Since Wednesday we have been camping out with my husband's family (each in our own tent or caravan) on a campsite near our home. A lovely large field, surrounded by trees. As every time I go camping, I brought my yoga mat for my usual early morning sessions, only I could do my asana's outside now.

The first time I did that I was filled with fear, that people might see me, and laugh at me, and my yoga practice was therefor limited. But I did it every day on camping trips since I began my yoga path a year ago.

Last night we had a big thunder storm, and I feared this morning would bring another typical dutch day following thunder storms, rain and cold. This time I woke up at 6:30 feeling the sun tickle my face. I took some time to enjoy the light on my face, and then put on my yoga clothes. I walked out of the caravan, put the mat outside, and turned to face the sun.

Something changed in me when I performed my sun greeting, facing the sun. I finally found stillness in my yoga. I moved into other asana's, birds twittered, a slight breeze playing with my hair. I felt so calm, so centered, my body so soft, bends that usually phase me became effortless, my breathing just flowed. I looked up half an hour later and felt so much energy pulsing through me.

It was, and is, pure bliss.

It showed me that facing your fears, even the small ones like my fear of practicing my asana's and being seen, is such a rewarding journey.

Face your fears
Step over your fear raised boundaries
Find your bliss

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A move from a hectic, clutterfilled life towards a simple, calm life is not made easily. One of the steps that will really make you feel calm is meditation. But how can you sit down and meditate when there is chaos in your head? When every moment you sit still and close your eyes, a todo list is played off in your head?

Here are a couple simple steps to begin quieting down your mind, and flow into meditation.

Step 1
Find your Mantra
Think of a word that you can repeat and that reinforces calm and positivity inside of you. A word that reinforces you, and that countermands all the negativity running amok inside your brain.   A couple of examples: you can use Om, which is the most powerful Indian mantra. You can also use a word like love, peace, calm. Just find a word or a line that just goes with you (mine is bliss, but I also use Om, or the Tara mantra). When you have the word, write it down on a piece of paper.

Step 2
Prepare
Put on something comfortable, something that fits loosely around your body, no need for that business suit, or the skinny dress, just wear something you love to wear, or wear nothing, anything that makes you feel comfy and at home with yourself. The wear nothing part works especially well when you are in a bath :D Then go to your favorite spot in the house, and put on some soft instrumental music (if you are not alone in the house you could put on some headphones), light one big candle, and some smaller ones if you like. Surround yourself with things that you love to have around you.

Step 3
Find the quiet place inside you
Get out your sheet of paper with your mantra, and put it next to the candle. Turn off all the electric lights, and just sit down, Gaze into the candle, and observe your thoughts. Every time a thought pops up in your mind, just repeat the line. Slow down your breath, you could use this simple pranayama.

• Breathe in for 5 counts
• Hold breath for 5 counts
• Breathe out for 5 counts
• Be still for 5 counts

Count slowly, there is no rush this time. Whenever your thoughts push themselves forward, just repeat the mantra for yourself. It will not be easy that first time, but with time it will be easier and easier. You can also do this perfectly in the bath, just put the candle somewhere on a ledge, where it's safe, and just stare at it while you are immersed in water.

Enjoy your meditation journey!

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Another trance written poem, unedited

My emotions are false
Says my guru
From
Years before his grave

His words bite,
Acid through ego
Little self wakes and
Roars her voice raw
It feels like watching
A fight and knowing
The petty self, hung up
On pain and endless self pity
Is fighting for her life
Her grip on me lost, one
Tentacle at a time

I am not my fear
I am not my loss
I am not my pain
I am only what is
Eternal
The quiet watcher who
Sits and looks
At the tiny, lost one
Her wisdom is found in
The whspers hidden
Underneath the powerless
Shouting

Breathe
Calm now
Exhale
Calm now

The quiet is in me
And I know, she
Doesn't whisper, all
She does is be
There
Experiencing
Always loving
No matter what I do

Silence
Silence now
Body warms up to
Love
Endless
Stll
Body feels like swaying
Quietly
As if drifting
On an ocean of
Calm.
Quiet.
Peaceful.

I know my calm
My peace
Helps the world more
Than angstly
Shouting.

Quiet
Breathe
Still
Exhale

Body translucent
Light flows unhindred
Out from my core

Panic tries to enter
I smile and let go

Silence
Flow
Beauty
Flow

Love is with me
Unwanting love
Just present, contours
For my closed eyes

Silence
Breathe
Love
Breathe

Silence
Breathe
Joy
Exhale

I am the world
I am her center
Her heart beats
In my chest

Silence
Magic
Breathe
Exhale

© Tamlyn Leigh, 2009.

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Just now I read my twitter friends feed, and read someone commented
how great an exercise yoga class was.
 
Seeing yoga as an exercise is just like saying mcDonalds is gourmet food.
 
Yoga is first and foremost a spiritual journey. It helps you open up
your body for spiritual growth. For the body it is about relaxation,
mostly, and for the mind it is about calming just so that your soul
can shine through more and more in your day to day life.
 
For me doing yoga is all about my soul's purpose with this life, and
the more I free up my body, the more I feel home in myself.
 
Just seeing yoga as an exercise limits your ability to grow through
your asana's, to fully open up to all that life has to offer you, and
all the exuberant power residing in your soul.

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This is a poem I freewrote in a trance last month. I know a female yogi is a yogini, but I am keeping the text as it was written.

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