Loving Kindness

Weekly Theme: Compassion Valentine's Day is this week so it is a good time to focus on Loving Kindness. And by the way, there will be chocolate at the studio for Valentine's Day to the end of the Week. Fair Trade Certified Dove Dark Chocolate. (See more below)

Quotes: "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. "(Dalai Lama) "... be pleased with others who are happier than ourselves, compassionate toward those who are unhappy, joyful with those doing praiseworthy things, and remain undisturbed by the errors of others, our mind will be very tranquil." (yoga sutra 1.33 traslated by T.K.V. Desikachar) “Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it's beauty.” ― Albert Einstein

1. Asana (Pose) Practice --  See Our Blog for more tips on how to practice compassion in your practice.  Check out our blog on Ahimsa. Heart Openers are considered the go to poses for compassion.  In Sun Salutations you could focus on opening the chest in Cobra or Upward Facing Dog.  You could add a little back bend in Mountain Pose and Warrior I.  Deeper Heart/Chest Openers are typically done after the body is well warmed-up.  The metaphor here is the importance of being ready and being grounded in order to open the heart.   Some Heart Opening Poses done towards the end of practice are Bridge, Locust, Bow, (Wheel and Flipping the Dog for Intermediate Practises) 2. Meditation Practice--  Loving Kindness Meditation or Metta Meditation (Notice how it relates the Yoga Sutra Reading) Sit Comfortably or come to another comfortable position: Close eyes, breathe, repeat the phrases below in your mind with these people/beings in mind: 1. Directed to yourself say -- "May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful and at ease." 2. directed to Loved Ones say -- "May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease." 3. Directed to people in general, to whom you have no particular feelings say --- "May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease." 4. Directed to People with whom you have difficulty say  "May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease." 5.  Directed to Everyone and Everything say-- May all beings everywhere be happy, be well,  be safe. May all beings everywhere be peaceful and at ease." You may like to check out this book for more information and inspiration Jack Kornfield The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness and Peace  or Joanna Macy World as Lover, World as Self 3. Eating Consider practicing Loving Kindness/ Ahimsa/ Doing no harm by abstaining from animal products for a day or more. Also consider purchasing Fair Trade Chocolate. Fair Trade means it is socially and enviornmentally consciously traded. Learn more here Namaste (With Respect and Love), Kim