Plenty of people wrinkle their noses when they hear I’m a yoga instructor
Assumptions, stereotypes and pictures of bendy people flash through their minds. Boom – a wall goes up.
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Leap of Faith Life
Leaps of Faith in Life, Travel, Yoga, and Happiness
Tag: yoga
Or a literal title might be named, “How to calm down in any anxiety-giving situation, or situation you perceive to be negative.” Not as effective.
When the ship is going down, in the moment of anxiety-driven situations and high emotions (anger, frustration, jealousy, stress, or mind-blowing-madness), to say something like, “let’s block this negativity together,” might not have the same effect as the captain yelling to the group to regain control, “Just calm the F down! Everything’s going to be okay!”
Think about it – the adrenaline pumping through your body is like the crazed ship group running into each other to get to the life boats, and your mind is the captain trying to get their attention.
So, how do you calm the F down? Luckily, it’s easy to do – it’s called breathing. Or, if you want to get fancy, prana, which means life force, energy, vital breath.
Yoga starts and ends with breath. As do we. So it makes sense that we have control in any situation, negative or positive, to direct our emotions with our breath. It might not feel like it at the time, but after some practice, it will get easier and more useful to you to use anywhere.
When you panic, or get upset, the breath tends to get short and fast. This leads to less oxygen to the brain and the body, and induces a panic sensation in the body. Think about when someone is hyperventilating – to get them to calm down you may have seen them breathe into a bag. Part of the reason that helps is due to the focus on breath, to make it longer and fuller, rather than short and fast. Continue reading
Your Fifth Chakra – The Throat
Your Fifth Chakra (the Vishudda in Sanskrit) lives in the throat, associates with the color blue, the ether/space element, and the mantra ‘I Speak Truth.’
Our choices are communicated with our voices, and a large part of how we express ourselves. Lying or not expressing true feelings can result in a “lump in the throat feeling” if not properly expressed. Those with a strong fifth energy center speak truth. Personal expression, creativity, honesty, and passion are all examples of a strong Vishudda.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” -Epictetus
Fifth Chakra Cheat Sheet:
Sanskrit: Vishudda
Color: Blue
Lotus: 16 Petals
Element: Ether/Space
Mantra: I Speak
Chant: HAM
Asanas: Shoulder stands, fish pose, breathing exercises (pranayama)
Mudra: Fingers interlaced, thumbs touching to create a circle with your hands
Scents: Mint, White Sage, Eucalyptus
Teas: Herbal teas, fruit teas, licorice root
Stones: Blue Turquoise, Celestite, Aquamarine, Lapis Lazulia
Your Fourth Chakra – The Heart Chakra:
Your Fourth Chakra, the Anahata Chakra, lives in the heart space, associates with the color green, the air element, and the mantra ‘Yam.’
Fourth Chakra Cheat Sheet:
Sanskrit: ANAHATA
Color: GREEN (secondary PINK)
Lotus: TWELVE PETALS
Mantra: I LOVE
Word: LOVE
Chant: YAM
Asanas: OPEN HEART CENTER – BACK BENDS, CAMEL, SPHINX
Mudra: RIGHT HAND, TOUCH INDEX FINGER TO THUMB, PLACE IN CENTER OF CHEST WITH FINGER TIPS POINTING TOWARDS THE CHEST, LEFT HAND TO LEFT KNEE
Scents: ROSEWOOD, EUCALYPTUS, JASMINE
Teas: ROSEMARY AND RED ROSE PETALS
Stones: JADE, ROSE QUARTZ, EMERALD
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” -Dalai Lama
Pure, unconditional love lives here. We feel compassion, kindness, love, acceptance, and at peace in this chakra. You will feel love from everyone you come across, and therefore not strain or stress over how the love flows from one certain person. You also have compassion and forgiveness for yourself.
Your Third Chakra – The Solar Plexus Chakra:
The Solar Plexus Chakra, or the Third Chakra, is located in between the rib cage and the belly button, associated with the color warm yellow and the element of Fire. This chakra says “I DO or I CAN.”
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” -Henry Stanley Haskins
Third Chakra Cheat Sheet:
Sanskrit: MANIPURA
Color: YELLOW
Lotus: TEN PETALS
Element: FIRE
Mantra: I CAN
Word: POWER
Chant: RAM
Asanas: OPEN STERNUM – BACK BENDS, CAMEL, FLOOR BOW
Mudra: HANDS IN FRONT OF NAVAL, FINGERS OUTSTRETCHED AND ALL TIPS TOUCHING, RIGHT THUMB OVER LEFT THUMB
Scents: GRAPEFRUIT, LEMONGRASS, LEMON, PEPPERMINT
Tea: LEMON GRASS, CINNAMON, GINGER, LEMON PEEL (Lemon-Ginger anyone? Yum!)
Stones: TIGERS EYE AND AMBER (think of that beautiful warm yellow color).
This is the seat of ego identity and your power center. Located here is your potential for transformation and soul integrity. Your courage, self-esteem and willpower all reside here. Any beliefs you have about yourself and your abilities, your “gut feelings,” so much is effected by this chakra because it is linked to what we BELIEVE we can do.
“Yoga is not about being bendy … it is about breathing and moving and smiling on the inside. It is the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best.” – Author Unknown
We all had to start somewhere in yoga (or perhaps you have wanted to start). That day took courage and unquenchable curiosity to drive or walk to the pre-chosen studio, ask for the paperwork to sign up, and roll out a mat in a little space in a foreign studio.
Add not speaking the same language as the instructor and those in class, and that was my first yoga experience: South Korea in 2007.
I wanted to try yoga for so long, but thought I lost the opportunity when I went to South Korea for my graduate degree in 2007. I couldn’t speak the language, and I had never tried yoga – that sealed the deal to never allow myself inside a studio, right?
Well, it was for me, until my American friend told me he tried out the class and loved it. So, I sheepishly went with him to the next session, and loved it too. I attended regularly for the full two years I lived in Seoul, and it saved my sanity during my MBA program.
I followed along well for the most part by simply watching the teacher and the other students around me. My teacher spoke little English, but made us feel connected to the practice by simply stating two words in English – inhale and exhale. She whispered these words whenever she walked near us – she knew what all yogis eventually learn: breath is the most important part.
Behind of course, simply showing up to the practice.
Thanks for stopping by! My name is Azahar, and I am an avid traveler, daily yoga student + teacher and holistic happiness seeker. Join me as I dig through all the world has to offer in lessons of leaps of faith with travel, yoga, and holistics in learning to practice happiness.
Read more bio here.
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