Fiery Jewel in Navel

"Manipura" meaning "lustrous gem", your third chakra, shines like a sun within your navel, aiding you to choose/act decisively. The mantra "Ram" energizes this center, while "Ahh" releases excess fire energy. (You'll recognize folks with excess Manipura energy by their aggressive or blaming behavior.) The yellow color with a downward red triangle symbol, or "yantra", helps to focus your fire energy, as does the affirmation, "I have the right to act".

Abdominal strengtheners like Navasana (Boat Pose), breathing techniques like Bhastrika (Breath of Fire) and Kapalabhati (Bellows Breath) as well as yogic or Ujjayi breathing, stimulate Manipura Chakra. All poses done with mindful alignment and abdominal tone, especially Plank, Chaturanga (Yogic Pushups), inversions and standing poses, stoke your Sun energy with a balanced, life-giving heat and light.

Whatever each of us fears, Manipura helps us to do as Eleanor Roosevelt urged: "You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Face down a ski mountain or a mountain of tax files, a pack of kids or a review board: we can call on our inner Sun. St. Paul's letter to Timothy, his mentee, described this inner power as a gift of the spirit: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

A useful mantra for power invokes the warrior goddess Durga whose fierce protection we can call upon for ourselves and/or others: "OM DUM DURGAYEI NAMAHA".

Schedule + Yoga in News!

I continue to teach two classes a week at Yoga Works East Side -- Thurs. noon and Fri. 10:45 Level 1's. At New York Health and Racquet Club, my Vinyasa Flow class is Mondays 1:15 in Chelsea. Schedules on sidebar.

My teaching remains largely private and corporate clientele. Check at your office/school/workplace to request a lunchtime program; I'd be happy to help set one up for you. See link below for recent Channel 4 WNBC News report with Dr. Max Gomez; companies are waking up to the potential work benefits of yoga. Why not yours? Print it or send it to your Office Manager/Human Resources Director!

June 10 Chakra Flow Workshop

Come for play with me on a rare weekend class! On Saturday June 10 at Yoga Works East Side, 1-3 PM, I'm offering a two-hour Chakra tuning workshop, with visualizations, mantras, yantras, meditations, and a flowing sequence for the whole body and all seven chakras. Yummy! Open to all levels! Who knows, we might sneak in some delicious Restorative too. Mark the date -- I hope to see you there!

Shining the Jewel

A quote I read for Manipura, in case you missed it:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not in just some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson - A Return to Love, 1992

New Site Links

Each month I highlight a few links I feel of spiritual or healing value. Feel free to send me links you think may be useful to other readers in future. From time to time I will repeat previously featured links, as well.

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Holy Cross Monastery - A beautiful site on the Hudson River, accessible by Metro-North, this community of practicing Benedictine monks offers hospitality for group and individual retreats. For a donation of $70 per night, you have a modest room, peaceful grounds, a labyrinth, meditation rooms, healthful meals, and a chance to be quiet in a peaceful atmosphere. There is even a brother available for massage at very good rates!
http://www.hcmnet.org/

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ISHTA Yoga - founded by Yogiraj Alan Finger, Ishta draws on a long yogic lineage and integrates Raja, Hatha, Iyengar and Ashtanga principles among others, and tailors them to the individual. Although part of Yoga Works studios, ISHTA now has its own site for its nationally recognized school and style of Yoga. http://www.Ishtayoga.com

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Christians Practicing Yoga - A site by and for practicing Christians who integrate Yoga into their Christian walk of faith. I'd love to hear of other faith-integrating yoga groups and sites! Yoga, meaning "yoke" and "union", aims ultimately at uniting spirit among all people and faiths.
http://www.christianspracticingyoga.com

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NYYTA - New York Yoga Teachers Association - Not just for Teachers, the Association invites all friends of Yoga to join its yoga community, sharing events, workshops, guest teachers, addressing questions of interests to the entire community. Membership includes discounts to merchants, restaurants, studios. My health plan for the past two years has been through NYYTA. http://www.nyyta.org/mission.jsp

Privacy Pledge

As always I welcome comments and feedback. I offer my monthly E-News instead of a website for a more personal link with my "Sangha" or community; as such, I honor your privacy and do not give out my email list to others. Please forward to friends, subscribe, unsubscribe, or add your information, using the buttons below. Shanti, Peace!
Mary