Diane Bloomfield on Torah Yoga, yoga for Jews, yoga with Jewish teachings- Beliefnet.com

Diane Bloomfield on Torah Yoga, yoga for Jews, yoga with Jewish teachings- Beliefnet.com
Many of my students want to know how I reconcile yoga with being Jewish.

 

I would like to share this information with anyone who is Jewish and practicing yoga. In my own personal experience yoga has served as a foundation for the study of Torah. It has brought the experience of G-d inside my core self  and assisted me in creating a personal relationship with the creator.  Prior to the work of Diane Bloomfield, Audi Gozlan and others, it was difficult to reconcile both these rich traditions.

As a teacher I have always been careful to select the music of the Kundalini yoga as taught by my teacher Yogi Bhajan. In addition I use the Psalms of King David to inspire and uplift when it is appropriate. The choice is however, very personal and a student can always request to have a yoga teacher focus more on the body and its well being during a class with exclusion of all else. Our bodies are the repositories of old baggage and pain, simply performing the physical aspect of yoga can assist anyone in clearing their energy fields to promote harmony within their own bodies and minds. At that point your soul will naturally be attracted to exactly what it needs, so if you are Jewish you will be more able to fully live a Jewish life. 

All The Best,

Luli Rochel

YOGA/MOVEMENT/SOUND

"When one looks at movement and sound as vibration and considers them from the point of view of physics, there appears to be no distinct point at which movement becomes sound. The only difference between movement and sound is the velocity of the vibrations". Frick & Hacker, 2001, pp. 1-16

Worms will not eat living wood where the vital sap is flowing: rust will not hinder the the opening of a gate when the hinges are used each day. Movement gives health and life. Stagnation brings disease and death.
Proverb: Chinese Medicine

YOGA/MOVEMENT/SOUND

A basic Tomatis law states that the voice only contains that which the ear can hear. By bringing the damaged ear lost or compromised frequencies, these are instantly and unconsciously restored in the vocal emission. Sufficient auditory stimulation will provide a lasting improvement of the ability to listen and consequently reproduce sound.

A recent study published in the current issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that hearing loss among teens is on the rise. The study was conducted by Joseph Shagorodsky, MD, MPH and colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston concluded the prevalence of hearing loss among a sample of US adolescents aged 12-19 was greater in 2005-2006 compared with 1998-2004.

One in out of five adolescents in America shows evidence of hearing loss! It’s not surprising considering their generation has been exposed to a lifetime of iPods, video games, mobile phones, and an increasingly noisy planet. A newsletter recently stated that “When kids are constantly plugged in they overload their auditory system, which loses its protective mechanism with sustained exposure to sound levels over 85dB.”

New events in a child’s life; growth spurts, puberty, family dynamics, grief, trauma or crisis within social or school structure may further compound problems with learning, attention, and communication. Auditory processing problems make it difficult for the brain to understand what it does hear. The TheraPeeds H.O.P.E. Academy curriculum utilizes the HOPE method to identify the specific areas of the brain in need of support with a multidisciplinary approach.

As the senior listening specialist at TheraPeeds I am fortunate to have access to the latest technology for sound intervention therapy. As a medical ultrasound technician (OB/GYN ARDMS) for more 10 years I became proficient in ultrasound physics (understanding how sound travels and affects our anatomy and physiology) as well as fetal development. When I attended my first training and learned of Dr. Tomatis and his research through Ron Minson, MD and Kate Minson of Integrated Listening Systems in Boulder, Colorado everything began to resonate for me.

In addition to working with listening I am creating a pediatric yoga model for the special needs child and a yoga teacher training curriculum. As with all things worth obtaining it will require effort and additional certifications on my part in order to realize this dream. By writing this paper today I am holding myself accountable to this goal.

Luli Chandra, CYT
Senior Listening Specialist

Snatam Kaur Video

For Snatam Kaur Events & Kirtan visit  http://www.snatamkaur.com/ You can download her music on itunes or from http://www.spiritvoyage.com/.  Lyrics from http://www.lyricstime.com/           

Jeff...Whats Your Dosha?

This yoga dosha evaluation is for Jeff. Your scores are V2-P7-K1 a strong pitta profile for your physical constitution. The body/ mind scores are very even with  only marginal variability or evidence of imbalance. I've been waiting for a profile like yours because it invites me to look introspectively. Those of us who share this type of profile know how important it is to take the time to nurture ourselves...but we seldom do anything about it. We are too busy being strong, helping others, doing more. With our pitta minds in a hyper rajasic state (that's the energy of "just do it" noted in a previous post on the gunas) we can fool ourselves into thinking more is more. The challenge for a balanced pitta is take his or her raw energy and harness it for a higher purpose. The method for achieving it is by injecting consciousness into everything you do.

In the summer time when it is especially hot pitta needs to avoid extended periods outdoors. Excessive heat and physical exertion aggravate pitta and can make your kapha (earth ) feel heavy. For yoga to be effective and therapeutic for you it should address langhana (cooling) poses with emphasis on grounding and centering. A series of invigorating Ashtanga Sun Salutations performed with ujjayi (victorious) breath where the exhalations are lengthened. This pranayama (breathing technique) has physiological benefits of reducing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and increasing tidal volume or capacity for respiration's. There are numerous videos on you tube you can practice with although a personal relationship with a qualified teacher is advisable whenever working with yoga's more subtle practices. Mentally focusing on the heart, both the physical and the emotional during the practice to help soften the sometimes harsh side of pitta.

A long savasana meditation utilizing tense/release to relax every part of the body systematically and in isolation. Accompanied by Gayatri mantra and chant...and many walks in the Moonlight with your beloved wife. Jeff is an outstanding certified personal trainer, contact him for safe, effective, one on one personalized training at 786.439.9498 http://www.chizeled.net/

"Thy Will Be Done"

Namaste,

Luli

Sources...

The ultimate source of information compiled on this blog is attributed to the One primordial Light.

This blog is intended to be a general overview of the numerous yogic teachings and disciplines as they relate to teachers/students of yogasana. The science of AyurVeda is a holistic practice involving nutrition,  therapeutic massage and oils, ritual purification processes, and yogasana (use of the yoga postures) to both achieve and maintain good health. The information I am presenting should serve as a guide for students to increase self awareness and help them select a competent teacher. Our western "one size fits all" approach to yoga at the gym may not always be the most beneficial model for the student on the physical, emotional, or spiritual levels.

I apologize in advance for any errors in omission (or otherwise) in any of the posts. I welcome and encourage dialog and correction from qualified sources. Some of the images on the blog are "royalty free" google images, if I have accidentally violated any copyright please inform me lulichandra@gmail.com and I will remove it.

Waiver
The yoga sessions, audio classes, or videos posted on this blog are intended for specific individuals. You must obtain medical clearance from your physician prior to embarking on any fitness program to ensure your safety. A certified yoga teacher is required to ensure proper form and alignment for protection from injury. The health or fitness advice published on this blog does not negate the need for the services of a qualified medical professional.

    

The Gunas

According to the Hatha Pradipika guna represents a quality of nature, a threefold capacity of manifest Shakti (feminine principle or prakriti). The three gunas are tamas, rajas, and sattva reflecting the polarity in nature with one pole being static (tamas) a second being active (rajas) and the third representing a balance point. The gunas are archetypes of our mental state as well as our physical. The activity expressed in the natural world or earth is an expression of the gunas and our mood swings, ups and downs, and variable points of view from minute to minute, day to day and year to year. The purpose of yoga is to bring awareness of these fluctuations so we can control them.

Tamas is related to inertia, lack of movement, gross matter. It is required for manifestation of all material substance but it can also represent resistance, stubbornness, and apathy in the human mind. It is our fight or flight response where we close up and go under towards the shadow side of our repressed emotions.

Rajas represents movement, activity, productivity and drive. It is prevalent in our Western culture as we are encouraged to "just do it", go for it, and multitask in almost every aspect of our lives. Rajas is competition and win at any price. It is the fight aspect of fight or flight.

Sattva represents the central column energy which balances tamas and rajas. Where our desire to connect with ourselves, nature, and each other arises. It is the feeling of doing enough, having enough, and peace and harmony. There is no lack in sattva and as a result there is clarity, intuition and light.

When considering the doshas we must integrate knowledge of the gunas in order to assess the mind/body state of  the student. We can then create a practice which will benefit the sincere practitioner on many levels.

Namaste,

Luli    

Tamar...Whats Your Dosha ?

This is a test. Our earthly physical experience is nothing more than a test of our spirit. We forget that we are more than our human experiences, our bodies, minds, and even the breath. We invest in agreements or relationships ( like our jobs) that no longer serve us out of resistance to change or fear; and when this happens we surely get our foundations rocked ! In one of Yogi Bhajan's lectures he pointed out how we all agree to the fact that we can not sustain life without oxygen or our breath. All yoga teachers say that breath is life and everyone agrees. He then skillfully reminds us of how we survived, grew, and thrived in our mothers womb without breathing  for nine months.

Choose your agreements carefully and be willing to discard them.

Tamar your quiz indicates a need for grounding for greater stability. When we are fearful we are operating from the Muladhara or Earth Chakra. The physical area associated with this center is the sacral plexus and our sense of smell. When out of balance this chakra affects our sense of safety and survival and may cause adrenal fatigue. Come in for a session this week and receive your personalized class.

Om shanti shalOM,                                                    

Luli       

Whats Your Dosha?

When Tamar expressed some concern regarding her stressful work environment I suggested that she come in for an evaluation. By the time we both got around it she had left her job and was feeling anxious. Her quiz showed a bidoshic constitution Pitta Vata (PV) and a vata mind/body imbalance. Tamar has a tall, slender vata physique and a sharp pitta intellect. Language is a natural gift (both PV traits) for her and she speaks Russian, Italian, English, and conversational Portuguese. She has lived in various European countries and is adaptable to change.

Vata requires expansion and freedom as well as stability. Tamar's old job had become too confining for her spirit. She seldom got outside, was confined to an office most of the day, and the energy of  her staff , with the exception of a few, was mostly negative provoking her pitta nature.

I will design a session focusing on the three lower chakras for grounding, ujayii pranayama, and Kundalini yoga mantra and chant. The practice will be adaptable for outdoors to foster a connection to nature and I will encourage Tamar to live fully, laugh often, and dance for artistic expression.

Sat Nam...     

Whats Your Dosha?

Hi Tamar...thank you for sending your dosha quiz results and visiting TheraPeeds with Alina today. I will review the results and post your assessment and suggested yoga routine designed to help bring you into balance and connection with yourself. I encourage you to come in and ensure that you are practising with the proper alignment and breathing technique for your specific dosha.

Look for additional pages to the blog soon which will include a contact page with services, fees, address, phone, fax etc...

Luli

   

What's Your Dosha?

 

An Introduction To AyurVeda

Ayurvedah (Sanskrit) is the ancient Hindu science of  natural health and medicine that has been practised for five thousand years. Ayuh, life, health + Veda, knowledge, lore... a part of the medical treatise summarized in the 5th Veda. The perfectly balanced human being does not experience disturbances in energy flow, since all levels function in harmony.

"According to the acharyas the mind of a person is qualified on the basis of the type of his repeated action; it is so because that quality must be predominating in him." Charaka Samhita Chapter 8:6  What we are wanting to know however, is how do we achieve balance in these modern times? The popularity of yoga is increasing rapidly in the West and just like everything else it is being packaged and in some cases diluted to a point where the very essence is absent. Yoga is an integrative technology and science of human development which provides a foundation for a spiritual journey and self awareness.  This self awareness we speak of relates to your authentic self  the Atman or soul.

Today we will begin an exploration of some of yoga's deeper practices that can help us to move closer to a state of balance, harmony, and well being. We will discuss the five elements, the three doshas, and langhana & brahmana.

The Five Elements: these are the building blocks of all matter including our physical bodies and they consist of;  Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. Langhana in the context of yoga postures refers to poses that slow down metabolism, relax the nervous system and create parasympathetic dominance to cool the body and ease the mind. Brahmana refers to poses that speed up metabolism, stimulate the nervous system and create sympathetic dominance, warm the body and activate the mind.

The Three Doshas: are archetypes of a human being related to the five elements. They represent your physical, mental, and emotional constitution and  characteristics. For yoga to be optimally beneficial the students dosha should be considered as well as many other factors including current health status, environment, emotional level,  and even the climate. Doshas are classified as Vata; a combination of air and space. Pitta; mostly the fire element but with some water. And Kapha; a combination of earth and water.
This is a simplistic explanation of course and as a precursor to yoga I recommend all students to discover their own archetypes by filling out a questionnaire on http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/ The results will enable you to determine if you are tridoshic, bidoshic, or single.

The results are not static in that our bodies, emotions, and environments change frequently through out our lives. I encourage students to retest and consult with me 4 times per year or whenever a life changing event (joyous or stressful) takes place. On my next post I will share details of an actual consultation and the personalized  yoga routine I created for them.

Namaste,

Luli   
    

Luli Chandra at TheraPeeds H.O.P.E. Center

TheraPeeds H.O.P.E. Center is the location for the countries most outstanding pediatric therapeutic center, it is the brainchild of Julia Harper MS, OTR/L and her husband Miguel Corniel. It is a place of hope for parents who have struggled with their children being in and out of therapy ( but mostly in ) with minimal results. The primary objective of TheraPeeds is unique in that it strives to get children out of therapy so they can enjoy their lives with their families. By focusing on the brain and neuroplasticity ( the brains ability to rewire itself ) Julia has developed Harpers Optimal Protocols for Enrichment and is helping children to meet their potential in a safe, nurturing, and effective model.  The practice is multidisciplinary offering Sensorimotor, OT, Physical Therapy, Speech & Language Pathology, Audiology, Psychology, & Special Education and more... Additional services include Sound / Music Intervention Therapy, Pilates, Therapeutic Yoga and Massage for both children and adults. The beautiful facility is located at 5700 Griffin Road #120  Davie, Florida 33314 on the first floor of an award winning  environmentally green building.  

Luli Chandra, CYT has been working with TheraPeeds as the senior Listening Specialist facilitating sound interventions such as Integrated Listening Systems, Interactive Metronome, Fast For Word, and others. Her healthcare background and training for more than 15 years performing OB/GYN ultrasound, infertility patient management, and medical office administration are a solid foundation for the sound and listening programs she is involved with at TheraPeeds. In addition Luli has studied and practised yoga  for over ten years and opened Pure Yoga Studio in Davie, Florida after her certification in 2003. Her model was always a private one where personalized yoga instruction and spiritual connection was the priority. Teaching Classical Hatha Yoga as per the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, where the main focus is on strengthening the body and nervous system while stimulating the energetic centers to align chakras and arouse kundalini shakti. With proper consciousness yoga is highly effective but slow medicine. It requires discipline, consistency, and courage. Not on the physical level of how you perform a pose, but rather the courage it takes to come to the mat consistently regardless of how you are feeling. 

      

Private Yoga Intensives with Luli exclusively at TheraPeeds...my connection to Julia and Cheryl Fernandez was immediate. It is still that way today. It is through that synergy that I began offering yoga at TheraPeeds. For the children I have developed KidCoreYoga because children do not practice yoga, they "play" yoga. In order to participate in the yoga intensive the children must be evaluated at TheraPeeds  so they will  receive a specific yoga routine that is both complimentary and wholly supportive of the work they are doing at TheraPeeds. The yoga intensives are offered for 1 hour for 5 days per week for 3 weeks or 1 hour 3 days per week for 5 weeks. Parents are also encouraged to participate and receive additional services of Pilates, Massage, Personal Training, and Sound Interventions.
                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Dear Julia,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve with such an amazing group of people. For the caring and compassion that I witness daily both for, and from, the parents of our special children. I was recently made  aware of an interesting distinction. It is that people who "help" others were creating space between each other. If I am above you then I can "help" you, but if I serve you then we are one and the same. I feel that the children I serve are a gift and a blessing.

                                                                                                            

Luli