Dear Friends,

Greetings and welcome to the June 2015 edition of the Mastery of Meditation and Yoga newsletter.

Quote of the Month:

The Dalai Lama was chosen to be the spiritual leader of his people as a two year old and trained right from childhood in the spiritual path. He was 15 when the Chinese invaded Tibet and was forced to finally flee at age 25. 

Since then he has become a beacon for peace, kindness and love. Whether or not he actually is the reincarnation of the previous 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso is irrelevant. The man who was born Lhamo Dhondup is an example of the power of cultivating a strong spiritual practice and path.

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." ~ Dalai Lama

In this edition you will find the first video of the new Meditation Video Series - What is Meditation?  Also, there is a deep dive into Kundalini Yoga Archer's Pose.

I've also included five popular articles detailing yoga practices that can assist with your physical health.

1. New Meditation Video - What is Meditation Really?
2. Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose Deep Dive
3. Top 5 Practices for Physical Health 

Much Love,
Anmol

Mastery of Meditation and Yoga Facebook Fan Page 

  
 

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO

Watch on Blog --> What is Meditation Really?

Watch on YouTube Directly -- > What is Meditation Video?

Welcome to the new meditation video series.  This series will do a deep dive into meditation and explore this amazing art from basic techniques to it's very advanced levels.  In this series, you will learn not just what meditation is, but also understand what it is not.

This first video of the series will introduce you to true meditation and help you understand the real purpose of this practice.  In it we will explore the teachings of J. Krishnamurti and expand on his explanation of the activity of meditation.

The teachings we will discuss can be found in the following article - The True Definition of Meditation by J. Krishnamurti.

The three areas we will investigate in this video are...

1. Does meditation take place in the dualistic world or is it part of the non-dualistic divine field?
 

2. What is the true purpose of meditation?
 

3. How can you start to develop and deepen your own meditation practice?

Please feel free to provide your feedback or ask questions in the comments section below.  Also, stay tuned for the next video of this series coming next week to the blog :-).
 

Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose

 

Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose is the favorite of many yogis.  It is truly a warrior's pose and it helps build confidence and self-esteem, while expanding the energetic body of the practitioner.

 

Archer Pose is often part of Kundalini Yoga kriyas geared towards expansion of energy and self, as it helps open up your psychic channels to promote the greater flow of energy and power.  

 

It works on all the chakras of the Kundalini Yoga Seven Chakra System simultaneously, helping them open, heal and balance.

 

Below, you will find an illustration of Kundalini Yoga Archer pose, practice details, cautions and instructions for how to employ this powerful posture to help boost your confidence and self-esteem. 

 

 

Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose Practice Details:

 

a. Step-by-Step Instructions for Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose:

• Stand and place your feet wide apart.
• Now have your left foot pointing to your left, have you right foot pointing in slightly, the heels of both feet should be in a straight line.  Your torso should be straight and facing forward.
• Low lean to the left so that 70% of your weight is on your left leg.  Your left knee should occlude your left foot from view if you were to look down.  There should be a stretch in your right upper thigh.
• Now extend your left arm out to the left as if holding a bow and turn your head to the left and gaze over your left fist.
• Now with the right hand pretend as if you are pulling back the bow strings.  Your right hand should be all the way past your right chest.
• Do Long Deep Powerful Breathing while holding this posture and gazing steadily over your left fist.
• With every breath, engage the mind, and feel yourself expanding and growing more and more powerful.  Keep you gaze deadly focused, with the intent that you are breaking through all obstacles and barriers.
• After half the time reverse the direction of the posture.

b. Duration for Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose:

 

1 minute - 3 minutes / side

 

c. Benefits of Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose:

• Excellent yoga posture for your entire body, mind and spirit.
• Opens up and expands your energy channels.
• Builds confidence, courage and self-esteem.
• Helps the body eliminate stress from deep within the tissues.
• Expands and builds your nervous system.
• Improves concentration and mental focus.
• Expands your chest and lungs, improving your respiratory system. 
• Good for toning your leg muscles and strengthening your shoulders.

d. Practice Tips for Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose:

 

If you are already an ego maniac and have power issues, this exercise is not for you.  This posture is going to make you feel very powerful, strong and brave so use it accordingly.

 

Top 5 Practices for Physical Health:

 

Below are five articles which all detail specific practices to boost your physical health. A healthy body is a necessary vehicle for navigating life with ease!

#1: Excellent Kundalini Yoga Exercise to Improve Flexibility, Reproduction & Digestion

 

http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/12/23/kundalini-yoga-pose-increase-flexibility-reproduction-digestion/

 

This yoga exercise offers many important benefits, such as increasing flexibility, promoting better digestion and toning female reproductive organs for improved function, and I discuss these in more details in the article above.

 

#2: Terrific Yoga Cobra Pose for Healthy Back & More

http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/01/16/yoga-cobra-pose-for-healthy-back/

Cobra pose is one of those nice yoga postures, which is easy to do and bestows many, many important health benefits.  It is not only great for the health and flexibility of your back and spine, but is also excellent for regulating your digestive system and toning other abdominal organs.

#3: Illustrated Kundalini Yoga Camel Pose for Optimal Health and Wellbeing

 

http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2007/12/17/illustrated-kundalini-yoga-camel-pose-for-optimal-health-wellbeing/

This pose is one though that is worth having in your repertoire, as it is responsible for a long list of wonderful health benefits and, if done regularly, will certainly elevate the level of your overall wellbeing.
 

#4: Beginner's Kundalini Yoga Exercise for Emotional Health

 

http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/04/28/beginners-kundalini-yoga-exercise-for-emotional-health/

Although the following Kundalini Yoga exercise is something that beginner's can easily practice, it is also an exercise that is recommended by yoga to be done everyday regardless of your level of expertise.  This is because of the important benefits that this simple exercise bestows.

The most important benefit of cat-cow is that it helps cleanse emotional debris that we end up accumulating in our gut/diaphragm region.  This emotional debris then creates blockages in the flow of energy both up and down our main chakras 

#5: Kundalini Yoga Chair Pose for Sexual Health

http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/01/13/kundalini-yoga-chair-pose-for-sexual-health/

 

Chair pose is not chair yoga - not that I have anything against chair yoga, I am (as you must have guessed by now :-) a fan of all types of yoga, but chair pose, unlike the easier postures of chair yoga, is instead a tough little yoga pose.  It is for toning your leg muscles, building lower body strength and improving your overall sexual health.

How to Achieve Your Goals When You Are Quaking With Fear

Why Trusting Liberates and Ownership Binds

How to Maintain a Home Yoga Practice with a Baby in the House