Thursday, April 30, 2009

Meeting Yourself on the Mat



Sometimes at the beginning of my yoga classes I tell my students:

As you settle into your mats meet yourself where you are...right here...right now...in the "sukha" the sweetness of this moment. No need to strive or try to be something other than you are. You are already radiant, perfect and whole and loved eternally by all.


It is an easy thing to come to the mat full of expectations that moments later turn into harsh criticism. Next time you move on to your mat leave those things behind and just abide in your own True Nature...already perfect and whole.

Doing this on the mat helps us to recognize how often we move through our day setting up expectations for everything we do and then creating a hostile assault we wouldn't wish on our worst enemies if we don't meet those ideals.

How easy could your yoga asana be, how sweet could each moment of your life be, if you just met yourself in each moment full of love and acceptance just as you are?




Monday, April 6, 2009

The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy


BOOK REVIEW

The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, by Cyndi Dale.

I've been interested in the study of subtle energy systems since I was a young girl. My father used to do a form of Polarity Therapy on my legs whenever I got a leg ache, I started meditation at the age of five, yoga at age ten, etc., so a deep understanding that these energy systems exist has been a part of my paradigm for as long as I can remember. As a result I have accumulated a lot of books on these subjects. I have books on the chakras, Shiatsu, Polarity Therapy, Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Reflexology and many more. The Subtle Body, An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy could replace a whole stack of them!

They put the word "encyclopedia" in the title for a reason; at 487 pages this book covers all the major energy systems I have been exposed to, plus a few I knew nothing about (you can take a peak at the table of contents here.)

The book is well organized and filled with clear and detailed color illustrations and extremely useful reference charts. Author, Cyndi Dale does a great job not only outlining complicated subjects that range from modern physics concepts, to acupuncture and the chakras, but also illuminates the deep interconnectedness of these different ways of understanding our "Subtle Universe." As a yoga teacher this is an awesome reference book to keep on-hand in my studio, and I think it would be incredibly useful for anyone studying or working in fields that deal with the subtle energy systems.

So, if you've been looking for a few great books on Sacred Geometry, Tibetan and Hindu chakras , Chinese, Ican and Cherokee energy systems, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Kabballah, Auyurveda and color and sound healing, save yourself some money and bookshelf space and pick up this book where you will find all of those subjects and many more.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cyndi Dale has been a natural intuitive since young, and offers these gifts to clients and groups seeking to make real and positive change.

Cyndi is an internationally renowned author, speaker, healer, and business consultant. Her books to-date include bestselling New Chakra Healing, now published in over ten languages, and Advanced Chakra Healing, The Four Pathways Approach; Attracting Prosperity Through the Chakras; Attracting Your Perfect Body Through the Chakras; Advanced Chakra Healing Heart Disease, Advanced Chakra Healing: Cancer, The Littlest Christmas Star, and Illuminating the Afterlife.





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