A Metaphor of my Lungs

Ahead of my upcoming yoga teaching course, starting this weekend, I have been given some preparatory homework: to read and absorb the first few chapters of Donna Farhi's book on breathing {The Breathing Book}. It is a practical textbook guiding you through breathing exercises, or better *inquires*, with the aim of disclosing what she calls the *essential breath*. In the introductory chapter she invites the reader to visualise his/her current breathing pattern with a metaphorical image.

When I saw this illustration, courtesy of my friend's flatmate Russ Street, I thought it illustrated very well my breath's perception. My lungs feel like lungs of a hummingbird, and my shallow breathing like trapped in a cage. In fact, it is not uncommon to hear me *hmmphing* every now and then to release the accumulated air. I know in yoga you should never wish and always observe and accept and be with it, but I hope one day my lungs will open up as this beautiful daylily/gramophone...

Lovely CD Relaxation CDs for Kids

Kirtan Experience Report

A candlelit room with wooden vaulted ceilings and arched windows was the perfect setting for our evening of kirtan. On stage, a cello, a harmonium, various tablas, tambourines and karatal hand cymbals, and two great voices: Dave Stringer and Narayani Jennings.

 {Dave Stringer's Band}

After an introductory hymn performed by Dave, we chanted four mantras in Sanskrit with intervals of meditative silence, anecdotes and poetry. The solemn sound of kirtan (originally a devotional chant in the Hinduism tradition) was injected, in turn, with blues, rock and jazz notes.

 {Jason Kalidas}

Everybody fully enjoyed the night freely dancing, meditating and chanting from the heart. From an external western eye, we may have looked a bunch of modern hippies – and maybe we were, at least for one night. It was a liberating, exhilarating and, above all, fun experience. I woke up the next morning with a smile.

 {Narayani Jennings}

I am so glad Narayani is based in London. I have added her to my Facebook contacts and I will no doubt go and sing with her again.

 
{Clumsy snapshot taken with my Blackberry}

Below is one of Dave's performances from You Tube. BUT be aware that it is nowhere as charming and involving as the live experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BXj1dX-4Hs

For those interested and based in London, kirtan is played every Saturday at 6.30 at Triyoga London.

Bhajan: Bolo Bolo Submil Bolo

 Om Namah Shivaaya Om Namah Shivaaya
Bolo Bolo Submil Bolo Om Namah Shivaaya
Jhootajataamey Gangaa Dhaari
Trishoola Dhari Damaru Bhajavey
Dama Dama Dama Dama Damaru Baja
Goonj Uthavo Nama Shivaya
Om Nama Shivaaya (4x)

{Sing, sing, everyone in worship of Lord Shiva

Bow, surrender to Lord Shiva

Sing, sing, everyone in worship of Lord Shiva

He bears the Ganges in his twisted locks of hair

He holds the trident, his damaru (drum) plays "Dama Dama"

The atmosphere echoes with Shiva's name

Bow, surrender to Lord Shiva (x4)}

Photo credit: Dave and his band from Dave Stringer Facebook Fan Page; Jason and Narayani from Narayani Facebook album

Kirtaning Along

In two weekends time my dear friend Valentina and I will be Kirtaning with him and Shiva Rea who will be guesting between a workshop and the other. The practice of Kirtan (= singing from Sanskrit) refers to the Indian art of chanting mantras, rhytmically repeated until the self melts into the song and the singing crowd becomes a unity. I have done a bit of chanting in the past and found it very empowering, but I have never devoted a whole evening to it, let alone with live music. So it will be a completely new, exciting experience for me, and I look forward to it. 

 

Dave Stringer

"IF YOU CAN'T TEACH ME TO FLY, THEN TEACH ME TO SING" 
James Barrie, author of Peter Pan

Change Something!

I launched this blog some time ago in view of my plans to start a yoga teaching course in November. I finally got the news, and it is a positive one: I have been accepted to attend the course, and I am over the moon! I hope that this feel-good-factor will stay with me throughout this path and will overcome my fear of changes... As changes will inevitably happen in my body, life style and one day perhaps also in my career... Who knows...

I have decided to share, one by one, all the mantras that will accompany my holistic journey. And of course I hope to be able to exude a feel-good-factor through this blog.

Photo from we heart it

Everybody Needs a HUG

AMMA, the *hugging mother*, is coming to London this month to hug as many Londoners as she can possibly fit in a day.

Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known as Amma, is a Hindu spiritual leader famous for transferring her energy to her devotees through physical contact. With Amma, hugging takes on a both metaphorical and literal relevance: it is a compassionate act but also a medium to pass on good, powerful vibes. 

Amma also runs an Ashram in South of India (Kerala), welcoming thousands of followers, although, being a globetrotter, she hardly resides there these days.

Amma's UK visit's Calendar can be found here.

"My Desire: Everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear, at least for one night [...]. "
AMMA

R.I.P.