Mantras of Thanksgiving

 A mantra is a sound, vibration, or word repeated to focus one's mind on one point.  The purpose of the mantra is to connect to something higher.  Mantras were originally meant to be chanted in Sanskrit, making them more powerful because of their vibrational connections with the Divine.  Mantras make the mind calm as we focus on one phrase.  We could think of them as affirmations that serve to reprogram our thoughts.  It would be like telling ourselves, "I love me," daily.  Maybe at some point, we would start to believe it!  

Whether we admit it or not, words have power, and when we speak them or write them, we give meaning to those words.  The mantra should mean something to you, and when expressed, that is when they have true power.  We are sometimes guilty of speaking negative thoughts to ourselves.  How wonderful it would be to "brainwash" ourselves out of these negative thoughts with a positive mantra.  

Traditionally, you would chant a mantra with a mala, a string of 108 beads with a main bead like a tassel connecting them together.  I was gifted some beautiful mala beads by a beautiful yogi friend, Polly Lang.  One hand rests on the knee and the other hands moves the mala while you chant the mantra (traditionally the sound "Om") and move the beads.  Each bead takes one chant.  When you reach the guru bead (the tassel), you flip the mala around and start over.  Manta's do not have religious affiliation like a rosary.  If you have a mala, try your own chant today!

At this time, we may feel weary of the state of the world, the uncertainty of our health and the health of others we love.  I find that one way to change my thoughts, is to focus on things or people around me that I am grateful for.  I would like to offer you a challenge: 10 Mantras of Gratitude.  Think of ten things to be grateful for and place them on sticky notes all over the house- the bathroom, the kitchen sink, doorways.  Each time you pass a sticky note, chant the mantra ten times.  See how this might change your mind.  I would love to hear what it does for you!


Get started the right way with Yoga! Download for FREE “Top 10 List for Yoga Beginners.” Link https://yogatraveler.net/top-10-list-for-yoga-newbies

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Yoga changed my life

Image
I have always been a physical person.  I grew up dancing ballet and continued to teach ballet until I had my second child.  I participated in heavy hitting cardio classes until I was 39 weeks pregnant with my third child.  Then I had that third child: My family in 2011: Me and Pants, Bear 5 yrs, Bub 2 1/2 yrs, and Josh You see that happy looking family?  What is really going on with the sweet mom there? I always struggled a bit with postpartum depression and my third pregnancy rocked me.  Since Josh and I were outnumbered, I felt that I had to stop doing anything for "me." I felt guilty for giving more attention to the baby than my other kids and I became angry and resentful.  I cried every night as the sun set.  After 10 months of these feelings, Josh finally said, "You need to get some exercise."  I remember looking at him like, "how is that even an option?"  I felt that I needed permission to take care of myself.  I could not fathom dragging mys
Read more

Top 10 Tips for Surviving Deployment

Image
Written 12/13/2020 Deployment- A word we  dread.  We all hope that it will not happen, but inevitably, the world we live in will place us in a deployment.  All of a sudden you find yourself a single parent who shoulders all the tasks of the household (housekeeper, taxi driver, teacher, unpaid shopper) and all the emotions of loss, loneliness, anger, anxiety, and exhaustion.  Then you have to deal with your kids emotions and be strong for them. It all sounds like too much!  But then you start to talk to women who have been there before.  You learn some survival skills and you find a new normal.  Here is how I survived our first deployment: 1. Do Yoga - Yoga is huge part of my life.  If you would like yoga to help you like it has helped me, I have developed a program for you, Yoga for Deployment .  But if yoga is not for you- just pick something to move you physically.  This will boost your endorphins which make you happy!  Positive outlets for your stress are the way to go! 2. Plan Some
Read more

Insight for Deployment from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Image
 Written 8/9/2020 My husband has now been on deployment for one month which does not seem monumental at all because it is not the longest he has ever been gone throughout his time in the US Air Force.  One day I will be able to say, "I have now been without my spouse longer than I ever have."  Although, I am not sure this is something to celebrate.  Even with just a month gone, I can feel the frantic pace of my life without him.  I often find myself out of balance.  I sacrifice most of my time for my yoga and my children and end up working on other things into the late hours of the night.  But the yoga I am doing is not for myself, it is for my clients.  This does give me satisfaction as I enjoy the creativity and service I feel when I teach, but I find myself wanting solace for my own soul through my yoga practice.  I decided to go back to the book, to find some insight from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.   When people hear the word yoga, they think of physical movements to s
Read more