Now mind his li'l fontanelle!

The first time, I'm ashamed to admit, that I ever heard the word "fontanelle" was when Edwina McDunnough in the film Raising Arizona says in her special drawl, "Now mind his li'l fontanelle!" I had only ever heard that little, vulnerable spot on a baby's head called a soft spot. But most things anatomical tend to have a more official name, and in this case the soft spot is officially known as the fontanelle. It seems Edwina McDunnough noughs more than her name implies!

Edwina McDunnough from Raising Arizona

But it wasn't until a few months ago that I learned that the word fontanelle is actually a French word that means "little fountain" or "little spring". Where is the correlation here? What does a baby's soft spot have to do with a fountain or spring? At this same time I was studying the nature of kundalini energy and discovering the winding path it travels up the chakras. This led me to Sahaja Yoga Meditation, founded by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. It was in reading her words that revealed to me for the first time the profound correlation between this seemingly inane label "fontanelle" and the experience of kundalini awakening. In her own words:

"Self-Realization is the awakening of the Kundalini through the central channel, as it pierces the six chakras above the sacrum bone and emerges at the top of the head (at the fontanel area) as a gentle "fountain" of coolness. (The word fontanel means "little fountain" which indicates again the ancient knowledge about this phenomenon of Self-Realization.)"

She even points out that it was the ancient Greeks who gave the sacrum its name, which means "sacred or holy bone"and is the medical term still used today. How beautiful that some truths weren't lost, only forgotten. The truth is often staring us in the face--or we're sitting on it, literally. Kundalini resides in the sacred triangular bone called the sacrum and achieves self-realization upon piercing through the fontanelle as a gentle fountain.

Hmm. I have to hand it to the French and the ancient Greeks. Did they know the truth?

good vibrations

Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah

The group was small and most of us seemingly new to the whole experience, as evidenced by our coy reserve and inability to effectively sing along. But the few that were by all appearances "regulars" made the experience meaningful for the entire group. freeing our inhibitions and setting the tone. It's one thing to enjoy kirtan as an observer or listener and an entirely different thing to experience kirtan as an active participant. The experience comes to life when you feel the words and music burst out of your own mouth, even if, like me, you're half mumbling half singing the foreign tasting sanskrit words--no one cares how well you sing or how well you pronounce the words!

At the Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork kirtan is an integral part of their Sunday worship service. Imagine you are there with me as the wallah (or kirtan leader) and other musicians are sitting cross-legged on a beautiful rug surrounded by their exotic instruments: the mridanga hand drums, the bell metal kartals and the harmonium, in this instance. The wallah, playing different instruments throughout the service, begins to play and chant then invites the congregation to join in, until everyone in the room is rocking back and forth, swaying, up and dancing and most certainly lending their voices to the chant.

Kirtan then....

...and now.

Each sacred chant seems to begin slow and steady and builds in intensity and speed, finishing with a thrilling "crash" of the  kartals, or "thump" on the mridanga. After a chant or two, the wallah opens the Bhagavad Gita and shares personal insights on their sacred Hindu text. "Consider the image of the person attempting to drive a carriage led by five wild horses," he explains, "These five horses represent our senses--taste, smell, sight, sound, and touch. Until we can tame and yoke those senses, we will always be out of control." And how can we learn to control those senses? This wallah mentions yoga, namely kirtan, which he calls "true yoga", to tame the horses and gain control of the carriage, to gain control of our mortal life journey. He says, "You can't be thinking about your hunger, your lust, your anger when you are caught up in the sacred chanting."

Many believe that kirtan is the essence of yoga. Yoga means "to yoke". What are we trying to yoke? Five wild horses! We are striving to yoke the mind, body and spirit, not just to one another, but to God. Or could it be that a fully-yoked mind, body and spirit actually is God? Or are we possibly just making room for God to enter? Or are we finding that God was within us all along? Yes. Yes. And yes. God is within and without. He is cellular and cosmic. He is flesh and spirit.

Here is an example of a kirtan experience that rose up in the youtube world, because in case I forgot to mention it, above all else, kirtan is just really, really fun!

www.gobodhiyoga.com

Child's Pose

Something lovely about the Bodhi Flow is that we take the time to revisit child's pose in every tier, though admittedly in the fourth tier we approach it from a slightly different angle. Dropping back and rolling the spine along the mat, our legs pull into our chests and for just a brief moment, there it is, a fetal-like position--child's pose. Leading a class today, halfway into tier three I heard myself say the words "Let's pull back into child's pose and take several full, restorative breaths." Perhaps why I heard (like, really heard) my own words so clearly was because I had said that same phrase each time we went into that pose without realizing it. How interesting, I thought, that I feel a need to say this aloud every time we visit this pose. Part of leading a yoga class, in my experience, is learning to trust what your own body is telling you, then letting that guide the movement for the class. My body really wanted those moments of restoration apparently. What is it about child's pose that invites the restorative breath, I silently wondered as we pushed back into downward facing dog.

Almost as soon as I asked the question awareness flooded over me. I've been revisiting some semblance of child's pose all of my life yearning for restoration, and long before I was ever practicing yoga. Just as there are tiers of the Bodhi Flow, there are certainly tiers or stages of life, all of which brings a different focus.

Intentions and focus of the Bodhi Flow tiers look like this:

Tier One- Warms the Body
Tier Two- Opens Flexibility
Tier Three- Builds Strength and Stamina
Tier Four- Reduces Tension and Balances Breath

I'm beginning to see how the intentions and focus of my own life change and evolve as I age. It's a marvel how much childhood varies from young-adulthood, and how adulthood varies from the elderly years. Yet, throughout it all, when we take the time to pull back, take some deep restorative breaths, and revisit "childhood"--that's when we find true restoration, isn't it?

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Labyrinth Walk - say you'll follow me

It was dusk and I worried that maybe I'd not have enough time to fully experience it. But I'd been here once before and made similar excuses. Why was I so hesitant? I was so full of all the things this experience "should" be and all the things this labyrinth "ought" to do for me that there wouldn't be much room for the experience to just be what it was going to be. Am I going to blog about this? Won't taking pictures negate the sacredness? Will openly writing about it tarnish the spiritual nature? On and on and on went my analytical wanderings. I had confessed to Syl, my yogi mentor that created this mystical labyrinth in her backyard, my tendency to over-analyze. I told her I wanted to be free to walk the labyrinth without expectation. She chuckled and said something like, "No need to worry about that, the labyrinth is designed to challenge that very thing. You'll want to go one way and it'll take you exactly the opposite. Just don't fight it. It's not a maze where you have to choose a path. Trust where it takes you." So here at the entrance, I removed my shoes and did my yoga: Inhale, let it gather up all those "shoulds" and "oughts" and "have to-s", exhale. My walking prayer began.

There's something to be said about trust. I would find myself so close to the center, separated only by one little row of stones. The tall grass was tickling my skin as I brushed by it, closer than I'd ever been, until the path turned. One might think, I'm going the wrong way. Trust. No, this is good. Sometimes you have to have your back on the target, you know what I mean? Then, I'm walking along the perimeter, feeling so far away from it all. One sharp turn. I'm there. What? How can that be? Just moments ago I was...over there...I was...alone, drifting. So far, and yet so close.

Standing in the center, wanting to lift off the ground, I think I did. I didn't know that holding so much could feel so light.

It was time to step out. I stood at the exit, which had only moments before been the entrance. Now it was my turn to chuckle. You mean I have to come out the way I just came in? The answer settled upon me, "The path is the same, but you're different." So is the path really the same anymore? Hello paradox.

I was smiling and happy, taking my time with each step, winding my way out. First I was singing in my head. Soon I was humming. Then all at once I was singing out loud and proud:

"It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done

To be so in love with you and so alone

Follow me where I go, what I do, who I know

Make it part of you to be a part of me

Follow me up and down all the way and all around

Take my hand and say you'll follow me"

Where was this coming from? Why now, John? The words just kept coming:

"It's long been on my mind you know it's been a long, long time

I'll try to find the way that I can make you understand

The way I feel about you and just how much I need you

To be there where I can talk to you when there's no one else around

Follow me where I go what I do, who I know

Make it part of you to be a part of me

Follow me up and down all the way and all around

Take my hand and say you'll follow me"

And by this point, I said aloud, "I hear you!":

You see, I'd like to share my life with you and show you things I've seen

Places that I'm going to places where I've been

To have you there beside me and never be alone

And all the time that you're with me then we will be at home

Follow me where I go what I do, who I know

Make it part of you to be a part of me

Follow me up and down all the way...

Take my hand and I will follow you"

--John Denver, "Follow Me"

It was a mediocre experience. It was a sublime, ineffable experience. I suppose I'm leaning on Dickens a bit there. I mean to say that the act of walking the labyrinth in and of itself is a very simple, seemingly mindless activity (if you're willing to turn down the analyze slide bar). Yet, within that simple act, something truly miraculous opens up within you. I don't mean to ascribe too much "power" to the labyrinth itself. I don't see it as a magical panacea that absolves all worldly strife and takes you in a straight shot to nirvana. But in another sense, it's like this magical panacea that absolves all worldly strife and takes you in a straight shot to nirvana...at least for a little while. You get to taste it. And return to it as often as you'd like. It's as magical and mystical as prayer is, for the labyrinth is truly a walking prayer wheel. Prayer in and of itself is powerful, but match that with pure intention and that's when you achieve the sublime and ineffable.

P.S. Just for fun, click play below.

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The Cosmic Serpent

Have you seen that mysterious snake around? He's hiding everywhere. He's a renowned world traveler--you might even say he's cosmic. He's certainly multi-lingual and has a hard time settling in just one place. It's possible he's a proficient time-traveler, but more than likely he's just really, really old. I mean it, he's been around since Adam and Eve. Well, actually, long before that. I would guess it all started with that famous BANG everyone is talking about. Is he a good guy? A bad guy? He's not really a "guy" at all. He--she--it?

I recently read Jeremy Narby's The Cosmic Serpent and I confess, synapses were firing like the fourth of July. But what is the cosmic serpent? Amazonian shamans would say that the cosmic serpent is the creature that appears to you in your ayahuasca-induced hallucinations that imparts sacred healing wisdom. Through this thought-provoking, faith-promoting book, the author explores, through years of research and documentation, that the cosmic serpent might very well be DNA itself. In his own words, Narby states (1998), "I could see now that there might be links between science and shamanic, spiritual and mythological traditions, that seemed to have gone unnoticed, doubtless because of the fragmentation of Western knowledge." (p. 77)

If that premise isn't already wild enough, the ride gets really wild when he begins finding this serpent all across the globe, in diverse cultures, languages, and times. First with Peruvian shamans, then in Jacob's vision of the ladder ascending up to heaven, the serpent that tempted Eve, the Rainbow Snake drawn by Australian Aborigines, ancient Egyptian drawings, Typhon of Greek mythology, the fish-bird of Chuang-Tzu, Sesha the thousand-headed serpent of Hinduism, and even the caduceus of yin-yang and the western medicine symbol. In essence Narby's message is that "the same reality is being described from different perspectives." (p. 102)

Yin-Yang caduceus

Western medicine caduceus

                               

Perhaps unintentionally, and to my great disappointment, no specific mention was made of the chakra system first discovered by ancient Hindus over 4,000 years ago. The parallels are poignant and thrilling. The Ida and Pingala nadis directly represent the twin serpents that spiral upward, creating the caduceus itself, which Narby eloquently points out happens to be just like the double helix of DNA. The feminine energy known as kundalini lies coiled at the base of the spine until awakened when it then travels upward, purifying everything in its path. Remarkably, kundalini energy is most commonly represented as a snake. This illustration below overlays these two traditions of east and west, the ancient chakra/kundalini system and the western symbol of medicine (which was originally an eastern symbol, first seen in India, later in Greece, and now here in the west). These two seemingly opposing systems of medicine, through Narby's groundbreaking hypothesis, are now intimately connected by, you guessed it, the Cosmic Serpent--our DNA.

East meets West

After completion of his book The Cosmic Serpent Jeremy Narby was lecturing to a group of students in Peru, sharing his hypothesis that the entwined serpents that Amazonian shamans see in their visions and the double helix of DNA are intimately related, a student in the back of the room  called out, "Are you saying that scientists are catching up with us?" (p. 151) What we sometimes think are opposite ends of a linear spectrum are really just different spokes in the same wheel. They are anecdotal truths that each culture expresses through their own language. For ancient India, they spoke of healing through the chakra system, for Amazonian shamans they spoke of healing through ayahuasca and the entwined serpents, for the modern Western world healing is spoken of through the lens of science and DNA. Or do we even speak of healing here in the West? Despite what we do know about DNA it seems we're just as vulnerable as Eve in Eden. We fall into the same trap of "the devil made me do it" by believing that we are victims of our DNA. "We can't change the code" is the modern way of saying "the devil made me do it". It's when all the diverse fragments of the Cosmic Serpent combine once again, when we piece together all the different stories, myths, facts, and clues of history--then we'll see the big picture. Then healing can happen.


www.gobodhiyoga.com

Habit or Ritual?

I've been giving some serious thought to two words that get thrown around frequently in the English language. Sometimes they're used interchangeably, but not wisely so. I don't mean to imply that one of these words is "good" and one is "bad", but simply that they each have their place in our lives. What are these words I'm alluding to? Habit and ritual. 

Miriam Webster defines habit as:

a :  a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance

b :  an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary <got up early from force of habit>

c :  addiction <a drug habit>

This naturally sets me to thinking, what are some habits that I have in my life? What are some behaviors that I've acquired simply out of repetition, that I do involuntarily...that I'm addicted to? Well, I can think of some examples, some pleasant ones, some unpleasant ones. Can impatience be a habit? I started practicing impatience so long ago that I've become quite proficient at it. How about the way I load the dishwasher? I know exactly where to put the cheese grater and the pot lids and the bread knife without even batting an eye. Making sure all the curtains are drawn, the doors are locked, and the closet doors are closed before I settle into bed. That's a serious habit of mine.

So what is this other word ritual all about? Ritual is defined as:

a :  ritual observance; specifically :  a system of rites

b :  a ceremonial act or action

c :  an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner

One of my favorite rituals? Brushing my teeth. Some might say that's a habit, but there is some level of ceremony involved. I don't just do it involuntarily, I consciously choose every night to walk into the bathroom and squeeze just the perfect amount of minty calmness onto the brush, lather up my pearly-somewhat-whites and stare at myself in the mirror. 

That's the difference. We might do something out of habit for the simple sake that it's a habit. When we participate in a ritual, we do it for the benefits it brings and not for the sake of the ritual itself. Because the minute you find you're doing it for the sake of the ritual and not for the benefits, you've just demoted it to a habit. Brushing my teeth in and of itself isn't all that meaningful, but because It plays a major role in my overall night's rest it becomes a nightly ritual. 

Punchline? Have you, like me, ever let your rituals turn into mere habits? Prayer, yoga, kisses, eating, going to church, reciting the pledge of allegiance...even breathing? Let's reclaim them. There are lots of theories out there about how to create habits. The most popular theory is that if you keep it up for twenty-one days--viola--it's a habit. Maybe. But here the goal is to transform a habit of something into a ritual. In that case the hardest part is already done. You've got the repetition down. Now just add a dash of sincerity, a pinch of intention, and a dollop of gratitude...you'll be well on your way.

Someone I greatly admire (that's you mom) once taught me that the word ritual is contained within the word spiritual. That's either the craziest coincidence of all time or there's a deeper message. Let's do the math: Habit + Spirit =  Sacred Ritual

Now turn off the computer and go kiss someone you love, say a heartfelt prayer, breathe in the glorious oxygen that gives you yet another moment to be alive, or heck, just brush your teeth. I swear, you'll never be the same.



www.gobodhiyoga.com

What is Thai Yoga?

Origins

Shivago Komarpaj

Thai Yoga has the same origins as Thai Massage, or Nuad Bo Rarn but is certification through the yoga tradition as opposed to the massage tradition. The man who in Asia is known as the father of medicine, Shivago Komarpaj, brought Nuad Bo Rarn to the world, which means "to impart sacred healing" or "sacred massage". A native of India, Shivago Komarpaj was a skilled Ayurvedic physician, said to have even been the personal physician to the Lord Buddha. His works eventually spread to Thailand where Buddhist monks were trained in the sacred art of Nuad Bo Rarn. In their holy temples they would do this practice on one another to prepare themselves for meditation. Temples, in that land, were also hospitals--people went to the temple for healing of both physical and spiritual ailments. Nuad Bo Rarn became an integral part of that healing. 

So much of Komarpaj's teachings have been lost, largely attributed to the late 1700's Burmese invasion of Siam when ancient palm leaves, upon which these teachings were recorded, were burned. In the mid-1800's, King Rama III felt it was of utmost importance to gather and preserve whatever records
still remained and had them chiseled or painted into the stone of the Wat Pho
temple in Bangkok.

Wall engravings of Sen Energy Lines at the Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok

Thai Yoga, the Restorative Partner way

Syl Carson is the founding director of Bodhi Yoga, located in Provo, Utah. She developed the beautiful tradition known as Restorative Partner Yoga. Stemming from the tradition of Thai Yoga, Syl developed a synergistic approach where not only is the Receiver benefiting from the session, but the Giver, too--hence, the word "Partner". In this partnership, both are coming in and out of yoga postures, mirroring breath, and having marma points and sen lines worked simultaneously. I was trained in this approach under Syl's experienced and inspired mentorship. For my own purposes, I have chosen to maintain the name Thai Yoga but honor the approach of Restorative Partner Yoga in every session.

How is Thai Yoga different from Massage?

Unlike traditional massage therapy, Thai Yoga is not anatomically based (at least traditionally) and does not involve muscle manipulation. Before Western science made it legal, dissection was strictly forbidden. Thai Yoga bases its practice on generations of intuitive expertise, steeped in a deep understanding of how energy flows through the body. These channels of energy are known as sen lines. Though in theory there are reportedly over 72,000 sen lines, in practice Thai Yoga works with ten main sen lines.

Thai Yoga is a beautiful companion to traditional massage therapy. Where a massage therapist can manipulate a tight muscle, can stimulate the lymphatic system, and release trigger points, Thai Yoga can harness prana, stretch the muscles, and subtly yoke mind, body and spirit. Of course there is inevitably cross-over here. A talented massage therapist, for example, though he bases his practice in anatomy, can weave energy work into his practice. A talented Thai Yogi, though he bases his practice in sen energy lines, can integrate western anatomical understanding of the body into his work.

Thai Yoga is not practiced on a table, but on a soft pad rolled out on the floor. The Receiver wears comfortable clothes that enable lots of movement. Each session is between 90-120 minutes. Thai Yoga is a synergistic blend of marma point pressure, running sen lines, flowing into deep stretches, easing into yoga postures...and always, focusing on the breath.

How can Thai Yoga help me?

Whether you're flexible and experienced in yoga or just starting out, Thai Yoga meets you wherever you're at. In truth, it has far-reaching benefits for all body types. It can be an amazing boon for those suffering with chronic pain, those in rehabilitation, or even those that are grieving or are clinically depressed. Postures can be modified for an excellent addition to prenatal care or injury recovery.

The possible benefits are endless.

Breath Series - Part 3

As the third (and final?) installment to the Breath Series, let's look at some fun facts about the breath and lungs.

Q: What do the lungs look like?

My very favorite thing about the lungs is that they look like upside down trees. It reminds me of just how connected we are to nature, that we are in fact natural beings. The trachea is like the main trunk of the tree. The first two branches are the bronchi. The "twiggier" branches are the bronchioles. And if this were a cherry or apricot tree, the fruit could be the alveoli. Compare these illustrations below:

And the next time you pop a sprig of broccoli into your mouth, just check out the similar structure it has to our lungs. The little tips look just like happy little alveoli. There are even studies being done to show that smokers that consume greater amounts of broccoli (and all cruciferous vegetables) drastically lower their risk of developing lung cancer! And don't the words "BROCcoli" and "BRONCHiole" have some similarities? Just sayin.

Q: Why do we die without oxygen?

"Oxygen is required to complete the total breakdown of glucose for the the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy for life. Many people think that humans need oxygen to breathe, but actually people need oxygen to recycle the spent electrons and hydrogen ions (H+) produced as byproducts of aerobic exercise. -Open Me Up, DK Books

Q: Why do yogis breathe in and out through the nose?

"The nasal cavity serves to warm and humidify the air before it enters the lungs. It can also recapture some of that heat and moisture as the air is exhaled through the nose, but not the mouth. For this reason, breathing through the mouth increases the rate of water and heat loss associated with the process of respiration." -Susan Whittemore, The Respiratory System, p. 33

Q: Do mammals breathe differently than other animals?

"Mammals breathe in and out of the same pathway. In other words, fresh air meets "dead air" and diminishes the rate of oxygen diffusion in the blood. Birds, for example, have a unidirectional flow-through lung that avoids the dilution of incoming air with dead air. This allows for a higher rate of oxygen diffusion."  -Susan Whittemore, The Respiratory System

Fun Lung Facts:

• When resting, the average adult breathes around 12 to 20 times a minute.
• The total length of the airways running through the two lungs is 1,500 miles or 2,400 kilometers.
• The total internal surface area is estimated to be equal to the total area of one side of a tennis court.
• The lungs are the only organs that can float on water.
• Scientists say that if all capillaries surrounding the alveoli are unwound and placed end to end, they will cover a staggering 616 miles or 992 kilometers.
• An average person breathes in around 11,000 litres of air every day.
• At the time of birth, a baby’s lungs are not inflated and are actually filled with a fluid that is secreted by the lungs. When the baby moves out of the birth canal, a sudden change in environment and temperature triggers the first breath which usually takes place 10 seconds after the baby is delivered from the birth canal.

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Breath Series - Part 2

Because the breath is the integral foundation of yoga, it's enlightening to understand how the breath is no less the integral foundation of all life. In this part 2 of my Breath Series we'll be exploring how we breathe from an anatomical perspective.

Take a deep inhale...

We either inhale oxygen in through the nose or the mouth. Though there are separate cavities--the nasal and the oral--they are connected in the back of the throat and eventually the air molecules head in the same direction.

What difference does it make when we breathe through the nose versus the mouth?

Well, inside the nose there are lovely little hairs that are very helpful in gathering moisture, warming the air, as well as catching larger foreign particles of dust or germs as part of a natural filtering system. Along with the hairs there is also, as I'm sure all of us are well aware, the slimy coating of mucus--yes, you called it, it's snot--that also lines the nostrils. That mucus is excellent at catching even smaller particles in its sticky trap. I know, I know...you'll never think of boogers the same way. Isn't picking your nose just, metaphorically speaking, cleaning out the filter?  

So it's safe to say that oxygen, before we breathe it in, is cold and dry. When it's breathed in through the nose it's cleaner. Breathed into the mouth, it's a little dirtier. Either way, whether through the nose or mouth, the air is warmed and moistened. 

As it travels down the throat it comes to a crossroads. It can either go down the esophagus--which is really only recommended for food and water seeking digestion--or it can go down through the voice box into the trachea. The epiglottis is the little lid or flap that opens and closes over the larynx, or vocal cords. Air will travel through that trapdoor and flow down into the trachea. That's when things get really cool.

The air comes to a tee in the road, some of it going into the left bronchus and some going into the right bronchus. The bronchi then split into bronchioles, which divide and branch out a dozen or more times, until finally it reaches the alveoli. That's where the air flips a u-turn, of sorts, and begins to make it's way back out the way it came. But before it does that it swings by the gas station for a slurpee (a carbon dioxide slurpee?). It's there in the alveoli that the gas exchange happens. It transfers the oxygen into the blood stream and gathers up the carbon dioxide waste, which it ships out with the outgoing air.

And....exhale! One single breath accomplished.

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Breath Series - Part 1

A single breath. It's the first thing we do as human beings and, truly, the very last. It welcomes us in and ushers us out. It sustains us through everything in between. It is a marvelous, intricate, beautiful bodily process that deserves a closer examination.

For this first installment in my "Breath Series" I'll start at the beginning...

Q: How do we breathe?

A: It's a commonly believed notion that the chest expands simply because air has moved into the lungs and it pushes the chest out. In truth, it's actually just the opposite. The chest expands in order to make room for the oxygen. It actually has a lot to do with air pressure. Based on Boyle's Law, in order to lower the air pressure in the lungs, the volume must first be increased. So, the chest expands (which means the volume has increased), the lung pressure drops, air is then sucked into the lungs as a natural means to balance the lung pressure and the atmospheric pressure--or in other words, inhalation happens! Conversely, to move air out of our lungs, the chest falls (which decreases the overall volume), this causes the lung pressure to increase, and, what do you get? Exhalation! Air naturally flows out of the lungs and back into the wide world, at least until the lung pressure equals the atmospheric pressure.

Now you might be wondering, "Wait, what causes the chest to expand in the first place?" Enter diaphragm. The diaphragm is the lovely dome-shaped muscle/tendon that is actually the main player in the respiratory system. Because of its contracting up and down, respiration is possible (with some help from the intercostal and abdominal muscles-give credit where credit is due). Whenever it contracts, flattening down, then the chest expands, the lung pressure drops...inhalation. Conversely, when it relaxes, returning back into its dome shape, it compresses the thoracic cavity, causing the chest to fall, the lung pressure to increase...exhalation.

Simple...right?

This begs the same question: "What causes the diaphragm to contract in the first place?" This leads us to the autonomic nervous system which connects the brain stem to specific bodily processes. In this case, the phrenic nerve connects from the C3, C4 and C5 vertebrae of the spine down to the diaphragm. Breathing, most of the time, is automatic and we do it subconsciously under the direction of the respiratory center at the base of the brain--and thank goodness for that! Can you imagine the burden life would be if we had to consciously take every breath? We wouldn't be able to do anything else, not even sleep, for fear of forgetting to take the next one. But thankfully this respiratory center is working around the clock, gathering endless amounts of data from its many different nerve channels, then processes all of that data, then decides how to proceed. Should it signal the diaphragm to contract? Should it signal it to relax?

And so it is here that the breath, and all of oxygen-breathing life, begins. A nerve process in the brain sends a signal to the diaphragm, the diaphragm contracts, the thoracic cavity expands, the pressure lowers, a vacuum is created, air flows into the lungs, and a baby take its first breath...all of this in a matter of seconds.

So...what causes the nervous system to do its thing in the first place? No, really, can someone explain it to me?

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Consider the Altar-natives

Isn't it interesting that the things that have the most potential to change our lives are usually the simplest? Stop smoking. Start exercising. Stop binge eating. Start decluttering. Stop staying up late. Start getting up early. Sounds simple enough...until you actually undertake any one of them. If it's just a matter of starting or stopping something, what is it that holds us back? Oh, a few words come to mind: addiction, habit, routine, laziness, apathy, discouragement, fear...basically, the human condition. The solutions themselves may be simple, but the process is far from it. 

I've struggled all my life to establish a meaningful spiritual routine for myself. Daily prayer? I'm a regular pray-er, that one is very natural and meaningful to me. But what about regular yoga practice? Consistent journaling? Personal study from my core books? I'm real good at the whole stop and start again bit. What about meditation? Just like with prayer I often find myself snatching moments throughout the day to meditate. Certainly a yoga practice in and of itself is a meditation. A walk through nature. Sitting under a tree. Nursing my baby. Walking barefoot in the grass. Singing. Listening to music. All of these and more are meditative by nature.

What if I could create a space that was set apart just for my spiritual edification, what would that look like? Would that help me commit more fully, more deeply? In my desire to really dig deep and make some lasting changes in my life, I decided to build an altar. Altar, you may ask? The following, taken from yogajournal.com, is a simple and lovely explanation of an altar:

Altars are places of worship—centers for yoga or meditation that infuse the space around them with the energy of your practice. Think of an altar as a physical manifestation of your inner spiritual landscape. Artfully laden with images and objects that remind you of your own best self, an altar gives you the opportunity to consciously reflect on things you might otherwise take for granted. It’s a place of solace and repose that becomes a receptacle for your spiritual energy. And when you sit before it, that energy is reflected back to you.

Whether you’re meditating, practicing asana before your altar, or simply pausing for a moment as you walk by, a personal altar can be a beautiful way to reconnect with your deepest intentions for your practice and your life. Whatever you choose to place on it, says kirtan musician Sean Johnson, “an altar is a mirror of the heart, a reflection of the energies and attributes and love that you carry inside.”

http://www.yogajournal.com/article/lifestyle/devoted-to-you/

Here are some beautiful images of altars that I found online. The first caught my attention because of the rough stone and asymmetrical legs. It wouldn't even need anything on it and it would be compelling to worship at.

This next example caught my attention simply because of the overall ambiance--the view through the large windows, the bear-skin rug, the natural sunlight--which the lovely altar perfectly completes.

This last example demonstrates an artistic, earthy and altogether awesome set up of chakra bowls, filled with, I can only presume, their corresponding gemstones. Who wouldn't want to lotus up and zen out?

So ultimately, there are endless ways to create your own personal altar. But don't get so caught up in trying to have all the perfect pieces that it prevents you from just jumping in and getting one started. I speak from personal experience that I spent way too much time daydreaming about the perfect altar and inadvertently put-off getting started for months. It's the perfectionist in me. Finally, after becoming frustrated with waiting, I just hopped in the car and soon found myself pulling into the Home Depot parking lot. About fifteen minutes later, with one box of nails and one rather heavy beam of redwood, I loaded up the car and headed back home to a somewhat surprised husband.

"What's this new project?" my husband asked, curiosity mixing with anxiety.
"Oh..." I stutter, "Did I not mention that I'm building an altar?"
"Well, no, I don't suppose you mentioned that." Not upset, just a titch confused.
"Oh. Well, yep, I'm gonna build myself an altar!"
"And, may I ask, what exactly is an altar?"

He was quickly on board (board? no pun intended) with the project since he has been eagerly trying to meditate more often. Ultimately, it turned into a rather fun project for both of us. He busted out his power saw and cut the beam into three pieces. Then we hammered in some nails. Voila! Right? Wrong. As soon as my one-year-old toddled over and pulled himself up to a stand using the altar for balance it tipped over and fell apart. We pulled out the bent nails and came up with a sturdier design, which only involved cutting one more length of wood to serve as a crossbeam. Then it was ready.

I had already loved the idea of putting the altar right below one of my bedroom windows that faces the south and gets a lot of natural light throughout the day. I decided to cover it with a beautiful scarf and have slowly been waiting for the right pieces to manifest themselves to make it to the place of honor atop our altar. Currently (it changes from week to week), from left to right, you'll see

1. the God Can -- a little place I stash written prayers when I know it's something out of my hands and only "God Can" handle. Once it's in the can, I'm not allowed to worry about it. I can only sit back and vibrate.
2. "Cosmic Serpent" foil print by local artist Miriam Tribe. Okay, so she's also a good friend of mine and we read the book The Cosmic Serpent by Jeremy Narby for our book club. She made a foil print for all of us. For me the serpent represents the universal language of faith. Read the book for more insight ;-)
3. necklaces (hanging on the picture frame) carved from large seeds that have the symbol "om" and a tree. I got these in Spain and bought them from the artist himself. 
4. candle
5. incense burner (above the candle sitting in the window frame). We got this on our honeymoon to Lava Hot Springs.
6. a picture of my guru Christ.

And since this is a shared altar for both my husband and I we have our own little section underneath the altar to stash our favorite reading material that bolsters our spirituality. Things we hope to add soon: gemstones (with chakra bowls maybe?), meditation cushion, pictures of other gurus, tingsha bells...who knows?

Don't I know, it's rather humble compared to the amazing altar photos posted above, but I'm just getting started! I'm excited to see how my altar evolves over the years as I evolve, because after all, it's like Sean Johnson said, “an altar is a mirror of the heart, a reflection of the energies and attributes and love that you carry inside.”

For now, it's become a meaningful addition to my bedroom. Do I suddenly meditate and study every day like I've always wanted to? Not yet. But I stop in front of it many times each day, sometimes just gazing at the pictures and smelling the redwood scent, but most of the time it's to stoop down and pick up the picture frames that my toddler knocked over during one of his covert stops in my bedroom. Either way, I'm stopping, I'm slowing down, I'm tuning in.

What will you put on your altar?



http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/

My Yoga Beginnings

Namaste. For the past year and a half I've been training under the inspired mentorship of Syl Carson, founder of Bodhi Yoga (http://www.gobodhiyoga.com/) here in Provo. I'm literally a handful of hours away from completing my certification as a yoga instructor. And once I have that lovely little certificate in my hands, do you know what that will mean? That I'm an official student and lover of yoga! Seriously, I may be a "teacher" by title, but I'm first and foremost a student, eager to learn what you know and eager to share with you what I've learned so far.

Many things led to the decision for me to pursue yoga more in depth. I won't deny that the over-arching reason boils down to self-interest--I simply wanted to be immersed in it for my own personal benefit. I craved it. I needed it. I've dabbled in yoga off and on since I was young, first exposed to it while working out alongside my mom to some of her yoga tapes. Literally, tapes...not DVD's. It was a very Western approach to yoga, where the goal is burning calories more than raising kundalini (though I daresay you can't do one without doing the other), but it was a good place to start.  I also have fond memories of watching my uncle Dave and aunt Shanti meditate or practice yoga in the woods or on the sandy beaches of Lake Tahoe where we often vacationed with extended family. They were the official "yogis" of the family, if my aunt's name isn't a dead giveaway, who studied under Baba Hari Dass, the founder of the Mt. Madonna Center. But it wasn't until I was in college that I felt driven to seek out my very first yoga class with live instruction, having no idea what to really expect. Would you believe it that the quiet, sleepy town of Cedar City, Utah sported their very own Kundalini yoga studio? I couldn't even pronounce the name let alone knew what it meant. I just saw the word "yoga" and walked through the doors...and then continued to walk through the doors over and over and over for months to come. I had never done anything like it before, all of the repetitious kriyas, the meditations, the chanting, the pranayama--breath of fire, especially--the crystal bowls, the gong, the mudras, the mantras...I could go on. Where was downward facing dog? Warrior pose? Triangle? The wide, wide world of yoga was opening up to me, or rather, yoga was opening me. I couldn't get enough of it. I probably only attended classes there for a few months before I moved away (some handsome massage therapist had swept me off my feet and lured me up to Provo) but it made a lasting impression on my life.

Fast forward a few years and I suddenly found myself 7 or 8 months pregnant with my first child (see pic below). I was working full-time in a very physically demanding job. That was a tough combination for my body to handle--big belly + big stress = unhappy mama. Nic's massages were truly my salvation. But as my pregnancy advanced it started to become increasingly clear how tight I was, how stiff my muscles and joints felt. I would feel really good for a day or two after a deep massage but then it would seem my muscles would lock right back in place. Inexperienced with childbirth though I was, I sensed that tightness and stiffness were not simpatico with "easy delivery". I also sensed that it was as much an emotional tightness as it was a physical one. That's when the inspiration came to seek out yoga. Both Nic and I soon found ourselves inside the lovely, peaceful Bodhi Yoga studio.

That rekindled the flame. I won't say I had the "easy delivery" every mom yearns for, but I knew my body was responding to the work I had begun a little late in the game. I shuddered to think how much longer or harder the delivery could have been without regular massage and yoga and tried not to dwell on how much easier it could have been if I had started yoga earlier.

Truly, here I am writing this with not just one, not just two, but three little kiddos tucked into bed. My body's changed a lot since those early pregnancy days, and I don't mean for the worse, actually. Each delivery was progressively easier and faster. My first delivery with our daughter, Saidie--19 hours, major tearing, lots of sutures, painful recovery. My second delivery with our son, Avery--12 hours, no tearing, took a full year to drop the baby-weight. Then little Leif, our youngest, was born in a record-breaking 2 hours and 15 minutes, from start to finish and the weight was gone within the week. Is it a coincidence that I was in my yoga immersion courses all throughout that last pregnancy? That I practiced gentle kundalini twice a week his entire gestation? Don't I know, it's all very anecdotal. Who's to say how things would have been different or why they turned out the way they did. There are many factors, simple muscle-memory being a big one. But I feel comfortable giving a good portion of that credit to my increasing commitment to regular massage and yoga practice.

All of that explains just the first reason for my delving into yoga professionally, for my own self-interest as it were, yet from only one perspective, of how it aided me in pregnancy. Perhaps in future posts I'll explore some of the other physical and emotional benefits yoga brings to my life. The other major reason that I'll conclude with today is that I couldn't deny just how well massage therapy and yoga interplay with one another. Wouldn't it be a dream to work side by side with my husband guiding people in their journey to health and well-being?

Dreams come true.