Urban Mantra: VOL I Official Ablum Release and Launch Party

Please join us on the first day of summer, 06-21-12, from 7pm to 11pm at the official launch party of 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 come chant, dance and trance with us! At 8pm, Luz will be doing a short presentation on Urban Mantra and Meditation. The rest of the evening will be for communing and dancing to the sounds of vinyl mixologist DJ Polymath (aka Herby) spinning 70's& 80's House, Hip Hop, Salsa, and World Music This is an exclusive event for the space can only hold 30 guests at a time. So buy your ticket now to make sure you get in! Dress to impress! VIP $10 in advance/$15 at the door VIP includes complimentary tapas (Spanish finger foods) and 1st drink FREE $2 Sangria will be also available We will be giving away FREE mantra downloads and door prizes! For VIP TIX: http://urbanmantra.eventbrite.com/ For general questions: rhythmandbreath@gmail.com

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!

Meditation to Heal Childhood Anger

This meditation was the first 40 day meditation I completed. It was given to me by my teacher Gurumukh as part of  my certification to become a Kundalini Yoga Instructor. Now, I would call it more of an initiation than anything. At the time the meditation was physically and emotionally painful but inititated the unfolding of my consiousness. I haven’t been the same since. That’s what I love about Kundalini Yoga and Sufism, there are no short cuts. There is only going through the fire , embodying and transcending your lessons to get to the next level of self-mastery. This meditation is for healing childhood anger. The anger one might have experienced as child could have been expressed, or repressed. We learn to validate, or negate, our emotions based on the responses from our elders and caretakers. As we burn through layers of karma, memories and thoughts may come to light. Allow yourself to feel these emotions associated with the thought and feelings. Give yourself the nurturing that you might have needed, or sought as a child, as a conscious adult. This meditation is a powerful act of re-parenting, releasing and forgiving. Also use the group, or the guide (yours truly), as a support to help you integrate your experience. That's what we are here for.

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.

Stretch your arms out straight to the sides with no bend in the elbows.  Use your thumbs to lock down the mercury and Sun fingers (pinkie and ring fingers) and extend the Jupiter and Saturn fingers (index and middle fingers).  The palms face front with fingers pointing to the sides.

Inhale deeply by sucking air through your closed teeth and exhale through your nose. Continue for 11minutes.

To finish:  Inhale deeply, hold the breath for 10 seconds while you stretch your spine up and stretch your arms out to the sides, and exhale.  Repeat this sequence two more times.

NOTES:
This meditation will give you some subtle powers.  It will change you inside and out.  It can be done either in the morning or the evening, but if you do it in the evening, the next morning you will find that your whole caliber and energy is changed.

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.

So there it is R & B Yogis! Lets do the dang thang! Heal our child within, once and for all so we can get to less sufferin and more playin! 

SAT NAM!

MEDITATION TO HEAL CHILDHOOD ANGER