Yogic Love From Within

Sandhi us the Sanskrit word for the space where two different things meet and the transition from one to the next, such as the ocean meeting the shore, or winter changing to spring, or the first moments of your eyes awakening from a slumber in the morning.  Kala sandhi relates to transitions pertaining to time (kala), the segments of the day – dawn, morning, noon, dusk, night or various stages of your life like infancy, childhood, adolescences, adult hood, and the sunset years.  Kriya Sandhi is the meeting point between two completed activities  (Kriya) such as moving from sitting to standing, awake to sleeping and down dog to plank pose. I think of it as the subtle space in between the action. You know sometimes that sticky place that we want to rush through to avoid feelings, self-talk or presence in the mini-moments of being with all of yourself.

Honoring and witnessing transitions is an ancient Vedic practice and it provides a strong baseline to return to when the waves of life begin to churn, rise and fall and settle.  We can work with the yogic arts in truly cultivating awareness on and off the mat in our thoughts, actions and reactions by starting with self –care, self-love from little transitions and grow it outward from there. 

Practice Sensory Meditation

Here’s a simple practice at the start of your day.  You might need 10 mins earlier than when you get up –depending  

 In the morning, just as you awaken in bed, observe the senses: touch –what do your sheets feel like on your skin? Sound - did you awake to an alarm – can it be changed to slowing waken your hearing? Do you hear inside house sounds – dogs barking, cats meowing (I do have 3!) or birds chirping (they’ll be coming soon) sight – what colors shine through the eyelids when closed? What colors come into your bedroom? Look to the left – to the right –to the ceiling  (what’s that color like?)  Do you smell anything?

 Now, come back to your own heart, regardless if there are animals or other people in your bed. Let this be about you and your heart center. Come back to your heart field—that is your being, the actual heart is the pump that pumps your blood, which carries your vital energy – your prana through your entire being.   Can you just let the breath move freely in and out of you with your awareness around your heart just being here in bed freeing your mind of any limiting thoughts? For a few moments simply be aware not wanting anything or doing anything. Simple be aware of your true Self which is unbound love and awareness. Maintain this flowing observation as long as you can comfortably keep silence, stillness and a sense of void in the heart of heart. Such moments of sandhi are an opportunity to recalibrate your day to the pulse and peace inside your heart.

 I know for certain that coming to the mat in a formal practice and integrating simple practices in my daily life helps me tune into being aware and OK with the bigger transitions in my life .

Love Within

When you strip down to nature
When you sit  and stare

in the seat of your own soul
you realize you are vulnerable and aware

abundant love and fear, joy and hate ...

and all those emotions and mental states
you just awaken

to every step you can muster and be taken

being this participant in your own life.

It’s scary, it’s hard

being  present  to all the parts

is being human with real emotions and an open heart

Let me know if you try this simple sensory awareness practice and how it goes … give it time and be kind to yourself.

Sending love

OM SHANTI

Dani

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