A Yoga Kind of Solstice

They say you haven't meditated until you've meditated or practiced yoga in the middle of Times Square.  Being on the top of a mountain, feeling the gentle breeze with the blue clear sky all around you, just being there is like meditation. You don't even have to do anything! One of the announcers said it right when she talked about her experience with a 10 day meditation retreat in the desert. Her guide said if you really want to meditate, go to Times Square.  And now I can say that I have! Solstice Yoga in Times Square with the Times Square Alliance was probably one of the coolest things I've been a part of. They originally first started out with 15 people a few years back, and now, yesterday they were upwards of 500  yogis all getting together to practice and meditate. When we arrived we got into a line, checked in and picked a spot on the street (technically its a greenspace now in Times Square where no driving is allowed) and layed down our mat. Yogi's walked around and placed a pretty red jewel on our third eye (place between the eyes, in Chinese Medicine its a point called Yin Tang). The introduction speaker welcomed us and spoke about how during this special time the sun is still and then will move along its journey, whatever that may be and how life is beautiful and we all have beautiful lives and to have courage in moving along our journeys. It was beautiful and touching especially to hear while sitting Indian Style in the middle of the street with people and buildings surrounding us. I was alittle worried about the smog from cars but they blocked most of the traffic off and when I looked up I could only see sky and a huge tv playing ocean waves at the time (I think it was an ad for a clothing line, but it went well with yoga!) We all brought our hands to our hearts and inhaled and on our exhale chanted "aaaa----uuuuuu----mmmmmm". It was amazing to be in the middle of hearing so many voices chanting aum. It was beautiful really. All the sounds of honking, of trucks far off, of people talking, of subway rumbles faded in the background and it was as if we were encased in an invisible bubble of quiet. Sounds literally faded. Like I said amazing. We closed our eyes and just breathed as she spoke more of the sun and life and starting new.  The next speaker started the yoga session and my friend and I felt the heat outside. I was definetly sweating! The yoga was much like what we do in our little classes here at our office.  I did crow and even a headstand! I'll have all of these pictures for you in a picture post tomorrow as they are in her camera and she's promised me she'll email them tonight! They are great photos and I can't wait to show you!! At the end of the class we layed in shavasna, closed our eyes, relaxed our palms open and our feet open. They played a chant on the stereo that went "om mani padme hum" which means compassion and hail the jewel in the lotus. The speaker was saying how we hail the jewel in ourselves and in others and so to have compassion. Laying in the middle of the street listening to the mantra and meditation I calmed my mind in the middle of Times Square and saw only the blue of the sky as the birds swooped down passed us.  Many pics to come! :)

It was a great time, and free and I definetly recommend it if you are around next year for Summer Solstice!

Celebrate the Summer Solstice!!

I'm so excited for next week's Summer Solstice!! Not only because its the true start of Summer but because
I get to go to the middle of Times Square with a bunch of other people and do some YOGA! I've never practiced yoga in a crazy busy setting, its usually in a serene calm room, so this will be an interesting change. I hope I can keep my balance in headstand! lol. Whats really neat about this is, first that its completely free, and second that you get a bag of goodies when you get there! How cool is that!? I'm so excited, me and a work friend are going that I practice yoga with sometimes so it should be fun. Even though I'm alittle nervous about the whole being in the middle of the city with loud noises and loads of people thing, I'm thinking it will be really cool because we'll be meditating as we practice and so creating peace and calmness in ourselves that will move outward like a ripple of peace to all the people around! Maybe that person who would normally push down the street will walk alittle slower, or the person who usually yells at someone will be alittle more quiet. Either way its a great way to start the summer!  I bet if we all do yoga at the same time, we'll be making an even bigger pulse of peace, so if you can't be there, try some at home!

Here is the info if you are around to stop by and spread alittle peace:)

WHAT: A yoga event celebrating sun, summer and creativity.

WHEN: June 21, 2010
WHERE: At the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets.
ADMISSION: FREE
*Class participants receive a Solstice gift bag while supplies last.

Yoga and Meditations

I've just returned from Mexico with my hubs (blog up next just need time to write all that stuff down!) and I'm absolutely CRAVING a good yoga session! For those of you who know me, you know I'm a certified yoga instructor. With work and home and going to school for acupuncture part time, it only leaves me with about one night a week to teach yoga to a few office folks in our permit room (thank you nycity office! lol:)) I haven't practiced yoga for about two weeks as I've had finals and then our trip, and I just ran into the hall and was seriously considering doing a tripod headstand out there just to make myself feel better! We'll be doing a yoga session tomorrow at the office after work from 5p-6p and I've worked on a new meditation that I'm planning on using - here it is!

Meditation to try:(to be given in shavasana)Meditation to help spinal posture - Allow yourself to feel every muscle in your body relax down towards the ground. Feel your spine reaching from the top of your head down towards your sacrum. Notice the energy moving along the pathway from the top of your head towards your sacrum. As the energy continues to move along that pathway, notice the bright beautiful golden light shining from the top of your head to your sacrum. Notice the bright beautiful golden light shining from within your whole self and as the light continues to shine, notice the beautiful golden light shining from within you reach all the way outside of you so that the bright golden channel of light is now within you and without you.

So thats what I'll be using tomorrow for meditation after yoga session. Feel free to use it for a class your teaching or to just read and relax yourself. Mexico blog to come soon!