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Shakti Power Flow – Yoga
There are many accessible energies available to conscientious practitioners. We previously covered chakra, and now, as we delve deep into yoga on a daily basis with the 30 Day Breakfast of Champions Challenge, we’d like to discuss shakti.
Shakti is the subtle energy that means “power” or “empowerment,” the primordial cosmic energy, and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti embodies the active feminine energy of Shiva and is identified as Mahadevi or Parvati; this is why it is often referred to as “she” and “her” rather than “it.” However, shakti is present in both men and women. In Taoism, shakti is known as chi.
In a less overarching sense, shakti is the energy within everything. It is credited with governing our spiritual evolution, opening up the inner world of meditation, and unfolding the state of union, or yoga, between body, mind and spirit. If yoga is an ingrained part of your lifestyle, it’s definitely worth tapping into.
Yoga Journal published four steps to getting an immediate sense of shakti’s presence. Give them a try and let us know what you experience!
4 STEPS TO FEELING YOUR SHAKTI
Hold your hands two or three inches apart and feel the energy between them. Move your hands apart another few inches, keeping the sense of the energy connecting them. When you lose the connection, move your hands closer until you feel the energy between them again.
Bring your attention to the heart. Inhale and exhale with the feeling that your breath moves through the heart and out the back of the body. Become aware of a subtle energy behind you, supporting you like a backrest. Let yourself take the support of that energy, as though you were leaning into it. Feel as if the energy flows out and surrounds you on all sides. With long, slow breaths, breathe the energy into any places in your body that feel stuck or tight. Recognize that you’re inhaling and exhaling shakti.
Become aware of the area at the base of the spine. Sense the presence of a subtle channel of energy running through the center of your body from the base through the crown of the head. With the breath, let your attention flow from the base of the spine to the heart, and from the heart to the crown, and then back again. Be aware of the gathering of energy moving in this inner channel. You may feel it as expansion, tingling, or a subtle feeling of electricity. Again, recognize that this feeling is shakti.
While you’re doing your asana practice, bring your attention to the flow of your breath. Gently guide your focus into the core of the body, the subtle channel running from the base of the spine to the heart. As you practice you may notice subtle physical or energetic sensations, such as shivers, feelings of expansion, heat, a sense of lightness or heaviness, even a change in heartbeat. It’s not uncommon to notice the sensations in Savasana (corpse pose) because it’s easier to notice subtle energy when you’re still.
For some, a tangible shakti experience takes a long time, anywhere from a few months to a few years. It can have uncomfortable ramifications, as well, from intense emotions to self-judgment. According to Yoga Journal, this is all part of the release that shakti triggers as the energy clears you from the inside out. It suggests just riding out the storm as you would a detox, and you will feel a calm right after.
Become a student of the process and discover all the ways it can manifest, and what it is trying to tell you about your body, heart, and mind. You can learn incredible things about your essence and your own subtle energy through what’s called shakti dialogue. It’s hailed as being a great way to release emotions or discomfort in body or mind. The more connected you to shakti, the more you can invite it to help you through physical and emotional problems.
5 STEP SHAKTI DIALOGUE
If you notice a part of your body that feels tight, painful, or stuck, tune in to the pain. Notice how big the area of tight energy is, how it feels (sharp or hard, prickly or achy), what shape it is. Recognize it as being a bundle of energy.
Consciously welcome the energy sensations, even if they are uncomfortable. Welcoming invites letting go.
Speak to the energy gently. Try to use suggestive words like “ease” or “open.” You can even ask the stuck energy what it has to show you.
Imagine a light-filled circle of spacious energy around the stuck places. Breathe, allowing your attention to flow between the energy of your pain and the spacious circle of shakti.
Breathe with a thought like “ease” or “open” to detach difficult emotions or problems; shakti is inherently healing!
Stay dedicated and connected to your inner shakti. Peace and light to you!?
Shakti Power Flow – Yoga
Inspirational Instagram Resources to Follow
Nobody is “on” twenty-four hours a day. If you’re feeling a little down and you need a motivational push to get moving, you’re hardly alone in the world. Everyone needs a confidence boost from time to time. Whether you’re trying to get ahead at work, stick to a healthier diet, or simply to get generally inspired, Instagram can help you find the motivation you’re looking for.
We’ve collected an awesome roster of inspirational feeds on Instagram that will pump you up and put a smile on your face. Ready to find some new favorites to follow? Read on!
1) Simple Design Inspiration
Kate Arends is a designer and creative consultant from Minneapolis. She posts great photos on her feed that show you gorgeous interior designs and breath taking landscapes. Take a glance at her pictures and draw inspiration for your own minimalist projects.
2) Fitness Motivation
Besides making great products, Under Armour is also known for having a great attitude. Their Instagram feed is full of strong women, motivational quotes, and the sort of energy you need to get active and take control of your day.
3) Getting Happy
As you might guess from the name, this account is all about spreading a little happiness. The pics shared on this feed feature affirmations and all sorts of inspiring and motivational words laid over some absolutely gorgeous photos and artwork that have gotten her a lot of followers on Instagram. When you need a little afternoon pick-me-up, there’s no better place to turn.
4) For The Yoga Enthusiast
Rachel Brathen is a yogi and a blogger hailing from Sweden. On her Instagram account, you’ll see her demonstrate a range of inventive and inspiring poses in all sorts of interesting locales. Even if browsing her feed doesn’t inspire you to invest in a globe-trotting vacation, it just might convince you to haul your yoga mat out of storage and do a little stretching of your own.
5) For Eating Healthier
This account delivers the perfect combination of funny food quotes and delicious meal snapshots. Even if you don’t follow it up with a superfood breakfast, a quick visit to this Instagram feed will make you feel better about your eating habits.
Health benefits of yoga
Yoga has been practiced as a spiritual, mental and physical discipline by Indians for more than 5000 years. The term yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, which means “to join.” The purpose of yoga was to connect the individual with the Ultimate. However, today it is more popular all over the world as a means of improving physical and mental health.
Yoga, as it is taught today, includes asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) and dhyana (meditation). It is usually a combination of the above three.
There are immense health benefits of yoga. It develops flexibility, increases strength and promotes balance. Here is a brief overview of some of them.
Physical movements in the asanas involve stretching of muscles and other soft tissues in all parts of the body. This results in release of lactic acid that would have built up due to lack of muscular movement.
Lactic acid buildup is one of the main reasons for pain, tension, fatigue and stiffness. Regular practice of yoga increases the range of motion and lubricates the joints. Yoga increases the body’s flexibility.
Some asanas are more vigorous than others. They strengthen the bones and muscles in the body and improve endurance. Postures like Adhomukha Shwanasana (downward dog posture) and Urdhvamukha Shwanasana (upward dog posture) strengthen the upper body. Asanas like Utkatasana strengthen the lower part of the body. Yoga builds increases core strength and relieves symptoms of back pain and arthritis.
Increased strength and flexibility results in improved posture. Right posture prevents many ailments. It also adds to the confidence immensely. Yoga enhances the oxygen-absorption capacity of the lungs. It provides relief form asthma. Regular practice of yoga improves overall fitness and stamina.
Yoga helps you to handle stress. Regular practice of yoga results in decreased production of catecholamines. These hormones are produced by adrenalin glands in response to stress. Yoga provides relief from insomnia.
Yoga is very good for cardiac health. It maintains a healthy blood pressure and heart rate. It boosts the immune system and decreases bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
Yoga lowers levels of neurotransmitters like epinephrine. This promotes calmness of the mind. Regular practice of yoga increases oxytocin levels. This hormone is associated with relaxation. Yoga improves memory and the mind’s ability to learn.
Yoga increases the ability to concentrate and improves skill in action. It promotes a positive attitude towards life in general. It is very effective against depression as it increases blood supply to the brain. Yoga is known to relieve symptoms of many mind related conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Even though yoga is a safe non-aerobic exercise, it should not be practiced without the guidance a capable teacher. It is definitely not a DIY venture. Before joining any school of yoga, it is always advisable to speak to the students of the school.
Yoga, if practiced under a capable guide, will surely enhance your spiritual, mental and physical well-being.
Health benefits of yoga
Pratyahara is yoga’s fifth limb, and is considered as withdrawing the senses. However, how does such withdrawal benefit or affect yoga practitioners? The answer lies in the fact that it provides yogis the opportunity to avoid the frequent daily living stimulus in the modern world, and listen to the mind instead, hoping to find and cultivate Atman, also called the true self. When practicing pratyahara, we shouldn’t permit any outside stimuli to enter our conscious thoughts. This results in deep meditation and Samadhi, or disbanding of the ego.
BKS Iyengar believes pratyahara is the basis on which a yogic journey should happen, since it is the point where humans can shift from their action and behaviors in the external world, for taking a deep dive into themselves for much better knowledge about themselves. Basically, pratyahara defies everything humans have learned right from birth, which is looking for external reaction or happiness. Pratyahara’s focus lies in moving inwards to the self and mind.
BKS also states when turning inward, we should self-learn intensely due to the grip we have on our egos. To drop the ego, one requires concentration, flow, curiosity and attention. BKS also states pratyahara practice should originate from the previous limbs, particularly pranayama and asana that start to still the wavering mind. Meditation tremendously helps with diving closer to the inner self; however, for entrenched sensory withdrawal feelings, people are traversing the whole globe, and several to Melbourne for trying out the isolation tanks.
Isolation tanks help float users in Epsom salts-infused water at a temperature similar to their skin for at least 90 minutes and a maximum of two hours. Effectively, the user has lost his weight, is in complete darkness, and fully isolated from external noise. Come enter the mind’s theater! Flotation tanks Melbourne users deeply report spiritual experiences, in addition to vivid visualizations or in some cases, hallucination. Several isolation tank institutes are showing up across Australia, providing users the experience of anti-gravity. Other isolation or float tanks’ benefits include deep meditation, increased magnesium absorption, heightened senses, pain management, super learning, increased endorphins, and enhanced rejuvenation and healing.
Irrespective of your consideration or not for isolation tank usage, find out what practices you may look to include in your routine day, for stopping or slowing the outside stimuli from setting in, which have to be exchanged for self-inquiry and a deeper level of self-awareness.
Information on Yoga South Yarra
93 Year-Old Yoga Instructor Can Still Pose Perfectly
93 Year-Old Yoga Instructor Can Still Pose Perfectly
