Om. What is om?

I was recently introduced to chanting as part of a yoga class. Chants are chanted in the original sanskirt language. The first time I heard a chant I was intrigued, as I have become more familiar with chanting I have started using Om to end a yoga practice. At first this was a little awkward but the last time the group all chanted Om together it was a transformation! It was awesome the voices of all the group came together as one. Our voices all together made a wonderful vibration that brought the group together. Each person’s voice could be heard but they were all together as one integrated whole the sound and vibration connected the group, not just or voices but the vibration and emotion. It was really beautiful to be a part of. This simple chant can be powerful.

Namaste Cheri

Bodhi Yoga.

Is Yoga for Everbody?

Is yoga for everybody?

In my opinion the answer is a resounding yes

In my experience yoga can be done by any- body, not just those who are more physically fit or thin or those who are young. I started a class and instructed a group for a chair yoga class and they were all over 60. Just the stretching and light isometric exercise along with the ujjayi breathing is very helpful for all ages.

For myself I have only been practicing yoga for three to four years and I am starting to incorporate  yoga  as a way of life.

Some sports or exercises are so competitive and have only one winner.  With yoga no one has to lose for the other person to win. There is a little competition in a class setting, it’s human nature to compare yourself with others. The great thing about yoga is everyone can explore the edges of their own practice. There is room enough for everyone to win.

What do I mean by that ? and what do I consider to be a (win ) in my practice. I have come to love the chants, something I would not have experienced on my own. Yoga is done in an environment where you can try new things and be comfortable. Maybe It’s a new pose or chanting or om or just showing up for any exercise class. Another benefit is the history and the mystique. The being part of something bigger than yourself and the awareness of the collective. I also notice my stamina is greatly improved. My breath work is paying off I can work harder and longer. There is a satisfaction in doing a difficult pose that I thought initially was out of the realm of possibilities to ever attain. I have heard that yoga slows the aging process and I am all for that. So in my opinion that’s why you should consider incorporating a regular yoga practice.

Bodhi Yoga.

what are you looing for?

Breath within the breath? The pranic energy between the poses?

One of the goals of yoga is to gather and harvest the life energy and create an unobstructed  and

balanced flow of  of pranic energy through the body.

In yoga class I try to encourage the practitioners to experience this flow of energy.

One way to do this is hands on adjustments. A little change of hand position (Hand facing forward) in

Trikonasana   enables the yogi to rotate the shoulder and get more lift in the pose. Is an example of  a

simple but effective way to let the praic energy flow. There are adjustments with most poses, I won’t go through them here.

 The yoga group that meets with me Tuesdays and Friday mornings are especially fond of the

adjustments in savasana pose.

 I receive comments on how good the adjustments feel and the openness after an adjustment. One class

member said “ you have healing hands. That feels so much better.”

I think that trying to find the place where the pose is balanced and you feel the energy throughout your

Body.This feeling  is one of the main reasons why people practice yoga. To find the joy or the (laghima )a

sanskirt word that means to levitate. To do a asana with grace and ease in this instance.

 To Quote Syl Carson “ The space between the pose is as important as the pose itself.”


Bodhi Yoga.