sit with the anger in meditation, this will only intensify the feeling. Nor should you try to suppress the anger. Face the anger head on, don’t avoid it. Try to pinpoint why you are so upset, then, observe the
emotion in the body without engaging it. Remind yourself that it will pass. Practicing asanas while breathing deeply is another way to ride the anger out to the other side.

Losing self-control can be frightening and the body will likely tense up instinctively resisting the relaxation, just stick with it. Notice the physical effects of the anger on the body without judging or reacting until the anger subsides.

The key is how you express the anger that you are feeling. Instead of reacting impulsively, use the anger to affect a positive change. For example, if your anger is a response to an injustice such as seeing the abuse of a child, let this passionate feeling carry you to a point of action to right the situation. One constructive way to respond may be to contact the proper authorities to protect the child from further abuse.

Anger is part of being human, but when used properly it can set in motion powerful changes for the betterment of humanity.

Peace out!

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Bandhas are energy locks and play an important part in the body’s cleansing process during yoga. These locks retain air in the lungs to keep energy from seeping out of the body. By activating bandhas, you can
increase your development in asanas, pranayama, and meditation.

Although there are more bandhas, I want to focus on the 3 primary locks.

• Mula bandha (root lock)
• Uddiyana bandha (abdominal lift)
• Jalandara bandha (chin lock)

Generally, it is recommended that you begin practicing the mula bandha before
moving on to the other main bandhas.

Mula Bandha

Mastery of mula bandha comes slowly for most people. Simply put, to activate this lock squeeze the area between the genitals and the anus. Technically speaking, we are talking about the perineum. H. David Coulter in the Anatomy of Hatha Yoga defines the perineum as “A diamond-shaped region whose borders are the bottom of the pubic symphysis, the inner borders of the inferior pubic rami and ischial tuberosities, and sacrotuberous ligaments, which extend between the ischial tuberosities and the inferior tip of the sacrum and coccyx.”

Be careful, this action is not to be mistaken with a Kegel exercise. In fact, this bandha is quite elusive as it is requires the subtle lifting of the perineum. Try it out by engaing the muscles in this area without contracting the glutes.

Visualize sucking in the perineal space to make an empty space for the front of the pubic bone and sacrum to move toward each other.

Use this lock while sitting in meditation.

Uddiyana Bandha

To begin, exhale completely. Notice how the abdomen is naturally sucked in with the exhalation. Now pull the abdomen in and up. Feel the diaphragm raise and keep it still. Paradoxically, you are inhaling without inhaling as the diaphragm is lifted.

Jalandara Bandha

Jalandara involves the chin and neck. Keep the neck straight and bend the chin down and in. This lock can be done easily in many asanas (poses). Think of the locks as energy valves rather than muscle contractions. You’re directing the air through nadis (channels or meridians) to hold in the outward flow of breath and bringing it back toward the center.


All three bandhas can be practiced simultaneously. Before giving it a try, practice each bandha
individually, then once you have mastered all three bandhas go for it.

Additional resources: Breathing and Bandhas
 
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Twisting poses have so many wonderful benefits. Not only do twists energize the body, they also maintain healthy discs by easing back and neck tension, balance and tone, soothe the nervous system, and aid with
digestion.

A twist can cleanse your body from head to toe. As you twist, keep your spine long and exhale while twisting from the navel line, the abdominal obliques rotate. It is like wringing out your body from the center as
you would with a wet washcloth. The action squeezes and stretches muscles, nerves, glands, and organs in the torso.

A twist to the right compresses the ascending colon. A twist to the left compresses the descending colon. The compression of organs pushes out blood filled with metabolic by-products and toxins. When the twist is
released, fresh blood flows in carrying oxygen and the building blocks for tissue healing.

Here is a list of twisting poses to get you started: 

• half lord of the fishes (seated spinal twist)
  
• noose pose
  
• reclining twist
  
• revolving chair
  
• revolving head-to-knee pose
  
• revolving triangle
  
• sage twist
  



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Doing yoga with very young children is a great way to keep them active and spend time together. Try simple poses like cat/cow, child’s pose, or tree to develop coordination and body awareness.

At first, it may seem challenging to keep the attention of very young children from wandering. The solution is to make yoga fun and engaging for pre-schoolers. Use the yoga poses to foster their imagination. Ask
the child to meow like a cat when doing cat/cows or for downward dog they can bark and wag their tails. You can bring life to basic poses with games and singing.

You may find that letting your toddler choose their own bright and colorful mat will make yoga exciting. Each time you take out their special mat, they will look forward to practicing.

Check out the children's book Bamboo the Cat: An Interactive Yoga Story for Kids by Denise Hitch to introduce your children to yoga in a fun and creative way.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For yoga in Dunellen, NJ or yoga in Piscataway, NJ and yoga in other Central New Jersey areas, get in touch with me at Yoga Destiny.