To order the complete CD of the sample music
playing on this website,
email us at:
mantrameditationmusic @gmail.com
(916)-944-8505
Monthly Newsletter:
A Balanced Life - January 2010
Dear Friends,
We hope this New Year is finding you healthy, happy, and enthusiastically embracing a new year of purpose and progress.
2009 was a very challenging year for many of us. With this new year upon us, we can encourage one another to keep our sights on the bigger picture -- beyond the bills, unpredictable life situations, and struggles of material life -- and move forward equipoised and focused, knowing that these hassles do not affect our true being. We always have a bright future.
I hope this year is one that brings satisfaction, true happiness, and good to the world and to your self.
We hope to offer many retreats and workshops throughout the year and look forward to spending time with you.
I would also like to thank Janna Chin for getting this newsletter off and running for us last year. Janna's efforts helped make our wish to have a newsletter to reach out to our yoga students each month a reality. We will miss working with you, Janna, but hope your new business is a successful endeavor for you. Good luck and thank you from all of us.
People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge wave of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars...and yet they pass by themselves without wondering. ~St. Augustine
Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. ~Jung
Perform your duty equipoised, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga. ~ Bhagavad-gita Ch 2, txt 48
A Balanced Life
A Balanced Life
Do we work to live or live to work?
Many of us spend the majority of our time working just to pay the rent and keep up with the bills. People in all income groups, age groups, and nationalities are working longer and harder to maintain their incomes and keep their jobs. As a result, people find it more difficult to relax. Stress levels are rising. More and more, our time seems to be spent living to work.
We of course need to earn money and care for our material needs, but are we sacrificing our happiness and well-being in order to afford an expensive home, fancy car, flat screen TV, computer and all the extras? With all our modern conveniences and flashy technologies, are we any happier?
What is a balanced life?
We learn from yogic teachings, that a balanced life is a life of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Unfortunately, with all the demands of daily life, time for spiritual endeavors continues to diminish. We are so busy trying to fulfill our material needs that we forget that we require spiritual food to truly enliven and nourish ourselves.
The teachings of yoga give the analogy of a starving bird inside a well-decorated cage. The cage is meticulously polished every day but the bird within is neglected and withers away. Similarly, we often spend much time tending to our material needs while neglecting to care for our spiritual needs. This pattern inevitably leads to an imbalanced life.
If we take the time to evaluate how we spend our days, we can learn to prioritize what really matters. A balanced life goes hand in hand with a simplified life. It means shorter shopping lists (cutting out junk food, expensive accessories, impulse purchases), less debt, healthier bodies and calmer, less agitated minds.
Simplifying our lives allows us the time and energy to introspect and focus on our spiritual well-being. When we are able to take a step back and survey our life, we sometimes realize that many of the pursuits that have been driving us have resulted only in anxiety and frustration, and have taken from us our valuable time and energy.
Careful cultivation of our spiritual garden enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious. The path of self-realization leads to a deepened understanding of our true self beyond a material conception. Real yoga, the harmonious union with the Supreme, brings life into balance. As we deepen our connection with the Supreme Friend and Protector, the Cause of all Causes, we experience true harmony in our lives and begin to achieve the real meaning and purpose of human life - a balanced life.
Events and Workshops
Coming soon:
Vegetarian Cooking and Ayurveda!
Pre-registration is required for both. Details Below...
Feel healthier and energetic this year with these simple tips...
~Drink at least 6 - 8 glasses of pure water every day. Our body is made up of two thirds water which is needed for almost everything, from converting food to energy to regulating body temperature, blood circulation, and removing toxins and waste
~Add more fruits and vegetables to your day.Choose organic and in season fruits and vegetables, when possible. Fruits and vegetables are packed with lots of nutrients and fiber. Here are few that are in season for January: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, leeks, lemons, oranges, papaya, tangelos and tangerines. Try blending combinations of fruit, fruits and vegetables or vegetables to increase your energy, boost your immune system and start your day in a good mood.
~Reducesugar. Cut back especially on processed sugars present in sweets, cakes, cookies, etc. If you feel like something sweet, reach for some fresh or dried, unsweetened fruit. When baking your own cakes and cookies, use natural sweeteners, such as honey, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, or organic unrefined cane sugar along with whole wheat flour and egg replacer to make your goodies a little healthier.
~Reduce salt.
Too much salt in the diet may increase blood pressure and contribute to premature heart disease. Try to use as little salt in your cooking as possible and find a more nutritious alternative to table salt such as Redmonds "Real Salt" or sea salt. Try substituting "Spike" Salt-free Seasoning or simply experiment with fresh herbs and spices to increase the flavor of foods.
~Reduce fat.
Instead of frying foods, opt for steaming, baking, roasting or sautéing. Try 'steamfrying' using a mixture of low salt soy sauce or tamari and water to add lots of flavor without the fat. Also, try to use healthier fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, safflower and grapeseed oil instead of butter. Always avoid hydrogenated fats like margarine and shortening. Eat nuts and seeds regularly and an avocado every few days to feed your body good fats, containing omega 3, omega 6 and omega 9 fatty acids.
~Reduce caffeinated and carbonated drinks.
Caffeine is a toxic, addictive substance which leaches valuable nutrients from the body. Carbonated drinks are loaded with sugar and salt, with no nutritional value. Choose from the large variety of herbal teas, coffee substitutes such as Pêro, Kombucha or natural energy drinks to give you energy without the addiction.
~Increase fiber. Increase fiber to maintain a healthy digestion and metabolism. Choose sprouted whole grain breads, cereals and pasta instead of processed white flour products, with no fiber. Be adventurous and try spelt, corn or quinoa pasta, instead of the common durum wheat semolina.
~Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. It can be as simple as walking around the block during your lunch break, or taking your pet for a walk in the park after work or dinner. Or, make a day of it and enjoy a hike in nature or go skiiing during the winter.
~Add yoga to your day. Yoga strengthens the body, from the inside out, while also calming and clearing the mind. Even if you can only squeeze in a few minutes of your favorite poses, any amount of yoga is beneficial.
~Add the practice of meditation to your day. Just 10 minutes of Gauranga breathing in the morning upon waking and in the evening before sleeping will let you experience inner peace and clarity of mind.
Recipes
Breakfast Banana Berry Smoothie
makes one serving
2 bananas, fresh or frozen, cut into pieces
6 oz strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Agave, maple syrup or honey to sweeten as desired
Optional add ins:
Ground flax seed, hemp seeds, organic yogurt
If using frozen fruit, let it sit out for 5-10 minutes before blending so it doesn't stick together. Then put all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. If you like, you can add a scoop of your favorite protein powder, and a teaspoon of hemp seeds or ground flax seeds for extra protein and omega 3's. You can also add organic plain yogurt for additional protein and probiotics.
Yoga Asana
Bridge Pose
(Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
Level: Easy
Benefits: Strengthens lower back and thighs, tones buttocks, prepares body for deeper backbends.
Cautions: Weak knees, neck injuries
How To:
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3
Press the arms and feet into the floor and as you gently contract the buttocks. inhale and raise the hips as high as is comfortable.
Draw the chest toward the chin and feel the lungs and chest expanding.(fig.1)
Make sure the feet stay parallel.
As you exhale slowly lower the upper, middle and then lower back.
Rest, then repeat x 5
As you become stronger you can hold the pose for a count of 5-10 breaths before lowering.
Laying comfortably on your back, bend your knees, and bring your feet close to your buttocks. The knees and feet should be in line with your inner hip bones. Have your arms beside you. Relax.
Modifications
If your knees hurt as you lift up - try placing your feet further away from your buttocks.
If you have back problems - try placing a block under the sacrum and rest your weight on it for a few breaths. (fig.2)
If you have neck problems - try placing a blanket under your shoulders for support.
To Deepen
To strengthen the lower back, place a block between the thighs and press the thighs into it.
To lift higher into the pose interlink your hands under your back and gently draw shoulders inwards as you lift your chest..
To add to the strengthening effect in the back and thighs, draw one knee into chest and then extend the leg to the ceiling, hold for five breaths and repeat on the other side. (fig.3)
Gem of Wisdom
"The nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed." ~ Bhagavad-gita Ch 2, txt 14
New Student Special!
14 Days for $14
(pay $14 at your first class then come to as many classes as you like within the following 14 day period)
New student introductory special valid at Lotus Garden Meditation Center for first time students, includes Yoga asanas and Tai Chi.
Dear Friends, 
Choose organic and in season fruits and vegetables, when possible. Fruits and vegetables are packed with lots of nutrients and fiber. Here are few that are in season for January: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, leeks, lemons, oranges, papaya, tangelos and tangerines. Try blending combinations of fruit, fruits and vegetables or vegetables to increase your energy, boost your immune system and start your day in a good mood.
durum wheat semolina. 
"The nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed." 
