What is Avidya?

Avidya literally means “incorrect understanding”. The opposite is vidya or “correct understanding”. Avidya in some ways is the characteristics and habits that we develop because of our life experiences. For example, say a friend falls to the ground and we extend a hand to help them up and they smack it. We would be confused, maybe even hurt or angry. But they are our friend and so we reach out again, but again they smack our hand. In fact each time we try to help them we get the same result. Eventually, we no longer offer assistance to them with a fear of what may happen.

Let’s move forward a month and another friend slips and falls. Will we help them? By this point, it will at the very least cross our mind that we could be slapped again. Of course we want to help, but our past experiences tell us we may not get the result we hope for and in fact we may be hurt in the process. We may even replay the event in our mind so much that we become traumatized and decide never to help anyone who falls. This is avidya.

Asmita

Avidya is like a tree and it’s sometimes easier to recognize the branches. The first branch is asmita or the “ego”. Asmita makes us think we need to be the best, the fastest, the coolest, the richest, the prettiest, the skinniest, and so on.

Raja

The second branch is raja. Raja is demanding. For example, Sue went shopping for furniture and found a table she’s been looking for and was so happy and excited to have something new for her house. Today, Sue wakes up and wants to go again, get something else. Even though she may not need anything and it may not be good for her budget, she wants to feel good like she did yesterday. This is raja.

Dvesa

Next is Dvesa. In a way, it’s opposite of raja. Dvesa is when we reject things. When we no longer help a fallen friend because we are afraid we will get hurt again, like our example. We may even reject things that are unfamiliar even if we have no reason. We reject people, thoughts, places, and things because of what we relate to them or because we can’t relate to them.

Abhinivesa

Last is abhinivesa or fear. Fear affects us more than we realize. In our society it’s best to blend, to be part of the norm, to do what is expected. When we express ourselves in a way that is individual or different we have doubts. These doubts can be about our jobs, relationships, about being judged, about our looks and the aging process, and so on. Think about the amount of doubt that goes through your mind on a daily basis. Thoughts This is abhinivesa.

Roots

Just like a tree, avidya grows. It may be slow and subtle then before we realize it the roots have overtaken and we are immersed in negative thoughts and fears, not thinking clearly because avidya is like a cloud over our eyes. At that point, we are living in an illusion and cannot see the truth. This can be in a single are of life or many.

Yoga Helps!

The good news is yoga helps us to see. It helps to remove the cloud by practicing the philosophy. The practice teaches that what happened yesterday is not guaranteed for today. If yesterday was great and I want it all over again or if it was bad and I never want it again. Today is a new day and with this day we are renewed and all of our experiences are new.

Practice

Take time this week to see what you cling to and what you reject. See what branches of avidya are creeping into the garden of your mind, body, and your spirit. Acknowledge it, then begin the process of letting go by allowing yourself to feel how you feel, accepting it. Next, move your awareness into the body and see where the roots are on a more physical level, imagine them unrooting and releasing in whatever way that unfolds.

Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih

In Patanjali’s Sutra 33 on contemplation, he explains, “By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.”

 
The Happy

 
Have you ever been around someone who is happy-go-lucky all the time?  Do you know someone who seems to ‘have it all’?   Sometimes we may be a little annoyed, irritated, and jealous of these types; maybe they just get on our last nerve.  The unfortunate thing with reacting unenthusiastically to their good fortune or happiness is that it really only effects us, bringing negative within our own mind and body.  They just go on being happy.  Let us be friendly with that person and realize that if they are happy and have good fortune it means that we too may have those things in our own lives.

The Unhappy

In the same way a happy person can annoy us, an unhappy person can as well.  We sometimes look down upon those less fortunate and unhappy; this too only creates negative energy within ourselves.  Let us have compassion, help them when we can.  In doing this we retain peace in our minds and in our hearts. Helping others is helping ourselves.

 
The Virtuous

 
We sometimes don’t understand one who is virtuous, especially when we struggle.  But don’t tear someone down because they are great or doing great things.  Instead look up to those people, imitate them, and begin to cultivate their words and actions into your own lifestyle choices.

 
The Wicked

 
What is the difference between unhappy and wicked?  I had the chance to discuss this with a wonderful Yoga instructor in the area, Sofia Nelson.  One idea that we agreed upon is the unhappy mostly harm themselves and generally want to be well, the wicked may harm others and with little or no regard for the wake of destruction left in their path. It’s the latter that should be avoided.  Sometimes when we try to help others they may consider us arrogant or righteous and refuse our help or worse lash out at us for trying.

The Key to Your Heart

 
One person is generally not all of one thing and neither are we; there is a little happy, unhappy, virtuous, and wicked in each of us.  In the same way that we deal with others we can deal with these parts of ourselves as they emerge.  Be kind to yourself when you are happy, have compassion for yourself when you are sad, delight in how far you have come in this life, and do not feed or spiral into the negative aspects of yourself.

 
Finding the Right Key

 
According to Patanjali when we use the right key with the right person we can retain our happiness.  In my life I have often tried to save someone as many of us have.  In most cases, my intentions were good, but I used the wrong key and I suffered because of it.  Guard your heart until you are strong enough to handle taking on the darkness and turning it into light.  This practice is revered for seasoned spiritual practitioners and when taken on by someone who is not ready, can cause grief, pain, and uncertainty.

Sound carries vibration. The body resonates on a frequency. Think about when you’re watching a mystery movie and the music played makes you nervous or afraid, the music’s vibration or frequency is unsettling to the ear and is moved through the body in turn creating the emotion of fear in the body. Switch the idea, spiritual or moving music, songs of praise; when you’ve sat in a church on a Sunday morning and been moved to tears. Why? The same idea applies. The frequency or vibration of the music moves through the body and creates an energy and emotion of connection to source.

In the India each day of the week has a particular song or mantra associated with that day. Each of these mantras create a vibration to help with the issues that many of face during the week. Let’s look at these mantras and the meaning behind them.

Monday, the day ruled by the moon. Myth has it that Mondays were a day important to Shiva. Shiva represents a positive destroyer, responsible for destroying our attachments, relationships, and desires that create a distraction in order for us to move forward in our spiritual path. Even though this can be painful, it serves for the highest good of ourselves and the universe as a whole.

The mantra for Monday can be one of many about Shiva also known as a Shiva Strotam. Many devotees also will wear white on Mondays as colors serve in the same way as sound resonating on a particular frequency.

Tuesday, the day ruled by Mars. Mars has been associated with being the ‘trouble maker’ of the planetary system. The mantra for Mondays are those dedicated to Hanuman. Myth says that the beloved Hanuman was a monkey who was a strong warrior against darkness, devoted to his teachers and the divine , persevering, humble, and that even though the way he went about things might have been difficult he was always well meaning. He learned the scriptures in 60 hours, an amazing feat. And when he had to save Lakshmana by fetching a life-saving herb from the mountain, he couldn’t discern the right one, so he just brought the whole mountain! So, many pictures you’ll see him holding the mountain in one hand.

The song is called the Hanuman Chalisa. Chalisa means 40 because the song has 40 verses that sing tells of Hanumans’ great feats and sings praises to him for protecting his believers from evil, despair, disease, all troubles and darkness. Believers were red on Tuesdays in honor of Hanuman.

Wednesday, the day ruled by Mercury. Symbolizing family, Wednesdays are said to be beneficial to husbands and wives. Hmm….Weddings? It’s also a auspicious day for education and success in business. The songs are dedicated to Krishna, who is worshipped by millions as God incarnated and to some seen only as a man; a great  hero, protector, teacher, and friend. The influence of Krishna in Indian culture spreads across all aspects of life and art. He is usually pictured as blue, handsome, and playing the flute. The mystery of Krishna stems from not having  any clear historical records. Whoever he was, it seems that one thing is for sure, he was a divine energy here on Earth. Krishna literally means “Black”, for the mysterious one.

George Harrison of the Beatles devoted much of his life spreading the importance of this mantra  as one of the most divine mantras.

Hare means to take away or end, the mantra is asking God to take away our sorrows.

Look for Part 2 coming soon!

Namaste.

“Yoga is a union in which we are reunited with our own joy, and tells us that that joy is an elevated and abiding spiritual state, our true home.”

Namaste.

Yoga and Dualism from Heart of a Yogi by Doug Keller

Monday, November 14, 2011 at 6:00pm

Join the Omkarra Yoga team and local musician Ross Flora’s acoustic and

vocal sounds. Feel the power of a deeply focused practice with the vibrations

of live music.

It is truly a marvelous experience. And for a good cause!

Class begins promptly at 6:15 and will end at 7:30 followed by a reception.

Awareness is the best and sometimes the worst part of a yoga lifestyle, because with knowledge comes responsibility.  So once the product junky who often thought the pricier and prettier the package, the better, is now the long-word on-the-label identifier and “can’t use it, it say’s fragrance” type shopper.  Some might see it as a hinderance, however I’m invested in living as long as I can with as little problems as possible.  It also helps to limit consumption (another lesson that comes with the lifestyle)!

It’s a Process…

My first moment of clarity came when I used to purchase Bath & Body Works products.  I like most of the girls I knew was so excited when they moved into the local mall and soon owned an array of smelly good lotions and soaps.  One day, I noticed that the smell was so generic that I looked at the label which of course was filled with words I can’t spell, pronounce, and surely had no idea what it was. I decided to look it up and stumbled onto a database that listed more than I ever intended to find out.  Horrified of what I was potentially creating in my body, namely CANCER, I decided it was time for a change.  A change in consciousness equalled a manifested change in how I was living my life.

Remember, as you set out on any journey of change that it is a process.  I found that it was easier to start small when cleaning up my products and to buy as I needed a particular product vs. trashing everything I already had and going gun ho…and it’s cheaper too. Over the years, I have tried different products, some have worked and some I didn’t care for.  There are a few that have passed the test and some still in transition. I’ve listed a few products that I use daily:

Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap – I love this soap for washing my face. It’s made with pure vegetable oils. The formula features coconut oil to moisturize, wild ginger to soothe, lime peel oil to refresh, orange oil to cleanse and sandalwood oil to cool skin, which is great for anyone who has blotchy skin or prone to breakouts.  Now my face is dry so I only use it once per day and follow with moisturizer.

Crystal Essence Mineral Deodorant Body Spray- I love the Lavender and White Tea blend.  It’s the only natural deodorant that I’ve found that works for me.  I do have to re-apply after yoga, but I love that I don’t have to worry about stains and even better, I don’t have to worry about it causing breast cancer! It’s made with water, natural mineral salts and essential oils and smells fantastic. Works for even the profuse Pitta perspiration.

Spectrum Organic Coconut Oil- Absolutely could not survive the winter without this product.  Coconut oil is a wonder in itself, there are so many uses.  I use it for lotion, for massage, for eye make-up remover, for a mouth rinse (Yes, really; swish and spit to reduce germs and to whiten teeth!), its great for cooking, and two teaspoons taken orally can ease constipation. Rubbing the soles of the feet before bed can calm you and helps to soothe Vata’s restless mind. Miracle oil!

Cell-food Oxygen Skin Care Gel – Just started using this aloe vera based gel that is packed with amino acids.  You can really feel the tightening of the skin, one of the benefits claimed by the manufacturer.  It softens fine lines and restores moisture balance for all skin types. I like to think of it as ‘youth serum’!

Neutrogena Oil Free Sunblock- Still on the search for something safer, but have been using this sunblock that has a low percentage of the common ingredients found in sunscreen.  It’s easy to find locally. I’ve always worn sunscreen everyday, I think it’s an important part of reducing fine lines and wrinkles as well as sun protection.

Change is Possible…and Affordable!

So, what is your beauty drawer filled with? With the availability of choices today it’s time for all us to become more aware of what we are ingesting through our skin.  After all, everything we put on absorbs into our blood.  I think it’s important to support products that are attempting to move in a conscious direction, in turn large bath, body, and hair product suppliers will realize that it’s time to put the health and not just consumerism first.

There are resources to help you start your natural beauty process.  Skin Deep is a cosmetic safety database easily accessed online and even from your smart phone while out shopping.  This website is genius! They list products of all kinds, even perfumes, with a  safety rating of 0-10. There are over 65,000 products currently in the database each with the rate and issue of concern listed.  Trust me, it’s worth checking out!  When it’s time to purchase, local health food stores are great.  For right now, safer products are slightly pricey, I have found through my own transition that the quantity of product I’m purchasing is less and therefore I’m spending close to the same and probably less.

Good luck on your natural beauty journey and please share
what you’re using!

Announcements:

• We will be closed Monday for Labor Day.
• There are two new classes on the Schedule! Tuesday at 5:30pm with Sofia Nelson and Wednesday at 7:00pm with Rob Muttart!
• September is National Yoga Month and we are going to celebrate with some FREE YOGA!

That’s right!….FREE CLASSES ALL NEXT WEEK!

I want to show appreciation to all of our faithful students and share yoga at no cost to everyone and anyone who has wanted to try it. So, starting Tuesday with a new class on the schedule at 5:30 through Saturday’s 10:30 class all classes at Omkarra Yoga are FREE! Bring a friend!

Available Times at no cost:

• Tues. 5:30pm w/ Sofia
• Wed. 9:30am w/ Kelly
• Wed. 5:30pm w/ Michelle
• Wed. 7:00pm w/Rob
• Thurs. 4:30pm w/ Sofia
• Thurs. 6:45pm w/Lesley
• Fri. 9:30am w/ Michelle
• Sat. 10:30am w/ Kelly

Also, to ensure that everyone is starting into Fall in their personal best, I am also offering a Basic Ayruvedic Analysis for a limited time for only $30! That’s a 51% savings!

Ayurveda is a traditional form of Indian medicine that originated over 5000 years ago. It is one of the oldest systems of health care ever known. Ayurveda has guided millions of people in the search for well-being and holistic approaches to nutrition. During an Ayurvedic Analysis we will determine, according to your unique mental and physical characteristics, your dosha. There are three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The combination of these doshas is inherited upon conception. Most people are a combination of two doshas, sometimes they may only have one, and occasionally someone will have equal proportions of all three, making them tri-dosha. These doshas provide clues to a unique set of traits, tendencies, and attributes. They can help you to realize your personal needs for balance of the mind, the body, the energetic levels of the body, dietary needs, types of asana (yoga poses) that benefit you most, and what climate is best for you. Once the Ayurvedic Analysis has been completed and your dosha has been determined; I will help you address your dietary requirements and proper asana to restore balance into your life, this is done by completing another test to determine where your imbalances are occurring at that given moment. When you follow the instructions set forth, you will begin to notice immediate results. You will begin to perceive stability in the mind, the body will function better and have more energy, and you will be stronger, healthier, and more relaxed. You will have an overall sense of well-being in the mind, body, and spirit.

Call to set up your appointment today!

The sun rose brilliantly over the nearby field and though the clouds were thick it peered through and illuminated in the haze yesterdays’ storms left behind.  A white horse galloped across the horizon causing my mind to resonate deeply with a sense of wonderment and appreciation for the beauty of this morning and the awareness of my environment.  I smiled as two doves playfully chased each other over head.

On my way to the studio each morning I take this back country road.  The area it passes through is a place that my grandmother Helen lived at one time and often when she is with me she shares nostalgic stories of what used to be and who used to live where.  For that reason I guess I usually have a sense of familiarity when I travel those windy roads.  I love to drive slowly and soak in the surroundings, there is so much to see; deer dance along the forest lines, cows graze in the fields, and ever so often there is a ginger colored dog that waits mischievously on the edge of his yard to pounce towards and chase any car that dares cross into his territory.

“How did I get here?”

When I was a teenager, I practically lived in my car.  I loved to be free on the open road.  I liked to drive fast and was always rushing towards my destination.  At that time my awareness was such that I may have not noticed the sunrise, the horse, the deer, and unfortunately probably not the dog either.  Through my path with yoga I’ve learned to slow down, enjoy the journey, and enjoy even the drives.  Not to say it’s always easy, we all have a destination we want to get to; maybe it’s a goal, an aspiration, or an object to acquire.  Maybe it’s a career goal, a romantic conquest, and maybe its crow pose! We set our sights so keenly that we often miss out on the journey.  When we finally arrive or achieve it often seems that time has flown by and we think of all the things we miss or missed out on!

Sometimes when I was ripping and running the roads, as my family would say, I would have a moment of panic and realize that I was thirty or sometimes fifty miles down the road from my last coherent or conscious thought!  Dangerous yes, but sad, what did I miss out on or never saw that I intended to see? The true learning process is in the journey.

Nothing is Easy

Just imagine climbing a mountain and what one would endure; cold winds, freezing dark nights, treacherous peaks and walls, dangerous animals, and the brutality of the mind alone.  You would climb all day and all night for weeks and then finally you reaching the summit.  You’re there, the exhilaration of success flows through your blood.  How long does it last?  It’s often fleeting.  How long can you stay there until you climb back down? Imagine what you would notice on the way down and how it would be different. You would be more relaxed and soak in every moment, mentally burning each scene into your memory bank, wanting to remember it all forever.  Once home, safe and sound in your bed, how would be different?  Was it the conquest that changed you or the climb itself? And what would you do next?  Probably start the process all over again and decide what to climb next, there is still Everest after all! And so the next journey begins.  This is life.

Use your Senses

So, how can we learn to enjoy the process?  We’ve all heard the cliché “Stop and smell the roses”, this is a valuable lesson.  Stop, stop rushing, take your time, and stop missing all the beauty right in front of your eyes in every small moment of each and every day. Smell, use your senses, touch things, see things, feel things, enjoy your surroundings. Use your emotions; let them overtake you at times, its fine, it’s all a part of life and feeling alive!  And the rose…the rose represents beauty, it is also the divine.  Seeing GOD in everything and everyone, that is real beauty.  Every step in your journey is an opportunity to connect to spirit and the deeper part of yourself.  So no matter where you are today, stop, connect, and realize.  Live your life with full awareness in each moment.  Don’t let thirty or even fifty years go by where you wake up one morning and realize you’ve made it, but you’re unsure of how you ended up there and what you missed out on along the way.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer, it’s definitely my favorite time of year!  We are moving into the final stages of transition into the new studio.  Emily is leaving us, headed on her cross country adventure. Today was her last class with us before her move and I finally got into side crow and wheel!  It was amazing. She is a inspiring and wonderful yoga teacher and person, she will be missed.

Upon her leaving I have also decided to move both Radford classes to Christiansburg.  It is time to put 100% effort into the new space.  I hope to see all the yogis growing in community and fellowship.

Starting this Monday, July 11 the 9:30am Monday and Friday classes will meet in the new studio.

Lastly, I would like to welcome our new staff that will be joining Lesley Wert and myself! Sofia Nelson, Gelsina Ceritano, and Kelly Hardy!

Sofia studies the subtle aspects of yoga including healing and meditation.   She has been practicing for 25 years and brings experience with a 200 hour Integral certification at Swami Satchidananda’s Yogaville. Sofia believes that transformation comes from within and one can obtain mental, physical, and spiritual awareness through the practices of hatha yoga, pranayama, and meditation.  Her classes help attune the mind, body, and spirit so each practitioner reaches a deep sense of inner peace and well-being.

Gelsina was born in Pearisburg, VA. Growing up on a small farm with her family, Gelsina was introduced to meditation at a young age by her mother. After high school she moved to Blacksburg, VA and a friend introduced her to yoga and she immediately fell in love. After two years being involved with yoga, Gelsina decided she wanted to help others discover the incredible changes it has on the mind and body. Gelsina completed a 200 hour asana and pranayama certification at Integral Yoga’s Satchidananda Ashram in Buckingham VA. After her experience of living at an Ashram for one month and living like a yogi, she says her life will never be the same, “I learned that yoga is not just about flexibility, it’s also having the strength and patience to apply awareness throughout each new day.”

Kelly began her yoga practice 10 years ago at a local gym.  Being inspired by what she learned there, Kelly began to develop her personal practice by practicing at home as well as at other studios.  The physical practice awakened long lingering spiritual questions and she began to explore yoga on an intellectual level.  Kelly became more and more dedicated to her yoga practice as she expanded her understanding of the yoga system, reading the works of Donna Farhi and other notable yogis.  In 2006 Kelly decided to bring a level of commitment and structure to her personal studies by participating in her first teacher training.  Striving to continue in her spiritual growth, Kelly chose to participate in the 500 hour program held at the North Carolina School of Yoga in 2008, under the guidance of renowned Yogini, Chandra Om.  Adhering to the strict guidelines of the program, as well as striving to live up to the high expectations of her teacher, Kelly travels to NC regularly to practice in Raleigh.  Chandra Om is the senior disciple of Sri Dharma Mittra.