Loyalty

Animals most certainly have a sense of loyalty.

Identity and the Ocean

The mind is like the Ocean. As such, one can reside in different levels of the ocean. One can spend much time on the surface of the ocean and become identified with the waves. If the weather is rough, the water gets choppy and such is the condition of the mind. If the weather is calm and graceful, the mind is peaceful and happy. However, when one dives deep beneath the surface of the waves, a beautiful space is discovered.
It is a place unaffected by the weather.
It is a place deep and calm.
It is a place where blissful consciousness naturally exists.
This blissful consciousness is who I am on a profound level.
It is a place beyond identity, beyond illusion, and beyond the chaos of the world.

Return to Mother Ocean.

Asana: Padmasana

Benefits:
Calms the brain
Stimulates the pelvis, spine, abdomen, and bladder
Stretches the ankles and knees
Eases menstrual discomfort and sciatica
Consistent practice of this pose until late into pregnancy is said to help ease childbirth.
Traditional texts say that Padmasana destroys all disease and awakens kundalini.

Contraindications and Cautions:
Ankle injury
Knee injury
Tension in the hip sockets
Padmasana is considered to be an intermediate to advanced pose. Do not perform this pose without sufficient prior experience or unless you have the supervision of an experienced teacher.

Asana: Supta Padangusthasana (reclining big toe pose)

Benefits:
Stretches hips, thighs, hamstrings, groins, and calves
Stimulates the prostate gland
Improves digestion
Relieves backache, sciatica, and menstrual discomfort
Therapeutic for high blood pressure, flat feet, and infertility
Strengthens the knees

Contraindications and Cautions:
Diarrhea
High blood pressure: Raise your head and neck on a folded blanket.
Headache

'Correct' Practice

Before beginning anything, it is extremely helpful to know why you are going to do it, and what the aim is. When it comes to hatha yoga, at a certain stage it is possible to get into a state whereby one just kind of dissolves into the 'river of prana.' If this is the aim, great- be the river. If not, don't let your mind wander. At a certain point one can easily slip into imagination and discursive thought without realizing it. This can subconsciously affect us in more ways than we know. Karma is complicated. Be aware of your thoughts and how they affect others.

Levels of Language

There are levels to language, just as in anything else. There is dualistic language, and there is unified language. Dualistic language occurs when ego arises, and will always be present when one is trying to be right, or trying to win the upper hand. With the existence of this ego, the opposite comes into play- or battle (in western psychology). From an energetic perspective, when there is less energy available for someone, it is easier to fall prey to dualistic thought. Also, if somebody else is established in dualistic thought, then they may unconsciously, or consciously, try to pull you into their dualistic thinking. This is where it is necessary to stay centered-at the space of the turn- and if one can do this, then a unified field is created.

Class