Yogaspirit: Εγκαίνια της σεζόν 2013-14

Αγαπημένες ψυχές, ο Σουάμι Σεβαράτνα σας απευθύνει θερμούς χαιρετισμούς με την ευκαιρία της έναρξης μιας ακόμη σεζόν στο Yogaspirit.

Ήλθε η ώρα για άλλο ένα ξεκίνημα. Τη Δευτέρα 2 Σεπτεμβρίου, από τις 6.30 μμ και μετά, σας περιμένουμε, παλιούς μαθητές και νέους ενδιαφερόμενους, στη νέα μας διεύθυνση, Ήρας 36, Γλυφάδα. Μια συνάντηση γνωριμίας για τους νέους ενδιαφερόμενους και ανανέωσης της έμπνευσης για τους παλιούς μαθητές, για να μοιραστούμε εμπειρίες, για ανάλυση των τρεχόντων συνθηκών στον πλανήτη και τον ρόλο της Γιόγκα σε όλα αυτά που μας συμβαίνουν.

Ως γνωστόν, η Γιόγκα δεν δημιουργήθηκε απλώς για μυικά τεντώματα. Αυτά αποτελούν βεβαίως αναπόσπαστο τμήμα ενός τυπικού μαθήματος, αλλά αυτό που κάνει τη Γιόγκα ένα μοναδικό σύστημα είναι από εκεί και πέρα, δηλαδή από την Πραναγιάμα (το 4ο σκαλοπάτι) και μέχρι τα πνευματικά υψίπεδα του Σαμάντι (8ο σκαλοπάτι). 

Υ.Γ.: Όπως μπορείτε να δείτε και στις Ώρες Μαθημάτων' υπάρχουν 2 πρωινά, 2 απογευματινά, 2 βραδινά και 2 νυκτερινά τμήματα. Κάθε τμήμα μπορεί να δεχτεί το πολύ 5 μαθητές. Έτσι, είναι σημαντικό να κλείσετε έγκαιρα τη συμμετοχή σας σ'εκείνο το τμήμα που σας ταιριάζει.

Achieving Your Dreams and Goals

By Remez Sasson 

Achieving your dreams and goals depends on several factors: 

1. You should have a specific goal. 
2. You have to be sure that you really want to achieve your goal. 
3. You need to have a clear mental image of your goal. 
4. You need a strong desire. 
5. You need to disregard and reject doubts and thoughts about failure. 
6. Show confidence and faith and persevere until you gain success. 

How many people fulfill all the above-mentioned requirements? Just a few! Most people do not know that there are laws governing success, which should be followed. 

It is so easy and simple to daydream and then say, "Well it is just a daydream. It will never come true". It is so easy to give up due to lack of faith. 

Achieving your goals shouldn't be a tough ordeal. In fact, it can be fun and pleasure, if you go in the right way. It is not hard physical work that brings success. Great success does not require hard physical labor. In fact, you need to do mental work. 

Visualization and repeating affirmations make up this mental work, and are important stepping stones to achieving success. When you visualize and affirm, you focus and channel your energies toward your goal. Your mind is geared toward finding solutions to bring your goal into manifestation. 

By thinking in a positive manner on your goal, and not letting any doubts enter your mind, your intuition starts working, you see opportunities, and you have energy at your disposal to follow your goals and dreams. 

Some people listen to subliminal messages, for programming their minds for success. There are many CD's available today, which implant subliminal messages into the mind, so as to activate its power. Some people prefer to use them, because this does not require any effort on their part. It is said that these subliminal messages, which go straight to the subconscious mind, bring faster results. Maybe they do, but then you have no control on what goes into your mind. 

When you visualize and affirm your goals, you gain much more than just programming your mind passively with subliminal messages. The attention, intention and energy you channel toward visualizing and affirming, develop in you inner strength, concentration, willpower and self-discipline. You actively develop your inner powers. 

One of the advantages of visualization and affirmations is that you can use them wherever you are, at any time, without the necessity of any external instruments. All you need is your mind. 

Success appears in various ways, sometimes in a miraculous way, sometimes in an ordinary way, and sometimes through an opportunity that appears. A door opens, but you have to get in and take advantage of the opportunity. 

Correctly following these methods will bring you more ambition, inspiration and motivation, which would enhance your chances of success. 

Remember, there are big goals and there are many small daily goals, which visualization and affirmations can make them easier and faster to achieve.

Mandalas in Nature

Source: http://www.meaningofmandalas.com

Sanskrit for circle, Mandalas represent our life journey, spirit and soul. Seen throughout all of history across many cultures, the Mandalas have a center that houses the culture’s God(s). The center brings one closer to total enlightenment. Mandalas not only come in this religious form, but can also be found in nature. 

When you see circles encompassing other patterns or hosting their own sacred geometry in nature, you are viewing a natural Mandala. You can see Mandalas everywhere if you take time to look. Plants and flora, trees, fruit, vegetables and even animals can hold the power of the Mandala within them. 

A sunflower, as well as all the Compositae type flowers, offers an amazing Mandala in nature. Look for something with a circular center with a pattern radiating outwards and you have found yourself a natural Mandala. Stop and smell the flowers! They’re a perfect example of what we’re talking about. You can see this in the way in which a rose gently folds its petals one upon the other, or a sunflower with its seedy center and bright yellow petals radiating outwards. Chrysanthemums are another prime example of a floral Mandala. 

Are you getting your daily intake of veggies yet? Cauliflower, a head of lettuce and Brussel sprouts are readily seen as natural Mandalas. Cut up a tomato, take a look at a strawberry and you will see more of these spirited shapes. An onion is a never ending Mandala, circles upon circles upon circles. 

When was the last time you took a walk through a forest? Check out the trunks of the trees: their rings radiate out from the center and represent the lifecycle of the tree itself. When you turn a mushroom over with the stem pointing up, look down and you will see the Mandala. Pinecones have the lovely layers on the cone that become beautiful within its Mandala. 

We don’t know if an apple a day will keep a doctor away, but there are other fruits that have natural Mandalas. Have you ever paid attention to that orange you’re peeling? Yep, Mandala. A kiwi is one of the best looking Mandalas in nature you can see. 

Within sea life and wildlife we can see the Mandalas in nature as well. Take a look at a starfish, an octopus or even a jellyfish. Tigers and zebras can show us their natural Mandalas. A killdeer’s eggs come with a disruptive colorization that is used for protection that offers up the sacred geometry we look for. Their eggs are often arranged in the nest as a set of four with their smaller ends pointing to the middle. 

There are landscapes across the world that offer us the spirit and energy of this mandalic geometry. The tufa towers in Mono Lake of California spring up from the surrounding water in a 3D Mandala. Formations of rock millennia old within the Olympic Peninsula show us their spirit. A beautiful sight to see, Grand Prismatic Spring has colors that attract the eye. 

The list is endless as you find yourself fulfilling the wanderlust in you, traveling the world to and fro, of the nature Mandalas that can be found. Each has its own journey and can offer you a quiet meditative moment, as you focus on the beauty of the Earth that surrounds you. Your God(s) will smile upon you as you become one with the planet. You and the center will work in synergy and peace. The Mandala is yours to find if you just watch.