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ayurveda/self care, purposeful living

Energy into Nature – the Autumn influence of Yama Damstra

June 5, 2020 No Comments
breathgiveslife

Autumn -we wrap up,  hats on and head outdoors catching the last of the lingering light.  Forest foraging for fungal friends, their timely presence favored to boost immunity & moods for the  Winter season.  It  captures the senses,  Autumns dulcet hues and tone and earthy scents  enticing  us out  to explore the forests of our […]

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organics/lifestyle resiliance, purposeful living, Uncategorized

Misuse of intelligence

September 12, 2018 No Comments

Within the pages  of the  ancient  Ayurvedic text  Charaka Samhitta  is the pulse of timeless wisdom on the disease and suffering of the  human experience. According to the Charaka – Misuse of intelligence – is the primary principle for which all suffering is created. A concise statement, which,  should humanity chose to respond to living […]

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ayurveda/self care, organics/lifestyle resiliance

Holy COW batman; the truth about our milk & stories about cows

March 13, 2016 No Comments
abundant.earth, milk, organic

I like cows.  I love the element within hindi culture that esteems a cow as a symbol of the goddess and divine bounty of the earth. Ayurveda reveres milk and its by products for building tissues and a source of oja’s ( immunity & calming qualities).  The cow pat, makes nutritious fertiliser, fuel & insulation,  […]

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Kia ora

Carmen: the creator of ~ Breath Gives Life ~ to inspire the vision ~To weave Yoga & the laws of natural living into our Communities’; as acknowledged, inclusive & valuable resources for health, well-being & resilience. Provided by - the community, in ways that do not hinder the eagerness for this knowledge.

Who is she? A 20+ living yoga student & facilitator of: The practice ***Yoga for good health & calmness**** in her local community.
Her higher calling has expanded into re-discovering Mother (shakti) Conciousness. Nurturing Mama, medicine & organic food gardener, seed collector, seeker, writer & health practitioner of the Vedic Sciences' of life & living, Ayurveda & Yoga. Carmen seeks to share the practical benefits of these universal life philosophies willingly as a service.
She will tell you that she sits at the alter of life - in awe at all that she doesn't understand.

abundant.earth

breath_gives_life


Om Joy
Om Peace
Om Bliss
______________
#Yogananda
Om Joy Om Peace Om Bliss ______________ #Yoganandaji 100 years ago he stepped upon the shores of the Western world armed with #selfrealisation. 100 years on, his teachings have weaved into all corners of diverse community, including mine: nestled in a valley in the mountains of the South Island #aotearoa ______________ What effects me most are his #liberation teachings #moksha but not through rigourous exercise of Asana; instead drawing our awareness to our #attitude towards life itself. He uses powerful techniques like affirmation: stating that "words saturated with conviction, sincerity,faith, and intuition are highly explosive vibration bombs" he says that: affirmation is scientific healing, it won't work to repeat something that is not supported by your willingness to change that any affirmation must be practised withtasmai right effort. ___________________ I have many many favourite affirmations which I use often in group yoga facilitation: One in particular is "CALMESS RADIATES FROM EVERY FIBRE OF MY BEING". ___________________ tasmai-sri-gurave-namah photocred to layogamagazine #paramahamsayogananda #kriyayoga #affirmation #selfrealisation #autobiographyofayogi #100yearanniversary #kriyameditation

Days of rain…. & sick child at home, calls for a
Days of rain.... & sick child at home, calls for a turmeric face mask and listening to podcasts. Was delighted to come across a good #podcast with #greenplanetfm #timlynch interviewing researcher #danhermansen. If your up for a New Zealand history lesson, that you likely won't have been taught at school. And one that we all should know folks. Check it out: https://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/dan-hermansen-is-aotearoa-new-zealand-a-free-and-independent-country Perfect rainy day #lifelonglearning task for me and the little 'un' #inspiration #turmericmask #podcast #rainydayactivities #selfcare #knowyourworth

"With each season comes the ineffable ability to a
"With each season comes the ineffable ability to arouse healing powers imbued within ourselves"- #MotherMayaTiwari Navigating the Spring seasonal Junction 1~ Resolve to rise each morning 1 hour before sunrise and spend time in silent reflection, meditation, contemplation 2~ With the next new moon begin a gentle cleansing diet appropriate for your unique constitution use healing herbal allies to assit with cleansing & rejuvenation 3~ Dry brush your skin before a shower, work upwards towards the heart 4~ Self Massage (ideally before a shower) or in the shower (warm organic cold pressed sesame oil is a good option) always work upwards towards the heart 5~ Nasya - cleansing the sinuses ( beneficial therapy for allergies) Be gentle with yourself friends and you can be sure that you will feel lighter and brighter if you follow this routine... #ayurvedicselfcare #seasonalroutines #springcleanse

Hatha Yoga – triggered a deeper exploration of Yo
Hatha Yoga - triggered a deeper exploration of Yoga as i yearned for the wisdom that went the practice. Ironically: the hierarchic structures within traditional Guru disciple lineages of Yoga, never appealed to me. It was unfamiliar, patriarchial, austere & seemingly authoritive. Nope never for me!! ____________________________________________ That was a few years ago......then i initiated into the Kriya Yoga lineage despite all my preconceptions. ____________________________________________ What i discovered was not any of that...... rather a tradition rich in history and experience, Yes the tradition was unfamiliar and at times awkward (for the ego). ____________________________________________ The rich inner teachings #parampara weave into my life and teaching. Of them all, the one that i have come to see as so very powerful is ATTITUDE..... I don't believe I could have come to this realisation without a GURU...... so very simple.... yet so very powerful. Practice well friends..... #kriyayoga #yogainthecommunity #attitude

Often i am asked what kind of Yoga do i teach?
___
Often i am asked what kind of Yoga do i teach? ____________________________________ i tend to struggle a little with this question, as my experience of Yoga is simply: Yoga in all its aspects. Yet for many folk the other dimensions that are facilitated in the practice are new, or perhaps challenge the perception that Yoga is a style of physical posturing. ___________________________________ Ultimately it is a practice that supports awareness, and perhaps most importantly right attitude and effort. From this place Yoga is not just for the physically able with the right support a practice can cater for individual differences, older people, those recovering from illness or that have dis-ease such as Cancer. A practice that does not just priviledge the physical, but addresses all other layers of our being, the mind, spiritual. ____________________________ While those that practice, really benefit & enjoy the postures and for many are the aspect of the practice they enjoy the most, it is a practice that at its core is Holistic: all the other dimensions of the practice come together perhaps while in a pose like Muktasana, as the ability to concentrate within is refined and deeper experiences of the felt experience is revealed. _________________________ Ultimately it is a practice that supports the student to take responsibility for their own Yoga practice and to validate their own inquiry. #yogainthecommunity #yogapracticeforeveryone #yogaforgoodhealth&calmness _______________________________ _____________________________

Motherhood Vs Practice
_____________________
its t
Motherhood Vs Practice _____________________ its true; i don't get to practice yoga as i did when i was single Woman: losing myself in the flow of Asana or meditation for any length of time whenever i wanted. It is also true that i have at times resented not having the space (just for me) to do that:( resentment usually rises when i need to regulate my mind, body & energy) This experience when it rises appears to be the antithesis of Yoga: but only if i remained rigid to my ideals about the practice of Yoga. _________________________ Becoming a Mother served to evaluate my relationship to Yoga and in turn shifted my focus towards the path of Svadhyaya (self-study) as i began to investigate my attitude and emotions: these aspects of my being became instruments for growth. ________________________ As a Mother Guru If I was to continue to feel resentment -then surely my children would learn this emotion as the little sponges they, soak up the energy of the enviornment they grow up in. This awareness: of the immense responsibility one has as a parent, has been my greatest teacher. ______________________ #Bhava - defined as attitude in the practice of #yoga has become my regular practice that has formed a deeper richer life. Armed with an attitude of openess and the willingness to learn i am learning how to overcome my resentment held. A knowingness that when a strong emotion or attitude begins to take hold, yet the kids require my energy, we may adventure out, find places to sit and be still, run, walk, breathe explore.... as an alternative to losing myself in the flow of meditation or yogasana. ________________ Any resentment or pent up energy soon dissolves.....encouraged that as a family we are continually learning how to find uplifting ways to shift our attitudes- and seek quiet moments of inner awareness that do not require stretching the body or sitting in meditation. _______________ Blessings to all Parents on the path.... may we all adopt the attitude of total responsibility for our children: our society: our actions. #bhava #attitude #yogainthecommunityforgoodhealth&calmness

Mudra is a practice of Yoga in it's own right – as
Mudra is a practice of Yoga in it's own right - as with all ritual in Yoga there is a science to its action. #AnjaliMudra: two hands pressed together, finger tips touching, elicit an inner state. Physically: gentle stimulation of the finger tips trigger primary nerve responses to corresponding organs, it also serves to draw together both halves or sides of the bodily system, the right -masculline; Ha - Sun, warm & Left-feminine; tha - lunar, cool. ----------------------------- Physically the Fingers pointed upwards held at the region of the heart (lotus centre) generates the more subtler aspect of connecting into the hearts energy; and remind us that our practice is to uplift and build our vital life force, to unite HATHA and focus this energy always upwards into our higher centres above the heart. ---------------------------- Practice well friends - Namaste - artwork - unknown- if its yours happy to put your name to it!! #yogainthecommunity #yogaforgoodhealth&calmness

The experience of the source of our #faith (in wha
The experience of the source of our #faith (in whatever context that may be for each of us) is held in the area of the chest. ____________________________ Described as the tremor of the heart also known as #spanda; the supreme vibration that permeates the energy of the body and the whole of the universe. ____________________________ Expansion in the heart - that exact moment that you sense an opening into the joy of positive feeling, that will rise from the space of the heart, the inherent nature of happiness. ___________________________ Yoga as the practice of awareness is preparation for your more positive experiences and refines our ability to become more alert for *spanda*; the moment we feel the expansion of the heart, then living from the heart #sahridaya ___________________________ The absence of this experience (living from the heart) causes distrust, dishonesty,apathy, alcohol & drug dependancy, lack of discernment or willingness to grow & self reflect, the antithesis of freedom. __________________________ When we innately draw the hands to the heart, it is an expression of the deeper form of respect from the heart; that transcends any debate about the nature of our divine reallity. _________________________ May we all rise to the challenge to live from the heart - Practice well friends. #spanda #livefromtheheart #yogainthecommunity #yogaforgoodhealth&calmness #kriyayoga


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Yoga in the Community ~ for good health & calmness

Join Carmen Tuesdays & Thursdays for ~ Yoga in the Community ~ Gentle Yoga for good health & calmness ~ 9:30 -10-45am ~ No one turned away. All levels Click on image for more information

FREE YOGA event for the Community 21 June 2020

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