Quail Roost Scholarship for UNM-Taos
July 28, 2010

I am been practicing Ananda Yoga but recently started Kundalini Yoga, is it beneficial to practice both?

Question by jersey girl in exile: I am been practicing Ananda Yoga but recently started Kundalini Yoga, is it beneficial to practice both?
These two types of Yoga are so different, is it beneficial to do both or do you focus on only one? Kundalini is far more aggressive in it’s physical approach but also has more chanting. Very different from Hatha Yoga! But I enjoy both approaches.

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Hindu God Shiva : Shiva The Destroyer or transformer of the Trimurti

Lord Shiva meaning “auspicious one” is a major Hindu deity (God), and the Destroyer or transformer of the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. Lord Shiva is very Powerful Gracious god also known as Bhola and many names. Shiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of Shiva linga. In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Apasmara Purusha, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance. Lord Siva wears a deer in the left upper hand. He has Trident in the right lower arm and has fire and Damaru and Malu or a kind of weapon. He wears five serpents as ornaments. He wears a garland of skulls. He is pressing with His feet the demon Muyalaka, a dwarf holding a cobra. He faces south. Panchakshara itself is His body. He has three eyes in which two is simple but, third was powerful, believe in Hinduism that it can destroy whole world.

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July 27, 2010

Quail Roost Scholarship for UNM-Taos


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July 25, 2010

What yoga postures can/cannot be done by people who have undergone kidney transplant?

Question by yogi: What yoga postures can/cannot be done by people who have undergone kidney transplant?
My mom really likes yoga after reading so much about it from books she bought, and she would really like to try it some time. However, the problem is that she had undergone kidney transplant, which sort of complicates things. Therefore would yoga be appropriate for people that have undergone kidney transplant, and if it is, what postures are to be avoided, or can be done?
she has consulted her doctor and her doctor asked her to go ahead..

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July 22, 2010

Q&A: Can yoga be done the same day as a work out?

Question by Adam: Can yoga be done the same day as a work out?
I am planning on shaping my body. I am already in very good shape and just need to tone up. I figure I can do my daily workout plan which has worked in the past with some possible light yoga to increase flexibility. If this can be done, should I do the workout than yoga or vice versa. Any tips,help would be appreciated since I plan on carrying this out and am very serious. Thanks.

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Rudraksha FAQ – Can different faced Rudrakshas be worn at one time?

Rudraksha FAQ – Yes, a individual can wear different combinations of beads and the native will feel the energy of different rudraksha at the same time . To get the blessings of different planets and to get the benefits of different Rudrakshas one can wear Rudrakshas of different faces at one time. The importance of procuring and wearing 1 to 14 faced Rudrakshas all together is clearly defined in our Purana’s (the holy books on Indian Mythology).

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July 21, 2010

“V” MOVIE=THE WARNING – THE AWAKENING FOR THE TRUTH ABOUT US — JORDAN MAXWELL — EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL OR INTRA-TERRESTRIAL ALIENS INVOLVED IN OUR DESTINY NOW — OUR GODS A VERY POWERFUL BEINGS WORKING FOR THE LIGHT AND THE RACE WHO WANTS TO MUTATE US TO SLAVED US


JORDAN MAXWELL continues as the preeminent researcher and scholar in the field of occult/religious philosophy since 1959. He served for more than 3 years as the Religion Editor of Truth Seeker Magazine; America’s oldest free-thought journal since 1873. His work uncovering the hidden foundations of Western religions and secret societies creates enthusiastic responses from audiences around the world. His research on the subject of secret societies, both ancient and modern, and their symbols, has fascinated crowds from many countries for 4 decades. Considering the rapidly moving events of today, and the very real part that hidden government agendas play in our war-torn world…he feels these controversial subjects are not only interesting to explore, but too important to ignore! His extraordinary presentations include thousands of slides featuring documents and photographs seldom seen elsewhere.

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July 16, 2010

Q&A: What is the difference between Pilates and Yoga?

Question by animallover: What is the difference between Pilates and Yoga?
I am looking for a non-fussy exercise that I can do at home. I would like to sweat a little from it, but the main thing is that I exercise my muscles safely (not interested in muscle building). I have tried a little bit of yoga, and I really liked how I felt afterwards. I really like the stretching, and breathing aspects. But, I am a Christian, and the spiritual aspect of yoga;the fact that it’s leaning toward Eastern religion, bothers me (no offense to those who believe it). Thanks for your answers!

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July 13, 2010

Can you start learning yoga when you are out of shape?

Question by scene40: Can you start learning yoga when you are out of shape?
I need to strengthen everything, but as I have started to work out I get tighter & tighter. What little I have read about yoga is that it helps flexibility and core fitness. I am now in the obese column, should I wait until I am a little less fat?

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July 12, 2010

Thillalangadi Songs

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July 11, 2010

Thursday Morning

I had a great day of teaching yesterday. I started the day with Focus on Form. It was one of those mornings when I had planned a class for the group that normally comes to class and when I got to class we had only small handful of those people and a larger handful of people new to me and to the class. So, we worked on a smaller portion of what I had planned. We dove deeply into prasarita paddottanasana and also sirsasana 2. We spent some lovely time in Virabhadrasana 2, parsvakonasana and some additional poses (vira 1, baddha konasana, etc.) to educate and improve the access we needed to the hips and groins. I thought the class went very well and it was a morning of ah-hah’s and insight. Good times.

I came home and ate a light lunch, worked on my computer and then did a long back bend practice. I worked a lot with John Schumaker’s sequence from Feathered Pipe with a few additions and embellishments. It was fun to revisit his teaching and work with his instructions in my own practice. I ran out of steam right around the 3-hour mark and made some food and talked to Kelly before heading back up to The Castle to teach. I taught a forward bend class which seemed to go well. We worked hard in some standing postures and then went into baddha konasana, janu sirsasana variations, pascimottasana, supta padangusthasana, triang mukhaipada pascimottanasana, eka pada supta viarasana, urdhva prasarita eka padsana, and krouncasana. Again, we had a lovely group assembled but with lots of the regular players missing. I think its summer.
I worked with the theme last night about dignity. Gioconda and I were in a discussion about that on my drive into work so it was on my mind. See, the thing to me is that the great invitation of yoga is to experience that inner state of dignity directly and then to make choices from that recognition. I am not so much into a list of yoga do’s and don’ts that we are supposed to follow in order to be “good yogi’s.” I’m really not. I feel like I have, in some way or another, been trying to fit myself into someone else’s box since I was a small child. So, I am not at all interested in fitting myself into a “yoga box” of someone else’s making. (And I have tried that approach, believe me. Some boxes are too small for me for sure and others, frankly, are a bit too big to be useful for my purposes. But that is another story, I suppose.) Anyway, what I am interested in is learning and living what facilitates access to my Heart and then making choices that keep me lined up with what I have accessed. And for me, when I touch that inner place of my Heart, I find, again and again, that a great dignity resides there.
Recognition such as this begs the question, “So now what?” So how do I bring this to my life? What actions will dissipate this awareness? What behaviors will refine it? What patterns or samksaras so I have that might sabotage me? How might I let go of what stands in the way of my living from this place? And so on. For the most part, it is a movement from the inside out, not from the outside in.
This so now what? question is such a hallmark of our yoga, I think. Not only are we on an inner journey but we are on a journey from the inside out as well. The recognition we find in asana, meditation, contemplation and so forth ideally initiates a next step of action. We don’t leave the insight on the mat or put it on the shelf with our neatly folded blankets after class. No we take it with us, and chew on it and digest and assimilate it until it becomes us. And obviously, some things digest easier than others. Sometimes the insights we get are like small snacks and are easily incorporated. Others are like gigantic meals and cause indigestion, stomach cramps and all kinds of gas and bloating before they digest. (just sayin’.) But the point is- it’s ours–our very own insight, brought to life through our very own, painstaking digestive process. It’s not a rule from the outside we are conforming to.
So here we are again, I suppose, in the age-old exploration of chit- ananda. If we know the source of our own dignity (Chit) we will express it with joy, clarity and creativity (ananda). Anyway, more could be said, but its time to move on with the day. Kelly and I have a play date this morning, then a little work, some practice and teaching tonight. it’s my last night teaching Thursday afternoon so I hope you can make it.
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July 10, 2010

What is a good Yoga pose adjustment for Downward Dog if you have a shoulder injury?

Question by pinksmoochies: What is a good Yoga pose adjustment for Downward Dog if you have a shoulder injury?
What is a good Yoga pose adjustment for Downward Dog if you have a shoulder injury?
Actually I am a Yoga instructor and one of my students has a shoulder injury. I’m trying to think of different variations he can do.

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July 9, 2010

What are some good yoga books for beginners?

Question by Lucy: What are some good yoga books for beginners?
I’d like one that not only covers the basic poses, but covers some of the history of yoga & explains the benefits of the poses.

What books you recommend for an absolute beginner?

Best answer:

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July 7, 2010

God Shiva: Lord Shiva Aarti in Hindi

This Aarti is dedicated to Lord Shiva and sung by Hindus all over the world.

 Lord Shiva Aarti in Hindi:

जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा । ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे । हंसासन गरूड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे । त्रिगुण रूप निरखते त्रिभुवन जन मोहे ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी । त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
श्वेतांबर पीतांबर बाघंबर अंगे । सनकादिक गरुणादिक भूतादिक संगे ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
कर के मध्य कमंडलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी । सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालन कारी ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका । प्रणवाक्षर में शोभित ये तीनों एका ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
लक्ष्मी व सावित्री पार्वती संगा । पार्वती अर्द्धांगी, शिवलहरी गंगा ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
पर्वत सोहैं पार्वती, शंकर कैलासा । भांग धतूर का भोजन, भस्मी में वासा ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
जटा में गंग बहत है, गल मुण्डन माला । शेष नाग लिपटावत, ओढ़त मृगछाला ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नंदी ब्रह्मचारी । नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।
त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरति जो कोइ नर गावे । कहत शिवानंद स्वामी सुख संपति पावे ॥
जय शिव ओंकारा, ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा ।

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July 5, 2010

Q&A: What are some yoga tips for managing anxiety and cultivating positive energy?

Question by Mercury: What are some yoga tips for managing anxiety and cultivating positive energy?
Finding ways to handle stress can be difficult. Turning negative energy into something positive is ideal, so what are some yoga practices that can help accomplish this?

Best answer:

Answer by Bella ©
Yoga for Anxiety

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July 3, 2010

How long should I devote to yoga within one day?

Question by foolycooly288622: How long should I devote to yoga within one day?
I am beginning to start doing yoga at home. How long should I preform it per session? And is yoga something that is done everyday of the week?

Best answer:

Answer by Schultzie_OL
once or twice a week.

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July 1, 2010

How important is it to know yoga terminology in hindi?

Question by TexHabs: How important is it to know yoga terminology in hindi?
I am a Kinesiology major, one of my classes involves yoga, aerobics and .. I do not remember the last part. But anyway I have a test Tuesday on the yoga segment and my professor wants us to know the hindi terms (which none of us in the class speak) yet be able to define / explain them in english. (which is a second language for some in the class) Is it really that important?

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