Namaste.  If you have made the time to read this, promise to be brief, bloga, you are already skilled at mastering your time!  These days, giving out your email address is as personal as providing your age or your phone number. To start with, thank you for the time you are taking to read this.  My intention is that this article add to your day in some positive way. Om Shanti.

It is quite an oxymoron I have noticed that the way to gain mastery of time is not to speed up, but to actually slow down!  This morning I woke up with a planner tattooed inside my mind, thinking of all the tasks for today and still managed to be distracted by some alternate wonderful thoughts.   Then, I watched both sides of my brain debating, the right side- emotional, intuitive, creative, etc. “having a go” at the left side- the logical, methodical, analytical etc. about the question- Should I do my 30 minute I AM Yoga Meditation Technique since I slept a little extra and am starting late? “War” broke out in my brain- NO, you don’t have time, YES, you will be a mess today if you don’t. NO- you will be stressed, YES- you really need it, you are already stressed.  GUESS which side won, today that is…?  The right side, as in the right thing to do for me today.

After cleansing and centering my brain with this fantastic practice, I have just now sat down to write this article without a prior preparation of what I wish to say.  What I am noticing as I write is that focus is present, clarity of thinking, determination, like a fierce flame inside me on a definite mission, and passion towards a purpose filled task.  It is easier to take deep breaths and more natural action to request of myself becoming centered and being motivated.

When we are mastering time through yoga practice, what we actually do is fine tune our true intentions! It then becomes amazing to notice how much we unintentionally exhaust our time and energy in the countless distractions that constantly appear to us. Just by practicing any form of yoga, we magnify our ability to focus and be productive, like a light bulb going from 45 watts to 108 watts in a split second. Inside that focus is the invisible force of Infinite Grace, that humbly works with us, as our Higher Self, ensuring that we fulfill our highest intentions.  When this happens, we start to notice a passion emerging from within, like a flame inside us, burning with life force, prana, producing results that are of great benefit to our lives and others. A sense of fulfillment about our lives and our day emerges and even gratitude to ourselves for honoring our precious human birth.

     Some people may think, wow, some people are lucky they have that and that they are not just busy being busy.

Yoga practice brings this to our consciousness and into our daily life!  Mastery of time then becomes, which awesome thing is the highest good to bring to my life today? Mastering time then also becomes the svadhyaya- self study. We ask ourselves the questions- Which things am I doing that are feeding my spirit, nourishing to my body, adding to my life? Which things are draining, make me feel stuck, causing me to be resentful? How can I shift into where I really want to be? All these questions are revealed at some place throughout our yoga practices.  We discover the answers to this through our sacred personal journeys into our Highest Self.  The wealth within that we tap brings us to the ultimate mastery of time- the experience of timelessness. The mystical mastery of time is to experience timelessness. We are simply in the flow, beyond the understanding and bondage of time itself. We experience a sense of indifference, detachment to whatever happens and contentment with things as they are. We attain a sense of Faith in ourselves first! Then, we can expand that towards a Faith in a Higher Power and a Divine Consciousness empowering the existence of all things.

For now, to gain mastery of our time today, let’s start with those deep breaths. In just a few minutes, we can gain enough peace to shift the course of our entire day and contribute to all those who benefit from our harmony.

Wishing you Infinite Peace, Love and Light,

Kamlesh Singh

ngh

Fear is also sneaky because it is good at hiding.  We can also become good at disguising fear in order to achieve the results we attach ourselves to. Yet, when too much fear is hidden and there is no place for its expression, then it becomes harmful to us. When fear is given an outlet, acknowledgment and a way to be self expressed, we transform it to self empowerment. Our willingness to release our emotions brings us to a place of alternate choices and fabulous possibilities.  Our minds reach a state of expansion and our energy incorporates the power of the Infinite Universe invited to flow into us.

Recently, I had an opportunity to practice working with fear, using basic principles of yoga. A situation arose where I felt demeaned and threatened.  My body was shaking and my heart beat was elevated. I am sure my eyes were bugging out beyond normal as I felt myself losing my inner harmony.   Thank goodness for all those years of practicing deep breathing!  Otherwise, what is the point of working hard to gain merits our minds can cause us to lose through irrational actions. The tape recorded voice of yoga started playing, “take a deep inhale and a deep exhale. Again, feel the breath flowing deeply”.  It helped me to get to a place where I could see myself as an observer, Consciousness having an uncomfortable human experience.  Rather than dancing around the fear, the awareness of it, guided me further into it, to get to my intuitive space, the inner guidance.

Certain situations can take time and patience, to work with however deep the emotions run, and Belief or Faith that there are blessings awaiting. There is always a greater blessing beyond the negativity surrounding any situation. In my case, it was clear, it was time to rise above a very deep seeded fear. I moved from where I allowing myself  to be taken advantage into a more nourishing ambiance for my well being. One breath at a time, I ventured off in my life away from this negativity into a new direction, not knowing where it would lead. There was an unforeseen support of friends and new people wishing to co-create my similar visions for new yoga venues.

We can all use our journeys with fear to show us Truth from Untruth, deliver us from Delusion to Clarity, distinguish Love from Ignorance, and to rise to the best version of ourselves. Some yogis wish to be in hiberation developing powers of the higher mind. Living here on earth amongst a vastly different spectrum of human beings and finding ways to co-exist is perhaps the greatest yoga practice of all!  Regardless of how we “show up for each other at times” in the end, we are all connected to the same source.   Perhaps the hardest pose to hold and best one to practice of all yoga postures  is a peacful smile. In this way, we create union.

Peace,
Kamlesh Singh

Kalea is the youngest “Yogini” I know in my life. She has already received the rare blessing of meeting a Yoga Master, Amma (www.amma.org) recently in Los Angeles this June.  She is a clear reflection of Yoga Mastery, natural, receptive, trusting and loving.  She one of my best reminders, role models and vision of how yogis in their journeys aspire to re-awaken.

We all start out as yoga babies, embodiments of the very one that we seek. Then stress happens, impacting our mental well being. The impact of adversity often chips away at our peace of mind, typically unconsciously for most people.   The world reacts to our pain by saying “move on”, “stay busy”, “be the best”, or buy something that makes you feel better. We go to school for answers, guidance and tools.  Then we get lots of standardized tests, text book learning and homework that neglects our mental/emotional need for nourishment.  What our world does need is more ways to re-connect, to “The One” that we were born reflect.  In this way, we would be clear and comforting to each other, anchors of support, sensitive and tuned in to what really matters.

We are all still yoga babies that can shift back to our natural essence at any time. Even if we never take classes or go to yoga studios, it is all right there around us, like a radio station just waiting to be turned on.  Yet, what are we tuning it to, is it the commercials, the latest marketing launches, or the calling deep within? It seems that in society today, there is growing evidence of every man for himself and it is easy to forget about oneness.  In my recent yoga training with world renowned Yoga Teacher, Saul David Raye, he shared a quote which was deeply moving.  “Throughout the universe, there’s a network of wires stretching to infinity. The horizontal wires are placed in space, the vertical in time.” Everywhere these wires cross each other, there’s an individual and every individual is a crystal bead.  The big light of the Infinite ONE enlightens and penetrates each crystal bead. And every crystal bead reflects not only the light of all other crystals in the network, but also every other reflection from all corners of the Cosmos.”- Rigveda (Yoga Source Text)

Each time I read this, it speaks something different to me.  What I take from this at present, is that true yoga can take birth or death in us at any given point in our existence. We can become as pure as a yoga baby or withered and weary from the trials of our minds. Either way, it is up to us to one day return to our crystal nature. Our crystal nature is just like the yoga babies we see in the world; the pure reflection of Infinite Love. Our yoga shows up in our lives each day. It is always greeting us in Infinite ways and forms.   It can be as grand “The One” we find, or the one thing we do each day that keeps us in Conscious existence.   Ultimately,  it is “The One” that fulfills us through eternity, deep in the heart of all our experiences of love.  May we take the precious life we have now and live as one!

Peace, light and love,
Kamlesh Singh

As children, we are conditioned to fear the dark. It is often associated with death, the unknown and eerie powers.  As a society we do things to cover up darkness, like avoid being in it and/or talk about it too much.  Before we realize it, darkness becomes a taboo topic, something to ignore, repress or prevent.  The truth is however, in darkness, we find precious gifts.

In yoga poses, the dark energy is often the place we avoid.  Some people do this by speeding through a pose, shortening the breath or looking any other direction besides within.  Inside our shadow are all emotions that we have been advised to hide such as anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, guilt and regret.  We may think if just ignore them, they will go away.  Yet, this creates unresolved, unbalanced energies within us.  Yoga practice offers us a sacred space to intimately feel the fullness of each of our emotions and honor them as they arise.  In this way, we gain a sense o connection within us and experience inner peace.

When we are in touch with emotions such as anger in ourselves, we can recognize that in someone else, see through their pain and express compassion.  If we ignore it in ourselves, we tend to judge the other person for their issues and separate them from us.   Just as we divide ourselves in society, inwardly, we can divide ourself, creating disconnection.  The mind and the heart become like a tug of war.  One is always pulling on us, and at times can seem to pull us apart.

In yoga poses, we remind ourselves to unify the heart and the mind.  In class, I say “inhale and breath your heart energy up into your mind.  Exhale and breathe your mind energy into your heart. Let the two become one. Feel yourself becoming centered. Notice how your energy is becoming expansive.” Let the seeds of light in your heart shine out into your whole being.

Of course, this may be much harder to practice off the yoga mat.  Take driving on the highway for example. I have watched myself turn into a wound up driver when someone cuts me off and nearly kills me and does not even notice.  The best I do in these times is simply watch my behavior.  To embrace the dark and accept it is just as valid as any other part of me. It is also a vital step in practicing holistic yoga.

Whenever you get a chance to express your emotions, see if you can really see yourself engaging emotionally while it is happening.  It is fascinating how fragile and yet phenomenal our minds are.  It makes me so incredibly grateful for yoga, a place where unconditional love and acceptance awaits. I wish for all of us to be truly vulnerable so that we an know our Highest Self.  I wish for us courage to explore the dark with intention to see into it and through it into its essence and discovery that all is one.

Infinite Love,
Kamlesh

Practicing yoga brings unexpected blessings. It is like going Easter egg hunting.  Half the fun is the actual searching and the bigger reward is finding the hidden treasures. During Easter, some people may be bouncing around visiting friends and family, or soaking up the sweetness of nature in the Spring.  It is a peak time for yoga, and a season that invites new growth in one’s yoga practice.  Often in yoga, a person thinks it may be a “century” before they can touch their nose to their toes, or slide into a graceful backbend. Then, all of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, emerges the pose that one has visualized and fussed over for so long!  It is so exciting when this happens, because it just effortlessly arrives.  With no notice, it simply happens, as if it were meant to be all along. The tunnel of the mind, covered in darkness crumbles and is conquered by the Inner Light of the True Self. The seeds of yoga desires, with a life of their own, spontaneously sprout.  When this happens, as it does to each of us, it gives us renewed inspiration, fuels the agni, the inner fire, burning with our passions, our life force, and directs us even more intensely towards the fulfillment of our visions.  Our intuitive abilities deepen, our body strengthens, health improves, the mind becomes more focused, and our awareness of connection to all things expands.  Love and compassion become stronger in our lives, benefiting all things that we interact with.

Each time we practice yoga, we increase our likelihood of having unforeseen good fortune.  I have a quote pasted to my laptop to remind me of this concept. “When you follow your bliss, doors open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else.” – Joseph Campbell.  Yoga offers us the chance to experience inner alignment, where the body, mind and spirit, meet at the center of our being, making us positively magnetic.  In these times, we manifest a strong field of energy that attracts Infinite light, joy, and blessings towards us. While the external world may reflect chaos, the internal world invokes harmony and the tendency towards going within deepens. Yoga practice once a week may increase to a few times a week and perhaps even weave itself into one’s lifestyle. From that vortex of energy  constantly being built, amazing and profound people, places or opportunities appear in our life, just like a long awaited yoga pose!

In February, several students were hesitant about trying to complete the 108 Sun Salutations for the first time. That is performing 108 yoga Sun Salutations all in a row, while focusing on the breath, the awareness of the mind, body and flow of the practice.  It was remarkable to see how the practitioners who thought they would for sure never make it, ended up pleasantly surprised at how each Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) carried them into the next one, until it was totally complete. People came out of the “wood works” when the actual event took place. There were so many students that we could barely all fit in the room.  The steam you see in the picture enclosed is a true reflection of the tapas, internal cleansing and detoxification that took place.  People described it as “awesome, amazing, incredible, and sooo good!”  It was a remarkable, unexpected blessing of people coming together from all walks of life. The true essence of yoga, union with practitioners was happening, all as if it were meant to be!   The emerging of the Light within, while honoring the life force of our Sun was truly present. This is a small and yet significant inkling of the unexpected blessings one can attract, the power yoga has to offer our planet, the universe, and our harmony as we co-exist in this big wide world.

Each month, I strive to hold a yoga workshop of some sort for yoga people to convene and possibly make new connections. I just finished 3 Thai Yoga Massage workshops in the past couple of months, so I will most likely do those again later in the year, for those of you who have been asking .

It is encouraging to keep in touch with fellow yoga participants, especially in a world where we have so many options in each given day to chose from and so much going on!  Next month, I will be in Los Angeles for a couple of weeks, taking an awesome yoga teacher training program to fulfill my yoga alliance certification.  However, when I return, I will be having a YOGA HIPS workshop. Details are listed in this email. I hope to see you there, especially if I haven’t seen you in some time. It is always great to see people who I share this fantastic yoga path!

Wishing you a life long journey with yoga and all of the invisible, blissful surprises it brings!

Namaste!
Kamlesh Singh