7 Things About Me & My Fav Blogs

Apparently, I am versatile! I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award...Yay me! Thank you Safiyah of Safiyah Heals for considering me. Part of the whole versatile shtick is telling 7 things about me and provide 15 of my fav blogs. SO, here it is:

7 THINGS ABOUT ME:

1) I've raised my 2 cubs (21 year old sun and 14 year old daughter) single handedly. Even when I was with the baby-daddy, or my late husband, I was still the head of household. They say, the one with the purse strings holds the power. 

2) I home-schooled both my cubs. I believe in free thinking and Being. Institutions (as they are currently structured) kill creativity and freedom, in my opinion.

3) I love french pastries. When I say love...I mean LOVE! I have a SERIOUS weakness. Ooo la la!

4) I am a self-published author of 3 books. 2 of Sufi poetry (Impregnated with Desire and Divan of the Infidel) and 1 parenting book for healing difficult behaviors in children (Kinnecting: Healing the Difficult Child with the Creative Arts).

5) I was married once (not to my cubs father) for only 2 intense transformative years, then my husband, who was also my Capoeira Master, was shot and killed. May his soul find peace.

6) I teach healing movement modalities (Kundalini Yoga, Capoeira Angola, Pilates, Dance Movement Therapy). It's not work when you love what you do...

7) I LOVE to commune (spend sacred time) with Loves, Lovers and Beloveds over chai tea. It's my favorite thing to do...talk and gaze.

15 OF MY FAV BLOGS (sorry...could only think of 8 for now. I will add more as they come to me)

1) Visions of a Quest

2) Chelsea Loves Yoga

3) Paulo Coelho's Blog

4) Abdi Assadi Blog

5) Style Like You

6) Photokofa

7) Kundalini Yoga Info

8) Mystic Saint

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BLOGTALKRADIO: On Chakras, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, Healing.

Luz on Supreme Wellness Radio

BLOGTALKRADIO: Life as an Urban Yogi

Life as an Urban Yogi 07/19 by SiS NSpirit | Blog Talk Radio

Meditation for Self Love

It's easy to say that you love your Self. But do you love your Self enough to: receive and give love, establish healthy boundaries, really know how you want and need to be loved, and be able to explain what that is like? Do you love your Self enough to enjoy the solitude of your own company? Do you love your Self enough to live your life Self-actualized and make your dreams manifest? These are all questions that we are going to explore over the next 40 days. 
Yogic science calls for meditation to be for a certain amount of days and a certain amount of time to achieve desired effects:

40 days-changes a habit

90 days-confirms the habit

120 days-the new habit is who you are

1000 days-you have mastered the new habit

You will meditate daily on your own time over the next 40 days, anytime of the day before midnight, although there are optimum times for meditation. Read more here:

OPTIMUM TIME FOR MEDITATION/PRAYER

Thoughts, impressions and challenges are shared in strict confidence on a private discussion thread through FACEBOOK. To learn more or to join us, FB friend me! As your consciousness unfolds and you burn your karma, please use Rhythm & Breath as your support system to help you realize the establishment of your daily spiritual practice and the healing of deep seeded wounds of this and past lifetimes. Its really an amazing process, just remain open and dont lose faith!

Here we go!

BEGIN:

We begin in "easy pose" which is not so easy, especially for men, who are usually tight in the hips, or knees. Your legs are crossed one in front of the other. If you are unable to sit comfortably in this position, you can prop your buns on a pillow which helps alleviate some of the discomfort. And/or lean up against a wall. This position IS NOT HALF OR FULL LOTUS POSITION.

Every session begins with the tuning into our highest consciousness and the prophets, gurus and sages of the ages with the ADI MANTRA: ONG NA MO GURU DEV NA MO. (This means that I bow to the Divine Wisdom within, and another translation is I bow to the Divine teacher within).
Rub your hands together. Cross your right thumb over your left if you are male, left over right if you are female. Press your thumbs against your sternum in prayer pose and chant the ADI MANTRA on 2 breaths. Pay close attention to the breathing demonstrated in the video. We chant this 3xs.

MUDRA:

Place your left hand on your knee palm facing up and your right hand on your heart center. 

SAY:
"My Heart, I love you."

Place your right hand on your eyes. (Your left hand remains on your knee the whole time).
SAY:
"My Eyes, I love you."

Place your right hand on top of your head.
SAY:
"My Head, I love you."

Place your hand on your belly.

SAY:
"I love you."

Place your palm on your right knee (just like your left).

SAY:
"I love you."
REPEAT. 
Continue for 11 minutes. While you find your rhythm consciously send your Self the most nurturing, loving, warm and fuzzy love you can possibly generate. This is your big opportunity...the next 40 days is ALL about you! 
TO CLOSE:
To finish bring your hands in Gyan Mudra. Thumbs pressed against your index finger. Other fingers are straight. Wrists are resting on your knees.

Recite the  WARRIOR HEALERS AFFIRMATIONS

TUNE OUT:
Chant SAT NAM (Truth is my Idenity) 3xs on one breath.

Bring your hands in prayer mudra up to your forehead and bow to the floor to seal the work in your frontal lobe.

SO there it is Rhythm & Breath Yogis! I LOVE THIS MEDITATION. It's so sweet! Lets shmelt away our pain and love ourselves up! We deserve love in all its manifestations the way we want/need it in this lifetime. 
Sat Nam!
<3 Luz

Experiencing the Original You

"I want to give you that depth and that strength which is yours...the original you." - Yogi Bhajan

This meditation is challenging but will be well worth it. It is made up of three sections. And each section is NOT to be done for more than 3 minutes, so meditation is only 9 minutes as opposed to our usual 11 minute meditations. The first part entails a mudra (hand position) and a pranayam (breathing exercise) called "one minute breath." This breathing exercise is challenging and difficult to master. SO I suggest you begin with 10 seconds and work your way up to 20 seconds to gain control of the breath. You will know what I am talking about in a second.

BEGIN:
We begin in "easy pose" which is not so easy, especially for men, who are usually tight in the hips, or knees. Your legs are crossed one in front of the other. If you are unable to sit comfortably in this position, you can prop your buns on a pillow which helps alleviate some of the discomfort. And/or lean up against a wall. This position IS NOT HALF OR FULL LOTUS POSITION.

Every session begins with the tuning into our highest consciousness and the prophets, gurus and sages of the ages with the ADI MANTRA: ONG NA MO GURU DEV NA MO. (This means that I bow to the Divine Wisdom within, and another translation is I bow to the Divine teacher within).

Rub your hands together. Cross your right thumb over your left if you are male, left over right if you are female. Press your thumbs against your sternum in prayer pose and chant the ADI MANTRA on 2 breaths. Pay close attention to the breathing demonstrated in the video. We chant this 3xs.

PART ONE:

Interlace your fingers and turn your hands away from you so that palms are facing out. Extend your arms straight in front of you with no bend in the elbows. Your eyes are closed and focused on the tip of the nose. You are going to inhale for 10-20 seconds, Hold the breath for 10-20 seconds, then you are going to exhale for 10-20 seconds. Do this for 3 minutes.

NOTES: The exhaling is the most challenging part of this pranayam and may cause a little anxiety. The breath gives and releases prana (vital life force) inhaling associated with life and exhaling with death. So mentally explore what your fears are after you complete the meditation.

PART TWO:

Remain in the position with the focus on the nose. Inhale through your nose and exhale like a cannon. Project the exhale forward with as much force as possible. How much you can heal yourself will be in direct proportion to the strength of your breath. Continue this for 3 minutes.

NOTES: As you are exhaling, release anything consciously or unconsciously you would like to release. Send it out away from your physical, emotional and spiritual bodies back into the universe. Keep what serves you, send away what does not.

PART THREE:

Remain in the position. Inhale and hold your breath. Pump your navel as many times as you can until you cannot pump and hold the breath any longer then exhale. Immediately repeat again. Continue for three minutes.

TO FINISH:

Inhale hold the breath for 15 second, stretch your arms out as far as possible, putting pressure on your joined fingers. Exhale like a cannon. Repeat 2 more times.

Finally, point your index finger up with the thumb locking down the other three fingers and circulate the energy by spinning your fingers TOWARD you as fast as you can. Continue for 2 1/2 minutes.

Then relax..WEW! 

TO CLOSE:

To finish bring your hands in Gyan Mudra. Thumbs pressed against your index finger. Other fingers are straight. Wrists are resting on your knees.

Recite the  Warrior Healer's Affirmations

Tune out by chanting: SAT NAM (Truth is my Idenity) 3xs on one breath.

Bring your hands in prayer mudra up to your forehead and bow to the floor to seal the work in your frontal lobe.

There it is! Let me know when you begin and dont forget to check in with me via FACEBOOK about your progress and should anything come up. Also, should you miss a day...jump right back on ASAP! It happens! You are building a daily spiritual practice which is difficult. Part of the process is increasing your compassion for your self while gently encouraging your self along. Start over again at day one...stronger and more determined! Good luck! 

SAT NAM!

Urban Mantra: Vol. I

OUR FIRST CD DROPS SUMMER SOLSTICE 2012!!!

We are hyped to announce the release of our first CD, Urban Mantra: VOL I. Urban Mantra: VOL I brings together world beat and Kundalini Yoga mantras to appeal to all seekers of union. Created to accompany yoga and meditation, or to serve as a soundtrack for the urban yogic life-with-style...these mantras will stimulate your senses, uplift your spirit, and heal your soul. Whether you are a practicing, or non- practicing yogi, our grooves are soulful and urban, the kind of music that inspires movement. So, chant, trance and dance!

Digital pre-sale will be available 03/21/12

Drop us an email to stay in the loop. 

rhythmandbreath@gmail.com
We are having an album launch party in June.
Til then...

Here's a lil taste! 
Urban Mantra: VOL I
And to purchase:
URBAN MANTRA: Vol I

Let us know what you think!

Sat Nam!