Question:

Tomas,         Breath is the key to emotion for me. If my breath stays full and smooth, so does my head.         Several times a day focus on breathing in and as you release the breath count. After 3 rounds add 1 number to your out breath slowing it down. Works well for many people and remembering to do it is a meditation in itself.         Another beautiful and useful practice is metha meditation. To yourself say, May I be happy. May I be well. May I be  peaceful and at ease. May I have love for all beings.         Repeat the phrases untill you feel them deeply inside yourself. Then change to someone you feel very close to and say , May (use their name) be happy, etc. In time expand to strangers, all beings, and even the person you are having difficulty with.         peace, sandra

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writes: I have a problem, I am afraid to live and I just HAVE to learn to trust myself. I’ve got a colleague, that crashes me every time I meet him. My life is going out of my control and I can’t take this anymore! I tried to talk, I tried to do purification, meditations etc, but nothing helps. Currently I am to weak to cope with this. Do you know a good and easy practice how to keep your thoughts calm all the time?

Sandra’s correct that controlled breathing practice can help calm you and reduce anxiety. But while I don’t want to start a western vs. eastern medicine flame war here, I would like to suggest some non-yoga solutions that may also help, and should at least be seriously considered. I’m no psychologist or guru, but your symptoms could indicate depression or a serious anxiety disorder. Labels aren’t really important though–the point is that if you have anxiety, fear and/or hopelessness to the point where it interfers with your life, you should seek the help of a professional to get at the underlying cause of the way you feel. There are various therapies (some involving medication, some not) that have been proven to help. Please check ‘em out–you can’t have too many tools in your coping skills toolbox. Let me know if you have any other questions. Regards,  - Jeff

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Hello fellow human being, Hello, I have a problem, I am afraid to live and I just HAVE to learn to trust myself.

It looks like this is something many of us would better learn. I’ve got a colleague, that crashes me every time I meet him. My life is going out of my control and I can’t take this anymore!

  Why do you want to control your wife? Why would you want to control anyone? I tried to talk, I tried to do purification, meditations etc, but nothing helps. Currently I am to weak to cope with this.

  In the light of my own life experience, being encountered in the past with situations similar to those you have described and meditating for about 30 years – it looks to me that facing and solving the difficulties you’ve described can be done effectively by means other than meditation. Meditation may contribute here as well, on the long run, yet, difficulties on the personality level and in relationship would better be dealt on the personality level – waiting for meditation to help here may take too long, it may even not work at all, not without addressing the personality level directly. Do you know a good and easy practice how to keep your thoughts calm all the time?

  Indeed, the practice of meditation does bring about gradual increase in calmness and peace of mind, only, this is a slow and gradual process which takes years. To have calmness and peace of mind all the time is very rare – it is attained only at full and permanent enlightenment. The ‘price’, or price, for attaining enlightenment is giving up fully and completely one’s individuality – which I’m not sure that this is what you are looking for.   If there are Gestalt seminars, or similar seminars, where you live – you may find them more helpful than meditation to the difficulties you described. Yet, my recommendation is to meditate anyhow – though not in hope the meditation will solve your difficulties and bring you calmness and peace of mind all the time. Regards, Tomas

May your own Light and Love guide you. White Eagle (Joshua Gomeh). change w_eagle into weagle). The Third Circle (TTC) is because you are your own Master. The Third Circle Web Sites: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5715/ (Main Site – U.S.A.) http://members.iol.co.il/weagle/               (Israeli Mirror Site)

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White Eagle schrieb:   If there are Gestalt seminars, or similar seminars, where you live – you may find them more helpful than meditation to the difficulties you described. Yet, my recommendation is to meditate anyhow – though not in hope the meditation will solve your difficulties and bring you calmness and peace of mind all the time.

I totally agree with white eagle. I also recomend a Gestalt seminar to you. And don’t stop to meditate. Sat Nam – Hari Har Singh

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 Indeed, the practice of meditation does bring about gradual increase in calmness and peace of mind, only, this is a slow and gradual process which takes years. To have calmness and peace of mind all the time is very rare – it is attained only at full and permanent enlightenment….

Certainly being calm 100% of the time is an elusive goal, but I think it is quite reasonable to expect a substantial improvement within a reasonably short time of beginning a serious spiritual practice. Speaking for myself, I’ve found that a few seconds of breathing, and a little meditation on Samtosa and Isvarapranidhana can have a tremendous and quick affect at relieving anxiety.  It’s something I might do many times on a hectic morning, but it makes a real difference…  Think of it as the relief valve on a pressure cooker…  Just because you haven’t attained a perfect state yet, doesn’t mean that spritual practice can’t relieve 99% of anxiety problems. But while I don’t want to start a western vs. eastern medicine flame war here, I would like to suggest some non-yoga solutions that may also help, and should at least be seriously considered…. There are various therapies (some involving medication, some not) that have been proven to help. Please check ‘em out–you can’t have too many tools in your coping skills toolbox. …

In the past, I’ve been helped tremendously by modern medications, but my experience suggests that they should probably be considered an emergency, stopgap measure.  More than anything else, they buy a person enough clarity to help them choose and commit to their spiritual path.  I believe that spiritual practice provides a much better long-term solution to anxiety.

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Certainly being calm 100% of the time is an elusive goal, but I think it is quite reasonable to expect a substantial improvement within a reasonably short time of beginning a serious spiritual practice.

White Eagle responded:  Agreed, though I wouldn’t obligate as for how long it may take – mainly because of possible expectations by readers – which may be too high.

Yes, good point.  I could talk about the progress I’ve made in the last 2 months as I’ve intensified my practice, or 9 months since beginning yoga, or 5 years since I started seeking God.  Given my present perspective, from which I can see the healing I’ve gained, and which paths worked best, I can surmise that my progress could have been much faster if I’d started out with my current understanding and dedication…  But that is really circular thought, isn’t it?

Response:

Hello fellow human being,  Indeed, the practice of meditation does bring about gradual increase in calmness and peace of mind, only, this is a slow and gradual process which takes years. To have calmness and peace of mind all the time is very rare – it is attained only at full and permanent enlightenment…. Certainly being calm 100% of the time is an elusive goal, but I think it is quite reasonable to expect a substantial improvement within a reasonably short time of beginning a serious spiritual practice.

  Agreed, though I wouldn’t obligate as for how long it may take – mainly because of possible expectations by readers – which may be too high. May your own Light and Love guide you. White Eagle (Joshua Gomeh). change w_eagle into weagle). The Third Circle (TTC) is because you are your own Master. The Third Circle Web Sites: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5715/ (Main Site – U.S.A.) http://members.iol.co.il/weagle/               (Israeli Mirror Site)

Response:

Hello, I have a problem, I am afraid to live and I just HAVE to learn to trust myself. I’ve got a colleague, that crashes me every time I meet him. My life is going out of my control and I can’t take this anymore! I tried to talk, I tried to do purification, meditations etc, but nothing helps. Currently I am to weak to cope with this. Do you know a good and easy practice how to keep your thoughts calm all the time? Regards, Tomas

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Question:

hi according to the yoga/meditaiton taught by bhagavan krishna in the song celestial… closing the eyes helps to shut off the five senses, activating the sixth is this not our goal_divineunity johnpat – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Chris ,         There are different views on open/closed eyes. Near as I can figure it. Open eyes focus outside ourselves. Closed eyes inside. It’s interesting to notice which poses I close my eyes in and the feelings that arise. Changing my pattern can be revealing. You might give it a try.         peace, sandra

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"Closing the eyes helps shut out the five senses, activating the the question. I find this statement rethorical hogwash,horsepucky and spewded baloney.First i will name a few senses-sight-sound-smell-taste-touch now a few more balance-hot-cold-sense of one body part in relation to another-homostatic sense-Ok thats 5 then 5 more =10 now i stopped here but i could go up to the 63 senses that i use daily that i know of(i only wish i knew of more).Your views reflect that of a man thats read too many trashy ESP paperback novels thank you again.Perhaps you meant the hypnogognic sense of half awake half asleep of visual divergence or the morray patterned sight of seeing with the brain instead of the eyes.Let us never suspect you implied mind over matter (phy. atoms) or then we will really have to give you a good writing too.So otherwise your sense of lucid dreaming and astral states needs work(asleep/awake)vrs(superconsciousness-conscious-subconsciousness-lack of consciousness .Just a few more senses that can each be broken into smaller independant senses.Maybe color blindness is your real problem the lack of the sense of colors etc. bye bye. Sincerely,Hiwayj*****Live Long and Prosper

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I’m very new to yoga. Haven’t taken any classes or had any personal instruction. I’ve started practicing with Bikram’s Beginning Yoga Class book where he specifically instructs his students not to close the eyes during practice so as to keep the mind from wandering. I’m glad someone brought this subject up because I find it so natural to close my eyes often while practicing, and I was hoping to hear differing opinions on this. Newbie

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Chris ,         There are different views on open/closed eyes. Near as I can figure it. Open eyes focus outside ourselves. Closed eyes inside. It’s interesting to notice which poses I close my eyes in and the feelings that arise. Changing my pattern can be revealing. You might give it a try.         peace, sandra

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Chris wrote <I’ve read a couple of times that yoga should be practiced with eyes open. **  This is good advice for the beginner. <.. in a few poses, like the plow and in some of back-bends,  I find it very soothing to close the eyes. My focus remains quite strong, my mind does not wander, it becomes more still, in fact. Is this necessarily a bad thing? **  No, it is not.  Asanas are meant to be meditated upon.  Dont just *do* a pose; *become* a pose. <Are there reasons other than the obvious ones (physical safety) for keeping the eyes open? **  Many people lose their sense of balance when their eyes close.  Classic example for the need of Pratyahara.  Many intermediate &/or advanced-practitioners deliberately practice with eyes closed for the exact reasons you mentioned … <I find it very soothing to close the eyes. My focus remains quite strong, my mind does not wander, it becomes more still, … the Awareness & Attention are drawn inward, to Self … this is the root of meditation. It is not my suggestion that the beginning student start doing all asanas with the eyes closed.  This practice develops gradually; comeing with familiarity. (It took me many years before I learned to release & trust mySelf enough to do Cakrasana with closed eyes, from a standing position – not something I recommend to beginners).  Yet, like any asana well done – you receive an incredible sense of freedom that allows your mind to expand & your Spirit soar. Om Shanti … Yogini Lalasa Hamsa Yoga Fellowship

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I’ve read a couple of times that yoga should be practiced with eyes open. Most of the time I have no desire to close my eyes, but in a few poses, like the plow and in some of back-bends,  I find it very soothing to close the eyes. My focus remains quite strong, my mind does not wander, it becomes more still, in fact. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Are there reasons other than the obvious ones (physical safety) for keeping the eyes open? Thank you Chris

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Question:

Beginning Yoga and You by Esther Miller is not listed in amazon.com. Could you give more details about the book ?  Thanks. Because the authors name is actually,  Esther Myers. Sorry about that

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These sit together on my shelf; Begining- Yoga And You by  Esther Miller More advanced- The Heart of Yoga by Desikachar Covers all of asana, but harder to work from Light on Yoga by Iyengar

Beginning Yoga and You by Esther Miller is not listed in amazon.com. Could you give more details about the book ?  Thanks.

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These sit together on my shelf; Begining- Yoga And You by  Esther Miller More advanced- The Heart of Yoga by Desikachar Covers all of asana, but harder to work from Light on Yoga by Iyengar Hope this helps, there’s no one book that I know of, just many useful views. Post me if you want to discuss yoga.

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Hi there I am looking for a good reference book on Yoga from beginning to advanced. Any suggestions. Please email directly thank you michael

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Question:

The YogaSite (www.yogasite.com) has an online teacher’s directory that may help you find what you’re looking for. john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I recently moved to Alpharetta, GA and am interested in beginning yoga classes. Does anyone know of classes in the Alpharetta/Roswell area? Thanks, Melanie

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Hi, I recently moved to Alpharetta, GA and am interested in beginning yoga classes. Does anyone know of classes in the Alpharetta/Roswell area? Thanks, Melanie

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Hi, I recently moved to Alpharetta, GA and am interested in beginning yoga classes. Does anyone know of classes in the Alpharetta/Roswell area? Thanks, Melanie

Melanie,   Body Language Yoga Studio is located in Buckhead and the instructors are very good.  The owner and instructor Thomas O’Connor is a friend of mine and is very knowledgable.  He teaches hatha style yoga, and has different levels of classes.  You can reach him at 404-846-YOGA.  I hope this helps you out.   See ya, Chris

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The YogaSite (www.yogasite.com) has a teachers directory that may help you find what you’re looking for. john – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I recently moved to Alpharetta, GA and am interested in beginning yoga classes. Does anyone know of classes in the Alpharetta/Roswell area? Thanks, Melanie

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