Kundalini Yoga Yogi

SUMMER SOLSTICE 2009 -- PEACE PRAYER DAY

Each year, around the time of the Summer Solstice, there is an interfaith gathering held in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Organized by Sikh Americans, it is open to all faiths and beliefs. Its focus, as designed by the late Sikh leader, Yogi Bhajan, is to encourage prayers for peace. Part entertainment, part celebration, part ceremony, it combines to form an illustration of how differing people and faiths can work together towards a common goal, in this case, peace. The 24^th Annual International Peace Prayer Day was held on June 20, 2009. It's stated purpose was:

  A Peaceful Heart—Recognizing Sacred Prayer in Every Action.

This year's program got off to a rousing start with Bhangara --a Sikh/Punjabi folk dancing form by a group of young American Sikhs – Izzat da Punjab (sic). (Pictures 1 & 2) The dance is active, stylized and aerobic and has gained popularity among young people of all ages in places like London dance clubs.

In contrast were the Tewa Dancers of the North Ohkay Owingeh. Their Eagle Dance was stately, graceful and informative of traditions and beliefs. We were blessed to be blessed by one of two medicine men or shamans. (Picture #3) (Pictures #4 & #5 show the Eagle Dancers.)

 

The Zevk Ensemble led the gathering in a series of sacred Sufi devotional chants. Their heart centered rhythms and words and our own participation conferred an aura of peace over the 7,000 foot high mountain meeting. (Pictures 6, 7, & 8)

 

The efforts of the assembly were made sacred in a number of ways. Native American shamans came to bless the crowd. The second shaman was from the Chumash

 Nation.  (Picture #10) A sacred flame was brought by runners from the Sanctuario de Chimayo, a a 300 year old Catholic chapel in the hills behind the Espanola, NM valley.  (Picture #11). With the flame he ignited (Picture #12) a sage bundle which he then used to purify the place and the people and their intentions (Picture #13). The ceremony ended when all the participants were invited on a Sacred Healing Walk around a concentric path that aided them in meditating, chanting and just being with the earth, the universe, each other and themselves.

KUNDALINI YOGA and SURVIVING IN THESE HARD TIMES

KUNDALINI YOGA and SURVIVING THE HARD TIMES

Yes, times are hard and seemingly getting harder. But there are a lot of things you can do to get through whatever the Universe has to throw at you. There’s a great toolbox in Kundalini Yoga and by rummaging around in the teachings you can find what you need to “Keep up” in these hard times. Here are a few suggestions:

1. DESERVE - To begin at the end: we trust that the things you’ve learned at yoga class are serving you well i.e.: helping you to love yourself, no matter what the circumstances of your life. You DESERVE the same patience, love, understanding, and encouragement you give to a good friend, a beloved, or to someone in need! Your continued study and practice of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation will help.

Yogi Bhajan has said, “If you pay a little bit of attention to yourself and show love to yourself you will find yourself to be different. You have been taught to hate everything, and that what you do not hate will eat you up. This is your most stupid behavior.” 7/19/01

2. SERVICE - Call a local church, synagogue, mosque or temple, social service agency, or community center, and see if you can be of service to those in need. Ask your yoga instructor if they have any ideas of how you can serve; talk with your fellow students and work together. Serve.

3. GENEROSITY - Connect with the source of all abundance. Tithing (giving a percentage of your income to a spiritual cause of your choice) commits you to a good cause or those in need, even when it doesn’t seem convenient. It's a Universal law that those who give will always receive. Give.

Yogi Bhajan has said, “If you do not already pay … begin now! And add one dollar more each day … so that your community can be in strength and spirit. There are certain principles in life that have to be learned.”

He recommended the following meditation: Prayer of Surrender - Sit in Easy Pose with the hands loosely held crossing at the wrists (left over right) palms up, relaxed, thumbs separate. Close the eyes and sing along with the Ajai Alai mantra for 62 minutes. Chant as if you are being recorded, in that consciousness. During the last three minutes, switch to a powerful Breath of Fire. To end, inhale deeply, expand the chest and shoulders. Expand the body and exhale. Repeat 3 times. 10/04/01

4. SADHANA - Daily Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, even of the briefest sort, can help you remain, in spite of outside pressures, in a very positive internal place, which will then uplift you and those around you beyond the bleakest of financial events. Sadhana. A student said, “I have no sense of satisfaction although I have been doing Sadhana for 20 years!” Yogi Bhajan replied, “20 Years of Sadhana is nothing. Some students who have 2,000 years of Sadhana are still here. Sadhana gives you the way to conquer life. It is your humility, which gives you discipline, for humility makes you flexible. We have such blindness that we do not know how to be grateful. The purpose of life is to be grateful. The purpose of our discipline is to bring the grace and greatness of God into our inner thoughts.” 2/19/01

5. POVERTY - Do you have less now than you had before? Hard times are a blessing in disguise. (For a fuller explanation read the English translation of the 25th Pauri of Jap-Ji Sahib by Guru Nanak.) The less we have in possessions, the more we can see those blessings that remain. “If you are consciously compassionate, sweet and smiling, you will never be poor. Your poverty is your misbehavior, your poor talk, not receiving people, acting like a stranger, not socializing and being alone.” Yogi Bhajan, 7/17/01

6. STRENGTH - Keep your Navel Center strong, your body balanced, your mind calm and your spirit elevated. In other words be sure your daily spiritual practice is strong, balanced and consistent. This will assure you and those around you of positive outcomes. Nabhi Kriya in the Intermediate Meditation Manual.

7. OPPORTUNITY – Opportunities sometimes knock down our door. Social networks work! Kundalini Yoga gives you the awareness and intuition to understand and to act on these opportunities. “Sequence has a consequence. When we start a sequence, the consequence will be there. If you do not want the consequence, do not start the sequence. Have that control! Control your couldn’t.” Yogi Bhajan, 9/04/01 Meditation for Intuition and Strength of Excellence – Sit in Easy Pose. Cross the middle finger behind the index finger and lock the other two down with the thumb. Bring this mudra up to the level of your ears. Elbows are by the rib cage. Chant with the Tantric Har from the Navel Point as if you were Lord Buddha, constant and consistent. 11 Minutes. To end, inhale deeply, hold, and let it multiply into the being. Exhale. Repeat one more time, then inhale deeply and powerfully, hold, pull the navel point in, exhale and relax.

8. SIMPLICITY - Simplify your life. Do you really need a new “thingy” when your current “thingy” still works? New stuff might only satisfy you temporarily, if then! Out with the old and don’t bother with the really new unless you can justify it in a number of ways other than “It’s really cool!” or “I don’t know why, I just want it!” Also, how much of your old stuff do you really need? If you haven’t used something in 12 months, get rid of it according to Paramahansa Yogananda. From Yogi Bhajan, “Some people elevate themselves above the attachment of the earth. They BRING prosperity to the earth and greenery to the same shore from which they have gone. Lift yourself higher and higher; with your chakras open and working in unison. The higher you go the vaster your horizon will be.”

9. PATIENCE - The media's gloomy forecasts and hysterical headlines do nothing but darken our thinking. What goes around comes around. You can’t know the upside unless you’ve experienced the downside. Hard times are real, but like all cycles they will change. We are a nation of “consumers” according to the media. According to Yogi Bhajan, “You consume your good luck, you consume your destiny, you consume your dignity, and you consume the gift of God—the prana of life. And then you blame others for it! As a human being you are complete. Follow the path of grace with patience and self control.”

Meditation - Healing with the Breath of Life – Sit in Easy Pose, lock the neck in Jalandhara Bandh. Cross the arms, right over left, with the hands in the armpits. “Concentrate on the breath of life with pure sentiments.” Make an “O” of the mouth and inhale, exhale through the nose for 11 to 31 minutes. During the last two minutes heal yourself, chant slowly and melodiously, Ra Ma Da Saa / Saa Say So Hung. (You can of course play the music throughout the meditation but only chant at the end.)To end, inhale and hold squeezing the body and spine, Exhale, repeat twice more.

10. INFINITY - Your identity is your Infinity. Happiness is your birthright. Prosperity is more than your net worth. The recognition of Infinity in you and others is your perfect vision. Really see your Infinity and see it in others. After all, “If you can’t see God in all, you can’t see God at all,” Yogi Bhajan says. He also says, “This is the Age of Aquarius where people will acknowledge each other by being sensory human beings, not by face, features, color, status, or religion. In the Age of Aquarius, people will meet with a sensory psychic flow beyond any barriers and any consideration of wealth.”

Meditation – Create Balance – Sit in Easy Pose, right arm forward at sixty degrees with the palm down. Left arm straight up, palm also facing forward, Breath of Fire for 11 minutes … last four minutes make it heavy; last minute make it really heavy. To finish, inhale and hold, squeeze the body, Cannon Fire exhale. Repeat twice more. During this meditation/kriya your right arm angles yourself while the left arm raises your antennae. The BOF opens all the chakras and burns your karma. “The body will come into balance. Once you are balanced, your thoughts, projection and progress will improve.

Here in Kansas City, a number of Sat Tirath Ashram members and students have committed to the 1,000 Years and Beyond Meditation. We are gathering each day in the Sadhana Room at the 3HO Kundalini Yoga Center on Walnut Street or in our homes to participate in this beautiful meditation for 1,000 days. We began on Valentine’s Day (2/14/09) and we’ll continue until Nov 10, 2011 when there will be a world wide coordinated meditation (11:30 AM Pacific Standard Time) when the cusp period will end and the Age of Aquarius will be fully installed in the Universe. Yogi Bhajan has said we will be challenged on every front—and from that pressure, a new culture of consciousness will bloom.

I’m not saying I (or we) will be perfect in this 1,000 day meditation, but we will continue and if our focus stumbles or stalls we’ll take it up again and continue. If you want to join (It’s not too late!) just click on the link above for all the information you’ll need. As of this writing in March 0f 2009, we still have more than 900 days to go. Just remember, to survive any crisis, go through any trial complete any task, exercise or meditation (White Tantric or otherwise) all you have to do is “Keep up and you will be kept up” as a wise man once said.

WINTER SOLSTICE 2008: The Last Word

Hari Om!

Sat Nam!

Dear Lord!

Holy Name!

When I call on the God within, I go home!

The last words, of the last song, of the last sadhana on the last day of last year’s Winter Solstice Sadahana say a lot.

 

Hari Om!

Sat Nam!

Dear Lord!

Holy Name!

When I call on the God within, I go home!

 

That simple lyric, repeated over and over again on the last day, during the last sadhana, in the last song, was the last word of Winter Solstice 2008 and was truly perfect!

As we sat there in the semi darkness of the pre dawn in Lake Wales there was the desire to stretch the time out, not endlessly but exquisitely. Yes, it was time to go home. Not only in our souls but also in the “real” world. Swaying (some dancing) all singing (one juggling!) it seemed a mission and a preparation for a mission. The journey was ahead but it was also behind us.

 

It was another Winter Solstice.

 

The weather was beautiful. Even on the one day some might call “cold” it was pleasantly so. Walking into the Sadhana tent that morning the place was populated not quite wall to wall with sleeping bags and cozy yogis while the propane powered heaters whooshed warm air all around.

 

Each day’s Sadhana stretched from the Tantric style recitation of Jap-ji to the cozy warmth of fresh karah prasaad plopped into our upstretched  palms at the end of Gurdwara services.

There was Kundalini Yoga of course, and then live music for the Morning meditations.  Pictured here is the jetha for the Christmas morning Sadhana (You can tell by the presence of a number of Elves!) was clearly different from the other amrit vehlas we spent because it was the last we would experience as a large group but it was also the same because the mantras still had the same power lent to them by our combined voices and devotion.

But that last day was much like the other days, only shorter. There was still the greeting of old friends; the saying of goodbyes to new ones and the maintenance of the connection with God and Guru.

    

Winter Solstices are much like Summer Solstices, ... only different, smaller, cooler, cozier, compact and so forth. But there are many elements that are the same: early morning sadhana; the meals; White Tantric; the Gurdwaras.

   Some folks had their first turban, tied by a helpful member of the Hospitality Karma Yoga Team. That is Hari Kartar K (above) of Kansas City being helped by Sat Inder K, also of KC.  

  

There were singers and dancers as well.  MSS Livtar Singh (below) told a wonderful story about an early solstice when Yogi Bhajan inspired him to write the words to “The Song of the Khalsa.”  The land where that early solstice was held it seemed was rented from a farmer who asked that in return, some of the participants would come and help with  farm tasks.  As the “workers” were transported off sitting on the flat bed of a stake sided truck, Yogi Bhajan mentioned that one day, he thought, the American Khalsa might be hauled off in trucks because of their faith.

 

 

 

    Everyone takes from his or her solstice experience something special. The Food Serving Karma Yoga Team for example, was inspired one evening to dance while the rest of us ate diner. It wasn’t exactly a “Nero fiddling while Rome burned,” moment  because the joy of the many different moments of the gathering moves us in many different ways.

There are the quiet moments, just warming our bodies and hearts in the bright Florida sun after a cool night spent in a damp and drafty tent or cabin. These are moments that are simple, but very deep and valuable.

 

One older Solstice attendee, for example, finally grokked  or grasped and understood the power of the Isht Sodhana Mantra as he chanted it with a group of people who had never done it before. It was as if the total openness of the new people “infected” him and gave him the ability to see how the earth and the ethers are connected through humility. Humility he hadn’t experienced until he saw it with the neophyte’s eyes.

We all enjoyed the delicious, hot drinks dispensed at evening’s end by the Yogi Tea Karma Yoga Team. The crew (above) was dedicated, careful and skilled. So much so, that the line for their handiwork seemed to stretch from one end of camp to the other. There always seemed to be enough though, whether you preferred  your Yogi Tea with “Moo” for milk or Soy. The same went for the tasty Golden Milk, Soy of “Moo” ? Sorry, no foam!

 

Harbhajan Kaur and her assistants did a wonderful job of filling in for Guru Singh’s wake up duty though we sleepers might have thought the sound blurry like this picture it was merely the depth to which we buried ourselves in our blanket and sleeping bags that probably muffled their song.

 

“Rise up, rise up sweet family dear, it’s time for the Lord and remembering his Love is here.”

 

Solstice, like any army (of God) travels on its stomach. Without the dedicated workers of the kitchen many of us would have had to resort to Taco Bell or Walmart’s food section but without the balanced nutritious result. Here a pair of coveralled shaktis strain the water out of the well cooked carrots into containers the Food Servers will use to feed participants.

 

 

All was not White Tantric and Solstice Soup however. An enterprising artist managed a fully realized Christmas motif around her tent complete with a Christmas tree, ribbons, but alas, no lights!

 

 

Solstice of course would not exist without the consistent seva of a variety of skilled  workers. Dharam S (above) manned the sound board and made sure the White Tantric videos went smoothly, that the musicians and the all important camp announcements could be heard. There were many others of course, heading various Karma Yoga teams: Jot Singh in the kitchen; Bhagwant Singh, grounds; Harbhajan Kaur activities (and wake-up); Mata Mandir Singh Gurdwara; and many others.

The last evening of Winter Solstice was quite special. The special dinner featured not only gourmet food but a nicely laid out place setting for each diner. We were able to sit with friends, talk ove the past few days and our plans for post-Solstice.
 

Working up an appetite for a number of us meant a lively limbo contest to the music of some talented drummers.

Best of all though was the shared dining experience.

Whether you had long hair, or not, a turban or a simple head covering (or not) there was plenty to talk about and eat. Including pans of aromatic garlic bread, cookies made from raw ingredients, surprisingly tasty. That wasn’t the only raw food. There was stuffed cucumbers and a fine salad There was the 3HO standby of Mung Beans and Rice as well as sparkling juices (for a New Year’s toast).  A job well done by Ravi Inder K and Sat Kartar S whose cooking tasks were made slightly easier by the last day decline in attendance to about half the original camp.

There was by the way, a very slight but very delicious variation made in the regular Solstice diet. Instead of the usual quarter of a head of Iceberg Lettuce, we were served a slaw like salad of lettuce, beets, carrots and a mild non dairy dressing. It was a hit with all the people this writer spoke with.

 

There was one other new twist at Winter Solstice 2008 – we had an evening of poetry reading (about an hour, really) organized by your reporter. It was great to bring this hidden talent among our sanghat. If you’ve never heard a spiritual “rap” come to Summer Solstice and we’ll try to duplicate and enlarge our Poetry Slam at the Yogi Tea Café there and then.

Karta Purkh of Kansas City and Hari Ram of Montreal were two of the poetry readers. Others were Terry Weide, also of Kansas City, Akhal Sahai Singh, Tej Preet Kaur and a number of others whose names escape me for the moment. You haven't by the way heard real spiritual rap songs until you've heard them from yogis! We'll have another evening, hopefully at Summer Solstice.

Most of all, Solstice is about connections. Connecting with our inner divine nature on the White Tantric lines, in sadhana, in gurdwara, during classes and as we serve. And it’s also about connecting with new friends of our world wide yoga community and knowing we have “old” friends who will be with us for life.

                                                   

 Solstice is about a lot of things. It is about all of the above and all of the potentialities of our spiritual path. About how we can be better Sikhs and yogis and teachers and how we can help others be better. It is about changing to new directions and about reaffirming old ones. It is about remembering why we first came to this complex path of Kundalini Yoga and meditation and the simplicity of how it is done. Solstice is not just another event in our lives; it is a renewing experience, a sharpening of our perceptions and breakingthrough old patterns.

 

Solstice is about being within ourselves, before God and Guru and being there as part of a large community, expanding the view within and the view outside of us.

WINTER SOLSTICE: THE LAST WORD.

Hari Om!

Sat Nam!

Dear Lord!

Holy Name!

When I call on the God within, I go home!

The last words, of the last song, of the last sadhana on the last day of last year’s Winter Solstice Sadahana say a lot.

 

AS A PRACTITIONER OF KUNDALINI YOGA, I BELIEVE IN SEVA, SELFLESS SERVICE

I believe in seva or selfless service.

Well, sure, who wouldn't. Selfless service is a way we scrub off karma that might negatively affect spiritual progress. It is a path where we balance our actions and traverse the space between the “now” and the “then” without making the path longer or more difficult.

So much for the technical part, what about my personal feelings about this ..., this seva?

How selfish is that? Which intention has more meaning for my spiritual advancement? Should I perform seva with the idea that this will end the endless cycle of reincarnation? Or is my intention to serve with no thought or reward or praise or even “good feelings” within myself because “I” have done this or that. I have heard Yogiji pray, “Oh God, bless me with service no knows of but me and thee.”

To be honest, the seva that I have been involved in on the crews, getting things prepared for winter or summer solstice has been the perfect reward for that seva.

In fact, it was hardly even work! It was a joy ... because of the people I worked with (99% saintly)... the work I did (100% good for everyone) ... the benefits to others like clean bathrooms, working showers, a pristine tantric shelter, well, that goes without saying, everyone benefits.

I remember when Yogiji walked by the bathroom at his cabin at Lake Winona (The old Winter Solstice site near DeLand, Florida) as another plumber and I were trying desperately to solve a “drainage” problem before he arrived. There was not a smile from him, nor word of praise, just a look that connected at my deepest place. There I was working on something so first chakra, and this saint looked at us and saw some saints. How many brownie points was that worth in the akashic records? That has happened a lot, with many people and in many circumstances. I can honestly say I have gotten more out of such seva than I have put into it. So is it really seva if I have benefited more from “my” seva than the people I was serving?

How do I get to the place where my service is actually selfless? How do I get the “self” out of the service. The solution for me was that I had to find a away to make this seva something of an effort. Selfless seva implies sacrifice. I had to make a sacrifice in order to serve. And so, the last few years when I was working on the Summer Solstice crew not only did I do the work but I also paid for the privilege of doing so. The full price of solstice tuition was really nothing compared to the idea that I was gaining much more from the work I did than I was given. I decided to throw the balance upon the universe to find equilibrium. In a small way, the money I paid in order to attend solstice where I would work did that.

The last year that I headed the Summer Solstice grounds crew, Yogiji came up to inspect the site. It was an honor to host him, to make sure he had a comfortable chair to sit in, that food was provided (which he directed his staff to eat) and to introduce him to the crew members who were there. He said only a few words to me that day but I felt more than rewarded. I felt as though my job was done not for my benefit or even for his but for the many people who arrived a few days later. They knew only a very few of the crew and for us, for me, that was fine.

In Love and Seva,

Karta Purkh S Khalsa

Bicycling Balance

A Question of Wind and Balance

by Karta Purkh, Kundalini Yoga Yogi
   I was able, last Sunday, Oct 5, to take a bicycle ride through northeastern Kansas. I was part of the Lawrence Bicycle Club's Octaginta Ride. It was my longest ride of the year, some 80 miles plus.
   It was windy day with gusts in the 20 to 30 mile an hour plus range. It was hard enough riding INTO the wind, especially on the uphills (one as long as two miles according to my computer) when I thought I might be slowed to less than 4 or 5 mph and risk being unable to keep the bike upright. That did not happen luckily. Strangely enough. when the wind was behind me I felt no extra push, just the heat of the sun, shining on my back. (Maybe the wind stopped blowing when it was at my back but I never think of Mother Nature as THAT way!)
   What was most remarkable, to me, was that when I was traveling across the wind and it was pushing me over there was this miraculous feeling that I COULD NOT actually be pushed over. I felt the wind, assuredly, blowing my beard to one side or another. And I felt my balance being tested as the bike leaned slightly to one side but the re-balancing, the coming to the upright position was automatic. It was as if it were not really in my control but happening beyond it. I would lean slightly over because of the wind and just as quickly (a millisecond?) lean back the right way.  And this would happen four, five or six times within the space of one or two pedal strokes.
   It was an amazing experience to be aware of a threat to my safety and not have any control over the outcome. After a while, I took the phenomenon for granted as a skill I had, but had no knowledge of perfecting. It was just automatic and beyond reflexive.
   This is where this article gets to be about Kundalini Yoga. I am sure that many cyclists are aware of the particular experience that occurred on my ride and many probably have a better idea than I do about the physical mechanics of it.
   The brain, I know, has a deep concern for "balance."  Our physical balance is basically taken for granted except in the case of serious health problems. So what about our mental and spritual balance? Do these happen as automatically and as quickly as they did for me on my bike? I hope so.
   I feel that I have been truly blessed to be practicing this wonderful science of Kundalini Yoga and one of its blessings is balance. There are many others ... some I am not aware of and some I take totally for granted and some I am grateful for on a daily basis.
   Kundalini Yoga is truly the Science of Awareness. The awareness is given to us on a moment by moment basis. Some of it we acknowledge with much gratitude and some of it sneaks upon us and does things for us that we have no idea where or how they came. This one small instance that I experienced last Sunday is one I would not trade even though I really feel I had no control over it whatsoever. I admit that others riding bikes with me that day (close to a thousand, I think!) had the same experience. Can I say then that we are all Yogis in one way or another? Some of us admit it openly, others have an inkling and wonder, and some have no idea at all ... but we're all in the same boat, or body ... and it's pretty amazing!..

 

10 THINGS TO DO

1. Be by yourself: We should make some time for time alone.  One should try to just be alone without stimulation. Be quiet and be awake. Listen to the breath. Listen to the quiet. Listen to the noise. Listen to all that is part of your world. Do not criticize or judge or even identify, just listen. This is essential.

2. Be outdoors, in nature: Connect with the physical world. Smell the air, feel the earth. See the animals. Listen to the rustle of the leaves. We are of the material world and so we should fully grasp it’s beauty.

3. Daily Meditation: Most important! (See #’s1, & 7)   If you master meditation, you master yourself. Your mind becomes your servant and your soul becomes your master. Wake Up!
   Meditate! Do not sleep.
   Meditate! Do not dream.
   Meditate. Do not worry.
   Meditate!

4. Daily, Account for yourself: What did you do today?  Reflect back on your day before you sleep, from the time you woke up to bedtime.  See how you acted, what have you said, how have you said it, what effect have you had on others, what are your thoughts, honestly.  Reflect on the challenges and your emotional reactions.  Did you respond too quickly, did you really listen, were you honest in response?  It will balance your life; prevent emotions from invading your subconscious mind and disturbing your sleep.

5. Do Something Hard: Go outside your comfort zone.  Take a deep breath and risk an act that is difficult, nearly impossible for you. Have the courage to do those things that you know you need to do, but have been able to avoid.  Call the person you have not spoken to in years. Clean up a disgusting mess left by a stranger. Relate to the crazy person who is alone in their madness.

6. Do what needs to be done: Don’t delay.  Now, this moment is a challenge to you! Meet it and life begins, expands, blooms, BEGINS.  If you hesitate, it blocks you, and stops you from moving on.  Listen to the inner voice that prompts you, it is your intuition and if you are doing a daily sadhana it is always right, always.

7. Get up EARLY: the amrit vehla, the hours before dawn, are the best if not the only time for a daily sadhana e.g. meditation, yoga or other spiritual practice.

8. Laugh: This, along with #10 is essential to a happy life. Relax and enjoy yourself daily.  Endlessly pursuing pleasure is exhausting and pointless.  You must really be able to laugh and be happy. Be content and grateful, this is happiness. Be full of joy and humor but do not go overboard. Spend time in healthy entertainment everyday. It is important.

9. Serve Someone: Everyday do something good for someone else.  Serve the humblest person you know. Put yourself at their feet and do something that will make them feel better. They are the first consideration. You are the last. Do something good that no one knows about, no one.

10. Sweat Everyday:  Get some form of exercise that forces you to exert yourself –it will keep the body in good shape.  Yopu are not your body, but your body is the vehicle through which you live, so treat it like a temple, take care of it.

Yoga for Cyclists

Yoga builds strength and endurance and will introduce flexibility and lengthen tight muscles.

As a bicyclist pedals he or she stresses some muscles and barely uses others. Look  at  a  cyclist coming directly at you, and you will note the distortions of the body movement. The pitching back and forth, side to side reveals that one hip is compensating for the other's weakness or inflexibility—it is not a balanced, empathetic movement. Our hips are at the core of a rider's movement. They provide the foundation of the pedaling motion. If that is weak, then the arms and the lungs have to make up the difference leading to spine and lower back problems like stress and strain.

   If, for example a thigh or knee shoots out from the bicycle's center line it reveals a  weakness or tightness on that side of the body which results in an imbalance-- doing less work than the other. Our hips, thighs, knees, and ankles should all be aligned to the center and directed straight ahead. If they are off center, we are in danger of wearing out ligaments and tendons, and leading to off balance muscle groups. Also, the quadriceps are usually over sized and this usually means the hamstrings are shortened, tight, and as a result weak.

The position of a cyclist  astride a bike contributes to muscular tension and a certain imbalance: The spine is constantly state of arched, hunched over the handlebars. To achieve and maintain flexibility and to balance the muscle groups, a biker should  engage in balancing, counter movements. Backbends stretch and elongate the hip flexors and quadriceps so the cyclist's natural movements on the bike are balanced and thus neutralize any over stretching or exertion involved in riding. The spine must be kept limber and never allowed to “set” in a posture. Flexing the spine is important to compensate for the arched posture astride a bike. Practicing Yoga  can help restore and maintain balance, first by aligning the over stressed, or overdeveloped or over stretched body. Secondly, yoga will transform how you sit on your bike. Yoga will contribute to a sense of balance and endurance within the body, and an overall awareness of one's center. (All of this advice of course is aside from your usual pre-ride stretching, twisting and breath expansion.)

There is a clear link between  yoga and seat of the pants bicycling. Yoga gives one a comfort level with, and knowledge of their physical body and what is going on with it. Sitting astride a bike bent over with the head up surveying the passing road is not a normal human position. For this reason, a rider's success and comfort level depend on how well they are fitted to the bicycle. Professional help would not be out of line here, depending of course on how “serious” the rider is. As one progresses (by choice) up the scale from casual rider to money and carbon saving commuter to summer long serious tourist or teeth grinding competitor, the need for a more exact fit will increase as well. While an expert, right there with you is the best authority, here are some general guidelines and suggestions for possible yogic solutions.

Hands & Arms. Arms should be at right angles to the upper body and  lined up with the shoulders. The elbows should have some flex to absorb and isolate bumps in the road and not transfer them to the rest of the body. Wrists line up with the shoulders or just slightly wider to distribute upper body weight equally. Too wide and you can strain the shoulders and possibly the lower back which has to compensate. Too narrow a grip collapses in on the chest restricting the breath. Racers on a  downhill, where breathing can be more relaxed and recuperative, may want to narrow the grip for better control and streamlining. 

Cobra Pose – On the stomach with the hands flat on the floor, inhale deeply and arch the upper body off the floor, eyes on the ceiling, if possible, arms straight, lower back relaxed and feet together if possible using either long deep breathing or Breath of Fire. An alternate version would  be to support the body on the elbows. 

Triangle Pose – Palms flat on the floor, feet flat on the floor, both the legs and the upper body should be straight, butt uppermost forming the point of a “triangle”. Breathe long and deep.

Torso. The spine should be in neither a forward arch nor a hunched position. The chest is open  and expandable so you can lean forward. A basically straight spine allows the lungs and ribcage to expand and open facilitating oxygen absorption. Tight hamstrings will limit how far the back will bend before forcing the chest to close.

     Front Stretch – Sit on the floor, legs out front and straight, no bend at the knees. Inhale deeply and raise the arms up pointing towards the ceiling. Exhale and swing them towards the toes, reaching for the feet.. Hold and breath deeply for a minute, then begin inhaling up and exhaling down without letting go of the toes. Do at least 26 repetitions or for 3 minutes.

     Standing Front Stretch (spine parallel to floor – see “A” and “C” in the section  “Bicycle Seat.”)

Hips & Pelvis. The angle between the torso and the hips should not be hard or sharp—there should be adequate space for the hips to move freely. Archer Pose can give you a sense of this open connection between the torso and the hips. The Bicycle seat  flat or tilted only very slightly. This will keep the pressure off the hands, arms legs and feet. Just as the proper angle of your pelvis in Triangle Pose (See above.) allows you to distribute your weight evenly through your hands, arms, legs, and feet, a seat tilted too far forward tips the pelvis and adds undue pressure to the hands and wrists.

 Archer Pose – Standing, bring one foot forward and bend the knees so you cannot see the foot underneath the bent knee. (This will almost be a 90 degree angle.) The rear leg is stretched straight behind with the toes perpendicular to the toes of the front foot.  Stretch the arm (left arm if the left foot is forward) parallel to the ground, hand in a fist with the thumb extended. Bring the other hand in a fist as if drawing a bowstring (with tension) so it is at about the same level as the other hand. Hold it there and feel the tension of the bow across the chest. Eyes are gazing at the extended thumb.

     Adjusting the Hips – Lying on the stomach, bring the left heel up and touching the right hip. (The leg is across the body as if in a Lotus posture.) The right leg is straight, the upper body is arched slightly to accommodate the left leg and the arms are extended straight out along the floor coming together in a prayer position. Breathe is long and deep. Do the other side as well, for at least three minutes (or as long as you can maintain it, eventually building up to three minutes.)

Relax - Your body should be relaxed on the bike. You need a loose upper body.  Tension diverts the energy needed for pedaling   Be aware of all the areas of tension-- neck, jaw and shoulders. If you are tight, the bike will move in jerks and twitches. Keep a light-but-secure hold on the handlebars, do not be inflexible. If the hands are tight the arms and shoulders will be too. A  death grip on the  handlebars is counter productive. Arms should be loose from the shoulders to the fingertips.. Relax before you get on your bike, take some deep breaths and then remember that feeling as you ride.  Enjoy your ride, its the only way to relax. Awareness of tension is the first step towards releasing it. Of course, don't disregard any dangers as you ride but stay within yourself aware of tension and possible roadside hazards.

Posture-your body should be properly aligned on or off the bike. If your elbows are waving in the wind, knees shooting out to the side, and your head is discordantly moving about  this takes energy and gets you nowhere. You can better use this energy propelling yourself down the road! Be aware of the shoulders, do not hunch them, its a sign of tension, let them relax.

Flow. At the bottom of your pedal stroke, your knee should be straight and your foot parallel to the ground. Strive for the smooth strokes of professional cyclists, who are able to apply power throughout the entire circle of the rotation instead of pedaling in squares, abruptly thrusting pedals up and down. Before your daily ride, try warming up with Sun Salutation to introduce the smoothness you're trying to achieve in your pedal stroke. This flowing series allows you to work out kinks in your movements, which over time translate to fluid transitions from one pose to another, the kind of continuous, flowing action you want in your pedal stroke. Stay ahead of your bike, be aware of what is further up the road so you don't have to react wildly to avoid a problem, whatever it is.

Bike Seat-- raise your seat until you have to reach from side to side to hold contact with the pedals, then lower it until you don't anymore. Extension is important and there are a number of yoga poses. Forward bends are effective  as you stretch from the pelvis.

   Try this standing position: (A) heels together, bend forward from the hips (do not roll the spine over, keep it straight) until the straight spine is parallel to the floor (arms can be out front, to the sides or at the sides, whichever is more comfortable in maintaining it). From this posture you can bring the upper body towards the knees (B) and hold comfortably, folding the arms behind the knees is ideal though not absolutely necessary in gaining benefits. A third posture (C) would be to steady your balance and then raise one leg straight out forming the body into a “T” shape from the first standing position. One or both arms (if one arm is required, make it the one opposite the leg being raised) may need to be extended parallel to the floor.

Breath. You are never ever without your breath. During intense effort you should not succumb to a gasping and inefficient  breathing rhythm. Instead, become connected to your pedal strokes  with the lungs as you breathe powerfully even through the mouth. Ideally of course, you want to use the nose but do not ever lose control of the conscious breath, deep and effective. As you attain and maintain different yoga asanas,  the controlled and disciplined inhale/exhale  is crucial if you are to replenish the oxygen  supply to hard working muscles. Do not forget that the diaphragm is the working area not the upper chest, when you are exerting yourself up to and perhaps beyond normal limits. On relatively easy rides connect the breath to the stroke and then carry the rhythm up hills and along high speed stretches even when competing either in a friendly or serious manner. I find that repeating a mantra (even silently) in rhythm with the breath/pedal stroke gets me farther along a hill than desperately pushing, trying to reach the top.

Bicycling is a sport quite similar to running, hiking, and swimming. The balancing benefits of yoga help us to do it  efficiently. It will aid in elongating and strengthening overtaxed muscles if we apply  yogic alignments which will can establish a new balance on the bike, comfortable and easy to maintain.

GET RID OF YOUR SHOVELS!

As of today, Thursday, May 22, 2008, oil is $133 a barrel (and rising).

According to Congressional testimony Wednesday by an energy expert Gal Luft, when oil reaches $200 a barrel, OPEC could potentially buy Bank of America with one month’s worth of production, Apple computers with a week’s revenues and General Motors with just three days’ sales.

Given the above, the US is in a number of holes. There’s a hole named Iraq. There’s a hole named “oil addiction.” And there’s a hole named the world. By that I mean the world is being increasingly leveled out at the economic and educational level. Levels we attained long ago. Were we have before taken our leadership for granted; we now have company and competition.

Competition is a good thing; it makes one sharper, more aware and more amenable to change. Or does it? All the US has done is to keep digging.

A way out of Iraq would seem to be obvious; instead the Bush Administration (if one can call it that) seems oblivious.

Oil addiction? Instead the US car manufacturers sell (and we buy) bigger cars and thirstier SUVs! The biggest source of oil available to us is through conservation through higher and tougher emission or CAFÉ standards, fuel taxes, and carbon taxes (Most cars emit approximately one pound of carbon for every mile of city driving.). It is also well known that 55 mph is the most economic speed limit; instead we have 70 and 75 mph limits all over this country.

As for the hole I identified, as “the world” well, there’s really no way out of that one, is there? We have to accept that we are no longer Numero Uno on the planet. This planet belongs to everyone who lives here. The sooner we ALL learn that we have to take care of it the sooner there will be peace upon it.

We just may have to talk and negotiate with people who are very much unlike us, people who perhaps do not like us very much. There’s an old saying, “To a person with a hammer, everything’s a nail.” The “hammer” of our military superiority does not work in all situations as we have found in Iraq. It is, in fact,  promoting the development of new and even more angry, desperate terrorists.

I for one cannot wait for a new face to be presented to the world by the United States. Whether that face is of an old and wizened warrior, a smart and tough woman or a young and hopeful black man, I just pray it is not too late. We have to put down our shovels and hammers and extend the hand of peace, negotiation, change and humility. 

 

 

 

My Life on Two Wheels

There are a couple of posts here. One is the short 350 word article publishedby the Kansas city Star on their Op-Ed page. It's pretty bland. So I decided to also put up the original article as well. Hope you enjoy! It was titled (by the Op ed Editor--

"Riding A Bike Is A Lifetime Thrill"

I must be honest and state initially that I am an unabashed bicycle enthusiast and you will hear only one side of the story from me.

I currently own two bikes. Over the years since adolescence, some 50+ years ago, I have probably owned around 20. So, I confess to a certain unassailable and nearly fanatical love affair with the bicycle.

H.G. Wells once said he would “never despair for the human race as long as he saw adults on bicycles.” Each time I ride, I feel better about myself for numerous reasons. I’m improving my own health for one. For another, by not driving my trusty, rusty, dusty car, so I’m not polluting anybody’s air. And so forth as you’ve heard from far smarter fellows than myself. The way in which I move my overage, overweight body on a bike has not changed for more than a century since the bicycle was invented. It is elegant, efficient and except for the spandex tights, almost beautiful.

The growing bicycling community proves it to be a serious mode of transportation, a serious vehicle for recreation, a serious vehicle for competition and a very serious object for debate about its place in transportation planning. Look at the websites devoted to bicycling in the Kansas and Missouri area straddling the state line. There are at least 10 websites that I know of that cover it (I’m sure there are more as can be attested to by better informed cyclists than myself).

There are lots of things to talk about when you talk about bikes. There’s bicycle safety, bike lanes, trails, helmets, sharing the road with cars and cars sharing the road with us. I want to do my part as just about every cyclist I know wants to do his or hers.

So lets talk. If you disagree, let’s talk about that. Dialogue is good; maybe we’ll both learn something. Just don’t try and talk me out of riding my bike – 50 years, a few spills, stolen bikes, long grinding hills and the laughter of onlookers haven’t persuaded me to get off my saddle (bicycle seat) so you probably won’t.

This article is the original as I wrote it before chopping it up to fit!

 

From above the handlebars by Karta Purkh S Khalsa

I must be honest and state initially that I am an unabashed bicycle enthusiast and you will hear only one side of the story from me. If you disagree, let’s talk about it. Dialogue is good; maybe we’ll both learn something. For now, here’s my part of the story.

I currently own two bikes. Over the years since adolescence, some 50+ years ago, I have probably owned around 20. One I inherited from an older sister (How embarrassing was that for a young male?) Another I hand built from the ground up using trashed or used parts from other bikes and with the help of a skilled and compassionate mechanic. Another I bought brand spanking new, a graceful birthday present from my kindly wife. I have had bikes stolen (two) and I’ve given one away – it’s now somewhere in Africa rolling down some dusty path I hope. All the others have been somewhere in between those extremes. I’ve enjoyed them all in one way or another, whether I have been speeding down some large hills on the coast of northern California or struggling up the long hill to Crater lake in Oregon. Another trailed a group of teenagers as we toured Nova Scotia for 40 days and nights with me as the barely-older-than-them leader. My cycling history also includes a few trips over the handlebars and sliding along now-bloodied asphalt. So, I confess to a certain unassailable and nearly fanatical love affair with the bicycle.

As H.G. Wells once said he would “never despair for the human race as long as he saw adults on bicycles.” Each time I ride, I feel better about myself for numerous reasons. I’m improving my own health for one. For another, by not driving my trusty, rusty, dusty car, so I’m not polluting anybody’s air. And so forth as you’ve heard from far smarter fellows than myself. The way in which I move my overage, overweight body on a bike has not changed for more than a century since the bicycle was invented. It is elegant, efficient and except for the spandex tights, almost beautiful.

The growing bicycling community proves it to be a serious mode of transportation, a serious vehicle for recreation, a serious vehicle for competition and a very serious object for debate about its place in transportation planning. Look at the websites devoted to bicycling in the Kansas and Missouri area straddling the state line. There are at least 10 websites that I know of that cover it (I’m sure there are more as can be attested to by better informed cyclists than myself).

We can also open the Yellow Pages under bicycles and note the number of businesses that sell bicycles and service the needs of the bicycling community. Then there's the Tour of Missouri -- ("The Tour put Missouri in a positive light on an international stage,” Missouri Bicycling Federation director Brent Hugh said. “ Supportive comments have come in from all over the country and the world. The Tour was a great investment in Missouri's future and has put the state out there as a great place to visit and to live. We think the 2008 Tour will be even more successful.") Also, the recent National Cyclocross Championships held in the mud and slush and ice of Wyandotte County Park last year. Yes a lot of that popularity is due to a certain lean and lanky, kick-ass cancer beater from Texas who showed the world what Americans are made of seven freaking years in a row. But all it was really was confirmation of what many of us already knew. Bicycling’s fun!

There are lots of things to talk about when you talk about bikes. There’s bicycle safety, bike lanes, trails, helmets, sharing the road with cars and cars sharing the road with us. I want to do my part as just about every cyclist I know wants to do his or hers. .